The County Conversation: Championship season preview

Back for a third season, new presenter Melinda Farrell and The Cricketer's Nick Friend lift the lid on the big stories ahead of the campaign getting underway

The Cricketer's County Conversation podcast has returned for a third summer, starting with a preview of the new County Championship season.

Led by new presenter Melinda Farrell and The Cricketer's features writer Nick Friend, and including analysis from an award-winning team, the weekly show will highlight the best stories from across the men's and women's county game throughout the summer.

Episode one looks ahead to the men's red-ball campaign by discussing the Middle East crisis, the lottery around the pursuit of overseas players and Sussex's winter turmoil. And there are interviews with former Surrey and Northamptonshire seamer Matt Nicholson and Sussex's John Simpson.

Available to download weekly via Spotify, Acast, Apple and Amazon Music, episodes can also be accessed via The Cricketer's YouTube channel.

Ask your questions, submit story tips and feedback by emailing website@thecricketer.com, messaging us via X at @TheCricketerMag, or on Bluesky at @thecricketer.com.

The County Conversation podcast is sponsored by Dafabet, the world's leading online betting site. To find out more, visit dafabet.com.

Listen to episode one in its entirety below: