Sunday Service with Church and Vickers

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark is alone in the parish.His guest this week was born in California, but grew up in Western Australia, before making his professional debut back in 2014. Twelve years later, he has had to call time on his playing career due to an ankle injury - which he had first damaged in 2024.He finishes his career with over 2,000 first-class runs and 60 first-class wickets, with a further 800+ runs and 57 wickets in white-ball cricket. He was also a vital member of the Surrey side that won a hat-trick of County Championship titles.  Cameron Steel joins the show to discuss his brilliant career, and the decision to step away from the game at 30-years-old.Also on the episode, Church continues the new, hard-hitting, segment; "What cricket sound is this?" - and also delivers a sermon about the Parish cake-sale while Mr Vickers is away.A huge thank you to Cam Steel for such an amazing discussion around what must've been an incredibly difficult decision. We look forward to hearing him in the commentary box, sat alongside our very own Church.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up their award-winning SPS bat for this month's competition giveaway. You can read all about it via the following link: https://www.wisden.com/cricket-features/the-bat-test-2026You can also check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector are joined by the Editor of the widely adored 'Bible of cricket'.Having studied Modern Languages at Cambridge, graduating with a first, he started work experience with Wisden Cricket Monthly, before covering County cricket for The Daily Telegraph and freelancing for the Gaurdian and Sunday Times.He joined the Daily Mail in 2009, and was appointed Editor of Wisden Almanack three years later.Now, he has just released his 15th edition of the Wisden Almanack, otherwise known as the Bible of cricket.Lawrence Booth joins the show to chat through his editors notes, point us in the direction of some particularly important pieces, talk through his career, and lots more. Also on the episode, Church and Vickers continue their new, hard-hitting, segment; "What cricket sound is this?" - and Churchy delivers a sermon focusing on a certain Sir James Anderson.A huge thank you to Lawrence Booth for his time on this week's show. An incredibly interesting and enjoyable conversation, on a book that means so much to so many. Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up their award-winning SPS bat for this month's competition giveaway. You can read all about it via the following link: https://www.wisden.com/cricket-features/the-bat-test-2026You can also check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week's guest captained Warwickshire to six trophies in two years during the 1990’s, earning him the reputation as one of the games greatest domestic captains. He also played three Tests for England and 29 One Day Internationals - including the World Cup Final in 1992.After retiring, he became a familiar face and voice on international cricket coverage - including England Test Matches. But on the Eve of the 2005 Ashes series he left Channel 4, after admitting to a cocaine addiction.Dermot Reeve joins Mark to chat through his incredible career, addiction, and road to recovery.Also on the episode, Church and Vickers introduce their new hard-hitting segment; "What cricket sound is this?" - and Churchy delivers a sermon talking about the chaos in the Parish when Hector was left in charge during the opening round of Championship matches.A huge thank you to Dermot Reeve for joining Mark on this week's show for such a fascinating and emotive interview - we look forward to hearing him in the commentary box throughout the season.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who have given away a beautiful Mjolnir bat to this month's competition winner. Be sure to tune in next week to hear what the next fantastic prize is...You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector are joined by an elite fast-bowling coach and consultant.This man has coached a wide array of teams - from working with a number of counties, to Head Coaching the Bangladesh A side, to being the bowling coach in the final of an under-19 World Cup - he is one of the most respected bowling coaches out there.Having played professionally for Gloucestershire before entering the coaching world, he has now returned to freelance and has set up his own academy - where he not only coaches, but also offers consultancy to leaders outside of cricket.Stuart Barnes joins the show to chat through his incredible career, discuss the science behind Neuro Linguistic Programming, and offer his advice to anyone looking to get into the coaching industry.Also on the episode, Church and Vickers conclude their fantastic segment - “Whose cricket book is this?” - and Churchy delivers a sermon about the start of the domestic season and what it means for the Parish.A huge thank you to Stuart Barnes for joining us on this week's show for such an insightful chat - we hope his first season back in freelance goes brilliantly.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a beautiful Mjolnir bat for this month's competition giveaway... Reimagined. Refined. Built for the modern player.You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector are joined by one of the great cricket journalists, with a special love for the domestic game.He has worked for The Cricketer since shortly before the 2019 World Cup - when he joined from CNN Sport - winning the Christopher Martin Jenkins Young journalist of the Year award in 2020.Now leading The Cricketer’s coverage of the women’s game, and writing regular features on county cricket, he can also lay claim to formerly being the Assistant coach of Cricket Argentina in Buenos Aires, as well as Pinky the Panther in the mascot race on T20 Finals Day.Nick Friend joins the show to give his thoughts ahead of the domestic season. We find out who he thinks will win the County Championship, how the women's game is shaping up this year, and also a little bit more about a certain 'non-denominational geopathic surveyor'.Also on the episode, Church and Vickers continue their new segment - “Whose cricket book is this?” - and Churchy delivers a sermon on cutting the Parish wicket, and the ECB review.A huge thank you to Nick Friend for joining us on this week's show for a brilliant chat - we are looking forward to catching up and discussing further over the course of the season.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who have finally revealed their special prize for the months of February and March. The Mjolnir has indeed returned: Reimagined. Refined. Built for the modern player.You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector are joined by a legend of the 'turf management' game. Having begun his grounds career back in 1996, this man has worked his way up the ladder, and is now a Test match-level Head Groundsman - marshalling his charges at Chester-le-Street since 2015. A 'Professional Groundsman of the Year' award back in 2017 - an award covering groundswork across all sports - is a good indicator of his prestige within the industry.Vic Demain joins the show to chat all about turf management - from producing Test match pitches, to just how much work goes on during the winter months. With more cricket than ever on the cards, Vic also looks ahead to a huge season with Durham CCC.Also on the episode, Church and Vickers continue their new segment - “Whose cricket book is this?” - and Churchy delivers a sermon remembering a farcical end to a rather big semi final 34 years ago.A huge thank you to Vic Demain for joining us on this week's show for an incredibly insightful conversation - we hope to catch up with him (time permitting!) this summer.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who have announced a SECRET SPECIAL prize for the months of February and March.Genuinely, this is one that you won't want to miss out on - with hints of; classic, iconic, and 'seriously good' wrapped into one fantastic prize.You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector are joined by one of the greats of the 'X' world. With 25.3 thousand followers on the platform formerly known as 'Twitter', this man hosts one of the great cricket accounts. His iPad Art, 'Today's beautiful cricket ground' segment, and County Championship countdown clock turns his platform into a cricketing community. WG RumblePants joins the show to chat all about his love for cricket, the origins and practicalities of his 'double life', and just what makes county cricket the greatest sport on earth.Also on the episode, Church and Vickers continue their new segment - “Whose cricket book is this?” - and Churchy delivers a sermon about his mum and cricket.A huge thank you to the great WG for joining us on this week's episode for a lovely interview. We look forward to catching up this summer, and highly recommend that listeners check out his fantastic portrait of Ravi Ashwin (2 million views) - pinned on his 'X' feed: @WG_RumblePants.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who have announced a SECRET SPECIAL prize for the months of February and March.Genuinely, this is one that you won't want to miss out on - with hints of; classic, iconic, and 'seriously good' wrapped into one fantastic prize.You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector are joined by the former Durham batter, turned coach, Ash Thorpe.Having been born in Australia, playing cricket for the Western Australia Under-19s, Ash made his first-class debut for Durham against Sri Lanka back in 2002.Now Head of Cricket at Parkview Academy of Sport, Ash also runs his own academy - as well as being a regular face on commentary for the Durham livestream. Joining this week's pod, Ash takes Church and Vickers through his fantastic journey in cricket, and gives his advice on how to get into coaching.Also on the episode, Church and Vickers continue their new segment - “Whose cricket book is this?” - and Churchy delivers a sermon on the weather and a 1990s pop-star about to take centre stage in the T20 World Cup Final.A huge thank you to Ash Thorpe for joining us on this week's episode for a brilliant interview. We hope that he enjoys the forthcoming season up north and continues his success in the coaching world.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who have announced a SECRET SPECIAL prize for the months of February and March.Genuinely, this is one that you won't want to miss out on - with hints of; classic, iconic, and 'seriously good' wrapped into one fantastic prize.You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector come together at the Kia Oval for a special podcast.Church and Vickers are joined by the Chief Executive of the Desert Vipers, Phil Oliver - fresh from his side's first ILT20 title in January.Having co-founded CricViz - spending seven years there as Managing Director before making the switch to the Vipers - it's hard to find anyone better placed to talk about leadership in cricket.Phil discusses his time at the Desert Vipers, and gives his advice on how to start any business in sport, as well as how to run a successful organisation.The Vipers have signed/used eight Pakistani players across their four seasons - so with the inclusivity controversy currently ongoing in the Hundred, Phil is well placed to give his opinion.Also on the episode, Church and Vickers continue their new segment - “Whose cricket book is this?” - and Churchy delivers a sermon on a historic England match that took place on this day.A huge thank you to Phil Oliver for joining us on this week's episode for an incredibly interesting conversation. We hope that he and his team have every success ahead of the next edition of the ILT20.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who have announced a SECRET SPECIAL prize for the months of February and March.Genuinely, this is one that you won't want to miss out on - with hints of; classic, iconic, and 'seriously good' wrapped into one fantastic prize.You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector reunite at the Holy Ground. It's the first time the pair have recorded at the Kia Oval in 6 episodes, so you just know it's going to be special.Church and Vickers are joined by the Chief Executive of Essex Cricket Club, Dan Feist, who has spent over 14 years at the club.As everybody knows, domestic cricket in this country is facing an interesting future. With the investment into the hundred, a different type of money has come into the game - but what does that mean for county cricket? With the landscape changing at rapid speed, Dan talks us through everything county-related. From losing £120,000 from just one single T20 Blast fixture, to managing players like Jordan Cox during the winter.Also on the episode, Church and Vickers continue their new segment - “Whose cricket book is this?” - and Churchy delivers a sermon on pre-game entertainment.A huge thank you to Dan Feist for joining us on this week's episode for an incredibly insightful conversation. We wish him and Essex all the best for the upcoming season.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who have announced a SECRET SPECIAL prize for the months of February and March.Genuinely, this is one that you won't want to miss out on - with hints of; classic, iconic, and 'seriously good' wrapped into one fantastic prize.You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark sits down with Bryony Smith to discuss her career, last summer, and her aims for the season to come.Bryony lifted the Vitality T20 Blast trophy last year - as the first professional captain of the Surrey women’s team.She made her Surrey debut in 2014 and made 60* in her second game against Yorkshire. She quickly became one of the first names on the team sheet and has played 11 times for England, also playing in The Hundred, the WBBL, and the Super Smash.Also on the episode, Church and Vickers continue their new segment - “Whose cricket book is this?” - and Churchy delivers a Valentine’s Day special sermon all about love.A huge thank you to Bryony Smith for joining us on this week's episode, and we wish her all the best for the upcoming season.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who have announced a SECRET SPECIAL prize for the months of February and March.Genuinely, this is one that you won't want to miss out on - with hints of; classic, iconic, and 'seriously good' wrapped into one fantastic prize.You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, England's Young Lions were, regrettably, 'Sooryavanshi-ed'.But, with Churchy spinning his web on Test Match Special and Hector trying to spin one of his own from the ground, we thought it prudent to touch on the Under-19 World Cup as a whole.To help with this, we hear a snippet from Hector's interview with a young Thomas Rew - captain extraordinaire and future star - at training, less than 24-hours before the big finale.Thomas' rise to cricketing fame has been well documented, spending time with the England Lions and helping the senior team prepare for the Ashes at Lilac Hill. A recent stint with the Paarl Royals at the SA20 almost over-qualifies him for the World Cup, but the captain was happy to chat about future ambitions, the experience of World Cup cricket, and a bit about his teammates.Also on the episode, Church and Vickers continue their new segment - “Whose cricket book is this?” - and Churchy delivers a sermon comparing the Super Bowl to the super Vitality Blast.A huge thank you to Thomas Rew for joining us on this week's episode - a genuinely lovely guy and an even better cricketer. Although England's World Cup campaign fell at the final hurdle, every single player has shown some incredible promise.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who have announced a SECRET SPECIAL prize for the months of February and March.Genuinely, this is one that you won't want to miss out on - with hints of; classic, iconic, and 'seriously good' wrapped into one fantastic prize.You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Hector is joined by an ICC Hall-of-Famer. He captained Zimbabwe and is widely regarded as their greatest player of all time - and with 12 Test match hundreds, 27 Test 50s, and a record breaking unbeaten double-hundred against India, it's hard to argue otherwise.Within his first two years as England's Head Coach, he had won two Ashes (home and away), took the Test side to number one in the world, and won England's first ever global ICC trophy at the 2010 T20 World Cup.Currently commentating on the U19 World Cup, Andy Flower joined Hector at Takashinga Sports Club to discuss the state of Zimbabwe's Cricket, his new role in the Hundred, and his thoughts on recent World Test Championship proposals.Also on the episode, Church and Vickers continue their new segment - “Whose cricket book is this?” - and Churchy delivers a sermon all about bells.A huge thank you to Andy Flower for joining us on this week's episode - one of the greatest minds and highest achievers in the game, and extremely generous with his time.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, whose pair of Newbery 360 Shoes were awarded to one lucky winners of January's competition.Watch out next week as we announce the incredible prize up for grabs in February...You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark is joined by one of the greats of our game. He's captained Surrey to four County Championship titles over the last seven years, and has the small matter of 14,122 First Class runs to his name.He doesn't tend to sit down for long interviews, but Churchy's managed to collar him into one today - his day, in fact - Burns night.Rory Burns joins the pod discuss his journey into cricket, look back on his incredible career thus far, and look forward to future aspirations within the game - including the potential of an England call-up.Also on the episode, Church and Vickers continue their new segment - “Whose cricket book is this?” - and Churchy delivers a sermon about the numbers of days until the new season begins.A huge thank you to Rory Burns for joining us on this week's episode - an incredible player with some brilliant advice for anyone pursuing a career out in the middle.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a pair of Newbery 360 Shoes for the lucky winner of our weekly competition.You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark is joined by former Sussex batsman Mark Newell who has been a professional umpire since 2017.Mark talks to Mark about his cricketing journey from playing to being the man in the middle for first class cricket in this country.Mark also gives some great advice to anybody who is considering taking up umpiring and being involved in the game.Also on the episode, Church and Vickers continue their new segment - “Whose cricket book is this?” - and Churchy delivers a sermon about a cricketing genius.A huge thank you to Mark Newell for joining us on this week's episode - a really interesting conversation with some brilliant advice for any budding umpires.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a pair of Newbery 360 Shoes for the lucky winner of our weekly competition.You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector are joined by the CEO of the MCC Foundation, Angus Berry. Having set up his own non-profit organisation to help sports clubs engage with their communities, Angus has always wanted to make the game more accessible and harness its unifying powers.Now, as CEO of the MCCF, he talks through the Foundation’s incredible plans to facilitate accessibility with great social impact, with a focus on the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup and Cricket Unites.Also on the episode, Church and Vickers launch a thrilling new segment (in place of observations). The duo kick off “Whose cricket book is this?” in spectacular fashion.Churchy pens a strongly worded letter in this week’s sermon. A huge thank you to Angus Berry for joining us on this week's episode - it was fantastic to hear about the phenomenal work that goes on at the Foundation, and how people can get involved.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a pair of Newbery 360 Shoes for the lucky winner of our weekly competition.You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector are joined by one of the most comforting voices in the game and a stalwart of Northamptonshire CCC. Having joined BBC Radio Northampton in the 1980s, Andrew Radd became the club's official archivist last year and was presented with the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians' (ACS) statistician of the year award. Having authored a number of books about Northants and its personalities, Andrew takes us through his love story with the club and how he came about working in cricket on a number of levels.Also on the episode, Hector previews England's recently released World Cup squad, Churchy discusses the absurd amount of franchise cricket running concurrently, and the pair announce their new prize up for grabs, thanks to our friends at Newbery Cricket.Churchy's Sermon is all about 'the first'.A huge thank you to Andrew Radd for joining us on this week's episode and providing a fascinating insight into his world - hopefully we will all cross paths this coming season.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a pair of Newbery 360 Shoes for the lucky winner of our weekly competition, and as always to Surrey County Cricket Club for allowing us to record at the Kia Oval.You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22‘Bluesky’ - sundayservice11.bsky.social

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week and a VERY joyous Christmas.This week is the big one. Some might even say it's monumental. It is, of course, the highly awaited Christmas special. And to mark this special day, Church and Vickers were treated to TWO guests.Beaming in from Melbourne, fresh after a 20-'wicketed' day at the MCG, Daniel Norcross and Andy Zaltzman continued to grace the airwaves long after their working day had concluded.  The two Test Match Special giants debriefed the current tour down under, from England's woes both on and off the field, to Andy's masterful 5-course Christmas lunch, and Dan's involvement with the incredible Barmy Army.Andy discusses how his love for numbers, comedy, and cricket culminated in his arrival at the BBC, and Dan recounts orchestrating 1500 'Barmies' in a series of songs on Christmas Day. Also on the episode, Hector remedies his disappointing observations last week with a highlights reel from the IPL auction, Churchy frames the current state of affairs down under, and Hector whips out the quiz book.Church's sermon this week looks into the New Year, AND... it is finally here! Christmas has been and gone, but for one lucky listener, the celebrations are only just beginning.In a dramatic wheelspin, Church and Vickers reveal the winner of this year's Christmas Quiz. Thanks to our amazing sponsors at Newbery Cricket, the winner is taking home one of their fantastic Navarone cricket bats. Disclaimer: Make sure to look out for competitions in the New Year to be in with a chance of winning some premium cricket equipment.You can check out the first-rate equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/A huge thank you to Daniel Norcross and Andy Zaltzman for joining us for our Christmas special - we hope that they have a brilliant conclusion to their Ashes tour.If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch. We want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22‘Bluesky’ - sundayservice11.bsky.social

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector are joined by the editor of The Cricketer Magazine, Huw Turbervill. Having previously spent 15 years at The Telegraph, Huw joined The Cricketer in 2015, producing the monthly magazine for 11 years, and has been Editor for the past four years.Huw takes us through his career in print journalism, discusses how sports media has developed alongside social media and AI, and offers his overall assessment of the industry's strength.He also discusses England's dismal Ashes performances in the first two Tests and how the English media might show restraint when covering their team on difficult trips away from home.Also on the episode, Hector gives his live reaction to the IPL auction, whilst struggling to convert Cr to GBP, much to Churchy's dismay.Mark Church's sermon is all about 'The Big Fella', and with less than a week to go until the big day, it hits the mark once more.A huge thank you to Huw Turbervill for joining us in the commentary box at the Kia Oval for this week's episode - we wish him luck when he takes to the middle for the Beddington fives next summer.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a brand new cricket bat for the lucky winner of our weekly competition, and as always to Surrey County Cricket Club for allowing us to record at the Kia Oval.You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22‘Bluesky’ - sundayservice11.bsky.social

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector are joined by one of the all-time county greats. With 11,387 First Class runs and 534 First Class wickets under his belt, he retired from the professional arena in 2021. He won the County Championship with both Surrey and Warwickshire, and his impressive career culminated in 2 Test Matches and 20 ODI appearances for England - with many calling for more.Now working as the Director of Cricket at King Edwards, Witley, Rikki joins the show to look back on his playing days, discuss his current role, and analyse a dismal English showing in the first two Ashes Tests.Also on the episode, Hector and Mark give their thoughts on a recent pink ball trouncing and discuss the beauty of the ILT20, swiftly morphing into a winter Vitality T20 Blast.Churchy's Sermon? A Fisher of wickets is the call for Adelaide...A huge thank you to Rikki Clarke for joining us on this week's episode - here's hoping that Spurs can sort out their wage caps and start winning some home games!Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a brand new cricket bat for the lucky winner of our weekly competition, and as always to Surrey County Cricket Club for allowing us to record at the Kia Oval.You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22‘Bluesky’ - sundayservice11.bsky.social

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector are joined by one of the best sports psychologists in the country. Now based at Brentford FC, Michael Caulfield spent over 15 years working alongside Hampshire CCC whilst also being involved with Sussex CCC, and continues to keep in touch and help cricket players across the country.Michael talks about how he transitioned from being the Chief Executive of the Professional Jockeys Association to a sports psychologist, the best ways into the industry, and his advice to England on how best to stay mentally fit during the long breaks between Test Matches.A huge thank you to Michael Caulfield for joining us on this week's episode - we hope to see him on the boundary edge next summer!Also on the episode, in a poignant moment of recollection, Mark talks to Hector about the legendary Robin Smith, who passed away earlier this week. "The bravest player you could ever wish to see".Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a brand new cricket bat for the lucky winner of our weekly competition, and as always to Surrey County Cricket Club for allowing us to record at the Kia Oval.You can check out the premium equipment that Newbery has to offer here: https://newbery.co.uk/.If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22‘Bluesky’ - sundayservice11.bsky.social

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector are joined by the internationally renowned sports artist, Andy Brown. Andy was the official artist at last year's IPL, and has put many iconic moments to canvas, including capturing Sir Jimmy Anderson's 700th wicket in Dharamshala, and later presenting the painting to the great himself.Specializing in baseball and cricket, Andy has been travelling the world for over a decade, capturing live moments and immortalizing them on canvas. He joins the pod this week to discuss his journey so far, as well as to give his advice on how best to enter the industry.You can check out his works by following the link below.Church and Vickers also take you through their observations of the week: fixtures have been released for next summer's domestic season, and of course, we need to confront that first Test Match in Perth.Churchy also delivers a sermon about celebrating Christmas Day.A huge thank you to Andy Brown for joining us on this week's episode - excited to see where he goes next!Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a brand new cricket bat for the lucky winner of our weekly competition, and also to Surrey County Cricket Club for allowing us to record at the Kia Oval, as always.If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22‘Bluesky’ - sundayservice11.bsky.socialLink to Andy Brown's works: https://andybrownstadiums.com/AB's Social media handle: @andybrownisanartist

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector connect with their roots. Friend of the podcast, Steve Couslon, joins the show to take us through his journey into Chaplaincy, and discusses the holy combination of cricket and worship.As the Vicar of St Mark's, Kennington, and Chaplain of Surrey CCC, Steve couldn't be better placed to critique Mark Church's weekly sermons, offering a generous comparison in his conclusion.Helping players and fans alike, Steve is an integral part of the Kennington community, and makes an important announcement on the episode.Church and Vickers also take you through their observations of the week. Whilst Hector is once more sucked into a brief Ashes analysis, Mark touches on the success of a number of Surrey players around the world.Churchy also delivers a sermon about his cricketing dreams of success down under and the beauty of the game.A huge thank you to Steve Coulson for joining us on this week's episode, and we will look forward to reconnecting this summer.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a brand new cricket bat for the lucky winner of our weekly competition, and also to Surrey County Cricket Club for allowing us to record at the Kia Oval, as always.If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22‘Bluesky’ - sundayservice11.bsky.social

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector are joined by none other than Australia's 'Voice of Summer'. Having joined ABC in 1973 and then Test Match Special 10 years later, Jim Maxwell brings over 50 years of experience in broadcasting and journalism to the Sunday Service.Jim discusses his early career and tips for broadcasting, and clues Church and Vickers in on the one book that anyone interested in good sports writing must read.The commentary legend also gives his take on the imminent Ashes. From injury issues and squad selection, to the importance of third umpires and the futility of the pink ball - it's an absolute belter of a preview.Church and Vickers also take you through their observations of the week, touching on the ICC's decision to scrap any plans for a two-tier Test system, and of course, there is more from the West Australian.Mark Church gives a fascinating sermon about cricket, life, and contemplating - ably aided by the genius writing of Surrey's Cam Steel.A massive thank you to Jim Maxwell for joining the hosts this week - one of the great 30 minutes 'on air', and the perfect way to digest Ashes analysis.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a brand new cricket bat for the lucky winner of our weekly competition, and also to Surrey County Cricket Club for allowing us to record at the Kia Oval, as always.If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guest suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22‘Bluesky’ - sundayservice11.bsky.social

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector are joined by cricketing royalty. As both player and journalist, this man is up there with the best of the best, offering unrivalled insight into the world of cricket media.Michael Atherton joins the show to discuss his fascinating career in broadcasting and journalism; the transition from playing to journalism, how he balances his Sky Sports commentary and writing for the Times, and his advice to all young journalists looking to make a career in sport.Church and Vickers also take you through the recent ECB Central Contracts, and what it means for the players, whilst also discussing the intensifying Ashes buildup.Mark Church gives a poignant sermon on cricketers who fought in the war, and Hector discusses what he would do to put Mitchell Starc off his line and length at Perth.A massive thank you to Michael Atherton for joining the hosts this week and offering his experience, and also to Surrey County Cricket Club for allowing us to record at the Kia Oval as always.Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a brand new cricket bat for the lucky winner of our weekly competition.If you have liked this episode of Sunday Service, please make sure to rate and review us, and share us on social media platforms.Make sure to get in touch, we want to hear your cricketing thoughts and guests suggestions:Email us at: [email protected]‘X’ - sundayservice22‘Bluesky’ - sundayservice11.bsky.social

Welcome back to the Sunday Service with Church and Vickers - we hope you’ve all had a peaceful cricketing week.This week, Mark and Hector were fortunate enough to chat with Emma Calvert, the Director of Women’s Cricket at Surrey County Cricket Club.Emma provides a brilliant insight into the growing world of women’s sport, the recent professionalisation of women’s cricket, and the life of a Director of Cricket. Hear for yourself as Emma takes the hosts through just how much work goes on behind the scenes of a professional sporting outfit.Mark and Hector discuss their observations of the week, centered around the bizarre scorecard from the first ODI between England and New Zealand, and Churchy gives a sermon on the use of technology in cricket.And of course, thank you to our friends at Newbery Cricket for providing the ultimate cricketing prize for our weekly quiz.Listen on to the end of the podcast to find out this week’s question, and send your answers to [email protected] also rate and review us on all platforms, and share each episode with like-minded cricket badgers.Episodes will be released every Sunday at 11 am, so make sure to make some space in your download diaries.See you next week!'X' - @sundayservice22'Bluesky' - sundayservice11.bsky.social

Welcome to the brand new cricket podcast, 'Sunday Service with Church and Vickers'.In the opening episode, co-hosts Mark Church and Hector Vickers discuss what to expect from the series, and Hector interviews Mark on his broadcasting career with the BBC.The hosts also give their cricketing observations of the week, and Mark opens his weekly segment, "The Church Sermon".The podcast is delighted to be sponsored by Newbery Cricket, working together to host the ultimate cricket competition, with an exciting Christmas giveaway on offer.Mark and Hector are keen to make this podcast as interactive as possible, so feel free to email us at [email protected], follow us on our socials to keep up to date with guest announcements and episode details.'X' - @church98290 / Sunday Service with Vickers and Church'Bluesky' - sundayservice11.bsky.socialEpisodes will be released weekly, at 11 am each and every Sunday - get it in your download diaries!