It’s Not Just Cricket
Episodes
Strike rate surge & Babar's evolution
06 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
IPL batting strikes rates have surged this year but don't write off the touch players just yet - the likes of Rahul, Kohli and Babar have been quietly...
Pick a T20 World XI & England Test XI
29 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Azeem and Matt play selectors and attempt to pick a T20 World XI and an England Test XI for the 1st Test v New Zealand. Should Virat Kohli b...
KP v Cook & Bellingham buys in!
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kevin Pietersen renews his war of words with Alastair Cook so who is in the right this time? Is Jacob Bethell better off sitting on the bench at the I...
England contenders state their case
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie Smith starts the county season with a scintillating hundred but can he play for England if he's not keeping for Surrey? Has James Rew jumped ahe...
Blank canvas for England and how to ball tamper!
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Plenty of England Test players have points to prove which could make for one of the most fascinating starts to a county season in years. Crawley, Duc...
Azeem applies for the England Selector job!
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The boys react after it's announced that Rob Key and Brendon McCullum will keep their jobs and Azeem springs a big shock by saying he has applied for ...
Livingstone hits out
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
After Liam Livingstone gives an explosive interview criticising the England hierarchy, the boys discuss if this is just sour grapes from a dropped pla...
The Hundred Auction
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It's an historic couple of days for The Hundred as it holds it's first ever live player auction. Does Abrar Ahmed getting bought by Sunrisers Leeds pr...
Did SA really choke & Eng v Ind preview
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
T20 World Cup Semi Final week! New Zealand demolish South Africa but was this really another choke from the Proteas? Is this finally the Black Caps' t...
Pak players in The Hundred & Eng into the Semis....again!
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Azeem and Matt look at the thorny issue of Pakistan players potentially not being selected on purpose for The Hundred - even if it was true, how could...
T20 World Cup roundup
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The boys reflect on the big stories to come out of the T20 World Cup group stage. Should we not be surprised that Australia have been knocked out? Wa...
Carbs on race & his career...
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Carberry is back in the studio with Matt to pick through his long career before the discussion turns to race issues in cricket. Never one to m...
The Pakistan boycott - an accident waiting to happen
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The ICC have a big decision on their hands after Pakistan refuse to play India at the T20 World Cup. The boys discuss why this has happened, what the ...
Michael Carberry on art, batting and the T20 WC
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Top man Michael Carberry pops into the studio to tell us what he's been up to since retirement, why Joe Root should be in England's T20 side and which...
Brook at his best & U19s in good shape
31 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It's been a good few days for England as Harry Brook turns on the style and the T20 team start well. Azeem is also impressed by what he's seen at the ...
Smith, Babar row & Kohli's unbeatable record
21 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week the boys discuss a clash of alpha batsmen Steve Smith and Babar Azam at the Big Bash and whether Smith should be in Australia's T20 World Cu...
Who could be next England Head Coach?
17 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Azeem is back and the boys go through the main candidates to take over from Brendon McCullum when he finishes. Would it be a mistake to go for a disci...
Tawhid Qureshi on the Bangladesh and India issue
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Cricket writer and correspondent Tawhid Qureshi gives us the lowdown on how relations between Bangladesh and India have deteriorated rapidly. What wi...
Toby Tarrant - nepo babies, cricket and The Traitors
07 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Radio X DJ and cricket nut Toby Tarrant joins Matt in the studio to address an assortment of random issues - how can The Traitors TV show make cricket...
The 2025 Awards episode!
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As 2025 comes to a close the boys reflect on England's first Test win in Australia for 15 years. The pitch wasn't great, but was the groundsman made t...
Key, McCullum, Noosa and the future
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Azeem and Matt have different takes on the interviews given by Brendon McCullum and Rob Key in the aftermath of England's Ashes demolition. They then ...
Ashes 3rd Test Day 3 reaction
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
England show some spirit but are staring down another Ashes defeat, even after ditching BazBall in the 1st innings. Will Jacks does his best but he's ...
Ashes 3rd Test Day 1 reaction
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A better day for England but did Australia miss the chance to bury their opposition? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adcho...
What do England do now and Kohli's 2027 swan song
13 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
TalkSPORT's Cricket Editor Jon Norman joins the boys to discuss how the media has turned on BazBall and what Ben Stokes' men can do to somehow turn th...
Ashes 2nd Test Day 3 reaction
06 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lively debate after Australia have another dominant day in Brisbane. Have Australia shown that traditional Test cricket is the way to play the game? I...
Ashes 2nd Test Day 2 reaction
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
England have a bad day in Brisbane and Azeem is coming in off his long run! Have England already blown their chance in this match? Learn more about yo...
Listener Questions & RIP Robin Smith
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The boys answer questions sent in by you the listeners and look ahead to the crucial 2nd Ashes Test. And as English cricket mourns the loss of another...
England's pink ball prep & T20 World Cup groups
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
England's preparation for the day night Test in Brisbane is under the spotlight - were they right to turn down some match practice under the lights in...
Ashes 1st Test Day 2 reaction
22 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Australia demolish England in 2 days! The boys analyse where they think it all went wrong for Ben Stokes' men. How do England pick themselves up from ...
Ashes 1st Test Day 1 reaction
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
19 wickets in the day...is this the best start to an Ashes in Australia ever?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Must win for England in Perth & India lose the plot
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With Hazlewood and Cummins out and Brisbane to come, do England have to win the 1st Test? Meanwhile India have gone from being unbeatable at home to v...
Biggest IPL player trade & Atkinson left out?
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Australia will field one of the oldest Test match teams ever in Perth but is that actually a strength rather than a weakness? England might have to dr...
A seismic moment for India
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
India win the Women's World Cup for the very first time - is this a huge moment for the women's game, not just in India but globally? Meanwhile are En...
Brook breaking records & the Masood mystery
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After a one week break the boys are back to talk Shreyas Iyer's bizarre injury, Harry Brook's genius and the Women's World Cup Semi Finals. There's a ...
Ashes war of words begins!
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's not that far away now and the likes of David Warner and Stuart Broad are cranking up the Ashes anticipation in the media - can we have more of th...
Cummins out could be the difference?
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lots of meaty stories to get in to this week! It's not sounding food for Pat Cummins being fit for the Ashes - could that open the door to England win...
Ashes & Lions squad debate, ILT20 & Pakistan problems
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pakistani podcaster and journalist Behram Qazi is back to offer his typically forthright and eloquent take on world cricket. The boys cover a lot in t...
County Championship excitement & De Kock is back
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've got to talk about the County Championship. What a title race and what a game between Surrey and Notts! If Peter Moores guides them to the title ...
Asia Cup catch up
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matt's back in London to reflect on his experience working with some of the best commentators in the world at the Asia Cup. The tournament is yet to c...
Welcome back Azeem
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matt's in Dubai commentating on the Asia Cup which means the boys can record their first episode face to face in a while. Azeem explains why he took s...
Asia Cup preview & what's going on with cricket in America?
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sri Lankan cricket podcaster Mark Machado is this week's guest, live from his new home city of New York! Mark explains why cricket in the US has not r...
How The Hundred will change & ode to Pujara
30 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The ever energetic Aatif Nawaz is back to join Matt in a discussion on how The Hundred will change after private ownership. How many teams will change...
Livingstone's future and if only Jaiswal was English
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Liam Livingstone says he 'doesn't know where he stands with England' so what next for him? Jacob Bethell is set to become England's youngest ever Capt...
The Hundred debate & should Rehan should start the Ashes?
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
No more Tests in the UK this summer so time to get our teeth stuck into The Hundred. Why aren't there that many close games in the men's competition? ...
England v India 2025 - a series we'll always remember
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After one of the most thrilling Test series in recent times, the boys look at how England v India 2025 compares with the most exciting contests in Tes...
England v India as big as the Ashes?
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
An incredible fightback by India means we are heading into the deciding 5th Test at the Oval with lots of topics to debate - who was in the wrong when...
The Jess Carter abuse - a familiar tale
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matt & Azeem look ahead to the 4th Test, discuss country v county and then turn their attention to England footballer Jess Carter getting racially abu...
Bring on the aggro and fine the Umpires!
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Absolutely loads for us to get our teeth into this week! Ben Stokes delivers a herculean performance, Jofra's back and England are somehow 2-1 up. Mat...
A massive Test and Wiaan Mulder what have you done?!
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Azeem and Matt disagree on who they think England should have picked for the Lord's Test, while Azeem also has some strong opinions on England needing...
Eng v Ind 2nd Test, Day 2 reaction
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After 2 days at Edgbaston, India are dominating. Matt & Azeem look back on a tough day at the office for Ben Stokes' men. Learn more about your ad ch...
BazBall's greatest win?
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matt and Azeem react to England's incredible win in the 1st Test against India. Was it the greatest ever in the BazBall era?! Learn more about your a...
Rabada is underrated, Australia look vulnerable
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Azeem is back for the first time after his father sadly passed away and shares some heartfelt memories on his 'best friend' who used to leave him voic...
England back in the white ball business
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Aatif Nawaz joins Matt to reflect on a great start for Harry Brook as England captain. Will Ben Stokes return for the T20 World Cup and is he actually...
How marketing drives cricket
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sports marketing guru Amar Singh joins Matt to discuss how marketing played a huge role in the IPL becoming a giant of global sport. Can The Hundred g...
More questions for England
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
England's hammering of Zimbabwe was impressive but it may have thrown up more questions than answers. Are Crawley and Pope now undroppable for the Ind...
The rise of Indian cricket
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lawrence Booth is back for a lively debate on the power that Indian cricket now holds and how it is using it. As ever, Matt, Azeem and Lawrence have s...
An ode to Virat Kohli
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wisden Editor and Daily Mail Cricket Correspondent Lawrence Booth joins the boys to discuss the massive news of the week - Virat Kohli retiring from T...
Azeem wishes Gary Ballance well
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As news breaks that Gary Ballance will be part of the Zimbabwe coaching team for the tour of England, Azeem reaveals that he holds no grudge against h...
Vaibhav Suryavanshi and the cricket prodigies
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Vaibhav Suryavanshi - remember the name!! He becomes the latest in a long line of incredibly young cricket prodigies and the boys look back on some o...
IPL & PSL catch up, Cook and Baker for England?
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's been an interesting couple of weeks in the IPL - teams who didn't make the Play Offs last year are leading the way and a 14 year old has made his...
What is Glenn Maxwell really like?!
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Great to have Adam Collins back on the show! Fresh off writing Glenn Maxwell's autobiography 'The Showman', he gives us a fascinating insight into the...
England's Crawley and Bashir issues
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The County Championship season has started and with England's first Test of the summer just a few weeks away we check in on two players who's season h...
Adam Collins on the future of cricket
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Commentator, Writer and Podcaster Adam Collins joins Matt for a deep look into where cricket is heading and what the future may look like. When the in...
IPL catch up and Moeen speaks out
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The IPL is back and even though there haven't been many close games, it's still the best T20 show in town. MS Dhoni gets criticised for batting too lo...
The Mental Health Episode
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's good to talk. Most people have had issues with maintaining their mental health and Matt and Azeem are no different. In this epsiode they both ope...
The Cricket Scotland racism affair that won't go away
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Remember the Cricket Scotland racism storm? Unlike what happened with Azeem and Yorkshire, it all seems to have gone very quiet north of the border. C...
Dubai helped, but India too good anyway
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A forgettable Champions Trophy comes to an end but that shouldn't detract from another flawless tournament performance by India. Sure they had some we...
Is making Brook captain the right move?
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matt has lost hearing in both ears jumping off a cliff on holiday but manages to shout his way through this episode! After England crash out of the Ch...
India v Pakistan rivalry needs reviving
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
India beat Pakistan once again with ease in the Champions Trophy which means Pakistan have only beaten them once in ODIs in the last decade. Is this g...
The Champions Trophy is here!
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is the Champions Trophy actually a better tournament to watch from start to finish than the World Cups?! Anyway, it's about to start and the boys run ...
Clueless England and Tech bros splash the cash!
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Judging by how far off the pace England have been in India, Brendon McCullum may have an even harder job on his hands to turn the white ball teams aro...
What's it like to be a cricket agent?
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the modern era of cricket, agents are right at the forefront of a sport that has changed beyond recognition in the last 20 years. Simon Auteri - wh...
The Hundred sale - who's buying in?
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The final bids are about to go in for the eight teams in The Hundred and Azeem reveals the IPL franchises that he believes will be buying into certain...
Biggest shocks ever, Hartley and Vince
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nigeria beat New Zealand in the Women's Under 19s World Cup - is that the biggest shock ever in the history of cricket?! England's white ball Bazball ...
Jimmy's back, Women's Ashes & PSL draft
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jimmy Anderson has decided to play on this summer for Lancashire - what happens if he takes loads of wickets though? Might England be tempted to bring...
Nikesh Rughani
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Award winning broadcaster Nikesh Rughani joins Azeem and Matt to talk about his journey from the BBC Asian Network to Test Match Special. Despite bein...
Aus finally adopt BazBall & will Rohit retire?
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's the final episode of 2024 and loads to get our teeth into this week! Australia dominate India on the final day at the MCG but Azeem (aka The Grin...
Boxing Day Test & Heather Knight is right
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Merry Christmas ya filthy animals! Cricket addicts have plenty of ways to get their fix over the festive period and the boys start by previewing the B...
Did Isa Guha need to apologise?
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After Isa Guha apologised for comments she made on air on Jasprit Bumrah, Matt and Azeem discuss her heartfelt apology and whether she even had to mak...
England's selection dilemma & players bite back over NOCs
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Azeem is now an F1 convert after his trip to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but cricket remains in pole position for this episode. England's brilliance in N...
Robbie Uthappa
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Not many cricketers are as engaging and introspective as Robbie Uthappa. The T20 World Cup winner with India opens up about his struggles with depress...
Another crazy IPL Auction and Bethell at 3
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Azeem's in London so the boys meet in person for the first time in weeks! Matt feels a bit underdressed. On the menu this week - dissecting everything...
Which England players will go for big money at IPL Auction?
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There's a huge Test series on the horizon between Australia and India. The boys look at the selection issues India face before the 1st Test and debate...
Tom Brown on SACA
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Around 30% of recreational cricketers in England are British South Asians but only 5% of professional cricketers. Why is that and what can be done abo...
Saudi's first foray into cricket & IPL retention lists
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
India lose a home Test series for the first time in 12 years but was it just a blip or a sign that an ageing side is now past it's peak? Meanwhile as ...
Stokes needs help & England's spin problem
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Azeem strongly believes that Ben Stokes is taking on too much responsibility with England's Test team and needs some of the burden eased. The boys dis...
Abhinav Mukund on cricket in India
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ex Indian Test cricketer turned commentator Abhinav Mukund lifts the lid on Indian cricket in this bonus episode. In an open and wide ranging chat he ...
Were India looking too far ahead & do England's women need a change?
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Azeem is at his pugnacious best in this episode. He weighs in on why he has no problem with Pakistan trying to prepare pitches to suit their bowlers a...
Aatif Nawaz on Pak v Eng & life on tour
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Aatif joins Matt & Azeem from Pakistan to talk about the Test series and what it's like for broadcasters touring the country. The boys debate who is E...
Georgie Heath on Women's T20 World Cup
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Matt and Georgie are in India commentating on a Legends tournament but take a break to chat all things Women's World Cup. Georgie is a font of knowled...
Pakistan v England Preview
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pakistani writer and podcaster Behram Qazi joins the boys to preview England's Test matches in Pakistan and doesn't hold back on what he sees as major...
What GMR buying Hampshire means
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
England's ODI team shows fight against Australia but also lots of naivety - are we no longer a top side in the format? Big developments off the pitch ...
Why Essex got off lightly and Ashwin the Great
25 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Matt's in India working on a Legends tournament and spills the beans on why Legends cricket has suddenly become massively popular. He and Azeem debate...
Archer's future and how India could be even better at home
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jofra Archer has been wrapped in cotton wool since returning from his many injury setbacks so what does the future hold for him? Will he play Test cri...
Big up Moeen and is Freddie the next Baz?
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Friend of the show Mark Machado is back to reflect on a great Test win for Sri Lanka and whether England's terrible performance was a just a blip or s...
Vaughan savages Pope and is Root better than Cook?
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Plenty of disagreements in this one! Despite Joe Root scoring the most Test hundreds for his country, Azeem still thinks Alistair Cook is the greatest...
England's new white ball coach & why Buttler was thrown under the bus
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lots of cricket to chat through this week - England's win against Sri Lanka, lots of new faces in the Test, ODI & T20 squads and who should be the new...
The riots and why cricketers are susceptible to mental health issues
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The boys get deep into some serious topics in this episode. Azeem talks about how the riots brought back bad memories and made him fear his house woul...
Sri Lanka - the place, the cricket!
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Matt's back from Sri Lanka but his head is still there. With the Sri Lankan Test team in England, British Sri Lankan journalist Mark Machado is in the...
INJC on tour! The Scott Styris ep
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Matt's in Sri Lanka working for Indian television and manages to grab former New Zealand star Scott Styris for a chin wag! After the tragic passing of...