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On today's episode of The Agenda, Manaia Stewart joins ACC Head G Lane and Tony Lyall in the immediate aftermath of the Football World Cup final, but they are too caught up in Ryan Fox winning the British Open to talk about it (00:00).They also rake over the coals of the All Blacks' win over Ireland in the ultimate Mana Munch at Eden Park (10:30), the Black Caps nearly turning a win into a defeat against the Windies (28:15), and the Warriors getting over the Dragons with the help of Manaia's new keyring (39:35)! We finish it up with 'Yours Please' where we look back on the history of the "Goontugger" (44:25), and if we have time, we just might get to the Football World Cup Final... Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE!Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Blues Loosie & Former Kiwi Fern Charmain McMenamin joins the show to chat Super Rugby Aupiki 2026, last rounds win v Matatu setting up the same matchup for the final, expectations & more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of the show, Binksy, Raj and Stu talk mostly ODI cricket for the first time in ages, as we look back at the first two matches in England's series against India and the first three of New Zealand's tour to the West Indies. We also pay tribute to the late Sir Garfield Sobers - a true legend of the game. We start the show with England v India, and it's Rohit Sharma who has been under the most scrutiny so far. Is it time India pull stumps on his international career? For England, it seems clear the talent is there to build a formidable white-ball side, but have they got the tactics right? And is Harry Brook determined to self-destruct in every innings? We also discuss whether ODI openers should consider a T20 approach, and continue to speculate on the vacant England test coaching job now that Andy Flower has withdrawn from the race. As the show continues, the conversation moves to the West Indies, where at the time of recording New Zealand held a 2-1 lead in the five-match ODI series. After bat dominated the first game, it's been the Black Caps spinners who have delivered the decisive moments. We talk about where Michael Bracewell and Jayden Lennox fit on New Zealand's depth chart, and there's also praise for Tom Latham and his performances in the middle order of this ODI side. To round out the show, we pay tribute to Sir Garfield Sobers, who passed away this week just short of his 90th birthday. One of the true greats of the game - perhaps the greatest there ever has been - and a player who excelled across so many skills, it's fair to assume he'd have been a superstar in any era. If you haven't already seen it, the video Stu referenced in the podcast can be found at: https://youtu.be/X8T3G40iLh0?si=FgW494339IaNr0LG We'll be back again next week with more news and views. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:00 England v India 3:00 Rohit Sharma under pressure? 7:30 Why don't we see T20 tactics in ODIs? 13:05 England's white-ball tactics 20:50 England's test coach? Not Andy Flower 25:20 Black Caps v West Indies 28:40 Where does Michael Bracewell fit in? 32:00 Where's Jayden Lennox on the depth chart now? 35:30 Tom Latham's contributions 40:50 Luke Ronchi stepping away 42:45 Remembering Sir Garfield Sobers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On this week's episode of The BYC Podcast, Dylan Cleaver & Paul Ford join ACC Head G Lane to review the first two ODIs between the Black Caps and the West Indies and what it means for the rest of the Series (00:30)... Next, they touch on Stephen Fleming leaving Chennai and predict where he'll end up next (15:05), before digging deep into the end of Red-Bazball, and the fellas discuss what its legacy will be (19:10)... Also why do India suck so much at T20s (23:00), some Correspondence aka Nerd Corner (28:20), the BBL heading to India (30:15), and who's on top of the MCL MVP Rankings (33:35)... Plus, all your favourite furniture including Paul Ford's Cricket Violence Corner & Bat Book Chat (37:00)! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The BYC Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On today's episode of The Agenda ACC Head G Lane and Tony Lyall pay tribute to the great Sam Neill, including a deep dive into his worst movie, which just so happens to be about the Football World Cup (00.00)... Next they discuss Reiko Ioane's recall to the All Blacks just in time for the Irish Test (05:50), and the Black Caps' demolition job in ODI 2 of the Windies series (13:10)!Plus Auckland Tuatara player Tom Vodanovich joins the podcast for a debrief on college basketball, he plugs his new business venture, Big Shot, and Lane puts him through the infamous '22 in 2' questions (15:55)... Finally, it's Yours Please and a guide on how to pick which team to support in State or Origin (37:00)...Check out Big Shot at bigshot.co.nz Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE! Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Black Caps bowling coach Jacob Oram is applauding Mitch Santner's decisive captaincy after their five-wicket over the West Indies in game two of their one-day cricket series in Guyana. New Zealand's decision to bowl first paid off, cleaning the hosts' up for 138 - including a maiden international five wicket bag for Jayden Lennox. New Zealand chased down 139 with 17.4 overs spare to tie the series 1-all. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave speculated further ahead of game three. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of the show, Baldy, Jamie and Stu turn a 'short' episode into a long one by reacting to the news that Brendon McCullum has been sacked as England Men's test coach, and then looking back at the Stokes/McCullum tenure. We also discuss England's T20 series victory against India and New Zealand's ongoing ODI series against the West Indies. We start the show with an extended conversation about Brendon McCullum's sacking as England Men's test coach. We talk the timing of the announcement, the reaction so far and the personal side of difficult conversations. We ask whether he'll see out the rest of his white-ball contract, wonder about who might replace him, and look back at the Stokes/McCullum era to consider how that time will be remembered and what, if anything, should be carried forward by their successors. As the show continues, the conversation eventually does turn to recent cricket matches to discuss England's 4-0 T20 series win against India. We saw a return to form for Jos Buttler, some remarkable hitting from Harry Brook and a continuation of Jofra Archer's impressive summer. For India, is it time to panic? Probably not, but the absences of the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Varun Chakravarthy certainly left holes that couldn't be filled. And what to do now with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? To round out the show, there's an overview of the first two ODIs between the Black Caps and the West Indies. New Zealand are much changed from the tests against England, but after an initial loss, it was a group of spinners led by Jayden Lennox who helped them level the series. We also share a few quick thoughts on the first round of New Zealand domestic contracts, and highlight some players we'll be keeping our eye on during the home summer. We'll be back again next week with more news and views. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:15 Brendon McCullum sacked as England Men's Test coach 6:10 Will McCullum see out his white-ball contract? 10:35 Has the Bazball era delivered on its initial promise? 23:20 Which parts should endure into the next era? 34:20 Who will replace Brendon McCullum? 39:30 Could it be Stephen Fleming? 44:30 England beat India 4-0 in T20s 51:10 Are we worried about India's T20 slump? 55:35 How do India manage Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from here? 1:01:35 Black Caps v West Indies 1:09:35 NZ domestic contracts of note Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Black Caps got back on track in their ODI series against the West Indies, winning the second match by 5 wickets this morning to square the series 1-1. Tom Latham top scored for the Black Caps at 37* and he joined D'Arcy to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
(00:00) Blackcaps(07:30) Mindfulness(13:07) NZ Warriors(31:54) Flynn Cameron(35:53) Charlisse Leger-Walker(43:00) NBL(51:21) Alex Paulsen(01:00:55) Luke Brooke-Smith(01:09:44) Auckland FCThis week in the Niche Cache we start with a quick check in of the Blackcaps ODI series vs West Indies where Jayden Lennox continues his slick form. We roll through a few NZ Warriors things ahead of their game vs Dragons this weekend and then update how Flynn Cameron and Charlisse Leger-Walker are going in the NBA Summer League and WNBA respectively. The NBL season is heading towards finals with youngsters like Jake Holmes making key contributions, then we hit up some football news led by Alex Paulsen joining Mortherwell and Luke Brooke-Smith being on the radar for Portsmouth. We finish with how Auckland FC's squad is looking this winter and how they are using their lower grades. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/elnichecacheSubstack: https://thenichecache.substack.comDonate: https://buymeacoffee.com/thenichecachethenichecache@gmail.com
On today's episode of The Agenda, ACC Head G Lane and Tony Lyall discuss Bazball being no more! So, what's next for England cricket, what's next for Brendon McCullum, and does this mean Tim Southee might have to spend time with his family (06:50)? Also, the Black Caps get beaten by the West Indies in the 1st ODI but not without controversy (13:30)...Next, revisit the weekend's trip to Wellington to commentate the All Blacks, featuring everything from the accommodation to the flat drops to Will Jordan breaking records and a player getting Sent Off for headbutting (17:10)! Plus, we spend 69 seconds on Conor McGregor's humiliating return to the UFC (30:15), and round up the Football World Cup with the exit of the Norwegian's (34:20).Finally, we wrap it all up with an especially inebriated 'Yours Please' (38:00)... Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE! Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week on On The Front Foot, Bryan Waddle and Jeremy Coney focus their attention on the Black Caps' one day series in the Caribbean. They also discuss Australia's dominance at the W20 tournament in England, what can be done to make the White Ferns competitive again, and along with Peter Holland, they relive some memories from Kane Williamson's 16 years of international cricket. Send your thoughts to onthefrontfoot20@gmail.com LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fresh from their triumph against England, the Black Caps are back in action with another series. They're set to face the West Indies in a five match ODI series, with the first match beginning at 6:30 tomorrow morning. Bowler for the side, Jayden Lennox joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to preview the series. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of the show, Binksy, Jamie, Baldy and Stu look back at the Black Caps v England series in an attempt to figure out where to next for both sides. There's also a quick word on the Women's T20 World Cup final, and a nod to some upcoming white-ball series also featuring India and the West Indies. We start the show with plenty of positivity from the New Zealand side of the ledger again as the Black Caps series victory remains at the forefront of our memories. There's a heap of praise on the bowling group and Nathan Smith in particular, along with questions about whether the batting lineup still contains a few areas of concern. Daryl Mitchell's gritty hundred is singled out as a sign of NZ's situational awareness, and we dare to dream about whether this group can go to Australia and win having now ticked off India and England in recent times. As we turn to England, the questions mount up in the wake of Ben Stokes's retirement, and 'Who's next?' is right up there on the list. We discuss the good and the frustrating about the Stokes/McCullum era, what England could take forward with them into the next one and whether Harry Brook is the right person to lead that group. We also speculate about who might replace Stokes at 7, and who might take over as coach if Brendon McCullum is moved on from the test role. After a long discussion, we round out the show with a conversation about the Women's T20 World Cup. We say thanks and farewell to three White Ferns legends in Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu, then look ahead to the final between England and Australia that will play out not long after our recording. There's also a brief mention of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's international debut at the remarkable age of 15 years 99 days, but no doubt there will be longer discussions on his career in the weeks and months ahead. We'll be back again next week with more news and views. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:40 Plenty of positives for the Black Caps 5:35 Depth of NZ's bowling attack 10:00 Black Caps' style 13:45 Daryl Mitchell's throwback hundred 16:20 Could NZ finally beat Australia away? 23:10 How much change is needed for England? 33:05 What should England take forward from Bazball? 38:15 England's leadership 46:00 Who replaces Ben Stokes at 7? 57:05 Women's T20 World Cup 1:06:50 India v England & NZ's ODI squad v West Indies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Last week, the Black Caps wrapped up a 160-run third test victory over England at Trent Bridge to secure a 2-1 series victory. Coming from 1-nil down in the series, the Black Caps won the third Test without two of the match winners from the side who levelled the series last week. Zak Foulkes was one of the players who helped the Kiwi side to victory and he joined Piney to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this week's episode of The BYC Podcast, Dylan Cleaver joins ACC Head G Lane to further revel in the Black Caps' historic and monumental victory over the English at Trent Bridge (00:00). From the defiant match-winning innings from "Boring, Boring Daryl Mitchell", to the incredibly self-indulgent theatre of the "Ben Stokes Circus" (16:20), and the comparison and contrast with Tommy Maxwel Latham...Next, they chat about the White Ferns T20 World Cup defence failure (25:30), India going down 2-0 to Ireland in a T20 Series (28:45), before diving deep into some listener correspondence (36:20)... Plus, all your favourite furniture including BatChat & Cricket Violence Corner (40:15)... Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The BYC Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On today's episode of The Agenda, James McOnie joins ACC Head G Lane live from London to revel in the Black Caps ruining Ben Stokes' retirement party (00:00)!Next, James gives his thoughts on the All Blacks & Wallabies ANZAC Test (14:55), before the fellas give their grades for the All Whites World Cup campaign (19:55). Plus they discuss the latest drama in the world of professional tennis (30:25)... Finally, they get to your feedback in 'Yours Please' (37:20)... Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE! Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On today's episode of The Agenda, Tony Lyall joins ACC Head G Lane to discuss a job opportunity (00:00)...Then, the fellas get into all the post-Test Series stats, providing caravan thickness for Black Caps fans (01:00), and all the chaos in the FIFA World Cup with Germany, Japan and the Netherlands all being eliminated (16:15). Plus, they try and predict Dave Rennie's first All Blacks starting XV (24:10)... Finally, they get to your feedback in 'Yours Please' (31:30)... Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE! Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of the show, Binksy, Jamie and Stu look back at the third and final test between England and the Black Caps, this time at Trent Bridge. We talk about New Zealand's impressive victory and their collective effort throughout the series, plus Ben Stokes' decision to retire from international cricket. We start the show with plenty of positivity from the New Zealand side of the ledger after another impressive team performance. There was a huge partnership between Devon Conway and Tom Latham, runs for Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell scored one of the grittiest centuries you could hope to see. Throw in the performance of Tom Blundell behind the stumps and the effort and execution from a depleted bowling attack and it means there's a lot to celebrate after a rare series win in England. For England, it's been a tumultuous few weeks. Right when the ship seemed to be steering in the right direction after the win at Lord's, the crew went off course and they've been outplayed since that moment. And then Ben Stokes retired! We talk tactics, the emotion of it all and how the game ebbed and flowed, especially on the first few days. It's an episode that could have gone for days given the eventful nature of the game and the series. Fortunately, we'll be back again at the weekend (or Monday NZ time), when we'll likely have more thoughts about this entertaining series, England will already be playing a white-ball series against India, and the Women's World Cup will be nearing its conclusion. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:30 Black Caps win! 11:20 A full reset needed for England? 17:45 New Zealand standout performers: Everyone 25:05 A game in the balance at the halfway stage 29:25 Ravindra and Mitchell partnership 33:45 Day 4: Ben Stokes retires! 46:20 Final thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 30 June, 2026, we talk to Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki about police taking his guns away but struggle to get a straight answer. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Cameron Brewer tells us what's being done to make corded blinds safer for children. Newstalk ZB cricket reporter Andrew Alderson on how the Black Caps celebrated a historic test series win against England. And on The Huddle, Phil Goff and Maurice Williamson on the problems with our hospital emergency departments after the death of a patient in a toilet while waiting for hours. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Black Caps have scored a come-from-behind 2-1 test series win over England. Sealed by a 160-run game three win, New Zealand's victory over England is just the second time in their 96-year history they've pulled something like this off to win a series in the longest format. NZME sports broadcaster Andrew Alderson says everyone in the squad contributed to the big win in some way. "It's a real tribute to Latham, he took this team to win the unprecedented three-nil victory in India - and now this two-one victory in England." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Black Caps camaraderie has overcome the Ben Stokes retirement circus, to seal a 2-1 cricket series win over England. New Zealand has won the third test decider by 160 runs at Trent Bridge. Sportstalk host Elliott Smith recapped the action. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Marc wraps the latest at the Football World Cup, now in the knockout stages. Success for the Black Caps in England, while the White Ferns are unable to defend their T20 World Cup - with three legends of the game bowing out.
The Black Caps have secured a two one test series victory against England overnight with a 160 run win at Trent Bridge. Joining us from Nottingham is Zak Foulkes.
On today's episode of The Agenda, Manaia Stewart joins ACC Head G Lane to clear the air once and for all about what REALLY happened between him and Willie Mason after the Wahs in Christchurch (00:00)...Next, the fellas discuss the Black Caps being on the verge of a historic Test and series win in England and Ben Stokes' curious decision to quit mid-match (07:20). The All Blacks have confirmed an ANZAC Test for 2027 in Brisbane. But what does that mean for Super Round (20:40)? Plus, the All Whites' World Cup campaign comes to an end at the hands of Belgium (30:00). Finally, they get to your feedback in 'Yours Please' (36:40)... Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE! Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Journalist and commentator Ben Strang with the latest sports news, including the All Whites' FIFA World Cup exit and the Black Caps ongoing test match against England, who are without captain Ben Stokes who has just retired mid series.
A century from Daryl Mitchell and 94 from Rachin Ravindra, along with 3 wickets from replacement Zak Foulkes has put the Black Caps in a good position in the deciding third Test.
A century from daryl Mitchell has set the Black Caps up for a good final day of the third Test against England at Trent Bridge.
On today's episode of The Agenda, James McOnie joins ACC Head G Lane live from Vancouver to discuss how famous John Hopoate and his finger are (00:00)... Next, they review Tom Latham and Devon Conway's record-breaking Day 1 of the 3rd Test between the Black Caps and England (03:00), and preview the All Whites' must-win match against Belgium this weekend (11:40)! Finally, they get to your feedback in 'Yours Please' (31:40)... Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE! Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Simon Mann is alongside former England captains Michael Vaughan and Sir Alastair Cook, as well as BBC chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew for reaction to the first day's play between England and New Zealand at Trent Bridge.Hear from England bowling coach Tim Southee who looks back on a hard day's work for England's bowling attack, whilst Devon Conway reflects on an incredible 157 for the Black Caps.Wisden editor Lawrence Booth and The Daily Telegraph's Will MacPhearson discuss the long term implications of Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson's controversy.Plus, Andy Zaltzman gives us a stat-attack.
The Football World Cup, Black Caps in England, the Warriors and the likelihood of an NRL franchise in Christchurch.
Karl from the TAB joins ACC Head G Lane to pore over the big wins from last weekend and look ahead to this weekend's odds, opportunities and omens across the Warriors (08:20), the FIFA World Cup (11:20), the F1 (18:00), and the Black Caps (21:45)...Then this week's Grab A Pen (25:05), Stats To Impress The Ladies (30:10) and another ThreeWay (32:20)... Powered by TAB!Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this week's episode of The BYC Podcast, Dylan Cleaver & Paul Ford join ACC Head G Lane to quickly recap the end of the 2nd Test at the Oval and Matt Henry's performance (00:00). Then they get into a full preview of the 3rd and deciding Test at Trent Bridge and what changes if any the Black Caps will make. Meanwhile and full panic stations for Baz, Stokes and Brittania (03:00)...Then they rank their favourite Test victories in England (18:50) before getting into some listener correspondence on the last time NZ won at the Oval (23:45). Next, they chat about the White Ferns keeping their T20 World Cup defence alive (26:30), discuss the NZC Central Contracts list (30:15), the poor crowds for the MCL (33:40) and the latest on the Colin Maiden Park saga (37:00)... Plus, all your favourite furniture including Paul Ford’s Cricket Violence Corner & BatChat (39:00)... Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The BYC Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
New Zealand sports fans are facing a mixed bag of results as the national football team struggles against Egypt at the World Cup, while the White Ferns' T20 World Cup defense is also in serious jeopardy. The Black Caps bounced back strongly against a struggling England side in their second test, matching the excitement of Dave Rennie naming his first All Blacks squad with surprising new selections.
On this special episode of The BYC Podcast, Dylan Cleaver joins Paul Ford to break down the Black Caps' dismantling of England at the Oval for a series-levelling victory (00:00)!They discuss the key performances for the Kiwis, including Matt Henry's match-winning spell. Plus, they preview the upcoming 3rd Test. Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The BYC Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Send us a question/idea/opinion direct via text message!Are you sitting tight in a three-bedroom home waiting for the property market to "improve"? You might be missing a massive strategic window.In this episode of the New Zealand Property Market Podcast, Head of Research Nick Goodall and Chief Economist Kelvin Davidson unpack the latest "trade-up premium" data. They reveal why a softer housing market has actually made it significantly cheaper to upgrade to a four-bedroom home right now, with value gaps shrinking by up to 12% across major New Zealand regions.The guys also dive into a massive week of economic shifts. Between lower-than-expected Q1 GDP growth (0.8%) and cooling monthly inflation numbers, the previously "guaranteed" July OCR rate hike has suddenly hit a 50/50 standstill. Could the Reserve Bank hold off until September?Plus, we look at why property investors are showing early signs of election nervousness in the upcoming Chart Pack, and celebrate an epic weekend of Kiwi sport - from the Hurricanes' masterclass Super Rugby victory at the Cake Tin to the All Whites' tactical run.This week we discuss:The Shrinking Value Gap: Suburb-level shifts in the 3-to-4-bedroom price premium (and why downturns favour the bold buyer).The Macro Shift: Why 0.8% GDP and falling Q2 CPI projections (down to 4.0%) are giving the RBNZ pause.The Mechanics of the OCR Vote: Dissecting the 3-all split committee and the likelihood of one voter flipping back to a hold.Chart Pack Teaser: First-home buyer resilience vs. shifting investor sentiment ahead of the election.The Sports Wrap: A massive weekend for the Canes, the Black Caps, the Warriors, and the All Whites.Sign up for news and insights or contact on LinkedIn, X @NickGoodall_CL or @KDavidson_CL and email ngoodall@cotality.com or kdavidson@cotality.comThis podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. The hosts are not licensed Financial Advice Providers in New Zealand. All information is of a general nature and does not take into account your personal situation or goals. Please consult a qualified professional before making any financial decisions.
In this episode of the show, Baldy, Binksy, Jamie and Stu look back at the second of three tests between England and the Black Caps, this time at The Oval. We talk about New Zealand's dominant win and the star performers, plus the tumultuous off-field nature of England Cricket at the moment, all with one eye on the series decider at Trent Bridge in just a few days' time. We start the show with a much happier New Zealand contingent after an all-around team performance contributed to a big Kiwi win to square the series. There's praise for Henry Nicholls and Glenn Phillips - including yet another debate about Phillips' best position in the order - for their impressive hundreds. We also pour one out for Matt Henry's masterclass and highlight the impact of Tom Blundell behind the stumps.. In amongst all of the positives for New Zealand comes the nuggets of frustration for England - dropped catches, tactical errors and the continuation of off-field drama that led to a much-changed side and the broadcasters showing footage of Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson playing in the County Championship rather than at The Oval. We also discuss newer players like Emilio Gay, Sonny Baker, James Rew and Jordan Cox. To round out the show, we examine how curfew-gate has been handled, and what that might mean for the futures of Brendon McCullum, Rob Key and.Ben Stokes - and how much it could impact the England dressing room for the third test at Trent Bridge. And before Jamie and Binksy have to race off to start their workday, we make our predictions for that match. We'll be back again at the conclusion of the third test in the England v New Zealand series, when we should also be nearing the business end of the Women's World Cup. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:30 All-around dominance from the Black Caps 3:30 A muddled performance from a much-changed England 6:30 Hundreds for Glenn Phillips and Henry Nicholls 20:30 Matt Henry's masterclass 23:00 Tom Blundell's glovework 26:00 England's newer players: Baker, Rew, Gay, Cox, Fisher 37:05 Contrasting tests - what's real for the Black Caps? 41:05 How much did the Stokes/Atkinson curfew impact England? 51:20 Predictions for Trent Bridge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today on the Show, the guys chatted to Rachin Ravindra after the Black Caps win overnight! (0:40:13) Plus, Joe Wheeler joins us to talk about the Final just been! (0:21:50) Follow The Hauraki Breakfast Show on Instagram Subscribe to the podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! Featuring Jeremy Wells and Manaia Stewart, "The Hauraki Breakfast" a radio show like no other weekdays from 6am on Radio Hauraki. Guaranteed to teach you bad new habits, raise your eyebrows, and make you smirk on a regular basis. News, sport & music that rocks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Andrew Saville and Jason Pine join Mike Hosking to review the Weekend's sport. On the table today: The Warriors hopes for the title continue after another victory. The All Whites face Egypt, desperate for a win. And the Black Caps have beat England in a thrilling match. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On today's episode of The Agenda, James McOnie joins ACC Head G Lane live from Christchurch to preview the Wahs against the Cowboys at Te Kaha on Sunday (00:00).Next, the fellas recap Day 2 of the 2nd Black Caps vs England Test, with Zippy from Rainbox scoring a 100 to save New Zealand (04:05), discuss Steve Corica leaving AFC and Tim Payne leaving the Phoenix (07:40), and preview the Super Rugby Grand Final this weekend (12:00). Finally, they get to your feedback in 'Yours Please' (25:20)... Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE! Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On today's episode of The Agenda, Matt Heath joins ACC Head G Lane to celebrate the 31st anniversary of "Lomu Day" (00:00)...Then, the fellas discuss whether football is coming home with England beating Croatia during the recording (02:30), recap Day 1 of the 2nd Test between the Black Caps and England at The Oval (05:45), and Queensland levelling the State of Origin series (11:30)!Finally, they get to your feedback in 'Yours Please' (18:15)... Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE! Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Simon Mann is alongside former England captain Michael Vaughan and chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew for reaction to the first day's plat at The Oval between England and New Zealand.Hear from the wicket-taking debutant Sonny Baker, as well as New Zealand's Tom Blundell who scored a half-century for the Black Caps.
On this week's episode of The BYC Podcast, Dylan Cleaver & Paul Ford join ACC Head G Lane to preview the 2nd Test between the Black Caps and England at the Oval (00:00). They break down all the English team shenanigans, including curviews, alcohol bans and whether everything is right between Baz & Ben... Plus, make their picks of who will replace Steady The Ship. Then they take a trip down memory lane and discuss The Oval as a venue and NZ's victory there in 1999 (21:55)... Next, they chat about the White Ferns' first-up performance at the T20 Women's World Cup (26:20) and preview the upcoming matches (NOTE: This episode was recorded before the second match against Sri Lanka). Then they touch on the winds of change in the BBL (31:40), and share some listener correspondence (34:25).Plus, Paul Ford’s Cricket Violence Corner (38:15)... Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The BYC Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's time for NZ Sport History and today Jesse is joined by one of the country's greatest cricketers Stephen Fleming Stephen played 111 Tests for New Zealand and 279 ODIs, he captained the Black Caps when they won the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy which was New Zealand's first ICC trophy Widely respected for his tactical brilliance and leadership, Australian legend Shane Warne hailed Fleming as "the best captain I played against in my time, he knew how to get the best of his teammates"
Eng v NZ Daily 2026, 1st Test, Lord's Review: It's the day after one of the shortest 40-wicket Tests on record and Adam has Daniel Norcross with him to ponder what it all means. The Lord's pitch is where attention continues to sit, albeit with MCC presenting a path to a better future for the contentious 22 yards. Casting to The Oval, where the next Test begins next Wednesday, is it simply the case that Jofra Archer vaults straight into the squad and, indeed, the XI? How might Shoaib Bashir's use, or otherwise, inform this? As for the Black Caps, they simply cannot lose their bundle with their WTC implications. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword and win a signed copy of Wisden, or a case of Stomping Ground: browse their range at stompingground.beer Experience England's cricket tour of South Africa 2026/27 LIVE with Gullivers Sports Travel. Find out more and book at gulliverstravel.co.uk Check out the Lord's Performance Centre for School Holiday activities and courses: lords.org/lords/performancecentre Stop snoring with 10% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2026 at zeussleeps.com Get your This is W̶o̶m̶e̶n̶'̶s̶ Cricket t-shirt here, and learn about Lacuna Sports bespoke cricket wear, created by women for women: lacunasports.co.uk/en/shop/limited-edition/world-cup-t-shirt/ Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw or 10% off Duncan Fearnley bats and kit with code TFW10 or 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD or 15% off Step One clothes at uk.stepone.life/discount/TFW148 or 10% off BIG Boots UK boots and socks at bigboots.co.uk/?ref=thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Criticism of the pitch at Lord's after the Black Caps lose the first test to England, while the Super Rugby competition narrows. And Sam discusses the latest in netball's ANZ Premiership.
If you are worried about China taking over due to having better robots than the yanks, I got mixed messages for ya here. This was created using DeepSeek v4 Pro. Remember when DeepSeek could do the same thing as chatGPT but on shitty processors and not much RAM? All those stocks shit themselves? Oh what memories. Would have been a great time to buy NVIDIA stocks. I didn't, if you're asking....It's pretty good but it really didn't follow the instruction in the prompt that Joel Hill is Jack the Insider on the transcript. So that's a minus point. But also, this took fucking ages to generate. It's better than lots of the yankee slop but damn son this took MINUTES. So they might take over if we are patient or whatever. Enjoy the episode. ----------------------------------------------Joel Hill (Jack the Insider) and Hong Kong Jack return for a sprawling episode that tackles two of the biggest stories shaping politics in 2026. The pair open with the jaw-dropping Redbridge poll putting One Nation at 31% of the primary vote — a number that would all but wipe the National Party off the federal map and potentially deliver Anthony Albanese a strengthened majority government by splintering the right. Joel and Jack clash over whether culture-war grievances or material concerns are driving the surge, while drawing historical parallels to Joh for Canberra and the DLP split of the 1950s.The conversation then crosses hemispheres for a tour through UK chaos: Peter Mandelson's leaked dossier exposing a rudderless No. 10 under Keir Starmer, Nicola Sturgeon's estranged husband pleading guilty to embezzling SNP donations on a surreal shopping spree of Lalique salt shakers, seven Dysons, and a motorhome with four miles on the clock, and a deeply troubling police body-cam incident that has reignited the two-tier policing debate ahead of three critical by-elections.The centrepiece of the episode is a sober, hour-long deep dive into the COVID-19 pandemic and what Australia has refused to learn. The Two Jacks lay out the true death toll (perhaps 22 to 69 million globally), the devastating scale of long COVID, the vaccine rollout failures, the absurdities of hotel quarantine with rubbish bags over heads, and why governments and public health officials are desperate to avoid a Royal Commission. They close by asking whether the next pandemic will meet a population that has permanently lost trust in its leaders — and whether we'll simply repeat the mistakes of both COVID and the Spanish flu.Sport provides a lighter coda: the Carlton revival under an interim coach, James Hird's awkward candidacy at Essendon, the expanded 48-team World Cup that nobody seems excited about, and a formidable New Zealand Test side taking on England at Lord's.00:00:25 — Introduction Joel welcomes listeners to Episode 159, recorded 4 June. Today: Australian political news, a check-in on the UK, and a deep dive into the COVID-19 pandemic.00:01:21 — The Redbridge Poll: One Nation at 31% The AFR's Redbridge poll: One Nation 31%, Labor 28%, LNP 20%, Greens 12%. The two-party preferred is now being calculated as One Nation versus Labor — a seismic shift in how Australian politics is measured.00:03:12 — Not Just a Protest Vote Jack argues this is real, not a re-run of Hanson's 1990s flash-in-the-pan. The South Australian state election and the Farrah by-election suggest One Nation support is durable. Joel counters that protest votes can be expressed at the ballot box and that Australians are tiring of pluralism.00:04:09 — If One Nation Succeeds, Labor Wins The cruel irony: One Nation's rise probably delivers Labor government. The National Party could simply disappear. The DLP kept the Coalition in power for decades as an anti-Labor party; One Nation may do the reverse.00:05:46 — Scrutiny and Splintering Joel notes One Nation's policies are "two-sentence fragments" and motherhood statements. When proper scrutiny arrives, the contradictions will surface. Hanson's parliamentary attendance is as poor as imaginable.00:08:22 — The Third Rail Jack argues populists succeed because they discuss what polite society won't: immigration, culture wars, welcome to country rituals. The major parties must engage these topics or cede the ground entirely.00:11:34 — Feeling Unheard The core driver, Jack contends: voters feel sneered at and silenced by mainstream politics. It's not about flag counts, it's about being listened to.00:13:50 — What Actually Drives Votes Joel pushes back: voting determinants are the household economy, migration, climate change — not culture war trivia. Culture wars "don't amount to a hill of beans" at the ballot box.00:14:51 — The DLP Parallel Both agree the One Nation phenomenon most closely resembles the DLP split of the 1950s and 60s — a right-wing fracture that delivered Labor government after Labor government.00:17:18 — The Republic Referendum Lesson Jack recalls the 1999 republic referendum: pro-republicans split between models rather than uniting, scuppering the whole project. Voters will vote their preference even knowing it helps their enemy.00:19:32 — UK Parallels: Accommodate or Fight? Significant figures in the UK Tory party are debating whether to fight Reform or reach an accommodation. Tony Abbott recently said the Liberal Party won't criticise Pauline Hanson.00:21:48 — Joh for Canberra Redux Imre Salusinszky's comparison: this is "Joh for Canberra" all over again. But Joel notes Joh's moment lasted months; One Nation's has already lasted years.00:24:08 — State Election Previews Joel predicts the Victorian state election will be chaotic and peculiar — a government that's been in power too long, an opposition that may not be up to the task, and One Nation peeling votes from safe Labor seats. NSW will give a clearer reading.00:25:44 — Hanson "Ready to Govern" — from the Senate? Pauline Hanson announced she's ready to govern. Joel asks: shouldn't she contest a lower-house seat first? Jack recalls the only precedent: John Gorton became PM while still a senator, but had to be eased into Kooyong.00:28:20 — The Mandelson Dossier: Starmer's Empty Suit Jack's read of the leaked Mandelson documents: ministers don't know what the PM wants, there's zero respect or fear of his authority. Starmer comes across as an empty chair. One minister's text: "Every meeting with Labour MPs — it's all about who can we tax to pay benefits to other people."00:30:50 — Mandelson's Legal Peril Mandelson is under police investigation for misconduct in public office. Could face charges — the seriousness depends on whether it's mere misconduct or genuine bribery for foreign interests.00:31:49 — The Nicola Sturgeon Saga Her estranged husband has pleaded guilty to embezzling roughly £400,000 in SNP donations. The shopping list: six high-end coffee machines, seven Dyson vacuums, Lalique salt and pepper shakers, Montblanc pens, Swiss watches, an iJag, part of a Volkswagen, and a motorhome with four miles on the clock parked at his 92-year-old mother's house. Nicola claims she "didn't go in the kitchen much."00:34:20 — The BBC Interview Laura Kuenssberg's forensic interview with Sturgeon — "not quite Prince Andrew, but not much better." Sturgeon has been cleared by Police Scotland, but her reputation, already damaged by the Alex Salmond trial, is now in tatters.00:35:05 — Will He Go to Prison? £400,000 is a substantial sum. With another £600,000 unaccounted for, a custodial sentence seems likely. The money was ring-fenced for a second independence referendum push.00:36:50 — Money Laundering or Conspicuous Consumption? Joel wonders if the bizarre purchases — multiple watches on the same day — were an amateur money-laundering attempt: buy goods with SNP funds, sell them quietly for cash.00:38:23 — UK By-elections: Makerfield Looms Three by-elections on 18 June, including the critical Makerfield contest. Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester's high-profile mayor, is the tepid favourite. Low turnout could help him return to Westminster.00:39:30 — The Body-Cam Incident A white teenager accused of racially vilifying a Sikh man was stabbed — and police arrested the bleeding victim, not the attacker. Body-cam footage shows the victim saying "I can't breathe, I've been stabbed" while officers dismiss him. Joel calls the footage "just awful."00:41:22 — Two-Tier Policing Jack traces UK policing's overcorrection: after the Macpherson/Lawrence report, guidelines were rewritten so aggressively that they've produced a pattern of questionable enforcement that devastates community trust — and plays directly into Tommy Robinson's hands.00:42:08 — NSW Police on Four Corners Joel recommends the harrowing Four Corners investigation: bashings in custody, false arrests, an officer who threw body-cam footage into Sydney Harbour, and two undercover officers jailed for a savage assault. The problem today is general duties policing, not the specialist squads of the 1980s. Some command areas are far worse than others — a leadership failure.00:44:55 — Victoria Police: Under-Resourced, Not Corrupt Joel shares an anecdote: two divisional vans for 80,000 people in outer-east Melbourne. Tough work being a police officer; even tougher being a good one.The COVID-19 Reckoning00:45:09 — Why This Matters Joel sets the frame: we parked COVID in 2023 with a hangover but never understood what we'd been through. Today's episode aims to crack that problem.00:45:51 — The True Death Toll Officially: 7 million dead. But most countries stopped testing and stopped reporting cause-of-death data to the WHO. Using excess mortality, the real toll is between 22 and 69 million — at the high end, exceeding the Spanish flu.00:47:02 — Long COVID's Shadow Roughly 400 million people globally (6% of the population) have experienced long COVID. In Australia alone, between 200,000 and 500,000 people are living with or have lived with the condition. Second infections can be worse. Emerging links to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and accelerated dementia.00:49:43 — The Collective Amnesia Governments worldwide have "a collective embarrassment" about how they handled the pandemic, Jack says. They want it in the history books and forgotten. Joel says this is a grave mistake for public trust — and for public health, given COVID is now a permanent fixture alongside flu season.00:50:50 — Why Excess Deaths Are the Only Honest Metric All other figures are "kind of made up" because attribution methods vary wildly between countries. Excess deaths remain elevated in Australia and most nations.00:51:25 — Children and COVID Bobby Kennedy Jr. removed under-18s from government-supported vaccines in the US. Joel argues this is a disastrous move given mounting evidence that childhood COVID infection leads to higher rates of long-term chronic illness.00:52:47 — Why No Royal Commission? Not just politicians protecting themselves — public health officials and much of the media wanted to avoid scrutiny of their judgments and actions during the pandemic.00:53:32 — The Media's Abdication Jack watched "a lot" of Daniel Andrews's daily press conferences. Only two journalists ever asked pertinent questions: Rachel Baxendale and Leigh Sales. Nobody asked why curfews, why beach arrests, why the disparate impact on tradies and cafe owners while the "laptop class" actually made money working from home.00:56:14 — Andrews's Immense Popularity Joel adds context: Andrews was wildly popular at the time, which partly explains the media's deference — though Jack insists that shouldn't have mattered.00:57:34 — The Curfew Nonsense Curfews were about giving law enforcement the easiest possible environment, Joel says — and should have been acknowledged as such and wound back sooner. Meanwhile, Bondi's wealthy swam en masse while Western Sydney's working-class communities were treated harshly.00:57:59 — The Vaccine Rollout Failure The Morrison government bet everything on AstraZeneca — the non-mRNA, first-available vaccine. Then rare blood-clotting issues emerged (seven deaths, mainly men aged 40–49). Meanwhile, Australia was left waiting for Pfizer and other mRNA vaccines because no other supply deals had been secured.00:59:37 — Omicron Breaks the Pandemic's Back The Omicron variant emerged from South Africa: more infectious but far less lethal. Combined with 95%+ vaccination rates among Australians over 18, it effectively ended the acute phase — though at the cost of entrenched mistrust.01:00:38 — Government Overreach and Broken Trust Jack's core criticism: governments outsourced decision-making to public health officials rather than making political judgments that balanced competing interests. Joel counters that it would have been a "bold move" for politicians with no scientific background to contradict public health advice.01:02:19 — "Just Let It Rip" Was Never an Option The three countries with the highest COVID mortality — Brazil (highest), United States (second), India (third) — were all led by populist governments that largely refused mandates. Letting it rip was devastating.01:03:27 — The ADF Quarantine Scandal Scott Morrison refused to allow ADF quarantine facilities to be used for returning travellers. Instead, people were crammed into hotels with gaps under the doors. Joel recalls the "rubbish bags over heads" episode in Victoria — dark green plastic bags as infection control.01:05:00 — The Inquiry's Recommendations Create a proper Australian CDC. Release expert advice publicly. Better national planning with clear political accountability. And critically: politicians must own the big decisions on freedoms and spending instead of hiding behind experts.01:06:01 — The Next Pandemic There will be another one. If it's a respiratory, airborne pathogen like COVID, similar circumstances will return. Are we ready? Probably not. Will we close the country again? The economic damage — unemployment hitting 7.5% in 2020 — was enormous, even if it recovered to 3.5% by pandemic's end.01:08:06 — Who Was Left Behind? The arts community was inexplicably excluded from JobSeeker and JobKeeper. Meanwhile, the "laptop class" working from home effectively got a 15% pay rise by eliminating commuting costs. Bunnings did very well; so did companies that kept JobKeeper without passing it to employees.01:11:14 — The Human Cost of Lockdowns Public housing towers in Flemington were locked down. Joel recalls one family: an African-Australian single mother with nine children in a two-bedroom commission flat, trapped. Jack calls what happened with schools "disgraceful." But Joel notes the evidence now shows childhood COVID infection has serious long-term health consequences, complicating the retrospective judgment.01:13:59 — Will We Learn Anything? Jack's bleak prediction: the next pandemic is probably far enough away that we'll take no notice of COVID's lessons and make the same mistakes. Joel agrees — we didn't learn from the Spanish flu a century ago either.01:15:51 — Malcolm Roberts and Vaccine Misinformation The One Nation senator claims 70,000 Australians died from COVID vaccines — a figure with no evidentiary support, built by misattributing excess deaths. In reality, mRNA technology is now being deployed as a cancer treatment, showing promise against bowel and pancreatic cancers.01:17:36 — Trust Destroyed If the next pandemic arrives within this generation, governments will face a population that has lost faith. If it takes 50 years, the damage may have faded. Western Australia, meanwhile, locked itself down with negligible deaths and actually loved the isolation — provided the iron ore and LNG ships kept moving.01:20:37 — The Spanish Flu Echo Joel's closing historical note: Australia's response to the Spanish flu in 1919–1921 was nearly identical to COVID — lockdown disputes, police arresting people for not wearing masks, states fighting the newly created federal Department of Health. The whole thing collapsed into acrimony the moment state rivalries flared. A century later, nothing had changed.01:21:48 — Federation as Fatal Flaw Jack adds: the three high-mortality COVID countries (US, Brazil, India) share a feature beyond populist leaders — they're all federations where central government power is limited. When "the emperor is far away and the mountains are high," coordinated pandemic response is nearly impossible.01:23:40 — No Appetite for Truth Jack's final word: nobody wants a proper inquiry. Not politicians, not public health officials, not much of the media. Joel disagrees on the importance — the pandemic's legacy still shapes how Australians think, vote, and trust.Sport01:27:40 — AFL Coaching Carousel Essendon and Carlton both need permanent coaches. Joel asks: is James Hird the right man for Essendon? Jack: 17 other clubs wouldn't give him an interview, but the Bombers may have backed themselves into a corner where appointing him is the only way out.01:28:53 — Merit vs Member Sentiment Rowan Connolly's question: would you take James Hird or John Longmire (five grand finals, one premiership, 60%+ win rate)? The answer is obvious on merit — but members and fans want the fairy tale.01:29:47 — Carlton's Astonishing Revival Three straight wins. Ranked 16th in forward-50 entries a month ago; now second. The game style is unrecognisable — no more bombing the ball to non-existent power forwards. Mitch McGovern's low, flat kick to Patrick Cripps for the match-winner against Geelong was emblematic of the transformation. Seven players aged 21 or younger are now getting games and bringing energy.01:33:18 — FIFA World Cup 2026: Nobody's Excited Expanded to 48 teams, Scotland are going — and a Scot in his 30s told Jack that neither he nor any of his mates (all doing well financially, normally first on the plane) have any interest. Ticket prices are "extraordinary." The final is at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — which Jack describes as "Waverley on steroids, but even more bleak."01:36:08 — Australia's Draw Socceroos face Turkey first up, then the United States. Jack suggests marketing it as "Gallipoli Round Two." Spain are favourites; England, Brazil, and Germany are in the chasing pack.01:37:06 — Cricket: England v New Zealand, First Test at Lord's Joel runs through New Zealand's likely top seven — Latham, Conway, Williamson, Ravindra, Mitchell, Blundell — noting the first four have all made Test double-centuries. "Just about the best first six in Test cricket." With O'Rourke's express pace and Henry's quality, this is a formidable Black Caps side.01:38:40 — Stump Speech & Next Week Listener mail (including an "exposé of who Jack is") held over for next episode. For the record: Hong Kong Jack's CV includes HSC at Assumption College Kilmore, a stint as a carpenter, a law degree from Melbourne University, stints at Holding Redlich and Slater & Gordon, work as a litigation and immigration lawyer, and an appointment to the Refugee Review Tribunal as a federal cabinet appointee.01:40:39 — Outro Joel thanks listeners for hanging in for an extra ten minutes. Back next week.The Two Jacks is recorded weekly. Send your questions and feedback to the show.
Jonathan Agnew is alongside Michael Vaughan and Phil Tufnell for reaction to England's win over New Zealand at Lord's in the first Test of the series.Hear from England captain Ben Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum, player of the match Ollie Robinson, and New Zealand captain Tom Latham.
The Black Caps series in England, Super Rugby, the All Whites in the United States, and Kiwi polevaulter Imogen Ayris has also had quite the week.
It has been a long time between drinks when it comes to test cricket series for New Zealand and England. England haven't played red ball cricket in five months and are coming off an internal review after an Ashes failing in Australia. Whereas New Zealand warmed up with a one-off Test against Ireland last week. Tonight the Black Caps will be a part of the 150th Test match at the Lords ground in London, their first appearance there since 2022. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.
Eng v NZ Daily 2026, 1st Test, Lord's Preview: Adam has Ben Jones with him, who will be co-piloting the Daily eps from the first Test series of the England summer with the Black Caps in town at a wet Home of Cricket. When they do get on, just how much pressure are the England top brass under this week? We have a pretty good idea of how they're shaping up, with room to move if the rain keeps coming. As for New Zealand, they are fit and ready to make it count at a ground where they have historically struggled, a match set to be Kane Williamson's last in whites at Lord's. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword and win a signed copy of Wisden, or a case of Stomping Ground: browse their range at stompingground.beer Experience England's cricket tour of South Africa 2026/27 LIVE with Gullivers Sports Travel. Find out more and book at gulliverstravel.co.uk Check out the Lord's Performance Centre for School Holiday activities and courses: lords.org/lords/performancecentre Stop snoring with 10% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2026 at zeussleeps.com Get your This is W̶o̶m̶e̶n̶'̶s̶ Cricket t-shirt here, and learn about Lacuna Sports bespoke cricket wear, created by women for women: lacunasports.co.uk/en/shop/limited-edition/world-cup-t-shirt/ Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw or 10% off Duncan Fearnley bats and kit with code TFW10 or 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD or 15% off Step One clothes at uk.stepone.life/discount/TFW148 or 10% off BIG Boots UK boots and socks at bigboots.co.uk/?ref=thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices