The Test Cricket Hall of Fame - How it works and the notable omissions

The Top Order Cricket Podcast

It's here!

We've been teasing this for a while, and Baldy's been putting in hours and hours of work behind the scenes to get us ready to begin. Now here it is: the Top Order Podcast Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame.

In this episode, Baldy sets the parameters for discussion:

• What makes a great player?
• What are the criteria for selection?
• Stats or the eye test?
• Longevity or peak performance?
• Does winning matter?
• Is it possible to compare eras?

Lippy then hijacks the notable omissions conversation to ask Baldy why a Black Caps legend hasn't made the cut, before we chat through players 103-101 (Shakib Al-Hasan, Nathan Lyon and Mark Waugh) who currently sit just outside the Hall and thus provide the benchmarks for selection.

For an even deeper dive on the theory and process behind the Hall, head to our website. You'll find the Preamble, plus the list, which will eventually feature detailed write-ups about every player from 103 to 1 as we make our way through the Hall in the coming weeks and months. Our hope is this list will generate plenty of debate, both on the podcast and on our social channels, so don't hesitate to continue the conversation by calling us out if you disagree - or give us some praise if we've got things spot on!

Of course, regular programming will continue. We'll be interspersing episodes revealing players (100-96 will be next) with our This Week in Cricket shows and guest appearances. And if you haven't already, dip back into our recent episodes - Jarrod Kimber takes us on a deep dive of New Zealand Cricket on and off the field, and evaluates the World Test Championship as a format; Tim Southee talked about the pride the Black Caps felt after finally getting their hands on another ICC trophy; and Iain O'Brien was incredibly candid sharing stories from his career and his philosophy on life and cricket as he moves into a coaching gig with Cricket Wellington.

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Thanks for listening.

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