ABC Cricket Podcast

A pulsating Test series - but ultimately a let down. Australia fell in a heap on the final day in Cape Town but have the signs of the team's problems been there all along?

With no Ed Cowan to call on Corbin turns to the World's leading cricket analyst Shaun Pollock to ask what - if anything - is wrong with the Australian team.

To get in touch, email [email protected]

ABC Grandstand cricket commentator Corbin Middlemas brings you all the highlights and match analysis to keep you up to speed...

It was all set for a dramatic culmination of 15 days of gripping Test cricket but South Africa ran through Australia in the first session. 7 wickets fell and it was all about surviving for Pat Cummins team from that point. 

They clung on to the end of the 2nd session before being dismissed for 111 - a 176 run defeat.

Corbin Middlemas, Phil Jaques and Jason Gillespie break down where it all went wrong for Australia + Ben Cummins sits down with captain Pat Cummins

To get in touch, email [email protected]

ABC G...

On a day when Australia might have hoped to wrap up the series, Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder both scored centuries to leave the Test match in the balance.

Australia's bowlers toiled away and were gifted a late breakthrough when Mulder contrived to leave Rickelton stranded an over after he'd brought up his 100. The latter told Ben Cameron in no uncertain terms what he thought!

It's set up a gripping finale with Australia setting out on Day 5 needing 288 to win the test, the series and retain the number one sport in the world.

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Josh Inglis' second Test century and a late wicket from Nathan Lyon have put the Australians within touching distance of winning the 3rd Test and taking the series against South Africa. 

Inglis (102) and Alex Carey (80) took Australia to 429 all out, a lead of exactly 100. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood then ensured South Africa were already three wickets down before reaching parity, but arguably the key moment of the day was Nathan Lyon castling South African captain Temba Bavuma for the second time this Test in the penultimate over of the day. 

The Proteas have a sl...

Australia are on top and in the lead at the end of Day 2 at Newlands thanks to half centuries from Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, and unbeaten half centuries from Josh Inglis and Alex Carey. 

The visitors finished the day 4/330, a one run lead over South Africa in the first innings.  

The news was not so good for Marnus Labuschagne with the Australian number three setting an unwanted record for most innings by an Australian top four batter without a Test century at 48. Labuschagne fell for a five-ball-duck in Cape Town. 

Corbin Middlemas, Phil Jaq...

Six wickets from Mitchell Starc has saved Australia's blushes after a bizarre decision to bowl first on a flat deck at Newlands. 

The left-arm quick destroyed South Africa' lower order with the second new ball to roll the hosts for 329, a terrific effort after South Africa raced to 0/140 at lunch. The Proteas were unable to capitalise on half centuries from Marcus Ackerman, Aiden Markram, David Bedingham and Marco Jansen, with loose shots keeping the Australians in the game. 

Earlier, the visitors made four changes to their line-up with Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Cooper Connolly and Na...

After 8 years behind the mic, Ed Cowan plays his final innings as ABC Cricket Podcast co-host before stepping up to the Cricket Australia board. From Cape Town, the boys preview the series-deciding third Test at Newlands, pore over selection clues from training, debate optional sessions, and hear from listeners across the globe in an emotional farewell to one of cricket podcasting's great partnerships.

To get in touch, email Corbin & Ed at [email protected]

ABC Grandstand cricket commentator Corbin Middlemas is joined by Ed Cowan to bring you all the highlights and match analysis...

Corbin and Ed unpack South Africa's emphatic innings victory over Australia in the second Test at St George's Park, where the Proteas roared back from 6/110 to hand Australia their second loss in four Tests. The boys dissect Australia's batting collapse — all out for 99 — the tactical missteps with the bouncer plan against the lower order, the glaring absence of Nathan Lyon, and Temba Bavuma's masterful hundred. They dive into the ongoing opening batsman conundrum, Marnus Labuschagne's 47-innings century drought, and what changes might come for the series decider in Cape Town. Plus: Harry Brook's record-breaking ODI double century and Sri Lank...

Scott Boland did his job for Australia with a 166 ball innings as night watchman while Travis Head notched his 13th Test century. Even the weather did its bit by wiping out the entire morning session. 

But that's where the positives ended for Australia. The were dismissed for 295 to suffer an innings defeat. 

Corbin Middlemas, Phil Jaques and Jason Gillespie wrap up all the action from Day 5 in Gqeberha plus Ben Cameron chats to Australian captain Pat Cummins.

To get in touch, email Corbin at [email protected] or send a voice note he...

Australia is staring down the barrel of defeat in the 2nd Test in a performance that could shake the careers of a number of players. Marco Jansen followed up his batting heroics with a 5 wicket haul as South Africa dismissed Australia for 99 and then enforced the follow on. 

In a further blow to Australia Steve Smith is hampered by a neck injury, while Marnus Labuschagne notched an unwanted Test record. 

Corbin Middlemas, Phil Jaques and Jason Gillespie wrap up all the action from Day 4 in Gqeberha. 

To get in touch, email Corbin at abcc...

South Africa wrestled back momentum on day 3 of the 2nd Test against Australia on the back of a brilliant century to captain Temba Bavuma.

Australia are in control of the 2nd Test against South Africa in Gqeberha, despite the start of play being delayed for almost 6 hours on day 2.

Only 60 minutes of cricket was played on Day 1 at St Georges Park with rain delaying the start and stopping play multiple times before an early stumps was called, with South Africa is 2/20.

Australia won the toss and elected to field. Off spinner Nathan Lyon was left out of the side, with Australia opting for an all out pace attack. Inclusion Scott Boland provided the only highlights for the day, taking two wickets in two balls.

Corbin Middlemas, Phil Jaques and Jason Gillespie wrap up all the action from Day 1 in Gqeberha.

To get...

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Ed Cowan and Corbin step through Australia's remarkable come-from-behind victory over South Africa in the first Test at Kingsmead. From 6/124 on day one to winning by 214 runs, they dissect Matt Renshaw's career-defining innings, the batting order flexibility debate, Nick Maddinson's recall, and what to expect when Kagiso Rabada returns for the second Test at St George's Park. Plus listener questions on the Money ball theory of selection, the women's cricket scheduling crisis, and whether role clarity is being sacrificed for flexibility.

To get in touch, email Corbin & Ed at abccricketpodcast...

Josh Hazlewood achieved career best figures on the final day of the first Test in Durban to bowl South Africa out for 206 and seal the win for Australia. It was emphatic turnaround after the team found themselves 6 for 124 on day 1.

Corbin Middlemas, Phil Jaques and Jason Gillespie wrap up all the action from Day 4 in Durban. Ben Cameron catches up with Josh Hazlewood and the team pick over the big moments in the test match. 

They have a 4 day break before the 2nd Test to see what changes might take place in the Australian team a...

Australia is closing in on victory in the 1st Test in Durban. South Africa needs a world record chase to run down 421 but lost 4 wickets before the close of play.

Matt Renshaw top scored again for Australia with 82 in the 2nd innings and he remains the only player in the match to pass 50 runs. Not only that he picked up his first ever Test wicket snaring the big scalp of the Proteas captain Temba Bavuma.

Corbin Middlemas, Phil Jaques and Jason Gillespie wrap up all the action from Day 4 in Durban. 

To get i...

Australia stuck to their task to notch a 106 run first innings lead as South Africa's batters failed to capitalise on good starts. 6 players got to 30 but nobody managed to kick on - the top score in the innings was David Bedingham with 49.

Steve Smith was immaculate in the field and showed his anticipation to take two catches from reverse sweeps and 4 in total. And the day finished with Nic Maddinson getting off his pair with a boundary off the 1st ball of the Australian innings.

Corbin Middlemas, Phil Jaques and Jason Gillespie wrap up all...

Matt Renshaw's second Test century, almost a decade after his first, led Australia to a dominant position in the First Test against South Africa in Durban. 

Renshaw batted for 397 balls as he reached his highest Test score of 190. With support from Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, the Queenslander took the game away from a tired South African attack as the Australians piled on 390. 

Josh Hazelwood then gave the visitors the perfect start with the ball, removing Ryan Rickelton for a duck. The Proteas find themselves 363 runs behind heading into Day 3.

Corbin Middlemas, Phil Ja...

Australia scrambled to 6/187 when bad light brought a premature end to the first day's play, thanks largely to an unbeaten half century partnership between Matt Renshaw and Pat Cummins. 

Captain Cummins elected to bat first upon winning the toss, and pulled a surprise selection with Nic Maddinson picked to open the batting alongside Travis Head despite not not playing a first class game in 19 months as he overcame testicular cancer. 

The Maddinson experiment failed, with the opener making a 33-ball duck, despite surviving a decision not to review by the South Africans when it appeared he...

Cam Green's injury has thrown Australia's batting order into chaos ahead of the first Test against South Africa in Durban. 

Ed Cowan breaks down the selection dilemma: does Cooper Connolly get the gig at five, or does the shock recall of Nic Maddinson — who hasn't played first-class cricket in 19 months and was battling cancer this time last year — steal the headlines?

To get in touch, email Corbin & Ed at [email protected]

ABC Grandstand cricket commentator Corbin Middlemas is joined by Ed Cowan to bring you all the highlights and match analysis to ke...

Sorry what, are we losing one of our hosts to the Cricket Australia board? With Mike Baird stepping down after no longer having the support of Cricket NSW, Corbin chats to the guy who might replace him, Ed Cowan. We talk through the timeline, "the moment" of change for Baird, why "this is not an ideal situation" and the hope that this is a turning point.

Most importantly for the future of cricket in Australia, what does this mean for BBL privatisation and how crucial might the next month be before Baird officially departs?

There's...

You can almost smell the South Africa test series but before it begins there's domestic cricket and an ODI series win against a plucky Zimbabwe on the brain. 

As well, Cricket Australia lose a board member, why Steve Smith should be promised an Olympics spot and is a false number three batter actually a thing? Plus the mailbag is overflowing so we punch through plenty of your questions.

To get in touch, email Corbin & Ed at [email protected]

ABC Grandstand cricket commentator Corbin Middlemas is joined by Ed Cowan to bring y...

Cricket Australia will push on with privatisation starting with the Renegades so Corbin and Ed have PLENTY to discuss. Mike Baird and Todd Greenberg fronted the media last week spruiking the sale despite strong opposition, so here's everything you need to know.

Is the BBL going that bad? Where will the money go? What role do the players have from here? How will NSW react to this? How quickly might the next steps happen?

Making sense of one of the biggest decisions in Australian cricket history, that's the brief.

To get in touch...

The test squad for South Africa has three names on it that the boys are keen to discuss - Labuschagne, Neser and Connolly. Corbin and Ed think it's clear from George Bailey's comments that Marnus is on his last chance and Cooper Connolly is the future but question why Michael Neser is included as a back up instead of a younger option.

Plus there's news around the BBL stand off which now includes a possible tax on states that don't privatise, Australia A's tour to India getting in the way of the Shield season and Pakistan doing...

Australia's chances in South Africa jumped today with Kagiso Rabada likely out of the series and the Lord's pitch continues to disappoint. Corbin and Ed chop up all the news in the cricket world including England's first multi-game series win since 2024, India and Sri Lanka's draw and they discuss what the point of the European T20 competition is.

Plus we have a backlog of listener emails on topics like selector theories, Shield struggles and even an umpire in Chinese cricket.

To get in touch, email Corbin & Ed at [email protected]

ABC...

After another lean series from Marnus Labuschagne, Ed Cowan is wondering whether he has 'boiled the frog slowly' by continuing to tinker with his batting set-up while still not making runs. Corbin and Ed discuss whether he should be on the plane to South Africa in October and if he's not, who is? They each put forward their XI for the first Test of that series. 

Another two day Test match has people talking about the pitch but is it the deck that needs to improve or those playing on it? Plus both Corbin and Ed both h...

It's only day 2 but that's all she wrote with Australia monstering a win over Bangladesh by an innings and 51 runs to level the series. Mitch Starc took ten wickets and his hot form won him the Player of the Match and the Player of the Series. In Grandstand at Stumps Corbin Middlemas, Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Phil Jaques and Stuart Clark discuss the highs and lows of the series and the questions that still surround the Aussie batting line-up. They chat to Josh Hazlewood and Cam Green about the win, plus hear the full presentation.

To get...

orbin Middlemas, Jason Gillespie, Phil Jaqques and Stuart Clark dissect a topsy-turvy day of cricket that saw 18 wickets fall in Grandstand at Stumps. They chat to the Aussie hero, Mitchell Starc, for his take on how they handled the bat and the ball. Plus, Ed Cowan has his thought of the day.

To get in touch, email Corbin & Ed at [email protected]

ABC Grandstand cricket commentator Corbin Middlemas is joined by Ed Cowan to bring you all the highlights and match analysis to keep you up to speed. The pair discuss the key...

After the humiliation of Darwin, Corbin & Ed have lots to chat about including the how, the why and the where to next. There's questions around selection, preparation, psychology and strategy and whether this is a blip or an early warning sign.

There's not much time to waste either with Mackay starting on Saturday, so do the Aussies make changes or give those in the hot seat another shot to make amends? The biggest upset in test history needs a big debrief from your boys and they don't hold back.

To get in touch, email Corbin...

A fairy tale finish for Bangladesh and what may be the greatest upset of the game for Australia as the first Test in Darwin wraps up on day 4. Corbin Middlemas, Phil Jaques, Xavier Doherty and Jason Gillespie break down the days play in Grandstand at Stumps. They chat to Steve Smith from the Australian camp and are joined by player of the match, Hasan Mahmud from Bangladesh. Plus the full presentation and Teddy's thought of the day.

To get in touch, email Corbin & Ed at [email protected]

ABC Grandstand cricket commentator Corbin Middlemas...

It's day 3 and Aussie fans are still waiting for the expected comeback, but while Josh Hazlewood took his 300th Test wicket, it took until after lunch for the locals to finally get Bangladesh all out. Corbin Middlemas, Xavier Doherty and Jason Gillespie dive into all the talking points and chat to Australian fast bowler Mitch Starc during Grandstand at Stumps.

To get in touch, email Corbin & Ed at [email protected]

ABC Grandstand cricket commentator Corbin Middlemas is joined by Ed Cowan to bring you all the highlights and match analysis to keep you...

Bangladesh have settled into their work and kept the Australians out on the field all day. They were led by their captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and rookie-opener Tanzid Hasan, who scored an incredible maiden Test century. Corbin Middlemas, Xavier Doherty and Jason Gillespie break down they days play in Grandstand at Stumps and chat to the Aussie bowling coach James Franklin.

To get in touch, email Corbin & Ed at [email protected]

ABC Grandstand cricket commentator Corbin Middlemas is joined by Ed Cowan to bring you all the highlights and match analysis to keep...

It's been more than two decades since international Test Cricket has been played in the Top End, with Australia taking on Bangladesh for their first Aussie tour in 23 years. The Aussies won the toss and elected to bat, but as we come to the close of day 1 the question needs to be asked, can the Aussies handle heat of the north? Corbin Middlemas is joined by Phil Jaques and Xavier Doherty to analyse the day's play.

To get in touch, email Corbin & Ed at [email protected]

ABC Grandstand cricket commentator Corbin Middlemas is...

The first of potentially 21 tests in 12 months starts this week in Darwin and Corbin and Ed debate whose place in the team is most at stake, what we can expect from the Marrara pitch and how the Bangladesh team might go. It's everything you need to know ahead of the Top End series to kick start a mammoth year of test cricket.

The guys also dip into a low key Allan Border Medal night, that Ben Stokes interview and the BBL's potential lessons from The Hundred. Plus, which of the XI in Darwin will make it to...

A new England coach, a village cricket cheating scandal goes global and test cricket is just over a week away - this sport never disappoints. Corbin and Ed chat through why Stephen Fleming was just about the only qualified person to take the reins in the new England set up and why Ben Stokes to the BBL would be momentous.

Plus, where do Green and Carey bat in the line-up, what can we learn from The Hundred and is anyone who's played cricket actually surprised at the 'Clicky Ponting' scandal that caused a stir.

To...

The Australian squad for the first Bangladesh test in Darwin dropped and Corbin & Ed get their selectors hat on to try squeeze 13 into 11. Inglis is the logical spare but do the Aussies shun Nathan Lyon's spin again with Head and Webster in the team or has Scott Boland come close to usurping Josh Hazlewood in his return to test cricket?

There's also a few Bangladesh player stories to get familiar with, the Sydney Sixers complete their coach shuffle, The Hundred is down on numbers, England look like they'll appoint an Englishmen to replace McCullum and more listener...

With Justin Langer and Darren Lehmann's names being floated as possible English head coach replacements for McCullum, Corbin and Ed break down these vastly different characters and why they may or may not fit the role.

The boys also chat through the Ash Gardner news and the relevance to actual cricket, the legacy of Sir Garfield Sobers, the various white ball cricket results from the northern hemisphere and we read out your Bazball haikus.

To get in touch, email Corbin & Ed at [email protected]

ABC Grandstand cricket commentator Corbin Middlemas is...

Brendon McCullum has been sacked as English test cricket coach, so was the chapter worth pursuing or are they back where they started? Corbin & Ed assess the Bazball reign that brought wins, aggression and new faces with off field issues and on field brain fades. Expect some contrarian views for a contrarian coach.

As well, the boys wonder who coaches England next, whether this opens the door for a Ben Stokes un-retirement for the Ashes in 2027 and there’s also news in the BBL with the opening match in India, states disagreeing again plus the listener questions ar...

Hannah Darlington drops by to chat with Corbin and Ed about the convincing victory for Sophie Molineux's Australian team who beat England at Lord's - there's simply no better feeling. The trio dive into the legacy of Perry, Mooney and Gardner, what this win and team will be remembered by and also why it was an extra important one for the new heroes of Australian women's cricket.

There's also finally some clarity on the Olympic qualification process, Vaibhav got his India debut, tour matches and WBBL fixtures locked in and our mailbag is still providing plenty of...

Ben Stokes' departure as English captain and player has Corbin and Ed declaring it in many ways, a perfect encapsulation of the Bazball era. So a year out from the next Ashes, England are left with questions like who will captain, will McCullum stay on and what does this team represent?

Our Aussie women have also made the World Cup semis by eliminating India and it's the T20 resurgence of Ellyse Perry and Sophie Molineux's form that's impressed most.

Plus Ireland somehow beat India twice, James Hopes leaves the Sixers for QLD cricket before he's...