joe rogan The Experience recently hosted the Hollywood icon Russell CroweWhich led to a viral discussion where new zealandThe born actor took up the challenge of explaining the intricacies of cricket to the American audience.
Crowe’s passionate explanation of the different formats of the game, particularly the five-day Test match, surprised Rogan. Crowe not only explained the rules in detail, but also revealed his deep family ties to the game, and proudly named his famous cousins ββwho shaped his formative years. The segment became a fascinating cultural exchange that highlighted the deep differences between American and Commonwealth sporting cultures.
Hollywood legend Russell Crowe explains the three formats and rules of cricket to American podcast icon Joe Rogan
Crowe begins his explanation by distinguishing between the three major formats of cricket, starting with T20, the shortest and most accessible version, before moving on to the ODI format:
“Look, there are different variations of the game. You have T20, then you have one day… T20 means each team gets to bowl 20 overs. An over is six balls. So you have 20 overs with six balls that you bowl to the batting team and they have to try to score as many runs as they can and then you get to bat. So you have that version of the game which is very short, it’s in one evening. Maybe. Then you have a one-day game that probably starts in the afternoon and ends by 8 or 9 at night.” Crowe said.
Crowe also addressed one of Rogan’s basic questions about scoring, positing the cricket equivalent of the baseball ‘home run’:
Rogan asked: “Do you guys have home runs in cricket? Like one actually cracks the ball?” Crowe replied: “It’s called a six. Outside the park, it’s called a six. If you hit the ball over the fence without bouncing, you get six.”
Here is the video:
I never thought I’d see Russell Crowe explaining cricket to Joe Rogan on JRE.
FYI- Russell’s brother is Martin Crowe (New Zealand great)@mufaddal_vohra pic.twitter.com/T5aMWwBb0M
-Arun_Chhayachitra (@ArunSingh2207) 6 November 2025
Russell Crowe tells Joe Rogan the amazing concept of five-day Test cricket
Rogan’s biggest shock came when Crowe pointed out the duration of Test cricket, the traditional form of the game, which is played over five days. Rogan was clearly struggling to process the patience required for the result:
“But then you have the Test match and that’s what I grew up with… But the Test match is between two countries and it’s played for five days. And the idea is that both teams have to bat and bowl twice and whatever the result is at the end of the five days. Five days, man. Five whole days.” Crowe explained.
The concept of a five-day match was completely ‘foreign’ to Rogan. Crowe explained that the length creates an emotional rollercoaster that defines the format, calling it a ‘gentleman’s war’:
“But that five-day game, the way it fluctuates, once you get into it, it’s the only way you want to watch cricket because one moment your team can be way ahead… and then it will turn into a penny. And on the second day, things go really bad for your team. On the third day, you’ve got the lead again. The fourth day, it’s fantastic, man.” The Hollywood superstar said.
Rogan was stunned and finally finished his speech“Wow, this is crazy. There’s nothing like it here.”
Here is the video:
Russell Crowe teaching Joe Rogan about cricket is the best thing on the internet right now: pic.twitter.com/3jDM2WyXG3
– Marlbrome (@Marlbrome) 7 November 2025
Also read: England Test captain Ben Stokes reveals his surprising Hollywood connection
Family dynasty: New Zealand cricket captains Martin and Jeff Crowe
Crowe demonstrated his deep heritage in the game by proudly revealing his family’s great connection with New Zealand cricket. martin crow And Jeff CroweExplaining that sports was a major potential path for him before choosing acting:
“My cousin Martin was a great cricket player. He was the captain of New Zealand. My other cousin Jeffrey was also the captain of New Zealand. So I kind of grew up in a cricket-playing family and it was a way for me to potentially play cricket. But when you’ve got two of your cousins ββwho are as good, it’s a very crowded room.” Crowe concluded.
Here is the video:
#TIL Great New Zealand cricketer Martin Crowe and Hollywood actor Russell Crowe are cousins pic.twitter.com/aXi8y5C4mf
– ππππ (@anupr3) 10 November 2025
This connection, which linked the Gladiator star to the highest levels of international cricket, was clearly a source of pride. He mentioned Martin, who was the first player of the tournament at the World Cup, as a person of high ‘Key players’ In his time, cemented the idea that his family’s roots were intrinsically linked to the world of gentleman warfare.
Also read: Hollywood star Vishal Jackman reveals his favorite Indian cricketer
