The Bowler’s Union Podcast
Hosted by ex professional cricketer and now Derbyshire Bowling Lead Coach Chris Wright and Warwickshire's star left armer seamer Keith Barker, this is a podcast for bowlers who want to understand the game properly.
From bowling tips you can actually use, to interviews with players who’ve lived it, plus honest insight into what really matters at the top level — this is cricket talk without the noise.
If you love bowling and live for cricket, you’re in the right place.
Episodes

Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
In this guest episode we chat with the legendary bowling coach Graeme 'Pop' Welch.
Pop is a fantastic coach (we both agree). He has coached us at Essex, Warwickshire and Hampshire. Pops coaching style is based on an individuals needs so sessions can look very different from each others but they are underpinned by his philosophy of hard work and being a good teammate. He has strong values and is a philosophical guy!
Pops coaching CV is very impressive and he has lead bowling units to trophies in every format of the game including, most recently, the hundred with the Southern Brave. This isn't by accident as he really emphasises a strong culture and creating a bowling unit wherever he goes! His advice is gold!
We hope you enjoy the podcast as much as we enjoyed recording it. If this is the case please leave us a 5* review and share it with someone you think will benefit! Also subscribe and follow us on our social media platforms! If you want to watch the episode then subscribe to our YouTube page. Be part of The Bowlers Union!
All the best
Wrighty and Barks
@thebowlersunion
This episode is brought to you in association with Gray-Nicolls! Without doubt the best cricket company in the world. We are delighted they support us and you can receive a discount off their amazing products. Visit their website Gray-Nicolls | Cricket Bats | Loyalty Points | Free UK Shipping and claim your discount using the code here! A_TBUP20

Wednesday Feb 14, 2024
Wednesday Feb 14, 2024
On this episode we discuss how to bowl a great line!
We discuss, what your default line should be and where to start. We look at which conditions you might bowl straighter or slightly wider in, as well as what line we would bowl in club cricket.
Finally, we talk about how to practice bowling a better line.
We hope you enjoy the podcast as much as we enjoyed recording it. If this is the case please leave us a 5* review and share it with someone you think will benefit! Also subscribe and follow us on our social media platforms! Be part of The Bowlers Union!
All the best
Wrighty and Barks
This episode is brought to you in association with Gray-Nicolls! Without doubt the best cricket company in the world. We are delighted they support us and you can receive a discount off their amazing products. Visit their website Gray-Nicolls | Cricket Bats | Loyalty Points | Free UK Shipping and claim your discount using the code here! A_TBUP20

Wednesday Feb 07, 2024
Wednesday Feb 07, 2024
In this legend/icon episode we chat with our former Warwickshire teammate Rikki Clarke.
Rikki is a former England international and county cricket legend who has represented Surrey, Derbyshire and Warwickshire. Rikki has been a really dependable performer over his career and has won multiple trophies with Surrey and Warwickshire in particular. He burst onto the scene in the early 2000s, however his bowling really peeked later in his career after his move to Warwickshire which we discuss. He has a staggeringly good T20 economy rate of 7.55 often bowling straight through the powerplay! He credits lots of his success to working with a great coach, putting in the yards and doing lots of target bowling.
He is a class act and great bloke who loves to chat about the game. He was a pleasure to chat to and we think you listeners will really enjoy what he has to say about his path to success and becoming a force with the ball!
Rikki has a coaching academy for all ages and abilities worth checking out! You can find information on Instagram @rikkiclarkecricketacademy and follow his personal account @rikkiclarke81
We hope you enjoy the podcast as much as we enjoyed recording it. If this is the case please leave us a 5* review and share it with someone you think will benefit! Also subscribe and follow us on our social media platforms! If you want to watch the episode then subscribe to our YouTube page. Be part of The Bowlers Union!
All the best
Wrighty and Barks
@thebowlersunion
This episode is brought to you in association with Gray-Nicolls! Without doubt the best cricket company in the world. We are delighted they support us and you can receive a discount off their amazing products. Visit their website Gray-Nicolls | Cricket Bats | Loyalty Points | Free UK Shipping and claim your discount using the code here! A_TBUP20

Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
On this episode we discuss why you need to have a stock ball!
We discuss, what is a stock ball is? Why a stock ball is so important, and how it is the cornerstone of your whole gameplan!
Finally, we suggest how you can work out what the right stock ball for you is?!
We hope you enjoy the podcast as much as we enjoyed recording it. If this is the case please leave us a 5* review and share it with someone you think will benefit! Also subscribe and follow us on our social media platforms! Be part of The Bowlers Union!
All the best
Wrighty and Barks
@thebowlersunion
This episode is brought to you in association with Gray-Nicolls! Without doubt the best cricket company in the world. We are delighted they support us and you can receive a discount off their amazing products. Visit their website Gray-Nicolls | Cricket Bats | Loyalty Points | Free UK Shipping and claim your discount using the code here! A_TBUP20

Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
On this episode we discuss one of the fundamentals of bowling, length!
We discuss, what is a good length? Is a good length the same in all conditions, at all levels and across all formats?
We look at a couple of situations where your length could be different from batter to batter, and how slopes can make finding the right length challenging!
Finally, we sum up how we try to establish what the right length is at any given match and give some advice on how you can improve your length bashing in training!
We hope you enjoy the podcast as much as we enjoyed recording it. If this is the case please leave us a 5* review and share it with someone you think will benefit! Also subscribe and follow us on our social media platforms! Be part of The Bowlers Union!
All the best
Wrighty and Barks
@thebowlersunion
This episode is brought to you in association with Gray-Nicolls! Without doubt the best cricket company in the world. We are delighted they support us and you can receive a discount off their amazing products. Visit their website Gray-Nicolls | Cricket Bats | Loyalty Points | Free UK Shipping and claim your discount using the code here! A_TBUP20

Friday Jan 19, 2024
Friday Jan 19, 2024
In our first interview episode we chat with Chris Wood.
He is Hampshire CCC's leading all-time T20 wicket taker. This is quite some achievement and he has lead the bowling attack during the county's most successful period in its history, opening the attack and closing games out at the death. He personally has 3 T20 titles and 2 one-day cup titles in his trophy cabinet.
Not only is he a superb bowler he's a good bloke which we love. He was a pleasure to chat to and we think you listeners will really enjoy what he has to say about his success and some of his methods. We try and unpick his mindset and he tells us what he thinks about the current trend in death bowling.
Chris has a testimonial this year at Hampshire and you can find information on it on Instagram @chriswoodt24 and follow his personal account @cwood25
We hope you enjoy the podcast as much as we enjoyed recording it. If this is the case please leave us a 5* review and share it with someone you think will benefit! Also subscribe and follow us on our social media platforms! Be part of The Bowlers Union!
All the best
Wrighty and Barks
@thebowlersunion
This episode is brought to you in association with Gray-Nicolls! Without doubt the best cricket company in the world. We are delighted they support us and you can receive a discount off their amazing products. Visit their website Gray-Nicolls | Cricket Bats | Loyalty Points | Free UK Shipping and claim your discount using the code here! A_TBUP20

Monday Jan 15, 2024
Monday Jan 15, 2024
This episode is a little introduction to The Bowlers Union and what our plans are for future episodes. We have so much experience and knowledge to share with our listeners, earned the hard way through our long cricket careers. Whether you want practical tips to improve your bowling, or just want listen and love cricket this podcast will be for you!
This episode is brought to you in association with Gray-Nicolls! Without doubt the best cricket company in the world. We are delighted they support us and you can receive a discount off their amazing products. Visit their website Gray-Nicolls | Cricket Bats | Loyalty Points | Free UK Shipping and claim your discount using the code here! A_TBUP20




