The Cricketers Network

We mix things up a little bit this week as Ben is joined by two other cricket fans, Comedian Dai Henwood and broadcaster/podcaster Sharyn Casey.The co-hosts of New Zealand’s version of Dancing with the Stars talk their favourite Kiwi cricketers, the best moments in the history of NZ cricket and why Chris Harris is such a good dancer. It’s cricket, comedy, nostalgia, and pure love for the game — all wrapped up in one very fun episode.

On the eve of one of the most anticipated Ashes series in recent memory, Ben talks to lead BBC cricket statistician, Andy Zaltzman just hours before he flies to Perth for the first test to determine England’s statistical chances of taking the urn. Also, Ben chats to Blair Tickner who thought he was in the international cricket wilderness but is back in black and thriving all while surviving two incredibly tumultuous years in his personal life. 

Former Black Cap Will Somerville and current White Fern Maddy Green join Ben at the Eden Park studio to talk over all the week’s cricket happenings including Maddy’s recent trip to the World Cup and how Will has convinced people his skills as a cricketer transfer to his new gig as an investment manager. Plenty of laughs, sharp insights, and good yarns in this one. It’s cricket, comedy, and career chat, the way only The Cricketers’ Network can do it.

Recently returned home, New Zealand’s most-capped women’s player, Suzie Bates, tries not to rake over the coals of the recently completed World Cup in India and Sri Lanka — but ends up doing it anyway. Jimmy Neesham drops in again, before golf, to give us his thoughts on Kane Williamson’s retirement from T20Is ahead of the series against the West Indies.

A slight change up in style here on The Cricketers Network as we go on a deep dive into one career in particular. New Zealand’s most capped cricketer ever and an absolute titan of the game, Ross Taylor. Rosco goes in depth on his love of wine, how he almost missed the call for his debut and how he feels about those two World Cup finals now. 

Two prominent cricketing figures of the first decade of the 21st century join host Ben Hurley at Eden Park this week. One of the most enduring personalities to come out of the national side and a star broadcaster, Kyle Mills. Also Mark Richardson. Katey Martin beams in from Mumbai not long before the White Ferns crucial game against India at the Women's World cup. Tune in for an episode packed with brilliant insights and classic cricket banter!

This week we are all power with a touch of grace as it’s big hitting allrounders day on The Cricketers’ Network. Black Cap white ball legend Jimmy Neesham joins Ben at the Eden park studio to discuss cricket why he’s played for 6 Vitality Blast sides and why he’d never want to become a leg spinner. We also hear from White Ferns Captain (and current World Cup leading run scorer) Sophie Devine just before the Ferns take on Sri Lanka in Colombo as long as the rain and the swarms of bugs, stay away.

Episode two features former Auckland Aces keeper/batsman and one of the true characters of the Super Smash, Ben Horne. Ben and Ben talk about cricketing families, growing up with Mark Chapman, the completed (but very wet) Chappell Hadlee series and some thoughts on the greatest Club knocks we’ve ever seen. Also, beaming in from Guwahati, India is White Ferns frontline spinner, Eden Carson. Eden updates us on the feeling within the group after two early losses, how singing is really helping the team, tells us all about the beautiful city of Indore and who in the Ferns would be most bothered by a swarm of bugs.