The Hundred is here and Jos and Broady sit down with Ebony Rainford-Brent to give you the lowdown on this year's edition.
With Buttler playing again for the Manchester Originals, he gives insight into cricket's most unique format.
The Hundred's Official Insights Partner Sage is on hand with the stats like when is the hardest time to bat? Or who are the quickest bowlers?
'For The Love of Cricket' is the place to be throughout this year's Hundred.
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.
(00:01):
She just gets that ball shaping on off stump and she doesn't
relieve pressure in that first block.
Of an aggressive. An aggressive loves it, doesn't
she? Fixing a lot.
A lot of chat actually. She kind of reminds me of you.
Always a bit to say. Marry up just making spinning
wickets by not upsetting your batters.
You've got to sign some batters who go.
I don't want to come and play there if it's just gonna rag
square and I can't get it. Just wants it flat at Old
(00:22):
Trafford and that'll go straight, wouldn't she?
She loves that sort of slog, sort of sweep over there and
it's not quite straight and. It's gap between mid on and
deep. Yeah, it's kind of a little
pokey little, pokey little. Pokey, this is for the love of
cricket. Brought to you by Sage.
The 5th edition of the 100 starts soon at Lords.
(00:44):
Josh Butler. Jose Boutlier.
You're obviously a Manchester Originals man.
I like the Trent Rockets and Ebony Rain for Brent, former
England batter. I'm assuming Oval Invincibles.
I am Oval invisibles through andthrough.
I think if you cut me inside, I bleed anything that comes out
the Oval. So yeah, that's me.
You're actually with this. You did the start up for them,
didn't. You on the ball, yeah, yeah.
So involved in that early on director women's cricket and
(01:05):
then brought it through so you can't let go once you were were
part of the early story. That's why we put the shirt
right next to you. Bye.
Well, model. Can I ask you what particularly
you like about the 100? Yeah, away from the cricket,
have to be honest, it's the DJ's.
Like I have my favorite DJ, Charlie Burley, and I think the
thing about the 100 is it's likethe atmosphere, isn't it?
We've watched a lot of cricket, all of us.
(01:26):
But when you turn up, I think even when I've come with friends
or people who don't even like cricket, you can get something
out of the day, whether it's music, entertainment.
So I'm always dancing and then once you see the ball flying out
the park, it's just pure entertainment for me.
Yeah, it's wonderful, Jose playing in it.
Does it feel a bit different? Yeah, it does.
The grounds do feel different, like EBS has just said, there's
a great buzz around the place, family atmosphere, something for
(01:47):
everyone and the thing I like most is the pace of play.
I thought T20 cricket came in tobe a fast format, to be in and
out, non-stop action and the 100does that even more.
I feel as a player you're alwayson the go, you're always on the
move, the umpires are pushing you on.
As a captain, you don't know whoto bowl, carry on, bowl 10, ball
straight through so we don't have to move the field around.
(02:10):
And yeah, the game just keeps moving and it keeps asking
questions of you, keeps putting pressure on the bowler, all the
batter, different phases. So yeah, it's been great fun to
play in and especially in front of all the great stadiums we
have in England and the packed houses.
It's actually a bit different tocommentate on as well, isn't it?
You're not you shouldn't say over because it's a 5 ball.
It's and you end up going that'sthe end of that few balls.
(02:33):
But it's what I love about it isjust all about fun, isn't it,
enjoyment And you often see thatin the crowd as well, everyone
just having a ball and and yeah,it's wonderful to be a part of.
We've got a few, few big overseas players playing this
year on the men's side, haven't we?
David Warner, Steve Smith have had their relationships with
English crowds in the past. Do you think that will continue
in the 100 or? I'm sure they'll get well
(02:54):
supported, won't they, from their respective sides.
But no, it's amazing to have such, such, you know, stars of
world cricket coming and playingin this tournament.
That's one thing I've noticed travelling around the world.
Everyone talks fondly of the 100and wants to come and play in
it. You know, the concentration of
talent down to the eight teams being in a short condensed
block. The overseas guys all want to
put their hand up and, and come over.
(03:15):
England's a great place to be inAugust.
And yeah, we've got some amazingplayers in my team.
I'm going to talk about the the originals.
Heinrich Classen is is in our side this year and he is for me,
the best player and hitter of spin I've seen in in short form
cricket. Similar to you with that back
foot hit straight. Yeah, he's amazing.
He played so plays everything off the back foot and then
(03:36):
people go let's push it up and then he whacks it from the
crease over your head off the front foot as well.
He's been in amazing form over the last few years, so he's
going to be a a huge player for us.
But yeah, this stars littered throughout, you know, the New
Zealand have put their pace attack back together for the
Birmingham Phoenix and the men'swith Trent Bolt, Tim Saudi and
and Adam Milne, which I know those guys are, are all
exciting. The coach says might be Dan
(03:58):
Vittori. Bit of alignment going on.
Yeah, but there's some star players, you know, both in all
the the men's and women's squads.
Mentioned it being the 5th season of the 100.
Do you think players are a bit better at it now?
There's obviously different nuances with five ball overs, A
Boluk and Bolt 10. Do you think the players have
settled a bit? Yeah.
I think they have and got used to the the maths being a little
bit different with the five balls.
(04:18):
The 10 balls took me a while to get used to like the scorecard
as well as staying, you know, counting down from 100 balls.
It's very simple when you think of it.
But we've been brought up with six balls and overs.
I'm always trying to work out the required runway per over,
but it's kind of lost that. But no, I think also it was such
a fun thing when it first started and it was maybe a bit
(04:39):
like T20 was to start a bit of ahit and a giggle and but it's
real serious, proper business now.
You know, the Oval men's team, you know, everyone keeps saying
we're going for the three peat and this kind of thing.
They're the team to beat. And it's like we say, some of
the players that are coming to play in this tournament, full
crowds, you know, it's a real serious business and it's
(04:59):
keeping that fun and love with the family, entertainment, the
DJs, the atmosphere around the ground.
But when it comes to the cricket, everyone's very serious
about that and I think it's working out the let's say
there's different nuances that how to play the power play.
We've seen the ball swing in the100 more than probably any other
tournaments. So when to push the accelerator
(05:20):
as a batter, even your team lineup sort of what do you need at
number 78? How many balls might they
actually face or the depth of your team now what bowling
options do we need to who's actually really good at
potentially bowling 10 balls in a row?
So there's a few little different tactical things.
I think we've as players and coaches and analysts, we talk
about picking a good team, have probably got used to a bit more
(05:43):
now we're into the the 5th edition coming up.
This special episode is brought to you by our friends at Sage
who are the Official Insights Partner of the 100.
To find out how to grow your small business with AI tools
like Sage Copilot, visit sage.com.
There are 8 franchises all undernew ownership or Co ownership.
We're actually around the cornerfrom the Oval webs where you
play a lot of your cricket and we'll start with the
(06:05):
Invincibles. On the woman's front, some world
class players, Marazan Cat, probably my favorite seamer in
the world. Who who are you looking at as
the the superstars there? Yeah, look, I think for me, the
Oval Invincibles men and women both know how to win.
The women won the 1st 2:00 tournaments and then got into
the eliminator last year. So you you know when in a short
format they've already shown they know how to get there and
they coach Jonathan Batty. But number one has to be Marazan
(06:28):
Cap for me. I mean, you see her in a bowl,
she just gets that ball shaping on off stump and she doesn't
relieve pressure in that first block.
Of an aggressive. An aggressive loves it, doesn't.
She thinks a lot. A lot of chat, actually.
She kind of reminds me of you a bit.
Always a bit to say, but for me she is, you know, she's a she's
a one of the best in the world and she also provides a bit with
(06:48):
the bat in the middle. Alice Capsi hasn't made maybe in
the best of touch of late, but the 100 is her tournament on her
ground and we're going to see her come in into play.
But I think the number one Meg Lanning, who has retired from
international cricket, but her, she's one of the smartest
players on the circuit. And still has a big hunger for
what you think. She does, yeah.
She's not. She's just someone who doesn't
(07:09):
let her standards drop. You know, I can imagine even if
she was at home doing a basic task like cleaning or something,
be the the cleanest house you would have because she's just
one of those people, pays attention to details.
So for her, I'm really pleased. I think in the men's as well.
I mean, they've had Tom Moody. I think there is something about
a coach and Joss, it might be worth was asking you because
players know their game, they travel around the world.
(07:30):
But a coach, I guess their role like Tom Moody is to kind of
create an atmosphere and get youfocused.
How important is it to have a coach like Tom Moody or someone
who creates that environment? Yeah, he's obviously created a
brilliant atmosphere there and Ithink they've done it really
well. They've got local boys in the
two Karens, Will Jacks, who've been sort of stalwarts of that
side. Sam Billings has been an
excellent captain and they're a very settled team in in a short
(07:52):
tournament that's only been going for four years coming into
the 5th year. Like you said, they've sort of
worked it out and sort of got that base of guys who've a lot
of guys who play their home cricket at the Oval, know how to
play at that venue. A lot of all rounders as well,
which you know, Jacks are the two Currans.
It really balances the team out and and Tom Moody's been there
the whole time and they've they're a well oiled machine.
(08:13):
I think they're definitely the team to beat.
We lost to them in the final a couple of years ago.
They obviously won again, you know, last year as well.
It's I'm sure of the other seventeams.
It's like whatever happens, we can't let the Oval win.
They've they're becoming that kind of side.
But you know, credit to them. They've they've kept a very
balanced team. They've done well in in the
(08:33):
draft. I think they've made some smart
picks. Donovan Ferreira's a guy I've
played with, Rajasthan Royals smacks a good ball and he's been
sort of one of their their picks.
Nathan Salter has actually done a great job for them and that's
they obviously had Narine as a *spin.
A bit of Salter has been outstanding.
Rashid Khan's come in for the late person.
How do you face him? Ohh.
Well, my. Have you faced him?
(08:54):
Have you faced him? I should be asking you.
Nicked him off my team. Trent Rockets, What's going on
there? Yeah, my stats against were
actually horrendous. I think my strike rate would be
about 40. It's got me out about 8 or 9
times. So I'll send class and
interface. That'll be the original.
Before he bowled. That'll be the original tactic.
But yeah, star players and again, there's no bigger star
(09:16):
really in short form cricket than him.
But they say they're a very settled team.
They've they've built a great brand, they've got great
atmosphere. Obviously, like you said, that
the continuity of the captain and coach that's been there and
it's it's, it's good. But yeah.
Should we move on to the team? Who's got the best kit, the
Manchester Originals that you'refinally wearing?
(09:37):
For us, I think it's the. Best kit?
It's a nice kit. It is up there, but top three.
Top three isn't. The top are even invincible that
the best kit of course. Definitely not trained rockets.
Yeah, true. How have the originals evolved
over the last four years, do youthink?
In a few ways, we've had a couple of challenging seasons
and a couple of of excellent ones actually run us up twice,
(09:57):
which is obviously a big disappointment.
But Old Trafford is a unique venue as well.
I know it's the places generallythe most spin.
So, you know, the pick of Heinrich Klarsen to, you know,
play through those middle sets or however we want to.
Yeah. How do you help me out?
What are you going with there? Sets overs I.
Said set but or block. Through the middle.
(10:18):
Through the middle, yeah. Through the middle, he's done.
He's brilliant and spin will play a a big role there.
We've also signed Noor Ahmed, the left hand version of Rashi
Khan, you know, such an excitingrisk Turner from from
Afghanistan. So those two guys were going to
play a huge part for us at the originals.
And it's as much as we've done well in the previous last season
(10:40):
was a disappointment. So that's where the draft
becomes really crucial because you now have, you know, first or
second pick and you you're in early to try and do that.
So some of the overseas players like say class and or Ahmed
Ratch and Ravindra or left hand batter is something we actually
haven't had as many left handers, which I think has
potentially been a weakness of the team.
So he'll come in and fulfil thatrole.
(11:01):
So plenty to look forward to AndPhil Salt has been in fantastic
touch in short form cricket overthe last few years.
His game continues to evolve. There can't be many more
aggressive or batters with a higher strike rate than than he
has in the the power play, so he's going to be crucial.
Do you find actually batting up the top of the order, Old
(11:21):
Trafford, it can get slower, canbegin to spin.
Do you? Is there any pressure in that
power play to think we've got toget moving here because we know
it's going to be hard? Bigger boundaries in the middle?
Yeah, there is and that, but that's where the ball or the
swing that's been happening in the the 100 is sort of
counteracts that. So, so about those sort of
predetermined risks or saying, you know, if we do push
(11:41):
ourselves in the, the power playand lose a couple of extra
wickets, it might actually be a worthwhile risk to take Because
like you say, the middle overs can become a bit trickier.
And the thing I find difficult is like just knowing when the
death period starts or when to push the button, like and the
Old Trafford, sometimes you actually want to hold that back
a bit later or even at the end, picking up twos and fours and
(12:03):
not just trying to hit the ball into the stands is sometimes a
more effective way to to score more runs at the back end of the
innings. And how much time do you spend
with the women's team? Because I'm right in thinking
you stay in that hotel on the ground, don't you, the Old
Trafford hotels at the Hilton orsomething.
Do do you get to socialise and sort of pick tactics and help
each other in training at all orare you quite separate?
(12:23):
No, it's something that the originals have tried to do a lot
is to try and really bring the two teams together as much as
possible, Do a few events, whether it be barbecues or team
meals where everyone's all together and just trying to make
it that one team kind of thing. I think every team is actually
really trying to do that. And I think to the credit of all
the sides, that's been one of the great things about the 100
(12:45):
playing on the same day, that carnival atmosphere.
You, you know, walking onto the pitch the same, you know,
crossing over in terms of one game finishing and another game
starting if you well done. So what was the pitch like?
How did you find a great atmosphere today?
So it's quite natural crossoversand trying to make that one to
one thing that's big as well in the for all the grounds now is
(13:07):
the home teams dominate the changing rooms.
So like at Old Trafford, the away team dressing room, what
was originally that is now the home team dressing room for the
women. So any you're.
Out the bat. You know.
I think you're actually in a squash court.
You're. In a squash court.
So, you know, you're really trying to make it that sort of
siege mentality. This is our ground.
Send them to the bat, yeah. And make it, I'm comfy.
(13:28):
But no, it's been nice that the teams really do come together
for for that month of cricket and really try and, you know, I
think both sides as the original, we've got, you know,
improvements to make. It's certainly on the last
season and and to go as we all want to do, get into those
eliminators and and try and get to the final.
And insight from SAGE here. Jose, your home ground, Old
Trafford spins more than any of the ground in the 102.6°
(13:51):
compared to 2.2. I want to ask if that's an
advantage or disadvantage to you, EBS, because the originals
have Sophie Eccleston, the best T20 bowler, short ball bowler in
the world. Do you think the pitch is
designed for her a little bit onthat front?
Yeah, it'll definitely help. And I think what it allows, as
well as spinners, sometimes they're coming in the power
play, sometimes they're in the middle, and sometimes we're
seeing more and more, you know, coming, closing out the death.
(14:11):
Someone like Sophie Eccleston will bowl very late into the
inning, so if you know it's going to rag, it gives you that
extra bit to work with. She's got a bit of height and
flight and guile as well. So it all becomes part of it.
You know, there's a lot of modern and spinners now who just
sort of kiss the surface and kick it on.
But when you get that opportunity to to let it rag,
it's really important to use that.
On the back of when you when youget home grounds that spin more
(14:32):
than anywhere else in the country.
The stats tell us that why wouldyou not just go all out or can
ask this to both? You actually get like 3 amazing
spinners. And just go for it.
Yeah, exactly. And I think some of it comes
down to the draft, doesn't it? You know, you want your players
sometimes and in the lineup thenbeing pinched elsewhere, but in
your tactics you really have to try and focus on getting that
super strength. So for me it's a no brainer.
You want the biggest turners like Alana King, Amanda Jade
(14:55):
Wellington on those surfaces to get the most out of.
It yeah, well, those those spinners are highly sought
after, so it's hard to just get them just for you.
Obviously spinners are and wristspinners in particular become
great wicket takers in in short form cricket and you need to
take wickets to stem the flow ofruns.
But even in the SA-20 just gone pole, Royals actually bowled 20
overs of spin. I think the first time that and
(15:16):
it's something I like say the spinners are coming into
different roles. It was always they can only bowl
in the middle. Now we've seen them some
incredibly effective power play bowlers bowling spin and even
more so at the death now and andas a captain sometimes spin at
those times is a little bit easier. 2 captain, there's a lot
of 360 batters these days. So you can use the pace to hit
the ball over the wicketkeeper'shead and obviously be strong
(15:38):
down the ground when you're bowling spin and it's like it
kind of takes out that ramp shotover the keeper.
So there's suddenly now we're only sort of defending, you
know, 2/3 of the pitch, for example.
So there are different benefits and I think it's one of the big
challenges for the coach and thecaptains.
Can we sort of do some role reversal stuff and actually now
spinners take more of an impetuswith the new ball or even
(16:00):
bowling the death overs. You know, as a seamer it always
was like you got to bowl the death and you're allowed to get
hit for 20 in and over, but not a spinner.
Whereas I think everyone's a bitmore that's changed.
And also you got to marry up thejust making spinning wickets by
not upsetting your batters. You've got to sign some batters,
you guys. I don't want to come and play
there if it's just going to rag square and I can't get it.
(16:20):
Yeah, you know, I'm going to just look forward to four away
games where it's not going to besome help.
So yeah, good balance. But spinners will be crucial for
taking wickets. Just wants it flat at Old
Trafford, just at one end. We'll bowl from the other end.
Move on to the Trent Rockets, mymy favorite team being
Nottingham born and bred, havingplayed at Trent Bridge my whole
career. Andy Flower, fresh off IPL
(16:42):
success, hard to argue is not the best franchise coach in the
world in the men's game. Yeah, I'd certainly say that's a
fair assess. Anywhere he's been, he seems to
be either playing in the finals or winning them.
So yeah, he's going to be a big part of that.
Again, that's sort of, you know,continuity, solidity.
They've got there some star names.
(17:03):
So you're looking at their obviously Joe Root will play for
them. Tom Banton is in some fantastic
form in the recent past and Lachie Ferguson is someone to,
you know, talk about wicket taking bowlers, you know, facing
him, extreme pace, excellent slow ball makes things happen.
And and in these short form games that were said, you need
ways to take wickets because that's the way to stem the flow
(17:26):
of runs a lot even. However, however good your
execution may be, if you're not able to break partnerships, it's
very difficult. So Lachie Ferguson will play a
big part for the Trent Rockets this year on what is quite small
ground as well, isn't it? So his extra pace and guile and
experience will be crucial for them.
It's a really fast scoring ground, like used to be a
batter's paradise and is everywhere but the 100 And
(17:46):
that's I think because tactically, because the Men side
had Rashi Khan, Andy Flower wanted slow spinning surfaces to
play into their advantage. Now he's left.
I wonder if that will affect Elana King, the leg spinner from
Australia, because she'd been bowling on pitches that are
turning for her. She's been hard to score off.
They might go back to saying, OK, we're going to play on the
best white ball wicket in the world.
(18:07):
Do you think that would play into a bit of a strength or
weakness of the of the Rockets? Yeah, I think if anyone
remembers, it was a season or two ago, remember she almost
replicated the Shane Warne ball of the century and that's
exactly what they wanted. And someone like her to come and
get that ball talking and she was almost at times unplayable
for many in the in the tournament.
So I guess it will be interesting to see.
I think the other side is they've got Ash Gardner.
(18:29):
So on the other side, when it comes to batting, if you've got
a road or it's like the M25, shewill hit it up the ground.
So I think they'll be able to manage.
Also I think Alana King is smartenough to.
She's bowled all over the world.Yeah, I think she can adjust and
you know, maybe it'll be less sort of slow giving it time to
to wrap. Maybe she'll just sort of kick
it through a little bit and thenuse her variations of the
(18:49):
googly. But in terms of players, I mean
Alana King and Ashgar Ashgarner for me is her and Grace Harris
are the two best all rounders inthe world.
We saw what they did to the women in the Ashes.
So you've got them plus the bestDJ in the in the whole
tournaments. I think you're looking all
right. And the best ground, best
atmosphere, best fans, worst kit.
(19:12):
Interesting insight. Start from Sage here.
If you lose 3 wickets in the 1st20 balls in the 100, you will
lose 80% of those games, adding a bit of pressure onto your top
or the batting. Your house to apologise, does
that suggest there's still room for an anchor or do you still
just tee off from from ball? One, it's one of those old ads
that go out there, hit fours andsixes, but don't get out.
It's how you can still allow your openers and your top 3 to
(19:36):
be positive and aggressive, but understanding of the situation.
We've definitely seen the balls in the hundreds swing more than
any other white ball tournament I can think of.
So there is a little bit of takeyour ego out of it and we might
have to suck it up for 5 or 10 balls or we'll try and get
completely on the front foot andrisk one or two wickets to put
the bowler under pressure. So that's always short form
(19:59):
cricket for me. You're trying to marry up risk
and reward. So if I can find something for
the maximum reward with not really taking huge amounts of
risk, which in these 1st 20 balls, Sage, you're telling us
is is obviously crucial. That's what I'll.
Tend to do but if the oppositionhave got a big score and I might
have to take more risks, I mighthave to say do you know what
this is the time now to try and make a big dent in the game.
(20:21):
Not to win the game right now because there's still going to
be 80 balls left. But this is the time we need to
focus on to to try and give us the best chance when if it's
going to spin at Old Trafford later on and become very
difficult. The power play is is going to be
crucial. But that's the art of short form
batting, I think, is being able to score at a strike rate, but
not to the detriment of it just being 6/4 or out.
(20:44):
So I think that's a big, big part of the.
Game in my brain, I'm sort of really hoping the first 100 game
that you're 2 down off 18 balls and you come back to and be
like, you know what we talked about this on the pod.
You know, I'll just see out these two and then I'll then
I'll get going. Yeah, we can get out on the 21st
ball. Yeah, the 21st doesn't matter.
The stat doesn't count. Yeah, but I mean I read that
stat from a bowlers point of view.
I think bowl your best bowlers in the power play in the 1st 20
(21:07):
balls, try and pick up 3 wickets.
It gives you a 80% chance to winthe game.
So is that something that in in sort of in the 100 you could do?
You could front load your bowling attack.
Yeah, you look, you want to takethe wickets up front.
The first thing I thought when you said that stat is I wouldn't
want to be the brand of the anchor in the modern form of the
game. You know, you this game is
moving so fast, the 100 T 20. You don't want to be ever seen
(21:29):
as someone who's soaking up timejust to try and rebuild.
So I guess the key really is being intelligent, being able to
rotate that strike, take on the smart boundary options rather
than maybe the wild ones. But you're right.
Look, bowlers, you know, if you can get ahead in that power
play, then it's critical. And I think that's why one thing
I'd like, that's the one thing Ilike about this sort of being
able to bowl 10 balls. Occasionally when you see,
(21:51):
because you don't see it too often, but occasionally when a
bowl is on top, couple of new batters at the crease, it's the
chance to go. You know what, if you're going
to bowl 10, we're on top, we're in the power play, let's go.
And I don't know if that's the sort of thing if you.
Jump in on that. We played against Welsh Fire and
Shaheenshire Fridio but you've got 2 wickets, the 1st 2 balls
of the innings exactly that. You can't be then as a batter,
(22:12):
well let's get to the end of this over and we'll face him.
He's got 10 balls and it's 10 balls out of 25 in that perhaps
it keeps you under pressure. I think it keeps both sides
under a lot of pressure and that's been really nice nuance
of the game and that 10 ball option of whether it's I've just
come in and my records terrible against Rashid Khan, I've got no
option but I've got to do something because he could bowl
(22:33):
10 balls in a row at me. Do you think, do you think
that's the captain's choice or the bowler, which I can the
bowler ever goes? I feel great here.
You definitely I. Would.
Give me 10. Go on, let me go.
Yeah, I reckon a bit but and a bit of honesty here when I was
captain in the hundreds, whethersometimes when you're like, I
don't know who to just carry on.I'm probably the same way
(22:54):
behind, everyone's in the right position, let's just crack on.
But definitely I think a bowler would say I fancy it.
Can I go again? I fancy and that's been a nice
thing that's come into the the game.
It's something different that the 100 asks of tactics and of
batters and bowlers and captains.
So yeah, I've really liked that.But we've got a few more teams
to go through. Ebbs.
Kick us off, Birmingham Phoenix.Yeah, well, I'll start with the
(23:16):
men. I think the men will be pleased.
Last year they got to eliminate a stage and it went down to a
super over. So you'd be thinking, look, you
know, we've got enough in place.But for me, I think, you know,
I'll Chuck it to you first broadly.
But the fact that they've got Bolt and Saudi, the left arm and
because the ball has been moved,moving a lot early on, I mean,
how vital are they going to be? Well, it's it's interesting
whether teams have actually signed these swing bowlers on
(23:40):
the fact the ball was moving. But I think the ball moved last
year because they stamped this big H hundreds stamp on the
shiny side. And it's sort of.
So I don't know if there's talk about removing that and just
playing the normal. Swing bowlers.
All the analysts would be getting sacked because they've
signed all the swing bowlers andthe balls different.
But you know, Bolt Southie superb world class international
(24:00):
bowlers have been in the white ball and the and the Red Bull
format know exactly what they'redoing have huge experience to
fall back on. Bolt picks most amount of
wickets up in that first sort offive or, or over in white ball
cricket. Just hits people's stumps,
doesn't he sort of skiddy onto it S he's actually bowling coach
for the England men's Test team at the moment.
So I can see him every morning just like grooving and like
(24:22):
having a bowl in the morning. So yeah, I'm getting ready for
the 100. But you know, I think there's,
there's definitely a lot to be said for though it's a young,
energetic, moving game. There's a lot to be said for
having experience to fall back on, particularly in a bowling
attack where it's all happening so quickly and decisions have to
be made on the spot. And then for the batters were
plenty. I mean, Duckett, who's in the
(24:43):
form of his life across all three formats at the moment,
Jacob Bethel is kind of like thebreakout star in Liam
Livingston. So I think as a combo, you know
they're going to be coming at whoever they're playing and I
think you'll really have to be smart about setting fields and
being able to handle them. For the women, I have to be
honest, I've been quite disappointed with them for the
series. They kind of finished last year.
(25:03):
They haven't really performed despite having some good players
like Elise Perry historically. So they've got her again.
But they signed Megan Shoot, whogets the ball swinging early on.
She's brilliant at being so accurate.
She almost like hunts that off stump, gives you nothing to work
with. And so I think as a combo she
will be able to hold up really tight at the top.
At least Perry will be brilliantwith the ball and then of course
(25:23):
with the bat. And there's a young player,
George of all, who's kind of broken out during the Women's
Ashes. She can smash it.
So I think it's time that they kind of step up the Birmingham
Phoenix. They've got the players but it's
going to be about really delivering on the day.
Yeah, absolutely. And the Superchargers, Northern
Superchargers, Freddie Flintoff's coach of the men's
really taking leaps and bounds in in his coaching career, isn't
(25:44):
he? Harry Brooke, Who's the new
white ball, England white ball captain.
Well, captain again. Do you see that as a pretty
dangerous combo? Yeah, I think they've been a
really good combo. They were.
Fred was on our coaching staff in the T20 World Cup 2024.
Him and Brooke, he formed a great partnership.
And I think it's probably from there that Fred asked him to be
the captain of of the of the 100.
(26:04):
No, we all know what a class player Brooke, he is and how
exciting he is. He's got the fastest 100 I think
in in the 100 for for the Superchargers and they've got
some experience. I think Mitchell Santner I think
is there and he's one criminallyunderrated player.
He's a fantastic guy to have in your side.
They say could bowl any of thosenew ball middle at the end,
(26:28):
unbelievable fielder and can smack him with the bat.
So he's someone as an oppositionplayer.
I'm always, always a bit wary ofus ebbs.
Tell us about the women. Who's the standout players
there? Yeah, Annabelle Sutherland for
me is she was there last year aswell.
Incredible. She she can do it all.
She can take four or five wickets in a game which has
happened. She will score A50 and beat
(26:49):
Diamond in the field as well. And I think she knows how to
win. She's sort of like a match
winner that can get teams out ofholes from anywhere.
So she's amazing. Phoebe Litchfield, the left
armor as well. Australian is great.
But Kate Cross, you know, she's got that experience now.
You feel like she's she would hate me saying it, but she feels
like the season pro now she's been around.
She knows how to keep control. And then Holly Armitage, who's
been leading, she's brilliant. She's just got the sort of she
(27:11):
knows how to kind of get the team galvanized and really
focused. So I think they will be a real
threat. And then have to make a mention
Young Davina Perrin, keep an eyeout for her.
She's been tearing it up in the under nineteens in the county
game as well. So she might be a little upcomer
that we'll be talking about soon.
And the London Spirit, they actually kick off the 100
against the Oval Invincibles on the first night.
(27:32):
Huge Derby to start, they've gota bit of a hurdle, hurdle to get
over in the fact that Lords in white ball nips around, so it's
actually quite a hard batting surface.
So they need to sort of build their teams a little bit round,
a little bit round that. Do you think the London Spirit
Women have done? That yeah, I think, well, one
thing they've done this year, they've, you know, they won last
year and they've kept nine of the 11 players, which is a sign
that they, the team understood how to win.
(27:54):
The men haven't, which is we'll come to that in a moment, but
the women really have got their heads around it.
And, you know, another thing that I I've liked is that they
brought in Izzy Wong. So, you know, you've seen a bit
of a but she's got pace. She's really, you know, she'd
kind of fallen off the last few years to changing her action a
lot. She's got it back and she's got
that extra little bit of pace. So if it's not coming on at
Lord, she'll be someone who can mostly get a bit more out than
(28:16):
the others. And then they've got Grace
Harris, the women. So I think they've kind of got
kept a very solid squad, which is consistent, knew how to win
on it last year did really good and then also brought in a bit
of pace and firepower when it comes to the bat for the men.
I mean, let's face it, they've had a shocker.
I mean, every year they're just at the bottom of the pile.
But they new coach, Yeah. So that Trevor Bayliss is out
(28:37):
and then comes Justin Langer. So I'm, I'm assuming that he,
you know, you guys may know him more, but he, you know, he's got
a good record in the international circuit and he'll
come in and have an impact. Yeah, he'll have a big impact.
He's been one of the better coaches around the franchise
circuit as well since he's left Australia.
You look at those names, Warner and Williamson, I mean two of
the very best. David Warner I think is one of
(28:58):
the best openers he's ever been in short form game if it is
moving around a little bit, pretty a lot of test pedigree
there. And you mentioned maybe you do
need a bit of an anchor. Kane Williamson will be that
kind of guy who can calm everything down.
He'll play the situation he can.If the ball is moving, he's
probably got as good a defence and stuff to occupy the crease
(29:18):
while still scoring, you know, running the ball down to third
man, getting off strike. So he'll be a big player and
then, you know, the sort of starreally of of the summer so far
on the Test side. Jamie Smith has gone there from
the Birmingham Phoenix big signing.
Obviously he's been just gettingbetter and better and better.
Surprisingly big guy. That's one thing I've noticed
(29:38):
when I play with him and how sort of strong he is and how he
just plants that front foot and if it's fully smacks it over
your head, if anything, back of the length, he's so strong
pulling. He's quick onto that short ball.
And at Lord's, that's probably where you want to aim actually
square, you know, in those either down the hill into Old
Father Time or sometimes you canbe a bit closer up there.
But he'll be a a big part of that side.
(30:00):
But yeah, they have been an underperforming team.
They've got the quite exciting bowling attack, I think.
I think Luke Wood's there as well, someone who does swing the
ball and is a very, very good early wicket taker.
So he'll have a big part to play.
And Liam Dawson's obviously one of the sort of solid county
pros. He's just been around all the
time. He now, he always gets it done,
(30:20):
a pretty serial winner actually as well with Hampshire.
So they've got all the right ingredients.
It's just how can they all come together?
And that's I think when you lookacross the whole tournament,
there's now with the eight teams, concentrated talent, all
the star overseas, everyone's got a good side.
But how do you turn up, you know, in the first game, get
your combinations right, get your confidence into the players
(30:42):
and get that momentum going through the tournament.
I think that's what you need in these tournaments, a good start
and just right off the back of that.
The business of cricket is powered by Sage, the Official
Insights Partner of The 100. This summer, Sage will champion
small businesses across the nation and we're excited to work
with them to shine a light on the amazing entrepreneurs from
the world of cricket. To find out how you can grow
(31:04):
your small business with AI enabled tools like SAGE copilot,
visit sage.com. Tell us what you do and how it
all started for you. So my name is Andy Brown.
I am an artist. I travel all around the world
painting sports and lately a lotof cricket.
I've done it for about 10 years now.
It started in South Korea whilstthere was no cricket, so I
started painting baseball. I was an art teacher in South
(31:25):
Korea. I quit my job and then I went
and painted all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums in the States
and now do a lot of cricket. How long does it take you to
paint so you're there every day of a Test match?
I do one painting a day and it kind of depends on what it is
like on AT20 format. Of course you've got to be
quicker. If I'm a Test match then I'll
have the whole day. And it's been a passion and it's
taken you all the way around theworld.
(31:46):
How have you turned that into a business?
I've got to nearly my 40th birthday and I've been teaching
out in South Korea for 10 years,and I thought, you know, I want
to fancy a change. I'm going to just go and paint
all the baseball stadiums in theStates.
And it just never stopped. So it was just the fact of, you
know, you just you just get to the next place, you do a
painting, you might sell it, allright, great.
And then you go to the next place, all right, you might sell
that paint or you might not. So you just keep the wheel
(32:06):
spinning. That was kind of the first three
years. The business plan was just keep
the wheel spinning, keep going and just see what happens.
What do you love most about running your own business?
I love the independence, I love the challenges of it, I love the
fact I get to do what I want when I want to do it.
I don't have a boss, which is always nice, and I love making
doing my own thing. I love the fact that this is my
my kind of world, how I see the world.
(32:28):
I can travel around the world and paint it and tell the
stories that I want to tell whenthe paintings on the field, but
also in the crowds and in the different cultures and countries
I visit. This is the big night in Jaipur
and we've got just behind the wicket, a night he may not wish
to remember so much, but this isthe, this was the game where
Vibhavanchi, I got to meet him later on, showed in the pain.
(32:48):
He's there batting, just he's just squatted down there at the
back. I don't know.
I didn't get his expression, butI don't know how his face was
looking at the time and got to meet him at the end of the game
and he was 14 year old boy. He's a little kid.
It's incredible. Like he's, he's amazing.
OK, bit fun for Azor. The 100 finite Lords, Temples
left 25 needed. Pick a dream match up.
(33:09):
You love that word, don't you Jose?
Match up. You'd love to see who's batting,
who's bowling and why. Henry Classen will absolutely
smoke it if he's needed to and Iwould love to see him back
along. Grace Harris, I think the two of
them would just the ball would go sailing when it comes to
bowlers, I think. I think for the women's game,
(33:30):
I'd want pace someone like Shabnam Ishmael, She'll be
foaming at the mouth. Got a hat trick, didn't she?
Where should I go in the men's help?
Broadly, where would you go? Where should I go?
We can't bowl spin to class in Kenya.
I would go, I'd probably go LukeWood.
You know that sort of like fast left arm trying to swing it
back, give him a new ball. Bit of variety.
I know it's, I know it's the last 10 balls.
(33:51):
Yeah. Or Mark, Mark Wood, that genuine
pace. I think to to class.
Although he sort of whacks everything, doesn't he?
What about you hoes? Yeah, I think obviously in
Manchester original I'd have to have class and in there the
match up I'd like to see and maybe be at the other end for it
and not have to face a ball would be Classen and Joffre
Archer. Joffre is going to be obviously
part of the Southern Brave. They've got fantastic bowling
(34:14):
lineup, but you always want to see the the best players.
Classen, someone I'm so excited to play alongside of really
admired the way he plays and obviously played lots with
Joffre and you know, he's obviously the star of the Super
over in 2019. He's always going to be the guy
that you know you're going to throw the ball to in those those
precious situations. For the women's, I'd like to see
(34:36):
Nat Silverbrun batting against Ilana King.
Ilana King for the last 10 balls, trying to chase wickets
really and not worry about the runs and and try and take the
wickets. But I think that would be a
yeah, fantastic. Where's Nat to Nat will go
straight, wouldn't she? No, she's got this sort.
She loves that sort of slog, sort of sweep, sweep over there.
Not it's not quite straight and it's.
Gap between mid on and deep. Yeah, it's kind of a little
(34:57):
pokies. Little pokey little.
Pokey, she's also got like this sort of she loves these sort of
funky. We saw Rishab Pant play in the
test the fall over. You can't really.
Yeah, the fall over sort of around the.
Corner name doesn't. It it doesn't need a name,
doesn't it? It's not quite the helicopter
will. She come up with or not the
folio. She has the.
She's got the Napa. No.
And. The fall overs, yeah, we
(35:19):
mentioned Joffrey. We should probably talk about
the the Southern brave. I think he'll play a big role
for them coming into this. He's a men's 2021 champs,
women's 2023. That was Anya Shrubs last game,
wasn't it? Lifted the trophy.
They've signed Reese toply to gowith Joff for Chris Jordan.
Tamal Mills has to be the best white ball attack in the
tournament, probably. Certainly up there, isn't it?
(35:40):
It's an international, experienced attack.
CJ I think is one of those guys,as much as a star player with
the bat and the ball, gunfielder, great team guy to
have in your side. I think he's one of those guys
who'll help the captain, James Vince really well.
He's brilliant around the guys, very experienced and helping,
sort of galvanised that bowling attack and guys he knows well.
(36:00):
He's a bit of a older brother really type figure to Joff and
sort of pushes him along and challenges Joff, which is
obviously great for him. And as I mentioned, James Vince,
I think he's been in the last few years one of the the best
players. He's so good on the eyes and
he's great to watch, incredibly consistent.
Had a fantastic season last yearI believe as well.
So yeah. And the experience of Faff du
(36:22):
Plessis, who's still doing it, he's putting you to shame with
his figure and appetite for still he's been in great form.
I know in the MLC he's just scored another 100 out there.
And so he's going to be a factoras well, which is, yeah, great
sort of testament to him for that longevity.
And the yeah, they've put together a a serious team there.
(36:44):
It's an exciting line up, like you say, toply and and Archer
with the new ball is as potent attack as there is.
But like we keep saying, each team we're going through,
there's some some proper squads,aren't there?
And on the women's front, SophieDevine, obviously classy, classy
cricketer to add to the. Classy, but also like powerful.
I think that's what I think all with her.
She comes at you early on and you know she's going for sixes.
(37:06):
She's not, she's not aiming to sort of just get across the
boundary. She goes large.
I think also her experience recently, she, you know, she's
won the T20 World Cup with New Zealand.
She led the way and she understands the short format of
the game very well. And so her alongside Laura
Wolfart, who for me, she's a player who a lot of players
start one way and seen as sort of 50 over or more an
(37:27):
accumulator, she's shifted her game into another gear and now
she really can get going. Very classical, but she can hit
boundaries very intelligently early on.
So to have that as a combo in your batting line up, I think
they'll score a lot of runs and maybe they can look for another
trophy. You have Danny White, Hodge as
well. It was always on that deep mid
wicket boundary, outrageous field.
You always have to look out for her.
(37:48):
Just taking catches out there, don't you?
She's in the game. She's like dynamite, isn't she?
It's like you look up and she's somehow got to an area where you
think it's going for a boundary and there she is sweeping it in.
It's really, that's the other thing about the 100 that we
don't talk about is how electricfielders can be and they really
bring you into the game with those catching.
I think now as well, I'm seeing it come into the women's game.
But the men, you know that they learn how to catch on the
(38:09):
boundary now. There's such an art for being
able to be ready to take that six that's going over your head.
You know, she's got that coveredand I think it really adds to
the tournament. Last but not least, the Welsh
Fire got a few golden oldies in their squad.
Jose, the men's side. Bestow.
Bestow's going to hate me sayingthat, but Johnny Bestow, Steve
Smith and Chris Woakes a lot of good experience.
A lot of good experience. A bit of Ash's theme there as
(38:31):
well. It's actually quite strange when
you've been playing against someone, I'm sure it'd be a bit
of niggle and that against each other and then you're thrown
into the same side and you have to go, oh actually they're a
good lad and now I want them to do well.
So, so a lot of experience. Steve Smith, you know, will
galvanise that side quite nicelyI think, bring them together.
He's probably underrated really in sort of the T20 and obviously
(38:55):
100 ball formats. He's incredibly difficult to
bowl at in in all forms of the game, but he's been on in really
good form in the short form stuff hundreds for in the Big
Bash and and then winning captain I think with Ricky
Ponting in the MLC as well, So alot of experience there.
Mike Hussey is the coach as well, who's a great guy there
(39:16):
and they've got a lot to win. I think, you know, Welsh Fire
have been underperforming. They've got a good side.
They could like say Johnny's an unbelievable player to have
there at the top of the order. The experience of wokes coming
into that side, brilliant with the new ball.
We know what a crucial time thatis.
So they've got a lot going for them and, you know, I'm sure
they're a team that wants to be on the app and actually sort of,
(39:39):
you know, do justice to the players that they've got there
now. They've actually signed people
who have won in the past, haven't they?
I think that's maybe something that they've lacked a little bit
in the, in the 1st 4 editions ofthe 100 and they've struggled,
let's be honest, have not performed well on the pitch.
So actually signing players thatwon trophies and can bring a bit
of a mindset into in the women'sside, they've they've got
exactly that. And Haley Matthews, Tammy
(39:59):
Beaumont. Yeah, well, I think the women
started similar to the men. The first few years of the
tournament, they were kind of missing a bit.
And then they recruited really well.
They brought in Sophia Dunkley, They brought in Shabnum Ishmail
for pay. And then obviously Tammy
Beaumont taking the lead and it actually shows you actually,
when you get the formula of yourteam right and the right
members, it can work. So look, they did really well
third a few years ago, second last year.
(40:21):
So they're on the up really. And I guess the goal for them,
which in franchise tournament ishard, is how do you maintain
that momentum? They've done all the hard work
to get to competing now. They don't want to lose that
that they've just built over thelast few years.
So they've got a really solid squad still backed up with most
of those key players. They've got pace.
One thing I'll say about I'm looking forward to seeing who in
(40:41):
this tournament is clocking in the quickest.
Women's Lauren Filer just clocked 79 and she's gone up
from 75 to 79, so she's moving. Shabnam Ishmael clocks a little
bit over that. So I think there's going to be a
bowl off. She's the quickest bar in the.
Quickest you think? Yeah, but Lauren Filer is in
there and I think it will be a good tournament to start seeing,
you know? You'd have been fired up, you
know, the world goes on the circuit, who's getting the
(41:02):
wickets, who's clocking the mostpace.
So I think there'll be a little battle between Fyler and Sham
the mishmail for the quickest. The quickest and the men's gone,
namely the quickest bowler delivery of the tournament.
This year I think I'm going to say Joffre this side.
So look, but I just think on that point as well about the
Welsh fire and stuff, your home games are crucial.
I think that's one thing they haven't played that well at.
(41:24):
Cardiff is a little bit of a a unique venue with very short
straight boundaries, big square boundaries.
So I think for every team, if you can play well at home and be
hard to be at home and sort of really that's where you need to
pick up the majority of your wins and then try and nick a
couple on the road. That's how I think you get deep
into the tournament and get intothe eliminator.
So you're picking a side that understands the own conditions
(41:46):
and can play well at home, whichI think you know, for guys like
Bairstow and Woakes who will have played a lot of cricket for
England in Cardiff and Steve Smith, who's got the experience,
I think they'll play a good brand of cricket now for that
ground. That's all we've got time for,
guys. I won't waste my time asking
Josh who he thinks going to win the 100.
Make predictions. The Manchester Originals, I'd
imagine, unless you're going to say someone different, I think I
(42:10):
know where you're going to shake.
It off I think the men are goingto do a triple and then the
women are going to fight back and do another one yeah I just
think once you get into a winning run of form it's hard to
fall off The problem is when youfall off then it goes out of
hand so I'm going over the Invincibles all the way and the
best kit I. Think I probably agree with you,
not the best kit, but I probablydo agree with you.
But thanks to Sage Official Insights partner, you're going
to be with us every week up until the final on the 31st of
(42:33):
August. So we're excited to have you.
Hope we enjoy the tournament Josh.
Good luck in the tournament and I hope you guys enjoy the
tournament at home.
She just gets that ball shaping on off stump and she doesn't
relieve pressure in that first block.
Of an aggressive. An aggressive loves it, doesn't
she? Fixing a lot.
A lot of chat actually. She kind of reminds me of you.
Always a bit to say. Marry up just making spinning
wickets by not upsetting your batters.
You've got to sign some batters who go.
I don't want to come and play there if it's just gonna rag
square and I can't get it. Just wants it flat at Old
(00:22):
Trafford and that'll go straight, wouldn't she?
She loves that sort of slog, sort of sweep over there and
it's not quite straight and. It's gap between mid on and
deep. Yeah, it's kind of a little
pokey little, pokey little. Pokey, this is for the love of
cricket. Brought to you by Sage.
The 5th edition of the 100 starts soon at Lords.
(00:44):
Josh Butler. Jose Boutlier.
You're obviously a Manchester Originals man.
I like the Trent Rockets and Ebony Rain for Brent, former
England batter. I'm assuming Oval Invincibles.
I am Oval invisibles through andthrough.
I think if you cut me inside, I bleed anything that comes out
the Oval. So yeah, that's me.
You're actually with this. You did the start up for them,
didn't. You on the ball, yeah, yeah.
So involved in that early on director women's cricket and
(01:05):
then brought it through so you can't let go once you were were
part of the early story. That's why we put the shirt
right next to you. Bye.
Well, model. Can I ask you what particularly
you like about the 100? Yeah, away from the cricket,
have to be honest, it's the DJ's.
Like I have my favorite DJ, Charlie Burley, and I think the
thing about the 100 is it's likethe atmosphere, isn't it?
We've watched a lot of cricket, all of us.
(01:26):
But when you turn up, I think even when I've come with friends
or people who don't even like cricket, you can get something
out of the day, whether it's music, entertainment.
So I'm always dancing and then once you see the ball flying out
the park, it's just pure entertainment for me.
Yeah, it's wonderful, Jose playing in it.
Does it feel a bit different? Yeah, it does.
The grounds do feel different, like EBS has just said, there's
a great buzz around the place, family atmosphere, something for
(01:47):
everyone and the thing I like most is the pace of play.
I thought T20 cricket came in tobe a fast format, to be in and
out, non-stop action and the 100does that even more.
I feel as a player you're alwayson the go, you're always on the
move, the umpires are pushing you on.
As a captain, you don't know whoto bowl, carry on, bowl 10, ball
straight through so we don't have to move the field around.
(02:10):
And yeah, the game just keeps moving and it keeps asking
questions of you, keeps putting pressure on the bowler, all the
batter, different phases. So yeah, it's been great fun to
play in and especially in front of all the great stadiums we
have in England and the packed houses.
It's actually a bit different tocommentate on as well, isn't it?
You're not you shouldn't say over because it's a 5 ball.
It's and you end up going that'sthe end of that few balls.
(02:33):
But it's what I love about it isjust all about fun, isn't it,
enjoyment And you often see thatin the crowd as well, everyone
just having a ball and and yeah,it's wonderful to be a part of.
We've got a few, few big overseas players playing this
year on the men's side, haven't we?
David Warner, Steve Smith have had their relationships with
English crowds in the past. Do you think that will continue
in the 100 or? I'm sure they'll get well
(02:54):
supported, won't they, from their respective sides.
But no, it's amazing to have such, such, you know, stars of
world cricket coming and playingin this tournament.
That's one thing I've noticed travelling around the world.
Everyone talks fondly of the 100and wants to come and play in
it. You know, the concentration of
talent down to the eight teams being in a short condensed
block. The overseas guys all want to
put their hand up and, and come over.
(03:15):
England's a great place to be inAugust.
And yeah, we've got some amazingplayers in my team.
I'm going to talk about the the originals.
Heinrich Classen is is in our side this year and he is for me,
the best player and hitter of spin I've seen in in short form
cricket. Similar to you with that back
foot hit straight. Yeah, he's amazing.
He played so plays everything off the back foot and then
(03:36):
people go let's push it up and then he whacks it from the
crease over your head off the front foot as well.
He's been in amazing form over the last few years, so he's
going to be a a huge player for us.
But yeah, this stars littered throughout, you know, the New
Zealand have put their pace attack back together for the
Birmingham Phoenix and the men'swith Trent Bolt, Tim Saudi and
and Adam Milne, which I know those guys are, are all
exciting. The coach says might be Dan
(03:58):
Vittori. Bit of alignment going on.
Yeah, but there's some star players, you know, both in all
the the men's and women's squads.
Mentioned it being the 5th season of the 100.
Do you think players are a bit better at it now?
There's obviously different nuances with five ball overs, A
Boluk and Bolt 10. Do you think the players have
settled a bit? Yeah.
I think they have and got used to the the maths being a little
bit different with the five balls.
(04:18):
The 10 balls took me a while to get used to like the scorecard
as well as staying, you know, counting down from 100 balls.
It's very simple when you think of it.
But we've been brought up with six balls and overs.
I'm always trying to work out the required runway per over,
but it's kind of lost that. But no, I think also it was such
a fun thing when it first started and it was maybe a bit
(04:39):
like T20 was to start a bit of ahit and a giggle and but it's
real serious, proper business now.
You know, the Oval men's team, you know, everyone keeps saying
we're going for the three peat and this kind of thing.
They're the team to beat. And it's like we say, some of
the players that are coming to play in this tournament, full
crowds, you know, it's a real serious business and it's
(04:59):
keeping that fun and love with the family, entertainment, the
DJs, the atmosphere around the ground.
But when it comes to the cricket, everyone's very serious
about that and I think it's working out the let's say
there's different nuances that how to play the power play.
We've seen the ball swing in the100 more than probably any other
tournaments. So when to push the accelerator
(05:20):
as a batter, even your team lineup sort of what do you need at
number 78? How many balls might they
actually face or the depth of your team now what bowling
options do we need to who's actually really good at
potentially bowling 10 balls in a row?
So there's a few little different tactical things.
I think we've as players and coaches and analysts, we talk
about picking a good team, have probably got used to a bit more
(05:43):
now we're into the the 5th edition coming up.
This special episode is brought to you by our friends at Sage
who are the Official Insights Partner of the 100.
To find out how to grow your small business with AI tools
like Sage Copilot, visit sage.com.
There are 8 franchises all undernew ownership or Co ownership.
We're actually around the cornerfrom the Oval webs where you
play a lot of your cricket and we'll start with the
(06:05):
Invincibles. On the woman's front, some world
class players, Marazan Cat, probably my favorite seamer in
the world. Who who are you looking at as
the the superstars there? Yeah, look, I think for me, the
Oval Invincibles men and women both know how to win.
The women won the 1st 2:00 tournaments and then got into
the eliminator last year. So you you know when in a short
format they've already shown they know how to get there and
they coach Jonathan Batty. But number one has to be Marazan
(06:28):
Cap for me. I mean, you see her in a bowl,
she just gets that ball shaping on off stump and she doesn't
relieve pressure in that first block.
Of an aggressive. An aggressive loves it, doesn't.
She thinks a lot. A lot of chat, actually.
She kind of reminds me of you a bit.
Always a bit to say, but for me she is, you know, she's a she's
a one of the best in the world and she also provides a bit with
(06:48):
the bat in the middle. Alice Capsi hasn't made maybe in
the best of touch of late, but the 100 is her tournament on her
ground and we're going to see her come in into play.
But I think the number one Meg Lanning, who has retired from
international cricket, but her, she's one of the smartest
players on the circuit. And still has a big hunger for
what you think. She does, yeah.
She's not. She's just someone who doesn't
(07:09):
let her standards drop. You know, I can imagine even if
she was at home doing a basic task like cleaning or something,
be the the cleanest house you would have because she's just
one of those people, pays attention to details.
So for her, I'm really pleased. I think in the men's as well.
I mean, they've had Tom Moody. I think there is something about
a coach and Joss, it might be worth was asking you because
players know their game, they travel around the world.
(07:30):
But a coach, I guess their role like Tom Moody is to kind of
create an atmosphere and get youfocused.
How important is it to have a coach like Tom Moody or someone
who creates that environment? Yeah, he's obviously created a
brilliant atmosphere there and Ithink they've done it really
well. They've got local boys in the
two Karens, Will Jacks, who've been sort of stalwarts of that
side. Sam Billings has been an
excellent captain and they're a very settled team in in a short
(07:52):
tournament that's only been going for four years coming into
the 5th year. Like you said, they've sort of
worked it out and sort of got that base of guys who've a lot
of guys who play their home cricket at the Oval, know how to
play at that venue. A lot of all rounders as well,
which you know, Jacks are the two Currans.
It really balances the team out and and Tom Moody's been there
the whole time and they've they're a well oiled machine.
(08:13):
I think they're definitely the team to beat.
We lost to them in the final a couple of years ago.
They obviously won again, you know, last year as well.
It's I'm sure of the other seventeams.
It's like whatever happens, we can't let the Oval win.
They've they're becoming that kind of side.
But you know, credit to them. They've they've kept a very
balanced team. They've done well in in the
(08:33):
draft. I think they've made some smart
picks. Donovan Ferreira's a guy I've
played with, Rajasthan Royals smacks a good ball and he's been
sort of one of their their picks.
Nathan Salter has actually done a great job for them and that's
they obviously had Narine as a *spin.
A bit of Salter has been outstanding.
Rashid Khan's come in for the late person.
How do you face him? Ohh.
Well, my. Have you faced him?
(08:54):
Have you faced him? I should be asking you.
Nicked him off my team. Trent Rockets, What's going on
there? Yeah, my stats against were
actually horrendous. I think my strike rate would be
about 40. It's got me out about 8 or 9
times. So I'll send class and
interface. That'll be the original.
Before he bowled. That'll be the original tactic.
But yeah, star players and again, there's no bigger star
(09:16):
really in short form cricket than him.
But they say they're a very settled team.
They've they've built a great brand, they've got great
atmosphere. Obviously, like you said, that
the continuity of the captain and coach that's been there and
it's it's, it's good. But yeah.
Should we move on to the team? Who's got the best kit, the
Manchester Originals that you'refinally wearing?
(09:37):
For us, I think it's the. Best kit?
It's a nice kit. It is up there, but top three.
Top three isn't. The top are even invincible that
the best kit of course. Definitely not trained rockets.
Yeah, true. How have the originals evolved
over the last four years, do youthink?
In a few ways, we've had a couple of challenging seasons
and a couple of of excellent ones actually run us up twice,
(09:57):
which is obviously a big disappointment.
But Old Trafford is a unique venue as well.
I know it's the places generallythe most spin.
So, you know, the pick of Heinrich Klarsen to, you know,
play through those middle sets or however we want to.
Yeah. How do you help me out?
What are you going with there? Sets overs I.
Said set but or block. Through the middle.
(10:18):
Through the middle, yeah. Through the middle, he's done.
He's brilliant and spin will play a a big role there.
We've also signed Noor Ahmed, the left hand version of Rashi
Khan, you know, such an excitingrisk Turner from from
Afghanistan. So those two guys were going to
play a huge part for us at the originals.
And it's as much as we've done well in the previous last season
(10:40):
was a disappointment. So that's where the draft
becomes really crucial because you now have, you know, first or
second pick and you you're in early to try and do that.
So some of the overseas players like say class and or Ahmed
Ratch and Ravindra or left hand batter is something we actually
haven't had as many left handers, which I think has
potentially been a weakness of the team.
So he'll come in and fulfil thatrole.
(11:01):
So plenty to look forward to AndPhil Salt has been in fantastic
touch in short form cricket overthe last few years.
His game continues to evolve. There can't be many more
aggressive or batters with a higher strike rate than than he
has in the the power play, so he's going to be crucial.
Do you find actually batting up the top of the order, Old
(11:21):
Trafford, it can get slower, canbegin to spin.
Do you? Is there any pressure in that
power play to think we've got toget moving here because we know
it's going to be hard? Bigger boundaries in the middle?
Yeah, there is and that, but that's where the ball or the
swing that's been happening in the the 100 is sort of
counteracts that. So, so about those sort of
predetermined risks or saying, you know, if we do push
(11:41):
ourselves in the, the power playand lose a couple of extra
wickets, it might actually be a worthwhile risk to take Because
like you say, the middle overs can become a bit trickier.
And the thing I find difficult is like just knowing when the
death period starts or when to push the button, like and the
Old Trafford, sometimes you actually want to hold that back
a bit later or even at the end, picking up twos and fours and
(12:03):
not just trying to hit the ball into the stands is sometimes a
more effective way to to score more runs at the back end of the
innings. And how much time do you spend
with the women's team? Because I'm right in thinking
you stay in that hotel on the ground, don't you, the Old
Trafford hotels at the Hilton orsomething.
Do do you get to socialise and sort of pick tactics and help
each other in training at all orare you quite separate?
(12:23):
No, it's something that the originals have tried to do a lot
is to try and really bring the two teams together as much as
possible, Do a few events, whether it be barbecues or team
meals where everyone's all together and just trying to make
it that one team kind of thing. I think every team is actually
really trying to do that. And I think to the credit of all
the sides, that's been one of the great things about the 100
(12:45):
playing on the same day, that carnival atmosphere.
You, you know, walking onto the pitch the same, you know,
crossing over in terms of one game finishing and another game
starting if you well done. So what was the pitch like?
How did you find a great atmosphere today?
So it's quite natural crossoversand trying to make that one to
one thing that's big as well in the for all the grounds now is
(13:07):
the home teams dominate the changing rooms.
So like at Old Trafford, the away team dressing room, what
was originally that is now the home team dressing room for the
women. So any you're.
Out the bat. You know.
I think you're actually in a squash court.
You're. In a squash court.
So, you know, you're really trying to make it that sort of
siege mentality. This is our ground.
Send them to the bat, yeah. And make it, I'm comfy.
(13:28):
But no, it's been nice that the teams really do come together
for for that month of cricket and really try and, you know, I
think both sides as the original, we've got, you know,
improvements to make. It's certainly on the last
season and and to go as we all want to do, get into those
eliminators and and try and get to the final.
And insight from SAGE here. Jose, your home ground, Old
Trafford spins more than any of the ground in the 102.6°
(13:51):
compared to 2.2. I want to ask if that's an
advantage or disadvantage to you, EBS, because the originals
have Sophie Eccleston, the best T20 bowler, short ball bowler in
the world. Do you think the pitch is
designed for her a little bit onthat front?
Yeah, it'll definitely help. And I think what it allows, as
well as spinners, sometimes they're coming in the power
play, sometimes they're in the middle, and sometimes we're
seeing more and more, you know, coming, closing out the death.
(14:11):
Someone like Sophie Eccleston will bowl very late into the
inning, so if you know it's going to rag, it gives you that
extra bit to work with. She's got a bit of height and
flight and guile as well. So it all becomes part of it.
You know, there's a lot of modern and spinners now who just
sort of kiss the surface and kick it on.
But when you get that opportunity to to let it rag,
it's really important to use that.
On the back of when you when youget home grounds that spin more
(14:32):
than anywhere else in the country.
The stats tell us that why wouldyou not just go all out or can
ask this to both? You actually get like 3 amazing
spinners. And just go for it.
Yeah, exactly. And I think some of it comes
down to the draft, doesn't it? You know, you want your players
sometimes and in the lineup thenbeing pinched elsewhere, but in
your tactics you really have to try and focus on getting that
super strength. So for me it's a no brainer.
You want the biggest turners like Alana King, Amanda Jade
(14:55):
Wellington on those surfaces to get the most out of.
It yeah, well, those those spinners are highly sought
after, so it's hard to just get them just for you.
Obviously spinners are and wristspinners in particular become
great wicket takers in in short form cricket and you need to
take wickets to stem the flow ofruns.
But even in the SA-20 just gone pole, Royals actually bowled 20
overs of spin. I think the first time that and
(15:16):
it's something I like say the spinners are coming into
different roles. It was always they can only bowl
in the middle. Now we've seen them some
incredibly effective power play bowlers bowling spin and even
more so at the death now and andas a captain sometimes spin at
those times is a little bit easier. 2 captain, there's a lot
of 360 batters these days. So you can use the pace to hit
the ball over the wicketkeeper'shead and obviously be strong
(15:38):
down the ground when you're bowling spin and it's like it
kind of takes out that ramp shotover the keeper.
So there's suddenly now we're only sort of defending, you
know, 2/3 of the pitch, for example.
So there are different benefits and I think it's one of the big
challenges for the coach and thecaptains.
Can we sort of do some role reversal stuff and actually now
spinners take more of an impetuswith the new ball or even
(16:00):
bowling the death overs. You know, as a seamer it always
was like you got to bowl the death and you're allowed to get
hit for 20 in and over, but not a spinner.
Whereas I think everyone's a bitmore that's changed.
And also you got to marry up thejust making spinning wickets by
not upsetting your batters. You've got to sign some batters,
you guys. I don't want to come and play
there if it's just going to rag square and I can't get it.
(16:20):
Yeah, you know, I'm going to just look forward to four away
games where it's not going to besome help.
So yeah, good balance. But spinners will be crucial for
taking wickets. Just wants it flat at Old
Trafford, just at one end. We'll bowl from the other end.
Move on to the Trent Rockets, mymy favorite team being
Nottingham born and bred, havingplayed at Trent Bridge my whole
career. Andy Flower, fresh off IPL
(16:42):
success, hard to argue is not the best franchise coach in the
world in the men's game. Yeah, I'd certainly say that's a
fair assess. Anywhere he's been, he seems to
be either playing in the finals or winning them.
So yeah, he's going to be a big part of that.
Again, that's sort of, you know,continuity, solidity.
They've got there some star names.
(17:03):
So you're looking at their obviously Joe Root will play for
them. Tom Banton is in some fantastic
form in the recent past and Lachie Ferguson is someone to,
you know, talk about wicket taking bowlers, you know, facing
him, extreme pace, excellent slow ball makes things happen.
And and in these short form games that were said, you need
ways to take wickets because that's the way to stem the flow
(17:26):
of runs a lot even. However, however good your
execution may be, if you're not able to break partnerships, it's
very difficult. So Lachie Ferguson will play a
big part for the Trent Rockets this year on what is quite small
ground as well, isn't it? So his extra pace and guile and
experience will be crucial for them.
It's a really fast scoring ground, like used to be a
batter's paradise and is everywhere but the 100 And
(17:46):
that's I think because tactically, because the Men side
had Rashi Khan, Andy Flower wanted slow spinning surfaces to
play into their advantage. Now he's left.
I wonder if that will affect Elana King, the leg spinner from
Australia, because she'd been bowling on pitches that are
turning for her. She's been hard to score off.
They might go back to saying, OK, we're going to play on the
best white ball wicket in the world.
(18:07):
Do you think that would play into a bit of a strength or
weakness of the of the Rockets? Yeah, I think if anyone
remembers, it was a season or two ago, remember she almost
replicated the Shane Warne ball of the century and that's
exactly what they wanted. And someone like her to come and
get that ball talking and she was almost at times unplayable
for many in the in the tournament.
So I guess it will be interesting to see.
I think the other side is they've got Ash Gardner.
(18:29):
So on the other side, when it comes to batting, if you've got
a road or it's like the M25, shewill hit it up the ground.
So I think they'll be able to manage.
Also I think Alana King is smartenough to.
She's bowled all over the world.Yeah, I think she can adjust and
you know, maybe it'll be less sort of slow giving it time to
to wrap. Maybe she'll just sort of kick
it through a little bit and thenuse her variations of the
(18:49):
googly. But in terms of players, I mean
Alana King and Ashgar Ashgarner for me is her and Grace Harris
are the two best all rounders inthe world.
We saw what they did to the women in the Ashes.
So you've got them plus the bestDJ in the in the whole
tournaments. I think you're looking all
right. And the best ground, best
atmosphere, best fans, worst kit.
(19:12):
Interesting insight. Start from Sage here.
If you lose 3 wickets in the 1st20 balls in the 100, you will
lose 80% of those games, adding a bit of pressure onto your top
or the batting. Your house to apologise, does
that suggest there's still room for an anchor or do you still
just tee off from from ball? One, it's one of those old ads
that go out there, hit fours andsixes, but don't get out.
It's how you can still allow your openers and your top 3 to
(19:36):
be positive and aggressive, but understanding of the situation.
We've definitely seen the balls in the hundreds swing more than
any other white ball tournament I can think of.
So there is a little bit of takeyour ego out of it and we might
have to suck it up for 5 or 10 balls or we'll try and get
completely on the front foot andrisk one or two wickets to put
the bowler under pressure. So that's always short form
(19:59):
cricket for me. You're trying to marry up risk
and reward. So if I can find something for
the maximum reward with not really taking huge amounts of
risk, which in these 1st 20 balls, Sage, you're telling us
is is obviously crucial. That's what I'll.
Tend to do but if the oppositionhave got a big score and I might
have to take more risks, I mighthave to say do you know what
this is the time now to try and make a big dent in the game.
(20:21):
Not to win the game right now because there's still going to
be 80 balls left. But this is the time we need to
focus on to to try and give us the best chance when if it's
going to spin at Old Trafford later on and become very
difficult. The power play is is going to be
crucial. But that's the art of short form
batting, I think, is being able to score at a strike rate, but
not to the detriment of it just being 6/4 or out.
(20:44):
So I think that's a big, big part of the.
Game in my brain, I'm sort of really hoping the first 100 game
that you're 2 down off 18 balls and you come back to and be
like, you know what we talked about this on the pod.
You know, I'll just see out these two and then I'll then
I'll get going. Yeah, we can get out on the 21st
ball. Yeah, the 21st doesn't matter.
The stat doesn't count. Yeah, but I mean I read that
stat from a bowlers point of view.
I think bowl your best bowlers in the power play in the 1st 20
(21:07):
balls, try and pick up 3 wickets.
It gives you a 80% chance to winthe game.
So is that something that in in sort of in the 100 you could do?
You could front load your bowling attack.
Yeah, you look, you want to takethe wickets up front.
The first thing I thought when you said that stat is I wouldn't
want to be the brand of the anchor in the modern form of the
game. You know, you this game is
moving so fast, the 100 T 20. You don't want to be ever seen
(21:29):
as someone who's soaking up timejust to try and rebuild.
So I guess the key really is being intelligent, being able to
rotate that strike, take on the smart boundary options rather
than maybe the wild ones. But you're right.
Look, bowlers, you know, if you can get ahead in that power
play, then it's critical. And I think that's why one thing
I'd like, that's the one thing Ilike about this sort of being
able to bowl 10 balls. Occasionally when you see,
(21:51):
because you don't see it too often, but occasionally when a
bowl is on top, couple of new batters at the crease, it's the
chance to go. You know what, if you're going
to bowl 10, we're on top, we're in the power play, let's go.
And I don't know if that's the sort of thing if you.
Jump in on that. We played against Welsh Fire and
Shaheenshire Fridio but you've got 2 wickets, the 1st 2 balls
of the innings exactly that. You can't be then as a batter,
(22:12):
well let's get to the end of this over and we'll face him.
He's got 10 balls and it's 10 balls out of 25 in that perhaps
it keeps you under pressure. I think it keeps both sides
under a lot of pressure and that's been really nice nuance
of the game and that 10 ball option of whether it's I've just
come in and my records terrible against Rashid Khan, I've got no
option but I've got to do something because he could bowl
(22:33):
10 balls in a row at me. Do you think, do you think
that's the captain's choice or the bowler, which I can the
bowler ever goes? I feel great here.
You definitely I. Would.
Give me 10. Go on, let me go.
Yeah, I reckon a bit but and a bit of honesty here when I was
captain in the hundreds, whethersometimes when you're like, I
don't know who to just carry on.I'm probably the same way
(22:54):
behind, everyone's in the right position, let's just crack on.
But definitely I think a bowler would say I fancy it.
Can I go again? I fancy and that's been a nice
thing that's come into the the game.
It's something different that the 100 asks of tactics and of
batters and bowlers and captains.
So yeah, I've really liked that.But we've got a few more teams
to go through. Ebbs.
Kick us off, Birmingham Phoenix.Yeah, well, I'll start with the
(23:16):
men. I think the men will be pleased.
Last year they got to eliminate a stage and it went down to a
super over. So you'd be thinking, look, you
know, we've got enough in place.But for me, I think, you know,
I'll Chuck it to you first broadly.
But the fact that they've got Bolt and Saudi, the left arm and
because the ball has been moved,moving a lot early on, I mean,
how vital are they going to be? Well, it's it's interesting
whether teams have actually signed these swing bowlers on
(23:40):
the fact the ball was moving. But I think the ball moved last
year because they stamped this big H hundreds stamp on the
shiny side. And it's sort of.
So I don't know if there's talk about removing that and just
playing the normal. Swing bowlers.
All the analysts would be getting sacked because they've
signed all the swing bowlers andthe balls different.
But you know, Bolt Southie superb world class international
(24:00):
bowlers have been in the white ball and the and the Red Bull
format know exactly what they'redoing have huge experience to
fall back on. Bolt picks most amount of
wickets up in that first sort offive or, or over in white ball
cricket. Just hits people's stumps,
doesn't he sort of skiddy onto it S he's actually bowling coach
for the England men's Test team at the moment.
So I can see him every morning just like grooving and like
(24:22):
having a bowl in the morning. So yeah, I'm getting ready for
the 100. But you know, I think there's,
there's definitely a lot to be said for though it's a young,
energetic, moving game. There's a lot to be said for
having experience to fall back on, particularly in a bowling
attack where it's all happening so quickly and decisions have to
be made on the spot. And then for the batters were
plenty. I mean, Duckett, who's in the
(24:43):
form of his life across all three formats at the moment,
Jacob Bethel is kind of like thebreakout star in Liam
Livingston. So I think as a combo, you know
they're going to be coming at whoever they're playing and I
think you'll really have to be smart about setting fields and
being able to handle them. For the women, I have to be
honest, I've been quite disappointed with them for the
series. They kind of finished last year.
(25:03):
They haven't really performed despite having some good players
like Elise Perry historically. So they've got her again.
But they signed Megan Shoot, whogets the ball swinging early on.
She's brilliant at being so accurate.
She almost like hunts that off stump, gives you nothing to work
with. And so I think as a combo she
will be able to hold up really tight at the top.
At least Perry will be brilliantwith the ball and then of course
(25:23):
with the bat. And there's a young player,
George of all, who's kind of broken out during the Women's
Ashes. She can smash it.
So I think it's time that they kind of step up the Birmingham
Phoenix. They've got the players but it's
going to be about really delivering on the day.
Yeah, absolutely. And the Superchargers, Northern
Superchargers, Freddie Flintoff's coach of the men's
really taking leaps and bounds in in his coaching career, isn't
(25:44):
he? Harry Brooke, Who's the new
white ball, England white ball captain.
Well, captain again. Do you see that as a pretty
dangerous combo? Yeah, I think they've been a
really good combo. They were.
Fred was on our coaching staff in the T20 World Cup 2024.
Him and Brooke, he formed a great partnership.
And I think it's probably from there that Fred asked him to be
the captain of of the of the 100.
(26:04):
No, we all know what a class player Brooke, he is and how
exciting he is. He's got the fastest 100 I think
in in the 100 for for the Superchargers and they've got
some experience. I think Mitchell Santner I think
is there and he's one criminallyunderrated player.
He's a fantastic guy to have in your side.
They say could bowl any of thosenew ball middle at the end,
(26:28):
unbelievable fielder and can smack him with the bat.
So he's someone as an oppositionplayer.
I'm always, always a bit wary ofus ebbs.
Tell us about the women. Who's the standout players
there? Yeah, Annabelle Sutherland for
me is she was there last year aswell.
Incredible. She she can do it all.
She can take four or five wickets in a game which has
happened. She will score A50 and beat
(26:49):
Diamond in the field as well. And I think she knows how to
win. She's sort of like a match
winner that can get teams out ofholes from anywhere.
So she's amazing. Phoebe Litchfield, the left
armor as well. Australian is great.
But Kate Cross, you know, she's got that experience now.
You feel like she's she would hate me saying it, but she feels
like the season pro now she's been around.
She knows how to keep control. And then Holly Armitage, who's
been leading, she's brilliant. She's just got the sort of she
(27:11):
knows how to kind of get the team galvanized and really
focused. So I think they will be a real
threat. And then have to make a mention
Young Davina Perrin, keep an eyeout for her.
She's been tearing it up in the under nineteens in the county
game as well. So she might be a little upcomer
that we'll be talking about soon.
And the London Spirit, they actually kick off the 100
against the Oval Invincibles on the first night.
(27:32):
Huge Derby to start, they've gota bit of a hurdle, hurdle to get
over in the fact that Lords in white ball nips around, so it's
actually quite a hard batting surface.
So they need to sort of build their teams a little bit round,
a little bit round that. Do you think the London Spirit
Women have done? That yeah, I think, well, one
thing they've done this year, they've, you know, they won last
year and they've kept nine of the 11 players, which is a sign
that they, the team understood how to win.
(27:54):
The men haven't, which is we'll come to that in a moment, but
the women really have got their heads around it.
And, you know, another thing that I I've liked is that they
brought in Izzy Wong. So, you know, you've seen a bit
of a but she's got pace. She's really, you know, she'd
kind of fallen off the last few years to changing her action a
lot. She's got it back and she's got
that extra little bit of pace. So if it's not coming on at
Lord, she'll be someone who can mostly get a bit more out than
(28:16):
the others. And then they've got Grace
Harris, the women. So I think they've kind of got
kept a very solid squad, which is consistent, knew how to win
on it last year did really good and then also brought in a bit
of pace and firepower when it comes to the bat for the men.
I mean, let's face it, they've had a shocker.
I mean, every year they're just at the bottom of the pile.
But they new coach, Yeah. So that Trevor Bayliss is out
(28:37):
and then comes Justin Langer. So I'm, I'm assuming that he,
you know, you guys may know him more, but he, you know, he's got
a good record in the international circuit and he'll
come in and have an impact. Yeah, he'll have a big impact.
He's been one of the better coaches around the franchise
circuit as well since he's left Australia.
You look at those names, Warner and Williamson, I mean two of
the very best. David Warner I think is one of
(28:58):
the best openers he's ever been in short form game if it is
moving around a little bit, pretty a lot of test pedigree
there. And you mentioned maybe you do
need a bit of an anchor. Kane Williamson will be that
kind of guy who can calm everything down.
He'll play the situation he can.If the ball is moving, he's
probably got as good a defence and stuff to occupy the crease
(29:18):
while still scoring, you know, running the ball down to third
man, getting off strike. So he'll be a big player and
then, you know, the sort of starreally of of the summer so far
on the Test side. Jamie Smith has gone there from
the Birmingham Phoenix big signing.
Obviously he's been just gettingbetter and better and better.
Surprisingly big guy. That's one thing I've noticed
(29:38):
when I play with him and how sort of strong he is and how he
just plants that front foot and if it's fully smacks it over
your head, if anything, back of the length, he's so strong
pulling. He's quick onto that short ball.
And at Lord's, that's probably where you want to aim actually
square, you know, in those either down the hill into Old
Father Time or sometimes you canbe a bit closer up there.
But he'll be a a big part of that side.
(30:00):
But yeah, they have been an underperforming team.
They've got the quite exciting bowling attack, I think.
I think Luke Wood's there as well, someone who does swing the
ball and is a very, very good early wicket taker.
So he'll have a big part to play.
And Liam Dawson's obviously one of the sort of solid county
pros. He's just been around all the
time. He now, he always gets it done,
(30:20):
a pretty serial winner actually as well with Hampshire.
So they've got all the right ingredients.
It's just how can they all come together?
And that's I think when you lookacross the whole tournament,
there's now with the eight teams, concentrated talent, all
the star overseas, everyone's got a good side.
But how do you turn up, you know, in the first game, get
your combinations right, get your confidence into the players
(30:42):
and get that momentum going through the tournament.
I think that's what you need in these tournaments, a good start
and just right off the back of that.
The business of cricket is powered by Sage, the Official
Insights Partner of The 100. This summer, Sage will champion
small businesses across the nation and we're excited to work
with them to shine a light on the amazing entrepreneurs from
the world of cricket. To find out how you can grow
(31:04):
your small business with AI enabled tools like SAGE copilot,
visit sage.com. Tell us what you do and how it
all started for you. So my name is Andy Brown.
I am an artist. I travel all around the world
painting sports and lately a lotof cricket.
I've done it for about 10 years now.
It started in South Korea whilstthere was no cricket, so I
started painting baseball. I was an art teacher in South
(31:25):
Korea. I quit my job and then I went
and painted all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums in the States
and now do a lot of cricket. How long does it take you to
paint so you're there every day of a Test match?
I do one painting a day and it kind of depends on what it is
like on AT20 format. Of course you've got to be
quicker. If I'm a Test match then I'll
have the whole day. And it's been a passion and it's
taken you all the way around theworld.
(31:46):
How have you turned that into a business?
I've got to nearly my 40th birthday and I've been teaching
out in South Korea for 10 years,and I thought, you know, I want
to fancy a change. I'm going to just go and paint
all the baseball stadiums in theStates.
And it just never stopped. So it was just the fact of, you
know, you just you just get to the next place, you do a
painting, you might sell it, allright, great.
And then you go to the next place, all right, you might sell
that paint or you might not. So you just keep the wheel
(32:06):
spinning. That was kind of the first three
years. The business plan was just keep
the wheel spinning, keep going and just see what happens.
What do you love most about running your own business?
I love the independence, I love the challenges of it, I love the
fact I get to do what I want when I want to do it.
I don't have a boss, which is always nice, and I love making
doing my own thing. I love the fact that this is my
my kind of world, how I see the world.
(32:28):
I can travel around the world and paint it and tell the
stories that I want to tell whenthe paintings on the field, but
also in the crowds and in the different cultures and countries
I visit. This is the big night in Jaipur
and we've got just behind the wicket, a night he may not wish
to remember so much, but this isthe, this was the game where
Vibhavanchi, I got to meet him later on, showed in the pain.
(32:48):
He's there batting, just he's just squatted down there at the
back. I don't know.
I didn't get his expression, butI don't know how his face was
looking at the time and got to meet him at the end of the game
and he was 14 year old boy. He's a little kid.
It's incredible. Like he's, he's amazing.
OK, bit fun for Azor. The 100 finite Lords, Temples
left 25 needed. Pick a dream match up.
(33:09):
You love that word, don't you Jose?
Match up. You'd love to see who's batting,
who's bowling and why. Henry Classen will absolutely
smoke it if he's needed to and Iwould love to see him back
along. Grace Harris, I think the two of
them would just the ball would go sailing when it comes to
bowlers, I think. I think for the women's game,
(33:30):
I'd want pace someone like Shabnam Ishmael, She'll be
foaming at the mouth. Got a hat trick, didn't she?
Where should I go in the men's help?
Broadly, where would you go? Where should I go?
We can't bowl spin to class in Kenya.
I would go, I'd probably go LukeWood.
You know that sort of like fast left arm trying to swing it
back, give him a new ball. Bit of variety.
I know it's, I know it's the last 10 balls.
(33:51):
Yeah. Or Mark, Mark Wood, that genuine
pace. I think to to class.
Although he sort of whacks everything, doesn't he?
What about you hoes? Yeah, I think obviously in
Manchester original I'd have to have class and in there the
match up I'd like to see and maybe be at the other end for it
and not have to face a ball would be Classen and Joffre
Archer. Joffre is going to be obviously
part of the Southern Brave. They've got fantastic bowling
(34:14):
lineup, but you always want to see the the best players.
Classen, someone I'm so excited to play alongside of really
admired the way he plays and obviously played lots with
Joffre and you know, he's obviously the star of the Super
over in 2019. He's always going to be the guy
that you know you're going to throw the ball to in those those
precious situations. For the women's, I'd like to see
(34:36):
Nat Silverbrun batting against Ilana King.
Ilana King for the last 10 balls, trying to chase wickets
really and not worry about the runs and and try and take the
wickets. But I think that would be a
yeah, fantastic. Where's Nat to Nat will go
straight, wouldn't she? No, she's got this sort.
She loves that sort of slog, sort of sweep, sweep over there.
Not it's not quite straight and it's.
Gap between mid on and deep. Yeah, it's kind of a little
(34:57):
pokies. Little pokey little.
Pokey, she's also got like this sort of she loves these sort of
funky. We saw Rishab Pant play in the
test the fall over. You can't really.
Yeah, the fall over sort of around the.
Corner name doesn't. It it doesn't need a name,
doesn't it? It's not quite the helicopter
will. She come up with or not the
folio. She has the.
She's got the Napa. No.
And. The fall overs, yeah, we
(35:19):
mentioned Joffrey. We should probably talk about
the the Southern brave. I think he'll play a big role
for them coming into this. He's a men's 2021 champs,
women's 2023. That was Anya Shrubs last game,
wasn't it? Lifted the trophy.
They've signed Reese toply to gowith Joff for Chris Jordan.
Tamal Mills has to be the best white ball attack in the
tournament, probably. Certainly up there, isn't it?
(35:40):
It's an international, experienced attack.
CJ I think is one of those guys,as much as a star player with
the bat and the ball, gunfielder, great team guy to
have in your side. I think he's one of those guys
who'll help the captain, James Vince really well.
He's brilliant around the guys, very experienced and helping,
sort of galvanised that bowling attack and guys he knows well.
(36:00):
He's a bit of a older brother really type figure to Joff and
sort of pushes him along and challenges Joff, which is
obviously great for him. And as I mentioned, James Vince,
I think he's been in the last few years one of the the best
players. He's so good on the eyes and
he's great to watch, incredibly consistent.
Had a fantastic season last yearI believe as well.
So yeah. And the experience of Faff du
(36:22):
Plessis, who's still doing it, he's putting you to shame with
his figure and appetite for still he's been in great form.
I know in the MLC he's just scored another 100 out there.
And so he's going to be a factoras well, which is, yeah, great
sort of testament to him for that longevity.
And the yeah, they've put together a a serious team there.
(36:44):
It's an exciting line up, like you say, toply and and Archer
with the new ball is as potent attack as there is.
But like we keep saying, each team we're going through,
there's some some proper squads,aren't there?
And on the women's front, SophieDevine, obviously classy, classy
cricketer to add to the. Classy, but also like powerful.
I think that's what I think all with her.
She comes at you early on and you know she's going for sixes.
(37:06):
She's not, she's not aiming to sort of just get across the
boundary. She goes large.
I think also her experience recently, she, you know, she's
won the T20 World Cup with New Zealand.
She led the way and she understands the short format of
the game very well. And so her alongside Laura
Wolfart, who for me, she's a player who a lot of players
start one way and seen as sort of 50 over or more an
(37:27):
accumulator, she's shifted her game into another gear and now
she really can get going. Very classical, but she can hit
boundaries very intelligently early on.
So to have that as a combo in your batting line up, I think
they'll score a lot of runs and maybe they can look for another
trophy. You have Danny White, Hodge as
well. It was always on that deep mid
wicket boundary, outrageous field.
You always have to look out for her.
(37:48):
Just taking catches out there, don't you?
She's in the game. She's like dynamite, isn't she?
It's like you look up and she's somehow got to an area where you
think it's going for a boundary and there she is sweeping it in.
It's really, that's the other thing about the 100 that we
don't talk about is how electricfielders can be and they really
bring you into the game with those catching.
I think now as well, I'm seeing it come into the women's game.
But the men, you know that they learn how to catch on the
(38:09):
boundary now. There's such an art for being
able to be ready to take that six that's going over your head.
You know, she's got that coveredand I think it really adds to
the tournament. Last but not least, the Welsh
Fire got a few golden oldies in their squad.
Jose, the men's side. Bestow.
Bestow's going to hate me sayingthat, but Johnny Bestow, Steve
Smith and Chris Woakes a lot of good experience.
A lot of good experience. A bit of Ash's theme there as
(38:31):
well. It's actually quite strange when
you've been playing against someone, I'm sure it'd be a bit
of niggle and that against each other and then you're thrown
into the same side and you have to go, oh actually they're a
good lad and now I want them to do well.
So, so a lot of experience. Steve Smith, you know, will
galvanise that side quite nicelyI think, bring them together.
He's probably underrated really in sort of the T20 and obviously
(38:55):
100 ball formats. He's incredibly difficult to
bowl at in in all forms of the game, but he's been on in really
good form in the short form stuff hundreds for in the Big
Bash and and then winning captain I think with Ricky
Ponting in the MLC as well, So alot of experience there.
Mike Hussey is the coach as well, who's a great guy there
(39:16):
and they've got a lot to win. I think, you know, Welsh Fire
have been underperforming. They've got a good side.
They could like say Johnny's an unbelievable player to have
there at the top of the order. The experience of wokes coming
into that side, brilliant with the new ball.
We know what a crucial time thatis.
So they've got a lot going for them and, you know, I'm sure
they're a team that wants to be on the app and actually sort of,
(39:39):
you know, do justice to the players that they've got there
now. They've actually signed people
who have won in the past, haven't they?
I think that's maybe something that they've lacked a little bit
in the, in the 1st 4 editions ofthe 100 and they've struggled,
let's be honest, have not performed well on the pitch.
So actually signing players thatwon trophies and can bring a bit
of a mindset into in the women'sside, they've they've got
exactly that. And Haley Matthews, Tammy
(39:59):
Beaumont. Yeah, well, I think the women
started similar to the men. The first few years of the
tournament, they were kind of missing a bit.
And then they recruited really well.
They brought in Sophia Dunkley, They brought in Shabnum Ishmail
for pay. And then obviously Tammy
Beaumont taking the lead and it actually shows you actually,
when you get the formula of yourteam right and the right
members, it can work. So look, they did really well
third a few years ago, second last year.
(40:21):
So they're on the up really. And I guess the goal for them,
which in franchise tournament ishard, is how do you maintain
that momentum? They've done all the hard work
to get to competing now. They don't want to lose that
that they've just built over thelast few years.
So they've got a really solid squad still backed up with most
of those key players. They've got pace.
One thing I'll say about I'm looking forward to seeing who in
(40:41):
this tournament is clocking in the quickest.
Women's Lauren Filer just clocked 79 and she's gone up
from 75 to 79, so she's moving. Shabnam Ishmael clocks a little
bit over that. So I think there's going to be a
bowl off. She's the quickest bar in the.
Quickest you think? Yeah, but Lauren Filer is in
there and I think it will be a good tournament to start seeing,
you know? You'd have been fired up, you
know, the world goes on the circuit, who's getting the
(41:02):
wickets, who's clocking the mostpace.
So I think there'll be a little battle between Fyler and Sham
the mishmail for the quickest. The quickest and the men's gone,
namely the quickest bowler delivery of the tournament.
This year I think I'm going to say Joffre this side.
So look, but I just think on that point as well about the
Welsh fire and stuff, your home games are crucial.
I think that's one thing they haven't played that well at.
(41:24):
Cardiff is a little bit of a a unique venue with very short
straight boundaries, big square boundaries.
So I think for every team, if you can play well at home and be
hard to be at home and sort of really that's where you need to
pick up the majority of your wins and then try and nick a
couple on the road. That's how I think you get deep
into the tournament and get intothe eliminator.
So you're picking a side that understands the own conditions
(41:46):
and can play well at home, whichI think you know, for guys like
Bairstow and Woakes who will have played a lot of cricket for
England in Cardiff and Steve Smith, who's got the experience,
I think they'll play a good brand of cricket now for that
ground. That's all we've got time for,
guys. I won't waste my time asking
Josh who he thinks going to win the 100.
Make predictions. The Manchester Originals, I'd
imagine, unless you're going to say someone different, I think I
(42:10):
know where you're going to shake.
It off I think the men are goingto do a triple and then the
women are going to fight back and do another one yeah I just
think once you get into a winning run of form it's hard to
fall off The problem is when youfall off then it goes out of
hand so I'm going over the Invincibles all the way and the
best kit I. Think I probably agree with you,
not the best kit, but I probablydo agree with you.
But thanks to Sage Official Insights partner, you're going
to be with us every week up until the final on the 31st of
(42:33):
August. So we're excited to have you.
Hope we enjoy the tournament Josh.
Good luck in the tournament and I hope you guys enjoy the
tournament at home.
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