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 all-time county greats. With 11,387 First Class runs and 534 First Class wickets under his belt, he retired from the professional arena in 2021. He won the County Championship with both Surrey and Warwickshire, and his impressive career culminated in 2 Test Matches and 20 ODI appearances for England - with many calling for more.

Now working as the Director of Cricket at King Edwards, Witley, Rikki joins the show to look back on his playing days, discuss his current role, and analyse a dismal English showing in the first two Ashes Tests.

Also on the episode, Hector and Mark give their thoughts on a recent pink ball trouncing and discuss the beauty of the ILT20, swiftly morphing into a winter Vitality T20 Blast.

Churchy's Sermon? A Fisher of wickets is the call for Adelaide...

A huge thank you to Rikki Clarke for joining us on this week's episode - here's hoping that Spurs can sort out their wage caps and start winning some home games!

Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a brand new cricket bat for the lucky winner of our weekly competition, and as always to Surrey County Cricket Club for allowing us to record at the Kia Oval.

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 best sports psychologists in the country. Now based at Brentford FC, Michael Caulfield spent over 15 years working alongside Hampshire CCC whilst also being involved with Sussex CCC, and continues to keep in touch and help cricket players across the country.

Michael talks about how he transitioned from being the Chief Executive of the Professional Jockeys Association to a sports psychologist, the best ways into the industry, and his advice to England on how best to stay mentally fit during the long breaks between Test Matches.

A huge thank you to Michael Caulfield for joining us on this week's episode - we hope to see him on the boundary edge next summer!

Also on the episode, in a poignant moment of recollection, Mark talks to Hector about the legendary Robin Smith, who passed away earlier this week. "The bravest player you could ever wish to see".

Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a brand new cricket bat for the lucky winner of our weekly competition, and as always to Surrey County Cricket Club for allowing us to record at the Kia Oval.

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 the internationally renowned sports artist, Andy Brown. Andy was the official artist at last year's IPL, and has put many iconic moments to canvas, including capturing Sir Jimmy Anderson's 700th wicket in Dharamshala, and later presenting the painting to the great himself.

Specializing in baseball and cricket, Andy has been travelling the world for over a decade, capturing live moments and immortalizing them on canvas. He joins the pod this week to discuss his journey so far, as well as to give his advice on how best to enter the industry.

You can check out his works by following the link below.

Church and Vickers also take you through their observations of the week: fixtures have been released for next summer's domestic season, and of course, we need to confront that first Test Match in Perth.

Churchy also delivers a sermon about celebrating Christmas Day.

A huge thank you to Andy Brown for joining us on this week's episode - excited to see where he goes next!

Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a brand new cricket bat for the lucky winner of our weekly competition, and also to Surrey County Cricket Club for allowing us to record at the Kia Oval, as always.

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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Link to Andy Brown's works: https://andybrownstadiums.com/

AB's Social media handle: @andybrownisanartist

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 connect with their roots. Friend of the podcast, Steve Couslon, joins the show to take us through his journey into Chaplaincy, and discusses the holy combination of cricket and worship.

As the Vicar of St Mark's, Kennington, and Chaplain of Surrey CCC, Steve couldn't be better placed to critique Mark Church's weekly sermons, offering a generous comparison in his conclusion.

Helping players and fans alike, Steve is an integral part of the Kennington community, and makes an important announcement on the episode.

Church and Vickers also take you through their observations of the week. Whilst Hector is once more sucked into a brief Ashes analysis, Mark touches on the success of a number of Surrey players around the world.

Churchy also delivers a sermon about his cricketing dreams of success down under and the beauty of the game.

A huge thank you to Steve Coulson for joining us on this week's episode, and we will look forward to reconnecting this summer.

Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a brand new cricket bat for the lucky winner of our weekly competition, and also to Surrey County Cricket Club for allowing us to record at the Kia Oval, as always.

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 none other than Australia's 'Voice of Summer'. Having joined ABC in 1973 and then Test Match Special 10 years later, Jim Maxwell brings over 50 years of experience in broadcasting and journalism to the Sunday Service.

Jim discusses his early career and tips for broadcasting, and clues Church and Vickers in on the one book that anyone interested in good sports writing must read.

The commentary legend also gives his take on the imminent Ashes. From injury issues and squad selection, to the importance of third umpires and the futility of the pink ball - it's an absolute belter of a preview.

Church and Vickers also take you through their observations of the week, touching on the ICC's decision to scrap any plans for a two-tier Test system, and of course, there is more from the West Australian.

Mark Church gives a fascinating sermon about cricket, life, and contemplating - ably aided by the genius writing of Surrey's Cam Steel.

A massive thank you to Jim Maxwell for joining the hosts this week - one of the great 30 minutes 'on air', and the perfect way to digest Ashes analysis.

Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a brand new cricket bat for the lucky winner of our weekly competition, and also to Surrey County Cricket Club for allowing us to record at the Kia Oval, as always.

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 cricketing royalty. As both player and journalist, this man is up there with the best of the best, offering unrivalled insight into the world of cricket media.

Michael Atherton joins the show to discuss his fascinating career in broadcasting and journalism; the transition from playing to journalism, how he balances his Sky Sports commentary and writing for the Times, and his advice to all young journalists looking to make a career in sport.

Church and Vickers also take you through the recent ECB Central Contracts, and what it means for the players, whilst also discussing the intensifying Ashes buildup.

Mark Church gives a poignant sermon on cricketers who fought in the war, and Hector discusses what he would do to put Mitchell Starc off his line and length at Perth.

A massive thank you to Michael Atherton for joining the hosts this week and offering his experience, and also to Surrey County Cricket Club for allowing us to record at the Kia Oval as always.

Another big thank you goes to our friends at Newbery Cricket, who are offering up a brand new cricket bat for the lucky winner of our weekly competition.

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 guests 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 were fortunate enough to chat with Emma Calvert, the Director of Women’s Cricket at Surrey County Cricket Club.

Emma provides a brilliant insight into the growing world of women’s sport, the recent professionalisation of women’s cricket, and the life of a Director of Cricket. Hear for yourself as Emma takes the hosts through just how much work goes on behind the scenes of a professional sporting outfit.

Mark and Hector discuss their observations of the week, centered around the bizarre scorecard from the first ODI between England and New Zealand, and Churchy gives a sermon on the use of technology in cricket.

And of course, thank you to our friends at Newbery Cricket for providing the ultimate cricketing prize for our weekly quiz.

Listen on to the end of the podcast to find out this week’s question, and send your answers to sundayservice.pod@yahoo.com.

Please also rate and review us on all platforms, and share each episode with like-minded cricket badgers.

Episodes will be released every Sunday at 11 am, so make sure to make some space in your download diaries.

See you next week!

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Welcome to the brand new cricket podcast, 'Sunday Service with Church and Vickers'.

In the opening episode, co-hosts Mark Church and Hector Vickers discuss what to expect from the series, and Hector interviews Mark on his broadcasting career with the BBC.

The hosts also give their cricketing observations of the week, and Mark opens his weekly segment, "The Church Sermon".

The podcast is delighted to be sponsored by Newbery Cricket, working together to host the ultimate cricket competition, with an exciting Christmas giveaway on offer.

Mark and Hector are keen to make this podcast as interactive as possible, so feel free to email us at sundayservice.pod@yahoo.com.

Also, follow us on our socials to keep up to date with guest announcements and episode details.

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Episodes will be released weekly, at 11 am each and every Sunday - get it in your download diaries!