Cricket Badger Podcast · Cricket Badger Podcast

New Zealand bite back in Hamilton as Gabba Rain ruins Australia third Test hopes

·1 hr 8 min·4 clips

Ben Stokes bowled 36.2 overs in Hamilton and limped off in pain after overworking himself.

1. Cricket Badger Podcast centers on England's Hamilton defeat to New Zealand and the rain-hit Australia-India Test in Brisbane. 2. James and Lucas lead the discussion, with Lucas offering the main Australia perspective and detailed Test-match analysis. 3. The episode asks whether England's 'Bas Ball' approach, selection calls, and workload management are holding up across 2024. 4. Lucas says New Zealand dominated 99% of the Hamilton Test and England looked 'uninspiring' from ball one. 5. He highlights Potter? no, Potts and Jacob Bethell as the few England players who stood out, and says Bethell was effective with the ball and on a hat-trick. 6. The hosts spend a long stretch on Ben Stokes, who bowled 36.2 overs in one Test and walked off with his left leg heavily strapped. 7. They argue that no one around Stokes, including the vice-captain or senior players, stopped him from overbowling himself. 8. Lucas says Stokes is a world-class bowler on his day, but that there has to be a limit between courage and self-damage. 9. A major selection problem follows: Jamie Smith returns, Ollie Pope has moved to wicketkeeper and vice-captain, and Jacob Bethell has made a strong case in New Zealand. 10. Lucas says he would keep Bethell in the side and even consider opening with him rather than persisting with Zach Crawley. 11. Crawley's technique against movement becomes the central criticism, with Matt Henry having him 'on toast' and the ball exposing his struggle once it moves laterally. 12. The hosts note that Crawley can look excellent on flat pitches, but he has become too unreliable when conditions are not gun barrel straight. 13. Lucas also says Crawley has been in the side long enough that his upside no longer outweighs the repeated bad starts he can produce. 14. County cricket names come up as possible alternatives, including Alex Davies, Sam Hain, Daniel Bell-Drummond, and Alex Lees. 15. The conversation returns to Stokes and England's culture, with Lucas arguing that coaches can become too loyal and stop making hard calls. 16. England's 2024 is rated around six out of ten, with positives from Joe Root, Harry Brook, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jamie Smith, and Bethell. 17. The tone is argumentative and opinion-led, with James prompting and Lucas responding in long, detailed runs. 18. The format mixes match review, selection debate, and preview of India, Zimbabwe, and the Ashes. 19. Listeners interested in England Test selection, captaincy, and Bazball debates will get the most from this episode. 20. Listeners wanting only a short scoreline update without selection arguments may skip it.

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