The Top Order Cricket Podcast
475 episodes - English - Latest episode: 18 days ago -A Pom, an Aussie and two Kiwis walk into a bar ... it’s not a joke, it’s The Top Order, a cricketing podcast where good friends mix their own banter and opinion with extended interviews with some of cricket's most interesting characters from the past and present day.
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Episodes
This Week in Cricket #82 - Finals time in the Super Smash, Indian over-reactions and a World Cup without fans
January 27, 2022 04:05 - 36 minutesOn this week's episode we begin by taking a look at both the BBL and the Super Smash as those competitions head into the playoff rounds. Baldy is upset about a snub for Glenn Maxwell, there's confusion about Steve Smith and Lippy thinks the Wellington Blaze are unbeatable, but that anything could happen on the men's side of the draw. We also speculate about the prospect of a Women's World Cup without fans, and whether the rain will stop in Australia so that the women's Ashes players can take ...
The Ashes 2021/22 recap - England's woes, Cameron Green's rise and Binksy's Blueprint
January 22, 2022 16:00 - 1 hourIt was one-way traffic in the men's Ashes this summer, but there was still plenty to talk about as we looked back at the series in detail. Did England give themselves the best opportunity to succeed? Will any of their 'promising' batters ever become consistent at Test level? Did Mark Wood become Neil Wagner in disguise? How much longer will Chris Silverwood be coach and Joe Root be captain? And can Binksy's Blueprint for success save English cricket? As we shone the light on Australia, ...
This Week in Cricket #81 - Black Caps v Australia postponed, Virat Kohli stands down and South Africa on the rise
January 20, 2022 04:00 - 53 minutesThis week on the show we discuss the Black Caps postponed tour to Australia and what might have been had the tour gone ahead. We debate which players had their flights cancelled, whether Colin de Grandhomme's return to form in the Super Smash and Ford Trophy will be enough to return him to the international stage, and highlight two moments of absolute genius from Amelia Kerr. As the show continues, Baldy takes a look to the future by introducing us to a potential star at the Under-19 Cricket ...
This Week in Cricket #80 - Ross Taylor's fairytale finish and Devon Conway and Scott Boland are the best players in the world
January 12, 2022 05:45 - 49 minutesIt's our first episode back in 2022 and there's been plenty of action over the holiday season. We start the show by discussing the Black Caps v Bangladesh series, which started with a win for the Tigers but finished with a fitting Test farewell for Ross Taylor and milestones for Trent Boult, Devon Conway and Tom Latham. There's praise for Litton Das as well as discussion about NZ players under pressure over the rest of the home summer and some eye-catching performances in the Super Smash and ...
The Cricketmas Special - 2021: A year in review
December 27, 2021 16:00 - 30 minutesIn our final episode of 2021, we look back at our personal highlights and lowlights from a year that included the Black Caps' World Test Championship victory and a first men's T20 World Cup title for Australia. We also share our Cricketmas wishlist for 2022, but the most important part of the show and this write up is to say thank you to all of our listeners. We absolutely love getting together to record these episodes and the fact people are listening gives us a great excuse to keep doing it...
This Week in Cricket #79 - Steve Smith's kitbag, Ollie Robinson's offies and the return of Devon Conway
December 22, 2021 04:00 - 41 minutesThis week's episode starts with us trying to makes sense of this Ashes series, which now looks all but over with three Tests still to go. We talk Joe Root's after-match comments, Ollie Robinson bowling spin, England's woes, Australia's joy for Michael Neser, Steve Smith's kitbag and whether there's any chance this series remains interesting as we head to the MCG. As we move back to New Zealand, we discuss the Covid disruptions for the Bangladesh squad, how the Black Caps will line up without ...
Rachin Ravindra, Black Caps all-rounder - debuts, history and learning from every experience
December 19, 2021 16:00 - 32 minutesOn this episode of the show we're joined by one of the newest members of the Black Caps - someone who has had quite a 12 months. There’s been injuries, international debuts, plus a lot of learning and special memories during a year Rachin Ravindra told us he'll never forget. Rachin spoke about what it's like when your name starts popping up on Cricinfo and social media at a young age, the injury he thought had derailed his year and the moment Gary Stead told him he'd been selected for his fi...
This Week in Cricket #78 - The Ashes first Test review
December 15, 2021 09:47 - 51 minutesThe Ashes takes centre stage this week as we discuss Australia's win in the first Test at the Gabba. Should England have bowled first? Did they pick the right team? Are we really that surprised their batters struggled? Will Travis Head's 150 prove to be a career-defining innings? Plus we had Patrick Cummins' captaincy debut, Nathan Lyon's 400th wicket, a rough time for Jack Leach, fines galore and injury concerns for both sides. During the second half of the show we all try to claim partial c...
The Test Cricket Hall of Fame - 65 to 61: The face, the voice and a whole lot of wickets
December 12, 2021 16:00 - 35 minutesIn this episode of the Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame, we continue our countdown by discussing players 65 to 61 (scroll to the bottom of the description if you like spoilers). It's another fun group, including some of the most recognisable players that the game has ever seen and heard. There are wickets galore, so many happy memories and some of the best nicknames you could ask for as we reminisce while we examine Baldy's rankings. Is legacy more important than stats? Do average and strike...
This Week in Cricket #77 - Ajaz Patel's perfect 10 and bold Ashes predictions
December 08, 2021 03:00 - 48 minutesIt's an excitement overload this week as we're together to record in the same room for the first time since August! We start the show by celebrating Ajaz Patel's incredible achievement - becoming the third player in history to take 10 wickets in an innings - before we break down a heavy loss for the Black Caps and look ahead to the rest of the summer for NZ and India. Will Ross Taylor hold his spot? Was Virat Kohli out? Was Ajinkya Rahane really injured? Is there a way to level the playing fi...
2021/22 Ashes Preview with Melinda Farrell, all-round cricket personality
December 05, 2021 16:00 - 44 minutesA little series called The Ashes is on the horizon, there's drama everywhere and Melinda Farrell joins the show to chat through the storylines before the action gets underway. How will Tim Paine's resignation impact Australia? Can Ollie Robinson be a difference-maker for England? Patrick Cummins - Test captain Will Stuart Broad get the better of David Warner once again? Who is the real Marnus Labuschagne? What impact will the return of Ben Stokes have on the rest of the England lineup? ...
Ish Sodhi - Black Caps' T20 World Cup campaign, the art of leg-spin, Test ambitions and the magic of the IPL
December 03, 2021 16:00 - 29 minutesOn this episode, we're joined by Black Caps' leg-spinner Ish Sodhi. As well as re-living the final few moments of the first Test between NZ and India, we talk about matchups, head knocks, glue hands and big wickets as Ish looks back at a T20 World Cup campaign that took the Black Caps all the way to the final. Naturally, with Baldy and Lippy on the call, the conversation turns to the art of spin bowling and Ish talks about what he learned from playing Test cricket at such an early stage in ...
This Week in Cricket #76 - When a draw feels like a win: Black Caps v India first Test
December 01, 2021 16:00 - 37 minutesThis week's show is dominated by our reaction to the Black Caps' gritty draw against India in the first Test at Kanpur. The Kiwis among us are celebrating a job well done, but do the neutrals think the #1 ranked Test side should be happy with a draw? As the conversation continues, we break down the key performances and talking points from a fascinating match, including: The final few nervy moments Was this a missed opportunity for NZ? Umpiring and the DRS clock Ravichandran Ashwin's follo...
This Week in Cricket #75 - The Tim Paine saga and the India v NZ T20 series
November 24, 2021 04:00 - 32 minutesWhat a rollercoaster few months it has been for the Australian men's team! Justin Langer reportedly lost the dressing room, their World Cup build up was awful, David Warner couldn't get a game at the IPL and then they go and win the T20 World Cup but only a week or so later Tim Paine resigns from the Test captaincy because of a sexting scandal. Never a dull moment. We give our thoughts on the way Cricket Australia has handled the situation and look ahead to what might happen on the field wit...
India v New Zealand Test Series Preview - the World Test Championship defence begins
November 22, 2021 04:00 - 35 minutesTest cricket is back (almost)! After a heavy diet of T20 cricket over the past couple of months, the Black Caps are in India to begin their defence of the World Test Championship mace. In unfamiliar conditions, there's a spin-heavy look to the New Zealand squad, but who will make the starting XI? How much will the Black Caps miss Devon Conway? India has rested half their side, including Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli (back for the second Test) - how will they li...
The Evolution of T20 Cricket - Part 2: What does the future hold?
November 19, 2021 16:01 - 33 minutesIs T20 the most important format in the game today? Recorded just prior to the semi-finals of the 2021 T20 World Cup, this two-part episode charts the evolution of T20 cricket from novelty or experimental format to the present day, when big-money franchise tournaments have become a major part of the cricketing calendar. Was Martin Crowe's Cricket Max ahead of its time? Has there ever been a better T20 innings than Ricky Ponting's 98* in the first T20 international? What impact has T20 had ...
The Evolution of T20 Cricket - Part 1: Is T20 the most important format in the game today?
November 19, 2021 16:00 - 38 minutesIs T20 the most important format in the game today? Recorded just prior to the semi-finals of the 2021 T20 World Cup, this two-part episode charts the evolution of T20 cricket from novelty or experimental format to the present day, when big-money franchise tournaments have become a major part of the cricketing calendar. Was Martin Crowe's Cricket Max ahead of its time? Has there ever been a better T20 innings than Ricky Ponting's 98* in the first T20 international? What impact has T20 had ...
This Week in Cricket #74: Australia win the T20 World Cup
November 17, 2021 04:00 - 42 minutesThe T20 World Cup ended with Australia being crowned the champions of the world as New Zealand were heartbroken again in another white-ball tournament. We re-live the emotions of the final and some incredible batting from Kane Williamson, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh. Did the toss decide the game? Could the Black Caps have done anything differently? Did anyone see Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazelwood having such a starring role for Australia at this World Cup? We also look back at the tou...
T20 World Cup - New Zealand v Australia: The final showdown
November 12, 2021 21:31 - 42 minutesKeen listeners of the show might be looking for our discussion about the evolution of T20 cricket, but two brilliant semi-finals had us buzzing with excitement so we decided to jump on the mics again for this extra episode to look back at these great games and then look forward to the big dance. Emotions were running high, but Binksy remained gracious in defeat in the face of Lippy's celebrations as we discussed the Black Caps' impressive victory against England, which had a few eerie similar...
This Week in Cricket #73 - Finals time at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup
November 09, 2021 04:00 - 36 minutesThe T20 World Cup is the focus again this week with the semi-finalists now confirmed after New Zealand's win against Afghanistan booked them a date against England to compete for a place in the big dance. On the other side of the draw, the only unbeaten side left in the tournament, Pakistan, will face a resurgent David Warner and an Australian team who could well be hitting form at exactly the right time. Did the best four teams make the semi-finals? Can Australia and New Zealand upset the ...
The Test Cricket Hall of Fame - 70 to 66: Finally a Kiwi on the list!
November 05, 2021 04:00 - 40 minutesBaldy has birds on the mind during this edition of the Test Cricket Hall of Fame, as we count down from 70 to 66. There's pigeons, peacocks, ducks and geese, but best of all, there's a Kiwi. We discuss why Australia hasn't produced more great Test allrounders, as well as the evolution of the flipper and some brilliant batters from South Africa, Pakistan and England - including one who might be a lot higher on this list by the time they retire. Are any of this group ranked too low? Or are they...
This Week in Cricket #72 - T20 World Cup: Black Caps beat India, Pakistan and England are on fire and Ben Stokes is back
November 02, 2021 04:00 - 44 minutesIt's another case of World Cup fever this week and there's plenty to talk about, despite Pakistan and England having a jump on the field so far. We start the show by reflecting on an outstanding performance by the Black Caps against India, in a game so crucial that many described it as a World Cup quarter-final. Was Daryl Mitchell's promotion a happy accident? Ish Sodhi was man of the match, but did he bowl the most important spell of the game? Will Virat Kohli's final T20 World Cup as cap...
The Test Cricket Hall of Fame - 75 to 71: A slow one, a fast one, a nice one, a fancy one and England's greatest ever batter?
October 29, 2021 04:00 - 39 minutesThere's some outrageous claims on this episode of the Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame as we explore the careers of five fantastic batters ranked from 75 to 71. Is it better to occupy the crease or score your runs quickly? Does a great player have to be a great leader? Is it a good idea to meet your heroes? And did Binksy really say that Baldy has ranked the best English batter of all time at #73? Are any of this group ranked too low? Or are they lucky to be here? We'd love to continue th...
This Week in Cricket #71 - The T20 World Cup is fizzing like a sherbet dip dab
October 26, 2021 04:00 - 37 minutesThe T20 World Cup has reached the Super 12 stage and there's been some cracking games already. We start with a shout out to Namibia and Scotland for their superb efforts during the group stage, before reminding ourselves that we've pretty much got every prediction wrong so far in the tournament. That hasn't mattered a lick, though, because the cricket has been fascinating and there's a huge week ahead. England smashed the West Indies, Pakistan beat India by 10 wickets, Australia sneaked over...
The Ashes: a check-in
October 24, 2021 04:00 - 26 minutesThe Ashes are still six weeks away, but the boys, particularly Baldy and Binksy, couldn't resist taking a brief detour away from the T20 World Cup to discuss the lay of the land leading into a series that always provides plenty of talking points. Will the English players have to quarantine? What grounds will the games be played at? Which spots are up for grabs in the Australian line up? Are we enjoying the banter? And will Ben Stokes play a part? Keep an eye out for our T20 World Cup co...
Katey Martin - White Ferns tour to England and the 2022 World Cup
October 21, 2021 16:00 - 32 minutesKatey Martin has represented the White Ferns nearly 200 times across an almost 18-year international career, including a rare Test match in 2003. We’ve heard her dulcet tones as part of the Spark Sport commentary team and through the stump mics, and she joined us last week from MIQ after the UK tour. In this candid chat, Katey took us into the White Ferns camp to discuss events both on and off the field over the past few months - first looking back to evaluate the England series and then look...
This Week in Cricket #70 - CSK win the IPL and Day 1 of the T20 World Cup
October 19, 2021 07:00 - 39 minutesEighteen months ago it was hard to imagine we'd have the final of the IPL and the opening games of a T20 World Cup within the same week, but in this new-normal world that's exactly what happened. We talk the excellent turnaround from CSK, led by Stephen Fleming and MS Dhoni, who powered to victory via the bats of Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Moeen Ali, and an excellent campaign from the full squad. There's also plenty of love for KKR and their Kiwi contingent for the way they stormed i...
ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 Preview
October 17, 2021 04:00 - 44 minutesIt's World Cup time, which also means it's preview time! The show starts with an epic Baldwin explainer, before we each select a team to discuss in more detail (no prizes for guessing who we choose). With our biases out of the way, Raj poses four big questions to the group: Which player/s are you most excited to watch? Who is your dark horse team to lift the trophy? Which team will underwhelm? And who will make the semis, final and win it all? We focused largely on the Super 12 stage of...
Niall O'Brien - World Cup wins, throwdowns in the carpark and growing up in a family of Ireland Cricket legends
October 15, 2021 04:00 - 1 hourNiall O'Brien's international career spanned well past a decade, and included more than 100 ODIs, 30 T20Is and Ireland's first Test match in 2018. He's now a player agent and commentator working all around the world, and joined us from the UAE to discuss the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup and take a stroll down memory lane. We talk Ireland's chances and T20 opportunities on the biggest stage for sides in the first round of the group stage, before Niall takes us into his backyard and schoolgroun...
This Week in Cricket #69 - The Ashes are on and Kiwi Knight Riders on the charge
October 12, 2021 02:00 - 25 minutesIt's the same old Top Order, but a new episode structure, with more regular programming heading your way. And it all starts with an old favourite, This Week in Cricket, where we go around the cricketing world to discuss what's caught our eye. The Ashes are on (hopefully), and England have named a nearly full-strength squad, but does Joe Root have enough support to get a positive result? It's business time at the IPL and CSK are already through to the final after another quality knock from Rut...
The Test Cricket Hall of Fame - 80 to 76: Contrasting spinners, uncomfortable seamers and Zimbabwe's finest
October 07, 2021 04:00 - 39 minutesThe Hall of Fame is back, and in this episode we discuss two spinners with very different styles, a pair of seamers that made life very uncomfortable for batters and one of the best sweepers the game has ever seen. Raj highlights a clash with The Don, Lippy makes the case for consistent spinners to get more respect, Binksy re-lives Headingley 1981 and Baldy hands out the first award at 'The Toppies'. Are any of this group ranked too low? Or are they lucky to be here? We'd love to continue th...
Daniel Beswick, Emerging Cricket - Associate Cricket outlook and the T20 World Cup
October 04, 2021 02:00 - 59 minutesWe said in one of our recent podcasts that it was a buzz to discover we’ve got listeners in places as diverse as Spain, Singapore, Nepal and El Salvador, and although the Test playing nations - sometimes a select few - tend to dominate the media, we wanted to shine a light on some of the other cricket going on around the world. To that end, we were joined by Daniel Beswick, one of the founding members of the Emerging Cricket platform, to discuss the the outlook for Associate Cricket sides in ...
The Test Cricket Hall of Fame - 85 to 81: The art of wicketkeeping and why leadership matters
September 30, 2021 03:00 - 38 minutesIt's another instalment of the Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame, and in this episode wicketkeeping and captaincy take centre stage. You'll hear Binksy more animated than ever before, while we discuss his cricketing hero in an attempt to split two great wicketkeepers (it's not even close, he tells us!). Raj is impressed by a whippy Australian, Baldy starts second-guessing himself and suggesting version 2.0 of the list is on the way, while Lippy uses two of the great West Indian leaders to make ...
This Week In Cricket #68 - Black Caps and England abandon tours to Pakistan, White Ferns drama and Virat Kohli steps down as captain
September 21, 2021 04:00 - 44 minutesWe were planning to take a pause of our This Week in Cricket episodes to dive into our Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame, until the Black Caps tour of Pakistan was abandoned just hours before the first ODI was scheduled to begin. Then, the morning after we'd talked through our initial reactions to that news, more stories broke - the upcoming England Men's and Women's tours to Pakistan have also been cancelled, and reports of a scare related to the England v White Ferns ODI series - so Baldy and...
This Week in Cricket #67 - the England v India fall out, plus Ajaz Patel and Tom Latham are very good at cricket
September 17, 2021 08:00 - 1 hourThis week on the show we start by trying to make sense of the cancellation/forfeiture/postponement (??) of the 5th England v India Test. What was the result of the series? Does that matter? Was this all about the IPL? Is this current fixture list actually sustainable for the players? We also look back at what was an entertaining series to discuss the impressive contributions from Rohit Sharma and the confusing puzzle that is the English batting lineup. In the second part of the show we r...
This Week in Cricket #66 - Black Caps learning on the job, Sophie Devine's century and India win the 4th Test
September 08, 2021 04:00 - 52 minutesThe New Zealand teams are back in action, there's drama in Pakistan and Shardul Thakur has become the world's greatest allrounder - it's been a busy week! We start the show by discussing the news that Pakistan coaches Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis have resigned from their roles only hours after the T20 World Cup squad was announced, before celebrating wins for both the White Ferns and the Black Caps over the past few days. There's Sophie Devine's milestone performance, Ajaz Patel shining in ...
The Test Cricket Hall of Fame - 90 to 86: Record-breakers, post-war heroes and a mustachioed man
September 05, 2021 16:00 - 38 minutesThe Top Order Podcast Hall of Fame returns! We get the time machine out this week to discuss four of the best from the post-war era, plus an Aussie speedster from the 2000s who fans from other countries loved to hate. Binksy shares stories from English cricket folklore, Baldy brings the stats and talks up a hometown hero, there's a spinner for Lippy to rave about and Raj gets so excited his shirt comes off! SPOILER ALERT This episode features players from 90-86 in the following order: 90 -...
The Test Cricket Hall of Fame - Record-breakers, post-war heroes and a mustachioed man: #90 to 86
September 05, 2021 15:00 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBThe Top Order Podcast Hall of Fame returns! We get the time machine out this week to discuss four of the best from the post-war era, plus an Aussie speedster from the 2000s who fans from other countries loved to hate. Binksy shares stories from English cricket folklore, Baldy brings the stats and talks up a hometown hero, there's a spinner for Lippy to rave about and Raj gets so excited his shirt comes off! Are any of this group ranked too low? Or are they lucky to be here? We'd love to c...
This Week in Cricket #65 - Joe Root goes back to the well, Shaheen Shah Afridi is on track for greatness and the White Ferns and Black Caps are almost back in action
September 01, 2021 02:00 - 59 minutesIt's another jam-packed lockdown episode with plenty going on as we cast our eyes around the world to discuss the week that was and look ahead with excitement. Are we in a special era of fast bowling? Will Shaheen Shah Afridi become one of Pakistan's greats? Are highlights packages getting worse? What impact has The Hundred had on the women's game? How much fun are the commentators having at the CPL? Will the return of Suzie Bates be enough for the White Ferns to upset England? And ho...
This Week in Cricket #64 - Virat Kohli on the line, Justin Langer on the brink and a thrilling win for the West Indies
August 23, 2021 02:00 - 1 hourIt's back to lockdown here in New Zealand, but Raj returns as we gather on Zoom to review the cricketing week that was and the second Test between England and India. We start the show with another thrilling Test match, as Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales get the West Indies home against Pakistan. There's New Zealand news, with Shane Bond joining the Black Caps coaching staff for the T20 World Cup, and Molly Penfold getting a White Ferns call up. Adam Milne gets a shout out during some Hundred pr...
This Week in Cricket #63 - Black Caps and White Ferns squads, England v India recap and Australia's struggles continue
August 11, 2021 16:00 - 59 minutesWe're a man down on this episode, with Raj unavailable, but we soldier on to review the cricketing week that was. We start with a solo performance by Stu, as the Black Caps squads and New Zealand Cricket's plans for the rest of the year were announced on Tuesday morning - the day after our initial recording. He runs through the team lists and a few initial thoughts, particularly about the T20 World Cup side and the spin-heavy look, which includes the likes of Mark Chapman and Todd Astle (full...
The Test Cricket Hall of Fame - 95 to 91: Leaders, artists and a hitman
August 08, 2021 16:00 - 38 minutesThe doors to the Hall of Fame are open once more and players 95 to 91 enter The Club. It's a group of five that could send you down a YouTube rabbit hole for days - there's two of India's greatest leaders, a scary and skilful West Indian speedster, an English wicketkeeper who reminded Raj of his younger days and brought a smile to Binksy's face, plus another classy batter who always went to another level against Australia. And, remarkably, there's still no sign of Martin Crowe. SPOILER ALERT...
The Test Cricket Hall of Fame - Leaders, artists and a hitman: #95 to 91
August 08, 2021 15:00 - 36 minutes - 33 MBThe doors to the Hall of Fame are open once more and players 95 to 91 enter The Club. It's a group of five that could send you down a YouTube rabbit hole for days - there's two of India's greatest leaders, a scary and skilful West Indian speedster, an English wicketkeeper who reminded Raj of his younger days and brought a smile to Binksy's face, plus another classy batter who always went to another level against Australia. And, remarkably, there's still no sign of Martin Crowe. Are any of thi...
The Test Cricket Hall of Fame - 100 to 96: The countdown begins
August 02, 2021 16:00 - 36 minutesThe doors to the Hall of Fame are finally open, and in this episode Baldy walks three Englishmen, a West Indian and an Aussie past Nathan Lyon, Mark Waugh and Shakib al Hasan - our benchmark players who remain stuck in the foyer. We put six minutes on the clock as Baldy makes the case for each inductee, then talk longevity vs peak performance, wicketkeeping, legacies and whether it matters or not if people like you. Lippy finds a way to bring up a famous Black Caps win despite there not being...
The Test Cricket Hall of Fame - The countdown begins: #100 to 96
August 02, 2021 15:00 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBThe doors to the Hall of Fame are finally open, and in this episode Baldy walks three Englishmen, a West Indian and an Aussie past Nathan Lyon, Mark Waugh and Shakib al Hasan - our benchmark players who remain stuck in the foyer. We put six minutes on the clock as Baldy makes the case for each inductee, then talk longevity vs peak performance, wicketkeeping, legacies and whether it matters or not if people like you. Lippy finds a way to bring up a famous Black Caps win despite there not being...
This Week in Cricket #62 - The Hundred begins, West Indies v Australia is confusing and an England v India Test preview
July 29, 2021 16:00 - 33 minutesThis week on the show we talk about the start of The Hundred, try to figure out what's real and what's not from the West Indies v Australia matches and look ahead to an intriguing Test series between England and India. We start by discussing The Hundred as Lippy attempts to understand why the competition appears to be so divisive, realise that cricket is still cricket and cricket is fun to watch, but what's going on with those graphics?! Then we take another opportunity to quiz Baldy about wh...
The Test Cricket Hall of Fame - How it works and the notable omissions
July 21, 2021 16:00 - 1 hourIt's here! We've been teasing this for a while, and Baldy's been putting in hours and hours of work behind the scenes to get us ready to begin. Now here it is: the Top Order Podcast Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame. In this episode, Baldy sets the parameters for discussion: What makes a great player? What are the criteria for selection? Stats or the eye test? Longevity or peak performance? Does winning matter? Is it possible to compare eras? Lippy then hijacks the notable omissions conv...
This Week in Cricket #61 - Strength in depth, backroom struggles and posters of Joe Root on the wall
July 15, 2021 16:00 - 53 minutesAfter a hat-trick of quality guests, normal service resumes as we discuss recent events across the cricketing world. We talk about the raft of Black Caps performing on the English county circuit, including Glenn Phillips, Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne, and the prospect of huge competition for spots as New Zealand builds towards the T20 World Cup. Baldy really enjoys it as he's questioned about Australia's performances against the West Indies: Are they any closer to knowing their...
Jarrod Kimber - How the Black Caps won the World Test Championship
July 12, 2021 16:00 - 1 hourIn this episode we speak with one of the best in the business. Jarrod Kimber has written for Wisden, Cricinfo and many many more cricket sites and publications around the world. He’s authored books, worked as a commentator, an analyst and made an award-winning film (Death of a Gentleman). We've been admirers of his work for a while and were particularly taken with all the New Zealand content he's produced lately, so we invited him on the show to talk about the Black Caps journey from mediocri...
Tim Southee - World Test Champion
July 08, 2021 16:00 - 31 minutesTim Southee, Blackcaps seamer and recent member of New Zealand's elite 300 Test wicket club, joins the show to re-live the glory of the World Test Championship Final and the tour to England. We talk celebrations, the mace's journey home, what it means to win an ICC tournament after coming so close in 2015 and 2019, and the growth of this Blackcaps side during Tim's impressive career. Tim insightfully leads us through the key moments of the win against India. From searching 'Southampton weath...