Nick Speak
@njspeak.bsky.social
Coaching and trying to write better. Sharing cricket news, stories, and other stuff at http://njspeak.substack.com - coaching @GeelongCC and at Cricket Victoria
“Bazlife and the Beautiful Game."
What a Test, I'm not sure how you do it justice. My attempt below
#ENGvIND #SpeakingCricket
www.speaking.cricket/p/bazlife-an...
What a Test, I'm not sure how you do it justice. My attempt below
#ENGvIND #SpeakingCricket
www.speaking.cricket/p/bazlife-an...
Bazlife and the Beautiful Game
I didn't manage to read it from back to front, but "My Life and the Beautiful Game" was the first book I took seriously.
www.speaking.cricket
August 5, 2025 at 4:33 AM
“Bazlife and the Beautiful Game."
What a Test, I'm not sure how you do it justice. My attempt below
#ENGvIND #SpeakingCricket
www.speaking.cricket/p/bazlife-an...
What a Test, I'm not sure how you do it justice. My attempt below
#ENGvIND #SpeakingCricket
www.speaking.cricket/p/bazlife-an...
A crawling burn here so far!
Is anyone interested in cricket on this platform, if so, you can find me below, it's free unless you want to sub www.speaking.cricket - I did just write a post on March Madness and Beverly, MA. Reposts are appreciated
www.speaking.cricket/p/march-madn...
Is anyone interested in cricket on this platform, if so, you can find me below, it's free unless you want to sub www.speaking.cricket - I did just write a post on March Madness and Beverly, MA. Reposts are appreciated
www.speaking.cricket/p/march-madn...
SpeakingCricket | Nick Speak | Substack
A place to read and share cricket news, stories, and moments that matter. Click to read SpeakingCricket, by Nick Speak, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
www.speaking.cricket
March 28, 2025 at 1:44 PM
A crawling burn here so far!
Is anyone interested in cricket on this platform, if so, you can find me below, it's free unless you want to sub www.speaking.cricket - I did just write a post on March Madness and Beverly, MA. Reposts are appreciated
www.speaking.cricket/p/march-madn...
Is anyone interested in cricket on this platform, if so, you can find me below, it's free unless you want to sub www.speaking.cricket - I did just write a post on March Madness and Beverly, MA. Reposts are appreciated
www.speaking.cricket/p/march-madn...
I never saw Jerry Cassell's clocked speed that year (2009-10)...it felt like 150km/h plus more than once. Fast away-swing and rapid reverse, oh and he could badge you too. But he was red, not strawberry-blonde. It pissed him! Part 4. Onya Jerry #Demons0910
www.speaking.cricket/p/jerry-cass...
www.speaking.cricket/p/jerry-cass...
Part 4: 'Jerry' Cassell gets the Demons rolling
With pre-season in the books, spring having made an appearance, and the AFL season concluded, it was time to get rolling.
www.speaking.cricket
March 24, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I never saw Jerry Cassell's clocked speed that year (2009-10)...it felt like 150km/h plus more than once. Fast away-swing and rapid reverse, oh and he could badge you too. But he was red, not strawberry-blonde. It pissed him! Part 4. Onya Jerry #Demons0910
www.speaking.cricket/p/jerry-cass...
www.speaking.cricket/p/jerry-cass...
I wrote something on Ibrahim Zadran and the evolution of ODI batting circa 2025
njspeak.substack.com/p/ibrahim-za...
njspeak.substack.com/p/ibrahim-za...
Ibrahim Zadran’s ‘Daddy Hundred’ and the evolution of ODI batting
Ibrahim Zadran placed himself 41st on the list of highest individual scorers in ODI cricket by compiling 177 runs from 146 balls, so helping Afghanistan to an eight-run victory over England. Additiona...
njspeak.substack.com
February 28, 2025 at 5:49 PM
I wrote something on Ibrahim Zadran and the evolution of ODI batting circa 2025
njspeak.substack.com/p/ibrahim-za...
njspeak.substack.com/p/ibrahim-za...
Josh "English" Inglis leaves England staring at an early exit in the Champions Trophy #SpeakingCricket
njspeak.substack.com/p/josh-engli...
njspeak.substack.com/p/josh-engli...
'Josh English' thumps golf-drunk Pom's
OK, that's Inglis, not 'English'. It was clever wording from a 'bone-dry' Mike Atherton!
njspeak.substack.com
February 24, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Josh "English" Inglis leaves England staring at an early exit in the Champions Trophy #SpeakingCricket
njspeak.substack.com/p/josh-engli...
njspeak.substack.com/p/josh-engli...
Talking Champions Trophy inevitably leads to cynicism—a competition that wanders like a lost soul. Some thoughts. #SpeakingNick
njspeak.substack.com/p/the-champi...
njspeak.substack.com/p/the-champi...
The Champions what?
Talking "Champions Trophy" inevitably leads to cynicism—a competition that wanders like a lost soul.
njspeak.substack.com
February 19, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Talking Champions Trophy inevitably leads to cynicism—a competition that wanders like a lost soul. Some thoughts. #SpeakingNick
njspeak.substack.com/p/the-champi...
njspeak.substack.com/p/the-champi...
The Fab 4 and a Martin Crowe story. 1986/87, Hawke’s Bay, NZ
njspeak.substack.com/p/the-fab-4-...
“I thought Mr. Crowe would seek a consult as we passed. Not a chance, four hours later he raised the ‘Duncan Fearnley’ acknowledging another flawless hundred.”
njspeak.substack.com/p/the-fab-4-...
“I thought Mr. Crowe would seek a consult as we passed. Not a chance, four hours later he raised the ‘Duncan Fearnley’ acknowledging another flawless hundred.”
The Fab 4 and a Martin Crowe story.
I planned on writing something on cricket’s aging Fab Four: Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson.
njspeak.substack.com
February 12, 2025 at 6:37 PM
The Fab 4 and a Martin Crowe story. 1986/87, Hawke’s Bay, NZ
njspeak.substack.com/p/the-fab-4-...
“I thought Mr. Crowe would seek a consult as we passed. Not a chance, four hours later he raised the ‘Duncan Fearnley’ acknowledging another flawless hundred.”
njspeak.substack.com/p/the-fab-4-...
“I thought Mr. Crowe would seek a consult as we passed. Not a chance, four hours later he raised the ‘Duncan Fearnley’ acknowledging another flawless hundred.”
"Phil Halbish, the oracle of district cricket. Had the IP on all of it, and some. The ultimate grade cricketer: highly skilful, dependable, and a man for the trenches." said Q'ball.
njspeak.substack.com/p/chapter-on...
OK, I wasn't able to get the perfect match!
njspeak.substack.com/p/chapter-on...
OK, I wasn't able to get the perfect match!
February 7, 2025 at 6:06 PM
"Phil Halbish, the oracle of district cricket. Had the IP on all of it, and some. The ultimate grade cricketer: highly skilful, dependable, and a man for the trenches." said Q'ball.
njspeak.substack.com/p/chapter-on...
OK, I wasn't able to get the perfect match!
njspeak.substack.com/p/chapter-on...
OK, I wasn't able to get the perfect match!
“Daddy, why you taking a plane to Las Vegas to have someone tell you how to play golf? You’re really good at it!" Rory McIlroy's daughter. She's on the money.
njspeak.substack.com/p/yes-please...
njspeak.substack.com/p/yes-please...
Yes please Rory
Rory McIlroy completes his 27th PGA Tour victory at Pebble Beach
njspeak.substack.com
February 5, 2025 at 4:51 PM
“Daddy, why you taking a plane to Las Vegas to have someone tell you how to play golf? You’re really good at it!" Rory McIlroy's daughter. She's on the money.
njspeak.substack.com/p/yes-please...
njspeak.substack.com/p/yes-please...
Something on Todd Murphy's ascension to Australia's #1 twirler (spinner—for my U.S. friends, and that's not political)
njspeak.substack.com/p/how-murphy...
njspeak.substack.com/p/how-murphy...
Todd Murphy: Navigating the challenging path to replace Nathan Lyon
Technical Nuances: How Murphy Mirrors and Differs from Lyon
njspeak.substack.com
February 4, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Something on Todd Murphy's ascension to Australia's #1 twirler (spinner—for my U.S. friends, and that's not political)
njspeak.substack.com/p/how-murphy...
njspeak.substack.com/p/how-murphy...
The Twilight of Virat Kohli: A meditation on one of the game's last classical batters as T20 cricket takes hold.
njspeak.substack.com/p/the-twilig...
njspeak.substack.com/p/the-twilig...
The twilight of Virat Kohli: cricket's last classical batter in a T20 world
When a revered player falls from grace or loses that Midas touch we thought invincible, we collectively gasp and ask ourselves: “How could this possibly happen?” India’s master batter, Virat Kohli is ...
njspeak.substack.com
January 29, 2025 at 8:44 PM
The Twilight of Virat Kohli: A meditation on one of the game's last classical batters as T20 cricket takes hold.
njspeak.substack.com/p/the-twilig...
njspeak.substack.com/p/the-twilig...
Why not Jayden Daniels and the Commanders? Drawing comparisons to Pele, Becker, Tiger, Jordan, and Tendulkar. A long stretch, but..why not
njspeak.substack.com/p/what-makes...
njspeak.substack.com/p/what-makes...
What makes Jayden Daniels so good?
Way back then, there was British TV comedian Paul Daniels.
njspeak.substack.com
January 21, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Why not Jayden Daniels and the Commanders? Drawing comparisons to Pele, Becker, Tiger, Jordan, and Tendulkar. A long stretch, but..why not
njspeak.substack.com/p/what-makes...
njspeak.substack.com/p/what-makes...
December 15, 2024 at 11:16 PM
Steve Elkington still has the purest swing in golf
December 9, 2024 at 9:07 AM
Steve Elkington still has the purest swing in golf
India beating England at cricket and George Saunders short story 'Thursday' seem like a distant comparable, granted. However, the two are connected by a single word, or words: pummel, pummelled, pummeling. Enjoy the read
njspeak.substack.com/p/india-wins...
njspeak.substack.com/p/india-wins...
India wins in Rajkot
India pummels England. Jaiswal pummels Anderson & co, Jadeja pummels everyone, even his own. A story of being pummelled.
njspeak.substack.com
February 21, 2024 at 2:05 AM
India beating England at cricket and George Saunders short story 'Thursday' seem like a distant comparable, granted. However, the two are connected by a single word, or words: pummel, pummelled, pummeling. Enjoy the read
njspeak.substack.com/p/india-wins...
njspeak.substack.com/p/india-wins...
The evolution of a cricketing career, Test cricket no less:
First, to survive, to swim and not sink. Then build carefully and be there to thrive. As you thrive, be sure to protect what you've built because one day it will be gone.
Survive, build, thrive, protect
njspeak.substack.com/p/survive-an...
First, to survive, to swim and not sink. Then build carefully and be there to thrive. As you thrive, be sure to protect what you've built because one day it will be gone.
Survive, build, thrive, protect
njspeak.substack.com/p/survive-an...
Survive and Succeed
Ben Stokes survived, built, and thrived his way to 100 Tests
njspeak.substack.com
February 15, 2024 at 4:22 AM
The evolution of a cricketing career, Test cricket no less:
First, to survive, to swim and not sink. Then build carefully and be there to thrive. As you thrive, be sure to protect what you've built because one day it will be gone.
Survive, build, thrive, protect
njspeak.substack.com/p/survive-an...
First, to survive, to swim and not sink. Then build carefully and be there to thrive. As you thrive, be sure to protect what you've built because one day it will be gone.
Survive, build, thrive, protect
njspeak.substack.com/p/survive-an...
“How Taylor Swift wins Super Bowl LVIII”
A parody, conspiracy theories, a master coach, Tay Tay Swift and big Trav Kelce, the poster boy of Woop Woop!
“OK, serious hat on. This, the Super Bowl, is the "Greatest Show on Turf." Some words…
njspeak.substack.com/p/how-taylor...
A parody, conspiracy theories, a master coach, Tay Tay Swift and big Trav Kelce, the poster boy of Woop Woop!
“OK, serious hat on. This, the Super Bowl, is the "Greatest Show on Turf." Some words…
njspeak.substack.com/p/how-taylor...
How Taylor Swift wins Super Bowl LVIII
For the Kansas City Chiefs and Andy Reid; forget Trav Trav Kelce, he's just a 'loose end'
njspeak.substack.com
February 11, 2024 at 9:10 PM
“How Taylor Swift wins Super Bowl LVIII”
A parody, conspiracy theories, a master coach, Tay Tay Swift and big Trav Kelce, the poster boy of Woop Woop!
“OK, serious hat on. This, the Super Bowl, is the "Greatest Show on Turf." Some words…
njspeak.substack.com/p/how-taylor...
A parody, conspiracy theories, a master coach, Tay Tay Swift and big Trav Kelce, the poster boy of Woop Woop!
“OK, serious hat on. This, the Super Bowl, is the "Greatest Show on Turf." Some words…
njspeak.substack.com/p/how-taylor...
This dates back to March 10, 2022
Some words on Shane Warne, the greatest of all - and an illusionist who showed up to help a fellow tweaker
njspeak.substack.com/p/on-warne-t...
Some words on Shane Warne, the greatest of all - and an illusionist who showed up to help a fellow tweaker
njspeak.substack.com/p/on-warne-t...
On Warne, the greatest of all
And, an illusionist who showed up to help a fellow tweaker ...
njspeak.substack.com
February 8, 2024 at 11:51 PM
This dates back to March 10, 2022
Some words on Shane Warne, the greatest of all - and an illusionist who showed up to help a fellow tweaker
njspeak.substack.com/p/on-warne-t...
Some words on Shane Warne, the greatest of all - and an illusionist who showed up to help a fellow tweaker
njspeak.substack.com/p/on-warne-t...
There’s a variant of cricket called ‘Bazball’ it’s confusing, try not to worry. This might help…
“Few could have prophesied the impact of such a simple concept; just do everything you're not supposed to, create chaos, and leave opponents to clean up the mess”
njspeak.substack.com/p/bazbollocks
“Few could have prophesied the impact of such a simple concept; just do everything you're not supposed to, create chaos, and leave opponents to clean up the mess”
njspeak.substack.com/p/bazbollocks
njspeak.substack.com
February 8, 2024 at 9:56 PM
There’s a variant of cricket called ‘Bazball’ it’s confusing, try not to worry. This might help…
“Few could have prophesied the impact of such a simple concept; just do everything you're not supposed to, create chaos, and leave opponents to clean up the mess”
njspeak.substack.com/p/bazbollocks
“Few could have prophesied the impact of such a simple concept; just do everything you're not supposed to, create chaos, and leave opponents to clean up the mess”
njspeak.substack.com/p/bazbollocks
Cricket and Tennis each face their own share of identity crisis syndrome. In their own small way, the extraordinary performances of Shamar Joseph, Ollie Pope, and Jannik Sinner helped their teams/sports regain relevance in a chaotic global sporting landscape.
njspeak.substack.com/p/joseph-the...
njspeak.substack.com/p/joseph-the...
Joseph, The Pope, and the Sinner
That's Shamar, Ollie, and Jannik.
njspeak.substack.com
February 8, 2024 at 12:02 AM
Cricket and Tennis each face their own share of identity crisis syndrome. In their own small way, the extraordinary performances of Shamar Joseph, Ollie Pope, and Jannik Sinner helped their teams/sports regain relevance in a chaotic global sporting landscape.
njspeak.substack.com/p/joseph-the...
njspeak.substack.com/p/joseph-the...
Well that’s it. Bluesky open for biz, this surely means more followers
If cricket interests you or an anglo-Aussie take on US sport, or even some random ramblings, then I’m worth a follow 👍🩵
Pop your email here …
njspeak.substack.com
If cricket interests you or an anglo-Aussie take on US sport, or even some random ramblings, then I’m worth a follow 👍🩵
Pop your email here …
njspeak.substack.com
A place to read and share cricket news, stories, and other sports.
njspeak.substack.com
February 7, 2024 at 10:25 PM
Well that’s it. Bluesky open for biz, this surely means more followers
If cricket interests you or an anglo-Aussie take on US sport, or even some random ramblings, then I’m worth a follow 👍🩵
Pop your email here …
njspeak.substack.com
If cricket interests you or an anglo-Aussie take on US sport, or even some random ramblings, then I’m worth a follow 👍🩵
Pop your email here …
njspeak.substack.com
What’s your position on the ‘water and hydration economy’?
Hope this helps…
njspeak.substack.com/p/pass-me-th...
Hope this helps…
njspeak.substack.com/p/pass-me-th...
Pass me the water...
Hydration, Like Golf, is Best Enjoyed with Flexibility and Fun in mind
njspeak.substack.com
January 26, 2024 at 11:51 PM
What’s your position on the ‘water and hydration economy’?
Hope this helps…
njspeak.substack.com/p/pass-me-th...
Hope this helps…
njspeak.substack.com/p/pass-me-th...
Confused and irritated by cricket's Decision Review System?
Absolutely!
Some words on that and the recent AUS vs Pakistan series
#AUSvsPAK
njspeak.substack.com/p/pakistan-a...
Absolutely!
Some words on that and the recent AUS vs Pakistan series
#AUSvsPAK
njspeak.substack.com/p/pakistan-a...
January 10, 2024 at 5:43 AM
Confused and irritated by cricket's Decision Review System?
Absolutely!
Some words on that and the recent AUS vs Pakistan series
#AUSvsPAK
njspeak.substack.com/p/pakistan-a...
Absolutely!
Some words on that and the recent AUS vs Pakistan series
#AUSvsPAK
njspeak.substack.com/p/pakistan-a...
My SpeakingNick—2023.
A collage of 'my' top ten most enjoyable posts of the year.
njspeak.substack.com
January 2, 2024 at 4:27 AM