We've been talking for ages about the concept of the Housecast Dream teamm so here it is. Picking the best Lowerhouse XI.

Here are the rules:

- Pick your best 11 who have played over 30 games in the last 50 years.

- 10 amateurs.

- 1 professional.

Stan wanted a team per decade, but we don't have all year. We've had some great submissions from our loyal listeners and some sent in from ringers... wink, wink, Hopey.

Part 1, we talk through batters and the keeper. It gets slightly heated.

Part 2 to come later.

Enjoy

A throwback as a bonus episode with video for those who listen on Spotify.

Lancashire Cricket is delighted to announce that the winner of The Energy Check Game Changer of the Month Award for June, is The Housecast Podcast from Lowerhouse Cricket Club

The monthly initiative aims to recognise and reward the outstanding contributions made by individuals working in cricket across Lancashire every month, with a Game Changer of the Year to be named at Lancashire Cricket’s annual End of Season Awards. The Housecast Podcast was developed during the pandemic to try and keep Lowerhouse CC’s members involved with the Club and has gone on to become a standout success within the community. Since its inception, the idea to run a Lowerhouse CC podcast has continued to grow and evolve. The Podcast, which is recorded via Zoom sessions, has amassed almost 30,000 listeners from all parts of the world including Australia, South Africa and India. The Housecast Podcast consists of Adam Hope, Jez Hope, Gary Moorhouse, Matthew Stansfield, Joe Benduce, Joe Martin and the occasional special guest from the world of cricket. Special guests have included Ryan Harris (ex-Australian International and current Fast Bowling Lead for Delhi Capitals), Andrew McDonald (ex-Australian International and current Assistant Coach), and Kirti Azad (Indian Cricket World Cup Winner and current politician). Azad once played for Lowerhouse CC and the very next day became a World Cup Winner at Lord’s in 1983. The Podcast includes lots of old tales like this, as well as the funny side of recreational cricket. On behalf of The Energy Check, Adam and Joe M were presented with a cheque for £150 to purchase something which will assist Lowerhouse CC with the Club’s day-to-day running. The Housecast Podcast team also received a trophy to mark their achievement, from Lancashire Cricket all-rounder Steven Croft, and a complimentary stay at Emirates Old Trafford’s on-site Hilton Garden Inn for a domestic matchday. Upon receiving the Game Changer of the Month Award, Adam Hope said: “The Housecast Podcast is proud to receive this award. It is a great initiative from The Energy Check and Lancashire Cricket - as cricket, more than any other sport I feel, is all about volunteers and the work that they do. “The idea was born as we would always sit together in the bar and talk about old tales and catch up on what has gone on at the Club and we decided that it would be good to put those stories into podcast form. “Unfortunately, we also lost a lot of Lowerhouse CC history such as newspapers clippings and photographs in a house fire, so we wanted to build that back up while keeping our community involved. “We are a community heavy club and when the game was taken away due to COVID we thought this was another way of keeping our people happy, involved and updated on the Club’s business.” The Game Changer recognition programme affirms The Energy Check’s involvement and commitment to recreational and grassroots cricket in the North West, with Lancashire players awarding winners at their clubs. Andrew Brewer, Corporate Partnership Manager for The Energy Check commented: “The Housecast Podcast is a fantastic initiative and due to COVID-19 this initiative, for many I’m sure, has been a way of remaining engaged with the cricket club throughout a period where face to face contact has been limited and in some cases non-existent. "The team of volunteers who run the podcast should be immensely proud of what they have achieved to date and through the support of Game Changer of the Month we hope we can give back to the team to help develop this podcast further.” Lancashire Cricket all-rounder Steven Croft added: “Volunteers are an integral part of club cricket; they are the heartbeat really. Most professional cricketers come from these grassroots, and we would not be able to get to where we are without those people.

It’s autumn. There’s no cricket so we’re talking paddle, golf and the rest. No guests, like an acoustic live lounge session. We then get onto the Lowerhouse bird XI and start the debate on the best players, forming a team that have played in the last 50 years.

We draw the two latest Lowerhouse draws.

Many thanks as always to our sponsors:

Spoonful of Sweets – www.spoonfulofsweets.co.uk

Birchall Foodservice – www.birchallfoodservice.co.uk

Milltown Pies – www.facebook.com/MillTownPies/