The County Chat

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The County Chat is a show based around all things English cricket. With a focus on the County Championship, the premiere English cricket competition. As historic counties face up against each other, in a slice of a retro England as the counties face off to see who's the best of that year. The County Chat breaks down the teams, the storylines and discussion around England cricket, with future episodes delving into what can make this competition better known and followed, as well as becoming a better proving ground for future England cricketers.

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26 episodes
Avg 37 min
English

Episodes 26

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S1 · E11
Today · 39 min
County Championship Division 1 Update Show (Weeks 13-14)
The County Chat update show returns for the last time in Division 1 for 2026! Covering all the major headlines of the end of the season and all the storylines around the title race and the relegation battle. Chapters Intro 00:00-01:09 Results Roundup 01:09-04:54 Final table 04:54-05:38 Leicestershire's controversial point deduction 05:38-17:27 (Extra) General news 17:27-19:11 Standout team in Division 1 19:11-20:41 Standout players in Division 1 20:41-23:54 The County Chat XII 23:54-38:11 Final thoughts and outro 38:11-39:25
S1 · E10
September 15 · 34 min
County Championship Division 2 Update Show (Weeks 9-12)
The County Chat update show returns, with a longer episode covering all the fixtures since the return of the County Championship from the summer break. Previewing the end of the season, looking at the results that have happened, news stories and building the County Chat XII. Chapters Intro 00:00-00:57 Results Roundup 00:57-07:46 General News 07:46-13:16 Standout team in Division 2 13:16-17:05 Standout players in Division 2 17:05-23:11 The County Chat XII 23:11-33:15 Final thoughts and outro 33:15-33:59
S1 · E9
September 14 · 37 min
County Championship Division 1 Update Show (Weeks 9-12)
The County Chat update show returns, with a longer episode covering all the fixtures since the return of the County Championship from the summer break. Previewing the end of the season, looking at the results that have happened, news stories and building the County Chat XII. Chapters Intro 00:00-00:47 Results roundup 00:47-07:52 Table look before the last fixtures 07:52-10:45 General news 10:45-17:52 Standout team in Division 1 17:52-20:08 Standout players in Division 1 20:08-24:15 The County Chat XII 24:15-36:55 Final thoughts and outro 36:55-37:44
August 27 · 1 hr 10 min
England Cricket's Crisis and how to fix it?
SWITCH TO VIDEO FOR THE BEST EXPERIENCE A documentary about England test match cricket and the history of it, whilst looking into the future about what does England cricket need to do to progress into the modern sport's world. A look into the context of how 'Bazball' came about, but also it's slow decline and ending of late. Lastly a discussion of what the County Championship needs to be to be both a financially viable sport's league, but also a real indicator for readiness for the England test match squad. Chapters The history of test match cricket 00:00-04:07 England's relative success within the history of test cricket 04:07-07:50 Why might England have struggled compared to their cricketing rivals 07:50-14:17 The truth behind England's best team since the 80s and the beginnings of 'Bazball' 14:17-21:42 The impact of 'Bazball' and the complicated results that followed 21:42-26:05 The 'Bazball' selection policy and the problems it caused 26:05-33:52 How this England management identified the problem but weren't bold enough to fix it 33:52-40:14 How to fix the County Championship to make it viable for the future 40:14-48:09 What must be done to make the County Championship more entertaining and more pressurised 48:09-55:15 The impact it could have on players and fans 55:15-1:00:20 The boldest form of 'The New County Championship' 1:00:20-1:08:15 Final thoughts and get in touch! 1:08:15-1:10:47
S1 · E8
August 19 · 29 min
County Championship division 2 Update show (Weeks 7&8)
The county cricket update show returns, for weeks 7&8 catch up on all the latest in the county championship division 2! With news, match round ups, standout teams and players and the County Chat XII! Chapters Intro 00:00-00:50 General News 00:50-09:10 Results Roundup 09:10-10:50 Standout team in Division 2 10:50-11:44 Standout players in Division 2 11:44-15:34 The County Chat XII 15:34-28:22 Final thoughts and outro 28:22-29:10
S1 · E4
August 13 · 1 hr 40 min
The County Chat in conversation with... Episode 4, Ollie Randall
The County Chat interviews author Ollie Randall all about his new book 'Writers in Whites' and his upcoming release 'Lord's and Maharajas'. The conversation covers all things surrounding those books and the background Ollie's writing of them, especially focussing on 'Writers in Whites' with many wonderful tales of the literary figures included in his book. The conversation then moves onto all things England cricket, discussing the history, the culture and the current affairs of English cricket at present. Buy a copy of 'Writers in Whites' here: https://fairfieldbooks.co.uk/shop/writers-in-whites/ Chapters 00:00-03:06 Introduction to Writers in Whites 03:06-05:56 The Network of Literary Cricket 05:56-09:03 The Evolution of the Authors Eleven 09:03-12:04 Social Mobility and Cricket 12:04-15:10 The Role of Cricket in Literary Friendships 15:10-18:01 Cultural Tastemakers and Englishness 18:01-21:00 The Relationship Between Arthur Conan Doyle and Willie Horning 21:00-35:02 The Impact of Empire on Cricket and Literature 35:02-37:57 The Impact of World Wars on Cricket's Evolution 37:57-39:23 Cultural Shifts in Cricket's Status Post-War 39:23-42:30 The Clash of Literary and Cricketing Worlds 42:30-45:39 The Gendered Dynamics of Cricket and Literature 45:39-48:52 Personal Connections to Cricket's Literary Heritage 48:52-53:35 Cricket Characters: Fiction vs. Reality 53:35-59:30 The Evolution of English Cricket's Global Standing 59:30-01:07:16 The Cultural Burden of English Cricket 01:07:16-01:09:08 The Future of Test Match Cricket 01:09:08-01:14:45 Reimagining the County Championship 01:14:45-01:17:05 Learning from Women's Cricket 01:17:05-01:20:15 Critique of The Hundred 01:20:15-01:40:05 The Future of English Cricket
July 15 · 37 min
The Death of Bazball - Brendon McCullum fired as England test coach
Brendon McCullum has been fired as England test head coach, a podcast in review of 'Bazball' and a look to the future of English test cricket. What will English cricket do following the dramatic era of Bazball? What direction will England Cricket take in terms of his replacement but also the future of the test team more broadly? Chapters McCullum fired - initial thoughts 00:00-1:45 Should McCullum and Key gone post Ashes? Will Baz's successor play 'aggressive' cricket 1:45-11:20 Richard Gould's interview and the strange timing of it 11:20-18:20 How will Bazball be remembered? And what were its strengths & weaknesses? 18:20-23:39 Why Baz keeping the white ball job makes sense 23:39-27:06 Richard Gould and Rob Key a lucky pair to keep their jobs? 27:06-31:55 Who will replace McCullum? And what that will mean for the captaincy and where Bethell might bat 31:55-36:46 Outro and go check out The Sports Badger's video series about England test cricket! 36:46-37:42 Watch the Sport's Badger test match cricket video series!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlT8UewEXX0&list=PLp37-fb6JMqCml66FgwutOxXfMU8SET3Z&pp=0gcJCe4COCosWNin
July 1 · 37 min
Ben Stokes shock retirement and England lose to New Zealand
The County Chat talks all things about the seismic England cricket news, that Ben Stokes has just retired. The circumstance and drama surrounding it, leaves plenty to discuss and further where does it leave England's test cricket team at present. Chapters Intro 00:00-04:02 The strange timings to Stokes' retirement and the consequences of it 04:02-07:56 Clear evidence of a total fall out between Stokes, Key and McCullum? And who's to blame? 07:56-11:38 How Stokes' retirement has distracted from how poor this England team has been 11:38-16:52 The future of England test match captaincy and the clear lack of options 16:52-28:23 What will be the makeup of England's test match team post Stokes? 28:23-34:55 Final thoughts and outro 34:55-37:17
S1 · E7
June 26 · 33 min
The County Chat - County Championship division 1 Update show (Weeks 7&8)
The county cricket update show returns, for weeks 7&8 catch up on all the latest in the county championship division 1! With news, match round ups, standout teams and players and the County Chat XII! Chapters Intro 00:00-00:44 General News 00:44-05:32 Results Roundup 05:32-12:27 Standout team in Division 1 12:27-14:26 Standout players inn Division 1 14:26-19:52 The County Chat XII 19:52-32:45 Final thoughts and outro 32:45-33:22
June 12 · 30 min
England Cricket a drinking culture crisis?
A full review of the 1st test of the England summer, and all the drama that has surrounded the days following it. As Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson, despite a 12pm curfew imposed, were involved in an incident in the early hours of the morning including a Saracens rugby player. This pod is a full discussion into everything this represents for the English cricket team, following a poor 18 months prior. Chapters Intro and updates 00:00-02:31 1st test recap 02:31-07:27 Does England cricket have a drinking culture? 07:27-17:40 England's test match captaincy future 17:40-23:31 How this all is indicative of England cricket's laissez faire approach 23:31-27:04 Total round up of the situation 27:04-30:09 Go check out the Sports Badger: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSportsBadger
S1 · E6
May 21 · 28 min
The County Chat - County Championship division 2 - Update show (Weeks 5&6)
The county cricket update show returns, for weeks 5&6 catch up on all the latest in the county championship division 2! With news, match round ups, standout teams and players and the County Chat XII! Chapters Intro 00:00-00:49 County Championship news 00:49-03:55 Results roundup 03:55-08:58 Standout team for Division 2 in recent weeks 08:58-12:07 Standout players for Division 2 in recent weeks 12:07-18:01 County Chat XII 18:01-27:09 Final Thoughts and Outro 27:09-28:12
S1 · E5
May 20 · 34 min
The County Chat - County Championship division 1 Update show (Weeks 5&6)
The county cricket update show returns, for weeks 5&6 catch up on all the latest in the county championship division 1! With news, match round ups, standout teams and players and the County Chat XII! Chapters Intro 00:00-00:51 County Championship news 00:51-09:20 Standout team in division 1 09:20-11:51 Results roundup 11:51-17:15 Standout players in division 1 17:15-23:26 The County Chat XII 23:26-33:40 Final thoughts and outro 33:40-34:33
May 14 · 32 min
England's test squad has been announced - is it more of the same? Or has a new era been reached?
With Marcus North confirmed in his head selector role, the England test match squad has been announced for the 1st test against New Zealand this summer. We discuss if this is a change in the right direction? Or if it is just more of the same from the Bazball brigade? Key talking points of players who have come and gone and what this means for this summer. Chapters Intro and squad list 00:00-01:04 Initial thoughts and the big changes 01:04-04:05 What this squad signifies in relation to the 'new bazball' 04:05-11:50 What I'd change in the squad 11:50-14:59 This test match squads - 2026 county champ stats 14:59-28:57 Final thoughts and outro 28:57-32:03
S1 · E4
April 30 · 33 min
The County Chat - County Championship division 2 Update show (Weeks 3&4)
A look into the major talking points from the last two week of County Championship division 2 action. Chapters Intro 00:00-00:46 County Championship news 00:46-10:01 Results Roundup 10:01-16:45 Standout team for game week 3 and 4 16:45-19:34 Standout players for game week 3 and 4 19:34-23:57 The County Chat XII 23:57-32:05 Final Thoughts and outro 32:05-33:09
S1 · E3
April 28 · 29 min
The County Chat - County Championship division 1 Update show (Weeks 3&4)
The County Chat update show returns, talking about all the major talking points from the last two weeks of action! News from the past few weeks, standout teams and players and much more! Chapters Intro 00:00-00:31 County Championship news 00:31-09:10 Results roundup 09:10-12:50 Standout team in game week 3 and 4 12:50-14:33 Standout players for game week 3 and 4 14:33-18:27 The County Chat XII 18:27-28:38 Final thoughts and outro 28:38-29:28
S1 · E5
April 17 · 33 min
The County Chat - County Championship division 2 Update show (Weeks 1 and 2)
The first two weeks of the County Championship are in the books, we discuss all that happened and the standout players from Division 2 in that time. The County Chat dissects the first two weeks play, to see if any trends have appeared and picking out the best players from the start of the season.Chapters Intro 00:00-01:8 Results round up 01:18-09:30 Standout team in game week 1 and 2 09:30-11:55 County championship news 11:55-17:25 Standout players for game week 1 and 2 17:25-23:07 The County Chat XII(I) 23:07-32:02 Final thoughts and outro 32:02-33:15
S1 · E1
April 15 · 39 min
The County Chat - County Championship division 1 Update show (Weeks 1 and 2)
The first two weeks of the County Championship are in the books, we discuss all that happened and the standout players from Division 1 in that time. The County Chat dissects the first two weeks play, to see if any trends have appeared and picking out the best players from the start of the season. ChaptersIntro 00:00-01:29 Results round up 01:29-09:25 County championship news 09:25-17:08 Standout team in game week 1 and 2 17:08-20:04 Standout players for game week 1 and 2 20:04-27:18 The County Chat XII 27:18-38:20 Outro 38:20-39:11
S2 · E18
April 3 · 31 min
2026 County Championship Season Previews. Episode 18 - Nottinghamshire
The County Chat previews all the county teams for the upcoming season, starting from last place finishers in division 2 all the way through to the division 1 winners from 2025. Nottinghamshire were those winners of division 1 in 2025, their first title since 2010. The outlaws were superb with both bat and ball throughout the season, and toppled a great Surrey side to secure the title, but can they repeat that feat in 2026? Chapters Intro 00:00-01:38 Team overlook for 2026 and a look back at 2025 01:38-13:48 Standout player from 2025 and potential star performer for 2026 13:48-19:33 A look back at Nottinghamshire 2025 statistics 19:33-25:55 Predicted first day XI and predicted finish in 2026 25:55-30:18 Final thoughts and outro 30:18-31:23
S2 · E17
April 2 · 34 min
2026 County Championship Season Previews. Episode 17 - Surrey
The County Chat previews all the county teams for the upcoming season, starting from last place finishers in division 2 all the way through to the division 1 winners from 2025. Surrey narrowly fell short of a rare feat of a quin-peat of the county championship in 2025, with arguably the deepest and strongest squad in the country, the Oval based county will be looking to win another county championship and solidify their dominance of the County Championship in the 2020s. Chapters Intro 00:00-01:08 Team overlook for 2026 and a look back at 2025 01:08-14:25 Standout player from 2025 and potential star performer for 2026 14:25-20:20 A look back at Surrey’s 2025 statistics 20:20-26:48 Predicted first day XI and predicted finish in 2026 26:48-33:11 Final thoughts and outro 33:11-34:18
S2 · E16
April 1 · 31 min
2026 County Championship Season Previews. Episode 16 - Somerset
The County Chat previews all the county teams for the upcoming season, starting from last place finishers in division 2 all the way through to the division 1 winners from 2025. Somerset finished in 3rd place last year, not in the title race but also away from the mid-table. Will the south-west county join the title fray or slide down the table in 2026? Chapters Intro 00:00-01:05 Team overlook for 2026 and a look back at 2025 01:05-15:17 Standout player from 2025 and potential star performer for 2026 15:17-19:35 A look back at Somerset’s 2025 statistics 19:35-25:04 Predicted first day XI and predicted finish in 2026 25:04-30:04 Final thoughts and outro 30:04-31:09

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