The Emerging Cricket Podcast

The World Cup is no longer ten teams (from 2027)! We outline the news from the ICC, go in-depth to wrap the women's T20 series between Ireland and Scotland, preview the Kwibuka Women's Tournament and chat again to PNG All Rounder Chad Soper!

With The Netherlands facing a selection issue surrounding no mandatory release for English-based players, the boys discuss the red tape faced by Associates in their series preview with Ireland. We also catch up with PNG all rounder Chad Soper to discuss his unique cricket story, qualifying for a T20 World Cup, the infamous red jacket and what it means to represent one of the countries he has been able to call home.

For our patrons, there's an extended Patreon special of this week's show.

In the Associate and the Asian game, Pankaj Khimji is a name you're only going to hear more of. Now chairman of the Oman Cricket Board, from July 1 he'll also be the Vice President of the Asian Cricket Council under Jay Shah. In an open chat, Khimji outlines his plans for the region and talks about Oman's aspirations in the game.

With rumblings in the media of an expansion in the number of teams at the Cricket World Cup in the next broadcast cycle, we decided to take a deeper look into what makes a good competition format. To learn more, Nick talks to Dutch cricket journalist and flowchart master Bertus de Jong about the principles of tournament design, as well as the tradeoffs involved in creating a tournament that's exciting,  inclusive, and profitable.

Out-of-quarantine Tim joins Bes and Nick once again to give an update from his new home, before discussing the 'new' 14-team World Cup format thrown about and the winners/losers of T20 World Cup Qualifying Cancellations. We're joined again by Andy Moles to discuss Kenya's demise and other issues in the emerging game.

With a long and esteemed resume in the game, Andy Moles has seen a lot of emerging cricket. From close encounters with extremist groups and player revolts, and that's before his team's achievements on the field! In part one of our chat we discuss Afghanistan's meteoric rise on the international stage, and the emergence of Uzbekistan, neighbours with similar lofty ambition.

Bes also wraps news around the world!

Death, taxes and Gerhard Erasmus making runs: life's three certainties. Bes, Tim and Nick discuss Namibia's strong showing against South Africa Emerging, and look at what cricket could possibly learn from Football's ESL condemnation. There's a new skipper for the Thai women's team, and we take a look at the challengers for the final spots up for grabs at next year's Commonwealth Games.

We review the recently-concluded tri-nations series hosted by Nepal, as host Nick Skinner is joined by three members of the EC roster who've been watching each of the participating teams - Rod Lyall of the Netherlands, Nishadh Rego for Malaysia, and Dipesh Pandit, who was on the ground in Nepal.

Tim, Nick and Bes discuss progress in the cricket Olympic movement this week, the ICC Development Awards for 2020, and discuss issues in Nepal as the T20I tri-series nears its conclusion. EC Patrons get an extended show this week! To sign up to our patreon, visit patreon.com/emergingcricket! 

In this follow-up episode to our preview of the U19s national championships in Houston, our USA correspondent Nate Hays reflects on the tournament (which wrapped up last weekend) and the cricket on show. He is joined for a short interview by U19s player Gautam Ravindran, then for an extended discussion with ESPNCricinfo journalist Peter Della Penna and longtime US cricket observer Dave Jagernauth.