The Mighty Dubs win again

Four matches across two countries and two years, and the Final Word XI remains unbeaten. That's not the main thing, but we can't help but be proud that a group of our listeners can join together, with no practice and not much cricketing pedigree, and produce a fine team effort not just once but each time so far. We spent a beautiful hot summer day generously hosted by the Newtown Browns at Birchgrove Oval by Sydney Harbour on Thursday, with the full match report to come after we talk about it on the next weekly show. 

We ran out of hours to do a Story Time last weekend, but made up for it during a busy week of three other episodes, plus posting a couple of archives to take us back into 2016. Not long until the whole set is online.

Afghanistan and fading hope

Season 13, Ep 18: Wanting to spend some proper time on this subject, and to hear from people who know it first hand, we went this week to meet Homaira Mershedi, Afghan community leader and veteran of humanitarian work over the decades since leaving for Australia. Then we talk through the tangled thicket of political ramifications around Australia withdrawing from a series against the Afghanistan men's team, while the women's team remains in exile in Melbourne with no support from the Afghan board or the ICC.

Homaira runs the Afghan Gallery Restaurant, 327 Brunswick Street in Fitzroy. When in Melbourne you can help out by going there for a meal. She is also vice-president of the Afghan Australian Development Organisation, they take donations at aado.org.au.

The audio for this episode is here.

The Afghan Gallery.

Round the world via Bridge on the River Kwai

Season 13, Ep 19: The cricket world was teeming this week, and so was our show. Everything from the Cherry Tree's first ever victory in Melbourne pub cricket to $100million for the Women's IPL. Rwanda produced a massive upset in the Under-19s World Cup, Shimron Hetmyer became Dennis Rodman in the most forensic scrutiny of a bridge since the River Kwai, Steve Smith dropped the hammer in the Big Bash and is on his way to Sussex to become a Duke, Ross Adair becomes a fine Irish story, Gary Ballance forms an odd pair with Zimbabwe, South Africa have one chance to dodge World Cup elimination, Ash Gardner says her piece on January 26, cricket has an Olympic Games setback, Shubman Gill makes a one-day double, and Iftikar Ahmed is Pakistan's favourite uncle. Out of breath?

Your Nerd Pledge number for this week:
3.16 - Helen Wilson

The audio is here.

Running out the non-striker, with the MCC

Season 13, Ep 20: Because it remains very much the cricketing topic de jour, it's time for another visit to the non-striker's end to take off the bails. This week the Marylebone Cricket Club, as custodians of the Laws, updated the relevant clause with extensive additional clarification as to when a bowler could attempt this kind of dismissal. We got hold of the man in charge, Fraser Stewart, to talk through what has changed and why.

Audio is here.

Plenty more coming up on the show. We have a bunch of people running the Edinburgh marathon with Adam, if you want to join them drop us a line. And don't forget to join the Lord's Taverners mailing list for more things of that kind.

Go the Mighty Dubs!