Wisden Cricket Weekly

Ben and Yas dive into the drama of the third day in Adelaide, dissecting Travis Head's stellar century. They highlight England's struggles, pointing to inconsistent bowling and missed opportunities in the field. Concerns arise over fitness, particularly with Archer and Stokes, leaving the team's depth exposed. The discussion also reveals the contrasting spin impacts of Root and Jack, while emphasizing Australia's commanding position. It's a captivating analysis that keeps fans on the edge of their seats!

Lawrence Booth, a seasoned cricket journalist, joins the discussion post-day four of the Ashes. They dive into Australia's commanding position, just four wickets away from retaining the urn. Lawrence shares insights on England's potential for future victories in Australia. The duo analyzes key performances, including Crawley's impressive 85 and the effectiveness of England's spin options. They also critique strategic decisions, like Brook's risky reverse sweep. The conversation wraps with praise for Lyon and Cummins' pivotal roles in the match.

England's Ashes hopes are dwindling as they trail significantly at the Adelaide Oval. Phil and Yas analyze the disappointing performance, highlighting a crucial but shaky partnership between Stokes and Archer. Listener reactions reveal frustration over England's lack of rhythm and missed chances. They discuss Stokes' patient innings as a psychological statement, while critiquing England's technique against spin. The contrasting bowling quality of Australia is evident, fueling concerns over England's squad selection and Ollie Pope's declining form. Despite the gloom, Jofra Archer's resurgence offers a glimmer of hope.

The hosts dive into Alex Carey's impressive century, highlighting its emotional weight and form. They debate which side came out on top, reflecting on the balance of play. Mark Butcher critiques England's bowling performance, especially Archer's control issues, while Yas defends Stokes' captaincy choices. There's also a discussion on selection dilemmas and the implications of Archer's workload. The hosts preview the challenging conditions for day two, considering how England might tackle the heat.

Join former New Zealand international Katey Martin as she transitions from a 19-year playing career to a dynamic commentary role. She shares her experiences of calling her former teammates and New Zealand's thrilling T20 World Cup victory. Katey discusses her journey through commentary workshops, overcoming nerves, and the significance of an all-female commentary team on a men's Test. Insightful observations on social media challenges and the evolution of women's cricket highlight her passion for the sport and the future she envisions for it.

In this discussion, Matt Roller, an ESPNcricinfo journalist known for his tactical analysis, dives into England's controversial decision to drop Shoaib Bashir for the crucial Adelaide Test. He explores how this change impacts the team's bowling options and critiques their overall squad depth. The conversation also touches on Ben Stokes' leadership, the pressures facing England's bowlers, and the challenges of adapting to the conditions at Adelaide. Roller highlights the risks of an underperforming attack and the missed opportunity in developing specialist spinners.

In this discussion, Alexia Walker, an experienced coach, shares her insights on the lack of world-class female batters in England, highlighting critical stages in player pathways and the role of supportive environments. Paul Shaw, a former England women's head coach, emphasizes the importance of tactical awareness and resilience in training. Lauren Winfield-Hill, a former England batter, contrasts training cultures between England and Australia, advocating for increased player independence and practice volume to elevate performance standards. Together, they explore potential solutions for fostering elite talent.

Phil, Jo and Yas reflect on England's poor performance in the pink-ball Test in Brisbane and West Indies' incredible draw in New Zealand. 0:00 Timothy Taylor's / 1:01 Intro / 3:00 New Zealand vs West Indies / 10:43 WARNE: Treasures of a legend / 11:22 Brisbane Test / 27:30 Is Bazball dead? / 34:59 Alex Carey / 39:18 Wisden POTY / 39:48 Patreon / 40:11 Naked Wines / 42:36 Joe Root / 44:50 Change for Adelaide? / 53:01 Stokes, McCullum and Key / 56:47 Shakib Al Hasan / 58:18 Outro 🍻 TIMOTHY TAYLOR'S We’re incredibly excited to be working with Timothy Taylor’s throughout the Ashes. Proper beer, brewed the right way, perfect for watching the cricket. To ensure you’re never stumped on where to find a great pint of Landlord, visit: ⁠https://timothytaylor.co.uk/pint-finder ⁠ 🍷 NAKED WINES Head to ⁠https://nakedwines.co.uk/wisden⁠ for an £80 voucher (or ⁠http://nakedwines.com.au/WISDEN⁠ for a $100 voucher) and get 12 top-rated wines for just £64.99! Use ‘WISDEN’ as both your code and password 🇦🇺 WARNE: TREASURES OF A LEGEND If you’re down under for the Ashes Series, do not miss WARNE: Treasures of a Legend at the Australian Sports Museum, located inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This world-first exhibition brings together the most prized possessions of the King of Spin, Shane Warne, including the showstopper Ball of the Century. Opening this December 16th, just in time for the Boxing Day Test Match. Bookings are essential, secure your spot now: ⁠https://australiansportsmuseum.org.au/warne⁠ 📸 WISDEN POTY Wisden’s Photograph of the Year is now open! Submit your entry today to be part of one of cricket’s most prestigious photographic awards, and for the chance to win a cash prize: ⁠https://wpoty.wisden.com/2025⁠ 👀 PATREON For bonus podcasts and daily episodes after every England game, sign up to our Patreon! ⁠http://patreon.com/WisdenCricket⁠ 👉 SUBSCRIBE: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@WisdenCricket?sub_confirmation=1⁠ #Cricket #EnglandCricket #Ashes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yas and Cam dive into the climax of the Brisbane Test, showcasing England's late fight led by Stokes and Jacks. They explore Stokes' impactful post-match reflections, highlighting his call for resilience and leadership. The duo discusses potential changes in the squad, naming players like Ollie Pope and Brydon Carse under scrutiny. With McCullum hinting at possible over-preparation, the conversation also touches on broader formation issues impacting England's performance. Tune in for insights on the future direction of the team!

The discussion opens with England's dismal performance in Brisbane. Frustrations mount as the hosts dissect the team's batting, bowling, and fielding failures. They critique England's lack of clarity and poor tactics against Australia, particularly against Starc. Coaching roles and the essential need for solid communication are highlighted. The hosts reflect on the stark contrast between England's erratic play and Australia's disciplined approach. With the next match ahead, they ponder potential changes and lament the disappointment of fans.