Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie joins the show

We've wanted to do this interview for a while. And with Ireland in the middle of a run of Test matches, and eyeing qualification for this year's World Cup, it's a good time for Season 14, Episode 11. Go back 20 years, and Irish cricket was a contradiction in terms. Now it's one of the game's success stories, rising to Full Member status and trying to grow in all directions. Lucky then that Andy Balbirnie isn't afraid of hard work. Since taking over as men's captain in 2019 he has had plenty of it, needing to combine being a batting lynchpin with being a strategist, motivator, statesman and advocate, and keeping an eye fixed on how things can improve in the future. 

Audio is here, we'll aim to post the video version as well.

Australia's golf tour of England

Season 14, Episode 10: Who needs to play tour matches before a major Test engagement, anyway? Its not like Australia's most recent trip was affected by not taking time to adjust. Time to play other sports instead. On another note, it was a major week in the women's game with two of the game's iconic fast bowlers, Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Shabmim Ismail, retiring from international duty. India has squad changes for the World Test Championship final, a familiar voice will be the new MCC president at Lord's, Ireland take a curious attitude to their Test match at that venue, and Jofra Archer leaves the IPL still troubled by his limited injury recovery.

Your Nerd Pledge number this week:
5.65 - Jake Cunliffe

Audio is here.

Story Time 135 – Let's Get Physical

This week, let's begin with the apocryphal work of Olivia Newton-John, and wind our way down to the coastal town of Warrnambool for what could and should be the greatest collaboration of all between Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. With a little more Warwick Armstrong Style for those who celebrate.

Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:
50.00 - Phillip Wing
17.17 - Alex Malin
6.35 - Thom Kelly
3.99 - Chewbacca Snuffleupagus
3.73 - Joey McGahan
7.71 - Claire Danny Daniel
10.00 - Will Day

Revisits
1.36 - Cameron Allen
19.80 - Clint

Audio is here.

Archive ep: Destroyed in Hobart, Australia hits rock bottom

A few uncharitable types have claimed to enjoy these flashbacks to Australia team not doing so well. Whatever your persuasion, it was a momentous week for us to start our third season with the ABC way back in November 2016. 

Donald Trump had just been elected President, Geoff had returned from following that circus in the US, travelling straight from New York to Hobart where South Africa demolished the home side in seven sessions. We wondered if it was the lowest point for the Australian Test team in our lifetimes. Maybe it was until the next series against South Africa a year and a half later.

The episode is here. 

That's everything from Week 2 of May. Lots of new numbers coming in for Nerd Pledge, lots of planning for the big English season ahead, and the Edinburgh marathon featuring our big contingent is not much more than two weeks away.