White Line Wireless

With the boys on the boat to Cape Town, and no mail on boats, this week we take a break in our usual broadcast to discuss the Treaty of Versailles in the context of the AIF XI story. Tangents include: The punic peace. The end of empire. The Nazi origins of Cultural Marxism. Champagne and Cognac as reparations. Whenever there’s a straight line on a map, Europeans have been there. Ash Barty and Nick Kyrgios and appropriate behaviour in an assimilationist culture. The Waterford is the pen of the high diplomacy of Versailles, the sharpie is the pen of the high diplomacy of the Trump administration.

There's no cricket this week, just a send off dinner for the boys at a fancy restaurant with lots of fancy people. Anth is joined once again by Russ Degnan to talk about things like how once again, cricket is over, this time it’s because people are playing professionally rather than for the MCC (in the 1850s). Historical empathy and how hard it is – people seem to really love the monarchy. and the invisibility of the now 12 year old Third World War.Corrections: Lord Harris was the secretary of the MCC at this time, he was only president once in 1895. Lord Hawk was the president during the war, and was succeeded by Henry Foster in 1919.

Tangents this week include: The AIF team becoming the nucleus of the post-war Australian test team. The change in leadership from Kelleway to Collins. The pre-war battle between the Australian administrators and players. The perilous state of pre-war cricket finances. The Pro/Gent origins of the North/South divide in England. Why I want to see some twisters and shooters on a sticky dog.Corrections: Scarborough started in 1876, not the 1850s. It probably wasn’t Senator Pearce there, he’s G Pearce, not S Pearce. He was also defence minister, not foreign minister.

This week stays surprisingly on the topic of the two South of England games, but we still manage to talk about the obscurities of County scheduling in 1919, the impact on results of two-days vs three-days (hint: longer games = more results), the industrial roots of Northern pace, and fast bowler’s egos.

Tangents: We solve climate change through the discovery of a supernatural bureaucrat with strong public sector union tsupport. The Jazz Eleven. What the war taught us about the Empire, by the Bishop of Taunton. The tactical errors of Napoleon at Waterloo.Correction: Professor Alan Lester is the Historian working on Colonial Office correspondence.

Tangents include: the development of the league system and the scheduling of late 19th century cricket, the creation of the county system and the ‘newspaper leagues’, how ‘traditional’ values are generally only the really weird morality of Victorian England necessary to run a colonial empire, some more detail on our favourite Johnny Won’t Hit Today, The Bulletin and it’s role in creating national identity, and giving English spectator behaviour a pass – they’ve just come out of a war after all. And a little bit more reflection on the importance of the AIF XI in reviving international cricket.Corrections: I correct it in the episode, but for some reason I have a blind spot on the 1920/21 English tour of Australia. Gurinder Sandhu is one of the modern bowlers bowling pace and spin, and Ashkay Karnewar playing for Board President’s XI against Australia A was the left and right handed bowler I saw recently.

Tangents: AIF Soldiers going AWOL to fight for Sinn Fein in the Irish War of Independence, and the government conspiracy to cover it up. T20’s vanguard role in spreading cricket to the world, as discussed by self-described test snobs. Cricket’s role in high level international politics.Corrections: I can’t confirm exactly how many balls per over would have been played in Greenock, but 6 was the common number at the time in Scotland.

Tangents: The value of a ham sandwich. Why cricketers of then would now be Instagram influencers. How much do female e-sports athletes earn anyway? T20 – the game for the beery gas worker.Corrections: The robots attacked! The last few weeks have been all over the shop like a coke promotion at a petrol station. Apologies for the out of order, and hopefully now we will return to our regular schedule. England tours as the Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 – 1977. On these tours they play international matches as England and non-international matches as the M.C.C.

Tangents this week: Great all-rounders. Just how shitty a WWI trench was, including a PTSD chat. Flappers, motor cars, and *shock* bare ankles. The plight of the poor Aussie potential bride to be. The Gregorys and the first women’s cricket match in Australia.Corrections: Bradman did NOT beat Syd Gregory's record. Bradman played in 52 tests, Syd Gregory played in 58 tests etween 1890 and 1912. It was not until Ray Lindwall's 59th test against Pakistan at Karachi in December 1959 that the record would be broken.

Tangents this week include: Cricket in Macedonia: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66505807/6487836 The invention of the dilscoop and leg glance. Proponents of the ‘dibbly dobbly’ school of bowling (AKA pie chuckers). RMIT Wuhan winning an international cricket tournament. Dirty Germans and John McClain/MacLean. Corrections: The leg glance is usually attributed to Ranjitsinhji, not WG as mentioned. The original ‘Hat Trick’ was H. H. Stephenson for the All England Eleven against the twenty-two of Hallam at Hyde Park Ground, Sheffield, in 1858. Two players have taken all 20 wickets on six occasions in Test matches. There’s over 60 players who have completed the 10 000 run 1000 wicket double, not a handful. It was Worcestershire who did not compete in 1919, not Gloucestershire in 1920.

Tangents include: The grievances of Monty Noble. The A.I.F. lifting the standard of fielding to a new level. Cricket meets baseball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgx1QPaYpCI The biggest crowds at sporting matches. And because this is a White Line Wireless production, we spend a little bit of time fanboying over Glenn Maxwell (and Jonty Rhodes).Corrections: The ‘hot shit’ baseballer is Francisco Lindor. There are reports of George Bonnor hitting the clock at Lord’s: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article213614058 but credit has to go to Albert Trott for being the famous Lord’s ‘clock smasher’ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128692122 The 286 runs off one ball is probably a myth, but given there are 1894 sources for it, I’m happy to allow it as part of cricketing history: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121617536 It was a São Paolo v Corinthians, but Corinthians is from São Paolo, not Rio.

Tangents this week include: Is Dame Nellie 1919’s Madonna or Taylor Swift? How WWI unified disparate cultures around Australia and why it holds such a central place in the development of Australian National Identity. Shakespearian dick jokes. Why Roller Derby is a better candidate sport for the Olympics than Cricket.Corrections this week include: The Australasian Championships become a major in 1924, the Australian Championships in 1927, and the Australian Open in 1969. Nurses serving with the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) were part of the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC), which was part of the Australian Military Force (AMF). Those who were deployed overseas during the war were part of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). The originator of sports photography was Eadweard Muybridge. Green and Gold were formally recognised as the national colours in 1984.

This week the AIF head north to Scotland to play against the West of Scotland, and twice against Scotland, all in six days. Tangents include players who could have played for multiple nations, the Scottish weather, and the difficulty of getting selected when you’re from the bush.

This week the AIF XI take on the best amateurs in England and then head of to 'hants. Tangents include rank and pay in the military, Canada's performance in the 2003 World Cup, and more nuggets of Gregory trivia.

This week the AIF XI take on The County and then get rained out at Hampshire. Tangents include English versus Australian barracking, a young Hampshire player by the name of Dallas Brooks, and the cost in cricketers of the first world war.

This week the AIF XI face Sussex and Lancashire. Tangents include the amateur professional divide, the impact of WWI on Australian identity, and using wickets made out of steel plates.

This week the AIF are up against Surrey and The M.C.C., but the major story surrounds a captaincy controversy. Tangents include early 20th century handwriting, the importance of cricket to a normal life, and slumming it in 1919 London.

Cow Corner's tour diary continues. This week we cover the games against Middlesex and Oxford, the safe arrival of airmen Hawker and Grieve, and tangents include the Danish royal family, the fielding philosophy of the aristocracy, and Australia’s relationship with England in the Edwardian era.

This week the AIF XI meet their first first-class opponents. They battle Essex in that county's return to first-class cricket from the war, and then Jack Gregory takes the students of Cambridge under his wing for an absolute master-class in fast bowling. Tangents include the Gregory's, Muscular Christianity, and honestly, probably too much laughing at Cambridge.

Anth is joined by Cam Boyle to read Cow Corner's diary of the first real week of the tour. Tangents this week include the development of the googlie, where the 'Test' match comes from, and John Pauls Getty I-III.

In this episode Anth is joined by Cam Boyle to read through the first of Cow Corner's diaries where he lays out the squad from which the side will be selected. Top tangents include why no one would want to live in Queensland in 1919, the nature of warfare at the turn of the 20th century, and Blackadder.To follow along with Cow Corner's interactive diaries, head to: https://anthonycondon.com/2019/05/06/0-5-may-1919/

In 1919 a cricket team made up of Australian soldiers awaiting repatriation in England toured the U.K., South Africa, and Australia on a mission to rebuild cricket. Using the 'found diaries' of Cow Corner, a fictional journalist embedded with the team, Anthony Condon and a host of White Line Wireless favourites will take you through the tour week by week.In this first episode Anthony gives the context for the formation of the tour, as well as an explanation on the methodology behind the creation of Cow Corner's lost diary.Sources and notes are available at AnthonyCondon.com

At lunch time on day four of the fourth Test in Cape Town, Anth Condon sat down with Supun Ambepitiya, Krish Prasad, and Yasitha Amarasinghe give their hot takes on #SandpaperGate. Who is the leadership team? What is an appropriate punishment? Where were the umpires? What is the reaction around the world? Plus a special bonus treat courtesy of @MessyJez and @GuerillaCricket - Ball Tampering Bancroft, the musical.

Cam Boyle, Russ Degnan, and Anth Condon spend the tea break on Day 2 of the Third Test between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town discussing affiliate cricket. A homily to the value of the affiliates to world cricket, and a screed against rushing into the Olympics.

Cam Boyle and Anth Condon had a chat about the ongoing World Cup Qualifiers during the tea break on Day 1 of the Third Test between South Africa and Australia. Pro-associate, anti-ICC content followed. And some obscure Dutch cricket trivia.

Live from the Lunch Show for Day 1 of the Third Test at Newlands, Cape Town, Cat Jones, Andrew Donnison, and Ben Renick take on this week's biggest cricketing sledging story, Smith v Rabada (with a side Philander hacking).

@AnthCondon is joined by @TheAmanMisra for this live (at the time) from India podcast. Responding to the call from The Grade Cricketer for a Malcolm Gladwell Revisionist History of the WACA, Aman and Anth take a deep dive into the science and history of the cricket pitch. Should home teams be able to prepare pitches to their advantage? What's the deal with organic matter? Why do pitches get political? When did a wicket keeper open the batting for India?For more on the science behind this episode look for work by Carre et. al. out of Sheffield University and McAuliffe and Gibbs out of the New Zealand Sports Turf Institute.

Anth is joined my MJ Knoestler to take a deep dive into Dutch cricket. A game born on Flemish village greens, brought to England by religious refugees, distilled through the English aristocracy before returning through invasion - cricket's Dutch connections run deep and broad. Colonialism. Empire. World Wars. The story of Dutch cricket is the story of Europe.

Anth is joined by Liz Yates and Josh Robinson for an in depth discussion about the history of Women's Test Cricket. From the deep context of Victorian England's first wave of Feminism, through the early years of women's cricket and the first test in 1934. The history of the 20th century is examined through the careers of two of the greatest players of all time: Enid Blakewell and Betty Wilson. Finally we discuss how we've gotten to where we are today, the importance of supporting the game, and several long tangents through cricket history and post-colonialism and gender.

James Wickham of @TheDrinksBreak joins @AnthCondon to talk about booze. From being the raison d'être of English v Australian internationals through to David Warner smacking Joe Root in the melon, we take a hazy trip down blackout lane to look at one of the fundamentals of Australian cricket culture. Includes tales of the questionable Don Bradman, and the legendary David Boon.

Guerilla cricket's Nakul Pande once again joins Anthony Condon to talk about women's cricket. On this episode they take a journey through time to examine the women's world cup, starting at the beginning of limited overs cricket, past a Rachael Heyhoe-Flint detour, all the way up to the current World Cup in England.

@AnthCondon teams up with Guerilla Cricket's @NakulMPande to have a chat about the 2017 Women's World Cup so far. Half way through the group stage we have a look at how each team is doing, the impressive individual performances so far, what's to come, and what we predict is going to happen, along with a healthy side serving of discussion about the growing professionalism of the women's game all topped with a delicious rant about the ECB's inability to understand what their product is and how to promote it.

India's first tour of Australia in 1947 was one for the history books - records set, Bradman's last home game, and the birth of a legend.

Slow left arm bowling, the Chinaman, is one of the more obscure names in cricket. In this episode Anth and Geoff talk through the history of the term, along the way busting some myths, and leaving you uncomfortable with using the term in future.

Geoff Lemon interviews White Line Wireless callers Angadh Oberoi & Raj Bhatia on the phenomenon known as the Swami Army - the history, the purpose, the emotion, that has made Indian tours of Australia second only to The Ashes in terms of crowds, passion, and importance.

Catch up on the lunch time chat from the fourth test of the India v Australia series. In this episode Geoff Lemon and Anthony Condon talk about the unofficial Australian tour of India in 1934.

Jordan Kounelis calls the last of the action, before Geoff Lemon is joined by Swami Army founders Raj Bhatia and Angadh Oberoi to look back over India's series win,  Australia's unexpected fight, and what it all meant.

This episode looks at the influence of the English ruling class in late 19th century India. It also further expands upon the issue of growing communalism within Indian cricket.

As a new test venue, the JSCA Stadium has little history, although it does have a few quirks. Ranchi, however, could be said to be the site of both the rise and fall of the East India Company.

Now a stand alone podcast, Anth's Old Cricket Shorts continues the history of Indian cricket that was begun in the White Line Wireless podcast over the Summer.In the next three episodes the period from the beginning of the British Raj through to the first Indian Test Match is covered, looking at the three important patron groups of Indian cricket - the Capitalists, the English, and the Princes. In this episode, we look at how the Wadias and the Tatas helped the Young Zoroastrian Cricket Club become a major force in Indian cricket, and how access to grounds led to tensions between the Indians, and the English ruling class.

Some of the stats, history, and culture of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and Bengaluru

A short description and history of the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium and Pune.

An in depth analysis of the proposals put forth at the recent ICC meeting.A full review of the teams, grounds, and chances of the upcoming India v Australia tour.The continuation of Old Cricket Short's tale of the history of Indian cricket.

Anth, Julz and Cam dissect the cricket world, including:* The psychology of a batting collapse* Praise of Pakistani fielding* The comparative value of Test cricket vs Elvis movies* Anth's cricket history* much, much more!

In this episode, Anth Condon, Julz Hay and Cameron Boyle discuss:* WBBL* BBL* Australia v Pakistan Test series* Anth's cricketing history

Anthony Condon, Geoff Lemon and Andrew Donnison talk about what is happening in the world of cricket, including:* a preview of the upcoming WBBL season* an interview with Melbourne Renegades player Maitlan Brown* wondering why people want batsmen who place value on their wicket only to turn against them for not scoring fast enough?* Anth's cricket history and much more

In episode 3 of the White Line Wireless cricket podcast , Anthony Condon, Julz Hay and Ben Rennick discuss:* the merry-go-round of the Australian selection panel* how much saliva is too much saliva?, and other takeaways from the Second Test between Australia and South Africa* a look ahead to the Third Test and Anth's somewhat leftfield call for Tim Ludeman's inclusion* what has been happening in women's cricket* Anth's piece of cricket history* and much more, including our Twitter competition winner!Get in contact with us via Twitter @whitelinewire to let us know what you think and what you would like covered in Episode 3.

In episode 2 of the White Line Wireless cricket podcast , Anthony Condon, Cat Jones and Andrew Donnison discuss:* what on earth happened in the First Test between Australia and South Africa* what on earth is going to happen in the Second Test between Australia and South Africa* Meg Lanning doing Meg Lanning things* Cat pining for an injured Steve O'Keefe to fix Australia's batting woes* Anth's piece of cricket history* and much more, including our Twitter competition winner!Get in contact with us via Twitter @whitelinewire to let us know what you think and what you would like covered in Episode 3.

The White Line Wirless cricket podcast is here!In episode 1, Anthony Condon, Julz Hay and Andrew Donnison discuss:* the 2016/17 summer of cricket* who should be an Australian selector and how should they be chosen (hint: it involves reality television)* how the teams are stacking up for the second season of the WBBL* Julz's soft spot for CAXI* Anth's piece of cricket history* and much more, including our very first Twitter competition winner!Get in contact with as via Twitter @whitelinewire to let us know what you think and what you would like covered in Episode 2.