98 Not Out - The Cricket Podcast (98 Not Out - the cricket podcast)

We marked the occasion of our 100th show by inviting Surrey and England legend Alec Stewart to join us. He chatted about the good vibes at Surrey and the successful stint of Barbadian fast bowler Kemar Roach at the start f the 2021 season. He noted the strength in depth England has in wicketkeepers and he regards Surrey (and former Essex) gloveman Ben Foakes as the best in the world right now. We also discussed the impact of the pandemic on a club of Surrey's size and looked forward to things returning to normal. He also talked football - he's a massive Chelsea fan - and spoke of the toughest opponents he faced, as well as his best teammates. 

It's "Cricket Week" at Brentwood CC, with lots going on, culminating in the visit of the PCA England Masters on Friday (19th July).

During a match between Brentwood and a Smile Travel Group XI, I caught up with Essex and England legend John Lever as we watched the game along with Don Topley. In a chat dripping with nostalgia, we recall John's England debut in Delhi in 1976, taking 10-70 and Don tells us the story of how in 1984, he was plucked from selling scorecards at Lord's to being put on the pitch and very nearly taking a catch on the boundary to dismiss Malcom Marshall off the bowling of Bob Willis! We talk about how much has changed in the game since the 1970s and 80s and later on, we are joined by Graeme Walker from Smile Group Travel, who do so much for the game of cricket and organise excellent sporting tours.

Find out more about Smile Group's upcoming tours at:

www.smilegrouptravel.com

Writer and blogger Georgie Heath looks forward to the start of the Women's Ashes in Australia which gets underway hot on the heels of the men's version. Can England wrestle the urn back?

Jahid Ahmed is the third player from Essex to reveal accounts of racism, bullying and intimidation at the club. He pulls no punches in our chat and remembers some extremely painful episodes from his playing days. Now a coach, he reveals his hopes for the game becoming more inclusive and ridding itself of the horrors of the past. A riveting listen and we were so pleased that he gave us some of his time to talk.

Touring side Central Country Cricket Club has arrived in the UK from Barbados to embark on a tour that includes games against club sides in Essex. I am joined by club President Andrew Willoughby and his wife Cheryl, along with club captain Dwayne Alleyne, tour manager Jason Wilson and from Essex Cricket Graham Pryke, who has helped with sorting out the fixtures.

Follow the team's progress on Instagram at "centralcountryclub".

After stints with England and Sri Lanka, as well as coaching in various franchise competitions around the world, Chris Silverwood has returned to Essex, where he began his coaching journey all the way back in 2010. As well as being back among one or two familiar faces, Chris talks about what has changed at the club and welcomes the arrival of new, young talent and is excited by the arrival of professional women's cricket in the for of Essex Women.

The eagerly-awaited Ben Stokes documentary "Phoenix From The Ashes" has now dropped on Amazon Prime Video. We've seen it and give our thoughts...

We caught up with the globetrotting Australian cricketer Chris Green as he finally reached his Sydney home after a buys year starring in the CPL, the T20 Blast, the PSL and even turning out for Brentwood CC in the Essex Premier League. As he prepares for action in the BBL with Sydney Thunder, we asked him about his busy year, his picks for the T20 World Cup...and even his pet dog gets in on the act!

We caught up with Monty to talk mental health and life after cricket, including his participation in the recent BBC2 series "Pilgrimage", which is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Amid reports of a drop on viewing figures and matches becoming less interesting, we ask, "Is the Hundred losing it's shine?".

In July 2020, international cricket returned after the Covid break. Memorably, the West Indies was the first team to visit England and we caught up with Sir Clive Lloyd after his team had beaten England in the 1st Test at Southampton. He talks about the inequality distribution of wealth currently in world cricket and illustrates just how expensive it is for the West Indies to host international tours. He examines the current team and outlines what they must do to emulate the great sides that he was part of in the 1970s and 80s. He also reveals a love of Bob Marley...

The cricket season is finally here and HUW TURBERVILL, editor of "The Cricketer" magazine talks about finance in the English game. Is foreign investment required to ensure the survival of county cricket and make the white ball game competitive on the global stage?

#cricket #countycricket #thehundred #money

One of England's great wicket keepers talked to us about playing for his country; a debut at lord's in 1988, followed by a memorable clash with Australia a year later, getting sledged and getting runs! He also recalls batting at Johannesburg during Mike Atherton's heroic innings against South Africa ion 1995. We also talk about a reputation he gained for unusual habits and routines...

Of course, these days Jack is well known for his superbly detailed paintings of cricket matches around the world and he explains to us just ho he goes about working on each picture. He also reveals a rather unusual request for after he dies... 

Barry Hearn is best known for bringing snooker, darts and boxing to the public's attention and making household names of the biggest stars. In our chat we talk about his love of cricket and why, as a traditionalist and lover of the red ball game, thinks that for the sport to survive, the white ball game might need to take centre stage. Should the ECB have engaged with him earlier to take the game forward? 

He also talks about his heroes and explains to us what a "Dominic Cummins" is on the golf course...

Former Northants cricketer Patrick Foster has a brand new book out called "Might Bite", a harrowing account of his descent into a serious gambling addiction, what it cost him (financially and emotionally) and how he was nearly within an inch of taking his own life. It's a brutal read and we were thrilled Patrick found the time in his busy schedule to have a chat with us about he he fought back and got his life on track.

With lots going on,  "The Grumbler" joins us to discuss:

 - the controversial arrival at Sussex this summer (for three games) of Australia's Steve Smith.

 -  the amount of franchise cricket taking place around the world.

 -  as Lord Patel steps down and Dame Tanni Grey Thompson is announced as co-Chair until the AGM at Yorkshire, Colin Graves throws his hat into the ring for a return to the job - a good or bad thing? 

 - And Geoffrey Boycott has called for an end to The Blast...

We get our teeth onto all these subjects, while studiously trying to avoid mentioning The Tournament That Shall Not Be Named...!?!?!?!

Make sure you subscribe to The Grumbler's excellent newsletter here:

https://countycricket.substack.com

Aamir Spoke to us from his home in Lahore about his career and life in cricket. Debbie Knight joins us to field questions from the Stani Army.

Former County Championship winner with Essex, Don Topley looks back at the 2023 edition of The Hundred and assesses its progress and the impact - good or bad - it is having on the English domestic game. It's a highly controversial topic and Don doesn't hold back in his enthusiasm for the format. What do you think? Let us know in the comments...

Former Middlesex, Essex, Hampshire and England batter Owais Shah spoke to us late in 2020 from Sri Lanka, where he was on commentating duty for England's Test series there. He spoke about playing and covering cricket in Covid conditions and hoped that dan Lawrence would continue a fine tradition of Essex players in the national side. He looked back on his career and how much he loved playing at Lord's, where he made his 200th first class appearance. Upbeat and energetic as ever, "Ace" is always good value. 

Recently spotted on the Australian cricket team's balcony during The Ashes this summer and also at the WTC Final, we grabbed Arfan Akram and asked him ho a boy from Wanstead has risen to such giddy heights!

We also chatted about the fantastic work he does for community cricket in the Essex area, notably at the Leyton Hub and ask why is it that East London has produced such talented cricketers over the last fifty years and more.

We caught up with Ali Martin from "The Guardian" who is in Australia covering The Ashes. After the heavy loss at the GABBA, we discuss the prospects for the day/night Test next up at Adelaide and whether England can salvage the series.

At the age of 13, Roland Butcher arrived in England and after a chance opportunity at Stevenage Cricket Club, he advance to be one of five black players in the Middlesex squad and go on to be the first black player to represent England. Ironically, he made his Test debut in his native Barbados against that feared West Indies attack on the tour of 1980-81. He compares his experience to that of fellow Bajan Jofra Archer and wonders if problems with the structure of domestic cricket in the West Indies meant them missing out on the young fast bowler. We also talk about the inequalities that exist at global level in the name and Roland calls fro an overhaul of the Future Tours Programme to create a more level playing field.

Debbie Knight from 365 Sporting Days joined us to chat to Pakistan superstar Azhar Ali about cricket, Covid and Crystal Palace!

A catchup with Essex strike bowler Jamie Porter, who had a marvellous 2023 season, taking 57 first class wickets and was a key member of a side that went very close in both the County Championship and the T20 Blast. Does this season prove he is back to his best? He also reveals a love of snooker and I challenge him to a game in the close season!!!!

We caught up with John Altman, fresh from his work on the soundtrack for the new Bond film "No Time To Die" and ask him about his links with the 007 movie franchise and the blockbuster films he has contributed to, such as "Goldeneye", "Titanic" and "Monty Python's Life of Brian"! When he is not scoring film soundtracks or producing artists such as George Michael, Simple Minds, Amy Winehouse and Alison Moyet, John has a huge passion for cricket and in this conversation, we scratch the surface of his many anecdotes and ask how he became the unofficial social secretary for the Australian cricket team, unlikely Hollywood cricket fans and his thoughts on England heading Down Under this winter.

The voice of the BBC's Test Match Special Jonathan Agnew joins us to reflect on his time in the commentary box after hanging up his bowling boots thirty three years ago. He talks of his love for Test cricket and why franchise cricket is not really his thing, but acknowledging it has been great for the game. We also remember some of the great names he has sat with in the TMS box and of course we mention the "Leg Over" moment. Aggers also talks about the famous names he has interviewed in "View From The Boundary" and reveals the players he has loved watching.

If you have attended an England cricket match in this country over the last quarter of a century, then you will be very familiar with the voice of Graham Woodward, who is the official ground announcer at every game. Whether it's "Welcome to Lord's..." or "Change of bowler at the Pavilion end", Graham is the man on the mic. Last week's sad news of the death of The Queen coincided with the third and deciding Test at between England and South Africa. Play eventually got underway on Saturday, amid emotional and powerful scenes at The Oval, with Graham acting as master of ceremonies. In this fascinating interview, we asked him what it was like to have a play such a central part on such a momentous occasion. 

The ECB has fired the starting gun on the sale of franchises in The Hundred and trouble is brewing. Essex has voiced opposition to the process but can it be stopped or amended?

Essex has also been deducted 12 Championship points for "Batgate". where Feroze Khushi was deemed using an "illegal" bat during the County Championship game against Nottinghamshire early in the season Is the punishment too harsh and why has it taken so long/

Richard Clarke joins me to discuss...

Here are a few festive messages from some of our many friends that have appeared on the show.Have a great Christmas and all the best for 2025. Come on England!!!.

In this podcast we talk to Annie Chave from the excellent "County Cricket Matters' As the English first class season ends, we talk about the existential threat the counties are facing and what members and followers can do to help ensure a bright future for the bedrock of English cricket.

Make sure you take a look at https://www.countycricketmatters.com and do subscribe to its excellent publication.

Tim Brooks talks about his brand new book, "The Batmaker of Copenhagen". Set in wartime Denmark, it's a thrilling tale of how one man is determined to keep his cricket club going against the threat of Nazi occupation. Time explains the ideas and research involved and also his interest in non Test countries that play cricket. Get your copy of his book at all good bookstores now!

Huw wrote a great piece in "The Cricketer" forensically dissecting the England team's woeful performance in The Ashes and tries to draw conclusions as to why it happened and what can be done to stop the rot.

Make sure you subscribe to "The Cricketer" as it enters its 101st year:

 https://www.thecricketer.com

The T20 World Cup Final between England and Pakistan is just hours away and we head live to Melbourne, Australia to speak to Paul Newman, the Chief Cricket Writer for the "Daily Mail". Both teams have seen a lot of each other recently and the prospect of the tournament's best batting line up versus the best bowling attack bodes well for a great Final. However, all the talk is about the weather and as Paul reports, it is very cold and wet currently Down Under. Added to the fact the tournament has not caught the Australian public's imagination, we hope that the travelling England and Pakistan fans can make it a great occasion. We also spare a thought for players such as Reece Topley, who were cruelly robbed by freak injuries of playing in the tournament. 

Hot on the heels of "How to be a Cricket Fan", Matt Appleby's new book "Lost Cricket Stickers", all about the one year (1983) that Panini published a sticker collection album devoted to English cricket players. Jim Carter of "Downton Abbey" fame wrote the introduction and we discuss why the concept never took off and wonder whether it is worth resurrecting!

Get your copy here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Cricket-Stickers-Search-Sticker/dp/1801506914/ref=sr_1_2?crid=R6RF5YKWYBA4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ymfStipkPeDHY5WxAiFumcdoriIsiKNG_U4Cswfw2mRLk1aL3ViSwA9gyqqGH3i1yB7PF8C5Z0Hje1Kk5HcNsPuvx0sDqB_FZTH3MgfDJTcZyBBCv--fu7KXByipO8PhC0r1pKwBrmglha0Ds8vsAOowmBFnlV-XbNaK0BM1ij0ljksh5bjnuiJEWcrzlUIOABdiVn8qkNk0YML0x1aWsbidqboaGzdqqkJgLTBkfZUwrHVI0qE2xiIf0bjiX3UiRAFGKj36Jkeq8TF_keK_08kdfLUx_nvN0rxuf2VNaC8.3-GCyU6V9oFIuHcgdNOQKY_mEYvJqtUphrZf4GHqRNE&dib_tag=se&keywords=lost+cricket+stickers&qid=1711299542&sprefix=lost+cricket%2Caps%2C74&sr=8-2

Derbyshire photographer David "Griff" Griffin reacts to the sad news of the death of Mike Procter, a true giant of the game of cricket, who had huge impact on both the English county and international scene, where he played for, then later managed South Africa. Follow Griff on "X" at @dgriffinpix

 We mark our third birthday with a look back at some of the amazing guests we have had on the show - we have had to pinch ourselves recalling some of the great moments we have had. In fact there have been so many highlights, that we may well have to do a Volume 2, but in the meantime, here is "The Best of The Guests" featuring memorable moments with Rob Key, Allan Lamb, Sir Clive Lloyd, Daren Sammy, Craig Johnston, Shane Watson, Nasser Hussain, Azhar Ali, Mike Atherton, Alec Stewart, Toby Tarrant, "Bumble", Dinesh Karthik, David Gower, Barry Hearn, Jeffrey Archer and Mark Butcher, whose music we feature in this show.

 A huge thank you to everyone that has supported and taken part in the show and we look forward to keeping the bar high!

17 year-old Jamal Richards, Essex Academy Player of the Year, has just been awarded a rookie-pro contract with the club. We talk to him about his progress so far, the challenges he has faced and what his hopes are for the future. Jamal Richards, remember the name!

One of English cricket's most experienced names David Lloyd - aka "Bumble" - explains how he would fix the problems currently engulfing English domestic cricket and it's hard to disagree with his ideas! Maybe cricket's powers that be need to listen to more people like Bumble, as he has been there, seen it and done it!

Rahul Patil from www.sportsfreak.co.nz reports on the biggest game of the 2024 T20 World Cup so far, India vs Pakistan. Played in front of 34,000 frenzied fans, this was billed as the game to ignite American interest in the game and it did not disappoint.

We caught up with Charles Dagnall as he quarantines in a hotel room ahead of the u19 World Cup, which he is covering for Sky Sports. Hugely entertaining, as ever....

Former World Number 3 snooker player Neal Foulds joins us from York, where he is currently commentating on the UK Championship for Eurosport. Away from snooker, Neal tells us of his passion for cricket and his particular  love of Test cricket, especially at Lord's. He also recalls fond memories of David English, who sadly passed away last weekend and tells some of the great stories and characters he played with alongside David when turning out for the Bunbury charity games, including why Neal just had to run out former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman...

On the day England has reached the World Cup semi final, we are joined by Richard Clarke aka "The Grumbler". We discuss the underwhelming crowds, the timing of the competition (too early in the Australian spring?) and ponder some rather disturbing news emanating from certain IPL franchises. Returning to the domestic game, we also examine some statistics about the leading batters and bowlers in the county game since 2000.  Make sure you subscribe to The Grumbler's excellent newsletter (for free!) by clicking on this link: https://countycricket.substack.com 

A great chat with Essex Chairman Anu Mohindru, who reflects on a turbulent last few years at the club, with off-field issues such as the Newton Report and "Batgate" - where the club was punished for Feroze Khushi's bat not meeting requirements in the game against Notts early last season. Add to that the departures of CEO John Stephenson and Director of Cricket Anthony McGrath, Anu has had a lot to deal with.

For all that, he has navigated the stormy waters well and with the support of his board and club staff, 2025 is looking a lot brighter. We talk about the return to the club of Chris Silverwood and also the great prospect of Essex having a Tier 1 Women's team. There's an update on the ground and also we chat about the issues affecting the domestic game.

During lockdown, we had an amazing chat with West Indies star Daren Sammy at his home in St. Lucia. He talks dealing with big characters in the dressing room, playing all round the world and how he has become a citizen of Pakistan. Wow!

Writer and commentator Rahul Patil joins us ahead of his trip to India to cover the upcoming cricket World Cup. He tells us of his journey, starting in Goa and ending up in Wellington, New Zealand via the Cook Islands, where he became manager of their national cricket team.

As well as writing for publications in the Cook Islands and India, he also contributes to Sports Freak in New Zealand. Take a look here:

www.sportsfreak.co.nz

Ahead of the Barbados Test match between West Indies and England, we caught up with the former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop. He spoke about playing alongside legends such as Viv Richards, Brian Lara and Curtley Ambrose and remembers the moment he found out he was first selected for the West Indies. Of course, these days, he is a familiar voice in the commentary box and he revealed the story behind the legendary "Remember the name" quote as Carlos Brathwaite's six-hitting secured the 2016 T20 World Cup for the West Indies. He also gives his thoughts on the current state of cricket in the Caribbean and also looks forward to the Test match at the Kensoington Oval, always a great occasion.  

Bunbury-in-Chief David English gave us a rollercoaster of a chat across subjects ranging from teaching the all star Hollywood cast of "A Bridge Too Far" to play cricket, fielding in the slips with Eric Clapton and Bill Wyman, managing the Bee Gees and witnessing Elvis Presley's unique way of changing the channel on his tv at home in Graceland. Of course, there are plenty of cricket stories, including hie friendships with Ian Botham and Viv Richards, the prodigious talents he has uncovered through hi Bunbury project, which includes most of the current England team and Webby recalls a game between Brentwood and Finchey, which saw them meet on the field of play.

Jarrod Kimber's film "Death of a Gentleman" was a real eye-opener about the ICC and the governance of cricket and the allegation that the English, Australian and Indian boards were attempting to grab control with the intention of financial gain. It caused a huge stir at the time and the issues raised are still being discussed today. Therefore, we thought Jarrod would make a fascinating guest and he didn't let us down. Really interesting and thought-provoking interview. 

Chris Woakes has made a stunning return to the England team and we caught up with him to talk cricket, "Call of Duty" and Aston Villa at the England hotel in Chennai earlier this year.

Former England player, now Sky Sports commentator Mark Butcher assesses the immense turnaround in fortunes of the England Test team, who have returned to winning ways with four straight victories, breaking a miserable run of just on win in the previous seventeen games.

As Christmas approaches, here are some festive messages from some of the superb guests we've had on "98 Not Out". Thank you for listening in 2022 and we look forward to bringing you more great cricketing content in 2023. Voices you'll hear on this episode: Charles Dagnall, Asif Tanvir, George Dobell, David Paynter, Ryan ten Doeschate, David Gower, Jeffrey Archer, Tymal Mills, Harry Gurney, Rikki Clarke, Nasa Hussain, Huw Turbervill, Peter Moores, Mark Pougatch, Paul Newman, Alec Stewart, "The Grumbler", Michael Carberry, Chevy Green, Chris Green, Ronnie Irani, Ben Allison, Monty Panesar, Matt Kabir Floyd, Alex Tudor, Ian King, Nasser Hussain, Ali Martin, Rishi Persaud, Daren Sammy, Matthew Hoggard, Kyle Coetzer, Roland Butcher, John Altman, Aamir Sohail, Toby Tarrant, Don Topley and Mark Butcher. Have a great Christmas!

Essex fans give their thoughts on the announcement that Sir Alastair Cook has retired from all forms of cricket. It's quite emotional....

Don Topley is just back from India, where he has been following the World Cup. In this chat he talks about the sights and sounds of that country along with the food and what's it's like getting around. Pollution is a big problem and in some places the air is as bad as smoking 80 cigarettes a day!?!?! We also talk about England's performance; what happened? Was it poor preparation, the wrong squad selected or maybe just a cold fact that touring India is not easy. We also get an update on Don's son Reece, who fractured a bowling finger in the match against Sri Lanka, but is recovering well.

Former England opening batsman Michael Carberry recalls his experiences of the 2013-14 Ashes series in Australia and reminds us that England getting beaten heavily there is nothing new. He tells us about his current work coaching youngsters and an upcoming coaching camp he is doing over Easter with his former Surrey colleague Scott Newman. A man of many talents, he also reveals his latest art work, a pencil sketch of Manchester United football player Marcus Rashford MBE. Visit www.michaelcarberryart.com to see more!

 

With the domestic red ball season about to take a break for the white ball format, Richard Clarke joins me to debate whether we have just seen “peak” cricket with a set of thrilling matches played under warm and sunny skies up and down the country, with outstanding performances and lots on international players on show.

Eddie Pillar was an aspiring young spin bowler, hitting the heady heights of Essex u14s!?!?! His love of cricket has never waned and in this very entertaining chat, he talks about following England around the world and shenanigans in his private box at Surrey CCC. Of course, he made his name in the music industry, forming the very successful Acid Jazz label and lists discovering Jamiroquai and The Brand New Heavies among his credits. He also established a very trendy night club in East London, where he tells us about the night he kept David Bowie hanging about outside!?!?

In today's show, we take a look at the extraordinary events at Newlands where South Africa were beaten by visitors India in the shortest Test match in the history of the game. Commentator Ravi Shastri came up with one of the all-time great soundbites to sum up what was going on!

As Luke Littler takes the world of darts by storm, we take a look at the teenagers who broke the records in cricket at the highest level.

We celebrate Stuart Broad receiving a CBE in the New Year's Honours List by revisiting his chat with us last year.

Two great names of the modern era have announced their retirement from international cricket, so we pay tribute to Dean Elgar and David Warner.

In more worrying news, South Africa has announced a weakened side for the two-Test tour of New Zealand and question the impact of franchise cricket on the wider game.

Also please remember to vote for "98 Not Out" in the Final for Cricket Podcast of the Year:

https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/podcast/98-not-out-the-cricket-podcast/

Mention David Masters to any Essex fan and a warm smile will spread across their face. One of Essex cricket's most dependable players in the time he spent at the club, before retiring in 2016, his metronomic line and length saw him bag many wickets and he was a key part of the side that won the Friends Provident One day Cup in 2009. Here, he reflects on his influences at Kent, Leicestershire and Essex and how he tried to convince Andrew Strauss how he could have done a job for England, if only Jimmy Anderson wasn't standing in his way!?!?!

Barely into the New Year and we have received the sad news about the passing of German legend Franz Beckenbauer, one of a very select few men to have lifted the World Cup both as a player and as a manager. When we talked to the Liverpool FC star Craig Johnston a couple of years ago, he told us about how instrumental "Der Kaiser" was in getting a deal with Adidas for the revolutionary Predator boot over the line. Well worth listening again...

We caught up with the Surrey & England legend as he took a breather from the commentary box to have a look back at the English 2021 season and How England fared against India in the curtailed Test series and what are their chances in the T20 World Cup and then a tough tour to Australia for The Ashes. We also look at what can be done to help county cricket survive in the face of the growing challenge of white ball cricket and the impact of The Hundred. He also updates us on his music and has a couple of gigs lined up, after a lengthy Covid-induced absence. 

Richard Clark aka "The Grumbler" joins us to talk about the first round of County Championship matches that got underway last week. 

Today, Scotland have their biggest game in their cricketing history, as they face Oman and a win would see them qualify for the Super 12s stage of the 2021 T20 World Cup - the furthest they have ever progressed in the format. Cricket Scotland kindly gave us permission to use the content from the press conference Head Coach Shane Burger gave ahead of the big game.

We caught up with South African twirler Simon Harmer, just as the 2021 English season was getting underway. He told us how the Essex squad was the fittest he has ever trained with and how he is excited by the crop of young players coming through from the academy. He recounted that memorable T20 Finals Day at Edgbaston in 2019 and also talked team mates and playing alongside Sir Alastair Cook.

A conversation with the legendary David Lloyd that starts off on the pressures of being away at Christmas - whether playing cricket, coaching or commentating - then veers off into a very funny discussion about 80s gameshow "Bullseye" being rebooted under Freddie Flintoff. Classic Bumble!

For those of you who are too young to remember "Bullseye", take a look at this:

https://youtu.be/YlTsyaHh37M?si=YLODF8cO1aCE5-8X

DON TOPLEY has been in the Caribbean covering England's white ball tour of the West Indies. As the tour ends, Don joins us from Barbados to give his thoughts on a new-look England side, which has fallen a long way since they were T20 and ODI world champions only twelve months ago. We also get an update on his son Reece and also a few thoughts on the IPL Mega Auction which is taking place in Jeddah.

Here's the link for "Perfect Pub Walks With Bill Bailey":

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/perfect-pub-walks-with-bill-bailey

Ashes 2005 hero Matthew Hoggard relives his glory days, striding through the Long Room at Lord's on the first day of that memorable series, how the series unfolded and the unforgettable scenes in London as the team paraded the Ashes from an open top bus. He also talked about taking a Test hat-trick in Brabados in 2004 and the emergence of a certain Kevin Pietersen. On retiring from the game, Hoggy has developed his passion for cooking, approving on BBC Masterchef and more lately launching "Hoggy's Grill". And with Christmas around the corner, he suggests cooking the turkey and ham on the barbecue!

Last time we spoke to Ali Martin, he was in Adelaide covering England's 2021/22 Ashes tour Down Under. It was a low point for England cricket, which was to get even worse shortly after when the side toured the West Indies. Yet here we are, barely a year later and the turnaround in fortunes has been astonishing and Ali has seen the change first hand writing for The Guardian. His thoughts are fascinating.

Ali has also written an article in his newspaper this week about Brendan McCallum and Ben Stokes sharing their ethos with county coaches to try and help them better prepare players for the step up to. the national squad. We discuss it in the chat; you can read it here:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jan/10/ben-stokes-and-brendon-mccullum-offer-counties-how-to-guide-to-bazball-cricket

As always, if you are enjoying our content, please make sure you subscribe - for free- to get the latest updates and please spread the word to help us grow. Many thanks and enjoy the podcast!

On a freezing cold December night, we head to remote North Yorkshire to join David "Bumble" Lloyd and get his thoughts on England's fabulous win against Pakistan in the 1st Test at Rawalpindi. We compare it to Nasser Hussain's famous win in the gloom at Karachi back in 2000 and applaud this new approach to Test cricket and wonder if it can last, before others take note and catch up? As always, Bumble is great value...

There is a lot of discussion currently about the cost of attending top class cricket matches. In a time dubbed as "the cost of living crisis", is charging £35 to watch a Vitality Blast match, up to £160 to attend the Test match at Lord's and even worse, £100 for u16s to enter the home of cricket sending the right message. We discuss the issue with cricket bloggers Debbie Knight and Richard Clarke aka "The Grumbler" and suggest that dropping ticket prices is the best, but not the only way, to attract a wider audience.

Nottinghamshire all rounder Samit Patel joined us to talk about playing for Nottinghamshire, England and how he is prolonging his career in various franchise leagues around the world. He talks about those who influenced his career and how as a big Nottingham Forest fan, was star struck as a "young man" to be playing club cricket in front of a watchful Brian Clough.

We spoke to former Pakistan captain Aamir Sohail on the ground in Lahore, as the news broke of England cancelling their four day T20 tour to Pakistan at the very last minute. Aamir gives a masterclass in diplomacy...

Monday was officially tagged "Blue Monday" , the most depressing day of the year; the joy of Christmas long gone, the days fail to get light and the weather is just awful. Worse still if you are doing "Dry January" and are struggling with the cost of living.

Here, I am joined by Elizabeth Ammon from The Times to discuss why the downbeat mood appears to be so prevalent among cricket fans.

And there is still time to vote for "98 Not Out" in the Final of Cricket Podcast of the Year, click the link below:

https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/podcast/98-not-out-the-cricket-podcast/

In this episode, we remember Graham Thorpe, whose death was announced this week - gone far too early at 55. There's also news of the squad announced by England for the Test series against Sri Lanka and a look at goings-on in the county circuit, especially the exploits of a certain Rocky Flintoff. Plus a look at Round 13 of the Essex Premier League.

We start by talking about the crazy game that took place at Chelmsford this week, where Essex hosted Lancashire and the game was all over midway through Day 2 with four innings completed within five sessions of play. What sort of a message does this convey and does it help red ball crickets cause? We also discuss Andrew Strauss's ideas in his High Performance review and ask whether lessons can be learned from the branding of sports like basketball and baseball in the USA; would such a marketing effort help grow cricket in this country?

Make sure you subscribe to The Grumbler's County Cricket Newsletter, just click on the link below:

https://countycricket.substack.com

Here are a few seasonal messages from just some of the people we have had on the show:

Charles Dagnall, Debbie Knight, Asif Tanvir, George Dobell, David Paynter, Ryan ten Doeschate, David Gower, Jeffrey Archer, Tymal Mills, Harry Gurney, Rikki Clarke, Nasa Hussain, Huw Turbervill, Peter Moores, Mark Pugatch, Paul Newman, Alex Stewart, Richard Clarke, Michael Carberry, Chevy Green, Chris Green, Ronnie Irani, Ben Allison, Monty Panesar, Matt Kabir Floyd, Alex Tudor, Ian King, Nasser Hussain, Ali Martin, Rishi Persad, Daren Sammy, Matthew Hoggard, Roland Butcher, John Altman, Don Topley and Mark Butcher.

All the best to you and yours over Christmas and have a fantastic New Year!

And don't forget to vote for us in Sports Podcast of the Year!

https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/podcast/98-not-out-the-cricket-podcast/

All the best and thank you for listening!

Sunday, 30th. June was designated "County Cricket Day", a chance to celebrate and promote the domestic red ball game. Counties up and down the land offered various enticements to draw fans along to witness County Championship cricket first hand and maybe even have a chance to get on the outfield at lunch and tea breaks. Here, I am joined by Richard Clarke to discuss why this was such an important initiative, how successful was it and what could be done better in the future. #countychampionship #englishcricket #countycricket #cricket #countycricketday

As England look to wrap up an historic series whitewash in Pakistan, we grabbed a quick chat with England's Stuart Broad about the amazing turnaround in the side's fortunes in 2022, the secrets behind "Baz Ball" and look forward to 2023.

Earlier this week, we lost Dickie Davies and now on a sad day for sport, MARK POUGATCH reacts to the sad news that BBC commentating legend John Motson has passed away. Mark recounts the style and the legacy of the man and how his kind will never come again. "Motty" was also a big cricket fan and we talk about this and how sports commentators are often pigeon-holed into only following the sports for which they are known. We go on to talk about Mark's work for ITV at the Qatar World Cup, the FA Cup and also the Six Nations rugby, which he is presenting for ITV. We also talk about cricket, "Baz Ball" and our growing excitement ahead of The Ashes this summer. Will we get Roy Keane along to Lord's???

Rumours of plans for an extended version of "The Hundred" have been swirling around the cricketing world, so Huw Turbervill joins us to assess the impact any such proposals might have on the English counties and the knock-on effect to the T20 Blast and indeed women's cricket.

Huw is editor of the excellent "The Cricketer" magazine and the December issue is out now! Please take a look here:

www.thecricketer.com

On Friday, the cricket world was rocked with the awful news off the deaths of Rod Marsh and then Shane Warne. We caught up with David "Bumble" Lloyd to get his thoughts and memories of two of Australian cricket's greatest names.

Dan Feist, Deputy CEO of Essex Cricket talks about the great start to the season and how newbies Dean Elgar and Jordan Cox have fitted in to the team. After a difficult couple of years off the field, Dan updates on possible sanctions still hanging over the club and the lessons that the club has learned.

On a brighter note, there is the fantastic news of Essex Cricket being awarded Tier 1 for women's cricket and what this news will mean for the game in the region. We also talk about plans to upgrade or relocate the ground and salute all the hard work that is going on around the club to ensure a bright future.

We have now reached the halfway point in this year's edition of the IPL. I caught up with Matt Kabir Floyd, who is covering the tournament for Sky Sports to get his views on what he has seen so far. I ask him if it is too long and what could be the effect of the IPL franchises spreading their tentacles across the cricketing globe. He also talks about his new podcast "It's Not Just Cricket" , which starts on May 1st with guest Azeem Rafiq.

Chief Cricket Writer at the Daily Mail, Paul Newman, joins us to discuss the departure of Ashley Giles from the England set up and gives his thought on what further changes of personnel we could see in the coming hours and days, ahead of the selection of the Test side to fly out to the West Indies.

A really good chat with writer and blogger Richard Clarke. We start by marking the fifty years since the Test debut of Derek Randall and note just how much the England side has changed since then and the decline in characters present in the national side. Richard notes how the game has become more corporate and the way the players behave and conduct themselves is a reflection of this. England becoming more corporate has pervaded the counties and now even the club set ups, where a traditional culture of volunteering is massively under threat. Does cricket need to be all about making money and have the grassroots players and fans been forgotten about? A very interesting conversation...

He may be much missed from our tv screens, but we love Bumble and he is now getting to be a regular fixture on the show. Here, we talk about the 2023 Ashes series; has it lived up to the hype? What have we learned from the first three Tests and Australia's 2-1 lead means the 4th Test at Old Trafford is now a must-win for England. Almost certainly it's Jimmy Anderson's last Ashes Test in front of his home fans, so is it set up to be his game? We also talk Mark Wood, Ollie Robinson and Moeen Ali, as well as a nod to the future with the emergence of James Rew, the 19 year-old who scored a double ton this week. I also sneak a Freddie Truman impression out of Bumble!

The 2025 County Championship is underway and under blue skies at Chelmsford, I had a chat with WG Rumblepants and Don Topley about the joys of the domestic red ball game.

It wasn't all bad news for English cricketers Down Under This winter: on Friday night, the Perth Scorchers won their fourth Big Bash League title down in Australia, helped by a Man of the Match performance by Surrey's Laurie Evans, who scored 78 not out off just 41 balls.We caught up with the big man as he arrived home and had a great chat while he was on the school run!

Ahead of a big County Championship game at Chelmsford against Warwickshire, Head Coach Anthony "Mags" McGrath speaks about his Test debut back in 2003 alongside another debutant Jimmy Anderson and he tells of his early encounters with the bowler who went on to be one of England's greats. We also discuss the opportunities that Jimmy's impending retirement could give to other bowlers, particularly Essex's Jamie Porter and Sam Cook, who have both made cracking starts to the 2024 season.

Watch the video of this chat on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzcYTrbLA8A

...and check out the fulll radio show from Thursday, 16th. May here:

https://www.phoenixfm.com/2024/05/16/98-not-out-with-essex-cricket-head-coach-anthony-mcgrath/

Ravi Bopara spent 18 years at Essex, before departing for Sussex at the end of an amazing 2019 campaign, which saw Essex do "the double", winning the T20 Blast as well as the County Championship. He looked back on his career so far, tells us about his best mates in the game and what he has learned from playing franchise cricket around the world with some of cricket's biggest names.

The T20 World Cup is underway and England's start has been hampered by rain disrupting their opening match against Scotland. Don Topley is on the ground in Barbados, commentating for local station CBC and he gives us his thoughts on England and looks forward to what is now a huge game against Australia on Saturday. Stay away from the rum Toppers!

Here are the highlights of the live "98 Not Out" radio show broadcast on Phoenix FM on Thursday 30th May, where I took a look at the latest from the County Championship, England Women wrap up a strong series performance against Pakistan and England Men get ready for the T20 World Cup. Also all the latest from the Essex Premier League.

Johnny Barran has been in Kathmandu covering a trip-series tournament and the first thing we learn is that we have all been pronouncing Nepal all wrong?!?! He talks about the rise of cricket in the region and how Nepal are climbing the ICC rankings with the aim of taking a place at cricket's top table. Johnny tells us about his adventures on a remarkable tour to a country that was high on his Wishlist. We also recall the moment he was on commentary for the ICC coverage as England won the World Cup back in 2019.

We caught up with TMS commentator and lover of sashimi Daniel Norcross on his birthday!

Rob Andrew is probably best known as the prodigious point scorer kicking goals for England, when he played fly-half as part of Will Carling's team of the late 80s and 1990s. He tells us about how rugby was an amateur game back then and how even top players had to juggle playing international rugby with holding down a day job. But before all that, Rob won Cambridge Blues at university in both rugby and cricket, even scoring a first class century against Nottinghamshire, then getting a call up to play rugby for England in his final year at uni. 

 His glittering rugby career over, Rob is now CEO at Sussex CCC and we talked to him just as Covid restrictions were being lifted in the summer of 2020. We looked at the prospects for Sussex, especially in the T20 Blast and he also spoke of his involvement with the Lord's Taverners.  

As the 2023 Ashes series approaches, David Gower recalls some rather painful memories of him captaining England back in 1989 in an Ashes where he was not only trying to outwit the Australians on the pitch but also battle against incredible events going on off the pitch. England were soundly beaten and as the urn headed Down Under, David explains to us how he ended up feeling "battered and bruised".

ITV's Mark Pougatch joins me to discuss the importance of all major sport - especially cricket - being made available on free-to-air television and not hiding behind a paywall.

We caught up with Adam Zampa in Sydney during lockdown and had a wide-ranging chat about quarantine and playing big matches in empty stadiums, his time playing for Brentwood CC, playing for Essex too. We asked about essential items he packs when going on tour, such as a microwave oven (!) and his love of fine coffee. He revealed to us "the favourite part of being a professional cricketer", which may surprise you...

We quizzed him on his best team mates and most formidable opponent and got his views on innovation in cricket, particularly with the arrival of The Hundred and of course The Ashes!

As England conclude another disastrous red ball tour and their miserable run of winning only one of their last seventeen Tests continues, we caught up with Paul Newman to try and get a sense of what keeps going wrong and ask about the possible solutions. He also previews the domestic season, which begins next week, and says a few words about the late Shane Warne.

More detail has been announced on the departure of CEO John Stephenson from Essex CCC. After the 2024 season has finished, he will leave his role at the club and head Down Under to become CEO at the Western Australia Cricket Association in Perth. A fantastic opportunity and after all the good things he has done during his tenure at Chelmsford, Richard Clarke and I discuss how much he will be missed and what happens now?

Make sure you subscribe to Richard's excellent newsletter here:

https://countycricket.substack.com

After a glittering career with India, Ajit Agarkar is busy these days as a commentator and we caught up with him earlier in 2021 after the conclusion of the Test series, where India had beaten England on hime soil. We reviewed the series and looked forward to yje white ball calendar, which would culminate in the T20 World Cup. Ajit talked about playing in front of big crowds and the impact of the huge new stadium at Ahmedabad. He gave us his memories of playing in England too and recounted a story of the great Sachin Tendulkar devouring a big plate of fish and chips on a night out in Leeds.