Cricket Library Weekly – WBBL Finals Edition

This week on the Cricket Library Weekly, Robbie Mackinlay and Matt Ellis take a close look at the Weber WBBL|07 as the Adelaide Strikers prepare to take on the Perth Scorchers in the decider on Saturday night. Adding to this conversation are some excellent statistics from the Orange Library that generate some healthy discussion.

Men’s domestic cricket is in full swing with the lads wrapping up the action from the Marsh One Day Cup and Marsh Sheffield Shield competitions.

Matt Fiction is back with Luke from Wagga Wagga the latest to take on the ‘Fact or Fiction’ challenge with some Wagga Wagga themed questions that will keep you guessing as you play along from home.

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.

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

Fill The Furnace

The message to Perth Scorchers fans is simple – Fill The Furnace for the Weber WBBL|07 final this weekend.

This is a magnificent opportunity for fans in WA to see some high quality cricket and witness history as the Perth Scorchers hope to fulfil their quest of lifting the coveted WBBL trophy for the first time.

After finishing first on the ladder, the Scorchers will be watching on closely to see who their opponents will be.

One of many players taking to social media to spread the word is former guest on the Cricket Library Weekly Piepa Cleary.

Regardless on how things pan out on Saturday, one thing we are certain of here at the Cricket Library is that this years’ competition has been next level in terms of the skills executed on the field with the quality of cricket on show of the highest order.

Elliott from New Zealand takes on the Fact or Fiction challenge

This week on the highly popular game show, Fact or Fiction with Matt Fiction, Elliott from New Zealand puts his cricket knowledge to the test as he attempts to decipher and determine if the statements made by host Matt Fiction are facts or are they fiction.

Make sure you play along at home as Elliott attempts de throne Robbie Mackinlay from the top spot on the Fact or Fiction leaderboard.

Of course, you can catch up with all of the usual antics on the Cricket Library Weekly, each and every week wherever you choose to listen to your favourite podcasts.

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

Cricket Library Weekly – 18 November 2021

Robbie Mackinlay and Matt Ellis share their thoughts on Australia’s Men’s World T20 victory against New Zealand, the Ashes and Australia A squads.

NSW take on Victoria in the Marsh Sheffield Shield with PM Nevill set to notch up 100 games in the Baggy Blue and the lads reflect on his achievement and contribution to NSW Cricket.

With Weber WBBL07 heating up, we look at some stats and compare the returns of the local players with the imports with some interesting data coming out of the Orange Cricket Library.

Sam from Bankstown is the latest contestant to take on the ‘Fact or Fiction’ challenge this week with Matt Fiction delving into the archives and asking rapid fire true or false questions in a segment that is fun to play along at home.

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.

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

Bendemeer Bullet brings his best

JR Hazlewood has produced some of his best work on the biggest stage claiming 3 for 16 off his four overs in a miserly spell of bowling.

With a dot ball percentage of 75, Hazlewood was able to tighten the screws and pick up some key wickets along the way.

The boy from Bendemeer on the Macdonald River in the New England region of NSW has taken his skills to the biggest stage and delivered the goods.

Resident cricket librarian Matt Fiction has penned this Haiku poem in honour of his performance in the decider.

Haiku poem by Matt Fiction

Bendemeer Bullet

A dot ball bowling machine

Taking wickets too

Kane Williamson T20 masterclass

NZ skipper Kane Williamson has delivered a batting masterclass in the World T20 Final. After being one off his first seven balls, he built his tempo steadily moving to 15 off 16 balls before really upping the ante on his was to the fastest fifty in a mens World t20 final going past JE Root and Kumar Sangakkara who achieved the milestone off 33 balls hitting consecutive sixes to bring up the milestone off just 32 balls.

His 85 off just 48 balls is the highest by a captain in a mens T20 World Cup Final demonstrating his wonderful skills in the T20 format.

Australia are now requiring some heroics of their own as they aim to claim their first mens World T20 Title when their run chase commences shortly.

Mack on the attack!

Katie Mack has been in excellent form making two half centuries in the last three games for the Adelaide Strikers in Weber WBBL|07.

She is a very valuable player in the Strikers’ squad who is coming off two excellent seasons for the ACT Meteors in the WNCL competition.

Last year on the Cricket Library Podcast, we caught up with Katie and Erica Kershaw to hear more of their stories.

Cricket Library Weekly – 10 November 2021

This week on the Cricket Library Weekly, we wrap up the action from the Sheffield Shield clash between NSW and Victoria at the MCG with some excellent statistics on Nic Maddinson supplied by the Orange Cricket Library that generate some healthy discussion.

The lads check in with all of the latest in the WBBL giving their predictions on who they think will be featuring in the finals.

Fact or Fiction is back with Peter from Burrabadine putting his cricket knowledge to the test in 60 seconds of rapid fire questions from resident cricket librarian Matt Fiction.

Finally, Robbie and Matt take a look at the Men’s T20 World Cup.

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.

WER Somerville Back In NZ Test Squad

WER Somerville fans rejoiced in unison as the news broke that he has been included in the touring party to India as New Zealand commence their World Test Championship defence.

The highly popular off spinner was a very popular guest on the Cricket Library Podcast and you can hear more of his story here where he shares about his early days of needing to request annual leave from his job as an accountant in order to pursue his cricket career.

Jack Clifton Special Guest On Fact Or Fiction

Jack Clifton put his cricket knowledge to the test last week on the highly popular ‘Fact or Fiction’ segment with resident quiz master Matt Fiction.

Play along at home as you attempt to decipher and determine if Matt Fiction’s statement is a fact or if it is fiction.

You can catch up with the latest episode of the Cricket Library Weekly at your favourite podcast provider as well as the convenient option of listening here.

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