Blame game: unpacking World Cup recriminations

Corbin Middlemas and Xavier Doherty unpack the group-stage exit from every angle. Was it selection? Was it the bowling? Or was it simply a poorly timed injury crisis? The Steve Smith omission dominates the debate, while questions swirl around squad balance, generational transition and whether Australia truly prioritise T20 cricket. With Cummins and Hazlewood absent, did the attack lack bite? Is this a glimpse of life after the golden core? And what does Olympic qualification now mean for Australia’s short-form focus? Beyond the World Cup autopsy, the Sheffield Shield delivers drama — Scott Boland rips through WA, Sam Harper posts twin tons, and Tasmania’s sub-rule controversy raises eyebrows. In the One-Day Cup, the race for the final spot tightens, while Georgia Voll and the Australian women bounce back against India. Plus: BBL in India? Christmas Day cricket? Plenty to dissect. ABC Grandstand cricket commentator Corbin and special guest Xavier Doherty bring you all the highlights and match analysis to keep you up to speed. The pair discuss the key players and big issues that are dominating the cricket agenda, the latest in live fixtures with a hit of cricket banter. Catch every episode of ‘The ABC Cricket Podcast,’ hosted by Corbin Middlemas on ABC listen or wherever you get your podcasts, and get in touch with them on social media via @abc_sport This podcast was formerly known as ‘The Grandstand Cricket Podcast’