Balls, Bails, Banter with Stu and Jim

Stuart Austin
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Balls, Bails, Banter with Stu and Jim is a light-hearted, laugh-out-loud podcast celebrating the glorious chaos of village cricket at Dedham Cricket Club. Join lifelong club stalwarts Jim and Stu as they dive into the week’s matches, questionable umpiring decisions, heroic (and not-so-heroic) performances, and the timeless traditions that make grassroots cricket what it is. From collapsing batting orders and miraculous last-wicket stands to teas that outshine the cricket itself, nothing is off limits.

Episodes

  1. Oct 2

    Episode 12 - New Captain, Same Old Balls

    We’re back with another episode of Balls, Balls, Banter with Stu and Jim — and, unsurprisingly, things don’t stay sensible for very long! This week, we’re joined by the new captain, who talks us through his plans for the team, his hopes for the season, and presumably how he intends to keep this lot under control. Stuand Jim are also back with TenYouBallSack, how this quiz keeps on going, is anyone’s guess. Plus, we introduce a brand-new segment: The Cricket Court! ⚖️🏏 Our first case sees us putting sledging on trial. Is it an essential part of cricket? Harmless banter? Or just an excuse for grown men to say things they’d never dare say anywhere else? Expect cricket chat, questionable opinions, plenty of laughs and the usual amount of absolute balls.

  2. Sep 19

    Episode 11 - The Season’s Over… But Not Without Drama

    The stumps are back in the shed, the whites are being ignored until next April, and someone is still insisting they were “just unlucky” to get out. Stu & Jim are back to wrap up another season of amateur cricket, looking back at the highs, lows, dodgy decisions and completely avoidable disasters, while also turning their attention to next year and making plans that will almost certainly fall apart by May. We also head out on tour with Dedham CC, getting stuck into the stories, shenanigans and questionable cricketing decisions from their latest adventure. What happens on tour… probably shouldn’t stay on tour, otherwise we’d have nothing to talk about. And then comes the shocking announcement… 👀 It’s not the biggest news in the history of cricket, but it has left Jim nearly speechless — which, if you know Jim, is quite an achievement. What could possibly have happened? There’s only one way to find out… 🎙️ Balls, Bails & Banter — amateur cricket, questionable opinions and just enough truth to get us into trouble.

  3. Aug 20

    Episode 10 - Up North, Pant Problems and Someone’s got Nothing Left!

    Stu and Jim are joined by northern bowler Josh for a midseason episode packed with cricketing chaos, dressing-room opinions and the sort of club politics that have absolutely nothing to do with what happens on the pitch. The lads tackle the surprisingly divisive question of how to properly wear your pants, before turning their attention to the latest fines debacle — a seemingly minor incident that has triggered major schisms, competing factions and some serious questions about club governance. With tensions rising, allegiances shifting and the usual peripheral nonsense threatening to overshadow the cricket itself, this is Balls, Bails & Banter at its most midseason: petty disputes, strong opinions, questionable decisions and plenty of banter from the pavilion to the WhatsApp group.

  4. Jul 15

    Episode 9 - Australia Sent Us Their Best… We Gave Him Village Cricket & Tenuballsack

    Jim and Stu are back in the pavilion (pub) and this week they’re joined by their favourite Aussie export, who’s swapped scorching outfields for soggy Saturdays to spill the beans on the real differences between village cricket Down Under and in the UK. From rock-hard pitches and kangaroo dodging to tea breaks featuring beige buffets and mysteriously warm lager, nothing is off limits. Expect tales of sledging that cross hemispheres, baffling cricket traditions, and the eternal debate: who actually takes village cricket more seriously? And because no one asked for it (but everyone secretly loves it), the lads bring back another deeply questionable round of “Tenuballsack” — the game where dignity goes to die and absolutely no one knows the rules… including Jim. It’s sunburn vs suncream, pace vs pies, and chaos vs… more chaos. Strap in. It’s a long innings

  5. Jul 7

    Episode 8 - Mid break return and questionable game show material

    The boys are back! After a brief mid-season break, Jim and Stu catch up on what’s been happening off-mic before turning to the big talking point: Jim’s batting form. Is it a slump, a rough patch, or something more complicatedhigl in the crease? And just how do his batting stats stack up against his other performance metrics? From there, the episode moves into a lively, chaotic recap full of honest reflections and the usual banter, before Jim introduces a brand-new game segment he’s clearly very proud of. Stu, however, is far from convinced — especially when it comes to the name. Expect confusion, questionable logic, and plenty of laughs as “Balls, Bails & Banter” returns in full swing.

  6. May 26

    Episode 7 - Knight Fever & Team Sheet Terror

    This week on Balls, Bails & Banter, Jim and Stu find themselves rubbing shoulders with a knight of the realm—yes, actual cricketing royalty is in the house, and the lads aren’t quite sure whether to talk cover drives or curtsies. Jim, meanwhile, completely unravels at the mere mention of public school cricket, going weak at the knees as he romanticises blazers, perfectly rolled pitches, and the “proper way” to bat. Somewhere in the middle of it all, he also takes a detour to passionately explain how he “Cuba Libres” his wife—an anecdote that raises far more questions than it answers. Stu’s day goes from surreal to mildly traumatic as he discovers—live on air—that he might be getting dropped… not from the podcast, but from his cricket side. Or is he? Is it selection politics, bad form, or just a rogue glitch in the team WhatsApp system? Cue panic, denial, and a full-blown on-air investigation. Knighthoods, nostalgia, and selection drama—this episode has all the ingredients of a classic.

  7. May 11

    Episode 6 - Face Full of Leather, Wins & Losses… and ‘Vindaloo’ the Run Machine”

    Episode 6 of Balls, Bails and Banter with Stu and Jim delivers exactly what it promises—cricket chaos, questionable life choices, and plenty of laughs. This week, Jim relives the moment every cricketer dreads (and everyone else secretly enjoys) as he takes a ball straight to the face—yes, it’s as painful and as funny as it sounds. The lads also break down the team’s recent wins and losses, with the usual mix of sharp insight and completely unqualified opinions. But it’s not all carnage and comedy—we’re joined by a genuine Two Counties batting legend, a man who’s quietly (or not so quietly) racked up over 25,000 runs. He shares stories, secrets, and what it really takes to score big while the rest of us are just trying to middle one. Cricket chat, dressing room stories, and top-tier banter—Episode 6 is not to be missed.

  8. Apr 29

    Episode 5 - The one where a cricket podcast actually talks about cricket

    It’s opening day energy on Balls, Bails & Banter as Stu and Jim finally get their whites dirty for the first games of the season. There’s the usual mix of optimism, questionable fitness levels, and early-season chaos as the lads break down how their returns to the crease actually went (spoiler: not quite as planned). Jim also takes on a new role off the pitch, with his valiant attempts at groundsmanship coming under the spotlight. Despite his best efforts to prepare a wicket worthy of Lord’s, things don’t quite go to plan—leaving Stu equal parts amused and concerned as they unpack where it all went wrong. Beyond their own exploits, the boys dive into the latest from the County Championship, picking out early standouts, underperformers, and what it all might mean for England selection moving forward. Who’s putting their hand up for a call-up, and who’s already playing themselves out of contention? Plenty of laughs, a bit of cricket chat, and the usual nonsense—season’s back, and so are Stu and Jim.

  9. Apr 9

    Episode 4 - The Bearded Bandit of Dedham: Smoke, Swing & Questionable Protection

    This week on Balls, Bails & Banter, Stu and Jim are joined by Dedham CC’s very own chain-smoking, follically gifted pace machine—arguably the hairiest bowler to ever steam in off a short run-up. We dive into life at the crease (and in the smoking area), unpack the latest from the County Championship, and put our guest to the test with a gloriously daft game all about cricket’s most iconic beards. Elsewhere, Jim makes a truly baffling admission about his approach to box protection (or lack thereof), Stu questions everything he thought he knew about safety at the wicket, and things spiral—fast. Expect laughs, loose chat, and just enough cricket to keep it semi-legitimate.

  10. Mar 26

    Episode 3 - Bold Takes, Bad Calls & Jim Saying ‘My Bad’

    This week on Balls, Bails & Banter, Jim and Stu once again attempt to pass themselves off as cricket pundits—with all the confidence and none of the credentials. But the real story unfolds off the pitch. Jim has a lot to get off his chest, unloading a backlog of apologies ranging from questionable takes to even more questionable life decisions. It’s less a segment, more a full-blown clearing of the conscience. Then, things take a turn as the lads dive into the world of cricket widows—only for Jim to come face-to-face with his ultimate opponent… his own wife. What follows is less “banter” and more survival, as years of missed plans, ignored conversations, and “just five more minutes” come back to haunt him. Expect dodgy analysis, domestic tension, and a man very much fighting for his place back in the good books.

  11. Mar 9

    Episode 2 - Geek Out with Le Grand Fromage

    Stu and Jim are back with another episode of Balls, Bails & Banter, and this week they’re joined by the big cheese from Dedham CC — the club’s brand-new captain. 🏏 We start off sensibly enough, chatting about taking on the captaincy, what it means for the club, and what the season ahead might look like. But fair warning: what begins as a respectable cricket chat quickly descends into a full-blown cricket bat rabbit hole. Grains, profiles, pickups… the lot. Stu is fully in his element, while Jim slowly realises the episode has turned into a bat-nerds convention and his nose gets well and truly put out of joint. 😅 Expect captaincy chat, club cricket tales, and an alarming amount of bat banter as things get progressively geekier. Classic BBB chaos. 🎙️🏏

  12. Feb 19

    Episode 1 - Dreams and a Dormouse

    Welcome to village cricket at its finest. In this opening episode, we’re introduced to Jim and Stu of Dedham Cricket Club, as they welcome us into the world of Dedham CC — the players, the personalities, and the peculiar traditions that make the club tick. From tales of glorious cover drives to less-than-glorious collapses, Stu and Jim set the scene for life at the crease, sharing the hopes and ambitions shaping the club’s future. And then there’s the small matter of the badge… could a humble dormouse become the unlikely emblem of Dedham CC? Expect warm stories, gentle rivalries, big dreams — and plenty of banter. 🏏

  • 12 Episodes

About

Balls, Bails, Banter with Stu and Jim is a light-hearted, laugh-out-loud podcast celebrating the glorious chaos of village cricket at Dedham Cricket Club. Join lifelong club stalwarts Jim and Stu as they dive into the week’s matches, questionable umpiring decisions, heroic (and not-so-heroic) performances, and the timeless traditions that make grassroots cricket what it is. From collapsing batting orders and miraculous last-wicket stands to teas that outshine the cricket itself, nothing is off limits.

Information