In this episode of the show, Baldy, Binksy, Jamie and Stu look back at a rainy week on the cricketing calendar, which saw England begin a T20 series against the Black Caps, Australia hosting India, Pakistan defeating South Africa, rain dent the White Ferns' chances at the Women's World Cup and the advent of a new format (that looks somewhat similar to an old format and a current one).



We start the show at Hagley Oval, where the Black Caps hosted England in an incomplete T20I to start off the series with a stutter. There was talk about the return of Mitchell Santner, Jimmy Neesham's ability to make things happen, whether Tom Banton can turn domestic form into international success - and more moustache-related praise.

Next we head to Australia, where at the time of recording it was also raining in Perth, as the home side welcome India for 3 ODIs and 5 T20s. We talked about what's at stake for the likes of Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head, there was some Ashes-based discussion and we asked for listener feedback about what Indian fans - and Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli - would like to see in this series.



After a quick detour to Pakistan to talk about Noman Ali's pearler to Dewalt Brevis and Shaheen Shah Afridi's yorkers, it's off to the Women's World Cup, where rain has put a dent in the White Ferns' semi-final hopes. Alyssa Healy and Laura Wolvaardt continue to pile on the runs for Australia & South Africa, but are England going under the radar? Or is their potential challenge about to drop away?



To round out the show, we debate the merits of a proposed new cricket format - Test Twenty - which will see young players from around the world test its merits in January 2026. Is this format a gimmick? Or could it actually stick? Does it actually blend Test cricket and T20? Or is it just two T20 games in a row?



We'll be back in your feed next week to discuss more cricket from around the world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website.



You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at [email protected].

Thanks for listening.



0:00 Intro

2:10 Black Caps v England T20 series - key questions

17:45 Australia v India ODIs - what's at stake?

35:40 Pakistan v South Africa - home side takes 20 wickets again

39:05 Women's World Cup - England about to be tested

51:00 Test Twenty - what do we think?
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