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Hitman for Hire: A year in the life of a franchise cricketer Sam Keir & David Wiese
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- Sport
Join pro-cricketer David Wiese for an insight into cricket’s biggest leagues previously reserved for the sport’s superstars. Hitman for Hire: A year in the life of a franchise cricketer invites listeners to join David as he travels the world from one T20 gig to another. In candid conversations with host, Sam Keir, David reveals the truth about life on and off the pitch at the Indian Premier League, Major League Cricket, The Hundred and other high-profile tournaments.
Discover which player was picked up in his Bentley while the rest of the squad waited for the team bus, which tournament to save your best performances for if you’re hoping for a big-money IPL deal, and what is fast replacing golf as the professional cricketer’s day-off activity of choice. Learn how abuse on social media is affecting players, how batters change their approach when qualification is no longer possible, and what cricket’s big names really think of the big issues impacting the game.
Go behind the dressing room door with Hitman for Hire: A year in the life of a franchise cricketer.
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T20 World Cup Qualifier
It's late November 2023 and - away from the glitz and glamour of the big franchise leagues - David is representing Nambia in their bid to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup. We find out why a franchise cricketer earning big money still chooses to turn out for an adopted nation in relatively low-key qualifying tournaments, and explore the reality of life for those associate cricketers without David's profile. We also hear how David is coming to terms with not being retained for the 2024 IPL.
Also on the agenda: the cutthroat nature of associate cricket, parents watching on from camping chairs, choosing Namibia over the riches of the Abu Dhabi T10, finding belonging in an otherwise transient existence, sharing rooms with teammates, being the big name player at a tournament, cricket vs. football in Africa, messages from the Namibian president and talk of the 2026 T20 World Cup terrifying David's wife!
David's stats from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier: https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/tournament/averages-batting-bowling-by-team/icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-africa-region-qualifier-2023-24-15904?team=28
David's post match interview after Namibia secured qualification for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubj4R-JmNfo&t=59s
COMING SOON: Bonus episode! David will be answering YOUR questions about the life of a franchise cricketer. Get in touch via the methods below.
Follow the show:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hitman_pod/
X: twitter.com/hitman_pod
Get in touch:
Email: hitmanforhirepod@gmail.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sam-keir-aa043078/
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Hitman at Home
It's November 2023 and David is at home in Pretoria. After more than eight months of almost uninterrupted travel, he's finally had the chance to enjoy an extended spell at home. As well as exploring what a franchise cricketer gets up to when he's not at a tournament, the conversation digs deeper into David's relationship with the sport that has become his livelihood.
Also on the agenda: not being recognised by your kids, the anxieties of unemployment, why loving the game can be bad for your career, ignoring the Cricket World Cup, relying on favours from the local team to stay in nick, a one-man mission to save the yorker, dismaying South African rugby fans, why you should keep your chats in the gym brief, hustling for the next gig and being your agent's 'small dog'.
COMING SOON: Bonus episode! David will be answering YOUR questions about the life of a franchise cricketer. Get in touch via the methods below:
Follow the show:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hitman_pod/
X: twitter.com/hitman_pod
Get in touch:
Email: hitmanforhirepod@gmail.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sam-keir-aa043078/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
The Hundred
COMING SOON: Bonus episode! David will be answering YOUR questions about the life of a franchise cricketer. Get in touch via the methods below.
It's September 2023, and David has recently returned from playing for Northern Superchargers in English cricket's other short-form competition. The Hundred has provoked plenty of debate since its inception in 2021, so it was perhaps appropriate that - as well as looking back at his experience in the tournament itself - David gave a player's view on some of the issues surrounding the wider franchise game.
On the agenda: how quickly the wheels can come off a campaign, the blame game, how players respond to a new format, building a team brand from scratch, quick maths in run chases, lifestyle vs. cash, friendly rivalry with the women's team, the dangers of a bad attitude, Hamilton in the West End, team BBQs, Tik Tok and the franchise bubble reaching bursting point.
David smashes 54 off 25 balls in a thrilling win against Trent Rockets: https://youtu.be/XMBjYNoXBQI?si=SJBvABOG9k3wjLAn&t=257
Handing out bucket hats to the kids of Leeds: https://youtube.com/shorts/tjWj9RHDsk4?si=IHpGKvNVG1YJ2EmS
David's tournament stats: https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/tournament/averages-batting-bowling-by-team/the-hundred-men-s-competition-2023-15216?team=6676
Follow the show:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hitman_pod/
X: twitter.com/hitman_pod
Get in touch:
Email: hitmanforhirepod@gmail.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sam-keir-aa043078/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
Major League Cricket
COMING SOON: Bonus episode! David will be answering YOUR questions about the life of a franchise cricketer. Get in touch via the methods below.
It's August 2023 and David has recently left the USA where he was playing for MI New York in the first edition of Major League Cricket. We discover how the American people responded to the tournament, how players made the most of American culture and plenty more.
On the agenda: playing cricket at baseball stadiums, no nets to train in, tech finance, catching without mitts, singing the Star Spangled Banner, accessorising the Texan way, adopted Americans (via Durham and Durban), the English summer under threat, possibly the greatest T20 innings of all time, 2am Zoom calls and a night at the rodeo.
David's stats from the tournament: https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/tournament/averages-batting-bowling-by-team/major-league-cricket-2023-15244?team=7081
David takes two crucial diving catches in the Eliminator: https://youtu.be/wNo-j_fRkgQ?si=smdTirIrktAskeyO&t=1287
Follow the show:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hitman_pod/
X: twitter.com/hitman_pod
Get in touch:
Email: hitmanforhirepod@gmail.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sam-keir-aa043078/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
Vitality Blast
COMING SOON: Bonus episode! David will be answering YOUR questions about the life of a franchise cricketer. Get in touch via the methods below.
It's the end of June 2023, and David and his Yorkshire Vikings have one game remaining in the group stage of the Vitality Blast. David has had a decent tournament with bat and ball, but his role off the pitch at a club still dealing with the aftermath of a racism scandal has been almost as important. He highlights the many differences of playing for a county when compared to the newer franchise teams.
On the agenda: random breaks for four-day cricket, being one of just two overseas players, points deductions, IPL stars desperate to play in the Blast, players missing games after getting stuck on the motorway, taking the field at club grounds, the Roses match, managing commitments in overlapping tournaments and more to boot!
David's stats from the 2023 Vitality Blast: https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/tournament/averages-batting-bowling-by-team/vitality-blast-2023-15160?team=1515
David rescues the Vikings against Leicestershire: https://youtu.be/PxOyc5ZTcqc?si=FtppmWZQ1NE_ZSAN&t=157
Follow the show:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hitman_pod/
X: twitter.com/hitman_pod
Get in touch:
Email: hitmanforhirepod@gmail.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sam-keir-aa043078/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
Indian Premier League (part two)
COMING SOON: Bonus episode! David will be answering YOUR questions about the life of a franchise cricketer. Get in touch via the methods below.
It's May 2023 and David looks back at a disappointing IPL for him and his team Kolkata Knight Riders. He discusses adjusting to being part of a squad but not playing regularly, and gives an insider's view of how a team reacts when things don't go their way.
On the agenda: birthday cake in the face, entering the orbit of MS Dhoni, social media scrutiny, unpopular coaching styles and dressing room disquiet, outrageous displays of wealth, sharing a drink with a Bollywood star, the role of the all-rounder under threat, batters playing for themselves, year-round contracts, and team owners vs. the BCCI!
The DRS decision David still can't believe went against him (13m24s): https://www.iplt20.com/video/48668/m33-kkr-vs-csk--match-highlights?tagNames=2023
David's stats from the tournament: https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/tournament/averages-batting-bowling-by-team/indian-premier-league-2023-15129?team=4341
Follow the show:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hitman_pod/
X: twitter.com/hitman_pod
Get in touch:
Email: hitmanforhirepod@gmail.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sam-keir-aa043078/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices