India lose a home Test series for the first time in 12 years but was it just a blip or a sign that an ageing side is now past it's peak? Meanwhile as we get set for an IPL Mega Auction, many big name players aren't retained by their franchises - but is this often down to the player himself? And the word on the street is that the Auction will take place in Riyadh - is this the first move as Saudi Arabia looks to become a major influence in cricket?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Azeem strongly believes that Ben Stokes is taking on too much responsibility with England's Test team and needs some of the burden eased. The boys discuss England's long standing spinner problem and look at what Jafer Chohan could offer in the West Indies. Oh and stand by by for Azeem's rant on Gary Kirsten resigning as Pakistan white ball coach! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Friend of the show Mark Machado is back to reflect on a great Test win for Sri Lanka and whether England's terrible performance was a just a blip or something more concerning. The debate then turns to whether Moeen was underrated and if Freddie Flintoff is going to be the next Baz McCullum! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Plenty of disagreements in this one! Despite Joe Root scoring the most Test hundreds for his country, Azeem still thinks Alistair Cook is the greatest English Test batsman. Matt doesn't agree and they also don't see eye to eye on Michael Vaughan's brutal analysis of Oli Pope's captaincy. One thing they do agree on is that ticket prices have become ridiculous and cricket is fast becoming an elitist sport! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lots of cricket to chat through this week - England's win against Sri Lanka, lots of new faces in the Test, ODI & T20 squads and who should be the new full time England white ball Head Coach. Plus - why Jos Buttler has been thrown under the bus by the leaking of the story about his relationship with Andrew Flintoff and why on earth did Pakistan not pick a spinner at home against Bangladesh?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The boys get deep into some serious topics in this episode. Azeem talks about how the riots brought back bad memories and made him fear his house would be petrol bombed. He & Matt talk through why they happened in the first place and then move onto the issue of cricketers and their mental health. In the wake of the terrible news about Graham Thorpe, they ask the question - why do cricketers seem to be more susceptible to mental health issues than other professional athletes? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt's back from Sri Lanka but his head is still there. With the Sri Lankan Test team in England, British Sri Lankan journalist Mark Machado is in the studio to preview the series and give us the inside track on the general health of cricket in Sri Lanka. It's not just cricket though - the boys discuss what makes the country such a great place to visit...the geography, the wildlife and the food! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt's in Sri Lanka working for Indian television and manages to grab former New Zealand star Scott Styris for a chin wag! After the tragic passing of Graham Thorpe, the two of them discuss why many cricketers seem to struggle with their mental health. Scott's insight into the IPL - he's worked in it as a player or commentator for the best part of 20 years - is riveting, as are his thoughts on the future of Test matches....are English fans looking at Test cricket through rose tinted glasses?? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Darren Lewis is one of the UK's most respected football journalists who has risen through the ranks to become Assistant Editor of the Daily Mirror. As one of the few people of colour in such a senior position he isn't afraid to voice his strong opinions on issues like racism in football. In this episode he gives his take on the Enzo Fernandez situation at Chelsea, why there are so few black football managers and the role of the media in the fight against racism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's special guest Lianne Sanderson is someone who is never afraid to speak her mind or stand up to discrimination and abuse. Having been a star of the England football team and travelled the world as a professional she moved seamlessly into the media, and is now one of the most captivating pundits out there. During her career both on and off the pitch she's had to deal with homophobia, racism, death threats and social media abuse. But that doesn't mean she will just ignore it - stand by for a fascinating insight into her life and football in general. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aatif is back! He, Matt and Azeem have a wide ranging chat about what it's like to be a Muslim in the UK. Azeem recalls his experiences of trying to fit in as a cricketer by drinking alcohol and the three of them discuss how Islamophobia has been steadily rising since 9/11. This one covers everything from politics to religion to comedy, and a little bit of cricket too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

JImmy Anderson has retired - it was a totally understandable decision but in sport, and life, are we obsessed with age and telling people to stop doing things that they can still do very well? Should Gus Atkinson be patient and follow the example set by the top Australian fast bowlers? Meanwhile, India is entering a new era of T20 cricket with no Kohli, Rohit or Jadeja - so who should be the new captain, who will be the next batting superstars and with Gautam Gambhir as Head Coach will they become a more aggressive side? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ex Indian Test cricketer turned commentator Abhinav Mukund lifts the lid on Indian cricket in this bonus episode. In an open and wide ranging chat he talks Matt through the differences in personality between Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni and why some Indian stars move to the UK for a more normal life. He also reveals why he thinks Kohli and Rohit Sharma will play in the 2027 World Cup, what it's like for Indian players who don't get picked up in the IPL and names his 2 future Indian super stars. Essential listening for any fans of Indian cricket! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt & Azeem preview Jimmy Anderson's final Test and argue about the Ben Stokes v Tim Paine spat - is BazBall really 'saving' Test cricket?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Azeem look ahead to the T20 World Cup Semi Finals and reflect on Afghanistan's arrival at the big time. What was Gulbadin Naib doing though?! Also, is Rohit the Brian Lara to Virat's Sachin Tendulkar? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt & Azeem debate who will go through to the Semi Finals of the T20 World Cup and whether the pitches almost ruined the whole spectacle or actually made the games more exciting. And stand by for Azeem's thoughts on Cricket Scotland's shambolic way of dealing with racism allegations and the reasons why he hasn't released some of his own evidence to the public. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sanjay Bhandari is Chair of Kick It Out, UK sport's most recognised and respected anti discrimination charity. He tells Matt and Azeem why Kick It Out's work is so necessary in football and the reasons why they won't be working in cricket at the same level for the time being. With England having just left for the Euros he insists that teams should walk off the pitch when black players are racially abused, but it's up to those in charge to empower the players to do it. He also has some very interesting thoughts on online abuse and how social media platforms can do a lot more to prevent it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aatif Nawaz is a rare breed - a comedian who can commentate on cricket. He, Matt and Azeem get into why having more teams makes the T20 World Cup better, which of the underdogs could upset one of the big boys and what might happen when India meet Pakistan in New York. With Essex just having been charged with failing to deal with systemic racist abuse they look at what the punishment could be - Azeem reveals he has spoken to those who were abused and totally understands why they don't want to go public about it, after the toll it took on him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Michael Holding speaks, people listen. Briefly interrupting his quiet life in Grand Cayman, Mikey takes us back to his famous speech in the wake of the George Floyd murder and once again puts forward his incedibly powerful and coherent views on racism. He, Azeem and Matt also discuss whether cancel culture actually hinders the fight against racism. And don't worry, Mikey doesn't hold back on his opinions on the future of cricket too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With England about to take on Pakistan in a vital series before the T20 World Cup Mickey Arthur and Urooj Mumtaz join Matt and Azeem to preview the series and debate Pakistan's curious squad selection for the World Cup. Mickey gives us the inside track on the chaos behind the surface of Pakistan cricket and Urooj pleads for more support for women playing the sport in the country. A fascinating insight into a place with a fascinating and complex relationship with the great game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Legendary (and utterly bonkers) IPL Commentator Danny Morrison tells Matt why he'd love to chat to MS Dhoni one more time to convince him to keep playing and how Bollywood stars are in awe of the ex Indian captain. He also lifts the lid on his eccentric commentary style, reveals which young players he thinks will be future stars and why bowlers need more help in the IPL. If you like the Indian Premier League, you'll like this! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt tries to convince Azeem (with tongue slightly in cheek!) that Jimmy Anderson is the greatest Test bowler of all time and they discuss what England's bowling attack will look like without him. Plus, has the way T20 cricket is played been changed forever by this year's IPL? Azeem also reveals he fell asleep while driving more than once during his playing days! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode Monty Panesar tells us how he became a candidate to become a Member of Parliament and that he probably should've done a bit more research before his first political interviews with the media. He also fancies making a comeback into professional cricket at 42 years old and still harbours ambitions of being the next Piers Morgan! Cricket writer George Dobell gives us his thoughts on Monty, private investment into the Hundred and exclusively reveals that England are about to refuse to play one particular country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Azeem is at his pugnacious best in this episode. He weighs in on why he has no problem with Pakistan trying to prepare pitches to suit their bowlers and how India may have been thinking too much about Australia when they got hammered by New Zealand. He also questions how much longer Jos Buttler might play International cricket for and whether England's women need a change at the top - but should it be Heather Knight or Jon Lewis who goes? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Azeem tells Matt how threats to his family and constant abuse has forced him to leave the UK for Dubai. Even though he is a former England Under 19 Captain, the experience has led to him finding it hard to connect with the country he was born in and loved. Despite this, he still loves cricket and the two of them chew the fat on a few issues in the game such as the incredible run scoring in the IPL, how England solve their team balance issue at the T20 World Cup and whether the Kookaburra ball experiment in County cricket actually worked! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Aatif joins Matt & Azeem from Pakistan to talk about the Test series and what it's like for broadcasters touring the country. The boys debate who is England's number one spinner, who Stokes should replace for the 2nd Test and why Multan sounds a pretty good place to turn 40, but only if you have a sweet tooth! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Georgie are in India commentating on a Legends tournament but take a break to chat all things Women's World Cup. Georgie is a font of knowledge on the women's game, she gives us a detailed run down of how she thinks it will all play out, leading to a potential blockbuster of a Final. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pakistani writer and podcaster Behram Qazi joins the boys to preview England's Test matches in Pakistan and doesn't hold back on what he sees as major problems in Pakistan cricket right now. We hear about why the Test team's home form has collapsed, Shan Masood's captaincy and how the usual chaos behind the scenes is not helping. If you are an England fan and need a confidence boost before the series, you'll want to listen to this! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England's ODI team shows fight against Australia but also lots of naivety - are we no longer a top side in the format? Big developments off the pitch this week as Delhi Capitals' co owner looks set to buy Hampshire - Azeem dissects what that means for county cricket and how Yorkshire could soon follow suit. And the IPL Auction has some new rules, one of which could guarantee we see Dhoni for at least one more season! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt's in India working on a Legends tournament and spills the beans on why Legends cricket has suddenly become massively popular. He and Azeem debate whether Ravi Ashwin should be considered amongst the best all rounders to ever play the game and then get in to the Essex situation. Is it completely absurd that the county can get a points deduction for a player having too wide a bat but not for admitting to systemic racist behaviour? Azeem also reveals that there is a current player involved in the accusations of racism at Essex. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jofra Archer has been wrapped in cotton wool since returning from his many injury setbacks so what does the future hold for him? Will he play Test cricket again or might he just see out his days as a gun white ball bowler? T20 Blast Finals Day was fun but is it a format that still works? And India's Test team are very good at home but not quite as formidable as they used to be - so are they playing on the wrong type of pitches? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's a huge Test series on the horizon between Australia and India. The boys look at the selection issues India face before the 1st Test and debate over an article that claims the India/Australia rivalry is now bigger than the Ashes. Then they get into the IPL Auction - why is there confusion surrounding Jofra Archer and Mark Wood's involvement and which England players could go for big money deals? They both also have interesting takes on why the great Jimmy Anderson has put his name on the auction list. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Around 30% of recreational cricketers in England are British South Asians but only 5% of professional cricketers. Why is that and what can be done about it? Step forward Tom Brown, who co-founded SACA - the South Asian Cricket Academy - to help change those numbers and get more South Asians coming through to the professional game. Tom and Matt discuss how unconscious bias has played a big part in the lack of Asians making it and how SACA has already managed to produce a player for the England squad in Jafer Chohan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Azeem's in London so the boys meet in person for the first time in weeks! Matt feels a bit underdressed. On the menu this week - dissecting everything about another astonishing IPL Auction - the most expensive buys ever, why teams don't pack their squads with big name overseas anymore and how a 13 year old made history! For dessert, it's a look ahead to England's daunting Test series in New Zealand - should Oli Pope remain at number 5 or 6 for the rest of his Test career?! Oh and Azeem thinks Jasprit Bumrah could be the greatest cricketer India have produced...Matt respectfully disagrees! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Not many cricketers are as engaging and introspective as Robbie Uthappa. The T20 World Cup winner with India opens up about his struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts. There is of course a plenty of cricket chat too - Robbie has a very interesting take on what it's like for a player watching the IPL Auction and why he would never drop Ravichandran Ashwin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Azeem is now an F1 convert after his trip to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but cricket remains in pole position for this episode. England's brilliance in New Zealand has led to a selection headache for the next series and the boys debate who should be dropped out of Crawley, Pope, Bethell and Smith. Darren Lehmann's comments on Joe Root split opinion and there is a long discussion on the supposed threat of around 50 players to boycott The Hundred unless the ECB allows them to play in more franchise tournaments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After Isa Guha apologised for comments she made on air on Jasprit Bumrah, Matt and Azeem discuss her heartfelt apology and whether she even had to make it. Also on the agenda - England's topsy turvy Test year and how Prithvi Shaw needs support not constant criticism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Merry Christmas ya filthy animals! Cricket addicts have plenty of ways to get their fix over the festive period and the boys start by previewing the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India. Brendon McCullum has picked his first England white ball squads but how will he bring BazBall to the shorter formats? Meanwhile England's women have just demolished South Africa for a very impressive Test win but Heather Knight was very critical of the fact that there was no DRS in use - is she right that it 'shows the status of the women's game'? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the final episode of 2024 and loads to get our teeth into this week! Australia dominate India on the final day at the MCG but Azeem (aka The Grinch) has a word of warning for rising star Sam Konstas. Rohit Sharma has had a terrible 2024 in Test cricket so will he be tempted to retire at the end of the series?! The MCG breaks the Australian record for attendance at a Test match so the boys take the opportunity to discuss the best places on earth to watch cricket and there's plenty of praise for South Africa - is it now time to call it the Big 4 rather than the Big 3? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Award winning broadcaster Nikesh Rughani joins Azeem and Matt to talk about his journey from the BBC Asian Network to Test Match Special. Despite being a very recognisable voice of cricket radio coverage Nikesh speaks candidly about how some people will never accept that there are more diverse voices in sports broadcasting these days. He also opens up about being stuck between two very different cultures as a British Asian and as usual the boys delve into the big cricket stories of the week - why a two-tier Test system could be disastrous and whether politicians should be telling England to boycott playing Afghanistan at the Champions Trophy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jimmy Anderson has decided to play on this summer for Lancashire - what happens if he takes loads of wickets though? Might England be tempted to bring him back?! England's women have fallen behind early in the Ashes, if the series is lost again does there need to be a serious inquest into why there is a such a big gap between the 2 sides? And the PSL draft has taken place - a few England players have been included but how many of them will actually be allowed to play? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nigeria beat New Zealand in the Women's Under 19s World Cup - is that the biggest shock ever in the history of cricket?! England's white ball Bazball era starts with a hammering by India, the boys reflect on that and defend Alex Hartley, who apparently has been ostracised by some members of the England Women's set up after her criticism of the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The final bids are about to go in for the eight teams in The Hundred and Azeem reveals the IPL franchises that he believes will be buying into certain teams. He and Matt discuss what this could mean for the competition going forward - will we see Indian players in The Hundred as a result? Also on the agenda - why England have to find a second spinner ASAP and why Pakistan can't just forget about pace bowling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the modern era of cricket, agents are right at the forefront of a sport that has changed beyond recognition in the last 20 years. Simon Auteri - who's company TGI Sport represents some of the most well known cricketers in the world like Jofra Archer, Rashid Khan and Harry Brook - lifts the lid on the inner workings of franchise cricket and contract negotiations. He tells Matt how some leagues fail to pay players, why a world dominanted by freelance cricketers is still far away and why Brendon McCullum decided to become England's white ball Head Coach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Judging by how far off the pace England have been in India, Brendon McCullum may have an even harder job on his hands to turn the white ball teams around! Some big questions need to be asked though, like who thought trying to blast India out with four right arm fast bowlers was a good idea in India?! The Hundred sale is nearing it's completion and the amount spent has been eye watering. Have the Ambani family and RPSG Group (owner of Lucknow Super Giants) got much better deals by buying Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals repectively? Is London Spirit really worth more than those two combined?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

India beat Pakistan once again with ease in the Champions Trophy which means Pakistan have only beaten them once in ODIs in the last decade. Is this great rivalry in danger of losing it's lustre unless it becomes less one sided? Azeem reflects on his experience at the first game of the tournament and reveals his worries about the long term effects of Pakistan not having hosted tournament cricket for so long. Meanwhile, over in Group B, England face a crunch match against Afghanistan - will defeat mean the end of Jos Buttler's captaincy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is the Champions Trophy actually a better tournament to watch from start to finish than the World Cups?! Anyway, it's about to start and the boys run through how each team is shaping up and who they think will make the semis and go on to lift the trophy. Stand by for Azeem's strong opinions on Jos Buttler's future and why he thinks the Aussies have no chance! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt has lost hearing in both ears jumping off a cliff on holiday but manages to shout his way through this episode! After England crash out of the Champions Trophy and Jos Buttler resigns the boys look at where it's all gone wrong for England in white ball cricket....as usual there are some disagreements about BazBall along the way! Should Harry Brook be made captain? Azeem thinks not, and gives his reasons why. And what about the Champions Trophy in general? Is it just us or has it been one of the worst world tournaments in a long time?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A forgettable Champions Trophy comes to an end but that shouldn't detract from another flawless tournament performance by India. Sure they had some well publicised advantages - which should never happen again - but you get the impression they would have won anywhere in the world, probably even Iceland. They have now lost 15 tosses in a row, is Rohit Sharma's captaincy actually a bit underrated?! Harry Brook has pulled out of the IPL, Azeem isn't convinced it's the right decision. Oh and Matt calls Glenn Phillips a clubbie....sorry Glenn! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices