There has been significant hype on social media and we can confirm that a brand new segment will be making its debut on the Cricket Library Weekly this week.
It is understood that in between writing haiku poems and sorting through the book returns, Matt Fiction has been working around the clock to bring the segment to life.
Sources at the Cricket Library have it on good authority that ‘Fact or Fiction’ will involve guests being asked a series of true or false questions in a strict two minute time period. Contestants will be put on the spot having to select if the statement read by Matt is either Fact or Fiction.
Robbie Mackinlay is believed to have been prepping himself in case he is put on the spot and invited to be the first contestant to take on the challenge. Loyal listeners from around the world have also been expressing their interest in taking part in the segment which is set to take the podcasting world by storm.
Make sure you tune in this week to be one of the first to hear history in the making this week on the Cricket Library Podcast.
Nikhil Kulkarni | Every Day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy | A Fan’s Journey –
The Cricket Library
What does it mean to truly love cricket?
In this episode of the Cricket Library Podcast, host Matt Ellis sits down with author and cricket tragic Nikhil Kulkarni to explore his deeply personal book, My Summer of Cricket.
From a village in North Karnataka in India to the grand stadiums of Australia, Nikhil’s journey is one that will resonate with cricket lovers everywhere. This is a story of early morning radio commentaries, lifelong devotion, and the moments that define us as fans of the game. At the heart of the book is an extraordinary pilgrimage during the 2024–25 summer, where Nikhil attended every single day of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy, travelling between the Gabba, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and Sydney Cricket Ground to follow one of cricket’s greatest rivalries. In this conversation, we explore: 🏏 Growing up with cricket in India and finding a new home in Australia
🏏 The emotional pull of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy
🏏 Witnessing Sachin Tendulkar’s final Test match
🏏 The stories, people and moments that make cricket more than just a game
🏏 How cricket connects cultures, generations, and communities
To close the episode, Nikhil faces “The Final Over” — six quick-fire questions to finish the innings.
If you’ve ever set an alarm for a 3am Test match, followed a series ball by ball, or felt cricket shape your life, this episode is for you.
About Nikhil Kulkarni:
Nikhil Kulkarni is a Sydney-based tech leader, community builder, and lifelong cricket tragic who has followed the game across India and Australia for over three decades. His debut book, My Summer of Cricket, chronicles the dramatic 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, blending match-day moments and personal reflections from thirty years of fandom. https://mysummerofcricket.com/
Last week on the Cricket Library Weekly, Robbie Mackinlay boldly proclaimed that former guest and friend of the Library Rachel Priest would make her mark on this season’s WBBL competition featuring in the upper echelons of the run scorers list.
His suspicions proved to be very accurate with the Hurricanes skipper plundering the Melbourne Stars on her way to a destructive 107 off just 68 balls including 10 boundaries and 7 sixes.
This week on the Cricket Library Weekly Robbie Mackinlay sparks an interesting discussion around players being dismissed hit wicket after Australian captain Meg Lanning was out in this manner in the T20 International against India.
It was then revealed by Matt Ellis that he had suffered the infamy of being out hit wicket not once but twice with one of the occasions being linked to possible over indulgence of green tea ice cream.
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.
Nikhil Kulkarni | Every Day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy | A Fan’s Journey –
The Cricket Library
What does it mean to truly love cricket?
In this episode of the Cricket Library Podcast, host Matt Ellis sits down with author and cricket tragic Nikhil Kulkarni to explore his deeply personal book, My Summer of Cricket.
From a village in North Karnataka in India to the grand stadiums of Australia, Nikhil’s journey is one that will resonate with cricket lovers everywhere. This is a story of early morning radio commentaries, lifelong devotion, and the moments that define us as fans of the game. At the heart of the book is an extraordinary pilgrimage during the 2024–25 summer, where Nikhil attended every single day of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy, travelling between the Gabba, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and Sydney Cricket Ground to follow one of cricket’s greatest rivalries. In this conversation, we explore: 🏏 Growing up with cricket in India and finding a new home in Australia
🏏 The emotional pull of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy
🏏 Witnessing Sachin Tendulkar’s final Test match
🏏 The stories, people and moments that make cricket more than just a game
🏏 How cricket connects cultures, generations, and communities
To close the episode, Nikhil faces “The Final Over” — six quick-fire questions to finish the innings.
If you’ve ever set an alarm for a 3am Test match, followed a series ball by ball, or felt cricket shape your life, this episode is for you.
About Nikhil Kulkarni:
Nikhil Kulkarni is a Sydney-based tech leader, community builder, and lifelong cricket tragic who has followed the game across India and Australia for over three decades. His debut book, My Summer of Cricket, chronicles the dramatic 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, blending match-day moments and personal reflections from thirty years of fandom. https://mysummerofcricket.com/
Matt catches up with young Sydney Sixers star Emma Hughes who shares a bit about her cricket journey so far, from growing up in Dubbo to making her WBBL debut last season and how she has been preparing for Weber WBBL|07.
The lads look at some of the players to watch this season in Weber WBBL|07 and wrap up the latest from the Sheffield Shield and Marsh One Day 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.
Bryce Street has been on our radar at the Cricket Library for quite some time and his start to the 2021/22 season both for his club Sandgate Redcliffe and his state QLD continue to generate interest from keen observers of the game.
After scoring 140 not out off 143 balls for Sandgate Redcliffe in QLD Premier Cricket, our statistician Matthew at the Orange Cricket Library thought it was time to crunch the numbers and take a deep dive into the innings for further discussion on the Cricket Library Weekly Podcast.
Here is a breakdown of the innings against South Brisbane on the 18th of September at the Trevor Hohns Oval.
Dot Balls: 74 (51.7%)
Singles: 41 (28.7%)
Twos: 11 (7.7%)
Threes: 1 (0.7%)
Fours: 11 (7.7%)
Sixes: 5 (3.5%)
His first 50 runs came off 79 balls and included 5 fours and 1 six with a strike rate of 63.3
His hundred came off 126 balls, including 8 fours and 2 sixes with a strike rate of 79.4
The final total of 140 not out included 11 fours and 5 sixes with a strike rate of 97.9
Breaking the numbers down further we can see how Street was able to build a crescendo in his scoring rates as he progressed in his innings.
Balls 0-30 – 7 runs at a strike rate of 23.3
Balls 31-60 – 24 runs at a strike rate of 80
Balls 61-90 26 runs at a strike rate of 86.7
Balls 91-120 – 37 runs at a strike rate of 123.3
Balls 121-143 – 46 runs at a strike rate of 200
The following numbers lead Cricket Library Weekly co-host Robbie Mackinlay to proclaim that Bryce Street was the Mozart of Australian Domestic Cricket.
0- 30 runs took 53 balls at a strike rate of 56.6
31-60 runs took 36 balls at a strike rate of 83.3
61-90 runs took 27 balls at a strike rate of 111.1
91-120 runs took 21 balls at a strike rate of 142.9
121-140 runs taking just 6 deliveries at a strike rate of 333.3!
The Bryce Street talk will no doubt continue this week on the Cricket Library Weekly with the 23 year old following up his 6 wicket haul for Sandgate Redcliffe with his first Sheffield Shield wicket claiming the scalp of Tasmanian captain Beau Webster on the batter friendly Karen Rolton Oval.
No doubt his impressive 143 at the top of the order for Queensland against South Australia would have also caught the attention of many purists proving once again that he will be placing a high price on his wicket as he maintains his hunger for runs in the Sheffield Shield competition.
Top 5 Sheffield Shield Run Scorers 2020/21Average Balls Faced
C Green (WA) 922 runs @ 76.83 average balls faced per innings 120.57
TM Head (SA) 893 runs @ 68.69 average balls faced per innings 105.71
M Labuschagne (QLD) 821 runs @ 82.1 average balls faced per innings 140.8
SE Marsh (WA) 734 runs @ 56.46 average balls faced per innings 97.21
MS Harris (VIC) 695 runs @ 63.18 average balls faced per innings 119.69
Marnus Labuschagne was the standout occupier of the crease for those who batted 10 times or more throughout the summer with a very impressive 140.8 balls faced per innings. The only player with a higher average balls faced per innings was WJ Pucovski who only ventured to the crease on 3 occasions for Victoria scoring 495 runs @ 247.5 with an incredible 277 balls faced per innings.
Interestingly BE Street was second on the list in terms of average balls faced in the 20/21 Sheffield Shield season behind QLD team mate Marnus Labuschagne averaging 127.7 balls per innings and proving to be an immovable object at the top of the order for Queensland.
His 334 ball innings to start the season has certainly set the bar high and it is a metric we will be monitoring closely at the Cricket Library throughout the summer.
Nikhil Kulkarni | Every Day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy | A Fan’s Journey –
The Cricket Library
What does it mean to truly love cricket?
In this episode of the Cricket Library Podcast, host Matt Ellis sits down with author and cricket tragic Nikhil Kulkarni to explore his deeply personal book, My Summer of Cricket.
From a village in North Karnataka in India to the grand stadiums of Australia, Nikhil’s journey is one that will resonate with cricket lovers everywhere. This is a story of early morning radio commentaries, lifelong devotion, and the moments that define us as fans of the game. At the heart of the book is an extraordinary pilgrimage during the 2024–25 summer, where Nikhil attended every single day of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy, travelling between the Gabba, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and Sydney Cricket Ground to follow one of cricket’s greatest rivalries. In this conversation, we explore: 🏏 Growing up with cricket in India and finding a new home in Australia
🏏 The emotional pull of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy
🏏 Witnessing Sachin Tendulkar’s final Test match
🏏 The stories, people and moments that make cricket more than just a game
🏏 How cricket connects cultures, generations, and communities
To close the episode, Nikhil faces “The Final Over” — six quick-fire questions to finish the innings.
If you’ve ever set an alarm for a 3am Test match, followed a series ball by ball, or felt cricket shape your life, this episode is for you.
About Nikhil Kulkarni:
Nikhil Kulkarni is a Sydney-based tech leader, community builder, and lifelong cricket tragic who has followed the game across India and Australia for over three decades. His debut book, My Summer of Cricket, chronicles the dramatic 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, blending match-day moments and personal reflections from thirty years of fandom. https://mysummerofcricket.com/
This week on the Cricket Library Weekly, Robbie Mackinlay and Matt Ellis will be previewing the upcoming WBBL tournament as well as wrapping up the action from the Australia and India series, not to mention all of the latest from the Marsh One Day Cup and Marsh Sheffield Shield competitions.
Sydney Sixers young gun Emma Hughes catches up with Matt Ellis to share snippets of her cricketing journey from Dubbo in Western NSW to the big stage of the WBBL.
Keep your eye out on your podcast feeds this Thursday for the next instalment of the Cricket Library Weekly.
Nikhil Kulkarni | Every Day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy | A Fan’s Journey –
The Cricket Library
What does it mean to truly love cricket?
In this episode of the Cricket Library Podcast, host Matt Ellis sits down with author and cricket tragic Nikhil Kulkarni to explore his deeply personal book, My Summer of Cricket.
From a village in North Karnataka in India to the grand stadiums of Australia, Nikhil’s journey is one that will resonate with cricket lovers everywhere. This is a story of early morning radio commentaries, lifelong devotion, and the moments that define us as fans of the game. At the heart of the book is an extraordinary pilgrimage during the 2024–25 summer, where Nikhil attended every single day of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy, travelling between the Gabba, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and Sydney Cricket Ground to follow one of cricket’s greatest rivalries. In this conversation, we explore: 🏏 Growing up with cricket in India and finding a new home in Australia
🏏 The emotional pull of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy
🏏 Witnessing Sachin Tendulkar’s final Test match
🏏 The stories, people and moments that make cricket more than just a game
🏏 How cricket connects cultures, generations, and communities
To close the episode, Nikhil faces “The Final Over” — six quick-fire questions to finish the innings.
If you’ve ever set an alarm for a 3am Test match, followed a series ball by ball, or felt cricket shape your life, this episode is for you.
About Nikhil Kulkarni:
Nikhil Kulkarni is a Sydney-based tech leader, community builder, and lifelong cricket tragic who has followed the game across India and Australia for over three decades. His debut book, My Summer of Cricket, chronicles the dramatic 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, blending match-day moments and personal reflections from thirty years of fandom. https://mysummerofcricket.com/
In some big news coming out of the UK, Riding Mill have named 5 debutants to take their place on their Dice Cricket virtual tour of Australia which gets underway on December 29th against a Cricket Library Podcast XI with fans expected to be following with interest all around the world.
The thirteen strong squad boasts some experienced campaigners who previously made their mark down under rolling out some impressive performances for the Mill.
Household names such as Steve Kent, Iain Longstaff, Ali Raza, Joel Marks, Scott Dickson, Liam James and Aly Hall will be joined by new comers Tony Potts, Jonny Bennett, Gez Greenwood, Michael Collins and Mark Stig Butcher.
Tactical mastermind Brian Watson will again look to shoulder the tour manager role whilst also hoping to make valuable contributions to the playing group bringing plenty of dice cricket experience to the table.
Liam James has be named as captain with his leadership credentials to be supported by Aly Hall who has the vice captain responsibilities on the tour.
Squad rotation was a huge success last time for Riding Mill and it is understood tour manager Brian Watson intends to incorporate a rotation policy ensuring that all players will have time to rest and recover between games on what promises to be a gruelling 7 match tour.
Stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks as fixtures are announced and in the mean time have a listen to the latest from the Cricket Library Podcast.
Nikhil Kulkarni | Every Day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy | A Fan’s Journey –
The Cricket Library
What does it mean to truly love cricket?
In this episode of the Cricket Library Podcast, host Matt Ellis sits down with author and cricket tragic Nikhil Kulkarni to explore his deeply personal book, My Summer of Cricket.
From a village in North Karnataka in India to the grand stadiums of Australia, Nikhil’s journey is one that will resonate with cricket lovers everywhere. This is a story of early morning radio commentaries, lifelong devotion, and the moments that define us as fans of the game. At the heart of the book is an extraordinary pilgrimage during the 2024–25 summer, where Nikhil attended every single day of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy, travelling between the Gabba, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and Sydney Cricket Ground to follow one of cricket’s greatest rivalries. In this conversation, we explore: 🏏 Growing up with cricket in India and finding a new home in Australia
🏏 The emotional pull of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy
🏏 Witnessing Sachin Tendulkar’s final Test match
🏏 The stories, people and moments that make cricket more than just a game
🏏 How cricket connects cultures, generations, and communities
To close the episode, Nikhil faces “The Final Over” — six quick-fire questions to finish the innings.
If you’ve ever set an alarm for a 3am Test match, followed a series ball by ball, or felt cricket shape your life, this episode is for you.
About Nikhil Kulkarni:
Nikhil Kulkarni is a Sydney-based tech leader, community builder, and lifelong cricket tragic who has followed the game across India and Australia for over three decades. His debut book, My Summer of Cricket, chronicles the dramatic 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, blending match-day moments and personal reflections from thirty years of fandom. https://mysummerofcricket.com/
Robbie Mackinlay and Matt Ellis are back to discuss all of the latest happenings in Australian Cricket for another season on the Cricket Library Weekly.
In this week’s show, the lads wrap up the key moments in the series thus far between Australia and India. There is some chat about the Marsh One Day Cup and Sheffield Shield as well as a statistical deep dive into a recent Bryce Street innings for Sandgate Redcliffe in Queensland Premier Cricket.
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.
After weeks of speculation and rumours circulating on social media, we are able to officially confirm that the Riding Mill Cricket Club will be making a return trip to Australia for a Dice Cricket tour.
Our understanding is that the first game has been scheduled for 9pm December 29 UK time which will be 6am Eastern Standard time in Australia on Thursday December 30 where the tourists will go head to head with a Burrabadine Cricket Library XI captained by Matt Fiction.
It is understood that Matt Fiction is already in discussions with a number of experienced dice cricketers who will be competing for hotly contested spots in the make up of the final eleven for the highly anticipated tour opener.
No doubt Riding Mill will return to Australia with high hopes after some impressive displays on their previous tour with selectors hoping to find the perfect mix of youth and experience to give themselves every chance of success.
Expect more announcements in the coming weeks as Australian based teams lock themselves in to what promises to be high octane dice cricket with the popular T10 format producing some magnificent contests the last time Riding Mill ventured Down Under.
Nikhil Kulkarni | Every Day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy | A Fan’s Journey –
The Cricket Library
What does it mean to truly love cricket?
In this episode of the Cricket Library Podcast, host Matt Ellis sits down with author and cricket tragic Nikhil Kulkarni to explore his deeply personal book, My Summer of Cricket.
From a village in North Karnataka in India to the grand stadiums of Australia, Nikhil’s journey is one that will resonate with cricket lovers everywhere. This is a story of early morning radio commentaries, lifelong devotion, and the moments that define us as fans of the game. At the heart of the book is an extraordinary pilgrimage during the 2024–25 summer, where Nikhil attended every single day of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy, travelling between the Gabba, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and Sydney Cricket Ground to follow one of cricket’s greatest rivalries. In this conversation, we explore: 🏏 Growing up with cricket in India and finding a new home in Australia
🏏 The emotional pull of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy
🏏 Witnessing Sachin Tendulkar’s final Test match
🏏 The stories, people and moments that make cricket more than just a game
🏏 How cricket connects cultures, generations, and communities
To close the episode, Nikhil faces “The Final Over” — six quick-fire questions to finish the innings.
If you’ve ever set an alarm for a 3am Test match, followed a series ball by ball, or felt cricket shape your life, this episode is for you.
About Nikhil Kulkarni:
Nikhil Kulkarni is a Sydney-based tech leader, community builder, and lifelong cricket tragic who has followed the game across India and Australia for over three decades. His debut book, My Summer of Cricket, chronicles the dramatic 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, blending match-day moments and personal reflections from thirty years of fandom. https://mysummerofcricket.com/
GS Chappell at the 1977 Ashes PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo
Gregory Stephen Chappell is one of the greats of Australian cricket with his playing record speaking for itself. He has also made a significant impact off the field since calling stumps on his playing career.
In this edition of the Cricket Library Podcast, we hear from Greg about the origins of his passion for the game, breaking into First Class cricket & the crucial batting tip he received from Sir Donald Bradman.
Greg also shares about his epiphany moment sitting in his motel room reflecting on a letter from his father whilst playing against a World XI in Tasmania. His realisation lead to a shift in mindset that was followed by a run of big scores for Australia.
We take a closer look at his 247 not out against NZ in 1974 where he and brother Ian both made centuries in each innings of the game.There are some wonderful insights regarding balancing playing cricket with a young family and holding down a job.
Greg also shares about his time coaching in India and the key learning he took away from that experience. Finally we hear about the important fundraising work that the Chappell Foundation is doing to provide a better future for thousands of young Australians without a roof over their head each night.
Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a positive review to help us to continue sharing stories that inspire a love of cricket.
GS Chappell Career Statistics
Batting & Fielding
Format
Matches
Runs Scored
Batting Average
100s
50s
Top Score
Catches
Stumpings
Test
87
7,110
53.86
24
31
247*
122
–
ODI
74
2,331
40.18
3
14
138*
23
–
FC
321
24,535
52.20
74
111
247*
376
–
List A
130
3,948
36.89
4
27
138*
54
1
Bowling
Format
Matches
Balls Bowled
Wickets
Bowling Average
5w
Best Bowling
Test
87
5,327
47
40.70
1
5/61
ODI
74
3,108
72
29.12
2
5/15
FC
321
20,926
291
29.95
5
7/40
List A
130
5,261
130
25.93
2
5/15
Nikhil Kulkarni | Every Day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy | A Fan’s Journey –
The Cricket Library
What does it mean to truly love cricket?
In this episode of the Cricket Library Podcast, host Matt Ellis sits down with author and cricket tragic Nikhil Kulkarni to explore his deeply personal book, My Summer of Cricket.
From a village in North Karnataka in India to the grand stadiums of Australia, Nikhil’s journey is one that will resonate with cricket lovers everywhere. This is a story of early morning radio commentaries, lifelong devotion, and the moments that define us as fans of the game. At the heart of the book is an extraordinary pilgrimage during the 2024–25 summer, where Nikhil attended every single day of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy, travelling between the Gabba, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and Sydney Cricket Ground to follow one of cricket’s greatest rivalries. In this conversation, we explore: 🏏 Growing up with cricket in India and finding a new home in Australia
🏏 The emotional pull of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy
🏏 Witnessing Sachin Tendulkar’s final Test match
🏏 The stories, people and moments that make cricket more than just a game
🏏 How cricket connects cultures, generations, and communities
To close the episode, Nikhil faces “The Final Over” — six quick-fire questions to finish the innings.
If you’ve ever set an alarm for a 3am Test match, followed a series ball by ball, or felt cricket shape your life, this episode is for you.
About Nikhil Kulkarni:
Nikhil Kulkarni is a Sydney-based tech leader, community builder, and lifelong cricket tragic who has followed the game across India and Australia for over three decades. His debut book, My Summer of Cricket, chronicles the dramatic 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, blending match-day moments and personal reflections from thirty years of fandom. https://mysummerofcricket.com/
thecricketlibrary.com 