Binksy joins via Zoom but the Top Order are back again to review a fascinating week of cricket and look ahead to the final Australia v India Test in Brisbane.
We start the show (0.40) with South Africa's 2-0 series win against Sri Lanka, before discussing the England squad and whether we expect them to follow suit in Galle. Baldy and Lippy then take us through the BBL and Super Smash action so far and what it could mean for international selection.
With the Blackcaps' Test summer now concluded, we review another win against Pakistan (17.35). Lippy claims to have run out of superlatives before heaping praise on Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell and the entire New Zealand side, while Raj is concerned about Naseem Shah and Binksy calls for calm heads as Pakistan conduct an internal review.
As we move to the Australia v India series, Baldy outlines his frustration while watching a battered and bruised India side hold on for a dramatic draw at the SCG (31.15). We credit India's fighting spirit, wonder why wicketkeepers (and fielders in general) can't catch any more and discuss many of the key individuals of this engaging Test match, including Nathan Lyon, Ravichandran Ashwin, Tim Paine, Rishabh Pant, Steve Smith, Shubman Gill and Will Pucovski. Baldy makes a big call as we wrap the show with our predictions for the final Test in Brisbane and the World Test Championship implications, and we all cross our fingers that India can find eleven players to pull on the whites before the end of the week.
Keep your eye on the podcast feed over the coming days. We've got an episode dropping with former Blackcaps all-rounder and current White Ferns bowling coach Jacob Oram in which he gives us his thoughts on the NZ summer and takes us on a walk down memory lane. If you can't wait that long, check out our back catalogue. There's plenty more great interviews with current players, legends, journalists and characters from all over the cricketing world.
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