August 4, 2025 • 59 mins
After 25 days of test cricket, Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler review a drawn series between England and India, and ask how it compares to the legendary Ashes of 2005.
What did they think of an injured Chris Woakes coming out to bat in a sling? How much praise does Mohammed Siraj deserve? And would you pick Joe Root or Shubman Gill to bat at four in your combined XI?
What a time to be a cricket podcaster.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
For us to even be mentioning this with 05 just shows it's
been just the best advert for for Test cricket.
Duckett was like morning, Mr. Angry, how are you?
How are you doing? Mr. Angry?
Smiling. And he had a Siraj had a big
smile on his face. So the England players were
calling him Mr. Angry because he's just so in the battle the
whole time. That must have been quite
emotional watching him walk out.The ovation was amazing.
(00:21):
It was emotional, I think because he's a great mate and a
great mate of yours. It was like wow, woke see mate,
this is this is amazing. It felt like the stadium was
rising for him, but he wouldn't have had it any other way.
He just wanted to get the business done.
Joe Root. Shipman, Gill.
Oh, I'm sure Broad just back from the Oval, where India won
(00:43):
their tightest ever Test match by six runs to level the series.
And he's Josh Butler up at Old Trafford ready to start the 100
tomorrow. Let's not hang around Jose.
Surely one of the most dramatic series of all time.
It's been unbelievable, hasn't it?
Absolutely loved it. As a fan of Test cricket, I
don't think we could have asked for more.
(01:03):
Every game was just so eventful,right down to the wire at day
525 days of cricket and from thefive Tests was in absolutely
amazing. And you know you were there
obviously talk us through it. What was the atmosphere like?
Obviously Full House even just for was it 36 to win do.
You know, I reminded me a littlebit of I was 1718 watching Edge
(01:25):
of Aston O 5, England, Australia, nowhere.
England one by one run arrived at the ground.
I was a little bit narky Sunday night because I thought that
crowd deserved to see the finishthat night.
There was a bit of a downpour and the umpires or whoever
called it 6:00 when the restart time could have been 642.
(01:45):
So I was at the train station at622.
Bright blue sky going home with all the cricket fans going, why
are we not playing cricket rightnow?
And so I was a bit like, oh, we should have just finished the
game because it it all the dramahad happened in the day.
But now on reflection, the dramaarrived again this morning, day
five. I thought England would do it.
(02:06):
If I'm brutally honest. I thought I arrived thinking
Jamie Smith are probably at a couple of boundaries.
It will all calm down. Indy will have to bring the
fielders in to to get wickets and then the runs just come
pretty freely. But it it was just one of those
perfect mornings where it clouded over the IT was a bit of
drizzle in the air. The ball was 76 overs old but
swazzed around all over the place sort of swing.
(02:28):
Seem you know, Jamie Overton started short ball 4 inside edge
4. So 8 from the 1st 2 balls you're
thinking happy days like done and dusted.
And then Jamie Smith had a bit of a waft a couple of times,
nicked 1/3 his third ball and that just changed everything.
Oh gosh, if you lose one more than Josh tongues in.
(02:48):
And then, oh, could we see Wokesy?
Would Wokesy bat? And I, I'd seen Rudy this
morning, I'd been doing an interview so Rudy had said to
me, yeah, Wokes your bat. Absolutely.
He's in. He'd been practicing in the Nets
left-handed, so knew he was going to come out and play
because he'd hurt his left shoulder.
So he didn't want his left shoulder.
The first sort of contact point I suppose.
(03:09):
The crowd, I'd say, felt majority India, felt majority
India. It was electric, the noise.
Just then, Siraj, who's been an absolute warrior all series,
just fed off that energy. Bang, he's suddenly up nipping
it around. When Jamie Smith nicked it, he
was the man. I thought if he gets 12 or 15,
quickly done and dusted. But when he nicked it, I
(03:31):
thought, oh, dear. OK, yeah.
You want to weigh it? And is that sort of how you felt
watching at home? Yeah, I'm a bit like, yeah, I
thought England would win. I was, I'm offsea, you know,
England plans. So you come with that optimism
that they can do it. And I say Jamie Smith's been in
great form all summer. And you thought, yeah, a couple
of boundaries early, settle it down and get there.
(03:52):
But, you know, full credit to India for hanging in there.
I watched, you know, a bit last night.
And, you know, with Brooke and Root, with such an incredible
partnership, you know, India, I'd say they looked beaten.
But you thought England were pretty much there, didn't you?
I thought they were. You have odds on favourites to
win the game, but just that one wicket of Brooke just sort of
(04:12):
brought the game back to life. Brooke, his dismissal was the
talking point, really. Yeah, the the game flipped on
his head. The England were cruising.
His bat was 25 yards in the air as well.
Just superb. It's an amazing picture, isn't
it? It was just fantastic to watch.
I just didn't know, you know, Once Smith was out, he felt the
game could go either way. And actually I wasn't sure
(04:36):
watching it like what was the best way for England to go about
for for Gus, you know, you've got everyone on the boundary, 2
catches, you know, maybe down to1 slip actually at the end, but
obviously bold LB and Nick off still in the game.
Like does he go for big shots? But everyone's on the boundary.
He couldn't really do what Jadeja did at Lourdes and sort
(04:57):
of maybe could have done that with Josh Tang, obviously trying
to make it a really long game and drag it out, but obviously
with Wokesy that was never goingto be an option.
He couldn't nick twos or anything because Woakes couldn't
run really. He was in such agony running one
run. So he had no option of trying to
nick it too early in the over and then get a field run
somewhere, find the boundary. He sort of had to hit a six or
(05:19):
bust, really. So it was a really tricky
situation, but there were some really big moments all the way
through the game. I thought, Nail on the head,
Brooke, with so much energy and momentum in the innings, got out
and then all the momentum fell away and and Bethel couldn't
quite get off strike. India were superb tactically.
(05:40):
And then he got out playing a big shot, which I know within
that change room, they much prefer that than getting out
blocking or, or trying to sort of guide 1 and nicking it.
So fair enough for the for the attempt to attempt to that shot.
But then Ruti went and it's likewe, I interviewed Brendan
McConnell, was in an interview with him after the game and I, I
(06:01):
could sense that he felt we weren't brave enough.
England weren't quite brave enough last night and this
morning, yeah, we tried shots but didn't have that full
commitment that he maybe expects.
And ultimately England will think a little bit unlucky with
Jamie Overton's dismissal. I think, you know, clipping the
edge of leg stump is a poor decision.
(06:24):
It's out because it's hitting the stumps.
So it's a poor decision. And you saw that the umpires
were under the pressure. Naturally the human beings crowd
was in, crowd was up. Indian bowlers appeal, the whole
stadium appealed. But we saw Josh Tung get and
shocker of an LBW that was givennot out because it was missing
leg stump, but but Jamie Overtonwas really on.
When you when you get out and it's clipping leg stump, you're
(06:44):
a bit like, seriously, aren't you?
You are just star. Yeah.
And you are. You are.
Absolutely, yeah. Basically like for you as a
bowler, I think because actuallyI was in the dressing room where
we were watching Jimmy, we were talking about, oh, Overton's
unlucky. And I'd say it's funny, isn't
how you feel unlucky as a batterthere?
It's just skipping. I said do you feel?
But if that goes the other way, do you feel unlucky as a bowler?
(07:07):
If that's not our. But he actually said that's a
lucky dismiss. Obviously there's a predictive
element of of Hawkeye and stuff,so it's not perfect, but yeah,
that was and they're big moment.I think that's what there's been
throughout the whole series and every game you there's so many
talking points and moments, you know, I think, you know, Siraj
has turned out to be the hero today and he got the the final
(07:27):
wicket and the Ronaldo celebration and and that moment.
But had England got over the line, you know, be the torture
of stepping on the rope, you know, that sort of yeah.
You go go to bed at night and just wake up like with a jolt
thinking, oh, I've got stepped on the rope again.
So there's so many moments like that throughout the whole series
and I think that's why it's beenso gripping.
(07:48):
It's just been so many talking points.
I think both sides now obviouslyas an England fan and England
will be disappointed not to to win the series having been in in
those positions. But you can't, I don't think you
can begrudge India a draw really.
I think, you know, it's they've played some brilliant cricket
and both teams have scored mountains of runs, you know, so
(08:11):
many hundreds in the series. And I think probably not quite
what we expected. I didn't expect at the start of
the series to for the bat to dominate the ball so much in
England. But we've played on some, you
know, very good batting wickets.It's been amazing to watch.
I think both sides, the effort and the sort of grit,
(08:33):
determination and everything that goes into Test cricket is
what probably makes it so unique.
I can't think of many other sports that, you know, throw up
these scenarios and you know, itcan meander along at times.
Yet the way the game can unfold and all these five Tests have
unfolded unbelievably well. It's been the just the best
(08:54):
advert for for Test cricket. Jacob Ben Down as one of the
greatest ever series. Certainly for yeah, I do,
absolutely. Obviously 05 was just massive,
wasn't it? And just being the Ashes.
And I think of very hard to judge errors and being a certain
(09:15):
age at that time where the players were just otherworldly,
you know, Shane Warne and all the Australian superheroes
didn't really seem real, did they?
And the fact that England took them on and and managed to beat
them. But so I think that will always
be the series. And I'm sure, like I said, get
the box set on a rainy day and watch the 05 Ashes.
(09:36):
But I think this will be a series that gets replayed and
replayed and talked about and and actually think about you've
gutted that you don't win the series as an England team.
But one of the great things thatthey have talked about and and
know when McCullum and Stokes took over, it was to it sounded
like an outlandish statement, didn't they?
We're going to save Test cricketand play away and put bums on
(09:58):
seats and entertain. And, you know, that series has
certainly done that. And India massively played their
part with, you know, and it's vital for Test cricket that
massive nation like India are sointo it, which they obviously
are. And listening to some of the
interviews after the game, it's,it's the pinnacle for everyone.
And it's it's awesome to see we're we're so lucky in England
(10:20):
to get those crowds that we do and the way it's supported.
But I think this is the kind of series that reverberates around
the world and really is a shocking answer.
For the game in the in the comicbox was saying in India everyone
would have stopped work right now.
Yeah, 4% or whatever it was at the closing time even the bosses
would have been like, do you don't dare work for me What you
(10:42):
go home and and watch this cricket.
So he feels like India would have come to a bit of a stop and
you do it. Yeah, IA 100% agree with you and
I probably wouldn't say said this well, I definitely wouldn't
have said this when I was playing, but 22 felt the fair
result. India deserves something out of
that series, if not a little bitmore than what they got to be
(11:02):
fair. You know, they played some
brilliant cricket throughout England were awesome at times as
well. But 22, I mean, trying to
explain that to American that you've played for six weeks
non-stop, 25 days solid and you've drawn the series.
But I I feel proud of England ofhow they've gone about it.
I feel proud of India of how howthey've gone about it in in
different conditions to what they're used to and enthralling
(11:26):
all the way through drama all the way through it.
And the drama continued until the very end with our great mate
Chris Woakes. I mean.
Yeah. How was that?
That's been quite emotional watching him walk out in that
that situation. Yeah, so I was back at the
commentary box, not due on Next,so I'm just watching from the
(11:47):
back of the commentary. Watch Josh Tongue got bold and I
saw Chris Woakes from across theother side of the ground stand
up. I thought, you know, I want to
hear this evasion, I want to hear what happens.
So I ran down the corridor, wentdown the side of the the media
centre and sort of lent on the wall, actually right next to TM
s s open window and just watchedhim walk out and the ovation was
(12:09):
amazing. It was emotional, I think
because he's a great mate and a great mate of yours.
It was like, wow, woke see mate,this is this is amazing.
It felt like the stadium was rising for him, but he wouldn't
have had it any other way. He just wanted to get the
business done. He was always going to go out
there brave. I sort of I'm glad he didn't
face a ball, but sort of would like to have seen what he'd had
(12:31):
done with it as well, like how he would have played it but.
Because he's going to do left hand, left-handed, one handed I.
Think left hand because he's right-handed dominant.
I think he was going to turn around left-handed.
Yeah, one handed, left-handed. And also then his bowling
shoulder was face the first contact point rather than his
dislocated shoulder. But it would have been the most
(12:52):
Chris Woakes thing ever. Like just stylish at everything
he does to have got a leg stump half volley left-handed and
drilled it through mid wicket for four, you know?
When he when he runs helmet off,quiff still perfectly intact,
not a bead of sweat. But.
And yeah, they say I'm in a way I am glad that he didn't face
the ball. But yeah, heroic effort.
Like you say, it was emotional watching him walk out.
(13:13):
It'd be one of those like iconicsort of moments.
Wasn't a bit of Terry Butcher with the headband and see him
wokes, he walk out there and it just shows how much, you know,
each person is willing to give for for it and, you know, saw
how much agony he was in just running to the other end and
stuff. So all credit to him to get out
(13:34):
there and and do that for the side.
It was, yeah. Like I say, it was emotional.
And another emotional moment was, you know, Ruti's hundred
and the celebration, you know, with his tribute to Graham
Thorpe. I thought that was quite a, a
really touching moment. Amazing know how much Graham
thought meant to to Ruti. So to be able to sort of pay
(13:54):
tribute to him in that way was really special, wasn't it?
Yeah, incredible. 39 Test hundreds the man's got now.
Just outrageous. We're watching greatness in
front of us. You know he is.
He is a phenomenal, phenomenal player.
Actually, in five Test match series, when every game goes to
the final day, they're tiring, aren't they?
Back-to-back games, you're exhausted, you try and find
(14:17):
little breaks where you can, butsuddenly you're back in the
Nets, you're back at the game. For him to go Test match 300,
Test match 400 Test match 500 amazing mental strength and
physical ability to be able to do that to get better through
the series. He said to me this morning he
thinks it's just experience. He knows how to deal with
(14:39):
everything now he's calmer. He he's knows what where his
energy should be, but to lead the batting group like he has
done. But that moment in particular, I
was actually on commentary with NASA.
He was 98, not out at tea. And NASA actually incredible
commentator, been around years, just sort of tapped me and said,
you know, if, if Rudy gets there, I think there'll be an
(15:00):
amazing ovation. Graham Thorpe meant a huge
amount to him. This whole Test match is about
Graham Thorpe, Surrey legend, England legend at the Oval.
You know, NASA was on lead, so he would call the through the
leg side 39th Test match hundred.
I was beyond colour where I would then fill in of the
detail. But he said let's I'll say that
(15:21):
bit and then let's just let it breathe.
Let's just let the viewers hear the crowd, hear the emotion.
See what Joe Root does commentary.
You don't have to talk the wholetime.
That seems a bit silly to say, but actually people want to
enjoy the what they see as well.They just want to sometimes be
in peace and get make up their own mind and thoughts in in
emotional moments. And that was amazing experience
(15:44):
from NASA to then pass on to me to say I'll go short, sharp
bang, then just be quiet and until the crowd stop their
applause. And I think that that was really
nice for me as a as a commentator to actually just
enjoy the moment for Rudy as well.
Just be able to celebrate the 100 clap along, see him get the
the Graham Thorpe sweatband headband out over his head, sort
(16:07):
of point to the sky Very, very poignant moment.
And I know that anyone who knew Graham Thorpe would have or or
watched Graham Thorpe or anything would have looked at
that moment gone. Wow, Joe Root, what a classy.
What a classy guy. Yeah, absolutely amazing, isn't
it? Yeah, I'm sort of taking the
Mickey a little bit here, but, you know, to be good enough to
(16:30):
go, do you know what the best tribute I can give Graham Thorpe
is the Test match. That's all about him.
I'll score 100 and put his headband on and, you know, have
a, a touching tribute to his hisgreat mentor.
And Thorpe, he did mean he'd meant a lot to everyone.
You know, he was a great, great coach, a great person to be
around. He gave so much to to English
(16:51):
cricket. But I think being Ruti's age,
you know, Ruti was always his favorite.
And I've just felt like he, he sort of earmarked Joe Root from
the very start. He saw something incredibly
special in him. They really bonded and had a, a
great connection. And he just put so much work in
with Ruti. And you know, they would spend
hours late at night talking stories of Test cricket and
(17:14):
batting and discussing differentthings that worked tirelessly in
the Nets. Hours and hours it was, you
know, difficult sometimes to getThorpy to throw out anyone else.
It is he obviously just works somuch for Rudy.
But you know, for, for Joe to beable to have that moment and,
you know, be able to pay tributeto, to Thorpy was like you say,
was so special. And I, I was watching that
(17:36):
moment. I love seeing the the milestones
and you know, like you say, watching greatness in front of
us. For me, Rudy's just gone to like
another level. Like I just I'm so in awe of the
guy and so inspired, but I had no idea that he would was going
to do something like that. And like you say, he's always
he's very aware of everything routine as much as he's going
along and trying to win the gamefor England, just to have the
(17:58):
presence of mind to, you know, have that tribute and and make,
you know, do that for Thorpey. I just thought was was awesome.
Like I say, what a what a man. And yeah, we're all, you know,
privileged to be watching him. And he's such a a great guy as
well, and ambassador for it also.
Yeah, very, very special. How about India's Talisman
(18:22):
Suraj? How do you sum up his sort of
heroic efforts throughout bowlerto play five matches as he did?
It's incredible, isn't it? Couldn't be more impressed with
him if I'm honest. You know, I think you have to be
careful with with cricketers like Mohammed Suraj where all
you talk about is heart, fire, spirit, drive.
(18:45):
He's incredibly skilful. You watch him set up batters and
he tries a couple of away swingers, not necessarily
looking to get them out. Then he does the wobble scene
back in to bring the stumps intoplay.
He's got brilliant players out throughout the series.
Root, Pope, Stokes, first ball at edge bust and he one of his
greatest strength is how much effort he puts in and how he
(19:07):
always turns up. He grabs the ball.
He wants to be in the action. Bit of a showman, you know, I
was on the pitch day 2 when Ben Duckett was just doing a few
sort of batting strokes and and Siraj was was doing a few mental
bowling things and he went Duckett was like morning Mr.
Angry, how are you doing? Mr. Angry Smiling.
(19:29):
And he had Siraj had a big smileon his face.
So the England players were calling him Mr. Angry because
he's just so in the battle the whole time.
But don't mistake like passion and heart for a lack of ability
because he sets up batters beautifully.
He bowls a length that nips back.
It brings the stumps into play that you can't get forward to.
(19:49):
And actually I thought he took the final wicket.
Gus Axon, brilliant off stump Yorker.
I was really worried that he would remember this Test match
for that drop catch because he deserved more than that in the
series. Leading wicket taker played all
five in a series that's been brutal for the bowlers and he
had a mishap and. He he was actually off the field
(20:11):
for about 5 overs changing his shirt, refreshing himself, came
back on that ball. Then Harry Brooke top edged it
straight down his throat at fineleg and he just didn't quite
know where he was. He just didn't have his bearings
and caught it trolling the rope and the fellow in the blue shirt
behind him went berserk. Didn't you see him in the?
(20:32):
The images that of the people, but as did someone run down the
stairs, they didn't. Go, friends, down the stairs.
Probably. Giving a sarcastic clap in his
face, like right on his grill. But I didn't want that to be his
last memory of of this Test match series.
And he came in this morning, swung it around, bowled
(20:52):
beautifully once again and fittingly took the last wicket
to to draw the series for for India.
And he really, really deserved it.
The the atmosphere was brilliant.
He did a Cristiano Ronaldo sort of what's that?
Is that CU or whatever it? Is he played with the?
Ronaldo on his phone background,on his mobile phone background
(21:14):
that just says believe. So that sort of is his
motivation that that drives him forward.
So yeah, thrilled that he was able to to do what he did
because he deserves that. And you know what?
He deserves to fly to a beach with some flip flops and a pina
colada and lie there for a few weeks.
(21:34):
Yeah, he put his feet up. He's putting a Herculean effort,
hasn't he? I actually played with him at
Gujarat and I think one of the first wickets he got was caught
somewhere and I was waiting for the Cristiano celebration.
He said, Oh no, no, it's only for for Bolam.
So that was so he got the perfect finish for him,
obviously, to get the stamps andbe able to unfurl his his
celebration. But what is it like to step up
(21:57):
into the shoes of the the most senior bowler when when Bumrah
is not playing, who is, you know, the best seamer in the
world at the moment? So when he isn't in the side and
Suraj has to step into those shoes as well, What is the
differences and how might that feel?
I'm thinking of times when Jimmydidn't play and you'd you'd have
to step up into that role as well.
Yeah, Suraj is, I don't know theexact numbers.
(22:18):
I think it's averaged something like 18 without Boomer in this
series and 37 with Boomer in theseries.
And he just looks like someone who thrives off the
responsibility. I think he he looks someone who
wants the ball, wants when Joe Root comes in, give me the ball.
I want to be the guy to to get him out.
And I'm not saying that he has less motivation when when Boomer
(22:42):
is playing, but I think he likesthat added responsibility of
when Sugarman Gill goes, you're my main bowler, I'm going to
come to you whenever the pressure's on.
Be the guy. And also, stats can be
misleading where when Boomer is playing, he might bowl at the
tail and get those wickets. So his stats are better.
Whereas actually when Boomer is not playing, Siraj gets the
opportunity to bowl at 9/10/11 and and and get those wickets at
(23:05):
the end of end of an innings, the rabbit pie.
So the the stats can mislead that slightly.
But he is someone who looks to grow a little bit when when
bummer's not there, he looks like he grows when he's leading
the bowling attack and he bowledbasically all Test match at the
overly just kept coming. I couldn't believe it was like,
Oh, another go, he's got the ball again.
(23:26):
Here he come. Oh, he's going again, here he
comes. It's a great strength to have.
You know, I think any time that you you're better under
pressure. That is a that is an
international sports person sortof gold really that that you can
cope with, with the emotion and and the mindset of of the real
peak pressure moments. And Siraj definitely, I get that
(23:48):
sense. He could do that.
You know, IPL wise, he's a Gujarat with you.
Is he someone that you're defending 1015 you'd throw the
ball to? Is he someone that you know, gun
opposition opening batters there?
Come on, Siraj, you, you do the job.
Yeah, he's absolutely that with the new ball.
He's that strike bowler and theysay seems to grow with the
(24:11):
pressure. He likes the responsibility,
likes bowling at the best players, full of belief, full of
heart. And I think you made a really
good point is that you don't want to sort of not do him
justice by saying he's just wholehearted and he tries his
best, like they said. He's going incredible thing
anyone can ever say about you. Oh, what's what's probably like
as a gritter? Yeah, he tries hard.
(24:33):
Yeah. And you mean it in the nicest
possible way, don't you? Because it's like and you know,
efforts sort of a given, isn't it?
But it's the the ability that hehas to just keep going, which I
think is amazing, an amazing engine on him.
And you know, I don't know what that is like.
You will obviously be able to tell us.
But it's not just like a physical gym fitness, is it?
(24:53):
It's like a, it's all hard and obviously there's the physical
aspect of it, but it's not like the fit you are in the gym, the
more able you are, I imagine, tobowl those long spells and not
drop pace, et cetera. So but yeah, he's a great guy to
have in your dressing room, you know?
You know, he did a lot of his interviews in Hindi, didn't he
today? So a lot of it was.
(25:13):
Actually, that was a great moment.
Actually, yeah, that was really cool.
Dinesh karted it brilliantly to get out to the middle of an
interview and in our ears it wasgoing DK make sure at the end of
each answer you translate because our viewers don't know
what he's saying. And DK forgot.
So he asked the next question and Suraj answered again and you
(25:35):
can hear again the producer going DK, you have to translate
this mate. And DK out of nowhere at the
end, obviously heard in his ear,finished the interview, said
thank you very much, went down the lens and translated the
whole thing. It was amazing that DK had that
sort of like mine, to be able torecap everything what Siraj said
and and portray it or or relay it to the viewers.
(25:58):
It was pretty cool. Yeah, no, that's all.
I love that. And the other thing is to say,
like my interactions with him would be a lot of, you know,
happy, smiley sort of good challenge in the Nets as well.
I liked facing him in the Nets. He was always up for it and sort
of in a nice fun way as well. I didn't think he's going to
bowl too many bouncers as well. He looked after me, which was
good, but he was the guy in the team that, and you have those
(26:21):
players in your squads and in the dressing room that they're
kind of the heartbeat of the theside.
And just with the way he's got quite an infectious personality,
big smile, always up for it and he drags people with him.
I think that was a nice trait tohave as well.
Let's say step up into that leadership role and he can take
people along with him. And I thought you saw Pressid
(26:42):
sort of grow into that as well. And they bowled in a a really
good partnership there. So yeah, I think he's, yeah, I
think he'll be one of those players.
I think we, we've got some really good cricket fans in
England. You know, we appreciate the
opposition doing well as well. And I think you can imagine him
being on the boundary having a lot of fun with the the English
crowd. And I think he'll be one of
(27:02):
those guys that our supporters will remember quite fondly and
sort of dislike him for how wellhe did and but also love the way
he plays his cricket. And I think it's always a great
thing to see. It's those those players
appreciated when you you go abroad and you know, you get
that respect from from the opposition and the opposition
fans. No, I completely agree.
(27:23):
And I think we have to move on to Brookie and and Joe Root,
just how they've bedded in at this four and five role and so
different in how they go about it.
Joe's sort of the glue and knocks it around and plays with
a lovely tempo and guide and skill and Brookie just comes out
and goes into 5th gear straight away almost, then knocks it in
back into third, cruises a bit and then just plays eye-catching
(27:46):
shots the whole way through. Brookie actually got the man of
the series or player of the series, 481 runs.
Joe Root got 537 runs, includingthree hundreds, but didn't get
player of the series. But how do you feel about that?
What what I do want to say is the player of the match, the Sky
Sports team choose. So I'm involved in that series.
(28:10):
The opposition coach chooses. So Brendan McCullum would choose
the Indian and Gautam Gang Beer would choose the English.
So I have no, I have no, I can'ttake any responsibility for
Harry Brooke being player of theseries.
But what your thoughts on that? Would you have given it to Rudy,
Brookey or maybe even Stokesy? Yeah.
(28:31):
Well, I think all of them would would be deserving of that.
You know, maybe Gauten Gambier just had enough of Joe Root at
that point and so I can't see him on stage anymore.
I just can't handle him. But I actually think had Stokes
played this game, it's so easy to say, isn't it?
Had Stokes played this game, England would have won and
Stokes would have been man of the series.
I think he would have probably been the guy I would have
(28:55):
chosen, just not just for the runs and what I thought bowled
amazingly well throughout the series.
And obviously England missed hisbowling in this game, but just
everything that he brings, I just think the way he marshals
that team, the way he makes, he just makes other people better.
He gives them believe. I just think he was man of the
match at Lord's. Wasn't he?
Man of the match at Old Traffordas well?
(29:16):
So yeah, he could have easily been the man of the series, I
think as well. But I think, like I said,
Brooke's style is incredible. I think he's got 10 Test
hundreds now in 50 innings. I think is the quickest to that
mark. Fearless batter but with a lot
of cricket smarts and calculators.
That's four defences going, yeah, just like it's so
(29:39):
dismissive. Yeah, I remember speaking to him
on the bus actually. I was sort of talking about
what's, you know, what's been the biggest thing in your game
that you've developed. And you know, he works with his
his schoolboy coach and sort of his Martin Spate I think is he's
sort of been with him forever. And he said we just worked on a
forward defence, we worked on a trigger movement.
So he does that very early back in the cross movement and he
(30:01):
worked on playing it late and and a defence that would keep
him at the crease of all his favorite shots, like the most
perfect forward defence that dribbles to point is one of his
favourites, which is remarkable when you think of some of the
shots he can play as an opposition captain.
As a Bolt, he'd be so hard to bowl at because he can like,
say, Nestle into a more traditional style of Test
(30:22):
cricket with a brilliant forwarddefence and if you miss your
areas he'll put you away. But then the best ball that you
bowl he can run down the wicket at and hit into the stands.
It's. That dance down to hit over
extra cover, it's an unbelievable shot.
Just dances into length and putsit over extra cover for for four
or six. For Harry Brooke, like I
couldn't think of a better time when he started his England
(30:44):
career. What a dressing room to come
into, just perfect. McCullum Stokes, you've got Joe
Root, England's best ever batterthere to learn from and he's
obviously, you know, been earmarked as a special talent
and a player. But to see where he's got his
game to already and the confidence that he exudes at the
creases, it's awesome. And yeah, you know what a great
(31:06):
moment and proud moment for him to be man of the series in such
an iconic series and a massive test against a really good India
side as well. So yeah, full credit to him, but
I think you could probably shareit out between, you know, Root
and Stokes as well. No, I agree.
I agree. Well, we've sort of covered a
lot of the Oval. I think we'll take a little
short break and then we'll have a deep dive into the series as a
(31:28):
whole. Lathweights are proud partners
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(31:48):
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And you like little glass of wine, don't you?
Yeah, I like a glass of wine. Keep the Stuart Broad wine.
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And beyond the wicket isn't the only case you can buy.
(32:10):
We've put together our own case for the love of cricket.
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love of cricket and a good bottle of wine with Lathwaite.
Jose Baz McCullum has said this was one of the best series he's
(32:32):
ever been a part of and Harshit asks on Instagram has this
series been up there with the 2005 Ashes?
I reckon we should break it downmatch by match, 2005 versus
2025. So we'll do it at venues rather
than first Test, second Test, third Test.
Although the 05 Ashes did start at Lourdes in O5, this was the
(32:53):
first Test of the series. Australia won by 239 runs to go
one nil up. It was a bit of a battering.
Do you remember McGrath nipping it down the slope?
Tris Gothic sort of to 1st slip and a few were keeping low.
England 2025 won by 22 runs to go 21-UP.
Siraj knocked the ball into the ground, it sort of spun back and
hit his bails. What do you reckon about this
one? I think obviously it was a bit
(33:16):
of a drubbing. Australia, you know, hammered us
really in that one. But there were of certain big
moments in the series they weren't for.
I know people have talked about Peterson whacking McGraw back
over his head and was it Armisenfirst ball on the arm of Lango
and the cut of Ricky Ponting. England winning by 22 with the
(33:38):
way the ball just rolled back onto the stumps was amazing as
well. So God, this is going to divide
opinion. This is so difficult because
it's two amazing series and. 22 runs.
The drama, the how long it took to sort of for England to take
those wickets, how it ebbed and flowed where Shubman Gill got
(34:01):
out the night before wicket, last ball of the day and then
India grafted all day. Whereas England losing by 239
runs in 05. Bit too much of A battering,
isn't it? One nil to 2025 at Lords, let's
move to Edgbaston. India cruise to a 336 run
(34:23):
victory. Whereas obviously the 05, you
know, Kasparovich getting caughtdown the lakeside, I think can't
really look past that, can we? There'll be a few Shubman Gill
fans leaning towards the 2025 big double 100 and 160 odd and
the Test match win and Akash deep as well.
Bowled like a a jet sort of nibbling it, nibbling it around.
But that 05 ashes, I think ignited a a generation of
(34:48):
support without going a bit too over the top.
I remember being called what would I have been 1718 maybe
watching from behind my sofa that nervous that I had to be
behind my sofa like peeking overthe back of the sofa like bull.
And you think about Brett Lee got a full toss from Harmison
that he drilled out to cover point and found the fielder with
(35:11):
four to win and that was a single and Simon Jones dropped
one at third man like running in.
So I think England getting over the line having been battered at
Lords going to Edgbaston, winning by two runs in such
dramatic fashion. Freddie doing the old famous
picture handshake. It's no.
(35:33):
Contest. It's no contest.
It's an absolute no brainer. Next. 11 Let's move on to Old
Trafford 2 draws. Draws can obviously give us so
much in Test cricket, which is amazing.
What are your memories of the 051 and how about 25?
(35:54):
I actually went to the 05. I went to the 2205 one as well,
but I went to the 05/1 as a supporter.
I got tickets for Day 4, so I drove up to Manchester with my
with my mum and stepdad and and watched from the crowd.
I remember the cues, the energy,everything about it had been
ignited by that Test match previously at Edgbaston.
(36:15):
Warney took his 600th Test matchwicket, remember?
I remembered Glenn McGrath bowling Michael Vaughan off a
noble for some reason. And Geoffrey Boycott on
commentary was like, ho ho, the Aussies go, Oh, you know, so
it's kicking off, which was which was good.
Strauss got 100 and got hit by Brett Lee in the ear.
So sort of like cut his ear a little bit.
(36:37):
So battered with a plaster on his ear.
So huge drama. Ponting grafted all day, didn't
he? Day five got out late doors and
then there were Aussies were nine down and and survived and
celebrated like it was a win. And famously Michael Vaughan got
his team together and said look at that change room.
They're celebrating like it's a win.
We've we've got we've got one onthem here type thing And and
(37:01):
2025 the epic draw where India got actually lost count.
What was it 400 odd for for for five surviving after being
naughty for 2 after being naughty for two handshake gate
came out Stokes. He's just searching around the
whole of Manchester, searching for a hand.
So again, Joe Root went past Ricky Ponting, Dravid Callus in
(37:27):
the list of highest front scorers in 2025.
Really iconic moment with Ponting on commentary.
Pant broke his foot but came outto bat.
Another sort of heroic moment that that would remind me of
this 2025. And the storm of handshake gate
will always make me smile because of the nonsense of it
(37:49):
so. You've made a good sell for
that. Actually.
I was into 05 and now this is coming back.
You pick it, where you going? Let me hear your thoughts.
Oh, I've just listened to you. I'm for great information now,
which is where are we going? I'm going to say just because it
(38:14):
was by 1 wicket the Ashes, you know, by the end, obviously
Jadeja and Washington Sundar played so well.
And as much as I loved handshakegate, being a big fan of
handshakes, I'm going to. I just, I think for me it's hard
to look past the 05 Ashes, but Ithink I'm going to have to give
(38:36):
it to 05. So we're now 2025 one, 2005 two.
Yeah, you agree with that? You're giving it to 2000?
And five nine down, isn't it? OK, 21 up.
So what? We're going to do in the 4th
test, we're going to go Headingley for it was the only
venue that that didn't match up.Headingley for England versus
India and Trent Bridge for 2000 and five 2005 at Trent Bridge
(39:01):
England won Gary Pratt famous run out Ashley Giles hit the
winning runs with A and then made it 21 heading to to the
final Test match. 2025 Headingley with another
absolutely thrilling Test match.England chasing whatever it was
340 odd. Ben Duckett 149 to go 1A lap.
(39:21):
Having played none of the cricket in the Test match but
got the win. This is a tricky 1.
Yeah, this is difficult. I think both, obviously both
England wins, which is obviouslyawesome.
Gary Pratt run out was just iconic, isn't it?
That is such a a moment and Ponting going off and spraying
the England dressing room when he's walking up the stairs.
(39:43):
I mean, just spent 2. Weeks Ricky Ponting I've heard
Gary Pratt's name every single day.
Every. Single game.
Sometimes people just walk out the comic box, like out the door
Gary Pratt, and they're gone. Like it's a massive game of
bogeys. Who can say Gary Pratt the
loudest? But yeah, that was iconic was it
was Trent Bridge was the Strausscatch as well, and Nick
(40:05):
Gilchrist round the wicket. That was amazing.
Warren brought them right back into it, didn't he as well, to
sort of keep it alive like Gary.Jones hack with like, yeah, 10
to win or something. Came down trying to finish it.
Yeah, that's part of him. I think I'm just, I'm just too
in the 2005 camp here. But yeah, Headingley was
(40:27):
incredible, wasn't it? The chase and to sort of do it
so easily in the end, but it kind of actually the Oval game
probably shows how well they played at Addingley to chase
those runs as we thought they were going to do it at the Oval
as well. But it's just a lot of runs,
isn't it? To chase in the 4th innings so
to be able to do so. Well, I think cricket mate, I
(40:48):
started with 100, Gill got 100 Boomer of five or or certainly,
you know, got Zach Crawley first.
I don't know if you've got 5 forbut certainly made it Swaz
around and and talk. England lost the majority of the
sessions and walked away with the with the W.
Yeah, for me, it's when you haveto go Trent Bridge, though.
Oh yeah. I'm going to have to disagree
(41:10):
with you, I reckon. Really I'm going to have to go
ahead and let's be very cricketyabout it.
It can be a draw. Yeah, so 25I win it at the
death. So Dramatic overload 5 Was it
Rudy Curtson tipping the bales off for England?
Everyone just watching umpires walk onto the ground and flip
the bales off. Isn't that the beauty of Test
(41:31):
cricket though? That can be the best moment of
the game, just watching the umpire tip the bales off KP 158
Is it 158? I think hooking Brett Lee into
the stand actually was like. Catch of K.
Yeah, it's a bit like Suraj. Yeah, I think Warren had an
incredible series, didn't he? 40 odd wickets and loads of
runs. Kick the stumps over at
(41:52):
Edgebaston then drop the catch at the Oval.
Probably didn't deserve to be onthe losing side, but.
I mean, the emotion. Didn't something like 11 million
people watch that 05 Oval game? Really.
And I've probably watched it another million times on the
DVD. But I suppose in the Oval we
have to throw in the celebrations as well, like
(42:13):
everyone bust or Fred sort of stumbling out of everywhere
possible. Not been to bed.
Absolute carnage and chaos of ofthe following day.
I'm not sure we'll get that fromEngland or India overnight, but
one might do. We'll figure it out mate.
But this Test match has to be one for the ages. 2025, what's
(42:34):
just happened? The pitch that's nipped around
all over the place first couple of days.
Joe Root going yet another 100 doing what he does.
Siraj charging in with every last last breath.
Brooke, he's one of his best hundreds.
I want to say I know he scored bigger hundreds, but but the way
(42:54):
he came in three down, we were sort of done and dusted and came
that came in and and took us near to to the total and then to
finish All India really 4 for four for 20 odd this morning on
the Monday morning day 5 to win the Test match.
So I would have to probably vote2025.
It's India's Team India's closest ever Test match.
(43:17):
Ever. Clear.
Oh, really? Six runs, it's closest ever,
which is pretty iconic I think. Yeah, I think we can just agree
to disagree on all of them and move on.
What you want the you want 05:00on that?
I've had to win the after half. Are you joking you?
Want 05 over What happened this week?
I'm just I'm just so I think 05 is just so big in my life as I
(43:39):
just can't go over it. I need a bit of time probably to
appreciate this match. Need to need a bit of distance,
but both just awesome series andyeah, credit to.
Well, it's working out in a sling.
That's true Joe for us to even be mentioning this with 05 just
shows yeah, Fairpoint. Let's take it to the listeners
(44:01):
let's you know they can decide in the comments.
So getting our comments on YouTube let us know which series
for you was was the better one. Which is the the impossible
question. But we want an answer.
So set up a poll or something orget some comments.
And what about tonight? What will it be like at the Oval
and all afternoon? Because I imagine both sides
(44:21):
have just gone hell for leather.A bit like a boxing match, you
just punch each other for 12 rounds and then at the end give
each other a big hug and have massive respect for each other.
Yeah, I mean, they'll they'll definitely get together for for
a short period of time, probably45 minutes an hour, maybe been
in change rooms where both captains say a few words to to
(44:42):
the opposition teams as to how the series is gone and how the
how it's felt to to both sides. How it generally goes is the
bowlers will all sit in a corner, just chat bowling and
different conditions and where you're going to next, what's the
next challenges. The batters will all sort of
talk about how good they are. And oh, do you see that cover
drive? That was amazing, wasn't it?
(45:02):
And that lasts, yeah, 45 minutesnow.
But ultimately, I think at the end of these series, the really
valuable like that that that time is is lovely.
You know, I've had some brilliant chats with so many
cricketers all over the world inin that period of time after a
series. But it's the memories of being
with your team mates and revelling in what has just
(45:23):
happened in the last six weeks. You'll sit there with I would be
with a glass of red sort of, oh,do you remember heading me?
How good was Ducky there? Like how did we get out of the
line? What a great Test match that
was. And Edgebaston was hard work,
wasn't it? We just didn't get it quite
right. But wokesy that morning, how
unlucky was it? Yeah.
And you sort of go through and you almost there was.
(45:45):
It's a bit of counselling really.
You're sort of just talking about everything that's gone
because, you know, you wake up tomorrow or you wake up Tuesday
morning in the London hotel. Series is done.
Series is over. Your next challenge is already
here. Joe Root is straight to the
Trent Rockets playing on Friday.So you already have to shift,
you have to go home, find your different coloured pads, do your
(46:08):
washing, crack on, get a new bagand away you go.
So it's it's cricket just moves on so quickly.
But you have to really enjoy those moments in the changing
room and the lads, what's it? You know the lads will be in
that changing room till midnighttonight.
Probably just just enjoying playing a bit of cricket with
the kids on the outfield, chilling out, maybe having a sit
(46:30):
on the outfield, relax, just allthe families around.
Really, really special times actually and and times you
remember. Broadly, you've watched the
whole series from the commentarybox.
I just want your input on this series, these performances only
in this series. Let's pick a combined India and
England 11. So I'm going to put you on the
spot player for player in this series and you've got to come up
(46:54):
with and 11:00 So let's start atthe top, Zach Crawley or
Jaiswal. This is probably on the spot.
By the way. Zach Crawley, Jaiswal, Jaiswal.
Beautiful player. 100 in the 1stinnings, 100 in the last.
Thanks for coming. Very good.
Duckett KL Rahul EW, horrible decision, great noises.
(47:17):
Duckett's been superb, got the team off to brilliant starts.
But Rahul, how he's led the young Indian batting group, his
technique for England, sort of old school opening batting, he's
been he's been really, really impressive.
So I'm going to say KL Rahul. Fair enough, Pope Sai Sebastian.
Three's been a difficult place to bat.
(47:39):
No one's necessarily lit it up. Pope got 100 at Headingley,
start the series really well. Saisa Darshan got some lovely
starts, probably played a bit within himself but will grow.
Please Team India, give that bloke 1520 test to settle at #3
and he will repay you. But I'm going Ollie Pope.
(47:59):
Impossible question. Joe Root, Shubman Gill.
Oh piss off. You want.
You want me to come? You want me?
To tune a name? Yeah, child.
A root. And I can see the headlines now.
Shipman Gills just scored the most amount of runs as a Test
captain behind Dom Bradman and Joe Root's gone second in the
(48:20):
all time list, scored three hundreds back-to-back and scored
his 39th Test match ton so. How are you going?
Well, only because I've got Joe Root's mobile number and don't
want the abuse, so I'm going to go Joe Root.
Unbelievable, you think? I can't believe that.
Unbelievable. Harry Brooke or Karoon Naya.
(48:42):
Harry, Brooke. Ben Stokes, Ravindra Jadeja,
Jadeja, let me get that out properly.
Do you know what? It's Ben Stokes, but I don't
think this is as simple as as itsounds.
Jadeja was incredible with the bat, best I've ever seen him
play with the bat, like brilliant at at #6 but he
struggled with the ball. I think he averaged really badly
(49:05):
with the ball, so you're in thatnumber six spot to be the
genuine all rounder. Judeja with the bat, brilliant.
Stokes with the ball and bat, brilliant.
So Ben Stokes. Fair enough, keepers, Smith or
Pant. Smith's knock at Edgbaston, one
of the best you've ever seen. I think it was the highest ever
score from an England wicked keeper, but Pant won an
(49:28):
entertainer. He he would be in my top five in
every Test match team. Just wonderful plays.
Feels like he plays by numbers in a little sense.
The fact he'd go block, block, sweep 6, block, block, charge 6.
But every time he walks out to bat, I want to be sat in the
seat and watching him. So Rishabh Pan.
Bashir, Washington, Sundar. Both had the moments.
(49:50):
Bashir's big moment came at Lord's final wicket, coming out
with a broken finger. Washington Sundar been highly
impressed with him as a cricketer.
To be honest. I think he's a Test match number
six waiting to happen and he bowled a great spell at Lord's 4
for 22 with his drift. So I'm going to say Washington
Sundar had more influence on theseries.
(50:11):
Nice. So England would love to have
him again. Joffre Archer or Akash Deep?
Akash deep was superb, but edge Baston particularly, I feel like
he relies on the new ball a little bit too much, but it's
highly skilful with the new ball.
But seeing Joffrarch come back wicked with his third ball,
knocking Richard pants off stumpout the ground at Lords.
(50:33):
Just seeing him back in the environment, playing with joy,
passion, excitement to be out there.
I'm having Joe Farage all day long.
Josh Tung or Mohammed Siraj? Both leading wicket takers for
their teams, Mohammed Siraj for India.
Josh Tung was 19 in three Test matches for England but Siraj
absolute warrior, played five Tests, Kept coming back.
(50:55):
Skilful wobbles the ball back towards the stumps.
Shows the bat of the away swinger and iconically finished
the The Oval Test match with a Yorker off stump out the ground.
So Mohammed Siraj for me. Last one, Bumrah awokes.
Both a quiet series for them wokes.
The iconically sort of walked down the the stairs with his arm
(51:17):
in a sling to finish the series.Played all 5 hell of an effort
on the pitches that we had and then missed out on the pitch
that would have suited him the most at the Oval.
Bumrah was both brilliant balls at times but but didn't win a
Test match in the series. Actually the two he missed to
Edgebaston and and the Oval of the ones that that India won.
(51:39):
But I'm going to have to go withBumrah for what he offers.
You know, he bought a brilliant ball to Zach Crawley in the
first over, his first over of the series.
He's a constant threat, but I'd like to have seen him probably
play one more. Here's a question for you Jose.
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(52:01):
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It is Jose. It's a 3.4% lager, perfect for
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(52:21):
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You need to use a code though, so at checkout make sure you use
(52:43):
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So broadly, the dust will settleon this India series.
It won't be long before everyone's looking forward to
the Ashes for Test cricket. You've also signed up to get
(53:04):
down to Australia and be part ofthe commentary team.
I imagine you've had some warm welcomes from the Australians
already. Yeah, I'm going to Australia
with Channel 7, which I'm reallyexcited about.
Some some brilliant names to work alongside.
Ricky Ponting, Hayden Lang, Verybatter friendly, isn't it?
To be fair, I think Simon Katichis is there, Aaron Finch, Greg
(53:29):
Bluett, Allison Mitchell. So some some really cool names
to to work alongside. But yeah, my social media
erupted slightly from the other side of the world of I hope you
will walk in here mate and all that sort of stuff, which is,
which is pretty usual actually. How long will it take me to walk
to Perth? I've imagined quite a long time.
But yeah, always entertaining the Australian social media and
(53:51):
I'm sure when I get there, when everyone's in Ashes fever, it
will, it will erupt even more. But they always make me smile.
The comments. I, I, I take 0 offence to
anything. I just love it.
I love being that sort of, you know, I love the fact that Ashes
means enough to people to to want to spice things up a little
bit. And I think it's going to be a
brilliant series which of coursewe will go into nearer the time
(54:14):
in, in November when when the guys hop on a flight and I hop
on a flight over there. But I don't know if you saw
Warner's sort of PR for the London Spirits playing in the
100. He, he was asked about Joe Root.
Did you see his quote? Can I read it to you and see
what you think of it? He said Root's a big anchor yet
to score 100 in Australia. Hazelwood tends to have his
(54:35):
number quite a lot. He will have to take that
surfboard off his front leg, meaning it's bad surfboard.
I actually tweeted back the balmy army because I.
Didn't say you had a little nibble.
I just had a nibble because I found it a little bit it it.
It irked me that our best ever batter in the history front pad
(54:58):
got called a surfboard. That was the only bit that got
me. And then I got asked that's Guy
Benedict to look how many times Hazel would have got Joe LBW and
Test cricket and it was 3, whichisn't.
I know Hazel's got him out a fewtimes, but three LBW's in 12
years is not surfboard material,is it so?
(55:19):
Mind Brody, don't bite. You're getting into he's got,
he's going to. It's going to be a long summer,
boys. Yeah, no.
Joey, Joey's not really a kick and well, candidate, is he?
See and I'm sure he'll get 100 in Australia, so look forward to
that. Absolutely.
And and talking about the hundred, you will face David
Warner at some stage round the wicket, nip it back towards the
(55:41):
stumps. You met up with with the
originals. We did a great podcast that's
live now with Ebony Ray for Brent, who was brilliant on
previewing everything about the hundreds.
So go and find that if you, if you want to dive a little bit
deeper into to what's coming ourway.
But you've met up with the Manchester originals.
How's how's the first few days been?
Yeah, it's been good. We were greeted with typical
(56:03):
Manchester weather unfortunately, but we've managed
to get out there in the afternoon.
It's great to sort of, you know,frustrate into it and it's 2
days and then we've got our first game against the Southern
Brave. But yeah, it's great to link up
with the guys. Quite a young squad as well.
We've got some real fresh faces.So excited to get to see them
play and you know, sort of, you know, make an impact hopefully
(56:26):
as a more senior player and sortof help a few guys along if I if
I can. Heinrich Classen is here.
Managed to bat in the middle of with him today and we had a sort
of scenario practice. So it was quite cool seeing him
up close and already sort of trying to pick a few, pick his
brains a bit and sort of OK for me.
There's sort of him, Surya and Poo ran at the minute, sort of
(56:48):
the three I see as the outliers and the far ahead in the in the
shortest format at the moment. So I'm really looking forward to
watching him and sort of pickinghis brains.
Are you going to open the bat? Am I going to open the bat?
You have to wait and see. Just keep it close to my chest.
But big secret, huge secret. I'll probably bat #3 and no
(57:13):
awkward handshakes so far. Although I did have one in
Wagamamas with I was call him a fan.
I don't know, not to be disrespect, but he came over to
me and he put his thumb up and said, Josh, I'm a big fan, but I
thought his he was sort of goingfor the handshake.
Oh. No.
So I've. Grabbed his thumb and just ate
(57:35):
the rest of my meal in absolute horror but.
Luckily so he's gone thumbs up like big fan he's and you
thought he was going for one of.Those, yeah, going for the, you
know, that one, one of my best. But I feel like we're becoming
like the official place for awkward handshake.
So if anyone's got CCTV at Wagamamas in Manchester, I'm
(57:56):
sure we could. Enjoy that.
Please find that for us. If anyone can film the CCTV
screen from Wagamoms in in Manchester of you shaking
someone's hand where they're giving you a thumbs up, I would.
That would make my summer. I know it's been a brilliant and
India England Test series but that would make my summer.
(58:17):
Yeah, that would top it off. But yeah, I'm not going to get
some. Quite a lot of handshakes now,
Jose. Honestly, on my social media and
on the pod social media, the handshakes keep flooding in.
It's, it's, it's just beautiful.And I'm just so glad we're able
to share our passion for handshakes and get so many, you
know, in this day and age, no one misses a thing today with
(58:38):
videos. So the, the one that we posted
from the Lions tour, that was anabsolute beauty as well.
So they do keep me going. I do enjoy them a lot.
Right, Jose. That's it for this week.
We'll be back next week reflecting on your first week in
the 100 with the Manchester Originals.
And in the meantime, watch us onSpotify and YouTube, or listen
via your favorite podcast app. As always, thanks to our
(59:00):
sponsors Sage and Leithwaites. And as always, kick on well.
For us to even be mentioning this with 05 just shows it's
been just the best advert for for Test cricket.
Duckett was like morning, Mr. Angry, how are you?
How are you doing? Mr. Angry?
Smiling. And he had a Siraj had a big
smile on his face. So the England players were
calling him Mr. Angry because he's just so in the battle the
whole time. That must have been quite
emotional watching him walk out.The ovation was amazing.
(00:21):
It was emotional, I think because he's a great mate and a
great mate of yours. It was like wow, woke see mate,
this is this is amazing. It felt like the stadium was
rising for him, but he wouldn't have had it any other way.
He just wanted to get the business done.
Joe Root. Shipman, Gill.
Oh, I'm sure Broad just back from the Oval, where India won
(00:43):
their tightest ever Test match by six runs to level the series.
And he's Josh Butler up at Old Trafford ready to start the 100
tomorrow. Let's not hang around Jose.
Surely one of the most dramatic series of all time.
It's been unbelievable, hasn't it?
Absolutely loved it. As a fan of Test cricket, I
don't think we could have asked for more.
(01:03):
Every game was just so eventful,right down to the wire at day
525 days of cricket and from thefive Tests was in absolutely
amazing. And you know you were there
obviously talk us through it. What was the atmosphere like?
Obviously Full House even just for was it 36 to win do.
You know, I reminded me a littlebit of I was 1718 watching Edge
(01:25):
of Aston O 5, England, Australia, nowhere.
England one by one run arrived at the ground.
I was a little bit narky Sunday night because I thought that
crowd deserved to see the finishthat night.
There was a bit of a downpour and the umpires or whoever
called it 6:00 when the restart time could have been 642.
(01:45):
So I was at the train station at622.
Bright blue sky going home with all the cricket fans going, why
are we not playing cricket rightnow?
And so I was a bit like, oh, we should have just finished the
game because it it all the dramahad happened in the day.
But now on reflection, the dramaarrived again this morning, day
five. I thought England would do it.
(02:06):
If I'm brutally honest. I thought I arrived thinking
Jamie Smith are probably at a couple of boundaries.
It will all calm down. Indy will have to bring the
fielders in to to get wickets and then the runs just come
pretty freely. But it it was just one of those
perfect mornings where it clouded over the IT was a bit of
drizzle in the air. The ball was 76 overs old but
swazzed around all over the place sort of swing.
(02:28):
Seem you know, Jamie Overton started short ball 4 inside edge
4. So 8 from the 1st 2 balls you're
thinking happy days like done and dusted.
And then Jamie Smith had a bit of a waft a couple of times,
nicked 1/3 his third ball and that just changed everything.
Oh gosh, if you lose one more than Josh tongues in.
(02:48):
And then, oh, could we see Wokesy?
Would Wokesy bat? And I, I'd seen Rudy this
morning, I'd been doing an interview so Rudy had said to
me, yeah, Wokes your bat. Absolutely.
He's in. He'd been practicing in the Nets
left-handed, so knew he was going to come out and play
because he'd hurt his left shoulder.
So he didn't want his left shoulder.
The first sort of contact point I suppose.
(03:09):
The crowd, I'd say, felt majority India, felt majority
India. It was electric, the noise.
Just then, Siraj, who's been an absolute warrior all series,
just fed off that energy. Bang, he's suddenly up nipping
it around. When Jamie Smith nicked it, he
was the man. I thought if he gets 12 or 15,
quickly done and dusted. But when he nicked it, I
(03:31):
thought, oh, dear. OK, yeah.
You want to weigh it? And is that sort of how you felt
watching at home? Yeah, I'm a bit like, yeah, I
thought England would win. I was, I'm offsea, you know,
England plans. So you come with that optimism
that they can do it. And I say Jamie Smith's been in
great form all summer. And you thought, yeah, a couple
of boundaries early, settle it down and get there.
(03:52):
But, you know, full credit to India for hanging in there.
I watched, you know, a bit last night.
And, you know, with Brooke and Root, with such an incredible
partnership, you know, India, I'd say they looked beaten.
But you thought England were pretty much there, didn't you?
I thought they were. You have odds on favourites to
win the game, but just that one wicket of Brooke just sort of
(04:12):
brought the game back to life. Brooke, his dismissal was the
talking point, really. Yeah, the the game flipped on
his head. The England were cruising.
His bat was 25 yards in the air as well.
Just superb. It's an amazing picture, isn't
it? It was just fantastic to watch.
I just didn't know, you know, Once Smith was out, he felt the
game could go either way. And actually I wasn't sure
(04:36):
watching it like what was the best way for England to go about
for for Gus, you know, you've got everyone on the boundary, 2
catches, you know, maybe down to1 slip actually at the end, but
obviously bold LB and Nick off still in the game.
Like does he go for big shots? But everyone's on the boundary.
He couldn't really do what Jadeja did at Lourdes and sort
(04:57):
of maybe could have done that with Josh Tang, obviously trying
to make it a really long game and drag it out, but obviously
with Wokesy that was never goingto be an option.
He couldn't nick twos or anything because Woakes couldn't
run really. He was in such agony running one
run. So he had no option of trying to
nick it too early in the over and then get a field run
somewhere, find the boundary. He sort of had to hit a six or
(05:19):
bust, really. So it was a really tricky
situation, but there were some really big moments all the way
through the game. I thought, Nail on the head,
Brooke, with so much energy and momentum in the innings, got out
and then all the momentum fell away and and Bethel couldn't
quite get off strike. India were superb tactically.
(05:40):
And then he got out playing a big shot, which I know within
that change room, they much prefer that than getting out
blocking or, or trying to sort of guide 1 and nicking it.
So fair enough for the for the attempt to attempt to that shot.
But then Ruti went and it's likewe, I interviewed Brendan
McConnell, was in an interview with him after the game and I, I
(06:01):
could sense that he felt we weren't brave enough.
England weren't quite brave enough last night and this
morning, yeah, we tried shots but didn't have that full
commitment that he maybe expects.
And ultimately England will think a little bit unlucky with
Jamie Overton's dismissal. I think, you know, clipping the
edge of leg stump is a poor decision.
(06:24):
It's out because it's hitting the stumps.
So it's a poor decision. And you saw that the umpires
were under the pressure. Naturally the human beings crowd
was in, crowd was up. Indian bowlers appeal, the whole
stadium appealed. But we saw Josh Tung get and
shocker of an LBW that was givennot out because it was missing
leg stump, but but Jamie Overtonwas really on.
When you when you get out and it's clipping leg stump, you're
(06:44):
a bit like, seriously, aren't you?
You are just star. Yeah.
And you are. You are.
Absolutely, yeah. Basically like for you as a
bowler, I think because actuallyI was in the dressing room where
we were watching Jimmy, we were talking about, oh, Overton's
unlucky. And I'd say it's funny, isn't
how you feel unlucky as a batterthere?
It's just skipping. I said do you feel?
But if that goes the other way, do you feel unlucky as a bowler?
(07:07):
If that's not our. But he actually said that's a
lucky dismiss. Obviously there's a predictive
element of of Hawkeye and stuff,so it's not perfect, but yeah,
that was and they're big moment.I think that's what there's been
throughout the whole series and every game you there's so many
talking points and moments, you know, I think, you know, Siraj
has turned out to be the hero today and he got the the final
(07:27):
wicket and the Ronaldo celebration and and that moment.
But had England got over the line, you know, be the torture
of stepping on the rope, you know, that sort of yeah.
You go go to bed at night and just wake up like with a jolt
thinking, oh, I've got stepped on the rope again.
So there's so many moments like that throughout the whole series
and I think that's why it's beenso gripping.
(07:48):
It's just been so many talking points.
I think both sides now obviouslyas an England fan and England
will be disappointed not to to win the series having been in in
those positions. But you can't, I don't think you
can begrudge India a draw really.
I think, you know, it's they've played some brilliant cricket
and both teams have scored mountains of runs, you know, so
(08:11):
many hundreds in the series. And I think probably not quite
what we expected. I didn't expect at the start of
the series to for the bat to dominate the ball so much in
England. But we've played on some, you
know, very good batting wickets.It's been amazing to watch.
I think both sides, the effort and the sort of grit,
(08:33):
determination and everything that goes into Test cricket is
what probably makes it so unique.
I can't think of many other sports that, you know, throw up
these scenarios and you know, itcan meander along at times.
Yet the way the game can unfold and all these five Tests have
unfolded unbelievably well. It's been the just the best
(08:54):
advert for for Test cricket. Jacob Ben Down as one of the
greatest ever series. Certainly for yeah, I do,
absolutely. Obviously 05 was just massive,
wasn't it? And just being the Ashes.
And I think of very hard to judge errors and being a certain
(09:15):
age at that time where the players were just otherworldly,
you know, Shane Warne and all the Australian superheroes
didn't really seem real, did they?
And the fact that England took them on and and managed to beat
them. But so I think that will always
be the series. And I'm sure, like I said, get
the box set on a rainy day and watch the 05 Ashes.
(09:36):
But I think this will be a series that gets replayed and
replayed and talked about and and actually think about you've
gutted that you don't win the series as an England team.
But one of the great things thatthey have talked about and and
know when McCullum and Stokes took over, it was to it sounded
like an outlandish statement, didn't they?
We're going to save Test cricketand play away and put bums on
(09:58):
seats and entertain. And, you know, that series has
certainly done that. And India massively played their
part with, you know, and it's vital for Test cricket that
massive nation like India are sointo it, which they obviously
are. And listening to some of the
interviews after the game, it's,it's the pinnacle for everyone.
And it's it's awesome to see we're we're so lucky in England
(10:20):
to get those crowds that we do and the way it's supported.
But I think this is the kind of series that reverberates around
the world and really is a shocking answer.
For the game in the in the comicbox was saying in India everyone
would have stopped work right now.
Yeah, 4% or whatever it was at the closing time even the bosses
would have been like, do you don't dare work for me What you
(10:42):
go home and and watch this cricket.
So he feels like India would have come to a bit of a stop and
you do it. Yeah, IA 100% agree with you and
I probably wouldn't say said this well, I definitely wouldn't
have said this when I was playing, but 22 felt the fair
result. India deserves something out of
that series, if not a little bitmore than what they got to be
(11:02):
fair. You know, they played some
brilliant cricket throughout England were awesome at times as
well. But 22, I mean, trying to
explain that to American that you've played for six weeks
non-stop, 25 days solid and you've drawn the series.
But I I feel proud of England ofhow they've gone about it.
I feel proud of India of how howthey've gone about it in in
different conditions to what they're used to and enthralling
(11:26):
all the way through drama all the way through it.
And the drama continued until the very end with our great mate
Chris Woakes. I mean.
Yeah. How was that?
That's been quite emotional watching him walk out in that
that situation. Yeah, so I was back at the
commentary box, not due on Next,so I'm just watching from the
(11:47):
back of the commentary. Watch Josh Tongue got bold and I
saw Chris Woakes from across theother side of the ground stand
up. I thought, you know, I want to
hear this evasion, I want to hear what happens.
So I ran down the corridor, wentdown the side of the the media
centre and sort of lent on the wall, actually right next to TM
s s open window and just watchedhim walk out and the ovation was
(12:09):
amazing. It was emotional, I think
because he's a great mate and a great mate of yours.
It was like, wow, woke see mate,this is this is amazing.
It felt like the stadium was rising for him, but he wouldn't
have had it any other way. He just wanted to get the
business done. He was always going to go out
there brave. I sort of I'm glad he didn't
face a ball, but sort of would like to have seen what he'd had
(12:31):
done with it as well, like how he would have played it but.
Because he's going to do left hand, left-handed, one handed I.
Think left hand because he's right-handed dominant.
I think he was going to turn around left-handed.
Yeah, one handed, left-handed. And also then his bowling
shoulder was face the first contact point rather than his
dislocated shoulder. But it would have been the most
(12:52):
Chris Woakes thing ever. Like just stylish at everything
he does to have got a leg stump half volley left-handed and
drilled it through mid wicket for four, you know?
When he when he runs helmet off,quiff still perfectly intact,
not a bead of sweat. But.
And yeah, they say I'm in a way I am glad that he didn't face
the ball. But yeah, heroic effort.
Like you say, it was emotional watching him walk out.
(13:13):
It'd be one of those like iconicsort of moments.
Wasn't a bit of Terry Butcher with the headband and see him
wokes, he walk out there and it just shows how much, you know,
each person is willing to give for for it and, you know, saw
how much agony he was in just running to the other end and
stuff. So all credit to him to get out
(13:34):
there and and do that for the side.
It was, yeah. Like I say, it was emotional.
And another emotional moment was, you know, Ruti's hundred
and the celebration, you know, with his tribute to Graham
Thorpe. I thought that was quite a, a
really touching moment. Amazing know how much Graham
thought meant to to Ruti. So to be able to sort of pay
(13:54):
tribute to him in that way was really special, wasn't it?
Yeah, incredible. 39 Test hundreds the man's got now.
Just outrageous. We're watching greatness in
front of us. You know he is.
He is a phenomenal, phenomenal player.
Actually, in five Test match series, when every game goes to
the final day, they're tiring, aren't they?
Back-to-back games, you're exhausted, you try and find
(14:17):
little breaks where you can, butsuddenly you're back in the
Nets, you're back at the game. For him to go Test match 300,
Test match 400 Test match 500 amazing mental strength and
physical ability to be able to do that to get better through
the series. He said to me this morning he
thinks it's just experience. He knows how to deal with
(14:39):
everything now he's calmer. He he's knows what where his
energy should be, but to lead the batting group like he has
done. But that moment in particular, I
was actually on commentary with NASA.
He was 98, not out at tea. And NASA actually incredible
commentator, been around years, just sort of tapped me and said,
you know, if, if Rudy gets there, I think there'll be an
(15:00):
amazing ovation. Graham Thorpe meant a huge
amount to him. This whole Test match is about
Graham Thorpe, Surrey legend, England legend at the Oval.
You know, NASA was on lead, so he would call the through the
leg side 39th Test match hundred.
I was beyond colour where I would then fill in of the
detail. But he said let's I'll say that
(15:21):
bit and then let's just let it breathe.
Let's just let the viewers hear the crowd, hear the emotion.
See what Joe Root does commentary.
You don't have to talk the wholetime.
That seems a bit silly to say, but actually people want to
enjoy the what they see as well.They just want to sometimes be
in peace and get make up their own mind and thoughts in in
emotional moments. And that was amazing experience
(15:44):
from NASA to then pass on to me to say I'll go short, sharp
bang, then just be quiet and until the crowd stop their
applause. And I think that that was really
nice for me as a as a commentator to actually just
enjoy the moment for Rudy as well.
Just be able to celebrate the 100 clap along, see him get the
the Graham Thorpe sweatband headband out over his head, sort
(16:07):
of point to the sky Very, very poignant moment.
And I know that anyone who knew Graham Thorpe would have or or
watched Graham Thorpe or anything would have looked at
that moment gone. Wow, Joe Root, what a classy.
What a classy guy. Yeah, absolutely amazing, isn't
it? Yeah, I'm sort of taking the
Mickey a little bit here, but, you know, to be good enough to
(16:30):
go, do you know what the best tribute I can give Graham Thorpe
is the Test match. That's all about him.
I'll score 100 and put his headband on and, you know, have
a, a touching tribute to his hisgreat mentor.
And Thorpe, he did mean he'd meant a lot to everyone.
You know, he was a great, great coach, a great person to be
around. He gave so much to to English
(16:51):
cricket. But I think being Ruti's age,
you know, Ruti was always his favorite.
And I've just felt like he, he sort of earmarked Joe Root from
the very start. He saw something incredibly
special in him. They really bonded and had a, a
great connection. And he just put so much work in
with Ruti. And you know, they would spend
hours late at night talking stories of Test cricket and
(17:14):
batting and discussing differentthings that worked tirelessly in
the Nets. Hours and hours it was, you
know, difficult sometimes to getThorpy to throw out anyone else.
It is he obviously just works somuch for Rudy.
But you know, for, for Joe to beable to have that moment and,
you know, be able to pay tributeto, to Thorpy was like you say,
was so special. And I, I was watching that
(17:36):
moment. I love seeing the the milestones
and you know, like you say, watching greatness in front of
us. For me, Rudy's just gone to like
another level. Like I just I'm so in awe of the
guy and so inspired, but I had no idea that he would was going
to do something like that. And like you say, he's always
he's very aware of everything routine as much as he's going
along and trying to win the gamefor England, just to have the
(17:58):
presence of mind to, you know, have that tribute and and make,
you know, do that for Thorpey. I just thought was was awesome.
Like I say, what a what a man. And yeah, we're all, you know,
privileged to be watching him. And he's such a a great guy as
well, and ambassador for it also.
Yeah, very, very special. How about India's Talisman
(18:22):
Suraj? How do you sum up his sort of
heroic efforts throughout bowlerto play five matches as he did?
It's incredible, isn't it? Couldn't be more impressed with
him if I'm honest. You know, I think you have to be
careful with with cricketers like Mohammed Suraj where all
you talk about is heart, fire, spirit, drive.
(18:45):
He's incredibly skilful. You watch him set up batters and
he tries a couple of away swingers, not necessarily
looking to get them out. Then he does the wobble scene
back in to bring the stumps intoplay.
He's got brilliant players out throughout the series.
Root, Pope, Stokes, first ball at edge bust and he one of his
greatest strength is how much effort he puts in and how he
(19:07):
always turns up. He grabs the ball.
He wants to be in the action. Bit of a showman, you know, I
was on the pitch day 2 when Ben Duckett was just doing a few
sort of batting strokes and and Siraj was was doing a few mental
bowling things and he went Duckett was like morning Mr.
Angry, how are you doing? Mr. Angry Smiling.
(19:29):
And he had Siraj had a big smileon his face.
So the England players were calling him Mr. Angry because
he's just so in the battle the whole time.
But don't mistake like passion and heart for a lack of ability
because he sets up batters beautifully.
He bowls a length that nips back.
It brings the stumps into play that you can't get forward to.
(19:49):
And actually I thought he took the final wicket.
Gus Axon, brilliant off stump Yorker.
I was really worried that he would remember this Test match
for that drop catch because he deserved more than that in the
series. Leading wicket taker played all
five in a series that's been brutal for the bowlers and he
had a mishap and. He he was actually off the field
(20:11):
for about 5 overs changing his shirt, refreshing himself, came
back on that ball. Then Harry Brooke top edged it
straight down his throat at fineleg and he just didn't quite
know where he was. He just didn't have his bearings
and caught it trolling the rope and the fellow in the blue shirt
behind him went berserk. Didn't you see him in the?
(20:32):
The images that of the people, but as did someone run down the
stairs, they didn't. Go, friends, down the stairs.
Probably. Giving a sarcastic clap in his
face, like right on his grill. But I didn't want that to be his
last memory of of this Test match series.
And he came in this morning, swung it around, bowled
(20:52):
beautifully once again and fittingly took the last wicket
to to draw the series for for India.
And he really, really deserved it.
The the atmosphere was brilliant.
He did a Cristiano Ronaldo sort of what's that?
Is that CU or whatever it? Is he played with the?
Ronaldo on his phone background,on his mobile phone background
(21:14):
that just says believe. So that sort of is his
motivation that that drives him forward.
So yeah, thrilled that he was able to to do what he did
because he deserves that. And you know what?
He deserves to fly to a beach with some flip flops and a pina
colada and lie there for a few weeks.
(21:34):
Yeah, he put his feet up. He's putting a Herculean effort,
hasn't he? I actually played with him at
Gujarat and I think one of the first wickets he got was caught
somewhere and I was waiting for the Cristiano celebration.
He said, Oh no, no, it's only for for Bolam.
So that was so he got the perfect finish for him,
obviously, to get the stamps andbe able to unfurl his his
celebration. But what is it like to step up
(21:57):
into the shoes of the the most senior bowler when when Bumrah
is not playing, who is, you know, the best seamer in the
world at the moment? So when he isn't in the side and
Suraj has to step into those shoes as well, What is the
differences and how might that feel?
I'm thinking of times when Jimmydidn't play and you'd you'd have
to step up into that role as well.
Yeah, Suraj is, I don't know theexact numbers.
(22:18):
I think it's averaged something like 18 without Boomer in this
series and 37 with Boomer in theseries.
And he just looks like someone who thrives off the
responsibility. I think he he looks someone who
wants the ball, wants when Joe Root comes in, give me the ball.
I want to be the guy to to get him out.
And I'm not saying that he has less motivation when when Boomer
(22:42):
is playing, but I think he likesthat added responsibility of
when Sugarman Gill goes, you're my main bowler, I'm going to
come to you whenever the pressure's on.
Be the guy. And also, stats can be
misleading where when Boomer is playing, he might bowl at the
tail and get those wickets. So his stats are better.
Whereas actually when Boomer is not playing, Siraj gets the
opportunity to bowl at 9/10/11 and and and get those wickets at
(23:05):
the end of end of an innings, the rabbit pie.
So the the stats can mislead that slightly.
But he is someone who looks to grow a little bit when when
bummer's not there, he looks like he grows when he's leading
the bowling attack and he bowledbasically all Test match at the
overly just kept coming. I couldn't believe it was like,
Oh, another go, he's got the ball again.
(23:26):
Here he come. Oh, he's going again, here he
comes. It's a great strength to have.
You know, I think any time that you you're better under
pressure. That is a that is an
international sports person sortof gold really that that you can
cope with, with the emotion and and the mindset of of the real
peak pressure moments. And Siraj definitely, I get that
(23:48):
sense. He could do that.
You know, IPL wise, he's a Gujarat with you.
Is he someone that you're defending 1015 you'd throw the
ball to? Is he someone that you know, gun
opposition opening batters there?
Come on, Siraj, you, you do the job.
Yeah, he's absolutely that with the new ball.
He's that strike bowler and theysay seems to grow with the
(24:11):
pressure. He likes the responsibility,
likes bowling at the best players, full of belief, full of
heart. And I think you made a really
good point is that you don't want to sort of not do him
justice by saying he's just wholehearted and he tries his
best, like they said. He's going incredible thing
anyone can ever say about you. Oh, what's what's probably like
as a gritter? Yeah, he tries hard.
(24:33):
Yeah. And you mean it in the nicest
possible way, don't you? Because it's like and you know,
efforts sort of a given, isn't it?
But it's the the ability that hehas to just keep going, which I
think is amazing, an amazing engine on him.
And you know, I don't know what that is like.
You will obviously be able to tell us.
But it's not just like a physical gym fitness, is it?
(24:53):
It's like a, it's all hard and obviously there's the physical
aspect of it, but it's not like the fit you are in the gym, the
more able you are, I imagine, tobowl those long spells and not
drop pace, et cetera. So but yeah, he's a great guy to
have in your dressing room, you know?
You know, he did a lot of his interviews in Hindi, didn't he
today? So a lot of it was.
(25:13):
Actually, that was a great moment.
Actually, yeah, that was really cool.
Dinesh karted it brilliantly to get out to the middle of an
interview and in our ears it wasgoing DK make sure at the end of
each answer you translate because our viewers don't know
what he's saying. And DK forgot.
So he asked the next question and Suraj answered again and you
(25:35):
can hear again the producer going DK, you have to translate
this mate. And DK out of nowhere at the
end, obviously heard in his ear,finished the interview, said
thank you very much, went down the lens and translated the
whole thing. It was amazing that DK had that
sort of like mine, to be able torecap everything what Siraj said
and and portray it or or relay it to the viewers.
(25:58):
It was pretty cool. Yeah, no, that's all.
I love that. And the other thing is to say,
like my interactions with him would be a lot of, you know,
happy, smiley sort of good challenge in the Nets as well.
I liked facing him in the Nets. He was always up for it and sort
of in a nice fun way as well. I didn't think he's going to
bowl too many bouncers as well. He looked after me, which was
good, but he was the guy in the team that, and you have those
(26:21):
players in your squads and in the dressing room that they're
kind of the heartbeat of the theside.
And just with the way he's got quite an infectious personality,
big smile, always up for it and he drags people with him.
I think that was a nice trait tohave as well.
Let's say step up into that leadership role and he can take
people along with him. And I thought you saw Pressid
(26:42):
sort of grow into that as well. And they bowled in a a really
good partnership there. So yeah, I think he's, yeah, I
think he'll be one of those players.
I think we, we've got some really good cricket fans in
England. You know, we appreciate the
opposition doing well as well. And I think you can imagine him
being on the boundary having a lot of fun with the the English
crowd. And I think he'll be one of
(27:02):
those guys that our supporters will remember quite fondly and
sort of dislike him for how wellhe did and but also love the way
he plays his cricket. And I think it's always a great
thing to see. It's those those players
appreciated when you you go abroad and you know, you get
that respect from from the opposition and the opposition
fans. No, I completely agree.
(27:23):
And I think we have to move on to Brookie and and Joe Root,
just how they've bedded in at this four and five role and so
different in how they go about it.
Joe's sort of the glue and knocks it around and plays with
a lovely tempo and guide and skill and Brookie just comes out
and goes into 5th gear straight away almost, then knocks it in
back into third, cruises a bit and then just plays eye-catching
(27:46):
shots the whole way through. Brookie actually got the man of
the series or player of the series, 481 runs.
Joe Root got 537 runs, includingthree hundreds, but didn't get
player of the series. But how do you feel about that?
What what I do want to say is the player of the match, the Sky
Sports team choose. So I'm involved in that series.
(28:10):
The opposition coach chooses. So Brendan McCullum would choose
the Indian and Gautam Gang Beer would choose the English.
So I have no, I have no, I can'ttake any responsibility for
Harry Brooke being player of theseries.
But what your thoughts on that? Would you have given it to Rudy,
Brookey or maybe even Stokesy? Yeah.
(28:31):
Well, I think all of them would would be deserving of that.
You know, maybe Gauten Gambier just had enough of Joe Root at
that point and so I can't see him on stage anymore.
I just can't handle him. But I actually think had Stokes
played this game, it's so easy to say, isn't it?
Had Stokes played this game, England would have won and
Stokes would have been man of the series.
I think he would have probably been the guy I would have
(28:55):
chosen, just not just for the runs and what I thought bowled
amazingly well throughout the series.
And obviously England missed hisbowling in this game, but just
everything that he brings, I just think the way he marshals
that team, the way he makes, he just makes other people better.
He gives them believe. I just think he was man of the
match at Lord's. Wasn't he?
Man of the match at Old Traffordas well?
(29:16):
So yeah, he could have easily been the man of the series, I
think as well. But I think, like I said,
Brooke's style is incredible. I think he's got 10 Test
hundreds now in 50 innings. I think is the quickest to that
mark. Fearless batter but with a lot
of cricket smarts and calculators.
That's four defences going, yeah, just like it's so
(29:39):
dismissive. Yeah, I remember speaking to him
on the bus actually. I was sort of talking about
what's, you know, what's been the biggest thing in your game
that you've developed. And you know, he works with his
his schoolboy coach and sort of his Martin Spate I think is he's
sort of been with him forever. And he said we just worked on a
forward defence, we worked on a trigger movement.
So he does that very early back in the cross movement and he
(30:01):
worked on playing it late and and a defence that would keep
him at the crease of all his favorite shots, like the most
perfect forward defence that dribbles to point is one of his
favourites, which is remarkable when you think of some of the
shots he can play as an opposition captain.
As a Bolt, he'd be so hard to bowl at because he can like,
say, Nestle into a more traditional style of Test
(30:22):
cricket with a brilliant forwarddefence and if you miss your
areas he'll put you away. But then the best ball that you
bowl he can run down the wicket at and hit into the stands.
It's. That dance down to hit over
extra cover, it's an unbelievable shot.
Just dances into length and putsit over extra cover for for four
or six. For Harry Brooke, like I
couldn't think of a better time when he started his England
(30:44):
career. What a dressing room to come
into, just perfect. McCullum Stokes, you've got Joe
Root, England's best ever batterthere to learn from and he's
obviously, you know, been earmarked as a special talent
and a player. But to see where he's got his
game to already and the confidence that he exudes at the
creases, it's awesome. And yeah, you know what a great
(31:06):
moment and proud moment for him to be man of the series in such
an iconic series and a massive test against a really good India
side as well. So yeah, full credit to him, but
I think you could probably shareit out between, you know, Root
and Stokes as well. No, I agree.
I agree. Well, we've sort of covered a
lot of the Oval. I think we'll take a little
short break and then we'll have a deep dive into the series as a
(31:28):
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(31:48):
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Yeah, I like a glass of wine. Keep the Stuart Broad wine.
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(32:10):
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Jose Baz McCullum has said this was one of the best series he's
(32:32):
ever been a part of and Harshit asks on Instagram has this
series been up there with the 2005 Ashes?
I reckon we should break it downmatch by match, 2005 versus
2025. So we'll do it at venues rather
than first Test, second Test, third Test.
Although the 05 Ashes did start at Lourdes in O5, this was the
(32:53):
first Test of the series. Australia won by 239 runs to go
one nil up. It was a bit of a battering.
Do you remember McGrath nipping it down the slope?
Tris Gothic sort of to 1st slip and a few were keeping low.
England 2025 won by 22 runs to go 21-UP.
Siraj knocked the ball into the ground, it sort of spun back and
hit his bails. What do you reckon about this
one? I think obviously it was a bit
(33:16):
of a drubbing. Australia, you know, hammered us
really in that one. But there were of certain big
moments in the series they weren't for.
I know people have talked about Peterson whacking McGraw back
over his head and was it Armisenfirst ball on the arm of Lango
and the cut of Ricky Ponting. England winning by 22 with the
(33:38):
way the ball just rolled back onto the stumps was amazing as
well. So God, this is going to divide
opinion. This is so difficult because
it's two amazing series and. 22 runs.
The drama, the how long it took to sort of for England to take
those wickets, how it ebbed and flowed where Shubman Gill got
(34:01):
out the night before wicket, last ball of the day and then
India grafted all day. Whereas England losing by 239
runs in 05. Bit too much of A battering,
isn't it? One nil to 2025 at Lords, let's
move to Edgbaston. India cruise to a 336 run
(34:23):
victory. Whereas obviously the 05, you
know, Kasparovich getting caughtdown the lakeside, I think can't
really look past that, can we? There'll be a few Shubman Gill
fans leaning towards the 2025 big double 100 and 160 odd and
the Test match win and Akash deep as well.
Bowled like a a jet sort of nibbling it, nibbling it around.
But that 05 ashes, I think ignited a a generation of
(34:48):
support without going a bit too over the top.
I remember being called what would I have been 1718 maybe
watching from behind my sofa that nervous that I had to be
behind my sofa like peeking overthe back of the sofa like bull.
And you think about Brett Lee got a full toss from Harmison
that he drilled out to cover point and found the fielder with
(35:11):
four to win and that was a single and Simon Jones dropped
one at third man like running in.
So I think England getting over the line having been battered at
Lords going to Edgbaston, winning by two runs in such
dramatic fashion. Freddie doing the old famous
picture handshake. It's no.
(35:33):
Contest. It's no contest.
It's an absolute no brainer. Next. 11 Let's move on to Old
Trafford 2 draws. Draws can obviously give us so
much in Test cricket, which is amazing.
What are your memories of the 051 and how about 25?
(35:54):
I actually went to the 05. I went to the 2205 one as well,
but I went to the 05/1 as a supporter.
I got tickets for Day 4, so I drove up to Manchester with my
with my mum and stepdad and and watched from the crowd.
I remember the cues, the energy,everything about it had been
ignited by that Test match previously at Edgbaston.
(36:15):
Warney took his 600th Test matchwicket, remember?
I remembered Glenn McGrath bowling Michael Vaughan off a
noble for some reason. And Geoffrey Boycott on
commentary was like, ho ho, the Aussies go, Oh, you know, so
it's kicking off, which was which was good.
Strauss got 100 and got hit by Brett Lee in the ear.
So sort of like cut his ear a little bit.
(36:37):
So battered with a plaster on his ear.
So huge drama. Ponting grafted all day, didn't
he? Day five got out late doors and
then there were Aussies were nine down and and survived and
celebrated like it was a win. And famously Michael Vaughan got
his team together and said look at that change room.
They're celebrating like it's a win.
We've we've got we've got one onthem here type thing And and
(37:01):
2025 the epic draw where India got actually lost count.
What was it 400 odd for for for five surviving after being
naughty for 2 after being naughty for two handshake gate
came out Stokes. He's just searching around the
whole of Manchester, searching for a hand.
So again, Joe Root went past Ricky Ponting, Dravid Callus in
(37:27):
the list of highest front scorers in 2025.
Really iconic moment with Ponting on commentary.
Pant broke his foot but came outto bat.
Another sort of heroic moment that that would remind me of
this 2025. And the storm of handshake gate
will always make me smile because of the nonsense of it
(37:49):
so. You've made a good sell for
that. Actually.
I was into 05 and now this is coming back.
You pick it, where you going? Let me hear your thoughts.
Oh, I've just listened to you. I'm for great information now,
which is where are we going? I'm going to say just because it
(38:14):
was by 1 wicket the Ashes, you know, by the end, obviously
Jadeja and Washington Sundar played so well.
And as much as I loved handshakegate, being a big fan of
handshakes, I'm going to. I just, I think for me it's hard
to look past the 05 Ashes, but Ithink I'm going to have to give
(38:36):
it to 05. So we're now 2025 one, 2005 two.
Yeah, you agree with that? You're giving it to 2000?
And five nine down, isn't it? OK, 21 up.
So what? We're going to do in the 4th
test, we're going to go Headingley for it was the only
venue that that didn't match up.Headingley for England versus
India and Trent Bridge for 2000 and five 2005 at Trent Bridge
(39:01):
England won Gary Pratt famous run out Ashley Giles hit the
winning runs with A and then made it 21 heading to to the
final Test match. 2025 Headingley with another
absolutely thrilling Test match.England chasing whatever it was
340 odd. Ben Duckett 149 to go 1A lap.
(39:21):
Having played none of the cricket in the Test match but
got the win. This is a tricky 1.
Yeah, this is difficult. I think both, obviously both
England wins, which is obviouslyawesome.
Gary Pratt run out was just iconic, isn't it?
That is such a a moment and Ponting going off and spraying
the England dressing room when he's walking up the stairs.
(39:43):
I mean, just spent 2. Weeks Ricky Ponting I've heard
Gary Pratt's name every single day.
Every. Single game.
Sometimes people just walk out the comic box, like out the door
Gary Pratt, and they're gone. Like it's a massive game of
bogeys. Who can say Gary Pratt the
loudest? But yeah, that was iconic was it
was Trent Bridge was the Strausscatch as well, and Nick
(40:05):
Gilchrist round the wicket. That was amazing.
Warren brought them right back into it, didn't he as well, to
sort of keep it alive like Gary.Jones hack with like, yeah, 10
to win or something. Came down trying to finish it.
Yeah, that's part of him. I think I'm just, I'm just too
in the 2005 camp here. But yeah, Headingley was
(40:27):
incredible, wasn't it? The chase and to sort of do it
so easily in the end, but it kind of actually the Oval game
probably shows how well they played at Addingley to chase
those runs as we thought they were going to do it at the Oval
as well. But it's just a lot of runs,
isn't it? To chase in the 4th innings so
to be able to do so. Well, I think cricket mate, I
(40:48):
started with 100, Gill got 100 Boomer of five or or certainly,
you know, got Zach Crawley first.
I don't know if you've got 5 forbut certainly made it Swaz
around and and talk. England lost the majority of the
sessions and walked away with the with the W.
Yeah, for me, it's when you haveto go Trent Bridge, though.
Oh yeah. I'm going to have to disagree
(41:10):
with you, I reckon. Really I'm going to have to go
ahead and let's be very cricketyabout it.
It can be a draw. Yeah, so 25I win it at the
death. So Dramatic overload 5 Was it
Rudy Curtson tipping the bales off for England?
Everyone just watching umpires walk onto the ground and flip
the bales off. Isn't that the beauty of Test
(41:31):
cricket though? That can be the best moment of
the game, just watching the umpire tip the bales off KP 158
Is it 158? I think hooking Brett Lee into
the stand actually was like. Catch of K.
Yeah, it's a bit like Suraj. Yeah, I think Warren had an
incredible series, didn't he? 40 odd wickets and loads of
runs. Kick the stumps over at
(41:52):
Edgebaston then drop the catch at the Oval.
Probably didn't deserve to be onthe losing side, but.
I mean, the emotion. Didn't something like 11 million
people watch that 05 Oval game? Really.
And I've probably watched it another million times on the
DVD. But I suppose in the Oval we
have to throw in the celebrations as well, like
(42:13):
everyone bust or Fred sort of stumbling out of everywhere
possible. Not been to bed.
Absolute carnage and chaos of ofthe following day.
I'm not sure we'll get that fromEngland or India overnight, but
one might do. We'll figure it out mate.
But this Test match has to be one for the ages. 2025, what's
(42:34):
just happened? The pitch that's nipped around
all over the place first couple of days.
Joe Root going yet another 100 doing what he does.
Siraj charging in with every last last breath.
Brooke, he's one of his best hundreds.
I want to say I know he scored bigger hundreds, but but the way
(42:54):
he came in three down, we were sort of done and dusted and came
that came in and and took us near to to the total and then to
finish All India really 4 for four for 20 odd this morning on
the Monday morning day 5 to win the Test match.
So I would have to probably vote2025.
It's India's Team India's closest ever Test match.
(43:17):
Ever. Clear.
Oh, really? Six runs, it's closest ever,
which is pretty iconic I think. Yeah, I think we can just agree
to disagree on all of them and move on.
What you want the you want 05:00on that?
I've had to win the after half. Are you joking you?
Want 05 over What happened this week?
I'm just I'm just so I think 05 is just so big in my life as I
(43:39):
just can't go over it. I need a bit of time probably to
appreciate this match. Need to need a bit of distance,
but both just awesome series andyeah, credit to.
Well, it's working out in a sling.
That's true Joe for us to even be mentioning this with 05 just
shows yeah, Fairpoint. Let's take it to the listeners
(44:01):
let's you know they can decide in the comments.
So getting our comments on YouTube let us know which series
for you was was the better one. Which is the the impossible
question. But we want an answer.
So set up a poll or something orget some comments.
And what about tonight? What will it be like at the Oval
and all afternoon? Because I imagine both sides
(44:21):
have just gone hell for leather.A bit like a boxing match, you
just punch each other for 12 rounds and then at the end give
each other a big hug and have massive respect for each other.
Yeah, I mean, they'll they'll definitely get together for for
a short period of time, probably45 minutes an hour, maybe been
in change rooms where both captains say a few words to to
(44:42):
the opposition teams as to how the series is gone and how the
how it's felt to to both sides. How it generally goes is the
bowlers will all sit in a corner, just chat bowling and
different conditions and where you're going to next, what's the
next challenges. The batters will all sort of
talk about how good they are. And oh, do you see that cover
drive? That was amazing, wasn't it?
(45:02):
And that lasts, yeah, 45 minutesnow.
But ultimately, I think at the end of these series, the really
valuable like that that that time is is lovely.
You know, I've had some brilliant chats with so many
cricketers all over the world inin that period of time after a
series. But it's the memories of being
with your team mates and revelling in what has just
(45:23):
happened in the last six weeks. You'll sit there with I would be
with a glass of red sort of, oh,do you remember heading me?
How good was Ducky there? Like how did we get out of the
line? What a great Test match that
was. And Edgebaston was hard work,
wasn't it? We just didn't get it quite
right. But wokesy that morning, how
unlucky was it? Yeah.
And you sort of go through and you almost there was.
(45:45):
It's a bit of counselling really.
You're sort of just talking about everything that's gone
because, you know, you wake up tomorrow or you wake up Tuesday
morning in the London hotel. Series is done.
Series is over. Your next challenge is already
here. Joe Root is straight to the
Trent Rockets playing on Friday.So you already have to shift,
you have to go home, find your different coloured pads, do your
(46:08):
washing, crack on, get a new bagand away you go.
So it's it's cricket just moves on so quickly.
But you have to really enjoy those moments in the changing
room and the lads, what's it? You know the lads will be in
that changing room till midnighttonight.
Probably just just enjoying playing a bit of cricket with
the kids on the outfield, chilling out, maybe having a sit
(46:30):
on the outfield, relax, just allthe families around.
Really, really special times actually and and times you
remember. Broadly, you've watched the
whole series from the commentarybox.
I just want your input on this series, these performances only
in this series. Let's pick a combined India and
England 11. So I'm going to put you on the
spot player for player in this series and you've got to come up
(46:54):
with and 11:00 So let's start atthe top, Zach Crawley or
Jaiswal. This is probably on the spot.
By the way. Zach Crawley, Jaiswal, Jaiswal.
Beautiful player. 100 in the 1stinnings, 100 in the last.
Thanks for coming. Very good.
Duckett KL Rahul EW, horrible decision, great noises.
(47:17):
Duckett's been superb, got the team off to brilliant starts.
But Rahul, how he's led the young Indian batting group, his
technique for England, sort of old school opening batting, he's
been he's been really, really impressive.
So I'm going to say KL Rahul. Fair enough, Pope Sai Sebastian.
Three's been a difficult place to bat.
(47:39):
No one's necessarily lit it up. Pope got 100 at Headingley,
start the series really well. Saisa Darshan got some lovely
starts, probably played a bit within himself but will grow.
Please Team India, give that bloke 1520 test to settle at #3
and he will repay you. But I'm going Ollie Pope.
(47:59):
Impossible question. Joe Root, Shubman Gill.
Oh piss off. You want.
You want me to come? You want me?
To tune a name? Yeah, child.
A root. And I can see the headlines now.
Shipman Gills just scored the most amount of runs as a Test
captain behind Dom Bradman and Joe Root's gone second in the
(48:20):
all time list, scored three hundreds back-to-back and scored
his 39th Test match ton so. How are you going?
Well, only because I've got Joe Root's mobile number and don't
want the abuse, so I'm going to go Joe Root.
Unbelievable, you think? I can't believe that.
Unbelievable. Harry Brooke or Karoon Naya.
(48:42):
Harry, Brooke. Ben Stokes, Ravindra Jadeja,
Jadeja, let me get that out properly.
Do you know what? It's Ben Stokes, but I don't
think this is as simple as as itsounds.
Jadeja was incredible with the bat, best I've ever seen him
play with the bat, like brilliant at at #6 but he
struggled with the ball. I think he averaged really badly
(49:05):
with the ball, so you're in thatnumber six spot to be the
genuine all rounder. Judeja with the bat, brilliant.
Stokes with the ball and bat, brilliant.
So Ben Stokes. Fair enough, keepers, Smith or
Pant. Smith's knock at Edgbaston, one
of the best you've ever seen. I think it was the highest ever
score from an England wicked keeper, but Pant won an
(49:28):
entertainer. He he would be in my top five in
every Test match team. Just wonderful plays.
Feels like he plays by numbers in a little sense.
The fact he'd go block, block, sweep 6, block, block, charge 6.
But every time he walks out to bat, I want to be sat in the
seat and watching him. So Rishabh Pan.
Bashir, Washington, Sundar. Both had the moments.
(49:50):
Bashir's big moment came at Lord's final wicket, coming out
with a broken finger. Washington Sundar been highly
impressed with him as a cricketer.
To be honest. I think he's a Test match number
six waiting to happen and he bowled a great spell at Lord's 4
for 22 with his drift. So I'm going to say Washington
Sundar had more influence on theseries.
(50:11):
Nice. So England would love to have
him again. Joffre Archer or Akash Deep?
Akash deep was superb, but edge Baston particularly, I feel like
he relies on the new ball a little bit too much, but it's
highly skilful with the new ball.
But seeing Joffrarch come back wicked with his third ball,
knocking Richard pants off stumpout the ground at Lords.
(50:33):
Just seeing him back in the environment, playing with joy,
passion, excitement to be out there.
I'm having Joe Farage all day long.
Josh Tung or Mohammed Siraj? Both leading wicket takers for
their teams, Mohammed Siraj for India.
Josh Tung was 19 in three Test matches for England but Siraj
absolute warrior, played five Tests, Kept coming back.
(50:55):
Skilful wobbles the ball back towards the stumps.
Shows the bat of the away swinger and iconically finished
the The Oval Test match with a Yorker off stump out the ground.
So Mohammed Siraj for me. Last one, Bumrah awokes.
Both a quiet series for them wokes.
The iconically sort of walked down the the stairs with his arm
(51:17):
in a sling to finish the series.Played all 5 hell of an effort
on the pitches that we had and then missed out on the pitch
that would have suited him the most at the Oval.
Bumrah was both brilliant balls at times but but didn't win a
Test match in the series. Actually the two he missed to
Edgebaston and and the Oval of the ones that that India won.
(51:39):
But I'm going to have to go withBumrah for what he offers.
You know, he bought a brilliant ball to Zach Crawley in the
first over, his first over of the series.
He's a constant threat, but I'd like to have seen him probably
play one more. Here's a question for you Jose.
How much better does a cold beertaste after a win?
100 times better. BrewDog is now the official beer
(52:01):
of Lords. If you're at a Test match, the
Blast, the 100, or anything elsethis summer, you'll notice that
BrewDog loves cricket as much aswe do.
That's not just sound effects, that's an actual sound of a cold
beer being opened. It's actually called cold beer.
It is Jose. It's a 3.4% lager, perfect for
the day at the cricket. It's also got a Peach variety
(52:21):
too if you fancy trying that one.
And listeners to our podcasts can get a free glass.
It's an exclusive offer just foryou if you go to brewdog.com/for
the Love of Cricket. Tell you what, put the link in
our episode description. Well played, Josh.
Yeah, good idea. Hit the link in the episode
description by 20 cans and we'llChuck in a free cold beer glass.
You need to use a code though, so at checkout make sure you use
(52:43):
the code FTLOC. Yep, use the code FTLOC and
you'll get a free glass on us. For the love of cold beer, give
it a try in your new cold beer glass.
So broadly, the dust will settleon this India series.
It won't be long before everyone's looking forward to
the Ashes for Test cricket. You've also signed up to get
(53:04):
down to Australia and be part ofthe commentary team.
I imagine you've had some warm welcomes from the Australians
already. Yeah, I'm going to Australia
with Channel 7, which I'm reallyexcited about.
Some some brilliant names to work alongside.
Ricky Ponting, Hayden Lang, Verybatter friendly, isn't it?
To be fair, I think Simon Katichis is there, Aaron Finch, Greg
(53:29):
Bluett, Allison Mitchell. So some some really cool names
to to work alongside. But yeah, my social media
erupted slightly from the other side of the world of I hope you
will walk in here mate and all that sort of stuff, which is,
which is pretty usual actually. How long will it take me to walk
to Perth? I've imagined quite a long time.
But yeah, always entertaining the Australian social media and
(53:51):
I'm sure when I get there, when everyone's in Ashes fever, it
will, it will erupt even more. But they always make me smile.
The comments. I, I, I take 0 offence to
anything. I just love it.
I love being that sort of, you know, I love the fact that Ashes
means enough to people to to want to spice things up a little
bit. And I think it's going to be a
brilliant series which of coursewe will go into nearer the time
(54:14):
in, in November when when the guys hop on a flight and I hop
on a flight over there. But I don't know if you saw
Warner's sort of PR for the London Spirits playing in the
100. He, he was asked about Joe Root.
Did you see his quote? Can I read it to you and see
what you think of it? He said Root's a big anchor yet
to score 100 in Australia. Hazelwood tends to have his
(54:35):
number quite a lot. He will have to take that
surfboard off his front leg, meaning it's bad surfboard.
I actually tweeted back the balmy army because I.
Didn't say you had a little nibble.
I just had a nibble because I found it a little bit it it.
It irked me that our best ever batter in the history front pad
(54:58):
got called a surfboard. That was the only bit that got
me. And then I got asked that's Guy
Benedict to look how many times Hazel would have got Joe LBW and
Test cricket and it was 3, whichisn't.
I know Hazel's got him out a fewtimes, but three LBW's in 12
years is not surfboard material,is it so?
(55:19):
Mind Brody, don't bite. You're getting into he's got,
he's going to. It's going to be a long summer,
boys. Yeah, no.
Joey, Joey's not really a kick and well, candidate, is he?
See and I'm sure he'll get 100 in Australia, so look forward to
that. Absolutely.
And and talking about the hundred, you will face David
Warner at some stage round the wicket, nip it back towards the
(55:41):
stumps. You met up with with the
originals. We did a great podcast that's
live now with Ebony Ray for Brent, who was brilliant on
previewing everything about the hundreds.
So go and find that if you, if you want to dive a little bit
deeper into to what's coming ourway.
But you've met up with the Manchester originals.
How's how's the first few days been?
Yeah, it's been good. We were greeted with typical
(56:03):
Manchester weather unfortunately, but we've managed
to get out there in the afternoon.
It's great to sort of, you know,frustrate into it and it's 2
days and then we've got our first game against the Southern
Brave. But yeah, it's great to link up
with the guys. Quite a young squad as well.
We've got some real fresh faces.So excited to get to see them
play and you know, sort of, you know, make an impact hopefully
(56:26):
as a more senior player and sortof help a few guys along if I if
I can. Heinrich Classen is here.
Managed to bat in the middle of with him today and we had a sort
of scenario practice. So it was quite cool seeing him
up close and already sort of trying to pick a few, pick his
brains a bit and sort of OK for me.
There's sort of him, Surya and Poo ran at the minute, sort of
(56:48):
the three I see as the outliers and the far ahead in the in the
shortest format at the moment. So I'm really looking forward to
watching him and sort of pickinghis brains.
Are you going to open the bat? Am I going to open the bat?
You have to wait and see. Just keep it close to my chest.
But big secret, huge secret. I'll probably bat #3 and no
(57:13):
awkward handshakes so far. Although I did have one in
Wagamamas with I was call him a fan.
I don't know, not to be disrespect, but he came over to
me and he put his thumb up and said, Josh, I'm a big fan, but I
thought his he was sort of goingfor the handshake.
Oh. No.
So I've. Grabbed his thumb and just ate
(57:35):
the rest of my meal in absolute horror but.
Luckily so he's gone thumbs up like big fan he's and you
thought he was going for one of.Those, yeah, going for the, you
know, that one, one of my best. But I feel like we're becoming
like the official place for awkward handshake.
So if anyone's got CCTV at Wagamamas in Manchester, I'm
(57:56):
sure we could. Enjoy that.
Please find that for us. If anyone can film the CCTV
screen from Wagamoms in in Manchester of you shaking
someone's hand where they're giving you a thumbs up, I would.
That would make my summer. I know it's been a brilliant and
India England Test series but that would make my summer.
(58:17):
Yeah, that would top it off. But yeah, I'm not going to get
some. Quite a lot of handshakes now,
Jose. Honestly, on my social media and
on the pod social media, the handshakes keep flooding in.
It's, it's, it's just beautiful.And I'm just so glad we're able
to share our passion for handshakes and get so many, you
know, in this day and age, no one misses a thing today with
(58:38):
videos. So the, the one that we posted
from the Lions tour, that was anabsolute beauty as well.
So they do keep me going. I do enjoy them a lot.
Right, Jose. That's it for this week.
We'll be back next week reflecting on your first week in
the 100 with the Manchester Originals.
And in the meantime, watch us onSpotify and YouTube, or listen
via your favorite podcast app. As always, thanks to our
(59:00):
sponsors Sage and Leithwaites. And as always, kick on well.
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