The BYC Podcast

Behind every great sports team is someone the fans never see. For the Black Caps, since 2011, that someone has been Mike Sandle, the team manager described by some as the glue that holds the whole thing together. Twenty-four years in the New Zealand Police (Armed Offenders Squad, dog handling, gang intelligence) before cricket came calling. Present for some of the darkest days in modern NZ cricket history, including the infamous 45 all out at Cape Town in 2013, and for the golden era of Test series wins in India and England that followed. In a rare long-form interview, Mike joins Dylan Cleaver and Paul Ford on The BYC to reflect on the whole arc. He explains what actually transferred from the Police into sports team management, takes us back to the night in Brendon McCullum's hotel room after the Cape Town 45 all out that changed everything, and reflects on the secret sauce behind the golden era of NZ cricket. There's also the essential Sandle character content: the great nickname and who came up with it, the case for New Plymouth as New Zealand's most liveable city (chimney? Wind Wand? Rewa Rewa Bridge? Volcano fear?), the alchemy between manager, coach and captain across different eras, whether he'll be spending a week in Noosa between the second and third tests of the AUS tour, and the honest question, is arresting criminals or dealing with a grumpy Tim Southee harder? Plus the reverent-reflective conversation about the 2019 World Cup Final aftermath, the moments when he's looked around the dressing room and thought "how did we do that?", and whether he dares to dream about the feeling at the end of the Sydney Test in January. Peak insider-access cricket content. The kind of conversation only the BYC can land. Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The BYC Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On another emergency episode of The BYC Podcast, Dylan Cleaver & Paul Ford join ACC Head G Lane to discuss the absolute scenes in Darwin as the Bangers mashed the Aussies (00:00)! So where do the Aussies go from here? Then, a quick wrap on the rest of the cricket news from around the globe (23:00), including India vs Sri Lanka, Steady The Ship winning The Hundred (27:30), some NZ domestic schedule news (32:30), plus a quick trip to Paul Ford's Cricket Violence Corner (36:00)! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The BYC Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this special episode of The BYC Podcast, Dylan Cleaver, Paul Ford and ACC Head G Lane are joined by Black Cap Fast Bowler and Great New Zealander Blair Tickner (00:00)! Blair Tickner has had a comeback year worth remembering. Recontracted for 2026–27, Wickets against England during a historic series win, and coach Rob Walter saying he's "added new levels" to his game. Not bad for someone who two years ago wondered if the Black Caps' journey was over... They cover the England series (including what it was like being on the receiving end of a Jofra Archer bouncer, and whether the concussion protocols allowed for a proper series-win celebration), what it takes to come back from two years out of international cricket at 32, the specific technical adjustments that have made the second stint feel different from the first, and what actually makes Central Districts the greatest domestic cricket side in the world. They also get into Blair's distinctive bowling action and whether any coach has ever tried to "fix" it, the wickets awaiting the Black Caps in Australia, and where he sits on the NZ20 franchise league debate. Plus, the barista life at the 13th Stag cafe, first-cricket-bat memories, and pre-spell rituals. Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The BYC Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The BYC Podcast, Dylan Cleaver & Paul Ford join ACC Head G Lane to review the strangely compelling ODI series between the Black Caps and the West Indies (00:30)... They then get into what's next for the Black Caps (12:00). Next, they pay tribute to the great Sir Garfield Sobers who passed away earlier this week (13:50), before touching on Luke Ronchi leaving the Black Caps (23:40), some classic ICC tournament shenanigans (25:00) and the all-important MLC MVP update (27:45)!  Plus, all your favourite furniture including Paul Ford's Cricket Violence Corner & Bat Book Chat (33:30)! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The BYC Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.