England squad announced

Women’s Test Cricket is back soon with England hosting India in Bristol starting next week. It will be a rare opportunity for the two teams to show their skills in the longest format of the game. No doubt this fixture will attract a lot of interest amongst cricket librarians around the world.

Happy birthday DR Tuffey

Daryl Tuffey represented New Zealand across all three formats claiming 77 Test wickets and 110 ODI wickets for his country. He played 91 First Class matches claiming 288 wickets with the remarkable best figures of 7-12.

In our chat we discuss his progression from First Class Cricket into the International arena, the three World Cup campaigns he was involved in, the leadership of Stephen Fleming as well as the first T20 International between NZ and Australia.

Take a moment on his birthday to have a listen to the Daryl Tuffey story on the Cricket Library Podcast.

HMBLE Streetwear launching soon

At the Cricket Library we are always keep our eye out for what our favourite players are up to outside of cricket.

Needless to say we were very impressed with Gurinder Sandhu’s new clothing line that is soon to be released.

HMBLE Streetwear is high quality, won’t break your bank and can be shipped worldwide. The touch we particularly like at the Cricket Library is the fact that for every purchase made there is a donation made to charity. So not only will you be looking your best, you will be paying it forward to someone less fortunate.

Keep your eye on the HMBLE Streetwear social channels for more information on the official release which is coming soon.

Katie Mack takes top gong for third consecutive year.

Congratulations to former guest on the Cricket Library Podcast Katie Mack who has won her third consecutive Bronwyn Calver Medal for Meteors player of the year at the 2021 ACT Cricket Awards.

It is a testament to her skill & commitment as well as her desire to get the best out of herself. At the Cricket Library we are thrilled to see her receive this honour.

Well done Katie Mack!

To hear more about Katie and her cricket career so far, make sure you go back and have a listen to her appearance on the podcast last year.

Wingham to WBBL – The Maitlan Brown story on the Cricket Library Podcast

Maitlan Brown is just about to turn 24 and is one of the most exciting young talents in the game. She has made an impact with the ball, demonstrated athleticism in the field and contributed valuable runs with the willow.

In this episode of the Cricket Library Podcast we will hear more about where Maitlan’s love of the game started, her time in the NSW junior pathway, moving to Canberra, playing for the Renegades, touring India, her call up to the Australian squad, injury rehab as well as her return to NSW this summer. We also learn about some of her off field creative pursuits as an award-winning industrial design student.

Needless to say we ask Maitlan who she would most like to have a net with. Her  selections combine a mix of cricket, comedy and musical genius. In fact one of her selections provided entertainment at a Cricket Australia Awards night.

Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a review to help us to continue to start conversations that inspire a love of cricket.

Happy birthday SPD Smith

Steve Smith is a common name but there is only one SPD Smith. Happy birthday young man!

Haiku Poem by Matt Fiction

Steve Smith birthday boy

Which Steve Smith will celebrate?

It is SPD

Adrian Griffith on Cricket, Identity & Life Beyond the Game The Cricket Library

Former West Indies opening batter, Adrian Griffith joins the Cricket Library Podcast for a fascinating and deeply reflective conversation about cricket, identity, purpose, and life beyond the game. Growing up in Barbados, Adrian rose through Caribbean cricket to become an opening batter for the West Indies cricket team during one of the most compelling eras in world cricket. He shares stories from his early journey into first-class cricket, touring Australia, facing elite fast bowling, and the pressures that come with representing the maroon cap at the highest level. One of the highlights of the episode is Adrian reflecting on his remarkable Test match against New Zealand, where he became the first West Indian cricketer to bat on all five days of a Test match — a rare and unique achievement in cricket history. Adrian also revisits the unforgettable Test against Australia where Brian Lara produced one of the greatest innings the game has ever seen, offering incredible insight into Lara’s brilliance and the atmosphere surrounding that iconic moment in cricket and the story behind his selection in the team. Beyond the playing field, Adrian discusses his transition into officiating as an ICC match referee and his current work with AGC, where he continues contributing to leadership, mentoring, and the development of people within and beyond cricket. While the conversation celebrates Test cricket, West Indies history, and unforgettable moments, it also explores a deeper theme — that achievements on the field do not fully define a person’s worth. Adrian shares thoughtful reflections on transition, identity, leadership, and building a meaningful life beyond cricket. Topics include: • The significance of the Maroon West Indies Cricket Cap • Touring Australia • Batting on all five days of a Test match • Test cricket pressures • Caribbean cricket culture • ICC match refereeing • Leadership and mentoring • AGC and life after cricket • Purpose and identity beyond sport If you love cricket history, long-form conversations, and powerful human stories from inside the game, this episode is for you.
  1. Adrian Griffith on Cricket, Identity & Life Beyond the Game
  2. Babette de Leede – World Cup & Global Cricket Journey
  3. Paul Harris – The Journey of a Proteas Spinner
  4. Paul Van Meekeren – Associate Cricket To World Stage
  5. Ken Piesse – A Life In Cricket Writing
  6. Nikhil Kulkarni | Every Day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy | A Fan’s Journey
  7. Gavin Dovey – From the Australian Team to Leading NT Cricket
  8. Tammy Bartaia – Bollywood Dreams
  9. Anupam Sharma – When Bollywood Meets the Baggy Green
  10. Elsa Hunter – WBBL Vibes

Sheffield Shield Final – Haiku Poem Challenge

Today marks the start of the Marsh Sheffield Shield Final between QLD and NSW which will cap off the finish to a season like no other.

To help celebrate the occasion our librarians would like to invite you to join the Haiku Poem Challenge where we are asking you to describe the events of the Shield Final in haiku poem form.

Matt Fiction has been penning some magnificent haiku poems throughout the summer and now it is your turn to join in with the fun.

A basic haiku poem has the following structure;

Line 1: 5 syllables

Line 2: 7 syllables

Line 3: 5 syllables

Here is an example of how it works;

Steven Smith can dance (5 syllables)

Moves like you have never seen (7 syllables)

Incredible scenes (5 syllables)

You can join in the fun during the Marsh Sheffield Shield Final by tagging @CricketLibrary on twitter and using the hashtag #HaikuPoemChallenge when posting your haiku poem. We are looking forward to seeing what the Cricket Library community can come up with.

Of course you can listen to the latest episode of the Cricket Library Weekly Podcast where you can hear Matt Fiction reading his haiku poem of the week.