For the latest episode of The Offspin podcast, we’re joined by writer, musician and cricket tragic Samuel Flynn Scott, to process the utterly insipid Black Caps loss against Australia. 

Well, that was rubbish. The Black Caps utterly failed to show any spine against Australia, leaving their Cricket World Cup campaign dangling precariously as we approach the semi-finals. Fortunately, we’re saved from the absolute despair that threatened to overwhelm us by the insights and asides of Samuel Flynn Scott, noted cricket tragic and wordsmith.

From the depth of our sorrow we reflect on the question – is it possible to enjoy cricket when that’s what it actually looks like on the field? Can a day at the game, steadily getting more sunburnt and intoxicated, result in anything good and pure at all? Are we wasting our lives by following this ridiculous game?

We also address big questions like who the most hate-worthy Australian cricket figure is, whether the Phoenix Foundation’s Black Caps tribute song was responsible for the team losing the 2015 World Cup final, and we get a live food and beverage report from Lords from The Spinoff’s food editor Alice Neville. And Simon takes the opportunity to apologise to Brett Lee.

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

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.