Stick to Cricket

Stick to Cricket returns as Michael Vaughan, David “Bumble” Lloyd and Phil Tufnell are joined by Mark Butcher for an honest, wide-ranging episode covering the past, present and future of the game.

Butcher reflects on his early cricketing memories, his Test career and the moment he nearly walked away from the sport altogether, while the panel swap stories from life on tour, dressing-room culture and the characters who shaped their careers.

The conversation then turns to coaching and punditry, with a frank debate on how the modern game has changed, why players now want specialist support, and whether cricket risks losing something along the way.

Attention shifts to the structure of English cricket, as the panel discuss spin bowling, whether the county game needs more teams, Andrew Strauss’ high-performance review and what the domestic summer could look like in the years ahead. There’s also debate over The Hundred and whether it could eventually return to a T20 format.

The episode closes with Butcher’s musical talent, memories and community questions.

Honest, funny and unfiltered, this is Stick to Cricket at its best.

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00:00 - Intro
14:40 - Life as a Cricket Pundit
17:40 - Should Players Have Their Own Batting Coaches?
25:55 - Mark Butcher's Cricketing Memories
41:24 - Where Can Cricket Improve?
1:03:00 - Mark Butcher's Love for Music
1:07:40 - Community Questions
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Stick to Cricket returns as David “Bumble” Lloyd, Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell and Mark Butcher, stepping in for Alastair Cook, are joined by Jimmy Anderson, brought to you by Betfair.

A few weeks on from England’s Ashes defeat, the panel reflect on how they feel now the dust has settled. Was it simply Australia being better, or are England’s deeper problems becoming impossible to ignore? There’s a frank debrief on what went wrong, what still frustrates and what lessons have to be learned.

Jimmy Anderson joins the show to discuss his pre-season, how he’s still performing at the highest level at his age, and what keeps driving him.

The conversation then turns to what comes next for England, with the panel debating the team’s direction and why the next few months could be crucial for those running the game.

The Harry Brook controversy is revisited as opinions remain split, raising questions around leadership, pressure, and how England manage their biggest talents. The discussion also focuses on England’s management and whether major decisions are approaching behind the scenes.

Looking ahead to the T20 World Cup, the panel break down why India are overwhelming favourites, the controversy surrounding Bangladesh’s omission, and Pakistan’s decision to boycott their game against India, a situation still causing huge debate across the cricketing world.

Honest, opinionated and unfiltered, this episode reflects on the Ashes while asking the big questions England can’t avoid.

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00:00 - Intro
07:30 - Anderson’s continuing career
22:20 - Ashes unpacked
46:20 - Cricket’s drinking culture
56:00 - T20 World Cup
1:10:00 - Community questions
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Mark Waugh joins the Stick to Cricket team for a wide-ranging conversation on his career, iconic moments and what life was really like playing at the very top of the game. 🏏

Mark reflects on representing Australia alongside his twin brother Steve, what that dynamic was like in the dressing room, and how their careers intertwined on the biggest stages.

He also shares memories of playing with some of the game’s greats, including Shane Warne, and discusses the qualities that set players like Steve Smith and Joe Root apart.

The conversation moves through Mark’s standout moments in international cricket, the pressures of playing for Australia, and what it takes to sustain success over a long career. He also puts together his All-Time XI, explaining the players who made the biggest impression on him and why they earned their place.

There are also plenty of laughs as Mark looks back on his battles with Phil Tufnell, sharing some hilarious stories from their time facing off on the field and what made those contests so memorable.

Insightful, relaxed and full of great stories, this episode offers a brilliant look at one of Australian cricket’s most elegant batters and the moments that defined his journey.

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00:00 - Intro
02:00 - Growing up
14:20 - Playing County Cricket in England
25:00 - Test Career and Australia
30:20 - Life After Cricket
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Australia have lifted the Ashes urn after a dominant 4–1 series win. Mark Waugh joins Alastair Cook, David “Bumble” Lloyd, Phil Tufnell and Michael Vaughan to reflect on a campaign that raised big questions for England - brought to you by Betfair.

The panel break down how Australia got the job done, the key moments that defined the series, and why England ultimately fell short once again down under. From tactical missteps to missed opportunities, there’s an honest discussion about whether this Ashes will be remembered as a disaster for England or a necessary reality check.

There is also a focus on the positives England can cling to, with Jacob Bethell’s breakthrough performances offering genuine hope for the future. Mark gives his view on what Bethell brings, whether he can become a key figure moving forward and how England should build around emerging talent.

Attention then turns to the Harry Brook controversy, after it emerged the England T20 captain was involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer the night before an Ashes warm-up game, the growing pressure on England’s leadership, and whether this series marks the end of BazBall as we know it. The team debate Brendon McCullum’s future, what changes, if any, need to happen behind the scenes, and Alastair Cook opens up on reports suggesting he could join the coaching set-up.

Insightful, honest and full of strong opinions, this episode wraps up the Ashes and asks the big questions England can’t avoid as they look ahead.

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00:00: Intro
14:10: Show Starts
18:00: Brilliant Bethell
27:15: Harry Brook Controversy
38:00: Would Cook Coach England?
52:05: End of Series Questions
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The Stick to Cricket team are back in Melbourne to react to a huge moment in the Ashes, as England finally end their long wait for a Test win in Australia - Brought to you by Betfair! 🏏

The panel reflect on a fast-paced, two-day Test at the MCG and debate whether fans deserved more cricket, with questions raised about pitch preparation and whether an extra game should have been played. Alastair Cook gives his honest view on the surface and explains why he feels partly responsible for how conditions played out, while the team also pay tribute to Shane Warne’s incredible legacy at the MCG.

With England breaking a drought that stretches back years, the conversation turns to how long it has really been since they last tasted victory down under and why Michael Vaughan believes Australia were there for the taking this series. There’s strong discussion around England’s management, whether changes are needed moving forward, and what this win actually means for the remainder of the series.

The team also give their verdict on Zak Crawley’s series so far, Shoaib Bashir’s future and what England should take from this performance as they look ahead to the final Test.

Insightful, honest and full of debate, this episode breaks down a landmark win and asks the big question: where does England go from here?

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00:00 - Intro
07:38 - Show Starts
12:00 - England Commentators V Aussie Commentators
20:49 - The last time England won in Australia
22:15 - Noosa
25:50 - Were Australia beatable?
31:44 - Should England’s management stay?
55:42 - Tuffers' batting demo
58:50 - Community Questions
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