In the third episode of The Offspin, globetrotting freelance cricketer and muscleman Mitchell McClenaghan joins the podcast to discuss winning the IPL, the changing patterns of cricketing analytics and a nervy Black Caps win over Bangladesh. 

You’d better believe it – the Black Caps are at the top of the Cricket World Cup table after a nervy chase against Bangladesh. Sure, it might only be two wins from two, and much of the batting performance was hard to watch, but it’s nice to look at all the same (but maybe it’s because we’re hallucinating after being awake for nearly 48 hours). It also helps that we’ve got a special guest in the studio.

Fresh off of winning the biggest T20 league in the world with the Mumbai Indians, Mitchell McClenaghan – the fastest Black Cap to take 50 ODI wickets – is now unemployed and has nothing better to do than talk to Simon and Alex about what it’s like to actually be good at cricket. He speaks about the uncertainty of the global T20 league circuit, a potential future with the Black Caps, and just what’s going on with South Africa. Simon also forced him to rate his rig after an intensive few months of going to the gym.

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

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.

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