The first ball in the 2019 Cricket World Cup is about to be bowled and to celebrate we’ve launched a new podcast, The Offspin, where our resident cricket tragics (in the truest sense of the word) fill the hole of not being in England with the sound of banter.

For the next six weeks join hosts Simon Day, Alex Braae and a rotating squad of sloggers, change bowlers and outfielders on The Offspin after each of the New Zealand team’s games. With the Black Caps playing all their games at wildly inconvenient overnight times, Simon and Alex will be swapping sleep for cricket, then rolling into the studio to drink Coffee Supreme (proud sponsors of The Offspin) and offer their expert analysis of the World Cup.

In the first episode, Alex and Simon are joined by Jogai Bhatt to examine the Blackcaps’ chances of glory. Unfortunately, in the opinion of our panel, the chances aren’t high. However, it’s a state of existence Blackcaps fans know well, a depth from which the euphoria of victory is even stronger.

They also investigate the psychological differences between Indian and New Zealand fans, relive Simon’s darkest day, and question David Warner’s credibility as a children’s book author.

Download this episode (right click and save), listen on the player below, subscribe on iTunes or via Spotify.

Like, share and subscribe to The Offspin, and drink Coffee Supreme to keep you alive after long nights of cricket this World Cup.