Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear.   Most guests in this pub would probably agree that they want cricket to grow and be healthy. They want it to be more diverse, inclusive and attractive to new younger fans. They also, want to watch national teams to play entertaining winning Test cricket and be successful in other formats too. For many of us, that is England. But by no means exclusively. Those of us that follow English counties want them to entertain us a play great cricket and, ideally, win things.   And yet, in a theme we constantly return to in the B and B, for English cricket, the lure of money and the proliferation of franchises sets traditionalists against modernists, romantics against pragmatists. Even your ursine Landlord and episcopal barman, feel a little, well dirty, frankly as we cover the IPL.   Our guest today on the Barstool of Bravado, is Ben Bloom, who spent last summer travelling the country speaking to more than 100 of the game’s most important figures for his book – Batting for Time: The Fight to Keep English Cricket Alive. The concern and discontent he uncovered from all quarters was palpable and left him concluding that English cricket is in crisis.   It gets brilliantly under the skin of English cricket, giving a fair voice to those who represent all sides of the argument, including many of those we know as friends, not least Annie of course.   It’s a great chat with Ben, so do have a listen. And we can thoroughly recommend the book, available, as they say, from all good booksellers, including here.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the warm embrace (and warm beer) of the Bishop and Bear.   The chat this week is very much focused on the IPL as this year’s marathon begins. Who are the runners and riders? Where is the smart money going? Who are the stars and who is missing for each team? What makes the new smart replays smarter than the average replays? Why do Sunrisers Hyderabad get battered everywhere? Is their website still a UX disaster? (Don’t bother looking - it is I can assure you). Who is Jake Fraser McGurk and what happened to the monkey that bit him?   To answer these and so many other questions, we have our own ‘Oracle of the Odds’ and IPL aficionado Andy Ward. Andy is going to be steering our weekly IPL coverage and he seems to be limbering up in fine form, albeit with a Guinness Zero.   We even make time to debate the morals of Australia’s Afghan withdrawal and ponder why no one is mad about the Roy.   Here is our very loose running order:   ·     IPL 2024 -      What’s new for 2024? o  Bouncers o  Smart replays -      Guerilla Tips – where is our money for this year?   ·     Australia pull out of Afghanistan Mens T20 – A fair stance or looking for an excuse?   ·     Why is no one mad about the Roy?   ·     A decent start for England’s Women vs NZ despite missing some WPL starts   ·     Our IPL Coverage – what to expect     Thanks, as ever for your company. Do let us know what you think and join us for our weekly show.   Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A warm welcome once more to the Bishop and Bear.   A fabulous if ultimately unsuccessful Test series for England is behind us, but there is plenty to reflect upon. The IPL stretches out before us. No less than 66 days of, well pretty much the same as last year, but it will be fun.   As we look back to that enthralling Test series in India, we have two guests propping up our bar to cogitate on that and much more besides. Anindya has been busy penning his thoughts on whether or not India saw the death of Bazball as a strategy. If you haven’t read “Death of a Strategy? The Curious Case of 'Bazball' in India” then we can heartily recommend it. You can find it here.   We also welcome the late Sagir Parkar. Not “late as in in the late Dentarthurdent”, but apparently detained on his way to the pub by a traffic accident. He picks up the pace of conversation like a pro though.   It’s a lively chat I can assure you we answer many questions as we go including:   ·     Was Baz ball battered? ·     England’s dilemmas o  One attitude – flexible approach? o  Making way for Brook? o  Duckett’ technique (and his dog)? o  Leach – should he stay or should he go? ·     Will the Jazz Whale stay in tune wherever he plays? ·     Jimmy 700 – For a fast bowler a record that will never be beaten? ·     New Zealand against Australia – Is it a mental thing? ·     Fire up the clown car – who wants tickets to the IPL circus?     Whether you agree with any of the answers is of course, entirely up to you, but do get in touch and let us know.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sæll og velkominn til Biskups og Björn   I’m not sure you can ever fully trust Google Translate, but that should be Icelandic for “Hello and welcome to the Bishop and Bear”. If you happen to speak fluent Icelandic and it accidentally says something else, I can only apologise. Blame the landlord not the barman.   There is a reason we have gone full Icelandic though. Our guest on the Barstool of Bravado this week is Kit Harris. Not only assistant editor of Wisden but also author the extraordinary “From Lords to the Fjords – The Saga of Icelandic Cricket”.   From Lord’s to the Fjords is the uproarious tale of cricket in Iceland: how the national press believed a stag party from Oxford were the official England team, how Sky Sports accidentally sent a crew to televise an Icelandic Cricket Cup final that didn’t exist, how the lead singer of Iron Maiden flew a passenger jet into a match under the midnight sun, how Henry Blofeld umpired in a blizzard on top of an ice cap, how the Iceland team was sold to the world’s public and became a viral Twitter sensation (incurring the wrath of Jofra Archer), how an Icelandic ‘mystery spinner’ signed for an Indian Premier League team, how the Iceland team fulfilled their dreams by playing their first international match – and how historical evidence proves that the Vikings were absolutely, definitely playing cricket in the tenth century.   It's a fantastic read so we’ve included a below where you can avail yourself of it.   Don’t worry there’s plenty of other cricket chat too as we cast an eye over events in India, discuss how to engineer more playing time for young spin bowlers, lament the frustrations that seem to surround Ollie Robinson and even look ahead to what’s coming up in The Wisden 2024 Almanac published in April. Here’s that link we promised for “From Lords to the Fjords”.       Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear – the internet’s favourite virtual cricket pub (probably).   Well, it was a right old battering for England in Rajkot. The young Jazz Whale played all the right notes in exactly the right order and there were way too many bum notes from England against Bumrah and co. The Yorkshire middle order of Root and Bairstow looks under pressure and out of sorts. Can they battle their way back into some form in Ranchi? Ben Stokes thinks the pitch there looks “interesting very interesting” to appropriate the words of the great Barry Davies.   Our guest this week is the ever-erudite Forthy, who joins your ursine landlord and episcopal barman to ask and attempt to answer some of the questions vexing England’s management. If indeed they ever do get vexed, which at least to external eyes they seem not too. We also celebrate the power of Indian run scoring and dig a bit behind Jay Shah’s comments that Indian players shouldn’t prioritise the IPL over domestic cricket.   Here is a rough idea of the topics we chat and drink our way through:   Bazball out Bazzed in Rajkot What do we expect in Ranchi? Strong Yorkshire Strong England – what’s in the heads of Root and Bairstow? “BCCI says don’t prioritise IPL over domestic cricket” – sorry what??!! Umpires Call – is it the blind the leading the blind? (Sorry Joel!) Settle in, enjoy your drink and do please get in touch and let us know what you think. Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Once again, a very warm welcome to the Bishop and Bear. We’re enjoying a little bit of breathing space between the 2nd and 3rd India Tests and the England team are enjoying themselves too with golf and family time in Abu Dhabi. Not Rehan Ahmed though. The lad thinks golf is for old men and he’ll be catching up with a Turkish TV series about the Ottoman Empire instead. Our guest this week is no stranger to the bar in the old Bishop and Bear. She has a stool and pint glass with her name on it. It’s the one and only St Annie, county cricket natterer and matterer supreme. And there is so much to talk about, starting with the dismissal, or rather non-dismissal, that has had our Guerilla WhatsApp group in a lather of excessively verbose opinion. So here are the things we meander our way through with plenty of detours en route. ·     Neil Brand – out or not out? ·     Visakhapatnam Test o  20’s and 30s don’t win you Tests (Alastair Cook) o  Blowing the Jazz Whale’s trumpet o  Brilliant Bumrah o  Jimmy Jimmy o  Can Shoaib, Tom and Rehan learn fast enough to haul England back in front? o  Is Joe Root trying too hard to Bazz? o  Runs in Rajkot o  Changes for Third Test? ·     South Africa C getting what CSA deserve in New Zealand? ·     U19 World Cup – India and Aus into the final ·     County Cricket Matters – What’s coming up?   Settle in, enjoy your drink and do please get in touch and let us know what you think.   Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get your Kicks in the Bishop and Bear 66! With due deference to Bobby Troupe who wrote Route 66 (and not a lot of people know that), perhaps not even Joe Root who wears 66 on the back of his shirt of course.   What a week for Test Cricket, culminating in its own Super Sunday. Two incredible Tests, two extraordinary results. Three heroes in the form of Shamar Joseph, Ollie Pope and Tom Hartley. The latter, we think, bears an uncanny resemblance to the great Hedly Verity. Google some pictures and see what you think.   It really was riches indeed for Test cricket fans and on our Barstools of Bravado, your ursine landlord and episcopal barman are joined by two passionate and knowledgeable guests. Aryan Surana, our resident Guerilla news hound and the irrepressible David Brook, represent India and the West Indies, but take a refreshingly non-partisan view of events.   Fortified with rum and coffee, we dive not just into the two matches, but more importantly perhaps, the statement they have made in the context of challenges faced by Test Cricket generally. And we answer important questions like “How far is it from Old Trafford to Hyderabad? Just what was did the Windies put in Shamar’s magic toe spray? And exactly how should we pronounce Visakhapatnam”?   For good measure, we tackle KP’s tweet asking for people’s opinions on the balance of T20’s and Tests, so grab yourself a drink at the bar and settle in to enjoy the chat.   Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear, brought to you this week in association with Nord VPN - working for a safer and better internet. Top rated by Cybernews, Nord VPN stands as the unrivalled leader in digital protection, offering exceptional speeds, impenetrable encryption, a no-log policy, cutting-edge features and an unparalleled commitment to privacy.   Our two Barstool of Bravado guests this week are the lads from The Cricket Podcast (and Guerillas of course) Jack and Max. Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman certainly have to be on our toes with T20 knowledge. There may be a suspicion of some hurried googling in the Ursine department.   We unpick the extraordinary double super over events from Bengaluru this week, the expanding and contracting Big Bash, plus cast a critical eye on the quality of some of the global T20 franchises.   For good measure, there is a passing tribute to the great Muddy Waters and we also learn that the Bear’s portly neighbour wears bamboo underpants. Don’t ask how he knows that, just listen to find out!   Here’s the full chat list: ·     Two Super Overs – Too good to be true? ·     Three times same result for Pakistan in New Zealand – two to go ·     Big Bash – less bash since it got bigger and then smaller again? ·     SA 20 – DSG make the early running. No great surprise looking at squads? ·     IL T20 starts 24th – is global talent pool being spread too thin across global franchises? ·     Adelaide Test – 3 Days is one more than expected? ·     Drinking TNT – We were always ready for that ·     Oh go on then – India vs England. Will England win a Test? Remember, you can grab your EXCLUSIVE GUERILLA CRICKET NordVPN deal by clicking here https://nordvpn.com/gcradio to get a huge discount off your NordVPN Plan plus 4 additional months for free! It’s completely risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! When prompted, remember to use the special discount code GCradio. Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This Bishop and Bear this week is brought to you in association with Nord VPN - working for a safer and better internet. Top rated VPN by Cybernews, Nord VPN stands as the unrivalled leader in digital protection, offering exceptional speeds, impenetrable encryption, a no-log policy, cutting-edge features and an unparalleled commitment to privacy. To be honest we are a bit confused as to which number Bishop and Bear this is. Looking back, we seem to have missed 62 completely, had 64 as our Christmas Special and then released 63. So, this is either 62 (delayed), or 65. “But frankly”, as Barry Davis once said about the errant German Hockey team’s defence, “Who cares?” What does matter is that we have a cracking guest in the old B&B this week. It’s Kiwi cricket writer, broadcaster and author, Andrew McLean. Although from Wellington, Andrew lives in Bali now, so your episcopal barman had selection of Araks, Jamus, Bintangs and Young Coconuts ready to pour. Settle yourself down with your own drink of choice and listen here as Andrew and your episcopal and ursine hosts get stuck into a meaty agenda including: That Cape Town Pitch – no surprise about the ‘unsatisfactory’ rating Chris Broad was match ref. Might a different ref have had a different opinion? Does New Zealand really produce the best wickets in the world? SA20 – its’ on Sky over here in the UK – will it prove worth it for CSA or does it just put another nail into Test Cricket? New Zealand starting WT20 year with a home series against Pakistan – On balance pretty well matched? West Indies in Aus – can the Windies pull off a miracle? Smith to open now Davie W has gone? Who might shine for the Windies? Remember, thanks to all kinds of nifty, cutting-edge technology, NordVPN keeps your devices malware free and your browsing safe from strangers’ eyes. How safe? It would take the world’s most powerful computer billions of years to unencrypt your data — that safe! Grab your EXCLUSIVE GUERILLA CRICKET NordVPN deal by clicking here https://nordvpn.com/gcradio to get a huge discount off your NordVPN Plan plus 4 additional months for free! It’s completely risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! When prompted, remember to use the special discount code GCradio. Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Bishop and Bear this week is brought to you in association with Nord VPN - working for a safer and better internet. A Very Happy New Year! We have a great chat for you to start 2024. Let’s face it, you might have a bit of time, especially if you had been planning to watch days 3, 4 and 5 of the Cape Town Test!   Special guests seated on our Barstools of Bravado are Shelley - Destroyer of Worlds and India’s biggest fan and critic, Anindya. Not surprisingly, we focus on the extraordinary Test in Cape Town – a conversation that last’s almost longer than the Test itself. Records tumbled and Harry Butt finally has some company as the only player ever to be dismissed twice on his very first Day of Test cricket.   Armed with drink of choice our intrepid duo, along with your ursine landlord and episcopal barman get stuck into a New Year feast of:   -      Dismissals and Dumps in Cape town -      Are South Africa really committed to Test cricket? -      Farewells to Elgar and Warner – same vintage very different players -      Pakistan doing Pakistan things in Sydney -      India haven’t lost a Test series at home since 2012/13 and in that time have won 36 Tests and lost only 3 at home - Will England need all of their 3 days prep?   Thanks to all kinds of nifty, cutting-edge technology, NordVPN keeps your devices malware free and your browsing safe from strangers’ eyes. How safe? It would take the world’s most powerful computer billions of years to unencrypt your data — that safe! Grab your EXCLUSIVE GUERILLA CRICKET NordVPN deal by clicking here https://nordvpn.com/gcradio to get a huge discount off your NordVPN Plan plus 4 additional months for free! It’s completely risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! When prompted, remember to use the special discount code GCradio. Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the Bishop and Bear at Christmas. The perfect time to look back at the year in cricket. Being the friendly sort of boozer that we are, a whole bunch of guests have popped in to toast the season with you and of course your ursine landlord and episcopal barman.   As the drink flowed, everyone was more than happy to share their highs and lows of the year and we had our own Guerilla style awards too. Heroes, Villains, Clowns, Top teams and Magic Moments (both on and off the field) were proposed and cogitated over. And a very broad selection we ended up with too, from Australia to Uganda and Josh Hull (who – listen and find out) to Glenn Maxwell.    Along the way, we dive in and out of all of the following.   ·     New Zealand series draw and the defeat that was a win for cricket ·     Diamonds on the soles of Joffra’s shoes in Kimberley ·     Bangladesh – The forgotten series ·     IP Hell 2 months, 74 matches and a Duckworth Lewis Final ·     Ireland’s 4 day Test (but they prioritised World Cup qualification – which went well) ·     Australia World Test Champions – and India practice being runners up ·     Moral Ashes – Broadway Broad and Dozy Jonny B ·     Women’s Ashes Draw and World T20 – but not great Tests for England Women against Aus or India (despite Tammy’s double ton) ·     New Zealand’s Never-Ending Tour ·     Surrey Champions again – are they the Manchester City of English Cricket? ·     World Cup Disaaaaster Darling (and Moody Modi) ·     Much Wobbling in the Windies   Do have a listen and most importantly, let us know who your choices would be for Hero; Villain; Clown; Team of the Year; On field moment and Off field moment.   Our very best to you and yours for a fabulous holiday season and new year. We will be back to welcome you into the internets favourite virtual cricket pub in the new year.   Cheers from Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome once more into warm embrace of the Bishop and Bear. If its hot cricket conversation and convivial company you are after, you are in the right place.   India are in South Africa, although Durban seemed a bit more like Durham or Dundee yesterday and the first T20I was rained off. But that does not deter our two guests from delving into the prospects for the series in all formats.   Representing World Cup runners up India is a man who doesn’t need a barstool as he travels everywhere with his own armchair, it is of course Ajit. And in the Proteas corner, simply oozing charm and cricket expertise, none other than Tim Dale Lace. Together with your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman drinks are drunk and thoughts are thunk across all of the following:   ·     South Africa and India all formats o  Can South Africa build on the promise of the World Cup? o  Can India travel better than they usually do? Did they bless the rains down in Africa?   ·     West Indies vs England – what have we learned from the ODIs? o  The Buttler/Mott axis isn’t working for ODIs? o  Can the T20s offer more hope? o  You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock – just a minute - no hesitation, repetition or deviation   ·     India Vs England Women – great start for England in T20’s. But will the Test be a different ball game? o  England spinners looking good – particularly Sophie Ecclestone   ·     England Test selections for India o  Shoab Bashir – Who? o  No Jacks or Dawson o  Foakes returns – he must keep surely o  Stokes as batsmen only – what is the right balance   ·     Mitchell Johnson vs David Warner o  Handbags at dawn or does Mitchell have a point? Grab yourself a drink at the bar and settle in to enjoy the chat. Don’t forget, you can help us keep cricket free and global by becoming a Patreon, with loads of benefits by way of our thanks. If you can, do join us here.   And don’t forget to message us and let us know what you think. Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bloodied, battered and bruised after the World Cup, to quote Watford’s Life President Elton John, “we’re still standing” and delighted to welcome you back to the old B&B for some relaxing drinking and chatting. And who better to do that with, than our own David (Babbling) Brook? David joining your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman can only mean one thing. There’s a West Indies series on the horizon.   So that’s where we start and look at two sides testing out new and younger talent in the white ball arena. For what’s its worth, none of us think it’s going to be that easy for England even though there seems to be some unrest bubbling in the West Indies camp.    Here's our full conversational menu for your delight and delectation:   ·     West indies Preview – What’s the story with Bravo? And now Shane Dowrich too. Who might shine for England? ·     World Cup Wrap – Did India dig their own hole? ·     Cricket Writers Awards – A Brook on Brook appraisal ·     Ben Stokes and the Battle of Wounded Knee ·     India and Australia – still slugging it out – Why? ·     Shanto Panto in Sylhet – Oh no it isn’t! Oh yes, it is!     Grab yourself a drink at the bar and settle in to enjoy the chat. Don’t forget, you can help us keep cricket free and global by becoming a Patreon, with loads of benefits by way of our thanks. If you can, do join us here.   And don’t forget to message us and let us know what you think.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Percy Fender Memorabilia Auction: Online now here: https://auctions.bhandl.co.uk/lots?term=percy%20fender&categoryCode=SME Live Auction to be held Dec 5th at 10am. Address details below At Guerilla Cricket, we are huge fans of Percy George Herbert Fender. He has a starring role in our theme tune after all.  Often presented as a divisive, comical, Bertie Wooster, monocle wearing figure (he never did wear one, but his wife did), he was in fact the polar opposite. Sharp, witty, principled, forward thinking, a master tactician and someone who fought for inclusivity and fairness. Perhaps he did more to reinvent cricket than any other person of his age. A renaissance man (he wrote musicals and books), and, it now turns out, was an impeccable archivist of his own life. This year Percy’s son Peter sadly died, but from that has emerged a treasure trove of papers, memorabilia and photos that Percy had assembled and Peter had lovingly kept. Much of it goes to auction on December 5th but before it does, we’ve had access and sight into the contents and with it an insight into Percy Fender’s world, including a remarkable series of never heard before recordings that Percy made in the 1960’s for his son Peter and for posterity. They chart his life, his career, most of it with Surrey, his feelings, and perhaps, most telling of all, his role in Bodyline, the 1932 Test series in which cricket went to war.   Amongst some amazing memorabilia in the auction is an extraordinary letter the Percy typed towards the end of his life where he tells “the truth about Bodyline”.  The auction takes place at 10.00 am on December 5th at  BHL St. Edmund's Court, Okehampton Street, Exeter, EX4 1DU. It will also be live here and select “Sporting equipment and memorabilia. Listen here as Tony Bishop is joined by Dan Norcross, Jon Surtees from Surrey and most importantly, Percy’s two grandsons, Guy and Nick as we learn more about the remarkable Percy and unearth his truth about Bodyline.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Percy Fender Memorabilia Auction: Online now here: https://auctions.bhandl.co.uk/lots?term=percy%20fender&categoryCode=SME Live Auction to be held Dec 5th at 10am. Address details below At Guerilla Cricket, we are huge fans of Percy George Herbert Fender. He has a starring role in our theme tune after all.  Often presented as a divisive, comical, Bertie Wooster, monocle wearing figure (he never did wear one, but his wife did), he was in fact the polar opposite. Sharp, witty, principled, forward thinking, a master tactician and someone who fought for inclusivity and fairness. Perhaps he did more to reinvent cricket than any other person of his age. A renaissance man (he wrote musicals and books), and, it now turns out, was an impeccable archivist of his own life. This year Percy’s son Peter sadly died, but from that has emerged a treasure trove of papers, memorabilia and photos that Percy had assembled and Peter had lovingly kept. Much of it goes to auction on December 5th but before it does, we’ve had access and sight into the contents and with it an insight into Percy Fender’s world, including a remarkable series of never heard before recordings that Percy made in the 1960’s for his son Peter and for posterity. They chart his life, his career, most of it with Surrey, his feelings, and perhaps, most telling of all, his role in Bodyline, the 1932 Test series in which cricket went to war.   Amongst some amazing memorabilia in the auction is an extraordinary letter the Percy typed towards the end of his life where he tells “the truth about Bodyline”. The auction takes place at 10.00 am on December 5th at  BHL St. Edmund's Court, Okehampton Street, Exeter, EX4 1DU. It will also be live here and select “Sporting equipment and memorabilia. Listen here as Tony Bishop is joined by Dan Norcross, Jon Surtees from Surrey and most importantly, Percy’s two grandsons, Guy and Nick as we learn more about the remarkable Percy and unearth his truth about Bodyline.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Percy Fender Memorabilia Auction: Online now here: https://auctions.bhandl.co.uk/lots?term=percy%20fender&categoryCode=SME Live Auction to be held Dec 5th at 10am. Address details below At Guerilla Cricket, we are huge fans of Percy George Herbert Fender. He has a starring role in our theme tune after all.  Often presented as a divisive, comical, Bertie Wooster, monocle wearing figure (he never did wear one, but his wife did), he was in fact the polar opposite. Sharp, witty, principled, forward thinking, a master tactician and someone who fought for inclusivity and fairness. Perhaps he did more to reinvent cricket than any other person of his age. A renaissance man (he wrote musicals and books), and, it now turns out, was an impeccable archivist of his own life. This year Percy’s son Peter sadly died, but from that has emerged a treasure trove of papers, memorabilia and photos that Percy had assembled and Peter had lovingly kept. Much of it goes to auction on December 5th but before it does, we’ve had access and sight into the contents and with it an insight into Percy Fender’s world, including a remarkable series of never heard before recordings that Percy made in the 1960’s for his son Peter and for posterity. They chart his life, his career, most of it with Surrey, his feelings, and perhaps, most telling of all, his role in Bodyline, the 1932 Test series in which cricket went to war.   Amongst some amazing memorabilia in the auction is an extraordinary letter the Percy typed towards the end of his life where he tells “the truth about Bodyline”. The auction takes place at 10.00 am on December 5th at  BHL St. Edmund's Court, Okehampton Street, Exeter, EX4 1DU. It will also be live here and select “Sporting equipment and memorabilia. In part one here, Tony Bishop is joined by Dan Norcross, Jon Surtees from Surrey and most importantly, Percy’s two grandsons, Guy and Nick  as we explore Percy’s early life, his flying career taking pot shots and zeppelins, his captaincy of Surrey and learn about a record that he still holds to this day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 48, The Final at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first, in doing so they were able to control the Indian top order, which kept losing wickets at the inopportune moments. Australia lost some early wicket, but thanks to a fabulous century from Travis Head Australia cruised home Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from 2nd semi final at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first, Australia bowled like the champions they are and only Heinrich Klassen and a David Miller century allowed them to claw themselves to 212. Australia went off like a train with Travis Head scoring a 40 ball 60. After that it all got a little hairy before the skipper Pat Cummins got them over the line. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from the 1st Semi Final at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. India won the toss and elected to bat first putting on an impressive 397/4, centuries again for Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. New Zealand chased gamely for the best part of 40 overs before the weight of the job finally got to them. India progress to the final. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 45 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Indi won the toss and elected to bat first, the first 4 batsmen each got 50, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul going on to make hundreds in piling on a total of 410. The Netherlands were game but inevitably subsided to 250 in an entertaining game Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices