Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear!   It’s always great to see you and even more so when a Test series is just around the corner. This one is against Sri Lanka. Perhaps not the force of old, but not to be underestimated either.   Also not to be underestimated are the two guests on the barstools of bravado. It’s our Sri Lankan Olegasegram double act. Bennett and Son - the works never done, at least not until they have given us the lowdown on this year’s Sri Lankan tourists.   The son is Dylan who explains how the times are a-changing for Sri Lankan domestic cricket and the truth behind B – Love Kandy. A Sri Lankan Cricket franchise apparently, not a chocolate aphrodisiac .   We start with England though and debate not just how they will fare without Ben Stokes, but also whether his three appearances, four runs and no wickets for the Northern Superchargers was worth the few extra bums on seats in the Hundred as far as the ECB is concerned. Probably not, but we doubt they’ll admit that.   From there, it’s a thorough review of the old, new and returning Sri Lankan squad, who have just beaten India in a One Day series don’t forget! They will have a very familiar name as batting coach for this series. None other than our old favourite Ian Bell…Bell….Bell….Bell.   Finally, we circle back to the Hundred again. Mainly to assess Jimmy Anderson’s desire to play in it and other franchise tournaments. To us that seems a bit like asking Michelangelo to don his overalls and slap a lick of paint over cracks in the Bishop and Bear walls. But Jimmy has earned the right to do whatever he wants.   By the way, if you want to help us keep our show on the road and great cricket coverage free across the internet, then do please consider supporting us through Patreon here. There are loads of great benefits as well as our undying gratitude of course.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bon retour au L'évêque et l'ours. Or, if this is your first visit, a very warm welcome to the Bishop and Bear.   Sorry, but that’s as much French as we are going to get despite our landlord having just returned sun bronzed from the south of France.   It’s a bon retour aussi (sorry a bit more French slipped in there) to our special guest, St Annie of Exeter. The wonderful Annie Chave of course, who was very quick to get in the French spirit with several large glasses of our highly quaffable Côtes du Rhône.   Hopefully you find us in up-beat, but also reflective mood as we chew over things from the wonderful world of cricket. We start by paying our tribute on the tragic passing of Graham Thorpe, taken too young, but a man who we and indeed all England fans, remember with great fondness.   From there we look back to Jimmy’s final Test farewell, seeing it as reflective of an era’s end, not just a magnificent career. We celebrate some great cricket (and decent crowds) in the One Day Cup, consider the implications of the Hundred sale with Hampshire seemingly leading the way, consider the implications of England’s new selections for the Sri Lanka series and finally, for good measure, assess who might fill the shoes of the departing Mathew Mott.   By the way, if you want to help us keep our show on the road and great cricket coverage free across the internet, then do please consider supporting us through Patreon here. There are loads of great benefits as well as our undying gratitude of course.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A warm welcome once more to the Bishop and Bear.   A fabulous if ultimately unsuccessful Test series for England is behind us, but there is plenty to reflect upon. The IPL stretches out before us. No less than 66 days of, well pretty much the same as last year, but it will be fun.   As we look back to that enthralling Test series in India, we have two guests propping up our bar to cogitate on that and much more besides. Anindya has been busy penning his thoughts on whether or not India saw the death of Bazball as a strategy. If you haven’t read “Death of a Strategy? The Curious Case of 'Bazball' in India” then we can heartily recommend it. You can find it here.   We also welcome the late Sagir Parkar. Not “late as in in the late Dentarthurdent”, but apparently detained on his way to the pub by a traffic accident. He picks up the pace of conversation like a pro though.   It’s a lively chat I can assure you we answer many questions as we go including:   ·     Was Baz ball battered? ·     England’s dilemmas o  One attitude – flexible approach? o  Making way for Brook? o  Duckett’ technique (and his dog)? o  Leach – should he stay or should he go? ·     Will the Jazz Whale stay in tune wherever he plays? ·     Jimmy 700 – For a fast bowler a record that will never be beaten? ·     New Zealand against Australia – Is it a mental thing? ·     Fire up the clown car – who wants tickets to the IPL circus?     Whether you agree with any of the answers is of course, entirely up to you, but do get in touch and let us know.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andrew Edward’s 2015 autobiography, one of his three books, received glowing testimonials from Michael Atherton OBE, 2003 Rugby Union World Cup winner Will Greenwood MBE, Sky Sports’ Hayley McQueen amongst many others. He was for many years a statistician for Manchester United’s TV channel, has been invited to a Buckingham Palace Garden party in celebration of his work as well as interviewed by John Humphries on the Today Programme no less. What makes these achievements exceptional is that Andrew Edwards is autistic and has had to use every ounce of determination and will to overcome the odds and succeed. His autobiography is entitled I’ve got a Stat for you. My life with Autism. Listen here as he tells @tonybishop1 his inspiring story of triumph over adversity.   To get exclusive access to all our podcasts, visit https://www.patreon.com/Guerillacricket Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The grumpy Guerrillas take in Sachin's omelettes, Norfolk's balls and an exclusive club of unlucky batsmen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cricket Supporters Association (CSA) is a fully independent, democratic, not for profit organisation which has been established to give all cricket fans a voice and have their rights represented. A central pillar of giving fans that voice is their annual survey, the fifth edition of which will be launched this month having started in 2017. Tony Bishop @tonybishop1 meets Becky Fairlie -  Clarke, co – founder of the CSA to find out two things: What has changed over the 3 previous issues and most importantly, what impact has it had and why cricket fans should ensure they take part What are the key issues to be covered in the survey and how can cricket fan’s still shape those? The survey has grown in reach, depth and relevance since its launch and Becky explains exactly how the supporters voice on key issues gets to leading authorities in the game. If you want your voice heard and feel that there is something vital to be included in the next edition of the survey, you can go here: www.cricketsupporters.com/haveyoursay or you can email the CSA here: info@cricketsupporters.com But hurry, as the survey will launch in the third week of March. You can keep up to date with the CSA on Twitter too @yourcricketsa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Grumpy old men are back, surprisingly there's a lot of cricket in this episode along with some other nonsense. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the music stopped on the mega-bucks mini-auction for IPL 2021, some high-profile Englishmen found themselves without a partner. Nakul Pande invites Jack Hope of The Cricket Podcast to analyse why Alex Hales, Jason Roy and Adil Rashid went unsold - come for the Alex Hales rant, stay for the Steven Smith rant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On their own patch, India are favourites. They have won huge plaudits for pulling off a dramatic series win in Australia and with an injury ravaged team. However, favourites don’t always win and England feel they have better than a puncher’s chance. Whilst India will point to a number of factors in their favour, including the return of some big guns and familiar home conditions, England are a very tough nut to crack anywhere in the world these days and there are reasons for English optimism, not least of which are the 5 consecutive test wins away from home they have just registered for first time in over 100 years. 15 times these two have locked horns in India and the home side have the upper hand, winning 7 series to England’s 5 with 3 drawn. We put two Guerillas together in the virtual ring to exchange verbal blows and predict who is likely to come out on top. Representing India is Anindya Dutta @Cric_Writer, a man who keeps company with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni on Amazon bookshelves. He wrote Wizards: The Story of Indian Spin Bowling. He knows his Indian cricket. Waving the English flag is a man almost old enough to have watched England’s first triumph in India in 1933 @tonybishop1 . Argument and counter argument are traded as Tony meets Anindya’s devilish spin with stoic defence and some neat verbal footwork.  Alas they couldn’t agree on the score. But they did agree it won’t be dull. Watch here to see who you think has it right. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A study by Leeds Beckett University last year found a 72 per cent decrease in black players in the English game between 1995 and 2019, while just one English-born black player had played Test match cricket since 2004, prior to Jofra Archer. And it’s not just in the professional game. In our recreational game, only 1% of players are from African Caribbean heritage. The ACE Programme was launched by Surrey County Cricket Club in January 2020 in response to this alarming decline with the bold intent of doing something about it. Watch here as @tonybishop1 meets Chevy Green, Director of Surrey’s ACE program to find out exactly how they are doing and hear about successes so far.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Hendo Reservoir of Negativity Can you be grumpy and festive at the same time? Which Sri Lankan cricketer appears in a Christmas carol? Tune in and find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ahhhh the Grumpy Old Men are back to talk some more nonsense, a little bit about cricket, and some other bollocks. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

3 grumpy old men talk nonsense with the odd bit of cricket thrown in, like what happens when you fart in an UBER and lots more. It's like a chat down the pub! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sæll og velkominn til Biskups og Björn   I’m not sure you can ever fully trust Google Translate, but that should be Icelandic for “Hello and welcome to the Bishop and Bear”. If you happen to speak fluent Icelandic and it accidentally says something else, I can only apologise. Blame the landlord not the barman.   There is a reason we have gone full Icelandic though. Our guest on the Barstool of Bravado this week is Kit Harris. Not only assistant editor of Wisden but also author the extraordinary “From Lords to the Fjords – The Saga of Icelandic Cricket”.   From Lord’s to the Fjords is the uproarious tale of cricket in Iceland: how the national press believed a stag party from Oxford were the official England team, how Sky Sports accidentally sent a crew to televise an Icelandic Cricket Cup final that didn’t exist, how the lead singer of Iron Maiden flew a passenger jet into a match under the midnight sun, how Henry Blofeld umpired in a blizzard on top of an ice cap, how the Iceland team was sold to the world’s public and became a viral Twitter sensation (incurring the wrath of Jofra Archer), how an Icelandic ‘mystery spinner’ signed for an Indian Premier League team, how the Iceland team fulfilled their dreams by playing their first international match – and how historical evidence proves that the Vikings were absolutely, definitely playing cricket in the tenth century.   It's a fantastic read so we’ve included a below where you can avail yourself of it.   Don’t worry there’s plenty of other cricket chat too as we cast an eye over events in India, discuss how to engineer more playing time for young spin bowlers, lament the frustrations that seem to surround Ollie Robinson and even look ahead to what’s coming up in The Wisden 2024 Almanac published in April. Here’s that link we promised for “From Lords to the Fjords”.       Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over and Out is the story of a neglected cricket hero. Albert Trott was good enough to play for Australia and England, but at the height of his powers no Test team would pick him. He brought an Ashes series to life by taking 8 – 43 on debut and his batting average for Australia was 102.5. He is also one of only two players to take two hat-tricks in the same first-class innings.   He is perhaps most famous though for his exploits on 31st July 1899 when he powered Monty Noble’s delivery up and over the Lords pavilion. Yet sadly there is no portrait of Albert Trott in the Long Room of the Lord’s pavilion. Despite his notability, having played in 375 first-class matches including 5 Tests, Albert was almost penniless when he committed suicide at the age of 41.   In this Guerillashire Podcast Tony Bishop is joined by author of Over and Out Steve Neal. Together they revisit days of Gentlemen and Professionals and explore the remarkable tale of Albert Trott: a man who spent his whole life as a professional cricketer, yet played the game like a gilded amateur.    Thanks to Jeff Perkins for the theme tune and jingles and to Jon Stone for editing and production support.    To get exclusive access to all of our podcasts, visit https://www.patreon.com/Guerillacricket   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cricket writers Anindya Dutta and Ashley Gray share the pain and rewards of their craft.    “There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly: sometimes it’s like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges” Ernest Hemingway   In March 1706, a man called William Goldwin, published a slender volume of his early verse called Musea Juveniles. Inside was the poem of 95 lines in Latin that he titled, ‘In Certamen Pilae’ (On a match at ball). As far as anyone knows this was the very first piece of cricket literature.   Cricket has inspired much great writing across the 314 intervening years, although not so much of it in Latin. The likes of Neville Cardus stand out as great story tellers and stylists, lighting the path for the many that have followed.   As in the game itself, the appearance of simplicity is the result of inspiration, insight, talent but plenty of perspiration too.   In this Guerillashire Podcast Tony Bishop is joined by two best - selling cricket writers to discuss not just their books, but the different paths they take to go from blank page to best seller.   Anindya Dutta is a former banker, now writer and Guerilla Cricket commentator who for a while has been keeping the likes of Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni off Amazon India’s top spot with his latest book The Greatest Year – The 1971 Tours of West Indies and England.   Ashley Gray is a sportswriter whose stories have appeared in Wisden, Fox Sports, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian and All out Cricket. Most recently, his book The Unforgiven, Mercenaries or Missionaries, tells the stories of West Indian cricketers who toured apartheid South Africa and has been nominated for Wisden book of the year.   Thanks to Jeff Perkins for the theme tune and jingles and to Jon Stone for editing and production support.   To get exclusive access to all of our podcasts, visit https://www.patreon.com/Guerillacricket Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“In this book, Richard parallels his life’s landmarks and milestones with county cricket’s arrival at an equally important juncture in its own existence. He manages to intertwine and compare some of these personal struggles and challenges, such as turning 50 , with the difficulties faced by the sport he so loves” Ryan Ten Doeschate   In this episode of Guerillashire @tonybishop1 meets Last Wicket Stand author Richard Clarke, perhaps better known as @The_Grumbler Last-Wicket Stand is an honest account of one man's search for meaning, purpose and reinvention, both for himself and the sport he loves. At the start of the 2020 season, English county cricket faced radical change. The Hundred was coming, introducing new 'franchises' playing a new format in the hope of attracting much- needed new audiences. Its inception was controversial. Advocates argued only drastic action could halt the decline of cricket in the UK. Opponents feared it would undermine the very fabric of the much-loved county game. One devoted Essex fan set out to document the last summer before the big change. He toured the country in 2019 chronicling this often-ignored sport, from the gentle lullaby of the County Championship to the bawdy singalong of T20 Finals Day. Richard Clarke was in his 50th year, at a personal crossroads and fearing his best days may be long gone. Change vs tradition, growth vs security, money vs meaning - these perennial struggles lie at the heart of this absorbing and revealing journey of redemption. In an additional treat, Tony and Richard also find time to discuss an all-time great @EssexCricket XI.   Thanks to Jeff Perkins for the theme tune and jingles and to Jon Stone for editing and production support. To get exclusive access to all of our podcasts visit www.patreon.com/Guerillacricket Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Three Grumpy Guerillas assemble to discuss twitter feuds, puerile commentators games, and - gasp!- actual cricket! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Finding time to work out how we got here and where we go next, Nakul Pande and David Brook analyse the 2nd Test - West Indies's fight, Sibley's patience, Broad's excellence and Stokes' sheer Stokesness - and pick our 3rd Test XIs. Does your favourite get a mention? Sync us up to your TV and keep listening even in another app with Hotmic - download the Hotmic app from the App Store or Google Play Store, and enter the code GCRADIO at sign-up - every sign-up supports the show. You can also help us out by becoming a Patron, or buying yourself some quality quality merch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Four months with no cricket, and now, we have no time. Host Nakul Pande and the unnervingly positive Machel St Patrick Hewitt (host of the excellent Caribbean Cricket Podcast) use the last moment of quiet before the 2nd Test build-up begins in earnest to recollect the emotion of Southampton in tranquility: Did England really doom themselves with their decision-making, or did they just not play as well as the West Indies? Does Ben Stokes realise how good he is? Is Kraigg Brathwaite back? Was Shai Hope ever here? We play 2nd Test selector too, trying and failing to scan John Campbell's foot from 200 miles away: Denly the human shock absorber or Crawley the coming man? Broad for Wood is simple - too simple? Rakheem Cornwall has to play - but will he? Sync us up to your TV with Hotmic - go to hotmic.io or download the Hotmic app from the App Store or Google Play Store, and enter the code GCRADIO at sign-up - every sign-up supports the show. You can also help us out by becoming a Patron, or buying yourself some quality quality merch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two shaky top orders but pace in abundance, so who will prevail in the bio-secure bowl: Guerilla Cricket's Nigel Henderson puts the question to Mach St Patrick Hewitt, of the Caribbean Cricket Podcast and fellow broadcasters Dave Brook and Barry Wilkinson ( Line and Length ) before the latter pair argue the merits and demerits of coach Phil Simmons and recall happy days in the company of Everton Weekes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Guerilla Cricket meets Dan Newman of JDRF UK Throughout the rolling, tumbling, dice throwing mayhem of the Dickwella Broad Owzat Trophy, we’ve been partnering with JDRF UK.   In this special episode of the Guerilla Cricket Podcast, Guerilla and DBOT finalist Tony Bishop, meets Daniel Newman of JDRF UK. Diagnosed at 10 years old with Type 1 Diabetes, Dan’s journey has been challenging, deeply moving and inspiring in equal measure.  He tells us about the amazing work of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and his role in their work to improve lives and one day eradicate the condition for good. We also talk about famous cricketers who have Type 1, Pakistan and Lancashire legend Wasim Akram amongst them. JDRF: Fund world-class researchapproved and administered by their international research programme to cure, treat and prevent type 1 diabetes; Make sure research moves forwardand treatments are delivered as fast as possible Give support and a voiceto people with type 1 and their families They need your support.  Listen to Dan’s story and please go to our DBOT (Very Loud and Animated) and help us to help JDRF.  https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/db-owzat-trophy   Join a global movement to create a world without type 1 but with the world’s best independent cricket commentary.   Thanks as ever to Jeff Perkins for the theme tune and jingles and to Nigel Walker for editing and production support. Get all Guerilla Cricket podcasts BEFORE ANYONE ELSE at patreon.com/guerillacricket Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another Grumpy Old Guerillas podcast. It's like the Four Yorkshiremen sketch, without the humour Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Guerilla Cricket's Nigel Henderson talks to Indian former Test cricketer, coach and commentator Deep Dasgupta about whether and where the IPL can go ahead, scoring a century against England and how his best shot in international cricket came as he tried to protect his crown jewels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear – the internet’s favourite virtual cricket pub (probably).   Well, it was a right old battering for England in Rajkot. The young Jazz Whale played all the right notes in exactly the right order and there were way too many bum notes from England against Bumrah and co. The Yorkshire middle order of Root and Bairstow looks under pressure and out of sorts. Can they battle their way back into some form in Ranchi? Ben Stokes thinks the pitch there looks “interesting very interesting” to appropriate the words of the great Barry Davies.   Our guest this week is the ever-erudite Forthy, who joins your ursine landlord and episcopal barman to ask and attempt to answer some of the questions vexing England’s management. If indeed they ever do get vexed, which at least to external eyes they seem not too. We also celebrate the power of Indian run scoring and dig a bit behind Jay Shah’s comments that Indian players shouldn’t prioritise the IPL over domestic cricket.   Here is a rough idea of the topics we chat and drink our way through:   Bazball out Bazzed in Rajkot What do we expect in Ranchi? Strong Yorkshire Strong England – what’s in the heads of Root and Bairstow? “BCCI says don’t prioritise IPL over domestic cricket” – sorry what??!! Umpires Call – is it the blind the leading the blind? (Sorry Joel!) Settle in, enjoy your drink and do please get in touch and let us know what you think. Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The title is woefully inadequate for the task at hand - but we had to call it something, and it's hard to spell a wordless scream. Anti-racism is not something to parcel into a pod-sized package and not think about again, and it's in that spirit that host Nakul Pande and Machel St Patrick Hewitt take to the mics. Nakul and Machel share their personal experiences of being cricket fans of colour, discuss the international resonance of the uprising against a living legacy of state-sanctioned racist violence in America, and ask questions of experts in the policy and representational aspects of anti-racism work in cricket: ANUJAYA KRISHNA: A scholar and practitioner of sports law who talks to us about her critical analysis of the ICC's Anti-Racism Policy and Conciliation Process: what it does and doesn't address, and how it's implemented. GULFRAZ RIAZ: Chair of the National Asian Cricket Council, who advise the ECB on South Asian inclusion and representation, and founder of the African Caribbean Cricket Association. We also read an excerpt of a powerful call to international consciousness from cricket administrator, scholar & activist Professor Hilary Beckles. We #SayTheirNames. We remember. And we believe #BlackLivesMatter. Produced and edited by Jon Stone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The lords of cricket have spoken - what they've (not) said may shock you! Joining host Nakul Pande from across three continents to discuss the ICC's non-decision about the men's T20 World Cup, what's they've decided to decide instead, what might decide the  most important election in ICC history, and Australia deciding to scheduling some actual cricket - decisively:   MEL FARRELL - superstar freelance cricket writer and broadcaster ANKIT MISHRA - co-founder and editor of CricTracker PHILASANDE SIXABA - anchor and sports reporter at Newzroom Afrika Channel 405 in Johannesburg   *EXCLUSIVE CONTENT AHOY! $5-and-above Patrons get 15 minutes' content that will never be heard on the free feed. If you're already signed up at $5 or above you'll get this bonus material automatically - lucky you! But if not, become a Patron or upgrade your pledge at patreon.com/guerillacricket.* For the next 7 days, we're running a fundraising campaign for ourselves and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, who do amazing work tackling Type 1 diabetes - stick around to the end for why this cause is so close to our hearts, and contribute to the cause on our JustGiving page. Thank you.   Subscribe and download on your preferred podcast app:   APPLE: https://co/2Yyu5fR PODBEAN: https://ly/3fgKz2n SPOTIFY: https://fi/2Syi1rb ACAST: https://ly/2SvJLN5   Produced and edited by Jon Stone.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Grumpy Old Guerrillas return with another podcast about nothing in particular Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

*STRONG ISAAC VIVIAN ALEXANDER RICHARDS CONTENT* Telling host Nakul Pande how their love of cricket and their time on Guerilla Cricket began this week: SEAN TRACEY ALAN HOTCHKISS Over the next couple of months, we're running a fundraising campaign for ourselves and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation UK, who do amazing work tackling Type 1 diabetes - stick around to the end for why this cause is so close to our hearts, and contribute to the cause on our JustGiving page. Thank you. You can get all our pods BEFORE ANYONE ELSE at patreon.com/guerillacricket - and thanks as ever to our producer and editor Jon Stone. Subscribe and download on your preferred podcast app: APPLE: https://apple.co/2Yyu5fR PODBEAN: https://bit.ly/3fgKz2n SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/2Syi1rb ACAST: https://bit.ly/2SvJLN5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's episode tests even host Nakul Pande's relentless optimism. He discusses which of the IPL and the men's T20 World Cup can, will or even should happen in the second half of this COVID-ravaged cricketing year with: KHALID MOHIDIN: Owner and editor, Cricket Fanatics Magazine ANKIT MISHRA: Co-founder and editor, CricTracker  The panel dissect in some detail the logistical, financial and moral implications of playing and not, and whether Faf du Plessis has brains to match his beauty. Good news on that front, but sadly not much else. Over the next couple of months, we're running a fundraising campaign for ourselves and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, who do amazing work tackling Type 1 diabetes - stick around to the end for why this cause is so close to our hearts, and contribute to the cause on our JustGiving page. Thank you. You can get all our pods BEFORE ANYONE ELSE at patreon.com/guerillacricket - and thanks as ever to our producer and editor Jon Stone. Subscribe and download on your preferred podcast app: APPLE: https://apple.co/2Yyu5fR PODBEAN: https://bit.ly/3fgKz2n SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/2Syi1rb ACAST: https://bit.ly/2SvJLN5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Diligent research and evocative story telling combine to make this book a truly compelling read”. Praise indeed for ‘Wizards’ and its author Anindya Dutta, from none other than Kapil Dev.   In this episode of Guerillashire, Tony Bishop and Anindya discuss the mystical, twirling, whirling, floating, ripping, gripping world of Indian spin bowling. No other skill has contributed more to India’s cricket – and arguably, spin bowling is what drove its race to the top.   The story of Indian spin bowling goes as far back as the turn of the twentieth century. ‘Wizards’ covers no less than 74 Indian spinners, from Palwankar Baloo, though the genius of Subhash Gupte, Vinoo Mankad and Ghulam Ahmed, through the fabled spin quartet of Bedi, Prasanna, Chandra and Venkat, onto Kumble, Harbhajan and Ashwin and right up to Chahal and Kuldeep. Anindya picks two historical quartets to take on the current England side home and away. Listen to hear who they are – and who doesn’t quite make it. Most importantly let us know your selections!   Thanks to Jeff Perkins for the theme tune and jingles and to Jon Stone for editing and production support.   Get all Guerilla Cricket podcasts BEFORE ANYONE ELSE at patreon.com/guerillacricket! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You, and we, enjoyed our first edition of Origin Stories so much that we came back for another! This time, host Nakul Pande's companions on our stroll down memory lane are: ANNIE CHAVE: Unofficial president of the Marcus Trescothick Fan Club and actual founder and editor of County Cricket Matters GARY NAYLOR: Cricket writer, theatre critic and devotee of the aesthetics of cricket and those who play it PAUL HOWARTH: Village green hero turned club wicketkeeper turned all-round sports enthusiast We discover the panel's first memories, heroes, and games watched and played, and along the way discuss the joys of being 8, the relative memory-making power of radio and TV, and how far women's and girl's cricket has come. Over the next couple of months, we're running a fundraising campaign for ourselves and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, who do amazing work tackling Type 1 diabetes - stick around to the end for why this cause is so close to our hearts, and contribute to the cause on our JustGiving page. Thank you. You can get all our pods BEFORE ANYONE ELSE at patreon.com/guerillacricket - and thanks as ever to our producer and editor Jon Stone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's cricket most thrilling, most physically demanding and most misunderstood skill - on this week's Guerilla Cricket Podcast, host Nakul Pande constructs a three-pronged attack to unpack what fast bowling's all about: IAIN O'BRIEN: Former New Zealand fast bowler, creator of the Youtube channel 108 with IOB and friend of the show GLADSTONE SMALL: Much-loved former Warwickshire and England fast bowler and current tour host for The Black Opal Group, pod debutant IAN PONT: Pioneering fast bowling coach, author, and head coach of the Ultimate Pace Foundation and the National Fast Bowling Academy The panel talk bowling fast from every angle: physical, technical, strategic and psychological - it's your indispensable guide to what being a fast bowler is all about. Become a Patron, at any level, at patreon.com/guerillacricket and get all of our podcasts BEFORE ANYONE ELSE - help keep independent cricket commentary alive! And many thanks as ever to our producer and editor Jon Stone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hendo, Grubby and Not Fred invite you to listen to them sitting around and talking bollocks. The Highest Rated Podcast* On The Internet (* in its category)               Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the first of an occasional series, this week we're going back in time to where it all began for some of our most loved and most interesting Guerillas. When did they first watch and play the game? Who were their first cricketing heroes? How did they get the cricket bug? Were they bitten by a radioactive Peter Such? Host Nakul Pande breaks off from mythologising Lance Klusener long enough to hear tales of reluctant Antipodean touring teams, a grandfather's child-quietening tactics spectacularly backfiring and facing down Cameroon fast bowlers on a tricky pitch from: Former meerkatologist, current statistician and forever Paul Collingwood stan Dr Katy Scott Al-fresco scorer and intrepid worldwide cricket coach Jules Farman Millinery connoisseur and cricket's most devoted Jamaican-Irish Hampshire fan Roger McCann Our editor as ever was Jon Stone. Remember, you can get our podcasts BEFORE ANYONE ELSE by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/guerillacricket, and follow us on Twitter for updates on our upcoming synthesis of analogue tabletop games and digital communication methods, the Dickwella-Broad Howzat Trophy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Once again, a very warm welcome to the Bishop and Bear. We’re enjoying a little bit of breathing space between the 2nd and 3rd India Tests and the England team are enjoying themselves too with golf and family time in Abu Dhabi. Not Rehan Ahmed though. The lad thinks golf is for old men and he’ll be catching up with a Turkish TV series about the Ottoman Empire instead. Our guest this week is no stranger to the bar in the old Bishop and Bear. She has a stool and pint glass with her name on it. It’s the one and only St Annie, county cricket natterer and matterer supreme. And there is so much to talk about, starting with the dismissal, or rather non-dismissal, that has had our Guerilla WhatsApp group in a lather of excessively verbose opinion. So here are the things we meander our way through with plenty of detours en route. ·     Neil Brand – out or not out? ·     Visakhapatnam Test o  20’s and 30s don’t win you Tests (Alastair Cook) o  Blowing the Jazz Whale’s trumpet o  Brilliant Bumrah o  Jimmy Jimmy o  Can Shoaib, Tom and Rehan learn fast enough to haul England back in front? o  Is Joe Root trying too hard to Bazz? o  Runs in Rajkot o  Changes for Third Test? ·     South Africa C getting what CSA deserve in New Zealand? ·     U19 World Cup – India and Aus into the final ·     County Cricket Matters – What’s coming up?   Settle in, enjoy your drink and do please get in touch and let us know what you think.   Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's not all about the big money and the big names. The COVID-19 cricket shutdown has repercussions at all levels of the game, including where the budgets are tight even at the best of times - and in case you'd not been paying attention, these really are not the best of times. To tell us about the challenges faced by smaller boards, what's being done to deal with them, and what the ICC are doing to help (spoiler alert: actually something!), host Nakul Pande got a crack crew together: Warren Deutrom, CEO of Cricket Ireland Tim Cutler, co-founder of EmergingCricket.com and former CEO of Cricket Hong Kong Guerilla regular Machel St Patrick Hewitt, co-host of the Caribbean Cricket Podcast We also hear a submission from Raf Nicholson, co-founder and editor of leading women's cricket website CricketHer, outlining the specific issues facing the women's game in the time of COVID. Thanks as ever to Jon Stone for his production and editing work. For early access to all of our podcasts, become a Patron at patreon.com/guerillacricket!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The shutdown of cricket around the world is both a huge blow and a huge opportunity - we have the space to reflect on why we love cricket so and why it's not an exaggeration to say we need it. So this week we're looking at the game's impact on mental health, mental health's role in playing and watching cricket at all levels, and how the COVID-19 pandemic affects that symbiotic relationship. Host Nakul Pande reached out across three continents to assemble a panel to tackle these most important of questions: IN THE UK Martin Cropper, Personal Development Manager at the Professional Cricketers' Association Mark Boyns, founder of suicide prevention and mental health non-profit Opening Up Cricket IN INDIA Ankit Mishra, co-founder and editor of our long-standing partners CricTracker IN AUSTRALIA And, be still our beating nerdy hearts, Rob Moody, prolific curator of the Robelinda Youtube channel You can find a list of mental health hotlines, helplines and resources here - and as Nakul says on the show, if you want to talk, we want to listen. Let's stay connected, eh? You can get our pods BEFORE ANYONE ELSE at patreon.com/guerillacricket - thank you so much for your continued support, and thanks to Jon Stone for producing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cricket is dead, long live the Guerilla Cricket Podcast! Host Nakul Pande and guests Tony Bishop and Tim Part are locked-down and loaded to reckon with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this cricketing year. We ask: Will there be cricket in 2020, and who makes that call? SHOULD there be cricket in 2020, and does it even matter? Should the Hundred be postponed? The need for creativity and connection is greater than ever, and we hope we address that need over the course of this pod. In that spirit we'll be podding every week throughout the COVID cricket crisis, and if you want to get those pods BEFORE ANYONE ELSE you can at patreon.com/guerillacricket. Now more than ever, your support is deeply, deeply treasured. Thanks to Jon Stone for his production and technical expertise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the latest Guerillashire. Best wishes and positive thoughts to everyone in these tough times!  In this edition, we have a special treat for followers of Lancashire as Gary Naylor of the Guardian and long - time Guerilla selects his greatest ever Lancashire England team. In his inimitable way (that we all enjoy imitatating), Gary picks players he has actually seen play in his life time, but never fear, together we explore Lancashire’s finest from John Abrahams to Zahir Khan.  Archie MacLaren and Reggie Spooner rub shoulders with Clive Lloyd, James Anderson and Brian Statham amongst others. You can even hear how Gary’s Mum once trapped poor Freddie Flintoff in a two - hour conversation, although history doesn’t record how much poor Freddie got to say! Lancashire fans, get in touch on Twitter using #Guerillashire and let us know who would make your team. Thanks to Jeff Perkins for the theme tune and jingles and to Jon Stone for editing and production support.     Get this episode and all our Guerilla Cricket Podcasts and articles first by becoming a patron. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Neville Cardus’ two great passions were music and cricket. He described how one majestic stroke maker ‘made music’ and ‘spread beauty’ with his bat. Between the two wars, he became the laureate of cricket by doing the same with words.   In this latest Guerillashire, Tony Bishop interviews multi award winning author Duncan Hamilton, who in ‘The Great Romantic’, casts a new light on the enigmatic Cardus and demonstrates how he changed spots journalism for ever.   Along with Annie Chave, the discussion also covers Hamilton’s life and work, including ‘Kings of Summer’ a treasure of a book that takes us back to the final game of the glorious 2016 County Cricket season, when Middlesex met Yorkshire at Lords, Somerset waiting in the wings should the match end in a draw.   Through Duncan’s Hamilton, the spirit of Neville Cardus is ever present.   Thanks to Jeff Perkins for the theme tune and jingles and to Jon Stone for editing and production support.   Get Guerilla Cricket Podcasts before anyone else at www.patreon.com/Guerillacricket Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the first Guerilla Cricket Podcast of 2020, we have some big questions to answer. In matters purely of willow and leather, there's the vexed issue of mandatory 4 day Tests, and a South Africa v England Test series heading into its 3rd Test finely poised. But we don't have the luxury of keeping it inside the boundary - with the Proteas' commitment to transforming what was for so long an all-white cricketing culture under question, host Nakul Pande and (live from Port Elizabeth) Daniel Gallan work out what's gone wrong and how it might be put right. Get the pod BEFORE ANYONE ELSE by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/guerillacricket, and help us #KeepCricketGlobal! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two teams in transition; four men in a state of confusion. Yes, it's the Guerilla Cricket South Africa v England series preview podcast in which host Nigel Henderson lures wisdom and whimsy on World Test Championships, Kookaburras, a sextet of potential new Test caps and obdurate coaching staffs from Guerilla regulars Tony Bishop, the Bear and, all the way from Joburg itself, Guerilla Cricket South Africa's Mpho. Get exclusive access to this podcast by becoming a Patron. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“What is more frightening?  Facing the quickest bowler in the world in front of 30,000 people or walking into a crack den in South Central Los Angeles?”   That’s just one of the questions host @tonybishop1 discussed at Edgbaston with Paul Smith, hero of @WarwickshireCCC 1994 treble winners.  The latest Guerillashire Podcast from @guerillacricket is here!   Paul was part of the all - conquering Warwickshire side of the 1990s under Bob Woolmer. However, he also holds the US Certificate of Appreciation for his ground breaking work using cricket as a force for good with gangs in the most notorious areas of Los Angeles. He advises the Princes Trust, is a motivational speaker, broadcaster and a published author whose book ‘Wasted’ was described by one reviewer thus..“Not so much a kiss-and-tell, as kiss, have casual sex, get stoned, drunk, divorced, unemployed, homeless, penniless and tell.”   Thanks to Jeff Perkins for the theme tune and jingles and to Jon Stone for editing and production support.   To get this exclusive access to all of our podcasts visit patreon.com/guerillacricket! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Five T20Is, two Tests and one month later, what did we learn? Host Nakul Pande and guest Tasneem-Summer Sadiq Khan pore over the footage and hit the scorebooks to find out. We get excited about England's T20 new boys, puzzle over the non-selection of Ben Foakes and lament the poor Test pitches. And as ever when we go beyond the on-field action, Tas is fascinating when we talk about the racial abuse aimed at Jofra Archer and the continued unease over Scott Kuggeleijn's place in the BlackCaps setup. Get the pod BEFORE ANYONE ELSE at patreon.com/guerillacricket! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the latest Guerillashire. We have a special treat for followers of Gloucestershire as life - long supporter Steve Jinmam selects history’s greatest ever Gloucestershire England team.  And what a history it is, with Steve leaving no stone unturned in the depth of his research.  Expect to see the likes of WG and Wally Hammond rubbing shoulders with other greats in a selection to get Gloucester  pulses racing. Let us know what you think using #Guerillashire. Host Tony Bishop also tracks down Annie Chave, fellow Guerilla and prominent voice of Oppose the 100 to discuss a new publication,  ‘County Matters’, produced with Lancs CCC Action. The discussion covers The Hundred and feedback from the DCMS hearing looking to identify opportunities to promote the continued health of county cricket in times of change. As ever Annie’s passion burns like a beacon for the game.   Thanks to Jeff Perkins for the theme tune and jingles and to Jon Stone for editing and production support.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get your Kicks in the Bishop and Bear 66! With due deference to Bobby Troupe who wrote Route 66 (and not a lot of people know that), perhaps not even Joe Root who wears 66 on the back of his shirt of course.   What a week for Test Cricket, culminating in its own Super Sunday. Two incredible Tests, two extraordinary results. Three heroes in the form of Shamar Joseph, Ollie Pope and Tom Hartley. The latter, we think, bears an uncanny resemblance to the great Hedly Verity. Google some pictures and see what you think.   It really was riches indeed for Test cricket fans and on our Barstools of Bravado, your ursine landlord and episcopal barman are joined by two passionate and knowledgeable guests. Aryan Surana, our resident Guerilla news hound and the irrepressible David Brook, represent India and the West Indies, but take a refreshingly non-partisan view of events.   Fortified with rum and coffee, we dive not just into the two matches, but more importantly perhaps, the statement they have made in the context of challenges faced by Test Cricket generally. And we answer important questions like “How far is it from Old Trafford to Hyderabad? Just what was did the Windies put in Shamar’s magic toe spray? And exactly how should we pronounce Visakhapatnam”?   For good measure, we tackle KP’s tweet asking for people’s opinions on the balance of T20’s and Tests, so grab yourself a drink at the bar and settle in to enjoy the chat.   Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Three men's Test matches on the go at the same time, what delights! Host Nakul Pande calls in Tony Bishop and Tim Part to dissect day 1 between New Zealand and England at Mount Maunganui; pick over Pakistan's resistance then sudden lack of resistance in Brisbane; and India's bright new dawn/dusk as day/night Test cricket hits the subcontinent for the first time. Get the pod BEFORE ANYONE ELSE by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/guerillacricket! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mega-pod ahoy! We single-handedly redress the balance of nobody talking about New Zealand with a running plunge into England's upcoming tour of the Land of the Long White Cloud. This gets deep, and real, and that's okay. Host Nakul Pande, in the in-studio company of Tony Bishop, dials up the frequently fascinating and always honest former New Zealand fast bowler Iain O'Brien for a wide-ranging discussion about England's Project Youth, the makeup of the Kiwi squad, the glory of invisible cricketers, and the high-wire act of motivating yourself with anger. Get the pod BEFORE ANYONE ELSE at patreon.com/guerillacricket. Oh, and take care of yourself, ya hear? You deserve it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you an amateur cryer? No, these are Proteas...pro...tears...ahem. South Africa were in India, and it wasn't pretty - the bowling was toothless, the batting impermanent, and captain Faf du Plessis looks exhausted (but very, very handsome). Host Nakul Pande called up Simon Gear and Mpho Mutloane from our colleagues Guerilla Cricket South Africa to work out what happened, why, and what to do about it. STICK AROUND TO THE END FOR PAVEL FLORIN GOODNESS. Oh, and as ever, you can get the pod before anyone else at patreon.com/guerillacricket. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices