A one-stop-shop for cricket fans searching for intelligent conversations on analytics, cricket history and niche topics. The Last Wicket offers all that and more with the help of an array of guests who have a wide array of expertise in the game.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
The conversation with Chris Britt-Searle from the nonprofit organization Next Test delves profoundly into the ongoing ramifications of climate change within the realm of cricket. Chris articulates the pressing nature of this issue, underscoring how extreme weather conditions, such as heightened temperatures and intensified rainfall, are increasingly disrupting the sport. The dialogue elucidates the urgent need for the cricket community to unite in addressing these challenges, as they threaten not only the integrity of the game but also the health and safety of its players. We explore various initiatives aimed at raising awareness and fostering sustainability within cricket, emphasizing the collective responsibility we share in mitigating climate impacts. This episode serves as a clarion call for action, inviting listeners to consider their role in this critical discourse.
Links
Hit for Six Report: Cricket Heading into Climate Danger Zone
The Next Test (@TheNextTest) / Posts / X
The forthcoming Ashes series between England and Australia is poised to be a highly significant event in the cricketing calendar. As England embarks on their tour of Australia, the discourse surrounding team preparations, player form, and historical performance becomes increasingly pertinent. Notably, England has not secured an Ashes victory on Australian soil since 2011, a statistic that weighs heavily on the minds of players and fans alike. Concurrently, Australia grapples with injury concerns, including the absence of their captain Pat Cummins for the initial Test, which may alter the dynamics of the series. Our discussions delve into the contrasting trajectories of both teams as they approach this storied rivalry, analyzing the implications of recent performances and the potential impact of strategic decisions made by both camps.
Links
Freehit's Blog | Substack
CricInspo by Ben Brettell | Substack
The recent triumph of the Indian women's cricket team in the Women's Cricket World Cup represents a historic milestone that resonates deeply within the realm of sports and beyond. This episode delves into the profound implications of this victory, celebrating the culmination of years of perseverance and dedication from players who have long fought for recognition and respect in a domain traditionally dominated by their male counterparts. Hosts Benny and Mayank, joined by special guest Sarthak Dev reflect on the emotional journey of the tournament, the team's remarkable performances, and the significance of their win for the future of women's cricket in India. The discussions encompass not only the players' extraordinary skills but also the critical need for structural support and cultural change to sustain this momentum. Join us as we explore the rich tapestry of emotions and insights that accompany this landmark achievement in cricket history.
Takeaways:
Links
Lines on The Grass | Sarthak Dev | Substack
Freehit's Blog | Substack
The ongoing Women's ODI World Cup, currently being hosted in India and Sri Lanka, stands as the focal point of our discussion today. In an engaging conversation, co-host Mayank welcomes esteemed journalist Sarthak Dev, who provides insightful commentary on the tournament's dynamics amidst the backdrop of rain delays and the impressive performances of various teams. Sarthak articulates his observations regarding the strength of the competing teams, the stadium experience in Vizag, and the media coverage surrounding the event. As we delve deeper into the nuances of the matches, we explore the strategies employed by teams, standout players, and the evolving narrative of women's cricket. Join us as we navigate the intricacies of this remarkable tournament and contemplate its implications for the future of women's cricket.
Links
Sarthak Dev (@devellix) / X
Lines on The Grass | Sarthak Dev | Substack
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/stan-town/groove-sauce
The international retirement of Cheteshwar Pujara marks a significant milestone in the landscape of Indian cricket, as he steps away from the sport after an illustrious career that has spanned over a decade. Throughout this episode, we delve into the ramifications of his retirement, reflecting on his pivotal role as a stalwart in the Test format, particularly during India's recent triumphs overseas. Furthermore, we engage in a comprehensive discourse regarding the selection of the Indian squad for the upcoming Asia Cup, analyzing the strategic decisions made by the selectors. We also preview the much-anticipated Women's World Cup to be hosted in India, considering the potential impact of this tournament on the growth of women's cricket in the region. Join us as we navigate through these pressing topics, celebrating Pujara's contributions while contemplating the future of Indian cricket across both men's and women's formats.
The conclusion of the Test series between England and India has yielded a thrilling exchange of emotions for both teams and their supporters. Hosts Benny and Mayank provide their immediate reactions, encapsulating the exhilaration and disbelief that accompanied India's remarkable fightback to secure a draw in the series. The episode delves into the pivotal moments of the final Test, highlighting the exceptional performances of players such as Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill, while also reflecting on the broader implications for the Indian team under new captain Shubman Gill. Through a detailed analysis of key players and their contributions, the hosts engage in an insightful discussion regarding the future trajectory of Indian cricket amidst the backdrop of this compelling series. Listeners are invited to reflect on the memorable encounters and the evolving dynamics of the teams as they navigate through this intense competition.
The current landscape of cricket journalism and television coverage is characterized by a significant decline in quality and depth, as discussed in our latest podcast episode. We explore how the monopolistic tendencies of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have led to a homogenization of narratives, focusing excessively on celebrity players while neglecting broader analytical discourse. Our dialogue also delves into the implications of rising jingoism in sports media, which appears to cater more to sensationalism than substantive cricketing insights. Furthermore, we address the emergence of fan culture that prioritizes tribalism over appreciation for the sport itself, reflecting a troubling shift in societal attitudes. Join us as we dissect these pressing issues and consider the future of cricket coverage in an increasingly polarized media environment.
Link
PCCI Podcast 🏏 - Podcast - Apple Podcasts
The ongoing Test series between England and India has presented a riveting spectacle of cricketing prowess, with the series currently poised at 2-1 in favor of England. This episode features a comprehensive discourse between host Mayank and guest Ben, who delve into the nuances of the series, highlighting the youthful Indian team's formidable challenge against the seasoned English side led by Ben Stokes. The conversation elucidates the intricate dynamics at play, including the contrasting performances of both teams and the pivotal role of individual players, particularly the batting and bowling strategies employed. Furthermore, they explore the implications of recent selections and adaptations, as each team seeks to capitalize on their strengths while navigating the evolving conditions of English pitches. As the series progresses, the discussion encapsulates the anticipation surrounding the remaining matches and the potential for further dramatic turns in this enthralling contest.
Link
CricInspo by Ben Brettell | Substack
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/lost-in-love
License code: 54VKVK3TLCJNTJK3
Hosts Benny and Mayank engage in an in-depth discourse regarding the World Test Championship (WTC), welcoming back special guest Ben Brettell to lend his insights. The episode's primary focus revolves around the inherent flaws within the WTC's current structure, particularly its contrasting methodology compared to traditional Test rankings. We delve into the implications of such disparities and the overall excitement surrounding the impending Test summer in England, highlighted by the upcoming WTC final featuring Australia and South Africa. In our conversation, we reflect upon the significance of competitive integrity and the necessity for structural evolution within Test cricket to ensure its future relevance. Through this exchange, we aim to enrich our audience's understanding of the nuances and complexities underpinning Test cricket's landscape today.
Takeaways:
Link
Test Match Special: Why the World Test Championship should be scrapped
The retirement of Rohit Sharma from Test cricket marks a significant moment in the landscape of Indian cricket, followed by Virat Kohli's own retirement. In this discourse, we explore the implications of Rohit's departure, reflecting on his illustrious yet enigmatic career, characterized by flashes of brilliance juxtaposed with bouts of inconsistency. As we delve into the circumstances surrounding his retirement, we consider the potential impact on the Indian team, particularly with regard to the upcoming England tour and the need for emerging talent to step into the void left by such formidable figures. We analyze Rohit's contributions as a batter and captain, weighing both the triumphs and challenges he faced throughout his journey. Ultimately, this episode is a tribute to a player whose legacy will resonate within the annals of cricket history, inviting contemplation on what lies ahead for Indian cricket in the wake of his retirement.
Virat Kohli's recent retirement from Test cricket marks a significant turning point in Indian cricket, and we delve into the implications of his abrupt departure from the format. In this episode, we analyze the context surrounding Kohli's departure alongside that of Rohit Sharma, both of whom have been stalwarts in the Indian Test lineup. We explore Kohli's illustrious career, the impact of his performances, and the evolving dynamics within the team as younger players are poised to step into his shoes. The discussion further extends to the future of Indian Test cricket, as we contemplate the challenges and opportunities ahead in the wake of Kohli and Rohit's retirement. Join us as we reflect on Kohli's legacy and the broader ramifications for Indian cricket.
Mayank and Abhaye engage in an insightful discourse concerning the recent developments within the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. They delve into team performances, highlighting the surprising trajectories of franchises such as Delhi Capitals, who initially displayed promise but are now grappling with inconsistencies, and Mumbai Indians, whose resurgence has reestablished them as formidable contenders. As they dissect the implications of strategic auction decisions, the conversation also touches upon standout individual performances, notably Rohit Sharma and Jos Buttler, whose contributions have substantially influenced their teams' fortunes. This episode offers a comprehensive analysis of the current standings and reflects on the intricate dynamics of team composition and player form within the league. Listeners are invited to explore these themes as the tournament progresses and the race for the playoffs intensifies.
Follow Nordic CricPundits (@CricPundits) / X
The latest discourse on the Indian Premier League 2025 unfolds with hosts Benny and Mayank as they delve into the unexpected developments of the tournament thus far. Central to our dialogue is the disconcerting performance of traditionally dominant teams, specifically the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, both languishing at the bottom of the standings. We explore the implications of these teams' struggles, contrasting them with the emerging prowess of younger players, such as Priyansh Arya and Digvesh Rathi, who have captured the attention and admiration of cricket enthusiasts. Additionally, we evaluate the strategic decisions and overall team dynamics that have contributed to the current standings while speculating on future trajectories as the season progresses. Join us as we dissect the nuances of this captivating season, providing insights into the evolving landscape of the IPL.
The ongoing IPL season has elicited a fervent discourse among hosts Benny and Mayank, who engage with special guest Ben Brettell to delve into the intricacies of the tournament. A salient point of discussion revolves around the contentious issue of pitch preparation and its implications for teams seeking home advantage. The hosts explore the contrasting strategies employed by various franchises, mainly the dissatisfaction expressed by teams such as Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders regarding their curators' decisions. Furthermore, they highlight standout performances from players such as Sai Sudarshan and Mohammed Siraj, illuminating the evolving dynamics of the league. As the conversation unfolds, the trio contemplates the broader ramifications of these developments on team strategies and the overall competitive landscape of IPL 2025.
Link
CricInspo by Ben Brettell | Substack
Hosts Benny and Mayank delve into the exhilarating realm of IPL 2025, encapsulating the fervor of cricket enthusiasts as we reflect upon the remarkable performances witnessed in the initial matches of the season. We commence by celebrating the culmination of our first century of episodes, a milestone that underscores our enduring passion for the sport. The discussion then transitions to notable players, such as Shreyas Iyer and Noor Ahmad, whose extraordinary displays have captivated audiences and promise to impact their respective teams significantly. Furthermore, we explore the implications of evolving batting strategies within the IPL, particularly how the emphasis on high-scoring matches may alter the tournament's dynamics. As we navigate these topics, we invite listeners to consider the intricate balance between batting prowess and bowling finesse, a theme that resonates throughout the fabric of cricket.
Takeaways:
Link referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
Music from #Uppbeat
https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/luxurious
License code: D55JWIKII2WWUUWK
A comprehensive analysis of the recently concluded 2025 Champions Trophy reveals the remarkable journey of Team India, culminating in their triumphant victory under the astute leadership of Rohit Sharma. Throughout the tournament, India displayed an unparalleled level of consistency, remaining unbeaten and demonstrating a depth of talent that has become the hallmark of contemporary Indian cricket. The hosts, Benny and Mayank, delve into various narratives emerging from the tournament, including the stellar performances of individual players, the strategic acumen displayed by the Indian team management, and the implications of India's victory for the future of limited-overs cricket. They reflect on the evolution of Rohit Sharma as a captain and the legacy he is building within the sport, juxtaposing this with discussions on the potential future of key players like Virat Kohli and the younger generation poised to take over the mantle. Ultimately, the episode serves as a celebration of Indian cricket's current dominance while also pondering the inevitable transitions that lie ahead. The hosts further explore the dynamics of other participating teams, including New Zealand's perennial struggle in finals, the inconsistent performances of Pakistan, and Afghanistan's promising trajectory in international cricket, providing listeners with a multifaceted understanding of the tournament's landscape.
The conversation between host Mayank and guest Arnav Jain delves into the profound transformation of cricketing skills over the past two decades, illuminating how both batting and bowling techniques have evolved significantly. Arnav articulates the notion that the current cricketing landscape is markedly distinct from that of the early 2000s, primarily due to the emergence of new strategies, the influence of T20 formats, and the changing nature of pitches. They examine the implications of these shifts on player performance, particularly the decline in batting averages and the rising challenges faced by bowlers in today's game. Additionally, they explore the role of technology, such as DRS, in reshaping the dynamics of cricket. This dialogue not only encapsulates the shifting paradigms of cricket but also invites listeners to ponder the future of the sport in an ever-evolving competitive arena.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
The Champions Trophy is upon us, and in this episode, we delve into the intricacies of this prestigious tournament with a keen focus on the dynamics of the competing teams.
Host Mayank engages in a substantive dialogue with Gaurav Tripathi, sub-editor at Cricket.com, as they explore the strengths and weaknesses of the various squads, dissecting the implications of their recent performances. The conversation highlights the significance of team compositions and the impact of player injuries, particularly for powerhouses like India and Australia. Furthermore, they scrutinize the potential dark horses of the tournament and assess how emerging teams like Afghanistan could disrupt the conventional hierarchy.
Join us as we navigate the complexities of the Champions Trophy and offer our predictions for this highly anticipated event.
Takeaways:
Link
Gaurav Nandan Tripathi | गौरव नंदन त्रिपाठी (@Cric_Beyond_Ent) / X
Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement from international cricket marks the end of an era for Indian cricket, and this episode delves deep into his illustrious career. The hosts Benny and Mayank, along with special guest Shayan, explore the nuances of Ashwin's contributions to the game, from his remarkable bowling feats to his strategic mind on the field. They discuss key moments from his career, including standout performances in pivotal matches and his unique approach to the game, which has often set him apart as a thinker and innovator. The conversation also touches on the complexities of his persona, the challenges he faced within the team dynamics, and how his analytical nature has influenced both his playing style and leadership potential. Join them as they celebrate the remarkable journey of one of cricket's greatest off-spinners and reflect on what his legacy means for the future of Indian cricket.
Ravichandran Ashwin's cricketing journey is a testament to talent, intelligence, and relentless pursuit of excellence. This episode takes listeners through the various milestones of Ashwin's career, from his early days in the IPL with Chennai Super Kings to his pivotal role in the Indian Test team. The hosts, Benny, Mayank, and guest Shayan, engage in a rich discussion about Ashwin's unique contributions to cricket, emphasizing his strategic acumen and ability to adapt his game to different formats and conditions. They explore the nuances of his retirement announcement, made mid-series during a challenging tour of Australia, raising important questions about the timing and its implications for the team dynamics.
The episode highlights key performances that defined Ashwin's career, including his impactful spells in crucial matches such as the 2011 World Cup quarter-finals and the 2013 Champions Trophy final. The hosts delve into statistical analysis to underscore Ashwin's effectiveness as a bowler, discussing his ability to exploit batsmen's weaknesses and his evolution as an all-rounder. They reflect on his batting contributions, which, while sometimes overlooked, have been crucial in many match situations. This multifaceted approach provides a comprehensive understanding of Ashwin as a player who not only excels in bowling but also provides valuable runs when needed most.
As the conversation unfolds, the hosts celebrate Ashwin's legacy and the indelible mark he has left on Indian cricket. They reminisce about memorable moments and the sheer joy he has brought to fans across the globe. The episode calls for listeners to appreciate Ashwin's achievements in the context of his unique playing style and his impact on the sport, urging a focus on the celebration of his career rather than the controversies surrounding his retirement. By the end, listeners are left with a profound appreciation for Ashwin's contributions to cricket and an understanding of what makes him one of the game's greats.
Link
Shayan Khan (@TweetsByShayan) / X
This podcast episode features author Aditya Iyer discussing his book, "Gully Gully," which chronicles his experiences traveling across India during the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Iyer shares captivating anecdotes and insights into the remarkable performance of the Indian cricket team, highlighting that this squad boasted not only a stellar batting lineup but also an exceptionally talented bowling attack. He reflects on the unique atmosphere created by team leaders Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid, which fostered camaraderie among players and contributed to their success. The conversation delves into the significance of cricket in uniting fans across India, illustrating how it transcends regional divides and evokes deep emotional responses. Listeners will gain a deeper appreciation for the intersection of sports, culture, and personal stories that shape the narrative of cricket in India.
Takeaways:
Links
Buy
Gully Gully: Travels Around India during the 2023 World Cup Book Online at Low
Prices in India | Gully Gully: Travels Around India during the 2023 World Cup
Reviews & Ratings - Amazon.in
Aditya
Iyer (@Iyr_Adi) / X
CricViz senior broadcast analyst Soham Sarkhel joins The Last Wicket's Mayank to discuss his journey in cricket broadcasting, his roles with HawkEye and Cricviz, the evolution of technology within the sport and much more.
Soham Sarkhel | Career highlight to get the chance to work with Ian Bishop and others in the comm box. What an absolute legend he is! This means the world... | Instagram
Soham Sarkhel (@Soham_Sarkhel) / X
Special guest Assad (Assad (@CoverDriveCric) / X) is back on the Last Wicket to discuss the latest happenings in Pakistan cricket and what lies ahead. We talk about the constant upheavals, flailing performances, state of domestic cricket and much more.
Himanish is back to talk about his brief foray into working with Rahul Dravid and the Indian Men's Cricket team over a heady 23-month period.
Himanish Ganjoo (@hganjoo_153) / X
Deep Point | Himanish Ganjoo | Substack
The Last Wicket duo is joined by founding member of the pod - Himanish to discuss Indian spin legend Ravi Ashwin's book "I Have The Streets - A Kutty Cricket Story". We discuss what the book reveals about what sets Ashwin apart from his peers, the perceptions about his attitude and constant innovations, what the future holds for Ashwin, and much more.
Himanish Ganjoo (@hganjoo_153) / X
I Have the Streets: A Kutti Cricket Story: Ashwin, R, Monga, Sidharth: 9780670094745: Amazon.com: Books
Special guest Aaaman Patel (Aaman Patel (@APSportsNews_) / X) joins The Last Wicket to talk through an eventful phase of cricket in the USA - the recent T20 World Cup and the ongoing second season of Major League Cricket. We talk about his journey to becoming a commentator in American cricket, the US team's campaign in the World Cup, the outlook for cricket in the USA, and much more.
The Last Wicket boys are joined by Prashant DP to discuss cricket documentaries - best, worst and everything in between. We discuss our personal favorites, the stories and agendas they contain, the relevance of documentaries in sports, and our wishlist for potential cricket documentaries.
Links
Prashant DP (@prashantdptweet) / X
Prashant DP – Medium
Special guest Aryan Surana joins the Last Wicket duo to discuss the Future Tour Program (FTP), the impact of franchise cricket on the cricketing calendar, ideas for finding a balance between the economics of the game, franchise cricket, and international cricket. Bonus: some ranting on the Real Big Bash League aka IPL.
Links
Re-defining cricket's calendar - Freehit's Blog (substack.com)
Aryan Surana (@iamaryansurana) / X (twitter.com)
The Last Wicket duo is joined by Kartik (@EliteCynic) once again - this time to break down the year in cricket so far. We discuss the recent England men's tour of India, RCB lifting winning their maiden title in the WPL, the BCCI contracts fracas, and the amusing Bangladesh-Sri Lanka rivalry.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/poem
License code: MTA2KJIXYBZM7PF3
https://uppbeat.io/t/pryces/music-is
License code: UV5NI1BUQ7SL55MP
For the first episode of 2024, The Last Wicket duo are joined by Nikhil Popat aka @CricCrazyNiks to talk about the contrasting tenures of the Indian men's erstwhile and current coaches - Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid. We discuss their approaches to man-management, tactics and vision, their highs and lows, and what their stints mean for the immediate future of Indian cricket.
The Last Wicket hosts discuss the highlights of cricketing action in 2023, including the continuing march of T20 leagues around the world, the progress of women's cricket, the eventful Men's Ashes series, India's stumble at the final hurdles in the WTC and World Cup, and much more.
The Last Wicket duo is joined by alumnus Nish (@Cerebrohemius) and special guest Kartik (@elitecynic) to process the great big Australian upset as India went down at the (World Cup) final hurdle in Ahmedabad. We talk about the triumph of Australian grit over Indian excellence in the 2023 World Cup final, what's next for Team India, the standout performances of the tournament, and what the last few weeks indicate for the future of ODIs.
Host Mayank is joined by Sports Biomechanist Stuart McErlain-Naylor to break down his study on the relationship between hitting techniques and ball carry distance in cricket. They talk about the evolution of biomechanics in cricket, key parameters in assessing ball carry distance, differences between men's and women's cricket concerning biomechanics, how this can complement technical coaching and much more.
Links
The Last Wicket duo is joined by Kartik (@elitecynic) to discuss the early stages of the ongoing 2023 Men's Cricket World Cup. We discuss the best contests so far, the players that have surprised and impressed us the most, what the story of the World Cup has been so far, and who the likely semifinalists would be based on the early exchanges.
Link
Kartik on X (Twitter)
ESPNcricinfo producer/presenter Yash Jha joins host Mayank for a chat on the state of ODI cricket today. Topics of discussion include its relevance, declining games and tournaments, scheduling challenges and future of the format.
Link
Yash Jha (@jhayash) / X (twitter.com)
Historian Duncan Stone chats with host Mayank about this recent book - Different Class: The Untold Story of English Cricket. This book was shortlisted for the Cricket Writers Club 'Book of the Year' 2022 and the Sunday Times Sports Book Awards 'Cricket Book of the Year' 2023.
“A modern-day John Arlott: uncomfortable but indispensable reading for those who love cricket but may so far have avoided Duncan Stone’s vital home truths about the game.” - Peter Hain, former chairman of the Stop the Seventy Tour campaign and Labour Peer
"In this fascinating journey through history, Duncan Stone goes back to the working-class roots of the game, lifts the lid on the myths that cricket lives by, and explains why it’s impossible not to love it." - Tony Collins, author of Rugby League: A People's History
"A warm, accessible but thorough-going account of how cricket and class are intertwined in England. Full of personal wit and charm but also rigor and drive." - Stuart Maconie
"At a time when the ECB seems intent on killing Test cricket, by commodifying it in search of quick profits, this book is a gentle reminder of the true ethos and variable pace of the game, etched in the memories of all who have played it at village or club level." - Guy Standing, author of The Precariat: The True Dangerous Class
"Different Class is in that special category of books — not just lucid and cogent but necessary and invaluable." - Gideon Haigh, author of The Cricket War: The Inside Story of Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket
Duncan Stone is a historian long interested in the social and cultural machinations of sport, the concept and application of amateurism and who, exactly, gets to define the form, function and meaning of sport. He has worked as a forensic photographer, DJ and club promoter, builder, local government officer and lecturer at the University of Huddersfield and was previously a visiting researcher at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia.
Link
Different Class: The Untold Story of English Cricket: Stone, Duncan: 9781913462802: Amazon.com: Books
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/moonshine
License code: JUXBBIJITP4USCDL
Freelance cricket journalist Cameron Ponsonby joins host Mayank to chat about all things MLC. The two discuss the success of the inaugural edition of the tournament, his role with the Washington Freedoms, areas for improvement, and what the future holds for the fledgling league.
Link
Cameron Ponsonby (@cameronponsonby) / X
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/hlfmn/yang
License code: TCHXJRSQ50WL7THS
Zimbabwe cricket journo Adam Theo joins The Last Wicket to discuss Zimbabwe's recent stirring performances, the impact of Dave Houghton and senior players on the upswing in results, what cricket means to the country, and what the future holds for Zimbabwe cricket.
Links
Adam Theo🇿🇼🏏 (@AdamTheofilatos) / Twitter
TLW Host Mayank guests on the Armchair Cricket Podcast to discuss the recently concluded WTC final with host Ajit. They review India's performance, selection questions and Shubman Gill's discontent, while also taking a look at the ongoing Ashes and contract brouhaha over in New Zealand cricket.
Links
🏏Armchair Cricket Podcast 🎧 • A podcast on Spotify for Podcasters
Armchair Cricket Podcast (@ArmchairCricPod) / Twitter
The Last Wicket takes a ball-by-ball look at the last overs of the Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders, and the Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Lucknow Super Giants games in the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League.
Please subscribe and share the podcast!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-last-wicket/donations
Tareque Laskar joins The Last Wicket gang to discuss the new book authored by Bharat Sundaresan and Gaurav Joshi - The Miracle Makers. We discussed some fascinating anecdotes from the book, the relationship between the authors and the Indian team which resulted in remarkable insights, the young talents that shaped an unlikely win overseen by a battled-hardened team management, and where this test series stands in the pantheon of the game's history.
Links
Tareque Laskar (@tarequelaskar) / Twitter
Get Sporty | My reflections on my connections to the sporting world (wordpress.com)
Please subscribe and share the podcast!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-last-wicket/donations
Freelance journalist and founder of She Talks Ball - Radha Lath Gupta joins The Last Wicket to break down the inaugural Women's Premier League. We talk about the historic occasion and resulting fan engagement throughout the tournament, the contrasting fortunes of the Indian players and the overseas stars, the lessons learned by rising domestic talents, what the future holds for the WPL, and much more.
Links
Radha🧣 (@radhalathgupta) / Twitter
She Talks Ball - YouTube
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lastwicket/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lastwicket/support
Host Mayank is joined by Kartik Kannan (contributor at Cricket.com) to discuss former India fielding coach R Sridhar's recent book - Coaching Beyond. They discuss fascinating anecdotes from Sridhar, his impact on India's fielding during his tenure, the team-up with Ravi Shastri and Bharat Arun, and what the book will be remembered for in the years to come.
Links
Kartik Kannan (@kartik_kannan) / Twitter
Buy COACHING BEYOND: My Days with the Indian Cricket Team Book Online at Low Prices in India | COACHING BEYOND: My Days with the Indian Cricket Team Reviews & Ratings - Amazon.in
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Assad Hasnain joins The Last Wicket to discuss Wasim Akram's new book - Sultan. We discuss if the book has had any impact on Akram's legacy and Pakistan cricket, the revelations from it - both surprising and unsurprising, what the dynamics between Akram and his contemporaries tells us about the challenges that the Pakistani team of that era had to overcome, both internal and external.
Links
Assad (@LeftArmAround) / Twitter
Amazon.com: Sultan: A Memoir eBook : Akram, Wasim, Haigh, Gideon: Kindle Store
Spotify – Jama Punji
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Veteran writer and journalist Ayaz Memon joins The Last Wicket to talk about two legends of Indian cricket: Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni. We discuss the imprint they left on the teams they led, their journeys from humble beginnings to World Cup winning captains, the personal traits that set them apart and what their tenures can advise current and future captains of the Indian teams.
Links
Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) / Twitter
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Writer and story-teller CS Chiwanza joins host Mayank to discuss cricket in South Africa - the talent pool in the country, varying performances across formats, the role of the cricket administration in improving team performance, and the latest T20 league in South Africa.
Links
C. S Chiwanza (@CSChiwanza) / Twitter
Stumped! | C. S Chiwanza | Substack
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Cover Drive podcast's Assad Jaffer joins The Last Wicket hosts to talk Pakistan cricket. We spoke about Pakistan's recent struggles in test cricket, the rollercoaster experience that is being a Pakistan fan, the return of Sarfaraz Ahmed (and Shahid Afridi), and of course the epic duel between Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi.
Links
Assad (@CoverDriveCric) / Twitter
Cover Drive Podcast - YouTube
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Highly acclaimed international batting coach Toby Radford joins Mayank for a batting workshop to discuss his transition from player to coach, coaching approach specialized for youngsters compared to experienced hands, mixing net sessions with skills training, his work with the 2012 T20 World Cup winning West Indies team and much more.
Links
Toby Radford (@TobyRadford1) / Twitter
Toby Radford's Online Batting Booth (tobyradfordcricketcoaching.com)
Toby's new book - Getting to grips
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Former Australian cricketer Shane Lee joins The Last Wicket to chat about his new podcast series "Lunch with Lee", the evolution of mental health awareness in cricket over the years, Australia's T20 woes and much more.
Links
Shane Lee (@atlunchwithlee) / Twitter
Welcome to Lunch with Lee
SIX AND OUT- Can't Bowl Can't Throw - YouTube
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
The Last Wicket team is joined by the multi-talented Jamie Alter (journalist, writer, actor, YouTuber, anchor and so on) for an in-depth conversation on the structure of cricket in India. We discuss the pathways from clubs and academies to domestic teams, the structure of school cricket in various regions of the country, how the IPL has changed the landscape for budding cricketers, and so much more.
Links
Jamie Alter 😷 🇮🇳 (@alter_jamie) / Twitter
Jamie Alter - YouTube
Jaime Alter - The True Harfun Maula | Cricket with an Accent Podcast (podbean.com)
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Former player and fast bowling coach Ian Pont joins Mayank take a deep dive into the art of fast bowling and discuss the 4-tent peg approach that Pont pioneered, it's effect on speed and reducing the rate of injuries, and the evolution of technique in fast bowling. Pont also discusses his experience of working with all types of bowlers, ranging from Shoaib Akhtar to Harshal Patel, including his stints with the Netherlands and Bangladesh teams.
Links
Ian Pont 🇬🇧 (@Ponty100mph) / Twitter
The Fast Bowler's Bible: Pont, Ian, Gough, Darren, Irani, Ronnie: 9781861268518: Amazon.com: Books
Amazon.com: Coaching Youth Cricket (Coaching Youth Sports) eBook : Pont, Ian: Kindle Store
Ultimate Pace Secrets: 9780992665708: Amazon.com: Books
Online Cricket Courses | Ultimate Pace Foundation (upfcricket.com)
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Human Movement specialist and Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics - Dr. Paul Felton joins host Mayank for a freewheeling discussion on the role of biomechanics in cricket. Paul talks about how he got hooked into cricket, the difference in biomechanics between the men’s and women’s game, the acceptance of cricket biomechanics at the international level, and much more.
Links
The Cricket Biomechanist (@TheCricketBiom) / Twitter
Paul Felton (drpaulfelton.com)
Four Tent Pegs Visual.pdf (cricket.com.au)
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
ECB Level 3 Advanced Coach Josh Sivier joins host Mayank for a deep dive on all things related to wicket keeping. We discuss the importance of feet movement for keepers, grabbing takes down the leg side, what the best wicket keepers do on a consistent basis, and much more.
Follow Josh on Twitter!
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
BBC-TMS and ABC broadcaster Prakash Wakankar joins The Last Wicket to share his thoughts on the future of the game as we know it, including the sustainability of specialist teams for multiple formats, the resulting impact on quality of the cricket itself, the future of ODIs, feasibility of a franchise-based test league, and much more.
Follow Prakash on Twitter.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Indian cricket 'superfan' Johns Benny aka @CricCrazyJohns joined The Last Wicket pod to share his experience of watching cricket in the Caribbean recently. Along with co-host Mayank, Johns talks about the difference between watching cricket in India and watching the game abroad, interacting with players and other fans, and how the Indian team is shaping up ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Follow Johns on Twitter
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Freelance cricket writer and broadcaster Gaurav Joshi joins host Mayank for a chat on his journalistic ethos, and what other sports can teach cricket. We also discuss what ails Indian test cricket at the moment, whether it's time for more youngsters to be groomed in the long format, key differences between Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid as coach, and of course what the pesky "Bazball" is all about.
Follow Gaurav on Twitter
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Benny of The Last Wicket and Jay Dansinghani of All Over Cricket team up to chat with London-based lawyer and vice-captain of the Hong Kong women's cricket team - Yasmin Daswani. We discuss Yasmin's journey to become a cricketer, balancing law and her love for the game, the ongoing challenges faced by women in cricket, her platform "Associate Women in Cricket" among many other things.
Links
Home | Associate Women in Cricket (associatecricket.com)
Associate Women in Cricket - AWC | Facebook
Associate Women in Cricket (@Women_in_cric) / Twitter
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Sports agent and former Derbyshire captain Luke Sutton joins The Last Wicket to talk about his book - "Welcome to the Wonderful World of Wicket Keeping". We talk about the intricacies of wicket keeping, how it has evolved over the years, and the keepers who have redefined the role. We also discuss the role of a sports agent in modern cricket, as well as Luke's journey in dealing with mental health and addiction issues.
Links
Luke Sutton (@luke_sutts) / Twitter
Amazon.co.uk: Luke Sutton: Books, Biography, Blogs, Audiobooks, Kindle
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Rajan Shah (@momocricket) joins The Last Wicket to talk all things Nepal cricket. We discuss the structure of domestic cricket in Nepal, the case for longer format competitions, the scope for improved administration of the game, rising stars to look out for and much more.
Links
Rajan Shah (@momocricket) / Twitter
Home - Momocricket
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Amit Sinha (@RandomCricketP1) joins The Last Wicket to talk about his passion behind unearthing stories related to random cricket photos. We talk about how his understanding of the game has evolved through researching the stories, how teams are more strategic in their use of social media, his interaction with some of the rising stars of Indian cricket, and much more. Amit shares a lot of fascinating anecdotes, including a couple from the iconic 1999 World Cup semifinal between Australia and South Africa.
Links
TheRandomCricketPhotosGuy (@RandomCricketP1) / Twitter
Random Cricket Photos That Make Me Happy | Facebook
Random Cricket Photos Podcast - YouTube
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Returning guest Gurkirat Singh Gill joins The Last Wicket at the midway stage of IPL 2022 to discuss ongoing travails of the Indian cricketing stars - Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja. We share our thoughts on the calls for Kohli to take a break, if Rohit needs to step away from IPL captaincy, and if expectations need to be reevaluated for Jadeja the T20 cricketer. Also, we discuss how fan perspectives can be maintained when our favorite players go through a prolonged rough patch.
Links
Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) / Twitter
Gilly Cricket - YouTube
Gilly Cricket (@gillycricket) • Instagram photos and videos
Gurkirat’s view | Gurkirat Singh Gill | Substack
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Abhishek Mukherjee (Editor-in-Chief of Cricketnews.com) drops in to talk about a select group of cricketers whose international careers didn't quite pan out the way they were widely expected to. We spoke about Venkatesh Prasad, Nikhil Chopra, David Hussey, Vinod Kambli, Maninder Singh and Grame Hick among a few others.
Links
Abhishek Mukherjee on Twitter
Sachin and Azhar at Cape Town: Indian and South African Cricket Through the Prism of a Partnership - Amazon link
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Cricket's own jack-of-all-trades (writer, analyst, podcaster, author, broadcaster, etc.) Jarrod Kimber joins The Last Wicket for a free-wheeling chat on his unconventional journey from amateur blogger to one of the more prominent voices in cricket media today. We talk about if his trajectory is replicable, the sustainability of freelance content creation in cricket, and if this content can bring about actual change in the game. Also, some stray thoughts on Shane Warne and redesigning test cricket.
Part 1 - Thoughts on Shane Warne (02:11 - 22:09)
Part 2 - Jarrod's journey (22:22 - 1:15:26)
Part 3 - Redesigning Test Cricket (1:15:30 - 1:24:57)
Links
Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) / Twitter
Jarrod Kimber - writer | Facebook
Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) • Instagram photos and videos
Red Inker With Jarrod Kimber | Podcast on Spotify
Fans With Laptops: The Sports Writing Course | Fans with Laptops: The (teachable.com)
Jarrod Kimber - YouTube
@jarrodkimber | Linktree
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Deputy Sports Editor at Scroll.in - Vinayakk Mohanarangan joins The Last Wicket to talk about the ongoing Women's World Cup in New Zealand and what it tells us about the talent and future of the women's game. We also touched upon India's performance, the role of social media engagement, and of course the pesky topic of a full-fledged Women's IPL.
Links
Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) / Twitter
Vinayakk Mohanarangan | Scroll.in
Streamlit - IPL Stats Page
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Host of the first established cricket podcast in Australia, The Cricket Library Podcast, and author of the new book - "For The Love Of Cricket: Haiku Poems Inspired By The Summer Game" - Matt Ellis joins The Last Wicket podcast to pay tribute to Rodney Marsh and Shane Warne, talk about the ongoing tour of Pakistan by the Australian team, and share how he fell in love with Australia's favorite summer game.
Links
The Cricket Library (@CricketLibrary) / Twitter
thecricketlibrary.com | We love reading cricket books
For The Love Of Cricket: Haiku Poems Inspired By The Summer Game eBook : Ellis, MJ, Fiction, M: Amazon.com.au: Books
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Special guest David Paynter - founder of Payntr footwear brand and great-grandson of England Ashes Legend Eddie Paynter - joins us to chat about his cricketing heritage, his journey from player to entrepreneur, the challenges associated with running a cricket-themed business, and much more.
Links
PAYNTR | Cricket Shoes, Golf Shoes, Trainers - Performance Multiplied
PAYNTR™ (@payntr) • Instagram photos and videos
PAYNTR™ Cricket (@PayntrCricket) / Twitter
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Former India captain and current coach Mamatha Maben joins us for a chat about her playing career, coaching assignments with China, Bangladesh and now Karnataka, the evolution of Mithali Raj as leader, development of leadership within the younger crop of women cricketers, and player-journalist dynamics.
Also features some thoughts on the new IPL format and the Indian test squad for the Sri Lanka series.
Links
Mamatha Maben (@MabenMaben) / Twitter
‘Mithali Raj is both best and worst…’: War of words between commentator Isabelle Westbury and VR Vanitha over India skipper | Cricket News | Zee News
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
It is a no-guest episode, as hosts Benny and Mayank discuss the recently concluded Under-19 World Cup that resulted in yet another Indian win. We talk about what the tournament tells us about the future of men's cricket, if these World Cups have really helped young cricketers take a step up to the next level, the players we enjoyed watching, and the reasons why India are consistently good at the Under-19 World Cups.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
South African team physio Craig Govender joins in for a free-flowing chat on his work in both the domestic and national setup, his thoughts on modern techniques in fitness trainings, juggling individualized approaches for different formats of the game, and much more.
Links
Craig Govender (@Craig_gov) / Twitter
How New Zealand beat the heat in the UAE | Cricbuzz.com
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
ESPNCricinfo USA correspondent Peter Della Penna joins us to discuss all things cricket in the United States. We explore the unique challenges the game faces, as well as possible ways cricket can make inroads among the American sporting public. Can cricket displace any of the existing big four sports in the country? Could any of the athletes among these sports be remolded to cricketers in a bid to expand the game's footprint?
Links
Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) / Twitter
The Stars and Stripes Cricket Podcast
NCAA Softball on Twitter: "What 💪 a 💪 throw! 💪 @kaleiharding 📺 @espn #WCWS x @FSU_Softball https://t.co/qWldSjjpYY" / Twitter
Please register and vote for The Last Wicket in the ‘Best Cricket Podcast’ category on Sports Podcast Awards!
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
We were joined by Saqib Ali, host of the Cricket with an Accent podcast to discuss our love of cricket - how we got into it, what we love about the game and what we dislike about it, how our Indian cricket fandom has evolved over the years, and what we hope to see in the future of the game.
Links
Please register and vote for The Last Wicket in the ‘Best Cricket Podcast’ category on Sports Podcast Awards!
Check out 'Cricket with the Last Wicket' on the We Got Balls podcast!
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Dr. Habib Noorbhai is back to discuss the paper he authored in 2020 - "Attending boys-only schools: Is it an incidental or a strategic contributing factor to South African cricket development and success?". We discuss the quintile system in South African schools and how it relates to wealth disparity, the stark difference between co-ed and boys-only schools in yielding future cricket captains, the existing infrastructure for disadvantaged South African youngsters who want to play cricket, and much more.
Links
(PDF) Attending boys-only schools: Is it an incidental or a strategic contributing factor to South African cricket development and success? (researchgate.net)
Habib Noorbhai, PhD (@Habib_Noorbhai) / Twitter
Please register and vote for The Last Wicket in the ‘Best Cricket Podcast’ category on Sports Podcast Awards!
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Returning guest Dan Weston chats with The Last Wicket to give some perspective on what ails English cricket at the moment. We discuss the structure of county cricket, role of private schools in developing cricketers, the effect of limited overs success, the Azeem Rafiq saga and much more. Darren Stevens gets mentioned a lot.
Links
Dan Weston (@SAAdvantage) / Twitter
'Stevo's gonna get ya'
The Ashes 2021-22 - Joe Root 'We need to put some pride back in the badge' (espncricinfo.com)
Tom Brown on Twitter: "Paper published from my PhD outlining the ethnic & relative wealth representations within performance cricket in England and Wales. Huge thank you to @AdamKelly07, @lewisgough @iffykhawaja, Alun and Paul for their support. https://t.co/eRdGMnmLPF https://t.co/gcnhnHZg4j https://t.co/tOXyZKJK87" / Twitter
Please register and vote for The Last Wicket in the ‘Best Cricket Podcast’ category on Sports Podcast Awards!
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Cricket history buff Abhishek Chopra joins The Last Wicket for a special episode on the historic 'Bodyline' series of 1932-33. We talk about how the epic Ashes series upended the cricket world, created tensions between Australia and England, and inspired one of the first known debates over the spirit of the game. More importantly, we revisit some of the lesser-known incidents and anecdotes from an eventful passage in cricket history.
More
Follow Abhishek Chopra (El_Chopernos) on Twitter
Check out more information about the Bodyline series at TheLastWicket.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Senior Sub-editor at CricInfo - Shashank Kishore joins The Last Wicket to talk coaching - specifically, the evolving role of coaching in international and franchise cricket. We talk about the balance of strategy inputs and man management, how we evaluate their performances, the challenges of coaching across formats, and of course the tenure of outgoing Indian men's coach Ravi Shastri.
Follow Shashank on Twitter
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Former India and current Rajasthan Royals physiotherapist John Gloster joins us to share his thoughts on the evolution of fitness training in cricket over the last two decades, the pandemic's impact on athlete health, why sleep is the next frontier in body conditioning, and much more.
Links
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Author Trinanjan Chakraborty joins The Last Wicket for a conversation about his book - "The Forgotten Sons: Untold Stories of Indian Cricket". We chat about our shared love of cricket nostalgia, and the impact of lesser known Indian cricketers from history which served to inspire Trinanjan to write the aforementioned book. The select group of yesteryear cricketers we discuss in this episode are Palwankar Baloo, Hemachandra Adhikari, Pankaj Roy and Rusi Surti.
Links
Trinanjan Chakraborty on Twitter
Amazon link to "The Forgotten Sons: Untold Stories of Indian Cricket"
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
All Over Cricket's founder Jay Dansinghani joins The Last Wicket to chat about the associate teams who are making waves in the 2021 T20 World Cup. We talk unsatisfying formats, significance of Scotland and Namibia making it to the Super 12 stage, the disappointing performances from Ireland and Netherlands, and much more.
Links
Follow Jay Dansinghani on Twitter
All Over Cricket on Twitter
All Over Cricket website
Ireland's T20 struggles and Nepal's cricket passion
Podcaster Claim Token - 7gNMFhfZSnk1gKeRAXfu
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Ananya Upendran (Managing Editor, Women's CricZone) and Laura Jolly (Women's Cricket Editor, Cricket Australia) join us for a chat about the recently concluded tour of Australia by the Indian Women and what the performances say about both teams' prospects for the upcoming World Cup. We also talk about the participation of the Indian stars in the WBBL, the ongoing debate over 5-day tests and points structure, and much more.
Links
Ananya on Twitter
Women's CricZone
Laura on Twitter
The Scoop Cricket Podcast
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Former Australian cricketer Colin Miller joins us for a conversation about his professional career, the story behind his "colorful" persona, his coaching aspirations, and his thoughts on how cricket can break into the mainstream in the United States.
Links
Colin Miller profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos (espncricinfo.com)
Please answer our survey to tell us how we're doing!
The Last Wicket podcast Survey
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Writer and digital presenter Anam Nadeem drops in to discuss the state of the game as Pakistan cricket faces another crisis. We explore the impacts of the withdrawals of the New Zealand and England squads from their tours to Pakistan, and what this means for the future of the game. We also talk about what current events mean for Afghanistan cricket, the MCC's announcement of adoption of gender neutral terminology and much more.
New Zealand and England pulling out from Pakistan tours: 01:03 - 39:30
What happens now to Afghanistan cricket? 39:35 - 49:12
MCC says 'batsman' is now 'batter': 49:17 - 56:14
Impact on Pakistan's preparations for upcoming global tournaments: 56:18 - 1:03:35
Links
Anam Nadeem on Twitter
Please answer our survey to tell us how we're doing!
The Last Wicket podcast Survey
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Coach and former cricketer Malolan Rangarajan joins The Last Wicket podcast for a conversation about his work with the CPL-winning SKN Patriots, the importance of planning strategy before the start of a T20 season, his experiences with the Caribbean stars, the transition from player to coach, and much more.
Links
Malolan Rangarajan on Twitter
Malolan's CricInfo profile
Please answer our survey to tell us how we're doing!
The Last Wicket podcast Survey
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Returning guest Karthikeya Manchala joins us to talk about the nuances of T20 bowling as exhibited through the likes of Sunil Narine and Mustafizur Rahman, the value of wide yorkers, construction of death bowling and much more.
Links
Karthikeya on Twitter
Sunil Narine - The King of T20 spin bowling - by Karthikeya Manchala - Caribbean Cricket News (substack.com)
Please answer our survey to tell us how we're doing!
The Last Wicket podcast Survey
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Sports scientist Dr. Habib Noorbhai joins The Last Wicket gang for a chat on his PhD on the backlift technique, the unique training bat he helped develop, the future of biomechanics in cricket, and much more.
Links
Habib Noorbhai on Twitter
Training bat with racquet shaped toe-end
Kohli-Root-Smith comparison
Use of coaching cricket bat aligned with long term athlete development
Website
The batting backlift technique in cricket (PhD Thesis)
A descriptive analysis of batting backlift techniques in cricket: Does the practice of elite cricketers follow the theory?
Novel coaching cricket bat: can it be used to enhance the backlift and performance of junior cricket batsmen? | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
Please answer our survey to tell us how we're doing!
The Last Wicket podcast Survey
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Australian radio show host and former cricketer Kieran "Beefy" Blake joins us for a chat about the current state of Australian cricket, the role sports can play in other areas of life, and his "365 Days of Sport" project which led to him being crowned as the official "World's Biggest Sports Fan".
Links
365 Days of Sport - Facebook page
365 Days of Sport - Instagram
To check out "the scorecard", visit our website.
Please answer our survey to tell us how we're doing!
The Last Wicket podcast Survey
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
The Last Wicket gang (sans Himanish) reflect on the dramatic finish to the Lord's game, and revisit other memorable instances in recent times where emotions got the better of calmer heads on a cricket field.
Links
England collapse to a shock defeat - by Freehit - Freehit's Blog (substack.com)
Free hits for no-balls would have stopped Jasprit Bumrah's attack on James Anderson (telegraph.co.uk)
Virat Kohli Fight With Mitchell Johnson | Virat Kohli Vs Mitchell Johnson 2014 - 2015 Test Series
'Get ready for a broken fucken arm': how Michael Clarke got ruthless
Full coverage of the Anderson-Jadeja altercation
Cricket: England choke on their jelly beans as Zaheer savours sweet revenge
Eng vs Ind 2021 - James Anderson vs India - A history of wickets and verbals (espncricinfo.com)
Please answer our survey to tell us how we're doing!
The Last Wicket podcast Survey
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Former Sussex player Lewis Hatchett drops in to chat about his professional career, his Poland Syndrome diagnosis, the physical and mental challenges he had to face after an early retirement, and the current work he does with athletes in the areas of mindfulness and discovering inner purpose.
Links
Lewis Hatchett website
Podcast
YouTube
Sport Yogi
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Host of the Sticky Wicket podcast and Trent Rockets content creator Toby Reynolds joins The Last Wicket to talk about the England-India test series and the immediate impact of the new Hundred competition.
Links
Toby Reynolds on Twitter
Sticky Wicket on Twitter
Sticky Wicket on Instagram
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Live cricket director and producer extraordinaire Hemant Buch joins The Last Wicket to talk about the recently concluded tour of Sri Lanka by India, his career in television broadcasting, and the challenges faced by behind-the-scenes personnel in a post-COVID world.
Links
Hemant Buch on Twitter
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Clive (_vanillawallah) is back to talk Pakistan cricket and T20....specifically Pakistan in T20 cricket. We talk about batting approaches, assigned roles in the playing XI, Misbah's impact on the team's performances, Pakistan's chances in the upcoming World T20 championship, and much more.
Links
Clive on Twitter
Clive's article on Pakistan's T20 side
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Special guest Ananya Upendran returns to break down the recent Indian Women's tour of England. We revisit the talking points from across the formats, as well as explore the fairness of critiquing the Indian Women, the value a players association could add to the game, the impact of domestic cricket experience on performances abroad, and much more.
Links
Ananya Upendran on Twitter
Women's CricZone
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Dutch writer/journalist Bertus de Jong dishes about the state of Associate cricket, what the World Cup Super League is all about, ideal World Cup formats, the growth of cricket in emerging cricketing nations and much more.
Links
Follow Bertus de Jong on Twitter
14 team World Cup format ideas
"Whatever happened to the Intercontinental Cup?" - Peter Della Penna
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
ECB Level 2 umpire Amit Sangekar joins us for a chat about his journey in the umpiring circuit, the preparation and challenges behind his job, his experiences in umpiring different age groups in men's and women's cricket, his thoughts on technology and it's impact on the state of umpiring in international cricket, and much more. Listen in for some fascinating insights shared with him by the likes of Aleem Dar and Kumar Dharmasena.
Links
Follow Amit on Twitter
ECB umpiring courses
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Special guest Subash Jeyaraman (@cricketcouch) joins The Last Wicket gang for a therapy session as we talk about the horror tours of England and Australia by the Indian test side in 2011. We break down each of the eight games and dissect what went wrong, and in the process we talk about Dhoni's captaincy and test batting, Sachin and Dravid's battles against the fading light of their careers, the lack of bench strength, emergence of Kohli the test batsman and much more. Listen in as we revisit some forgotten gems like Eoin Morgan scoring a test ton, and RP Singh taking a break from a vacation in Miami to appear for a solitary game.
Links
Stuart Broad's hattrick
Ian Bell run-out incident
Virat Kohli's maiden test ton
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
The Cricket Guys are joined by special guest Michael Wagener (@Mykuhl) to discuss the upcoming World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand. We also talk reasons for New Zealand's recent successes, expectations from the public, memorable games from this championship cycle, thoughts on the structuring of the WTC, and some fascinating statistical insights.
Links:
Follow Michael on Twitter
Bowling SR for right-arm pacers in England in last five years
New Zealand vs Pakistan - dramatic finish at Mt Maunganui
Australia vs India - history made at Gabba
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Former Indian international Murali Kartik joins The Last Wicket to chat about spin-friendly pitches, evolution of spinners in T20s, transition to television career, the "Mankad" debate and much more.
Links:
Murali Kartik on Twitter
Circle of Cricket
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
We speak with eminent journalist and cricket author Vijay Lokapally about his career in journalism, current state of Indian cricket and the book he co-authored with Gulu Ezekiel - “Speed Merchants: The Story of Indian Pace Bowling 1886 to 2019”.
Links
Follow Vijay Lokapally on Twitter.
“Speed Merchants: The Story of Indian Pace Bowling 1886 to 2019”
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Former Indian cricketer and Indian Women's coach WV Raman joins us for a chat about his time as a player with the Indian and Tamil Nadu side for close to two decades, his thoughts on an expanded Women's IPL as well as women's tests, his book "The Winning Sixer: Leadership Lessons to Master", and much more.
Links
Follow WV Raman on Twitter
Find his book on Amazon
Follow his podcast on Buzzsprout
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
The Cricket Guys are joined by former India player, commentator and current Bengal coach Arun Lal for an expansive chat touching upon his approach to coaching in the domestic circuit, his thoughts on how a commentator can add value to proceedings, memories of Bengal's Ranji trophy win in 1990, his fight against cancer, and much much more. Don't miss his thoughts on dealing with anxiety in the middle of a pandemic.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Delhi Capitals super-fan Gurkirat Singh Gill joins us to chat about the transformation of the Daredevils into the Capitals, the evolving social media strategies of the IPL franchises, the wild extremes of IPL fandom, the enduring allure of the IPL and much more.
Links
Follow Gurkirat on Twitter.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Rajasthan Royals team coordinator Arjun Dev joins The Last Wicket to talk about coaching kids at the Six Cricket Community in Bangalore as well as his experience of working within the IPL. We talk about his journey in coaching, the dynamics of mentoring kids, the rising interest of girls for the game, and much more. We also hear some interesting behind the scenes stories from the Rajasthan Royals dressing room.
Also, The Last Wicket hosts take some time to share their thoughts on the debate over the IPL in times of spiking COVID-19 cases in India.
00:13 - 25:10 - The Last Wicket hosts share their thoughts
25:47 - 01:38:33 - Conversation with Arjun Dev
Links
Follow Arjun Dev on Twitter
Six Cricket Community
Cricket Central Store
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
The Cricket Guys continue their conversation with analyst and author Dan Weston (@SAAdvantage) who works with teams to provide recruiting and strategy assistance through his firm Sports Analytics Advantage. In the second of a two-part conversation, we talk about the value of anchors in T20 batting, future of cricket analytics and advice for budding analysts.
00:14 - 18:32: Thoughts on the "denied run" between Sanju Samson and Chris Morris, as well as the criticisms of KL Rahul and Manish Pandey
18:39 - 56:41: Conversation with Dan Weston
(Leave us a voice message to be featured on an upcoming episode of The Last Wicket!)
Links
Find Dan on Twitter
Sports Analytics Advantage
Check out his book: "Strategies for Success in the Indian Premier League"
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
The Cricket Guys are joined by analyst and author Dan Weston (@SAAdvantage) who works with teams to provide recruiting and strategy assistance through his firm Sports Analytics Advantage. In the first of a two-part conversation, we discuss Dan's journey in cricket analytics, his views on IPL team building, inferring player potential from statistics and much more.
(Leave us a voice message to be featured on an upcoming episode of The Last Wicket!)
Links
Find Dan on Twitter
Sports Analytics Advantage
Check out his book: "Strategies for Success in the Indian Premier League"
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
In a freewheeling chat with the Cricket Guys, stand-up comedian and TV presenter Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) talks about his juggling act as a television presenter and comedic performer, his thoughts on the cricketing rivalry between India and Pakistan, the PSL setback, his expectations from Pakistan's tour of South Africa and much more. Spoiler alert: not everything about this episode is concerning cricket.
Links
You can follow Aatif on Twitter
Check out his YouTube channel
Post Match Chat YouTube channel
Ranveer Singh consoles Aatif Nawaz
Postcards from Lahore
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
In this special episode, the Cricket Guys and Minal (Granger_Gab) gather on the 10 year anniversary of the 2011 Cricket World Cup final to reflect on some fond memories. We talk pre-tournament expectations, greatest moments, our immediate reactions to India's win, and the team's legacy ten years on. Tune in for some flashbacks to the insouciant Sehwag, tribute to Tendulkar, Yuvraj's champion mentality and well of course, "Dhoni finishes off in style".
Links:
You can follow Minal on Twitter here.
You can read her article on the World Cup win, written three days later: Why I Can Only Say Thank You
Some video clips from the stands (World Cup Final): World Cup 2011 Memories
Bonus Link: Minal's other passion is KDramas; wondering what all that is about? Check out her podcast: Crash Landed on KDramas
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
New Zealand Cricket's Ground Announcer Jake O'Flaherty (@jakoboflaherty) pulls over by the side of the road to talk with us about how he got into ground announcing, memories of announcing Dhoni's and Kohli's names in front of a raucous crowd, exciting talents in New Zealand cricket, and what he expects from the inaugural World Test Championship final. We also commiserate over shared heartbreaks from the 2019 World Cup.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Why has batting averages in test cricket plummeted in recent times? Is it due to the flattening of conditions brought about by Limited Overs cricket? Has deeper bowling attacks tightened the pressure on batsmen? Or is all of this due to worsening defensive techniques among modern batsmen?
Aftab Khanna joins The Cricket Guys to dissect this phenomena and bust some myths. Tune in for some surprising stats.
Links:
Check all graphs and tables referenced in this episode over here.
Follow Aftab Khanna on Twitter
Cover art by @RanjithaS
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
In this episode, we break down India's dominant home series win against England with a returning James Marsh (@pavilionopinion). We recap the four tests, dissect the talking points from each game, and talk about where the two teams go from here. Tune in for James' rousing optimism about the English test side.
Links:
Follow James Marsh on Twitter
You can find his writing on Substack
Bonus: Kartikeya Date's breakdown of the difference between the 2012-13 series and the recent series between the two sides
Cover art by @RanjithaS
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
We speak with Karunya Keshav (journalist and co-author of "The Fire Burns Blue: A History of Women's Cricket in India") and Ananya Upendran (former cricketer and managing editor of Women's CricZone) about the evolution of women's cricket in India over the last few decades. We talk the beginnings of women's cricket in India, growth of the game at a grassroots level, rising stars to watch out for, the Equal Hue Project, Women's CricZone, and so much more.
Links:
Buy the book: "The Fire Burns Blue: A History of Women's Cricket in India" | India | United States |
The Equal Hue Project
Women's CricZone
Follow them on Twitter: Karunya Keshav and Ananya Upendran
Cover art by @RanjithaS
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
In a special mid-week episode, we speak with writer Rohit Sankar about South African cricketer Faf du Plessis who recently retired from test cricket. We talk Faf's standout moments in tests, his captaincy tenure, and the larger legacy he leaves behind. Towel-clad Faf defusing a volatile situation will be missed for sure.
Bonus: we also talk Ravichandran Ashwin's momentous achievement of 400 test wickets.
Links:
Follow Rohit on Twitter: @imRohit_SN
Check out his Wisden article on Faf: Six times Faf du Plessis was too cool for Test cricket
Also, check out CricXtasy (co-founded by Rohit)
Cover art by @RanjithaS
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
The Cricket Guys speak with Clive Azavedo about the Pakistan Super League (PSL). We talk Clive's experience of working for the Islamabad United franchise, the uniqueness of PSL that sets it apart from other leagues, the player drafts, and much more. We also get some exclusive behind-the-scenes tidbits: Always play nice with Saeed Ajmal.
Links:
Follow Clive on Twitter: @_vanillawallah
You can subscribe to his writings at: When You Win The Toss
Cover art by @RanjithaS
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
This week, the Cricket Guys speak with Karthikeya Manchala about the recent IPL mini-auction. We talk mini auction dynamics, evolution of team strategies, seam-bowling allrounders, the Pujara buy, and much more. We also discuss Himanish's recent article on Cricinfo, talk about unconventional ways to assess batsmen's consistency across their careers, and see if we can come up with an answer to the question: Who is currently the most consistent batsmen in Test cricket? The answer might surprise you.
IPL auction conversation with Karthikeya: (06:53 - 43:29)
"Stat Attack" - Who is the most consistent batsman in test cricket? (43:34 - 1:02:52)
Links:
You can find more of Karthikeya's thoughts on Twitter.
Himanish's article: Virat Kohli, Steven Smith or Joe Root - who's the most consistent of them all? (espncricinfo.com)
Cluster Profiles — ImgBB (ibb.co)
HaloData-Feb.xlsx (dropbox.com)
Cover art by @RanjithaS
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
This week, the Cricket Guys speak with journalist Raghu Kesavan about his recent article on The Wire: "Siraj, Sundar and Natarajan Are the Real Representatives of New India". We talk to him about the Indian identity shift over the last two decades, the desire to claim collective success as our own, and even talk some football (?!). We also have an IPL Trivia contest, and let's just say the results went in favor of a certain Chennai Super Kings fan.
Links:
You can find Raghu Kesavan on Twitter and read his article below:
Siraj, Sundar and Natarajan Are the Real Representatives of New India (thewire.in)
Cover art by @RanjithaS
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
This week, the Cricket Guys take aim at the umpire's call within the ubiquitous Decision Review System (DRS) and try to understand it's role in the modern game. We explore it's background, the science beyond it's technology, potential improvements, and the ways the system has changed the game, as told through numbers - all while taking potshots at certain sections of broadcast teams. We also take a glance at news that 'almost' passed us by in our brand new 'Meanwhile' segment. As always, brace yourselves for plenty of links and data.
Links:
Two papers on HawkEye and its interface with the public:
Welcome to the Hawk-Eye Page – Harry Collins
Are Umpires giving more LBWs now? - Karthik Krishnaswamy
http://es.pn/3aMlomT
The Numbers of the DRS by Tony Corke (@MatterOfStats)
http://bit.ly/2N2Iygv
Goeff Allardice on the HawkEye testing in 2016:
http://es.pn/3oZpVHI
Virtual Eye MD on Umpire’s Call:
http://bit.ly/2LzObCE
On Umpire's Call - A Cricketing View (substack.com)
Cover art by @RanjithaS
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
For our series premiere, we take a look at England's track record against playing spin in India and the approach that could bring about improved results for them in the upcoming test series against India. We also hear from English cricket blogger James Marsh about his thoughts on the England squad for the first two tests against India, and we take a look back at some of the more memorable moments in past India vs England encounters.
Links:
Dravid's letter to Kevin Pietersen
James Marsh: Twitter Substack
Article on Justin Langer
Shubman Gill's father reacts to his son's valiant 91 at the Gabba
YouTube links for incidents referred to in Blast from the Past
Statistics discussed in the episode
Cover art by @RanjithaS
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lastwicket/support