This Week in Cricket #148 - Finn Allen's world record, Shivam Dube's comeback & Steve Smith the opener

The Top Order Cricket Podcast

In this episode, Baldy, Binksy and Stu look back at the week that was, including the T20 action between the Black Caps and Pakistan, and India v Afghanistan. They also share their thoughts on Day 1 of the Australia v West Indies Test match, which saw the first glimpse of Steve Smith as an opener.

After three games of the T20 series between New Zealand and Pakistan, the Black Caps have already secured the silverware, thanks in large part to consecutive displays of batting carnage from Finn Allen. We discuss the enormous sixes, his game-changing potential and whether this run of consistent performances can be the start of a breakthrough year. We also chat about New Zealand's fast bowling stocks, after impressive performances from Adam Milne and Ben Sears alongside Tim Southee, plus the injury to Kane Williamson and the criticism directed towards Babar Azam despite three consecutive 50s.

To round out this short episode, Stu admits his Shivam Dube error, Baldy gets angry about Australia despite a dominant first day against the West Indies and we get our first look as Steve Smith the opener.

We'll be back again in a few days with an extended preview of the India v England Test series, but until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website.

You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including a recent conversation with Mike Hesson, plus chats with former World Cup stars Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world.

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