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The Grade Cricketer
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The Grade Cricketer is a pen name for an Australian comedy troupe who focus on sport, particularly cricket. The troupe write books, create video and audio podcasts, do live sports commentary, as well as interviews and live shows. The currently active members are Sam Perry and Ian Higgins. Dave Edwards was part of the team until 2020. They were friends who played 1st and 2nd grade cricket in Australia and began a Twitter account as @gradecricketer, whilst promoting their mantra “quit cricket, get massive”. They subsequently wrote books and columns and host a podcast.[1][2][3][4]
Podcast
[edit]The Grade Cricketer Podcast is presented by the team during the Australian cricketing summer, and is a comedic, satirical take on the cricketing world. There have been eight seasons since the promo episode was released in October 2016. Music is provided by Adrian Leung, with cover design by Julia Dowe. The podcast is released in both audio and video formats.
Interviews
[edit]Episodes often include guest interviews, and the format regularly involves one interview with a cricket journalist, and a further one later on with a current or former player. These always begin with some form of the question "What's your relationship with Grade Cricket?"; whilst the player interviews end with throw-downs, in which the presenters ask ridiculous, long-winded questions, to which the guest can often respond only with a binary yes/no answer. The most frequent guests, also known as "best friends of the show", are Adam "Collo" Collins from the journalism world, with ten appearances, and Ed "Ted" Cowan from the players with six (also the first guest, having to re-record his interview after a technical mishap - this has now occurred twice).
AskTGC
[edit]The last section of the podcast normally involves answering questions submitted to The Grade Cricketer via social media, (the Twitter hashtag being #askTGC, hence the name). These questions are often incredibly long, leading Higgins to sometimes refer to the section as their "short story competition",[5] but also sometimes little more than a statement followed by "thoughts?", and regularly concern topics such as alpha-ing, father-son relationships, social status within clubs/teams, retirement from the game, and other general advice relating to the world of amateur cricket.
Advertisements
[edit]Over the course of the podcast run, advertisements for various products, both real and imaginary tie-in ones, have been inserted, voiced by Toby Shain and, occasionally, the hosts themselves. Products include:
Fake products/services
[edit]- Chop King Cologne: a fragrance inspired by the concept of the Chop King, with the tagline of "reek of runs without hitting them"
- The Grade Cricket Rehabilitation Centre: a centre for reintegrating former grade cricket players into normal society
- Reno Rampage: a parody of a Renovation Rescue-style show, specifically aimed at renovating grade cricket clubhouses
- Bravago: a parody of travel company Trivago
- Alpha-Ade: a fictional sportsdrink, parodying Gator/Powerade
Real products/services
[edit]- OLED TVs: a parody of David Warner's advertisements for the same product during the 2016/17 Australian home summer series
- Grade cricket
- The Grade Cricketer: Tea and No Sympathy (2017)
Books
[edit]- The Grade Cricketer (2016)
- Tea and No Sympathy (2017)
- The Grade Cricketer: Alphas, Champs and Chop Kings (2025)
Podcast Episode List
[edit]| # / title | Guest(s) |
|---|---|
| The Grade Cricketer Podcast promo | - |
| 1. Selection Night, with Merv Hughes | Merv Hughes |
| 2. Summer Begins, Ed Cowan | Ed Cowan |
| 3. Gut Feel, with Brad Hogg | Brad Hogg |
| 4. The Collapse, with Brendon Julian | Brendon Julian |
| 5. Down The Barrel, with Rob Quiney | Rob Quiney |
| 6. The Renaissance, with Brad Haddin | Brad Haddin |
| 7. Hands, with Stuart MacGill | Stuart MacGill |
| 8. Hard Day's Night, with Gideon Haigh | Gideon Haigh |
| 9. The Christmas Double, with Chris Rogers and Ryan Carters | Chris Rogers & Ryan Carters |
| 10. SCG Day 1, with Dirk Nannes | Dirk Nannes |
| 11. SCG Day 2, with Geoff Lemon | Geoff Lemon |
| 12. SCG Day 3 | - |
| 13. SCG Day 4, with Brittany Carter | Brittany Carter |
| 14. SCG Day 5, with Andrew Jones | Andrew Jones |
| 15. What Now? with Brett Geeves, Mickey Edwards and Will Pucovski | Brett Geeves, Mickey Edwards & Will Pucovski |
| 16. Indian Horizons, with Sam, Dave and Ian | - |
| 17. Awards Night, with Richard Hinds | Richard Hinds |
| 18. Season Finale, with David Hussey and Bryce McGain | David Hussey & Bryce McGain |
| # / title | Guest(s) |
|---|---|
| The Grade Cricketer Summer 2017/18 promo | - |
| 19. Going 'Round again, with Ed Cowan | Adam Collins & Ed Cowan |
| 20. #ThanksCricket, with Pat Cummins | Andrew Wu & Pat Cummins |
| 21. Voluminous Runs, with Brett Geeves | Will Macpherson & Brett Geeves |
| 22. The Overseas Pro, with Dan Norcross | Adam Collins & Dan Norcross |
| The New Fragrance, by TGC | - |
| 23. Club Presidents, with James Sutherland | Izzy Westbury & James Sutherland |
| 24. Middle-Aged Levers, with The Betoota Advocate's Clancy Overell | Tom Morris & Clancy Overell |
| 25. Their Heads Met, with Chris Rogers | Will Macpherson & Chris Rogers |
| 26. Rig-o-saurus, with Mark Butcher | Mark Butcher |
| 27. Always Look Good, with Mike Atherton | Adam Collins & Mike Atherton |
| 28. Everything's Binary, with Simon Katich and Gideon Haigh | Gideon Haigh & Simon Katich |
| 29. Doesn't Matter How You Get 'Em, with Trent Woodhill | Trent Woodhill & Will Macpherson |
| 30. Labor Omnia Vincit, with Jarrod Kimber | Jarrod Kimber |
| 31. SCG Ashes Day 1, with Ed Cowan | Ed Cowan & Will Macpherson |
| 32. SCG Ashes Day 2 | Adam Collins |
| 33. Do You Remember Me? with Jackson Bird and Ryan Carters | Ryan Carters & Jackson Bird |
| 34. Don't Touch It! with Steve O'Keefe | Andrew Walton, Izzy Westbury & Steve O'Keefe |
| 35. Season Finale (Part 1), with Mitch Marsh and George Bailey | Vithushan Ehantharajah & Mitch Marsh |
| 35. Season Finale (Part 2), with Mitch Marsh and George Bailey | George Bailey |
| 36. Alpha Wars, with Merv Hughes | Adam Collins & Merv Hughes |
| 37. Going Tropicana, with Ed Cowan | Dan Brettig & Ed Cowan |
| 38. "But What's He Like As A Bloke?" | Adam Collins |
| 39. Alpha Meltdown, with Ellyse Perry | Peter Lalor, Ellyse Perry & Dr Tim Sharp |
| 40. The Beta Era, with Damien Fleming | Adam Collins & Damien Fleming |
| 41. They Were Friends, with Trent Copeland | Paul Kennedy & Trent Copeland |
| # / title | Guest(s) |
|---|---|
| 42. The Australian Way, with Ed Cowan and Gideon Haigh | Gideon Haigh & Ed Cowan |
| 43. Doctors Hate Him, with Jason Gillespie | Adam Collins & Jason Gillespie |
| 44. Australian Test Captains, with Steve Waugh and Tim Paine | Tim Paine & Steve Waugh |
| 45. Sixty-Odd, with Adam Gilchrist | Dan Brettig & Adam Gilchrist |
| 46. Head Honchos, with Kevin Roberts | Kevin Roberts |
| 47. Playa, with Usman Khawaja | Usman Khawaja |
| 48. Huge, If True, with Brad Hodge | Richard Hinds & Brad Hodge |
| 49. Cop That, with Alyssa Healy and Gerard Whateley | Gerard Whateley & Alyssa Healy |
| 50. Double Up, with Will Somerville | Brittany Carter & Will Somerville |
| 51. Monday Circuit, with Matt Renshaw | Geoff Lemon & Matt Renshaw |
| 52. Moving The Deck Chairs On The Titanic, with Jim Maxwell | Jim Maxwell & Peter Lalor |
| 53. Into The Wilderness, with Mel McLaughlin and Moises Henriques | Mel McLaughlin & Moises Henriques |
| 54. The Secret Knock, with Steve O'Keefe | Ben Horne & Steve O'Keefe |
| 55. I Hate it So Much, with Jason Sangha and Adam Zampa | Jason Sangha & Adam Zampa |
| 56. Popezilla, with Lloyd Pope | Lloyd Pope |
| 57. Problem Solved, with Glenn Maxwell | Ben Jones & Glenn Maxwell |
| 58. #AskTGC Special | - |
| 59. Season Finale, with Rob Quiney and Cameron White | Dan Brettig, Rob Quiney & Cameron White |
| # / title | Guest(s) |
|---|---|
| 60. How Good Is Australia, with Ed Cowan (World Cup Special #1) | Dan Brettig & Ed Cowan |
| 61. Land of Hope and Glory, with Will Pucovski & Izzy Westbury (World Cup Special #2) | Izzy Westbury & Will Pucovski |
| 62. Tournament Opener Reactions | Will Macpherson |
| 63. Decent Gas, with Shaun Tait | Ali Martin & Shaun Tait |
| 64. It's Alive | Vithushan Ehantharaja |
| 65. That's What A Coulter-Nile Is | Adam Collins |
| 66. Walking Like A Dude, with Niall O'Brien | Adam Collins & Niall O'Brien |
| 67. Next! | Mel Farrell |
| 68. Chris Woakes Bats 3 | - |
| 69. Kashmir, with Ryan Harris | Vithushan Ehantharajah & Ryan Harris |
| 70. Eoin Morgan Hits More Sixes Than You Ever Have | - |
| 71. Warner's 166 Problems | - |
| 72. Lasith Malinga's Rig Destroys England, with Mark Butcher | Mark Butcher |
| 73. England's Deep-Seated Psychological Vulnerability | - |
| 74. Catastrophic Permutations, with Kurtis Patterson | Kurtis Patterson |
| 75. Australia May Never Lose Again | - |
| 76. Salads Everywhere, with George Bailey | George Bailey |
| 77. England Are Here | - |
| 78. Thursday Showdown, with Chris Lynn and Dan Norcross | Chris Lynn & Dan Norcross |
| 79. Barefoot, with Ellyse Perry | Ellyse Perry |
| 80. Smashed | - |
| 81. Oh. My. God | - |
| 82. Asterisk, with Alex Carey | Alex Carey |
| 83. Shower Politics, with Cameron Bancroft | Cameron Bancroft |
| 84. Steve Smith Makes Me Feel Safe, with Marcus North | Marcus North |
| 85. "Congratulations Jofra", with Peter Siddle | Peter Siddle |
| 86. Marnus! with Trent Copeland | Trent Copeland |
| 87. All Roads Leeds To, with Marnus Labuschagne | Marnus Labuschagne |
| 88. This Is Very Raw, with Tim Bresnan | Tim Bresnan & Dean Wilson |
| 89. To Old Trafford, with Doug Bollinger & Steve Waugh | Doug Bollinger & Steve Waugh |
| 90. Too Good, with Chris Rogers | Chris Rogers |
| 91. Fin | Dean Jones |
| 92. The Boys of Summer, with Pavel Florin | Pavel Florin |
| # / title | Guest(s) |
|---|---|
| 93. Empire Rising?, with Dan Christian | Dan Christian |
| 94. I Want To Feel Safe This Summer, with Ed Cowan & Russel Arnold | Ed Cowan & Russel Arnold |
| 95. Finding Meaning, with Pete Handscomb | Peter Handscomb |
| 96. It Happened Again, with Adam Zampa | Adam Zampa |
| 97. The Circuit, with Brian Lara and Bob Murphy | Brian Lara & Bob Murphy |
| 98. Safe At Last, with Bernard Fanning & Robelinda2 | Bernard Fanning & Robelinda2 |
| 99. The Right Kind of Runs, with Richard Chee Quee | Richard Chee Quee |
| 100. Start Again, with John Hastings & Gideon Haigh | John Hastings & Gideon Haigh |
| 101. Big Papi, with Marcus Stoinis | Marcus Stoinis |
| 102. It's Always Been Hot, with Chris Green | Chris Green |
| 103. Silly Buggers, with Kane Richardson | Kane Richardson |
| 104. Low-key Summer, with Sean Abbott | Sean Abbott |
| 105. Easy Cricket, with Josh Phillipe | Josh Phillipe |
| 106. It's Just On, with Clive Rose and Beau Webster | Clive Rose & Beau Webster |
| 107. Relentless YoY Growth, with Michael Vaughan | Michael Vaughan |
| 108. Gas Truck Pt II, with Jackson Bird & Andrew McDonald | Adam Linforth, Jackson Bird & Andrew McDonald |
| 109. Reasonably Large Evening, with no one | - |
| 110. A Nation Expects, with Belinda Clark and Annabel Sutherland | Annabel Sutherland & Belinda Clark |
| 111. Mean Tweets, with Jimmy Neesham | Jimmy Neesham |
| 112. Short Sleeves, with Seb Gotch | Seb Gotch |
| 113. Yeah the Girls! with Alyssa Healy, Nathan Lyon and Peter Siddle | Alyssa Healy, Nathan Lyon, Peter Siddle & Tim Paine |
| 114. The Test: Blue Carpet Special, with Smith, Carey, Khawaja, Siddle, Paine, Lyon, Langer, Finch, Cummins, Labuschagne, Zampa (in order of appearance) | Adrian Brown, Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Usman Khawaja, Peter Siddle, Tim Paine, Nathan Lyon, Justin Langer, Aaron Finch, Pat Cummins, Marnus Labuschagne & Adam Zampa |
| 115. Stay In, with Dr John Orchard and Tim Bresnan | John Orchard, Vithushan Ehantharajah & Tim Bresnan |
| 116. Season Finale, with Justin Langer and Aaron Finch | Justin Langer & Aaron Finch |
| # / title | Guest(s) |
|---|---|
| 117. A Natural Vector of Disease, with Tim Bresnan, Stephen O'Keefe and Jonathon Wilson | Steve O'Keefe, Jonathon Wilson & Tim Bresnan |
| 118. It Returns, with Monty Panesar and Jason Gillespie | Monty Panesar & Jason Gillespie |
| 119. Bio Insecurity, with Josh Hazlewood, Sam Robson and Barney Ronay | Josh Hazlewood, Sam Robson & Barney Ronay |
| 120. Bubble Boys, with Jack Leach and Mitchell Starc | Jack Leach & Mitchell Starc |
| 121. Full Whites, with Matthew Hayden and Steven Finn | Matthew Hayden & Steven Finn |
| 122. Top 4 Big Boys, with Rob Key and Brendon Julian | Rob Key & Brendan Julian |
| 123. Wet Ass Pitches, with Ricky Ponting | Ricky Ponting |
| 124. Sexual Chocolate, with Trent Boult and Ryan Sidebottom | Trent Boult & Ryan Sidebottom |
| 125. Bit Going On, with Sam Billings and Harry Conway | Sam Billings & Harry Conway |
| 126. Quarantine Cuts, with Mike Whitney and Chris Rogers | Mike Whitney & Chris Rogers |
| 127. Collapse, with Travis Head | Travis Head |
| 128. Tall Runs, with Zak Crawley and Shane Lee | Zak Crawley & Shane Lee |
| 129. Deano, with Ashton Agar and Damien Fleming | Ashton Agar & Damien Fleming |
| 130. Not Bad, with Neil Wagner and Jason Krejza | Neil Wagner & Jason Krejza |
| 131. Rings, with Adam Gilchrist | Adam Gilchrist |
TV show
[edit]In 2018, The Grade Cricketer on 7 show was launched on 7Sport's YouTube channel. The season covered the 2018/19 summer of cricket and featured 11 episodes featuring all of the trio. In 2019, The Grade Cricketer on 7 was moved to 7plus for season 2 covering the 2019/20 summer of cricket; season 2 was only presented by Ian Higgins and Sam Perry.
Live shows
[edit]The Grade Cricketer has presented live shows over multiple Australian summers and the English summers of 2019 and 2023, covering the 2019 World Cup and the 2019 and 2023 Ashes. The live shows, like the podcasts, usually feature guests.
In 2024, they hosted a live show with guest Ravi Shastri in New York City during the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
Terminology
[edit]Many terms have been popularised through the books and podcast efforts of The Grade Cricketer. These include:
- to alpha: to exert dominance over another person, by word or action
- to beta: to be alphaed
- rig: the physical conditioning of a person's body. In the words of one of the founders, Sam Perry, “rig is more of a holistic thing. It’s basically everything you are setting up.”[citation needed]
- to champ someone: to call another person by "champion" or any derivation of the word, including, but not limited to: champ, champignon, Champs-Élysées, Champions League
- circuit: post-game revelry enjoyed with teammates at various drinking establishments
- a chop: a sexual conquest
Other terms commonly used, particularly in the AskTGC correspondence section of the podcast, include:
- levers: arms, specifically with reference to a batsman's six-hitting ability
- salad: a person's head hair
- triple C: Century-Circuit-Chop; the rare event of all the following events achieved on the same day/night in order: 1. a player scoring a century 2. enjoying a noteworthy night out, or circuit, with their teammates 3. having sexual intercourse.
- pipes: biceps
- Chop King: one proficient in chopping. Also the name of the self-endorsed cologne with the tag line “Reek of runs without actually scoring them.”
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Brettig, Daniel (23 February 2016). "'We've tried to hold up a mirror to grade cricket and see how people react'". Cricinfo.
- ^ Morris, Tom (25 October 2017). "The Grade Cricketer: Tea and No Sympathy book review - A must-read". News.com.au.
- ^ FitzSimons, Peter (26 February 2016). "The Grade Cricketer hits a six". Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ "117. A Natural Vector of Disease, with Tim Bresnan, Stephen O'Keefe and Jonathan Wilson", The Grade Cricketer, Podcast Jul 6, 2020.
- ^ FM, Player. "40. The Beta Era, With Damien Fleming The Grade Cricketer podcast". player.fm. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
External links
[edit]The Grade Cricketer
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Overview
Concept and Themes
The Grade Cricketer is a satirical portrayal of the amateur cricket scene in Australia, humorously chronicling the everyday struggles and absurdities faced by club players who aspire to greater heights but often fall short.[4] The core premise centers on the mundane realities of grade cricket, exaggerating the cultural quirks and personal tolls of the sport to highlight its unromantic side.[4] Key themes include wasted youth, failed relationships, sun damage from endless hours on the field, and the persistent broken dreams of players chasing elusive professional success.[4] These elements underscore a self-deprecating critique of the dedication required for club cricket, portraying it as a lifestyle marked by unfulfilled potential and humorous hardship.[4] The central character, "The Grade Cricketer," serves as an everyman archetype, representing underachieving players across levels from local parks to district clubs, embodying the gap between ambition and reality.[4] Drawing inspiration from Australia's district club cricket environment, the satire delves into dressing room dynamics, inflated player egos, and the stark contrasts between amateur and professional experiences.[4] Originating as Twitter posts in late 2012, the content evolved from short-form social media commentary to broader explorations of cricket's absurdities, maintaining a focus on cultural critique without delving into formal analysis.[7] Creators Sam Perry and Ian Higgins shaped this distinctive voice through their own experiences as former Sydney grade cricketers, infusing the work with authentic, wry humor.[4]Creators and Pseudonyms
The Grade Cricketer was founded by Sam Perry and Ian Higgins, both former Sydney grade cricketers with a combined 20 years of experience in the amateur ranks. Perry, who has a background in communications, and Higgins, a law graduate based in Melbourne, Victoria, developed their partnership through shared connections in cricket circles, drawing on personal anecdotes from their playing days to inform the project's voice. Though they never competed against each other on the field, their friendship was built on the common trials of club cricket life.[1][8] In their content, Perry adopts the pseudonym Pez, while Higgins uses Higgos, nicknames that reflect their informal, insider dynamic in the podcast and social media. These aliases allow them to engage audiences with a relatable, banter-filled style rooted in their grade cricket pasts.[9][10] A central pseudonym for the brand is Dave Edwards, the fictional narrator embodying the archetypal frustrated grade player—perpetually battling inconsistent form, team politics, and the absurdities of amateur cricket. Edwards serves as the protagonist in the books and early Twitter posts, channeling the creators' collective experiences into a humorous, first-person perspective that captures the essence of club-level struggles.[7][11] The collaborative approach of Perry and Higgins emphasizes authentic satire derived from their on-field insights, enabling them to poke fun at cricket's social rituals and masculine bravado without delving into specific career timelines. This dynamic has sustained the project's appeal among players and fans, tying directly into its core themes of irony and resilience in grade cricket.[1][12]History
Origins and Early Development
The Grade Cricketer began as a satirical Twitter account created by Sam Perry in late 2012, drawing from his firsthand experiences in Australian grade cricket. Perry, a former club-level player, launched the account (@gradecricketer) for his own amusement shortly after writing an article titled "How to make it in grade cricket," which highlighted the absurdities of aspiring professional pathways in the sport. Initially a solo endeavor, the account featured wry observations that resonated with everyday cricketers, such as the opening tweet: "Training today. Decks likely wet. Might wait till it gets dark and bend my back."[7][13] Perry soon enlisted friends Ian Higgins and Dave Edwards, all ex-grade cricketers from Sydney, to collaborate on content through group WhatsApp chats, transforming it into a collective voice. The trio's posts satirized the macho culture, petty rivalries, and unfulfilled dreams of suburban cricket, with viral examples like "quit cricket, get massive" capturing the frustrations of weekend warriors who poured time and money into the game without glory. By mid-2015, the account had cultivated a dedicated following among club players across Australia, evoking nostalgia and laughter through its unflinching honesty, as noted in contemporary media coverage. Perry, Higgins, and Edwards had themselves navigated the highs and lows of 1st and 2nd grade play, lending authenticity to their commentary.[7][13][14] The account's momentum led to its first significant expansion in 2015 with a book deal from Melbourne Books, resulting in the publication of The Grade Cricketer in November 2015, an "autobiography" compiling their tweets into narrative form. This move marked the brand's shift from ephemeral social media posts to a tangible media product, amplifying its reach while maintaining anonymity until the authors revealed themselves. The release garnered positive attention in prominent cricket outlets, including an in-depth interview on ESPNcricinfo that praised its role in mirroring grade cricket's quirks, and a feature in The Sydney Morning Herald highlighting its appeal to "grizzled survivors" of the game. Through these early viral successes and media nods, the fanbase expanded steadily, solidifying The Grade Cricketer as a cultural touchstone for amateur cricket enthusiasts by the end of 2016.[7][14][11]Growth and Milestones
Following the initial success of its Twitter account, which began satirizing suburban cricket culture in 2012, The Grade Cricketer expanded rapidly into multimedia formats starting with the podcast's launch on October 12, 2016.[15] By November 2025, the podcast had produced over 530 episodes, establishing it as one of Australia's leading cricket commentary shows.[15] It secured distribution partnerships with major platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, enabling global accessibility and contributing to its weekly episodes covering news, interviews, and match reviews.[10][16] In 2020, co-creator Dave Edwards departed the team to pursue other projects, leaving Sam Perry and Ian Higgins as the active members. The brand's international expansion gained momentum through live performances and television, broadening its appeal beyond Australia. In 2019, The Grade Cricketer conducted a sold-out UK tour during the Cricket World Cup, featuring shows in multiple cities.[17] This was followed by another UK tour in 2023, coinciding with the Ashes series and including guest appearances by figures such as Glenn Maxwell and Ian Bell in venues like Birmingham and Manchester.[18] In June 2024, the duo debuted in the United States with a special event at New York's Town Hall, joined by former India coach Ravi Shastri to discuss global cricket dynamics amid the T20 World Cup.[19] Complementing these efforts, a television series aired on 7plus from 2018 to 2020, delivering weekly cricket recaps and satirical segments during Australia's summer seasons.[20][21] In 2023, the franchise faced an intellectual property dispute with former member Dave Edwards, who claimed joint ownership of the brand; the matter was resolved without halting operations.[22] Key achievements in recent years underscored the brand's growing influence and challenges. The third book, Alphas, Champs and Chop Kings, was released in November 2025, continuing the series' humorous exploration of grade cricket life and achieving strong pre-order sales through the official website.[23] The Patreon community, offering exclusive content like extended interviews and behind-the-scenes material, grew to over 3,700 paid members by late 2025, fostering a dedicated fanbase.[24] However, in April 2025, the hosts received a legal notice from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), prompting the removal of all IPL-related videos from their platforms, including daily coverage shows, due to broadcasting rights restrictions.[25] Broader recognition highlighted The Grade Cricketer's cultural footprint in cricket media. Collaborations with broadcasters further amplified this impact, including regular segments with Channel Seven's cricket coverage starting in 2018 and preview content for Prime Video's international match streams, such as the 2023 ICC World Test Championship Final.[26][27]Podcast
Launch and Format
The Grade Cricketer podcast debuted with its promotional episode in October 2016, followed by the first full episode, "Selection Night, with Merv Hughes," on October 26, 2016. It has maintained a weekly release schedule, typically on Mondays or immediately after major matches conclude, resulting in approximately 535 episodes across more than nine seasons as of November 2025.[28] Created by Sam Perry and Ian Higgins, former Sydney grade cricketers with over 20 years of combined experience in the sport, the podcast draws from their personal encounters in club cricket to offer a satirical take on cricket culture; Perry has a background in communications, while Higgins is a lawyer.[1] The podcast originated as an extension of the brand's satirical Twitter presence, which began anonymously in 2013.[29] Episodes generally run 60 to 90 minutes and blend reviews of current cricket news, humorous commentary on the sport's culture, and interviews with players and figures from the cricket world.[3] Hosted by creators Sam Perry and Ian Higgins from studios in Australia, the show emphasizes irreverent insights into club and professional cricket. Production elements include original music composed by Adrian Leung and cover art designed by Julia Dowe.[30] The podcast has achieved significant global reach, with nearly 1 million followers across social media platforms and partnerships with major services like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, enhancing its influence in the international cricket community.[1] Initially audio-only, the podcast evolved to include video versions starting in late 2018, available on YouTube for broader accessibility.[31] In April 2025, Indian cricket authorities enforced a crackdown on unauthorized IPL content, leading the creators to remove hundreds of videos from YouTube, significantly affecting the availability of past video episodes.[32] During major tournaments such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Cricket World Cups, the format expanded to incorporate daily match reviews, providing timely analysis of key fixtures.[10]Key Segments and Features
The Grade Cricketer podcast distinguishes itself through a blend of structured segments that intertwine professional cricket analysis with irreverent humor drawn from club-level experiences. These elements, recurring across episodes, emphasize satire on the sport's culture, player psychology, and everyday absurdities, often blending factual insights with exaggerated storytelling to engage listeners.[33] A core feature is the in-depth interviews with prominent cricketers and commentators, which provide career anecdotes laced with comedic asides. For instance, discussions with Australian captain Pat Cummins explore leadership challenges and selection decisions, while episodes featuring all-rounder Glenn Maxwell delve into personal milestones and on-field mishaps, all delivered in a conversational tone that highlights the hosts' insider perspective on grade cricket's influence. These segments typically occupy the latter half of episodes, allowing guests to reflect on professional highs alongside humorous reflections on amateur roots.[34][35][33] The AskTGC segment, a listener-driven Q&A, forms the podcast's longest-running interactive component, where hosts Sam Perry and Ian Higgins field questions on cricket-related dilemmas, from tactical advice to outlandish scenarios rooted in club play. Originating as a social media staple, it has evolved into a weekly Patreon-exclusive bonus episode titled #AskTGC Fridays, probing the "loose, dark depths" of grade cricket through topics like backyard shower etiquette or familial on-field rivalries. This format fosters community engagement by addressing absurd yet relatable queries, such as poetic tributes to poor batting or bucks party mishaps, reinforcing the podcast's satirical lens on the sport's subculture.[36][37][38] Advertisements within episodes seamlessly integrate into the comedic flow, combining genuine sponsorships from cricket brands like Kayo Sports for live match streaming with satirical pitches for fictional products that mock player stereotypes. Examples include promotions for "Chop King" gear, a nod to inept batsmen who rely on defensive chops rather than aggressive shots, presented with over-the-top enthusiasm to parody commercial endorsements in cricket. This dual approach—humorous delivery of real ads alongside invented ones like colognes evoking "reeking of runs without hitting them"—enhances the episode's entertainment value without disrupting the narrative.[3][33] Other recurring features, such as "Wasted Saturdays" skits and tournament previews, further amplify the podcast's emphasis on satire over conventional analysis. "Wasted Saturdays," released mid-week, compiles and reacts to user-submitted clips of amateur cricket blunders, celebrating the unglamorous realities of the game—from sun-damaged fields to chaotic celebrations—with a tribute to "wasted youth, failed relationships, and broken dreams." Tournament previews, meanwhile, offer lighthearted breakdowns of upcoming series, focusing on potential comedic outcomes like player meltdowns rather than statistical forecasts, as seen in previews blending expert insights with grade-level hypotheticals. These elements collectively define the podcast's unique voice, prioritizing entertainment through exaggeration while grounding it in authentic cricket lore.[39][40][33]Publications
Books
The Grade Cricketer book series began with the 2015 publication of The Grade Cricketer, a mock autobiography narrated by the fictional "Dave Edwards," chronicling the highs and lows of his cricketing career in suburban grade cricket, including pre-season training, the frustrations of inconsistent performance, and team dynamics.[11] Published by Melbourne Books, the book draws from the satirical Twitter persona created by authors Sam Perry and Ian Higgins, offering a humorous insider's view of amateur cricket's absurdities and the fading dreams of players who never reach professional levels.[41] The sequel, Tea and No Sympathy, released in 2017 by Allen & Unwin, continues Edwards' story as he navigates a cricket-free future following a botched scheme, eventually relocating to England where he grapples with touring challenges, personal relationships, and the ongoing eccentricities of the sport. This installment expands on themes of resilience and regret, blending sharp wit with poignant reflections on cricket's role in identity and camaraderie, while maintaining the series' irreverent tone toward club-level hierarchies and rituals.[42] In 2025, Allen & Unwin published the third book, Alphas, Champs and Chop Kings: The Unwritten Rules of Clubland, shifting from narrative autobiography to a satirical guidebook that dissects the social strata and unspoken codes of grade cricket, categorizing players into archetypes like dominant "Alphas," reliable "Champs," and hapless "Chop Kings."[2] Described as a "hallowed, suspicious-smelling manual" passed down through generations of non-professional cricketers, it skewers the macho posturing and cultural quirks of suburban clubhouses with the franchise's signature humor.[43] Across the series, the books emphasize recurring motifs of player personalities and the bittersweet realities of amateur sport, achieving commercial success that prompted international distribution through platforms like Amazon and UK editions.Digital and Print Expansions
The Grade Cricketer brand has extended into merchandise with branded apparel and accessories, including hoodies, t-shirts, hats, and bucket caps, first launched in August 2022 through the official online shop.[44] Limited-edition drops followed in 2023, featuring satirical phrases such as "Rigs, chests, pipes, circuits, salads" inspired by the series' themes, available exclusively for a short window via gradecricketer.com.[45] These items position the books themselves as collectibles within the broader merchandise ecosystem, often bundled with apparel promotions to appeal to fans of the satirical cricket narrative.[46] Digital expansions include e-book editions of the core publications, with the original The Grade Cricketer released in this format in November 2015 on platforms like Amazon Kindle and later on Apple Books in September 2018, allowing wider accessibility beyond physical copies.[47][48] Audiobooks have been a key development since 2018, narrated by creators Sam Perry (as "Pez") and Ian Higgins, starting with the first title by Bolinda Publishing on 28 January 2018 and extending to the 2025 release Alphas, Champs and Chop Kings via RBmedia, available on Google Play and other audio platforms.[49][50][51] The official website, gradecricketer.com, hosts supplementary blog-style content that ties into the books' themes, offering satirical essays and updates on cricket culture to complement the print narratives.[4] In other print formats, the series has seen limited-edition collaborations, including a feature article on Australian sledging by Sam Perry in Wisden Cricket Monthly issue 15 (January 2019), which drew directly from the Grade Cricketer's humorous lens on club cricket dynamics.[52] Patreon, launched after the 2017 debut book, provides exclusive digital and print-adjacent perks such as additional audio content, pre-sale access to live events, and merchandise discounts, with over 1,000 exclusive posts available to paid members as of 2025.[24] These expansions support commercial growth through sponsor tie-ins, including bundled offers around book launches like the 2025 edition, though full sponsorship details remain limited in public disclosures.[4]Visual and Live Media
Television Series
The Grade Cricketer television series premiered in December 2018 on 7Sport's YouTube channel as part of Channel Seven's cricket coverage.[31] The show was produced in partnership with Channel Seven, adapting the satirical style of the originating podcast into a visual format.[4] The series ran for two seasons, covering the 2018/19 and 2019/20 Australian summer cricket calendars, with each season featuring 10 to 13 episodes.[20][53] Episodes were hosted primarily by creators Sam Perry and Ian Higgins, occasionally joined by Dave Thorne, and included weekly previews of major events such as the Big Bash League and international tours.[54] Content blended humorous sketches, player interviews, and commentary on cricket news, mirroring the podcast's irreverent tone while providing satirical takes on topics like team selections and match strategies.[55] For the second season, the series shifted to 7plus streaming platform, expanding accessibility during the 2019/20 season.[53] The show concluded after the 2019/20 season finale in February 2020, with full episodes and clips remaining available on 7Sport's YouTube channel.[20]Live Shows and Events
The Grade Cricketer has hosted annual summer live tours in Australia since 2019, performing in key cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide. These events combine stand-up comedy routines, interactive audience Q&A segments, and humorous recaps of recent cricket matches and seasons, drawing on the hosts' signature satirical take on the sport. For instance, the 2019 tour included stops at venues like the Astor Theatre in Perth and The Gov in Adelaide, while the 2025/26 series features larger theaters such as the State Theatre in Sydney and Forum Melbourne.[56][57] Internationally, the brand has staged shows during English cricket summers, aligning with major events like the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2023 Ashes series to engage overseas audiences with timely commentary and rivalry-themed humor. In June 2024, they presented a sold-out performance at New York's Town Hall theater, featuring Indian cricket legend Ravi Shastri as a guest to discuss global cricket dynamics amid the T20 World Cup. The 2025 UK tour included dates in London and Birmingham, continuing the tradition of touring abroad during high-profile series.[18][19][58] The live shows follow a 90-minute format centered on improvised comedic sketches, guest interviews with cricket figures, and real-time audience interaction, often adapting popular podcast segments for the stage. Special guests, such as former players and commentators, contribute to the unscripted energy, with tickets frequently prioritized through pre-sales to Patreon supporters for early access.[56][24] Over time, the events have evolved from initial outings in mid-sized venues to consistently sold-out theater productions by 2023, reflecting growing popularity and expanded production scale. Post-COVID-19 restrictions, the tours incorporated hybrid elements, including online live streams, to maintain fan engagement during disruptions.[17][5]Cultural Elements
Terminology
The satirical lexicon of The Grade Cricketer draws from the books and podcast to lampoon the pretensions, rivalries, and absurd rituals of Australian club cricket, creating a vocabulary that highlights the sport's social hierarchies and macho posturing. These terms often amplify the insecurities of amateur players, portraying grade cricket as a microcosm of dominance, mediocrity, and camaraderie gone awry. Originating primarily in the 2016 book The Grade Cricketer and expanded in subsequent works like Tea and No Sympathy (2017) and Alphas, Champs and Chop Kings (2025), as well as the podcast episodes, the phrases satirize everything from physical vanity to on-field blunders without glorifying professional success.[59][3] Central to this lexicon is alpha, denoting the dominant team leader or star player archetype who exerts psychological and social control, such as dictating batting orders or claiming the best parking spot at the club. This term mocks the alpha male trope in cricket's patriarchal culture, where such figures like the fictional "Nuggsy" embody unyielding bravado.[59] In contrast, beta describes someone who submits to an alpha's dominance, often through passive-aggressive compliance, underscoring the power imbalances in team dynamics.[59] Rig refers to a player's physique or training regimen, frequently ridiculed in dressing-room banter to deflate egos about gym obsessions or beer bellies, satirizing the obsession with fitness in a sport where endurance matters more than aesthetics.[59] Relatedly, pipes highlights muscular arms or upper body strength, used either enviously or mockingly to comment on a bowler's intimidation factor or a batsman's swing.[60] A chop signifies a poor shot or ignominious dismissal, like edging a simple delivery, while Chop King crowns the ultimate failure—the player prone to repeated blunders, embodying the comedy of incompetence in lower grades. These terms poke fun at the fine line between heroism and humiliation on the pitch.[59] The circuit captures the nomadic "touring life" of grade cricketers, encompassing weekend matches, post-game drinks, and inter-club rivalries that form an endless loop of travel and socializing, often at the expense of personal lives.[59] Grade Eye for the Green Guy parodies professional scouting by applying an overly critical, amateur gaze to spot "pro potential" in teammates, usually leading to delusional hype or disappointment.[59] Champ is a sarcastic accolade for the resilient underperformer who battles on despite limited talent, as in "good work, champ," highlighting the valorization of effort over results in club cricket's egalitarian facade.[61] Biffa labels a hard-hitting, aggressive batsman who prioritizes power over technique, satirizing the brute-force style glorified in backyard lore.[59] Daddies denotes veteran or older players who cling to authority through anecdotes and seniority, mocking generational clashes in the team hierarchy.[59] A gunslinger is an aggressive fast bowler relying on raw pace and intimidation, often depicted as a loose cannon whose bravado backfires.[59] Bois evokes the lads' camaraderie, a term for the tight-knit group of mates navigating the circuit, infused with ironic affection amid the satire.[3] Coat abbreviates "cunt of a thing," a mild insult for someone mildly annoying or obstructive, softening harsher Aussie slang for comedic effect.[3] Through these phrases, The Grade Cricketer content uses examples like a captain "alphas" a newcomer by assigning him drinks duty or a batsman earning "Chop King" status after a string of ducks, illustrating how language reinforces cricket's unspoken codes without recapping specific episodes. This lexicon has permeated fan discussions, amplifying the brand's critique of the sport's tribalism.[59]| Term | Definition | Satirical Context |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha | Dominant leader asserting control in team settings. | Mocks macho hierarchies.[59] |
| Rig | Physique or fitness level. | Ridicules body image pressures.[59] |
| Chop | Poor dismissal or shot. | Highlights on-field failures. |
| Circuit | Grade cricket's social and match touring cycle. | Satirizes endless weekend commitments.[59] |
| Grade Eye | Amateur assessment of pro potential. | Parodies scouting delusions.[59] |
| Champ | Persistent mediocre player. | Ironizes effort over skill.[61] |
| Pipes | Muscular arms. | Exaggerates physical vanity.[60] |
| Biffa | Power-hitting batsman. | Celebrates crude aggression.[59] |
| Daddies | Senior team veterans. | Lampoons age-based authority.[59] |
| Gunslinger | Pace bowler with aggressive style. | Critiques reckless bravado.[59] |
| Bois | Group of mates in the cricket circle. | Ironic take on brotherhood.[3] |
| Coat | Mildly irritating person or action. | Softens crude insults.[3] |