June 25, 2025 • 28 mins
England chase 371 on the final day to win the first Test vs India. Jos and Broady react to their 2nd biggest chase ever and tell you what the beer tastes like after you win a game like that.
Also, what does the slope do at Headingley? And did Broady and the Sky team make the train home on time after the match. We answer all the big questions.
Buy the ‘For The Love of Cricket’ Wine Case by Laithwaites, handpicked by Stuart & Jos: https://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/X15614
FREE Cold Beer glass when you buy 20 cans of Brewdog Cold Beer - use the CODE: FTLOC at checkout to redeem!
Ask Broady and Jos a question: https://qHarKG.short.gy/askFTLOC
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:04):
I'm Josh Butler. Stuart Broad is back from
Headingley. How was the train home?
It was a rush, to be honest. We got off air at sort of
7:00-ish, I think after all the presentations and the play of
the match. And then all of us, Ian Ward,
Mel Jones, Mark Butcher, I thinkRavi Shastri was on there as
well. We all chart and that's what
we're saying. We'll charge to the train to get
the 7:45 back to to King's Cross.
(00:28):
So yeah, my, my, my birthday evening meal was a Melton
Mowbray pork pie and some train red wine.
Celebrating. Just talking about Test match
cricket because what a wonderfulTest match it was.
You know, I think going into Day5 where all four results are on
the table, win, lose, draw and tie, it is always really
(00:51):
exciting. But for England to chase down
371, I wouldn't say cruising it but but never really had to get
out, get out of 4th gear was really special.
Did you manage to to tune in andwatch any of it?
I was hacking my way around St. George's Hill in the afternoon,
so frantically checking the score.
But again, like even checking the score, it looked as if
(01:14):
everything was going very well. I listened to the first two
hours on the radio and again, sort of seemed like very few
alarms. A brilliant opening partnership,
Duckett and Crawley, you know, chasing 371 to get off to that
start. It felt like Bumrah, you know,
first up was gonna be a great challenge If he got through
that, then maybe today during the afternoon.
(01:35):
But what what an opening partnership from those two?
Yeah, I, I want to pick your brain on this a bit actually
with conditions, because the cracks had opened up with the
sunshine day 1-2 and three and started to lift a little bit on
day four. We arrived on day 5 very, very
blustery, cloudy, bit of rain around.
It had rained overnight and it'salmost as if those weather
(01:56):
conditions closed the cracks up or sort of moulded the pitch
back together because it didn't really misbehave.
Is that a thing or have I sort of just made that up?
I think with pitches, a lot of stuff is is made-up.
Maybe England had someone sat onthe roller all night flattening
it out. But yeah, obviously you know,
the decision at the toss vindicated to chase that down.
(02:18):
But anytime 371 is amazing. We spoke on our pod before about
how much belief there would be in the England dressing room,
how much they feel like they could do it.
They've, you know what, what a side to be able to, to pull that
off. And it just feels for me a bit
like they're going to another level.
I feel like the last few years, obviously I've done absolutely
(02:41):
amazing things in Test cricket. They've completely changed the
way they play, they've been getting results.
But it just felt like listening to Ben Stokes talk before the
match that they felt like they've got areas they want to
improve on another level to reach, especially coming up
against India. And obviously you're not talking
about it, but down the line, theAshes and this game sort of
(03:04):
looked like that to me. They they hung tough when they
needed to. India got themselves ahead, but
England never went away. You know, the the Indian batting
collapsed in the first innings and the second innings just kept
England in it. And they seize that chance to
chase down 370 and do it on the last day.
But it just feels like the side is is going to another level.
(03:26):
Is that what you see from the commentary box?
Yeah, I mean India to be honest,they, they had so many chances
to put this game to bed, didn't they?
They could have gone and got 550first innings and then England
away behind the 8 ball lost 741 and and again Richard Pan got
out for for another 100 and leftEngland chasing sort of 371
again, losing 6 wickets for for 30 odd.
(03:48):
And England then are looking at 370 going.
Yeah, we've got a chance. If that's 450, I don't think
you've got enough time in the game.
And anyway, so India did have their chances in the game to to
win it or certainly get in a position where where they can't
lose it. I want to do pray.
I do want to praise Josh Tong a little bit for that because I
know Ben Stokes, you see that rabbit pie sort of a
(04:09):
celebration. And that is a thing within the
bowling group, you know, cleaning out the tail and
there's the the top order are there as well.
But it is a skill to do that. Dale Steyn was amazing.
And it's sort of into length hitting the stumps.
So, so actually credit to the England bowlers for for giving
the guys a chance of of something to chase.
But Crawley duck it. Yeah, Crawley gets a bit of
stick, doesn't he? A lot of question marks over his
(04:31):
team, but over his spot in the team.
But Rob Key, Brendan McCullough and Ben Stokes are all keen to
have him there for instances like that.
They don't necessarily want him to score 45 every innings and
just be really consistent. They wanted to win games and
build partnerships with Ben Duckett to win game.
And, and as soon as England got to 160 odd for for not and it
(04:52):
all looked a bit of a cruise because then you're thinking
Ollie Pope to come, Joe Root, Harry Brooke, Ben Stokes, Jamie
Smith, They've got so much firepower.
If they get off to a position like that in the chase, then
then they're so ahead of the game.
So, yeah, big credit to to Zach Crawley, huge credit to Ben
Duckett. Has to be one of the best 4th
innings knocks I've seen. I remember Mark Butcher doing a
(05:15):
similar thing in what was that 2001 getting 170 odd against the
Aussies and we kept winding him up in the commentary box.
Oh, the, the Mr. Headingley tag's going to disappear today,
but Ben Duckett's going to nick that off you.
And you know, he got 149, hit one to cover.
He could have gone and got a bigsort of 180 and walked off an
absolute hero. But I think he's a hero anyway.
(05:37):
the IT was an incredible innings.
He's definitely one of the best openers, all format openers in
the world at the moment. But there was just an
inevitability. Inevitability, easy for me to
say about it, wasn't there as soon as England got going, as
soon as you were duffing chips on the 10th hole at Saint
George's Head, it just felt likethe game was the game was
(05:58):
England and England. Would try to do, wasn't it?
Everything the world was right. Again, felt right.
Felt like England were were justgonna do it.
And that's huge credit to Ben Stokes's mindset, the team's
mindset that us fans can sort ofsit there still with 200 needed
going. Oh, this is in the bag.
Which, you know, I was grown up watching through the 90s and
early 2000s. Chasing 120 would have been
(06:18):
nerve wracking, wouldn't it? Yeah, and let's just focus on
Ben Duckett. Like you say, he's been become
an absolutely vital part of thatside.
He's played absolutely beautifully since he's come back
into the team. A short guy, I think I've
written down 5 foot 7 here, but I think that's quite kind to
him. But what challenges does he pose
(06:38):
of being that height in the way he plays the left hand, right
hand combination of him and Crawley being, you know,
probably a foot taller than Ducky as well.
So what sort of benefits do theyhave in that partnership?
Obviously fine players, but their styles complement each
other really well, don't they? Yeah.
You gotta bowl completely different lengths to to both of
them. Ben Duckett is outrageously
quick onto any sort of width, you know, doesn't leave any
(07:01):
balls in Testament 3. I think he left two in a row on
on night 4. And our stats guy Benedict
checked how many times he'd left2 balls in a row and it was like
a handful of times he could go like the 6th of December.
He left 2 balls in a row, which is just crazy really for for an
opening batter. We could take in the Mick out of
Mike Atherton saying that would 20 balls in a row would have
(07:22):
been him every day, you know. So yeah, quite an incredible
style of opening the batting, but also I think we have to give
credit for the for the pick as well.
You know, they picked him, he had some talent.
He'd struggled in Test match cricket before and they picked
in the some back end of the summer or, or the tour of
Pakistan 2022 and haven't lookedback.
Really sort of buys into everything that Brendan McCullum
(07:45):
and Ben Stokes are about the theaggressive mentality looking to
take the bowlers on. And yeah, Crawley and him have
been superb. I think the average 45 ish
together as an opening partnership, which you know,
they they come under well, Crawley comes under a bit of
pressure at times, but actually if you put them as a partnership
that that's that's awesome for England.
So so getting us off to to a really good start.
(08:07):
So I'm glad they've stuck with Zach.
Yeah, absolutely. I think they've been a brilliant
partnership. International cricket just seems
to suit Zach. I think you know, the the better
bowlers he faced, he seems to rise to the occasion.
He did that absolutely brilliantly in the Ashes a
summer ago or two summers ago, whenever that was.
And I think when you've got sucha a good partnership you're very
(08:28):
reluctant. There must be a serious reason
to break that up. You know, I think they've been a
huge part of the team, setting the tone.
Obviously they did that brilliantly in the run chase
yesterday. And you mentioned Ducky had a,
you know, brilliant county season, got picked for England
on that tour to India, which is always going to be tough.
And then so much credit's got togo to him.
(08:49):
That time out the side now, I think that time to really sit
down and work on your game and think about what kind of style
of cricketer you want to be and a few little conversations ahead
and talk about it. Just seemed really at peace with
this is how I'm going to play. It's actually OK to play like
this. He probably gets even more of
that clarity and conviction in this England team that, yeah, we
(09:10):
don't mind that you don't leave the ball.
We want you to go out there and score.
And he just looks very comfortable in his game and in
his game plan. And someone you know really well
and I think has probably had a big impact would be Peter
Moore's at at Nottingham. I know he had a great impact on
Joe Roots, done a lot of brilliant stuff with him.
And it'd be, I'm sure, you know,Ducky will have done quite a lot
(09:31):
of stuff with him at Nottingham and, and really worked on that
game. And he just the confidence just
seems to be oozing out of him. Like say all format player now
there can't be a better all format opener around the world
at the moment, you know, dippingin and out of different formats.
He's got the game and he's, you know, really noticed in the ODI
(09:52):
series just gone against the West Indies, a real senior
player, you know, a real leader within that group.
You know, Brookie would lean on him a bit.
And I'm sure in the Test side, you know, in the the way that
he's playing, the way that he feels in that dressing room,
he's a real, real leader. And he stepped up and LED from
the front yesterday, which was fantastic.
(10:13):
To see we're getting 149 even ina Test match against India might
just help him get an IPL contract come the next turn.
Certainly not. Drunk Titans not gonna do him
any problems, no. No good drunk Titans teammate.
Yeah, I don't know. Should I'm gonna want him
anymore, having seen that yesterday?
But we had, you know, we had JoeRoot and and Ben Stokes batting
(10:34):
together and India felt it felt like India had to get one of
them out earlier to stand a realchance.
I actually want to pick your brain tactically a bit.
So Judeja just started landing the ball in the rough to the
left-hander and it's spitting and biting a little bit.
And Stokes, he was just reverse sweeping virtual, every ball
playing the reverse sweep like it was a forward defence.
(10:54):
Is that something that you're onboard with that you try and do
yourself? It it it didn't come without a
bit of danger. One flipped off the glove and
nearly got caught by short leg. A couple went aerially actually
ended up getting out to the reverse sweet court at at almost
like a short third really. But his mindset will be well I'd
probably prefer to get caught deep point than than forward
(11:16):
defence and inside edge it to toshort leg.
Yeah, absolutely. That and Day 5 when there's a
few footholds that have been created, the danger as a batter
and the left-hander into those footholds feels like if you're
just poking and trying to defend, you know, the angles are
kind of against you. One might spit and bring short
leg and leg slip into play, misses the rough and skids on
(11:38):
and you know, court keeper or orslip.
So the line that he's bowling isactually the perfect line to
play the reverse sweep. You can't be out LBW because
it's going to be outside the line, you know, playing a shot.
It's very hard to defend with enough fielders there as well.
You sort of where do you put, you know, do you have one guy
back for Ben Duckett? You almost need 2 back on the
(12:00):
reverse sweep and he can hit it behind square.
He can hit it in front of square.
And it's so disruptive to a bowler and a captain that that
reverse sweepers. And the more and more T20
cricket people have played, the more people have, you know,
brought that shot into Test cricket and it's so difficult to
defend. You know, you can sweep the ball
and reverse sweep the same line and you've only got 9 fielders
(12:24):
to play with and it's very difficult there.
And exactly that really, you know, Stokes, you would think
I'd prefer to get out like that,trying to score runs and put
pressure on the bowler than sortof sit in my crease and sort of
what feels like at times there'sa batter wait for one with my
name on it. You know, Judaism is an
incredibly accurate bowler. It's one of his biggest
strengths and you need to take aproactive option to try and get
(12:46):
him away from, you know, the real danger ball.
It's a little bit like the guys using their feet to the seamers
a bit at the minute to try and take you away from the top of
off stump, which feels like the most dangerous ball as a batter.
And it's certainly the mentalitythat these guys have.
If you're an if in doubt, which obviously doubt does come into a
batter's mindset at times. I always think you want to fail
(13:09):
a certain way. If if I was going to get out,
you know that Stokes yesterday, exactly as you said, I'd prefer
to get out reverse sweeping, trying to score runs then prop
forward and one just balloons upin the air to to short leg would
feel like a softer dismissal to him than actually trying to
score runs. And especially in a run chase.
You know, it's so you know, a couple of boundaries from a
(13:29):
reverse sweep just completely continues that momentum and the
partnership and taking you closer to home.
And with a few wickets left behind him, it's you know, it's
a pretty natural shot these daysto kind of play.
And, and at the other end, you know, a guy like Joe Root, who I
he probably couldn't think of anyone better to have in that
(13:50):
situation to just Marshall the the troops home.
Obviously there's a couple of wickets in in 2 balls with Pope
and Brooke going together, but Root just never seems to be
affected, does he? And however, was he 160 odd test
matches he must have played by now.
He's seen it all and and the England balcony would have been
very, very comfortable sat watching Joe Root chase that
(14:13):
down. Yeah, that's the thing, isn't
it? Yeah.
He felt India had to get him outfor for them to stand a chance.
And while he was at the crease, even if he was 7 or 8 down, even
if Josh Tongue was coming in andJoe Root was still there, you'd
still feel like you've, you've got a chance.
Because he just, he just manoeuvres the chase so, so
calmly. He never seems to go into 5th
gear or panic. He, he always has a shot, always
(14:35):
has an option against both the spin and the seam.
So yeah, he, he's, we, we know he's a best ever player.
He's, he's such a wonderful player.
But I think even in those chases, he's a brilliant ODI
player, isn't he? That, that has seen the team
home in, in so many situations. And a little word for Jamie
Smith as well, because he came in and it felt like the game was
Ingham were well ahead of the game, but he if he'd have got
(14:57):
out and exposed the tail a bit, the, the, there's there's a
chance for India. And I was wondering, can he come
out and play with the freedom that that he's shown in Test
match cricket so far under this sort of pressure, this sort of
scrutiny with maybe some doubts in his mind.
And for him to hit the winning runs in the fashion he did.
You know, as a bowler, the best wicket you can ever take is that
(15:17):
final wicket. Surely the best runs you can hit
is to to win a Test match like that in a chase?
Yeah, absolutely. There's nothing harder actually
than I say, being not out at theend, hitting the winning runs,
There's no greater feeling now. What a wake up today, you know,
knowing you hit the winning runsinto the stands as well for a
famous England victory at Headingley.
And from the little cricket thatI have played with him, a
(15:40):
fantastic mindset, you know, fearless cricketer doesn't seem
to be phased and affected by anything.
And they're attributes that you really need for international
cricket. And I think as much as you need
the skill, of course, and to be a top player, that's a given.
But being able to deal with the chaos, deal with the situation.
(16:00):
He came in and looked like a seasoned pro, didn't he had seen
it all before and and did it in some style.
You know, that final over to Jalesia, taking him on and and
just sort of put the real icing on the cake for he has a
victory, but also the style thatthis team loved to play in.
No, I completely agree. I've actually got a great
question from Claire. Tough one to answer actually.
(16:22):
How many do you think England could have chased I?
Think it would have, like you say, come down to time, but even
if England were chasing, you know, 450, you know, they'd have
given it a go. You know, I think a lot of the
chat was obviously about the weather and it seems like you
missed some great bands of rain.I saw a picture of you with the
GPS right in between a couple ofbands of rain.
(16:44):
So to get a four days play and he bought 90 overs and they
cruised that 370. It would seem obviously a really
fast growing ground there at Headingley as well.
But you know, even if it was 450it would maybe they would have
had to take more risks which obviously brings in the
opportunities for more wickets for India.
But you know, they would have given it a great go.
They know that and adjusting when you now look at that from
(17:07):
one to seven especially, that isa incredibly powerful,
consistent line up that is putting big scores very
consistently in the fashion they're doing it.
And the the rates that they score at are what is bringing in
these results. Because they put so much time
back into the game to take those20 wickets.
(17:27):
And it's a lot's been talked about of, of the batting and how
well they've been scoring and the runs that and the rate they
do it. But there's not been many games
that they haven't taken 20 wickets.
I think they've been brilliant at finding ways to to get the
opposition out. And of course you need to do
that to win Test matches. So, you know, it's a brilliant
team effort and I'm sure there'll have been a brilliant
(17:49):
celebration. Those kind of matches.
You just love sitting around in the dressing room, don't you?
After the Colbert, a few tunes on and just reminiscing over the
whole game as well, because it'seasy to focus on yesterday and
what a great day it was. But there's so many moments that
you look back on in the test that were that were vital to
getting you into that position with a couple of hours to go,
(18:11):
knowing that you odds on going to win the game.
I think it's the best beer you can ever have is when you've
worked so hard for five days andyou win a Test match and you sit
down in your whites. It may be even boots still on,
cap on, have a beer. I mean, after 18 holes of golf,
that beer overlooking the golf course runs it close, but but I
think that's the way I'm joining1.
(18:33):
You just need it to calm me down.
But I suppose, you know, we're talking about what a brilliant
Test match win that was. And we it was it was one of
England's greatest ever chases. But a talking point is Joffer
Archer. He feel like he's a talking
point with English cricket ever since 2019, but played for
Sussex this week, has taken a couple of wickets and and looks
(18:55):
like he's building up and all the rumours and and talk around
the press boxes. He comes in at Aji Buston, he
plays. So if you're chairman of
selectors, are you playing him and and who are you leaving out?
How's that? How's that for a question?
Yes, one, I'm glad I don't have any more as a as a captain, but
a great problem to have. You know, it's it's not
certainly won't be viewing it asa problem that a fit and firing
(19:17):
Joffre Archer think we're all really, really excited and so
pleased that he is back with a red ball in hand.
Hopefully he'll come through that game.
He's playing up at Chester the street unscathed.
Looks like he's he's bowling well and he's actually put
together a real Bank of cricket.You know, I know people will
talk about he hasn't played fourday cricket or a Test match for
I think it's four years, but he's been fit and playing well
(19:39):
in T 20s. It's obviously a jump from T20
cricket up to ODIs. So I wouldn't see foresee a
problem in him coming in. Obviously when you have such a
great win as England have done, it's very tempting obviously to
just stick with the same team and and roll it out again.
And one of the big things, you know, for Jaffer's workload that
(20:00):
will help him, I think is obviously Ben Stokes playing a
fully fit part. You know, is that 4th seamer.
You really, you know, if you were worried about how many
overs you want Jaffer to bowl oryou want to use him as that
short, impactful bowler and not give him very many long spells.
The fact that Stokes he is fullyfit and and bowled brilliantly
upper heading Lee. You know, takes wickets and can
(20:23):
bowl spells back it up. Hopefully you know, he's now got
a week off as well to to rest aswell, which will be great.
So there shouldn't be any problems in terms of of that.
I think you would just add Joffre to your squad and, you
know, get him back around the team, get him back around Test
cricket. Even if they don't pick him to
play, it will just be fantastic to have him back around the
(20:44):
group and and you one great thing about good sides is you've
got good players around pushing each other, obviously in a very
positive way and and in a very healthy team environment.
But those training sessions, youknow what it's like.
I'm sure as a bowler, you're looking at each other and
someone's bowling well and that,you know, just pushes you on a
little bit. Or the guys in the team right
(21:05):
now, they've done brilliantly, won a Test match.
This is my shirt, this is my spot.
I want to hold onto it even though there's guys outside the
team who'll who'll want to be getting back in.
So I think it's a a great position for for England to be
in and to be coming into having won that first Test.
You know, there's no sort of panic reaction.
Oh, we need to rush Joffre in because we we didn't get the
(21:27):
result we wanted or there's no temptations for that.
Not that there. I don't think there ever would
be from this group of of leadersand selection committee.
But yeah, I think as as well as a friend of Joffrey's and and as
a fan of England cricket, whenever that does come, if it's
the next match or the match after or some point in this
(21:48):
series, I think we will all be incredibly excited to see him
back in whites. Yeah, I think I play him.
You know, I think if it was my decision I'd play him because
you've got Gus Atkinson not fit for the next Test match but will
be fit for Laws. So he would want to come in,
particularly after the first year he's had of of
international cricket. You want to see him play against
better teams and expose him to ahigher quality standard.
(22:11):
And I don't think you can bring Joffre and Gus Atkinson back in
at the same time because then you've got two real big question
marks over over fitness. So you need to see how Josh Tung
comes up, pulls up after the game, how Bride and Karst does.
He looked like he was limping around a little bit of struggle
with a toe, hasn't he, for quitea long period of time.
So I I would play Joffre at Edgbaston and then bring Gus
(22:34):
Atkinson in in for Lords the next Test match.
And I know that leans into you. You're piddling around too much,
you're messing with it, you're trying to think too far ahead.
But we need to see what Joffre can do at the at this level.
We need to see if he can bowl 15, 20 in a day.
We know he's got the quality to do it, but we haven't seen that
quality for four years just because of of injuries.
(22:55):
So if he's good to go and he gives it the thumbs up and the
management and more importantly,Ben Stokes is like, I trust that
he can bowl in this Test match. I think you play him because you
know he will deliver balls nippyacross the left handers early.
He'll bowl well with the new ball.
You know, he's got a bouncer that makes everyone jump.
So I'd be really, I'd be temptedto to play him and I think every
(23:18):
England fan would be buzzing. If you saw Joffre Archer's name
on that team sheet two days out,which England normally seem to
do, name it that, that early come Monday morning, you'd be
you'd be really excited. So don't get me wrong, if I if
I'd just played in the Test match winning team as a bowler
and I got left out, I wouldn't be overly pleased.
But but you know, I think I think we need to see what what
(23:39):
Joffra's got And and and probably the question mark
India's on India's mind is bummer.
I mean, I think they got their team selection wrong.
If I'm honest, I think could have could have should have
played the leg spinner instead of shadow Taco.
And bummer by all accounts, is going to rest at edge Baston and
I'd be tempted to bring in Ashdeep Singh, the left arm
(24:01):
swing bowler. They need something different in
their bowling attack. Although Krishna bowl much
better in the second innings, they still lacked a bit of
control and wicket taking ability.
And I think if England have a weakness it's probably against
wrist spin in a sense and edge basting can spin out the
footholds dry surface. So I'd be tempted to to play
called deep Yadav actually. But it's not panic stations, you
(24:23):
can't afford to RIP up the the plans and and change everything
after one loss where you've controlled the Test match
really. Yeah, exactly.
Now that I think when the dust settles, when you're in that
team that does lose, you sort oflook back a bit more logically
and say, do you know what, we actually played a lot of great
cricket there. There's moments in that game
where we could have taken the loss completely out of it and
(24:45):
been really on the front foot, but they didn't manage to take
those chances and that will be frustrating for them.
But that's the kind of way you always look at a game when you
have lost there. You got to try and take away the
emotion of the loss, which will hurt and it will hurt for a
little bit, but then you sort ofreview it a bit more logically.
We did some good things. OK, what do we need?
What are we missing that we might want to add for the next
(25:07):
match? Obviously, What will the
conditions be like now? Will it stay very dry as it has
done or or the weather play ballin a different way?
Actually for the Indian bowlers,you know, getting the Dukes ball
in the hand. first Test match, Iactually saw someone talk about
the slopes at Headingley and what can be tricky.
And just for the listeners who you know, it's not a Lord slope
(25:30):
is it? But what happens from bowling at
each end at Headingley, which ifyou've not bowled there before,
can be quite tricky, which may have affected a bit of the
rhythm of some of the Indian bowlers.
I think it definitely would haveaffected the rhythm.
So Lords have got a slope from from left to right of about 8
foot and Headingley goes down the ground.
(25:51):
SO11 end you're running down theground.
The the other end, the football stand end where Leeds Rhinos
play, you're running up the hilland it does feel like a mountain
actually, particularly if the wind is in your face.
You've got to keep your stride pattern as short as you can.
You've got to put all your effort in at the crease and we
saw massive amount of nobles in the Test match.
And that is because of this slope down the ground.
(26:11):
There'll be a lot of club cricketers out there who play on
all sorts of magical grounds around the country where they're
dealing with much worse slopes and slants than than these Test
players going well, I don't overstep, but you know, it's
it's hard when you opposition teams, foreign bowlers, they're
just playing one game there and they've got to get used to it in
that game. And I spoke to to Krishna
(26:32):
actually on on Day 5, who'd bowled up the hill the whole
time and just said couldn't really find a, a rhythm and it
was dragging him short. And that's what happens at
Headingley Bowl up the hill and it tends to drag you into back
of a length and you bowl down the hill and your front foot
seems to hit the crease early because the momentum's carrying
you through so much and you bowl, you bowl a bit too full.
So yeah, it takes some time. That's why it's such an
(26:54):
advantage for England because they have bowlers that have got
experience of it and and you youcan settle in quicker, whereas
the opposition players have to try and find a way in that Test
match and and still perform. But edge Baston going there
next, there's no real slope, there's no difference either
end. It's a really nice place to run
in and bowl. I'm not saying it nips around in
(27:15):
a brilliant place to to get response out the surface, but
it's it's a flat sort of outfield and and, and wind and
all that sort of thing. So I think the bowlers will find
a rhythm. Broadly talking of slopes, like
you said, I'm sure some of our listeners play on all sorts of
weird and wonderful cricket pitches.
So please send us in your pictures of where you play, the
weirdest slopes, the most aggressive slopes, a bit of a
(27:39):
slope rating like the golf courses get these days.
And Brody can look through them and call you out and see where
he thinks would probably be the hardest for him to bowl.
So that should be a bit of fun in the next episode I.
Thought you were going to asked me to go and bowl at them their
hose. They have not bowled since since
I've retired. So that would have been a bridge
too far. But I'm more than happy to have
a look and and give them a bit of a bit of a judge and and give
(28:03):
some advice of how to cope with them.
But just a little reminder, we are on Facebook.
Go finders. We've actually had our millionth
view on YouTube, but we're stillon a duck, if not a pair on
Facebook. So go and hunt us out if you
haven't done so. Yeah, we do.
Yeah, we do still exist. We are on Instagram.
That's going really nicely. But if you are on Facebook, go
find us. And we're back on Tuesday with
(28:24):
our first Q&A episode. A big thanks to our partners
Sage, and we'll see you next. Week.
See you next week. Kick them well.
Kick them well, mate.
I'm Josh Butler. Stuart Broad is back from
Headingley. How was the train home?
It was a rush, to be honest. We got off air at sort of
7:00-ish, I think after all the presentations and the play of
the match. And then all of us, Ian Ward,
Mel Jones, Mark Butcher, I thinkRavi Shastri was on there as
well. We all chart and that's what
we're saying. We'll charge to the train to get
the 7:45 back to to King's Cross.
(00:28):
So yeah, my, my, my birthday evening meal was a Melton
Mowbray pork pie and some train red wine.
Celebrating. Just talking about Test match
cricket because what a wonderfulTest match it was.
You know, I think going into Day5 where all four results are on
the table, win, lose, draw and tie, it is always really
(00:51):
exciting. But for England to chase down
371, I wouldn't say cruising it but but never really had to get
out, get out of 4th gear was really special.
Did you manage to to tune in andwatch any of it?
I was hacking my way around St. George's Hill in the afternoon,
so frantically checking the score.
But again, like even checking the score, it looked as if
(01:14):
everything was going very well. I listened to the first two
hours on the radio and again, sort of seemed like very few
alarms. A brilliant opening partnership,
Duckett and Crawley, you know, chasing 371 to get off to that
start. It felt like Bumrah, you know,
first up was gonna be a great challenge If he got through
that, then maybe today during the afternoon.
(01:35):
But what what an opening partnership from those two?
Yeah, I, I want to pick your brain on this a bit actually
with conditions, because the cracks had opened up with the
sunshine day 1-2 and three and started to lift a little bit on
day four. We arrived on day 5 very, very
blustery, cloudy, bit of rain around.
It had rained overnight and it'salmost as if those weather
(01:56):
conditions closed the cracks up or sort of moulded the pitch
back together because it didn't really misbehave.
Is that a thing or have I sort of just made that up?
I think with pitches, a lot of stuff is is made-up.
Maybe England had someone sat onthe roller all night flattening
it out. But yeah, obviously you know,
the decision at the toss vindicated to chase that down.
(02:18):
But anytime 371 is amazing. We spoke on our pod before about
how much belief there would be in the England dressing room,
how much they feel like they could do it.
They've, you know what, what a side to be able to, to pull that
off. And it just feels for me a bit
like they're going to another level.
I feel like the last few years, obviously I've done absolutely
(02:41):
amazing things in Test cricket. They've completely changed the
way they play, they've been getting results.
But it just felt like listening to Ben Stokes talk before the
match that they felt like they've got areas they want to
improve on another level to reach, especially coming up
against India. And obviously you're not talking
about it, but down the line, theAshes and this game sort of
(03:04):
looked like that to me. They they hung tough when they
needed to. India got themselves ahead, but
England never went away. You know, the the Indian batting
collapsed in the first innings and the second innings just kept
England in it. And they seize that chance to
chase down 370 and do it on the last day.
But it just feels like the side is is going to another level.
(03:26):
Is that what you see from the commentary box?
Yeah, I mean India to be honest,they, they had so many chances
to put this game to bed, didn't they?
They could have gone and got 550first innings and then England
away behind the 8 ball lost 741 and and again Richard Pan got
out for for another 100 and leftEngland chasing sort of 371
again, losing 6 wickets for for 30 odd.
(03:48):
And England then are looking at 370 going.
Yeah, we've got a chance. If that's 450, I don't think
you've got enough time in the game.
And anyway, so India did have their chances in the game to to
win it or certainly get in a position where where they can't
lose it. I want to do pray.
I do want to praise Josh Tong a little bit for that because I
know Ben Stokes, you see that rabbit pie sort of a
(04:09):
celebration. And that is a thing within the
bowling group, you know, cleaning out the tail and
there's the the top order are there as well.
But it is a skill to do that. Dale Steyn was amazing.
And it's sort of into length hitting the stumps.
So, so actually credit to the England bowlers for for giving
the guys a chance of of something to chase.
But Crawley duck it. Yeah, Crawley gets a bit of
stick, doesn't he? A lot of question marks over his
(04:31):
team, but over his spot in the team.
But Rob Key, Brendan McCullough and Ben Stokes are all keen to
have him there for instances like that.
They don't necessarily want him to score 45 every innings and
just be really consistent. They wanted to win games and
build partnerships with Ben Duckett to win game.
And, and as soon as England got to 160 odd for for not and it
(04:52):
all looked a bit of a cruise because then you're thinking
Ollie Pope to come, Joe Root, Harry Brooke, Ben Stokes, Jamie
Smith, They've got so much firepower.
If they get off to a position like that in the chase, then
then they're so ahead of the game.
So, yeah, big credit to to Zach Crawley, huge credit to Ben
Duckett. Has to be one of the best 4th
innings knocks I've seen. I remember Mark Butcher doing a
(05:15):
similar thing in what was that 2001 getting 170 odd against the
Aussies and we kept winding him up in the commentary box.
Oh, the, the Mr. Headingley tag's going to disappear today,
but Ben Duckett's going to nick that off you.
And you know, he got 149, hit one to cover.
He could have gone and got a bigsort of 180 and walked off an
absolute hero. But I think he's a hero anyway.
(05:37):
the IT was an incredible innings.
He's definitely one of the best openers, all format openers in
the world at the moment. But there was just an
inevitability. Inevitability, easy for me to
say about it, wasn't there as soon as England got going, as
soon as you were duffing chips on the 10th hole at Saint
George's Head, it just felt likethe game was the game was
(05:58):
England and England. Would try to do, wasn't it?
Everything the world was right. Again, felt right.
Felt like England were were justgonna do it.
And that's huge credit to Ben Stokes's mindset, the team's
mindset that us fans can sort ofsit there still with 200 needed
going. Oh, this is in the bag.
Which, you know, I was grown up watching through the 90s and
early 2000s. Chasing 120 would have been
(06:18):
nerve wracking, wouldn't it? Yeah, and let's just focus on
Ben Duckett. Like you say, he's been become
an absolutely vital part of thatside.
He's played absolutely beautifully since he's come back
into the team. A short guy, I think I've
written down 5 foot 7 here, but I think that's quite kind to
him. But what challenges does he pose
(06:38):
of being that height in the way he plays the left hand, right
hand combination of him and Crawley being, you know,
probably a foot taller than Ducky as well.
So what sort of benefits do theyhave in that partnership?
Obviously fine players, but their styles complement each
other really well, don't they? Yeah.
You gotta bowl completely different lengths to to both of
them. Ben Duckett is outrageously
quick onto any sort of width, you know, doesn't leave any
(07:01):
balls in Testament 3. I think he left two in a row on
on night 4. And our stats guy Benedict
checked how many times he'd left2 balls in a row and it was like
a handful of times he could go like the 6th of December.
He left 2 balls in a row, which is just crazy really for for an
opening batter. We could take in the Mick out of
Mike Atherton saying that would 20 balls in a row would have
(07:22):
been him every day, you know. So yeah, quite an incredible
style of opening the batting, but also I think we have to give
credit for the for the pick as well.
You know, they picked him, he had some talent.
He'd struggled in Test match cricket before and they picked
in the some back end of the summer or, or the tour of
Pakistan 2022 and haven't lookedback.
Really sort of buys into everything that Brendan McCullum
(07:45):
and Ben Stokes are about the theaggressive mentality looking to
take the bowlers on. And yeah, Crawley and him have
been superb. I think the average 45 ish
together as an opening partnership, which you know,
they they come under well, Crawley comes under a bit of
pressure at times, but actually if you put them as a partnership
that that's that's awesome for England.
So so getting us off to to a really good start.
(08:07):
So I'm glad they've stuck with Zach.
Yeah, absolutely. I think they've been a brilliant
partnership. International cricket just seems
to suit Zach. I think you know, the the better
bowlers he faced, he seems to rise to the occasion.
He did that absolutely brilliantly in the Ashes a
summer ago or two summers ago, whenever that was.
And I think when you've got sucha a good partnership you're very
(08:28):
reluctant. There must be a serious reason
to break that up. You know, I think they've been a
huge part of the team, setting the tone.
Obviously they did that brilliantly in the run chase
yesterday. And you mentioned Ducky had a,
you know, brilliant county season, got picked for England
on that tour to India, which is always going to be tough.
And then so much credit's got togo to him.
(08:49):
That time out the side now, I think that time to really sit
down and work on your game and think about what kind of style
of cricketer you want to be and a few little conversations ahead
and talk about it. Just seemed really at peace with
this is how I'm going to play. It's actually OK to play like
this. He probably gets even more of
that clarity and conviction in this England team that, yeah, we
(09:10):
don't mind that you don't leave the ball.
We want you to go out there and score.
And he just looks very comfortable in his game and in
his game plan. And someone you know really well
and I think has probably had a big impact would be Peter
Moore's at at Nottingham. I know he had a great impact on
Joe Roots, done a lot of brilliant stuff with him.
And it'd be, I'm sure, you know,Ducky will have done quite a lot
(09:31):
of stuff with him at Nottingham and, and really worked on that
game. And he just the confidence just
seems to be oozing out of him. Like say all format player now
there can't be a better all format opener around the world
at the moment, you know, dippingin and out of different formats.
He's got the game and he's, you know, really noticed in the ODI
(09:52):
series just gone against the West Indies, a real senior
player, you know, a real leader within that group.
You know, Brookie would lean on him a bit.
And I'm sure in the Test side, you know, in the the way that
he's playing, the way that he feels in that dressing room,
he's a real, real leader. And he stepped up and LED from
the front yesterday, which was fantastic.
(10:13):
To see we're getting 149 even ina Test match against India might
just help him get an IPL contract come the next turn.
Certainly not. Drunk Titans not gonna do him
any problems, no. No good drunk Titans teammate.
Yeah, I don't know. Should I'm gonna want him
anymore, having seen that yesterday?
But we had, you know, we had JoeRoot and and Ben Stokes batting
(10:34):
together and India felt it felt like India had to get one of
them out earlier to stand a realchance.
I actually want to pick your brain tactically a bit.
So Judeja just started landing the ball in the rough to the
left-hander and it's spitting and biting a little bit.
And Stokes, he was just reverse sweeping virtual, every ball
playing the reverse sweep like it was a forward defence.
(10:54):
Is that something that you're onboard with that you try and do
yourself? It it it didn't come without a
bit of danger. One flipped off the glove and
nearly got caught by short leg. A couple went aerially actually
ended up getting out to the reverse sweet court at at almost
like a short third really. But his mindset will be well I'd
probably prefer to get caught deep point than than forward
(11:16):
defence and inside edge it to toshort leg.
Yeah, absolutely. That and Day 5 when there's a
few footholds that have been created, the danger as a batter
and the left-hander into those footholds feels like if you're
just poking and trying to defend, you know, the angles are
kind of against you. One might spit and bring short
leg and leg slip into play, misses the rough and skids on
(11:38):
and you know, court keeper or orslip.
So the line that he's bowling isactually the perfect line to
play the reverse sweep. You can't be out LBW because
it's going to be outside the line, you know, playing a shot.
It's very hard to defend with enough fielders there as well.
You sort of where do you put, you know, do you have one guy
back for Ben Duckett? You almost need 2 back on the
(12:00):
reverse sweep and he can hit it behind square.
He can hit it in front of square.
And it's so disruptive to a bowler and a captain that that
reverse sweepers. And the more and more T20
cricket people have played, the more people have, you know,
brought that shot into Test cricket and it's so difficult to
defend. You know, you can sweep the ball
and reverse sweep the same line and you've only got 9 fielders
(12:24):
to play with and it's very difficult there.
And exactly that really, you know, Stokes, you would think
I'd prefer to get out like that,trying to score runs and put
pressure on the bowler than sortof sit in my crease and sort of
what feels like at times there'sa batter wait for one with my
name on it. You know, Judaism is an
incredibly accurate bowler. It's one of his biggest
strengths and you need to take aproactive option to try and get
(12:46):
him away from, you know, the real danger ball.
It's a little bit like the guys using their feet to the seamers
a bit at the minute to try and take you away from the top of
off stump, which feels like the most dangerous ball as a batter.
And it's certainly the mentalitythat these guys have.
If you're an if in doubt, which obviously doubt does come into a
batter's mindset at times. I always think you want to fail
(13:09):
a certain way. If if I was going to get out,
you know that Stokes yesterday, exactly as you said, I'd prefer
to get out reverse sweeping, trying to score runs then prop
forward and one just balloons upin the air to to short leg would
feel like a softer dismissal to him than actually trying to
score runs. And especially in a run chase.
You know, it's so you know, a couple of boundaries from a
(13:29):
reverse sweep just completely continues that momentum and the
partnership and taking you closer to home.
And with a few wickets left behind him, it's you know, it's
a pretty natural shot these daysto kind of play.
And, and at the other end, you know, a guy like Joe Root, who I
he probably couldn't think of anyone better to have in that
(13:50):
situation to just Marshall the the troops home.
Obviously there's a couple of wickets in in 2 balls with Pope
and Brooke going together, but Root just never seems to be
affected, does he? And however, was he 160 odd test
matches he must have played by now.
He's seen it all and and the England balcony would have been
very, very comfortable sat watching Joe Root chase that
(14:13):
down. Yeah, that's the thing, isn't
it? Yeah.
He felt India had to get him outfor for them to stand a chance.
And while he was at the crease, even if he was 7 or 8 down, even
if Josh Tongue was coming in andJoe Root was still there, you'd
still feel like you've, you've got a chance.
Because he just, he just manoeuvres the chase so, so
calmly. He never seems to go into 5th
gear or panic. He, he always has a shot, always
(14:35):
has an option against both the spin and the seam.
So yeah, he, he's, we, we know he's a best ever player.
He's, he's such a wonderful player.
But I think even in those chases, he's a brilliant ODI
player, isn't he? That, that has seen the team
home in, in so many situations. And a little word for Jamie
Smith as well, because he came in and it felt like the game was
Ingham were well ahead of the game, but he if he'd have got
(14:57):
out and exposed the tail a bit, the, the, there's there's a
chance for India. And I was wondering, can he come
out and play with the freedom that that he's shown in Test
match cricket so far under this sort of pressure, this sort of
scrutiny with maybe some doubts in his mind.
And for him to hit the winning runs in the fashion he did.
You know, as a bowler, the best wicket you can ever take is that
(15:17):
final wicket. Surely the best runs you can hit
is to to win a Test match like that in a chase?
Yeah, absolutely. There's nothing harder actually
than I say, being not out at theend, hitting the winning runs,
There's no greater feeling now. What a wake up today, you know,
knowing you hit the winning runsinto the stands as well for a
famous England victory at Headingley.
And from the little cricket thatI have played with him, a
(15:40):
fantastic mindset, you know, fearless cricketer doesn't seem
to be phased and affected by anything.
And they're attributes that you really need for international
cricket. And I think as much as you need
the skill, of course, and to be a top player, that's a given.
But being able to deal with the chaos, deal with the situation.
(16:00):
He came in and looked like a seasoned pro, didn't he had seen
it all before and and did it in some style.
You know, that final over to Jalesia, taking him on and and
just sort of put the real icing on the cake for he has a
victory, but also the style thatthis team loved to play in.
No, I completely agree. I've actually got a great
question from Claire. Tough one to answer actually.
(16:22):
How many do you think England could have chased I?
Think it would have, like you say, come down to time, but even
if England were chasing, you know, 450, you know, they'd have
given it a go. You know, I think a lot of the
chat was obviously about the weather and it seems like you
missed some great bands of rain.I saw a picture of you with the
GPS right in between a couple ofbands of rain.
(16:44):
So to get a four days play and he bought 90 overs and they
cruised that 370. It would seem obviously a really
fast growing ground there at Headingley as well.
But you know, even if it was 450it would maybe they would have
had to take more risks which obviously brings in the
opportunities for more wickets for India.
But you know, they would have given it a great go.
They know that and adjusting when you now look at that from
(17:07):
one to seven especially, that isa incredibly powerful,
consistent line up that is putting big scores very
consistently in the fashion they're doing it.
And the the rates that they score at are what is bringing in
these results. Because they put so much time
back into the game to take those20 wickets.
(17:27):
And it's a lot's been talked about of, of the batting and how
well they've been scoring and the runs that and the rate they
do it. But there's not been many games
that they haven't taken 20 wickets.
I think they've been brilliant at finding ways to to get the
opposition out. And of course you need to do
that to win Test matches. So, you know, it's a brilliant
team effort and I'm sure there'll have been a brilliant
(17:49):
celebration. Those kind of matches.
You just love sitting around in the dressing room, don't you?
After the Colbert, a few tunes on and just reminiscing over the
whole game as well, because it'seasy to focus on yesterday and
what a great day it was. But there's so many moments that
you look back on in the test that were that were vital to
getting you into that position with a couple of hours to go,
(18:11):
knowing that you odds on going to win the game.
I think it's the best beer you can ever have is when you've
worked so hard for five days andyou win a Test match and you sit
down in your whites. It may be even boots still on,
cap on, have a beer. I mean, after 18 holes of golf,
that beer overlooking the golf course runs it close, but but I
think that's the way I'm joining1.
(18:33):
You just need it to calm me down.
But I suppose, you know, we're talking about what a brilliant
Test match win that was. And we it was it was one of
England's greatest ever chases. But a talking point is Joffer
Archer. He feel like he's a talking
point with English cricket ever since 2019, but played for
Sussex this week, has taken a couple of wickets and and looks
(18:55):
like he's building up and all the rumours and and talk around
the press boxes. He comes in at Aji Buston, he
plays. So if you're chairman of
selectors, are you playing him and and who are you leaving out?
How's that? How's that for a question?
Yes, one, I'm glad I don't have any more as a as a captain, but
a great problem to have. You know, it's it's not
certainly won't be viewing it asa problem that a fit and firing
(19:17):
Joffre Archer think we're all really, really excited and so
pleased that he is back with a red ball in hand.
Hopefully he'll come through that game.
He's playing up at Chester the street unscathed.
Looks like he's he's bowling well and he's actually put
together a real Bank of cricket.You know, I know people will
talk about he hasn't played fourday cricket or a Test match for
I think it's four years, but he's been fit and playing well
(19:39):
in T 20s. It's obviously a jump from T20
cricket up to ODIs. So I wouldn't see foresee a
problem in him coming in. Obviously when you have such a
great win as England have done, it's very tempting obviously to
just stick with the same team and and roll it out again.
And one of the big things, you know, for Jaffer's workload that
(20:00):
will help him, I think is obviously Ben Stokes playing a
fully fit part. You know, is that 4th seamer.
You really, you know, if you were worried about how many
overs you want Jaffer to bowl oryou want to use him as that
short, impactful bowler and not give him very many long spells.
The fact that Stokes he is fullyfit and and bowled brilliantly
upper heading Lee. You know, takes wickets and can
(20:23):
bowl spells back it up. Hopefully you know, he's now got
a week off as well to to rest aswell, which will be great.
So there shouldn't be any problems in terms of of that.
I think you would just add Joffre to your squad and, you
know, get him back around the team, get him back around Test
cricket. Even if they don't pick him to
play, it will just be fantastic to have him back around the
(20:44):
group and and you one great thing about good sides is you've
got good players around pushing each other, obviously in a very
positive way and and in a very healthy team environment.
But those training sessions, youknow what it's like.
I'm sure as a bowler, you're looking at each other and
someone's bowling well and that,you know, just pushes you on a
little bit. Or the guys in the team right
(21:05):
now, they've done brilliantly, won a Test match.
This is my shirt, this is my spot.
I want to hold onto it even though there's guys outside the
team who'll who'll want to be getting back in.
So I think it's a a great position for for England to be
in and to be coming into having won that first Test.
You know, there's no sort of panic reaction.
Oh, we need to rush Joffre in because we we didn't get the
(21:27):
result we wanted or there's no temptations for that.
Not that there. I don't think there ever would
be from this group of of leadersand selection committee.
But yeah, I think as as well as a friend of Joffrey's and and as
a fan of England cricket, whenever that does come, if it's
the next match or the match after or some point in this
(21:48):
series, I think we will all be incredibly excited to see him
back in whites. Yeah, I think I play him.
You know, I think if it was my decision I'd play him because
you've got Gus Atkinson not fit for the next Test match but will
be fit for Laws. So he would want to come in,
particularly after the first year he's had of of
international cricket. You want to see him play against
better teams and expose him to ahigher quality standard.
(22:11):
And I don't think you can bring Joffre and Gus Atkinson back in
at the same time because then you've got two real big question
marks over over fitness. So you need to see how Josh Tung
comes up, pulls up after the game, how Bride and Karst does.
He looked like he was limping around a little bit of struggle
with a toe, hasn't he, for quitea long period of time.
So I I would play Joffre at Edgbaston and then bring Gus
(22:34):
Atkinson in in for Lords the next Test match.
And I know that leans into you. You're piddling around too much,
you're messing with it, you're trying to think too far ahead.
But we need to see what Joffre can do at the at this level.
We need to see if he can bowl 15, 20 in a day.
We know he's got the quality to do it, but we haven't seen that
quality for four years just because of of injuries.
(22:55):
So if he's good to go and he gives it the thumbs up and the
management and more importantly,Ben Stokes is like, I trust that
he can bowl in this Test match. I think you play him because you
know he will deliver balls nippyacross the left handers early.
He'll bowl well with the new ball.
You know, he's got a bouncer that makes everyone jump.
So I'd be really, I'd be temptedto to play him and I think every
(23:18):
England fan would be buzzing. If you saw Joffre Archer's name
on that team sheet two days out,which England normally seem to
do, name it that, that early come Monday morning, you'd be
you'd be really excited. So don't get me wrong, if I if
I'd just played in the Test match winning team as a bowler
and I got left out, I wouldn't be overly pleased.
But but you know, I think I think we need to see what what
(23:39):
Joffra's got And and and probably the question mark
India's on India's mind is bummer.
I mean, I think they got their team selection wrong.
If I'm honest, I think could have could have should have
played the leg spinner instead of shadow Taco.
And bummer by all accounts, is going to rest at edge Baston and
I'd be tempted to bring in Ashdeep Singh, the left arm
(24:01):
swing bowler. They need something different in
their bowling attack. Although Krishna bowl much
better in the second innings, they still lacked a bit of
control and wicket taking ability.
And I think if England have a weakness it's probably against
wrist spin in a sense and edge basting can spin out the
footholds dry surface. So I'd be tempted to to play
called deep Yadav actually. But it's not panic stations, you
(24:23):
can't afford to RIP up the the plans and and change everything
after one loss where you've controlled the Test match
really. Yeah, exactly.
Now that I think when the dust settles, when you're in that
team that does lose, you sort oflook back a bit more logically
and say, do you know what, we actually played a lot of great
cricket there. There's moments in that game
where we could have taken the loss completely out of it and
(24:45):
been really on the front foot, but they didn't manage to take
those chances and that will be frustrating for them.
But that's the kind of way you always look at a game when you
have lost there. You got to try and take away the
emotion of the loss, which will hurt and it will hurt for a
little bit, but then you sort ofreview it a bit more logically.
We did some good things. OK, what do we need?
What are we missing that we might want to add for the next
(25:07):
match? Obviously, What will the
conditions be like now? Will it stay very dry as it has
done or or the weather play ballin a different way?
Actually for the Indian bowlers,you know, getting the Dukes ball
in the hand. first Test match, Iactually saw someone talk about
the slopes at Headingley and what can be tricky.
And just for the listeners who you know, it's not a Lord slope
(25:30):
is it? But what happens from bowling at
each end at Headingley, which ifyou've not bowled there before,
can be quite tricky, which may have affected a bit of the
rhythm of some of the Indian bowlers.
I think it definitely would haveaffected the rhythm.
So Lords have got a slope from from left to right of about 8
foot and Headingley goes down the ground.
(25:51):
SO11 end you're running down theground.
The the other end, the football stand end where Leeds Rhinos
play, you're running up the hilland it does feel like a mountain
actually, particularly if the wind is in your face.
You've got to keep your stride pattern as short as you can.
You've got to put all your effort in at the crease and we
saw massive amount of nobles in the Test match.
And that is because of this slope down the ground.
(26:11):
There'll be a lot of club cricketers out there who play on
all sorts of magical grounds around the country where they're
dealing with much worse slopes and slants than than these Test
players going well, I don't overstep, but you know, it's
it's hard when you opposition teams, foreign bowlers, they're
just playing one game there and they've got to get used to it in
that game. And I spoke to to Krishna
(26:32):
actually on on Day 5, who'd bowled up the hill the whole
time and just said couldn't really find a, a rhythm and it
was dragging him short. And that's what happens at
Headingley Bowl up the hill and it tends to drag you into back
of a length and you bowl down the hill and your front foot
seems to hit the crease early because the momentum's carrying
you through so much and you bowl, you bowl a bit too full.
So yeah, it takes some time. That's why it's such an
(26:54):
advantage for England because they have bowlers that have got
experience of it and and you youcan settle in quicker, whereas
the opposition players have to try and find a way in that Test
match and and still perform. But edge Baston going there
next, there's no real slope, there's no difference either
end. It's a really nice place to run
in and bowl. I'm not saying it nips around in
(27:15):
a brilliant place to to get response out the surface, but
it's it's a flat sort of outfield and and, and wind and
all that sort of thing. So I think the bowlers will find
a rhythm. Broadly talking of slopes, like
you said, I'm sure some of our listeners play on all sorts of
weird and wonderful cricket pitches.
So please send us in your pictures of where you play, the
weirdest slopes, the most aggressive slopes, a bit of a
(27:39):
slope rating like the golf courses get these days.
And Brody can look through them and call you out and see where
he thinks would probably be the hardest for him to bowl.
So that should be a bit of fun in the next episode I.
Thought you were going to asked me to go and bowl at them their
hose. They have not bowled since since
I've retired. So that would have been a bridge
too far. But I'm more than happy to have
a look and and give them a bit of a bit of a judge and and give
(28:03):
some advice of how to cope with them.
But just a little reminder, we are on Facebook.
Go finders. We've actually had our millionth
view on YouTube, but we're stillon a duck, if not a pair on
Facebook. So go and hunt us out if you
haven't done so. Yeah, we do.
Yeah, we do still exist. We are on Instagram.
That's going really nicely. But if you are on Facebook, go
find us. And we're back on Tuesday with
(28:24):
our first Q&A episode. A big thanks to our partners
Sage, and we'll see you next. Week.
See you next week. Kick them well.
Kick them well, mate.
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