The Grade Cricketer

Summer is here. We’ve decimated Pakistan at the Gabbatoir; our number 3 batsman hit a nerdy, well-compiled Daddy Hundred; and Davey Warner did the Toyota leap thingy. As a nation, we're rightfully approaching Bicentennial/Expo ’88 levels of safety.   However, India continues to send warning signs from abroad as their frightening attack rips through Bangladesh in a Pink Ball test. Across the Tasman, Mitchell Santner moves from “bloke who bats 8” to test centurion, while Joe Root continues to face criticism over his leadership from blokes with 43 followers and an egg for a Twitter profile pic. The ICC World Championship Test points system makes no sense and therefore needs to adopt the Qantas Frequent Flyer status credits system to determine membership levels. And CA has released a new board game, albeit one that is eerily similar to an existing product in the market.   Two phenomenal guests this week. We get Oz rock legend (and self-professed ‘alpha’ of Powderfinger) Bernard Fanning to talk childhood cricket memories, backstage tubbing (not a thing among musos, apparently, although he does share a shower story from a recent charity match), while closing out the chat with a pointed message to Virat Kohli. And @Robelinda2 (Rob Moody) jumps on to clarify the correct pronunciation of his internet moniker, what it’s like to be the Banksy of cricket video uploads, and his altruistic motivation for making people happy (when he could literally be making millions in YouTube advertising).   Meanwhile, #AskTGC helps solve a Triple C inquiry from a young man living in a female-starved rural outpost, while earnestly advising on Gen X champings and Brexit-influenced cricket dreams. It’s a bumper show – delivered to your ears free of charge as always – and it's all thanks to the kings and queens at @BudgySmuggler for whom we are greatly indebited.     · Thanks to Jarryd Biviano for the cast art @thefifthcreative on Instagram · Thanks Diamantina Podcast Network for their studio   ***   We’re performing live across Australia in 2019. Our dates:   Brisbane – Princess Theatre, Thursday November 21, 7.30pm (with Jason Gillespie) Adelaide – Rhino Room, Saturday November 30, 12pm (with Shaun Tait) Melbourne – Corner Hotel, Friday December 27, 7.30pm (with John Hastings) Melbourne – Corner Hotel, Saturday December 28, 7.30pm (with John Hastings) Sydney – Comedy Store, Friday January 3, 7.30pm (Guest TBC) Sydney – Comedy Store, Saturday January 4, 7.30pm (Guest TBC)   Tickets at https://gradecricketer.club/upcoming-events   ***   We do events, too. If you have sporting entertainment needs and prefer material sourced after 1975, please talk to us. We’ve performed across Australia and the UK, and love telling stories from clubland, or interviewing those who tell them even better. Contact albert.machala@century.com.au for more details.   ***   We have merch, namely Stubby Holders, and Smugglers. Head to https://gradecricketer.club/shop for the specifics   ***   Big thanks to Jarryd Biviano @thefifthcreative and Julia Dowe for our podcast art, Toby Shain for the voiceovers + fake ad production, and Adrian Leung for our intro tune.   ***   Email the show at gradecricketer@gmail.com   ***   We’re able to do all of this thanks to the fit, intelligent, enterprising people at Budgy Smuggler. It either is, or is nearly, summer somewhere in the world.EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the eve of the First Test and the summer of Marnus is about to start, so why does this all feel like a Partridge shrug? Pakistan is a decentralised digital currency, or some shit. There’s a conversation around mental health to be had, so we have a crack at it. Meanwhile, James Pattinson allegedly said something vile in a Shield game… what was it? Bob Murphy comes in to discuss woke blokes and AFL/Cricket synergies. Brian Lara discusses his relationship to club cricket, being told to score by his first coach, being 12th man, circuiting with the West Indies and touring Pakistan in the 90s and 2000s. #AskTGC tackles cricket socialism, team WhatsApp dynamics, and how team kit bats are like rescue dogs. None of this possible without our comrades at Budgy Smuggler.   We’re performing live across Australia in 2019. Our dates:   Brisbane – Princess Theatre, Thursday November 21, 7.30pm (with Jason Gillespie) Adelaide – Rhino Room, Saturday November 30, 12pm (with Shaun Tait) Melbourne – Corner Hotel, Friday December 27, 7.30pm (with John Hastings) Melbourne – Corner Hotel, Saturday December 28, 7.30pm (with John Hastings) Sydney – Comedy Store, Friday January 3, 7.30pm (Guest TBC) Sydney – Comedy Store, Saturday January 4, 7.30pm (Guest TBC)   Tickets at https://gradecricketer.club/upcoming-events   ***   We do events, too. If you have sporting entertainment needs and prefer material sourced after 1975, please talk to us. We’ve performed across Australia and the UK, and love telling stories from clubland, or interviewing those who tell them even better. Contact albert.machala@century.com.au for more details.   ***   We have merch, namely Stubby Holders, and Smugglers. Head to https://gradecricketer.club/shop for the specifics   ***   Big thanks to Jarryd Biviano @thefifthcreative and Julia Dowe for our podcast art, Toby Shain for the voiceovers + fake ad production, and Adrian Leung for our intro tune.   ***   Email the show at gradecricketer@gmail.com   ***   We’re able to do all of this thanks to the fit, intelligent, enterprising people at Budgy Smuggler. It either is, or is nearly, summer somewhere in the world. For the entirety of your colourful swimwear needs, head to budgysmuggler.com.auEXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we discuss forgettable T20 cricket, the benefits of memory erasure, and the best dessert wine with which to digest Steve Smith. There’s also England vs New Zealand — yes, it’s happened again, but this time it’s a box office flop sequel — and the concerning devolution of umpires from kindly grandfathers to hardcore porn stars. Adam Zampa goes from representing his country in front of the eyes of the world to sitting watching a 2ndXI game with his girlfriend, calling in to The Grade Cricketer Podcast, while the sounds of the Adelaide Police Department race past the ground. We ask him, what's your message to rare blokes out there? #AskTGC ponders whether you can carpool with the opposition, and is there such a thing as a “moral” hundred? Almost certainly not. None of this possible without our great friends at Budgy Smuggler.   ***   We’re performing live across Australia in 2019. Our dates:   Brisbane – Princess Theatre, Thursday November 21, 7.30pm (with Jason Gillespie) Adelaide – Rhino Room, Saturday November 30, 12pm (with Shaun Tait) Melbourne – Corner Hotel, Friday December 27, 7.30pm (with John Hastings) Melbourne – Corner Hotel, Saturday December 28, 7.30pm (with John Hastings) Sydney – Comedy Store, Friday January 3, 7.30pm (Guest TBC) Sydney – Comedy Store, Saturday January 4, 7.30pm (Guest TBC)   Tickets at https://gradecricketer.club/upcoming-events   ***   We’re able to do all of this thanks to the fit, intelligent, enterprising people at Budgy Smuggler. It either is, or is nearly, summer somewhere in the world. For the entirety of your colourful swimwear needs, head to budgysmuggler.com.au   ***   Right now, for a limited time Blinkist has a special offer just for our audience. Go to Blinkist.com/cricket to get 25% off and a 7-Day free trial right now   ***   We do events, too. If you have sporting entertainment needs and prefer material sourced after 1975, please talk to us. We’ve performed across Australia and the UK, and love telling stories from clubland, or interviewing those who tell them even better. Contact albert.machala@century.com.aufor more details.   ***   We have merch, namely Stubby Holders, and Smugglers. Head to https://gradecricketer.club/shopfor the specifics   ***   Big thanks to Jarryd Biviano @thefifthcreative and Julia Dowe for our podcast art, Toby Shain for the voiceovers + fake ad production, and Adrian Leung for our intro tune.   ***   Email the show at gradecricketer@gmail.comEXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does international T20 cricket actually need context, or should we just shut up and let the content wash over us like a meaningless Netflix series? Muhammad Irfan is 216 cm tall – how big can bowlers get from here? Shakib Al Hasan is banned from cricket for not reporting a crude match-fixing approach via Whatsapp, but Chinese telco Huawei hasn’t pulled his sponsorship deal. Pete Handscomb joins the cast to discuss “cancel culture” and what it’s like to have prominent former players dissect your technique out of the sides of their mouths. And #AskTGC delves into motherly alpha powerplays, while providing gentle assurance to a young father concerned over the cricketing future of his one-year old son. None of this possible without our good friends at Budgy Smuggler.   We’re performing live across Australia in 2019. Our dates:   Brisbane – Princess Theatre, Thursday November 21, 7.30pm (with Jason Gillespie) Adelaide – Rhino Room, Saturday November 30, 12pm (with Shaun Tait) Melbourne – Corner Hotel, Friday December 27, 7.30pm (with John Hastings) Melbourne – Corner Hotel, Saturday December 28, 7.30pm (with John Hastings) Sydney – Comedy Store, Friday January 3, 7.30pm (Guest TBC) Sydney – Comedy Store, Saturday January 4, 7.30pm (Guest TBC)   Tickets at https://gradecricketer.club/upcoming-events   ***   We do events, too. If you have sporting entertainment needs and prefer material sourced after 1975, please talk to us. We’ve performed across Australia and the UK, and love telling stories from clubland, or interviewing those who tell them even better. Contact albert.machala@century.com.aufor more details.   ***   We have merch, namely Stubby Holders, and Smugglers. Head to https://gradecricketer.club/shopfor the specifics   ***   Big thanks to Jarryd Biviano @thefifthcreative and Julia Dowe for our podcast art, Toby Shain for the voiceovers + fake ad production, and Adrian Leung for our intro tune.   ***   Email the show at gradecricketer@gmail.com   ***   We’re able to do all of this thanks to the fit, intelligent, enterprising people at Budgy Smuggler. It either is, or is nearly, summer somewhere in the world. For the entirety of your colourful swimwear needs, head to budgysmuggler.com.auEXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A jam packed show! Warner, Finch and Maxwell obliterate Sri Lanka in Adelaide and didn't it feel good. We'll talk England and New Zealand, WBBL, selections on Seek, LinkedIn stalking of bowled victims and #AskTGC for dating advice. Ed Cowan and Russel Arnold join the show for more wild stories about shower culture, sledging international players and realising you're on 156*. None of this possible without our good friends at Budgy Smuggler.   *** We’re performing live across Australia in 2019. Our dates:   Brisbane – Princess Theatre, Thursday November 21, 7.30pm (with Jason Gillespie) Adelaide – Rhino Room, Saturday November 30, 12pm (with Shaun Tait) Melbourne – Corner Hotel, Friday December 27, 7.30pm (with John Hastings) Melbourne – Corner Hotel, Saturday December 28, 7.30pm (with John Hastings) Sydney – Comedy Store, Friday January 3, 7.30pm (Guest TBC) Sydney – Comedy Store, Saturday January 4, 7.30pm (Guest TBC)   Tickets at https://gradecricketer.club/upcoming-events   ***   We do events, too. If you have sporting entertainment needs and prefer material sourced after 1975, please talk to us. We’ve performed across Australia and the UK, and love telling stories from clubland, or interviewing those who tell them even better. Contact albert.machala@century.com.au for more details.   ***   We have merch, namely Stubby Holders, and Smugglers. Head to https://gradecricketer.club/shop for the specifics   ***     Big thanks to Jarryd Biviano @thefifthcreative and Julia Dowe for our podcast art, Toby Shain for the voiceovers + fake ad production, and Adrian Leung for our intro tune.   ***   Email the show at gradecricketer@gmail.com   ***   We’re able to do all of this thanks to the fit, intelligent, enterprising people at Budgy Smuggler. It either is, or is nearly, summer somewhere in the world. For the entirety of your colourful swimwear needs, head to budgysmuggler.com.auEXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The podcast returns for the southern summer of 2019/2020. What storylines will this season bring? Will Australia resume its (rightful) dominance of the men's game amid a plethora of lifeless wickets and broken pre-season dreams and will Steve Smith be dismissed once before the clock's change back? Dan Christian joins the show to discuss next year's T20 World Cup and what he was thinking while watching Prime Minister Scott Morrison catch with crocodile hands. All that before #AskTGC. None of this possible without our good friends Budgy SmugglerEXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The World Cup and The Ashes: it made us feel; it made us emote. We bid farewell to both with our favourite memories, before talking to the true star of the summer, Pavel Florin. #AskTGC covers identity, TGC bingo, newcomers and dreams.   Rapturous praise to Budgy Smuggler for permitting our words about the brand.EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why does everything have to be a tie? England level the series at The Oval thanks to Joe Denly's new-dad-sugar-hit runs and Stuart Broad bowling kryptonite. Australia retain the Ashes, but lets focus on the negatives and how they can bounce back at The Gabba in November. Dean Jones is on the phone from India to discuss being King of The World, batting with a Harrow sized stick in 1st grade and why, because of global warming, his 210 in Madras will soon be the new norm. #AskTGC involves Steve Waugh on a balcony, closing a microwave with a well-timed leave and and Englishman having Steve Smith Stockholm Syndrome.EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How the Ashes was retained (won); Smith and greatness; reaction and salt; Paine, Warner, Broad, the quicks, everyone. Chris Rogers joins, while AskTGC covers batting awards, corporate life, swings, and hypothetical trysts with AB De Villiers.   Big ol' thanks to our friends at Budgy Smuggler 👍EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up on how we're supposed to feel post-Headingley and look forward to Old Trafford for the 4th Ashes Test. Khawaja is out, Starc is in and Mitch Marsh is supposed to be a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner. Steve Waugh tells us what it's like being on the balcony during a Test and making a nation feel safe - as well as answering 'that' question about watching his son play; and Doug Bollinger tells us about how fast he bowled with a two-piece ball on astro turf in park cricket before playing for Australia. #AskTGC involves seeing Johnny Bairstow at Twickenham, knocking-in a bat in an apartment block, showering in Smugglers and what cricket has done to one 17 year old in the final year of school.  EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.