Wisden Cricket

The Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast gives a peep behind the Patreon curtain for a special episode on the state of state school cricket in the UK. A report released by the Sutton Trust earlier this year highlighted male pro cricketers to be 59% privately educated, and Yas sits down with journalist Cameron Ponsonby to unpack things a little more, before speaking to Saj Mahmood on the Knight-Stokes Cup & the launch of cricket equipment company Reeqip. 0:00 Intro //1:30 Cameron Ponsonby unpacks his research//38:45 Saj Mahmood on the Knight-Stokes Cup & Reeqip//50:48Outro

This week Katya Witney speaks to Lauren Winfield-Hill & Phil Walker in the studio about the action-packed start to the season, before Phil sits down with England World Cup winner Sarah Taylor for a deep dive on all things England Lions, dealing with anxiety and agoraphobia & curating her perfect slip cordon. 0:31 Intro & Lauren's start to the season//12:23 Amu Surenkumar//14:57 Davina Perrin//18:34 England player availability//28:35 Sarah Taylor preamble//37:09 Sarah Taylor The Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund in collaboration with the ECB aims to triple the number of girls’ cricket teams by breaking down barriers and creating supportive and inclusive spaces. Help transform the game, head to https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/cricket/ to champion the future of girls’ cricket. Lord's tickets: https://tickets.lords.org/

On Wisden week Yas speaks to Lawrence Booth about all things Almanack as the 2026 edition is released on Thursday, before speaking to rival podcast host Tom Holland about his favourite cricketers & relationship with the game itself. 0:00 Intro & Wisden's award winners / 6:57 Other snapshots from the Almanack / 15:52 Tom Holland preamble & Ashes chat / 19:44 Relationship with English cricket / 26:46 Top three favourite cricketers / 31:29 Quickfire questions

Last month, Phil Walker travelled up to Sheffield for an exclusive sit-down interview with the one and only Joe Root. They chatted about the Ashes, parenthood, fame, unfinished business with England and much more for the latest issue of Wisden Cricket Monthly. With thanks to New Balance Cricket

Butch & Yas on the race for England spots as the County Championship got underway last week, Jamie Smith's technical adjustments since the Ashes & the prospect of a European cricket nations cup. 0:15 Intro & England spots up for grabs//7:41 Jamie Smith's technical changes//14:27 The Euro Cup //18:57 Why don't England help non-big three nations?

This week Katya Witney speaks to The Cricketer's Nick Friend & Ben Gardner to preview the county season ahead, before speaking to Lancashire quick Kate Cross about her post-England career ambitions. 0:31 Intro & MetroBank One Day Cup predictions//2:52 Teams losing their international players//12:16 Alexa Stonehouse//14:31 Australian imports//18:33 Tier Two & Glamorgan's future//23:40 Breakout stars//28:25 England watch//39:08 Kate Cross on career post-England//53:46 What are the panel looking forward to this summer?//57:30 Outro The Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund in collaboration with the ECB aims to triple the number of girls’ cricket teams by breaking down barriers and creating supportive and inclusive spaces. Help transform the game, head to https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/cricket/ to champion the future of girls’ cricket. Lord's tickets: https://tickets.lords.org/

This week Katya Witney speaks to Lauren Winfield-Hill & Yorkshire women's Head Coach Rich Pyrah ahead of Yorkshire's first season in Tier One, as well as a quick chat with Yorkshire & Netherlands batter Sterre Kalis. 0:31 Intro//2:27 Building into first season in Tier 1//8:25 Recruitment over the winter//10:35 Sterre Kalis//18:32 Difference between Tiers 1 & 2//22:17 Positives in new county system//24:23 Two teams one club approach//27:57 Ambitions for the season ahead//30:14 Schedule//33:34 Players to look out for The Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund in collaboration with the ECB aims to triple the number of girls’ cricket teams by breaking down barriers and creating supportive and inclusive spaces. Help transform the game, head to https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/cricket/ to champion the future of girls’ cricket. Lord's tickets: https://tickets.lords.org/

Yas, Phil and Lawrence discuss the opening round of County Championship action, including centuries for Jamie Smith and James Rew, a thrilling finish at Northants and Ollie Robinson's first innings five-wicket haul. 0:00 Intro / 0:42 Exciting finishes / 5:09 Ollie Robinson / 11:18 Jamie Smith / 17:21 James Rew / 26:13 Pitches / 30:13 Northamptonshire / 33:45 Has the opening round changed our minds at all? / 41:16 Who is England's spinner? / 47:43 Other results / 50:48 Wisden Cricket Monthly offer / 55:08 Wisden Almanack / 56:55 Outro

This week Katya Witney speaks to Lauren Winfield-Hill & former Australia captain & broadcaster Lisa Sthalekar on the uncertain future of Women's Test cricket, before rounding up what has been a busy period in the international calendar. 0:00 Intro & Lauren on the future of Women’s Test cricket/10:26 Lisa Sthalekar on the ICC’s plan for Women’s Test cricket /31:08 International round-up: Amelia Kerr, Kayla Reyneke & Stafanie Taylor /45:54 Outro  The Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund in collaboration with the ECB aims to triple the number of girls’ cricket teams by breaking down barriers and creating supportive and inclusive spaces. Help transform the game, head to https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/cricket/ to champion the future of girls’ cricket. Lord's tickets: https://tickets.lords.org/

The English summer is nearly here! Yas, Ben and Katya preview the 2026 County Championship, including title favourites, relegation contenders, players to watch and everything in between. Also on the show, disgruntled ex-England players, a look at Sussex's off-field problems, updates from the IPL and PSL, and an extraordinary story coming out of South Africa. 0:00 Intro / 1:45 County Championship Division One / 13:09 Sussex's mismanagement / 19:37 Middlesex and Lancashire's struggles / 26:03 Division One continued / 31:17 Division Two / 38:29 Disgruntled England players / 47:46 Rule changes / 51:59 PSL / 55:03 IPL / 1:00:43 Beyers Swanepoel / 1:03:29 Kevin Pietersen / 1:05:58 Outro

In a bumper episode Katya Witney speaks to Em Arlott & bowling lead Chris Liddle to get an insight into the ongoing England training camp in South Africa. Katya then speaks to new Surrey 50-over captain Kira Chathli about being picked up in the Hundred and being involved in England's other winter training camp in Oman, before rounding off with Lauren Winfield-Hill on how England's potential World Cup squad is shaping up, and winning the WNCL final. 0:39 Intro/3:00 Em Arlott on England's training camp /19:54 England bowling lead Chris Liddle /34:40 Kira Chathli /46:00 Lauren Winfield-Hill/57:20 Outro The Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund in collaboration with the ECB aims to triple the number of girls’ cricket teams by breaking down barriers and creating supportive and inclusive spaces. Help transform the game, head to https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/cricket/ to champion the future of girls’ cricket. Lord's tickets: https://tickets.lords.org/

Butch, Yas, Ben and Lawrence react to the news that Brendon McCullum, Rob Key and Ben Stokes will all continue in their roles following England's 4-1 Ashes defeat over the winter. 0:00 Intro / 0:47 Mark Butcher on McCullum, Key, Stokes / 19:01 Were they lucky to survive? / 30:15 What did we learn? / 41:51 Liam Livingstone / 49:37 IPL / 51:35 PSL / 55:08 Outro

Katya Witney and Lauren-Winfield Hill speak to RCB & South Africa star all-rounder Nadine De Klerk about playing under pressure in India, her relationship with Marizanne Kapp & her ambitions ahead of this year's World Cup. 0:13 Intro & International schedule/6:15 Playing cricket for RCB in India/10:27 Playing under pressure and taking game to next level/19:09 Relationship with Marizanne Kapp/21:03 Childhood sporting ambitions/29:31 What it's like to play against Nadine/32:52 World Cup cricket/40:52 Hundred auction & future of South African Women's cricket The Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund in collaboration with the ECB aims to triple the number of girls’ cricket teams by breaking down barriers and creating supportive and inclusive spaces. Help transform the game, head to https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/cricket/ to champion the future of girls’ cricket. Lord's tickets: https://tickets.lords.org/

Yas, Phil and The Telegraph's Will Macpherson discuss the biggest stories from The Hundred auction, with input from London Spirit analyst from Freddie Wilde about what it's really like to be involved. Also on the show, an early look ahead to the Test summer, a bizarre run out involving Salman Ali Agha and more. 0:00 Intro / 0:58 The Hundred auction / 11:04 James Coles / 15:15 Scott Currie / 17:55 Abrar Ahmed / 28:00 London Spirit's Freddie Wilde talks auction strategy / 47:17 Purchase WCM, WIN a bat! / 48:03 ECB's ban on players at media days / 52:06 An early look ahead to the Test summer / 1:05:15 Bangladesh vs Pakistan controversial run out / 1:13:23 Outro

Butch and Yas chat through the biggest stories from last week's inaugural men's Hundred auction, which saw 21-year-old James Coles bought for £390,000 by London Spirit.

Katya Witney and Lauren-Winfield Hill on the women's Hundred auction this week that saw player salaries go through the roof. Katya then hosts a panel of Sarah Bryce, Fran Wilson, Lou Meadows & Beth Barrett-Wild to speak about the future of women's cricket. 0:30 Intro & Lauren's Hundred auction experience/04:30 How do players feel about the auction?/06:30 New money in the game and biggest signings/09:15 Salaries: men's vs women's/14:40 Who has the best squads/19:43 Girls in cricket fund panel discussion/33:44 Outro The Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund in collaboration with the ECB aims to triple the number of girls’ cricket teams by breaking down barriers and creating supportive and inclusive spaces. Help transform the game, head to https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/cricket/ to champion the future of girls’ cricket. Lord's tickets: https://tickets.lords.org/

Katya Witney and Ben Gardner discuss today's first ever Hundred auction, with franchises both new and old splashing the cash on a day that saw player salary records tumble. 0:29 Intro/1:20 Dani Gibson/5:21 Pre-signings vs auction signings/8:55 High salaries/11:44 Tilly Corteen-Coleman & wicketkeeping market/19:39 Was this actually a mega auction?/21:29 What were the best deals?/23:49 Why are auction dynamics strange?/33:31 Who has the strongest squad? The Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund in collaboration with the ECB aims to triple the number of girls’ cricket teams by breaking down barriers and creating supportive and inclusive spaces. Help transform the game, head to https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/cricket/ to champion the future of girls’ cricket.

Yas and Phil are joined by Lawrence Booth to discuss the final of the T20 World Cup, the future of England's T20 side and the news that Rob Key and Brendon McCullum are expected to continue in their respective roles. 0:00 Intro / 0:26 T20 World Cup final / 13:32 Patreon / 14:04 India vs England / 22:41 What next for England? / 32:30 Key & McCullum / 44:53 Brett Randell / 46:10 Wisden Cricket Monthly / 53:07 Outro

Butch and Yas review India's thrashing of New Zealand in the men's T20 World Cup final.

Katya Witney and Lauren Winfield-Hill discuss the cancelling of England's training camp in Abu Dhabi before looking ahead to the upcoming Hundred auction next week. Katya then speaks to England's Lauren Filer about her remodelled action & the summer to come. 1:19 Cancelling of England's training camp & World Cup prep/13:25 the Hundred auction/25:40 Alyssa Healy/30:45 Misconduct in women's cricket/36:50 Lauren Filer preamble/39:47 Lauren Filer interview The Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund in collaboration with the ECB aims to triple the number of girls’ cricket teams by breaking down barriers and creating supportive and inclusive spaces. Help transform the game, head to https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/cricket/ to champion the future of girls’ cricket. https://booking.ecb.co.uk/event/ed84bbd2-4cd2-4c2e-8c5c-5f683a36f478/summary Lord's Test tickets: https://tickets.lords.org/