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-2026

You 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: sundayservice.pod@yahoo.com

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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 trailblazer in the sports turf industry.

Hailing from Christchurch, New Zealand, she made the jump over to England in 2022, where she began work for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.

In 2023, she led the first fully-female groundsteam in the UK, and prepared the wicket at Edgbaston for the first T20 of the women’s Ashes series.

Among a whole host of awards that she has racked up since joining the industry, perhaps the most notable one was winning this year’s Young New Zealander of the year.

Now, she is a director at the Grounds Management Association for Next Gen, and is into her third season on the groundstaff at Lords.

Meg Lay joins the show to chat through her incredible career in the grounds-world, the work she does to attract new people to the industry, and any advice that she has for people looking to join.

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 the omniscient 'Mother Cricket'.

A huge thank you to Meg Lay for making the time to come on this week's show and deliver such a fascinating insight into an industry that deserves far more time in the spotlight.

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-2026

You 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: sundayservice.pod@yahoo.com

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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-2026

You 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: sundayservice.pod@yahoo.com

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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: sundayservice.pod@yahoo.com

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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: sundayservice.pod@yahoo.com

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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: sundayservice.pod@yahoo.com

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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: sundayservice.pod@yahoo.com

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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: sundayservice.pod@yahoo.com

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