The County Cricket Podcast · thecountycricketpodcast

The Dan Whiting Podcast

·53 min·4 clips

Dan Whiting calls the 2005 Ashes the greatest series ever, beating an Australian side he considers the best of all time.

This episode of The County Cricket Podcast features host Aaron interviewing Gloucestershire and BBC commentator Dan Whiting. Whiting shares his journey in cricket broadcasting and reflects on memorable moments from the county circuit. His earliest cricket memories involve a cricket-mad uncle and playing for Haringey and North London Cricket Club in Tottenham. Whiting cites Wayne Daniel and David Gower as his childhood heroes, and he fondly recalls watching the dominant Middlesex side of the 1980s at Lord's. He describes his first live Test memory as the 1977 Ashes and became a devoted fan after David Gower's early career, particularly his 1985 Ashes performance. Whiting considers the 2005 Ashes series the greatest, highlighting its competitiveness against a legendary Australian team. His commentary career began with Test Match Sofa, an informal online broadcast with figures like Dan Norcross and Atif Nawaz. He later secured opportunities through BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Radio Northampton, eventually landing the Gloucestershire commentary role in 2022. Whiting credits veteran commentator Ian Randall as a key mentor, teaching him about timing and letting the play breathe. A surprising insight is Whiting's lifelong hatred of classical music, which he associates with rain-interrupted Sunday league cricket broadcasts from his youth. He reveals that commentator Ian Randall famously trolled Somerset's Peter Trego on social media after a dramatic Gloucestershire T20 victory. Whiting notes the unexpectedly febrile atmosphere at a Surrey vs. Sussex T20 match at Hove, where a fan's abusive language towards Rory Burns was notably vile. He offers high praise for Sussex's John Simpson, describing him as a technically flawless wicketkeeper whose excellence is often overlooked because he makes it look easy. Reflecting on the 2024 season, his personal highlight was covering Finals Day, where Gloucestershire's T20 Blast win allowed him to celebrate with the team into the early hours. He also shares that getting a pint from Yorkshireman and Surrey coach Gareth Batty was a rare and memorable achievement. The tone is relaxed, conversational, and nostalgic, featuring two enthusiasts sharing personal anecdotes and inside stories from the county cricket world. This episode will delight county cricket devotees who enjoy behind-the-scenes commentary stories and personal journeys within the sport. Listeners seeking hard news, tactical analysis, or debate on contemporary issues might find it less engaging.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The County Cricket Podcast