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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