What's He On About? Cricket Podcast · Charlie Harden

14 Year Old Hits IPL 100! Who Are England's Best Openers In County Cricket?

·26 min·2 clips

A 14-year-old just scored the second-fastest IPL century ever—what does this mean for cricket's future?

This episode of the What's He On About Cricket Podcast reviews round four of the County Championship and debates England's best openers. The solo host analyzes standout performances and selection dilemmas. He begins by addressing a remarkable event from the Indian Premier League. Fourteen-year-old Suryavanshi scored 101 runs off 38 balls for the Rajasthan Royals, achieving the second-fastest century in IPL history. His innings overshadowed contributions from established players like Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill in the same match. The host notes Suryavanshi is nine years younger than his opening partner, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is considered a young talent himself. The host expresses hope that Suryavanshi avoids the career trajectory of players like Prithvi Shaw, who peaked early. The analysis shifts to the County Championship, starting with Nottinghamshire's nine-wicket win over Sussex. Nottinghamshire's Josh Tongue took a five-wicket haul, though the host questions his fit for the current England Test side. Seventeen-year-old off-spinner Farhan Ahmed bowled 23 overs for 54 runs, demonstrating notable control for Sussex. The host worries about the potential negative impact if Ahmed were fast-tracked into England's Test side for a tour of Australia. Australian overseas player Fergus O'Neill took 21 wickets at an average of 18, putting Nottinghamshire top of Division One. Nottinghamshire captain Haseeb Hameed scored 85 and 62 not out, while Ben Duckett smashed 59 off 31 balls against Sussex spinner Jack Carson. In Division Two, Leicestershire lead by 13 points, while traditional power Lancashire are struggling in sixth place. The host critiques Australian commentators who linked a previous round's lack of results to an absence of the 'Bazball' mentality in county cricket. He argues there is a fundamental disconnect between the aggressive England setup and the more conservative county system. This leads to a debate on England's openers, where in-form county players may not fit the national team's style. The host gives an honorable mention to Division Two's Ben Compton, who has nearly 400 runs at an average of 77. In Division One, he highlights veterans like Yorkshire's Adam Lyth and Essex's Paul Walter, who is averaging 79. The host identifies Hameed and Warwickshire's Dom Sibley, who averages 69, as putting pressure on incumbent Zak Crawley. He names Sussex's Tom Haines, the top run-scorer across both divisions with 513 runs, as the best opener. Despite these performances, the host believes England selectors are more likely to favor Durham's Ben McKinney because he fits their aggressive mold. He concludes that Crawley's place is likely secure regardless of county form, encapsulating the selection dilemma. The tone is conversational, enthusiastic, and opinionated, blending match analysis with broader strategic commentary. Cricket fans interested in deep county cricket analysis and England selection debates will enjoy this episode. Listeners seeking only international cricket news or a polished, multi-host discussion might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

Fast, scrappy cricket talk that turns an IPL stunner into county and England selection debate.

The episode moves from the IPL's biggest headline to county championship tables and the question of which openers are really pressing Zach Crawley, so it feels like a cricket notebook in motion.

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Why you'd press play

If you want IPL chaos and county-champ tables in one sharp stretch, press play.

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