The Bear and The Bishop Ep62 Xmas Special

Explicit content warning

12/22/23 • 72 min

Welcome to the Bishop and Bear at Christmas. The perfect time to look back at the year in cricket. Being the friendly sort of boozer that we are, a whole bunch of guests have popped in to toast the season with you and of course your ursine landlord and episcopal barman.

As the drink flowed, everyone was more than happy to share their highs and lows of the year and we had our own Guerilla style awards too. Heroes, Villains, Clowns, Top teams and Magic Moments (both on and off the field) were proposed and cogitated over. And a very broad selection we ended up with too, from Australia to Uganda and Josh Hull (who – listen and find out) to Glenn Maxwell.

Along the way, we dive in and out of all of the following.

· New Zealand series draw and the defeat that was a win for cricket

· Diamonds on the soles of Joffra’s shoes in Kimberley

· Bangladesh – The forgotten series

· IP Hell 2 months, 74 matches and a Duckworth Lewis Final

· Ireland’s 4 day Test (but they prioritised World Cup qualification – which went well)

· Australia World Test Champions – and India practice being runners up

· Moral Ashes – Broadway Broad and Dozy Jonny B

· Women’s Ashes Draw and World T20 – but not great Tests for England Women against Aus or India (despite Tammy’s double ton)

· New Zealand’s Never-Ending Tour

· Surrey Champions again – are they the Manchester City of English Cricket?

· World Cup Disaaaaster Darling (and Moody Modi)

· Much Wobbling in the Windies

Do have a listen and most importantly, let us know who your choices would be for

Hero; Villain; Clown; Team of the Year; On field moment and Off field moment.

Our very best to you and yours for a fabulous holiday season and new year. We will be back to welcome you into the internets favourite virtual cricket pub in the new year.

Cheers from

Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Along the way, we dive in and out of all of the following.

· New Zealand series draw and the defeat that was a win for cricket

· Diamonds on the soles of Joffra’s shoes in Kimberley

· Bangladesh – The forgotten series

· IP Hell 2 months, 74 matches and a Duckworth Lewis Final

· Ireland’s 4 day Test (but they prioritised World Cup qualification – which went well)

· Australia World Test Champions – and India practice being runners up

· Moral Ashes – Broadway Broad and Dozy Jonny B

· Women’s Ashes Draw and World T20 – but not great Tests for England Women against Aus or India (despite Tammy’s double ton)

· New Zealand’s Never-Ending Tour

· Surrey Champions again – are they the Manchester City of English Cricket?

· World Cup Disaaaaster Darling (and Moody Modi)

· Much Wobbling in the Windies

Do have a listen and most importantly, let us know who your choices would be for

Hero; Villain; Clown; Team of the Year; On field moment and Off field moment.

Our very best to you and yours for a fabulous holiday season and new year. We will be back to welcome you into the internets favourite virtual cricket pub in the new year.

Cheers from

Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Previous Episode

The Bear and The Bishop Ep61

Welcome once more into warm embrace of the Bishop and Bear. If its hot cricket conversation and convivial company you are after, you are in the right place.

India are in South Africa, although Durban seemed a bit more like Durham or Dundee yesterday and the first T20I was rained off. But that does not deter our two guests from delving into the prospects for the series in all formats.

Representing World Cup runners up India is a man who doesn’t need a barstool as he travels everywhere with his own armchair, it is of course Ajit. And in the Proteas corner, simply oozing charm and cricket expertise, none other than Tim Dale Lace.

Together with your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman drinks are drunk and thoughts are thunk across all of the following:

· South Africa and India all formats

o Can South Africa build on the promise of the World Cup?

o Can India travel better than they usually do? Did they bless the rains down in Africa?

· West Indies vs England – what have we learned from the ODIs?

o The Buttler/Mott axis isn’t working for ODIs?

o Can the T20s offer more hope?

o You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock – just a minute - no hesitation, repetition or deviation

· India Vs England Women – great start for England in T20’s. But will the Test be a different ball game?

o England spinners looking good – particularly Sophie Ecclestone

· England Test selections for India

o Shoab Bashir – Who?

o No Jacks or Dawson

o Foakes returns – he must keep surely

o Stokes as batsmen only – what is the right balance

· Mitchell Johnson vs David Warner

o Handbags at dawn or does Mitchell have a point?

Grab yourself a drink at the bar and settle in to enjoy the chat. Don’t forget, you can help us keep cricket free and global by becoming a Patreon, with loads of benefits by way of our thanks. If you can, do join us here.

And don’t forget to message us and let us know what you think.

Cheers!

Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Next Episode

The Bear and The Bishop Ep63

The Bishop and Bear this week is brought to you in association with Nord VPN - working for a safer and better internet.

A Very Happy New Year! We have a great chat for you to start 2024. Let’s face it, you might have a bit of time, especially if you had been planning to watch days 3, 4 and 5 of the Cape Town Test!

Special guests seated on our Barstools of Bravado are Shelley - Destroyer of Worlds and India’s biggest fan and critic, Anindya. Not surprisingly, we focus on the extraordinary Test in Cape Town – a conversation that last’s almost longer than the Test itself. Records tumbled and Harry Butt finally has some company as the only player ever to be dismissed twice on his very first Day of Test cricket.

Armed with drink of choice our intrepid duo, along with your ursine landlord and episcopal barman get stuck into a New Year feast of:

Dismissals and Dumps in Cape town

Are South Africa really committed to Test cricket?

Farewells to Elgar and Warner – same vintage very different players

Pakistan doing Pakistan things in Sydney

India haven’t lost a Test series at home since 2012/13 and in that time have won 36 Tests and lost only 3 at home - Will England need all of their 3 days prep?

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Cheers!

Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices