‘2 Bats, 4 Balls’ hits Gilgandra’s airwaves

‘2 Bats 4 Balls’ is hosted by John Alchin and Matt Zell once a week, where they talk local, national, and international sport successes, fails, and even the odd mediocre tackle. Into their third week, the duo are enjoying their chats, and look forward to welcoming new guests every week.

“The first week we had the captain of the first grade Panthers in, and we’ll get him on throughout the season. This week we have ex-Bronco/Raider/Storm NRL player Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, for state of origin night,” Mr Alchin explained.

Each week they will interview a junior ‘Panther of the Week’ earlier on in the show, so the kids don’t need to wait up too late to hear their names. After talking all things local on the fields, the show then progresses into state, national, and international sport. In July, the show will feature some guests live from the UK.

“Matt’s going to the UK for his 50th birthday so, we have plans to get some of the Aussie players on their Ashes tour. They’re lined up already, and some are in the starting 11 so, some big names!”

The show’s origins derive from preliminary conversations together about being back in Gilgandra. “Matt and I were talking about the fact that we were both going home, to Gilgandra, about the same time,” explained Mr Alchin.

 “We’re both sport nuffies, really we are right into our sport, all different types of sport. So, we were just having a chat one day on the internet talking about different things including coming back to Gilgandra because we’ve both been away for many years – I’ve been away 32 years.”

The duo came up with the name and proceeded to pitch it to the local community radio station, where they got their regular Wednesday night spot.

While taking a little break at the end of July for school holidays, the show will continue throughout the year.