Cricket Unfiltered

Day 2 at the SCG leaves the Test finely balanced after a compelling day of momentum swings. England were bowled out for 384, with Joe Root’s superb 160 anchoring the innings before Michael Neser finished with four wickets. In reply, Australia batted positively in fading light, led by Travis Head’s attacking 91*, before a late wicket gave England a small lift. There’s also analysis of key dismissals, captaincy decisions, technology questions around DRS, and where this match could be won or lost on Day 3. (1:48) England bowled out for 384 — Neser’s impact and where the innings turned (5:00) Ben Stokes’ duck, DRS concerns, and England’s sudden collapse (14:15) Travis Head’s counterattack and Australia’s fast start under lights 🌎Get Exclusive NordVPN deal here ↣ ⁠https://nordvpn.com/cricketunfiltered⁠  It’s risk- free with Nord’s 30-day money back guarantee! 👍 Cricket Unfiltered Merchandise is Here! We’ve launched our official Cricket Unfiltered merch store thanks to a brilliant partnership with Exactamundo, a longtime supporter of the show. 🛒 Shop now:https://www.chickensaltoftheearth.com/shop/category/Cricket-Unfiltered?c=5469591 🎁 Use Promo Code: CU10 for 10% off your first order! From caps to tees, rep your love of cricket with some top-quality gear. Exactamundo is a video, animation, design and content production company. They produce digital signage, on-screen graphics, sideline animations and videos for sports teams like the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League, Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL and numerous American NBA, NFL and MLB teams.  They also create high quality videos and animations for the corporate world, such as product promos and explainer videos. Check them out at exactamundo.com.au Get the inserted AD’s FREE VERSION of the show on our Patreon Page Subscribe to our YouTube page for live streams: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk7koDKpKxe0e3yC7NXQx6Q Linktree for listening on podcast apps and finding us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cricketunfiltered Show twitter: https://twitter.com/auscricketpod Menners on twitter:  https://twitter.com/amenners TIKTOK: @cricketunfiltered Sponsorship enquiries for host read ads: [email protected] Email the show your cricket takes: [email protected] Piccolo Podcasts: https://piccolopodcasts.com.au/ Founder Andrew Menczel. The first episode aired August 2013.  It is a multi award-winning podcast team, the show has featured 15 Australian captains and some of the greatest legends of cricket and an episode is archived in the Australian National Film and Sound Archive. Menners is an accredited cricket journalist and commentator and his interview with Alex Blackwell won a Cricket NSW Media Award. The show was the first ever regular weekly Australian cricket podcast.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England take control on a rain-affected opening day of the Fifth Ashes Test at the SCG, finishing 3/211 after winning the toss and batting aggressively. Menners reacts to Australia’s unprecedented decision to play without a frontline spinner at the SCG for the first time since 1888, questions the balance of the XI, and breaks down the Root–Brook partnership that swung momentum England’s way. There’s detailed analysis of Australia’s bowling plans, concerns about pitch preparation in Australia, and reflections on emotional moments before play, including tributes and ceremonies at the ground. England are firmly on top — and Australia are already under pressure. (0:54) Match recap: England win the toss, fast scoring, and end Day 1 strongly at 3/211 (2:14) Australia’s XI under the microscope: no spinner at the SCG and what it says about pitches (5:48) Root and Brook seize control as Australia’s attack looks one-dimensional (11:42) Pitch concerns, tributes at the SCG, and why England are well placed in the match Cricket Unfiltered Merchandise is Here! We’ve launched our official Cricket Unfiltered merch store thanks to a brilliant partnership with Exactamundo, a longtime supporter of the show. 🛒 Shop now:https://www.chickensaltoftheearth.com/shop/category/Cricket-Unfiltered?c=5469591 🎁 Use Promo Code: CU10 for 10% off your first order! From caps to tees, rep your love of cricket with some top-quality gear. Exactamundo is a video, animation, design and content production company. They produce digital signage, on-screen graphics, sideline animations and videos for sports teams like the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League, Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL and numerous American NBA, NFL and MLB teams.  They also create high quality videos and animations for the corporate world, such as product promos and explainer videos. Check them out at exactamundo.com.au Get the inserted AD’s FREE VERSION of the show on our Patreon Page Subscribe to our YouTube page for live streams: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk7koDKpKxe0e3yC7NXQx6Q Linktree for listening on podcast apps and finding us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cricketunfiltered Show twitter: https://twitter.com/auscricketpod Menners on twitter:  https://twitter.com/amenners TIKTOK: @cricketunfiltered Sponsorship enquiries for host read ads: [email protected] Email the show your cricket takes: [email protected] Piccolo Podcasts: https://piccolopodcasts.com.au/ Founder Andrew Menczel. The first episode aired August 2013.  It is a multi award-winning podcast team, the show has featured 15 Australian captains and some of the greatest legends of cricket and an episode is archived in the Australian National Film and Sound Archive. Menners is an accredited cricket journalist and commentator and his interview with Alex Blackwell won a Cricket NSW Media Award. The show was the first ever regular weekly Australian cricket podcast.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Menners reacts in depth to Usman Khawaja’s extraordinary 50-minute retirement press conference at the SCG, unpacking his reflections on race, criticism, selection, and his two-act Test career. He examines Steve Smith’s comments on Khawaja’s development, previews a potentially volatile Sydney Test amid weather and selection uncertainty, and breaks down Australia’s newly announced T20 World Cup squad — weighing experience versus renewal. The episode closes with reflections on Brett Lee’s Hall of Fame induction, key Test cricket stats from 2025, and what a fitting Ashes finish at the SCG should look like. (1:05) Usman Khawaja announces retirement: context, timing, and why the SCG mattered (8:31) Khawaja on criticism, race, and the Perth backlash — Menners’ response (18:16) SCG Test preview: pitch, weather, and Australia’s selection dilemmas (22:21) Australia’s T20 World Cup squad analysed: bolters, omissions, and balance Cricket Unfiltered Merchandise is Here! We’ve launched our official Cricket Unfiltered merch store thanks to a brilliant partnership with Exactamundo, a longtime supporter of the show. 🛒 Shop now:https://www.chickensaltoftheearth.com/shop/category/Cricket-Unfiltered?c=5469591 🎁 Use Promo Code: CU10 for 10% off your first order! From caps to tees, rep your love of cricket with some top-quality gear. Exactamundo is a video, animation, design and content production company. They produce digital signage, on-screen graphics, sideline animations and videos for sports teams like the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League, Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL and numerous American NBA, NFL and MLB teams.  They also create high quality videos and animations for the corporate world, such as product promos and explainer videos. Check them out at exactamundo.com.au Get the inserted AD’s FREE VERSION of the show on our Patreon Page Subscribe to our YouTube page for live streams: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk7koDKpKxe0e3yC7NXQx6Q Linktree for listening on podcast apps and finding us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cricketunfiltered Show twitter: https://twitter.com/auscricketpod Menners on twitter:  https://twitter.com/amenners TIKTOK: @cricketunfiltered Sponsorship enquiries for host read ads: [email protected] Email the show your cricket takes: [email protected] Piccolo Podcasts: https://piccolopodcasts.com.au/ Founder Andrew Menczel. The first episode aired August 2013.  It is a multi award-winning podcast team, the show has featured 15 Australian captains and some of the greatest legends of cricket and an episode is archived in the Australian National Film and Sound Archive. Menners is an accredited cricket journalist and commentator and his interview with Alex Blackwell won a Cricket NSW Media Award. The show was the first ever regular weekly Australian cricket podcast.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Menners is joined by Victorian sportswriter Jono Baruch to dissect the fallout from a deeply flawed Boxing Day Test that ended in just two days. While England’s win is acknowledged as legitimate, the focus quickly turns to the pitch, the loss of spectacle, and the wider consequences for Australian cricket. They examine why the MCG surface failed Test cricket, the financial and broadcast impact of short matches, and whether Australia’s push for result wickets has gone too far. The discussion then shifts to the Australian team’s looming transition, including hard questions around Marnus Labuschagne’s form, Usman Khawaja’s future, Cameron Green’s role, and whether Travis Head has finally locked down the opening position. (01:05) England’s Boxing Day win — legitimate result or hollow victory?(05:55) Bazball, bad pitches, and why this Test changed nothing(10:05) Why the MCG pitch became the real story(19:45) Has Australia gone too far with bowler-friendly wickets?(30:10) Australia’s batting concerns: Marnus Labuschagne under pressure(38:40) Khawaja, Green, Head — and what the next Test team might look like Cricket Unfiltered Merchandise is Here! We’ve launched our official Cricket Unfiltered merch store thanks to a brilliant partnership with Exactamundo, a longtime supporter of the show. 🛒 Shop now:https://www.chickensaltoftheearth.com/shop/category/Cricket-Unfiltered?c=5469591 🎁 Use Promo Code: CU10 for 10% off your first order! From caps to tees, rep your love of cricket with some top-quality gear. Exactamundo is a video, animation, design and content production company. They produce digital signage, on-screen graphics, sideline animations and videos for sports teams like the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League, Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL and numerous American NBA, NFL and MLB teams.  They also create high quality videos and animations for the corporate world, such as product promos and explainer videos. Check them out at exactamundo.com.au Get the inserted AD’s FREE VERSION of the show on our Patreon Page Subscribe to our YouTube page for live streams: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk7koDKpKxe0e3yC7NXQx6Q Linktree for listening on podcast apps and finding us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cricketunfiltered Show twitter: https://twitter.com/auscricketpod Menners on twitter:  https://twitter.com/amenners TIKTOK: @cricketunfiltered Sponsorship enquiries for host read ads: [email protected] Email the show your cricket takes: [email protected] Piccolo Podcasts: https://piccolopodcasts.com.au/ Founder Andrew Menczel. The first episode aired August 2013.  It is a multi award-winning podcast team, the show has featured 15 Australian captains and some of the greatest legends of cricket and an episode is archived in the Australian National Film and Sound Archive. Menners is an accredited cricket journalist and commentator and his interview with Alex Blackwell won a Cricket NSW Media Award. The show was the first ever regular weekly Australian cricket podcast.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England have finally won a Test in Australia — but on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test, the result is overshadowed by a surface that turned the match into a two-day lottery. This episode breaks down how a disastrous MCG pitch distorted the contest, cost Cricket Australia millions, and robbed fans of what should be a marquee Test match. It covers Australia’s batting collapse, England’s aggressive chase, key moments across both innings, and why this Test may be remembered less for the scoreline and more for the fallout — from pitch preparation failures to the broader consequences for Australian cricket. (1:06) England finally win a Test in Australia — and why it feels hollow (4:03) The MCG pitch disaster and how it shaped the match (7:29) The numbers that show just how extreme this Test was (10:00) Day 2 recap: Australia collapse, England chase 175 Cricket Unfiltered Merchandise is Here! We’ve launched our official Cricket Unfiltered merch store thanks to a brilliant partnership with Exactamundo, a longtime supporter of the show. 🛒 Shop now:https://www.chickensaltoftheearth.com/shop/category/Cricket-Unfiltered?c=5469591 🎁 Use Promo Code: CU10 for 10% off your first order! From caps to tees, rep your love of cricket with some top-quality gear. Exactamundo is a video, animation, design and content production company. They produce digital signage, on-screen graphics, sideline animations and videos for sports teams like the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League, Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL and numerous American NBA, NFL and MLB teams.  They also create high quality videos and animations for the corporate world, such as product promos and explainer videos. Check them out at exactamundo.com.au Get the inserted AD’s FREE VERSION of the show on our Patreon Page Subscribe to our YouTube page for live streams: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk7koDKpKxe0e3yC7NXQx6Q Linktree for listening on podcast apps and finding us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cricketunfiltered Show twitter: https://twitter.com/auscricketpod Menners on twitter:  https://twitter.com/amenners TIKTOK: @cricketunfiltered Sponsorship enquiries for host read ads: [email protected] Email the show your cricket takes: [email protected] Piccolo Podcasts: https://piccolopodcasts.com.au/ Founder Andrew Menczel. The first episode aired August 2013.  It is a multi award-winning podcast team, the show has featured 15 Australian captains and some of the greatest legends of cricket and an episode is archived in the Australian National Film and Sound Archive. Menners is an accredited cricket journalist and commentator and his interview with Alex Blackwell won a Cricket NSW Media Award. The show was the first ever regular weekly Australian cricket podcast.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices