Wisden Cricket Weekly

Join cricket journalist Matt Roller, known for his keen tactical insight from the Gabba, as he dissects England's rough day during the pink-ball Test. He highlights Australia's brilliant night bowling strategy and critiques Ben Stokes' captaincy decisions. The discussion reveals England's batting struggles and poor shot selection, with a focus on Ollie Pope's unclear approach. Matt contrasts Australia's adaptive tactics with England's predictable game plan, emphasizing the need for variety in bowling and coaching fit for a young squad.

Day two of the pink-ball Test in Brisbane unfolds with England struggling after dropping key catches. The team faces pressure to take early wickets or risk a rough night in the field. They discuss the strain of a four-man bowling attack and assess individual performances, including Jamie Smith’s tough day. A surprising bright spot is Will Jacks' spectacular catch, which offers a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos. There’s a broader conversation on England's historical catching issues and their preparation for the match conditions.

The first day of the pink-ball Test in Brisbane was nothing short of dramatic. Joe Root celebrated a landmark century, showcasing his mastery while stabilizing England's innings. Yas and Phil analyzed a crucial 61-run partnership that saved batting time and shifted momentum. They discussed England's competitive score of around 275 and critiqued Australia's bowling choices, notably the absence of Nathan Lyon. The hosts highlighted key moments, including Crawley’s gritty contribution and the impact of Stokes's run-out, hinting at its potential legacy.

In this discussion, cricket journalist Matt Roller breaks down England's surprising selection of Will Jacks for the Brisbane Test. He elaborates on Jacks' role as a dynamic part-time spinner and England's strategy to strengthen their batting lineup. The conversation also explores Australia's challenge of replacing Usman Khawaja, with Travis Head's possible move to opener under scrutiny. Additionally, they delve into the unique dynamics of pink-ball cricket and how twilight conditions could influence the match.

Butch, Phil, Ben and Yas look ahead to the pink-ball Test in Brisbane, react to South Africa's series win in India and more. 0:00 Timothy Taylor's / 0:40 Intro / 2:17 Do we like pink-ball Tests? / 16:45 Naked Wines / 17:10 Mark Butcher / 32:27 Cricket 26 / 32:51 What will Australia's XI be? / 39:38 Pink-ball warm-up / 48:10 Visit Victoria / 48:35 Wisden Photograph of the Year competition / 48:59 FREE WCM Ashes special / 50:05 Patreon / 50:54 India vs South Africa / 1:00:12 County schedule / 1:08:13 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 🇦🇺 VISIT MELBOURNE If you’re heading to Australia this winter, find out more about what Victoria has to offer at: https://www.visitmelbourne.com 🎮 CRICKET 26 Cricket 26 is available to purchase now. Step up and make it your moment: https://www.bigant.com/cricket-26-uk-retailers 📸 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 🏏 FREE WCM ASHES SPECIAL Read a FREE 140-page Ashes special digital edition of Wisden Cricket Monthly now. Featuring some of our new content and best bits on the greatest series of all time, it's the perfect accompaniment to the upcoming series. There's also the chance to win a bat worth £600... http://bit.ly/4qWXEm6 👀 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

Jim Wallace, a seasoned cricket journalist for The Guardian and The Athletic, brings his on-the-ground insights from the Ashes tour. He and Yas Rana dissect the chaotic two-day Test in Perth, revealing mixed emotions among English fans. They debate England's decision to skip a pink-ball warm-up, focusing on acclimatization and squad unity. Jim also outlines potential changes in the Australian lineup and addresses batting struggles, including Khawaja's form. The discussion hints at the tactical challenges posed by pink-ball dynamics.

Lauren Winfield-Hill and Yas Rana chat about the latest from the WBBL before Katya Witney, Aadya Sharma and Rahul Iyer preview the WPL 2026 auction. 0:00 Metro Bank / 0:38 Intro / 0:57 Lauren Winfield-Hill / 11:03 LWH Coaching / 11:37 WPL auction preview / 31:59 Outro The Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund in collaboration with the ECB aims to triple the number of girls’ cricket teams by breaking down barriers and creating supportive and inclusive spaces. Help transform the game, head to https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/cricket/ to champion the future of girls’ cricket. 🏏 LAUREN WINFIELD-HILL COACHING For cricketers serious about improvement, Lauren Winfield-Hill's Women & Girls coaching offers a new way to train. Use the code "WISDEN" to get 10% off and take your cricket further: https://www.lpcricket.com/pages/women-girls-1?srsltid=AfmBOoroHJglt2zmmGviepSuAaiG41WyCI2pmoWYBbUrn5wkRO6LRQxo 👀 PATREON Sign up to our Patreon! http://patreon.com/WisdenCricket 📔 WISDEN CRICKET MONTHLY: Print: https://bit.ly/WCMPrint Digital: https://bit.ly/WCMDigital #Cricket #IndianCricket #WPL Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Butch, Jo, Ben and Yas try to make sense of one of the maddest Tests in Ashes history, one which Australia won in two days thanks to the brilliance of Mitchell Starc and Travis Head. 0:00 Timothy Taylor's / 0:53 Intro / 1:25 Where does that defeat rank? / 9:05 Mark Butcher / 34:45 Cricket 26 / 35:09 Visit Melbourne / 35:51 England's batting / 46:49 Too early for changes? / 54:59 Are there ANY positives to take? / 1:02:42 Naked Wines / 1:03:21 Riverstone Living / 1:03:53 Should England be playing a pink-ball warm-up? / 1:10:10 Starc and Head / 1:16:14 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 🇦🇺 VISIT MELBOURNE If you’re heading to Australia this winter, find out more about what Victoria has to offer at: https://www.visitmelbourne.com 🎮 CRICKET 26 Cricket 26 is available to purchase now. Step up and make it your moment: https://www.bigant.com/cricket-26-uk-retailers 🏠 RIVERSTONE LIVING We are proud to have partnered with Riverstone Living for our Ashes Daily podcast! From beautiful London apartments to five-star service and a thriving community, Riverstone is all about staying independent and inspired. Get in touch with them for a tour today: https://www.riverstoneliving.com 👀 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

A slightly different episode today as Lauren Winfield-Hill takes on a Reddit Ask Me Anything Q&A. The Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund in collaboration with the ECB aims to triple the number of girls’ cricket teams by breaking down barriers and creating supportive and inclusive spaces. Help transform the game, head to https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/cricket/ to champion the future of girls’ cricket. 👀 PATREON Sign up to our Patreon! http://patreon.com/WisdenCricket 📔 WISDEN CRICKET MONTHLY: Print: https://bit.ly/WCMPrint Digital: https://bit.ly/WCMDigital #Cricket #EnglandCricket #Ashes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Lawrence on a disastrous second day for England, Travis Head's stunning century and one of the shortest Ashes Tests in history. 👀 Listen to the extended version on our Patreon: http://patreon.com/WisdenCricket 🏠 RIVERSTONE LIVING We are proud to have partnered with Riverstone Living for our Ashes Daily podcast! From beautiful London apartments to five-star service and a thriving community, Riverstone is all about staying independent and inspired. Get in touch with them for a tour today: https://www.riverstoneliving.com #EnglandCricket #Ashes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices