Ashes Eve - it's almost time

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Who drives the world forward? The one with the answers or the one asking the right questions? At Aramco, we start every day by asking how. How can innovation help deliver reliable energy to the world? To get to the answer, we first need to ask the right question. Search Aramco Powered by Howe. When it's time to scale your business, it's time for Shopify. Get everything you need to grow the way you want. Like, all the way.

Stack more sales with the best converting checkout on the planet. Track your cha-chings from every channel right in one spot and turn real-time reporting into big-time opportunities. Take your business to a whole new level. Switch to Shopify. Start your free trial today.

Hello, this is Eleanor Oldroyd in Perth on the eve of the most anticipated Ashes series in living memory. The sun has been shining, the pitch has been rolled. and the sides have been going through their final preparations. Shortly, we'll be hearing from both captains, plus an exclusive interview with England head coach Brendan McCullum, in conversation with Phil Tufnell. Excitement here in Australia could not be greater.

Let's start by hearing from the England skipper. Before training this afternoon, our chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew spoke to Ben Stokes. Well, Ben, 24 hours to go. How does it feel? I guess you're being asked this all the time, aren't you?

Yeah, good. Obviously, the day before a big series like this, the day before the opening game, there's always slightly different emotions and you just want it to come, but yeah, we're all... very very excited and desperate to get going yeah i mean have you been sort of always fixated on it the first day of the ashes i mean has it been there in your mind for weeks months uh yeah weeks months um you know

For obvious reasons it's a huge series that we're about to start tomorrow and there's been a lot of time and effort put into this physically mentally to to prepare for this next two and a half months so Yeah, I think once we get going once we go over that line and The battle between the two sides starts. Yeah, it's an exciting thing to think about. Yeah, it is. Did you ever have any worries that you wouldn't be doing it? No. You always knew you'd be fit? Yeah.

No question at all. That's good. And when did you know, therefore, actually know that you would be able to be fit to play? Once I got scan results on my shoulder. There was obviously a long break in between that. End of that series and the starting. So, yeah, there was more than enough time and there was never any doubt that everything was going to go swimmingly and smoothly with the rehab and had enough time to build up and yeah, I've been 100% fit now.

five six seven weeks yeah and you've had plenty of overs I mean you you really are good to go as in full throttle yeah okay that's good news and that must be really good for you to have that confidence at the start um yeah obviously but as I said like The last couple of injuries I've had has sort of been a race against time with the time between getting injured and then the next series but this one was months and the injury itself was...

seven eight weeks before i was bowling again and then so that gave me loads of time to be able to get my loads back up and get everything in order yeah what about the ashes for you then ben i mean it's in a way where it began for you isn't it with that first hundred not on this ground but the same city big moment that was for you um what is it what does this whole thing mean to you uh well the ashes it's you know the history of england v australia obviously goes back 140 years

Every time, every series that I've been a part of, whether it be here or back at home in England, it's an amazing thing to be a part of. You put a lot of effort into every single test match, every single series you play. There's always certain series that I think just take a little bit more out of you physically, mentally, and this is one of those. Yeah. Do you talk about it as a team? Do you talk about the history and all of that of the Ashes? Do you sit there and chat about it?

Not really, everyone's just aware of it, everyone knows. We know that there's been some incredible achievements before us, but what we're really focused on is our opportunity to... put ourselves and put this team in.

into the history books and be one of few England teams who've managed to come to Australia and return back with the earn. Yeah, and it does feel like that. I mean, this is like, not career-defining, it sounds a bit over the top, but I mean, as a captain, I mean, captains are known as... Ashes winning captains aren't they? I mean it just kind of rolls off off the tongue. Is that for you? Is that like a defining moment for you do you think in your captaincy? Look I've got no you know

illusions as to how big the series is in the context of my time as England captain. Baz knows that he's under no illusion about his time as England coach, how big the series is, same as Rob Key. Look, we're accepted that, we're embracing that pressure and everything that comes with that as well, but we're not sort of fixated on the idea that...

This is going to be detrimental to what we've given to English cricket in our time. We obviously know the goal that we want to achieve here come mid-January and we'll do everything possible in our powers to achieve that goal.

And I know that these series are always picked out of anyone's time as a player, as a captain, coach, whatever it may be. But all I know is that since I've been given the opportunity to lead this team out, given absolutely everything that I possibly can in terms of the physical side, the mental side of being a professional sportsman and I'll always continue to do that.

Why have England struggled here over the years? What is it about coming to Australia that makes it so difficult? Australia always have been and always will be a very, very good team wherever they go and in particular here, England's record. over the last while since 2010 everyone's aware of everyone's been very vocal about that and we're aware of that as well we take that on board but we as i said this is our time to

put our own mark in Asher's team and in particular England teams coming to Australia. Joe Root, again there's a lot to talk with, inevitably, about him not having scored 100 here.

I see Matthew Hayden has said he's going to run naked around the MCG if he doesn't score one. Now, I wouldn't expect you to do that, Ben, but that's quite a nailed-on endorsement, isn't it, about Joe Root, do you think? Yeah, I mean, God, it's, you know... like trains they're eventually going to come aren't they yeah and with Joe you know he's a world-class player has been for a very long time 13 and a half thousand runs 38 test hundreds so look he's obviously desperate to always contribute to

this test team and they don't necessarily always mean hundreds. I know that he wants to go out there and score 100 every single time he does but the main thing for Joe is that If he's contributing to the team that he's playing for winning, that's the main thing for him. Over these five games, if he manages to knock that 100 off, then that'll be good for him. But it'll be a great scenario if we win.

And if Joey doesn't score 100, then we get to see Matty Hayden run around naked as well. That's not pretty sight. I think it's going to be horrible. Preparation, come on. I know there's been lots of talk about that, and you've had a few comments about people commenting on it.

Could you be better prepared, do you think? Is there any way that you could have been better prepared for this iconic series starting tomorrow? Physically, we're ready. Mentally, we're ready. That's enough. In terms of... first-class matches or whatever it might be because it is it is unique isn't it I mean you can see why people have talked about it it's just not the way it's normally done but I guess you go away and you prove people wrong yeah physically we're ready mentally we're ready okay

What about the Aussies then? No Cummins, no Hazelwood. It's a golden opportunity, isn't it? When you lose two players in your team who are obviously two standout performers and have been for a long time. it does hurt. I've been in that situation before where we've unfortunately lost a very crucial player with our team but as we all know an international sport you can replace someone with someone who's very good as well.

we won't be taking this game any easier or any more likely than we would have Pat and Josh were playing because we know you know Australia incredibly competitive team very passionate about sport very passionate about cricket and the two guys who you know step in to replace Pat and Josh in this game we know that we're going to be in for a tough challenge just as much as we find ourselves up against when we play Pat and Josh so yeah look we won't be treating this any different as we would have.

Australia were able to field what we think would be their best 11. As we speak you haven't named your 11 but I think we can probably guess what it's going to be so I mean five quick bowlers that's again not common is that so you can use Mark Wood in shorter bursts. Normally we obviously have morning training the day before, so me and Brendan have done our last sort of checks throughout.

wicket see how everyone's going and then we can give you a team but we're afternoon training here so we actually haven't managed to do that yet so yeah we'll have a final decision later on quite the diplomat last thought ben um sydney just looking ahead i mean you looking ahead to that you're looking ahead to maybe Yeah, winning the Ashes here, winning test matches for the first time in series in 15 years. I mean, all of that, are you looking down the line or is it just day at a time? I think...

Yeah, look, I think my flight home is January 14th or something like that. So, yeah, it'd be nice to step on that plane, achieving the goal that we've all set out to. But we've got a tough two and a half months ahead of us to be able to achieve that goal. It's not going to be easy, it's going to be very tough. We know the challenge we're in for but we're prepared.

Well, our chief cricket commentator, Jonathan Agnew, is sitting with me. We've just heard from Ben Stokes. Jonathan, he answers the questions he wants to answer. He doesn't answer the questions he doesn't want to answer, you know, so he put you away about the preparation.

that he feels the responsibility of what lies ahead? I think definitely. I mean, it's a typical joust with Ben. It's the way it usually goes. And yeah, you can try and get those questions in there, but he was having none of it, was he? But I thought he was actually... Really quite serious and quite thoughtful, contemplative. I mean, as a visiting captain, to go into an Ashes series when you know the history and you know how one-sided it is, and they haven't won a match here.

since they won the Ashes here in 10-11. I mean, not to win a single game. It's a terrible record, isn't it? It really is. But then a mark of that is that Australia have been a good team. But it does demonstrate how difficult it is to come here and to win. now I think that actually England have got a good chance this time I really do I think and particularly again he was a bit guarded about the Hazelwood

and Cummins question, wasn't he, about what a Philip that is for England. And he kind of tapped it away, but... You know, it is. This is such an opportunity for England. There's a green pitch, grass on it. It's not going to be too hot. So again, that's another thing.

A test match here where it was over 40 degrees one time some years ago. Not going to be through mid-20s, which is perfect again for England. It's pleasant. So all of those things, you sort of add it all up, and you can see why maybe Ben Stokes is... starting to think along those terms of

the legacy and so on because he did he talked about that didn't he and and and how important it is and what it means uh he said sitting on the plane you know going back having won i mean that is that's quite a dream isn't it and you look at Those ashes winning captains since the war here in Australia. So Hutton, Ellingworth, Brearley, Gatting, Strauss. Does Stokes have it in him, do you think, to join that list? I think definitely. I think absolutely. I mean, he is a leader.

uh he's not the sort of the hard fella that people think he is he's a bit of a softy really you know he's got his tattoos and he you know he fronts up and so on but he is a softy i think i think he'd be a magnificent person to play for he doesn't i'd like I'd love to play on Stokes because you want your captain to be a leader and you want your captain to be up there at the front and not take a backward step.

I think he's definitely got it in him. I mean, it's a question of how England play. And I can't help but look back sometimes at that Oval Test match against India. 70 to win. Two batsmen on hundreds. Seven wickets left. Day and a half to bat. India broken. And they lost. You know, it's things like that they simply cannot afford here. You can't give Australia a second chance. They've got to hit the ground running tomorrow. That preparation will be an issue. Of course it will.

And if it doesn't start well for England, that will come back. And that will come back to haunt them. Because it's unprecedented not to play a single proper game before a first test match in Australia. That's never been done before.

Lots of stick for that in the press here, aren't they? You know, about not being bothered and carefree and everything and playing golf. Well, OK, that's fair enough. But if they do lose here and it doesn't get right in Brisbane and they're 2-0 down on the back of... zero preparation and by the sounds of it, ducking out of the game between the two tests, then I think it could get ugly.

It's also worth saying that Australia have been playing golf in the build-up to this as well, haven't they? So they've all been out there on the course at the same time. But they've also been playing Sheffield Shield cricket. You know, Manus Labashain's been racking up runs. Doggart got wickets the other day. I watched him bowl, actually.

impressed with him actually um he swung a ball but a good pace um so you know they they have been playing um could England have benefited from one first class match for dare against Australia A or whatever I think that you should have at every tour, before every test, should always play against the A team.

beneficial for everybody for the host team the visitors and for the quality of the cricket frankly you know if the players are warmed up properly well the answer is we just won't know we won't know if they'd have benefited from it But you could just see that that's there in the background and they've got to prove people wrong.

Those two debutants for Australia, Jake Wetherald and Brendan Doggett, neither of them are spring chickens. They're both 31. They've both got lots of experience, as you say, in shield cricket. But it's still going to be a huge moment for both of them, particularly.

if Australia end up batting first, for Jake Wetherald? It will. I mean, to go out there and open the batting. I mean, again, it's a dream come true, isn't it? And they've done the right thing. They've announced it so that he knows he can get himself, get his mind ready for it. But, you know, there is a lot of inexperience. You know, Quadra's 39. There is grass on that pitch. And they're going to run in. They're going to... bomb Travis Head. He's not a great player of short pitch fast bowling.

he's going to get it on there. All of that you can just see. Go back to that point. England do really have an outstanding chance here. I just hope they take it. I just hope they remain focused. Play grown-up, common-sense cricket and not flash-in-the-pan bas-ball. Just nail down positions. When they are in a good position, nail it down. Don't give it away. You almost think that we can...

Whatever happens at the toss, we can almost guarantee that Australia will be batting and England will be bowling. Because England love to bowl first and Australia almost always bat first. Yeah, it'll be interesting to see, won't it? I mean, yes, I've got no doubts at all that Stokes have put him in. Even though the only five test matches played here, the team batting first has gone on to win. Yeah, well, that's true. I mean...

The one against India here last year, both first innings were done by lunchtime on the second day. So it does a bit here, it does. And there is grass on it. I've got no doubts about it. about England bowling first. It'll be interesting to see what Steve Smith does. You know, caretaker, captain. Pat Cummins is here. He's bowling quite a lot, actually, in the nets. I think he'll probably play in Brisbane.

So therefore, as the caretaker captain, do you put the other team in? It's all that stuff for Smith to contemplate. So, yeah, I mean, I'm actually hoping to do bowl first, actually. And we see them running in and bowling hard and bowling.

with controlled aggression. The problem is that coming here to Perth, and I know it's not the same ground, it's not the dear old Wacker, which was very fast and bouncy. There is pace and bounce in this, but the Wacker was special. England have not bowled well here over the years. They've bowled too short.

It's too it's tempting to do so see the ball flying through you've almost got a bowl half volleys here almost to get the really full length because the batsmen are inclined to be on the bat foot anyway so therefore we've got to bowl that fuller length and England's record in Perth is terrible so that's one of the reasons that's one of the reasons why bowlers just haven't quite hit that right length so if they do

start bowling first. They've got to get all the nerves out of the way and just get out there and bowl controlled, bowl controlled, bowl in that channel, bowl that full length and hopefully take the catches. Well, we know that Australia are without their regular captain Pat Cummins and fellow Seema Josh Hazelwood. But as we've been discussing, there are two debutants with opener Jake Wetherald and fast bowler Brendan Doggett, both getting their chance on the biggest stage of them all.

Let's hear now from stand-in captain Steve Smith, who's been speaking to the ABC's Ben Cameron. Well, the Australian test captain Steve Smith joins us. You've confirmed the team, two debutantes for the first test. What can you tell us about Brendan Doggett and Jake Wetherald? Yeah, super excited for both of them. Yeah, I think they've worked incredibly hard the last, what, probably 10 years. But, you know, their performance is the last couple.

I've got them in the position they are now. They're playing extremely well, so I look forward to them making their debuts, getting their baggy greens, which is obviously a dream come true for them, playing in an Ashes series in front of a packed house.

Look forward to watching them and yeah, hopefully they bring their best the next few days. I don't think there's any more profile pieces to be written about either of them. What's one thing we wouldn't know about both of them? Oh geez, you're putting me on the spot there. I'm not sure. Jake strums a bit, plays a bit of guitar, and Brendan, jeez, I'm not sure. Yeah, tricky one, but yeah, look, super excited for the skills that they possess and look forward to watching them the next few days.

Yeah, new teammates. I apologise for putting you on the spot. Massive Ashes build up. You've played in a number of these series. How has it felt for you? Pretty similar, actually. You know, I think every Ashes has a... A big build-up with plenty of comments and words and what people think the teams are going to be, how the games are going to go and predictions and things like that. So pretty normal.

Just exciting that it's now here and we get to get out there and start the game. What's your earliest Ashes memory? My earliest Ashes memory is probably the 05 series actually. Obviously the... The series was incredible, arguably the best ever, and a lot of people are thinking this one's going to be the best since 05, so hopefully that's the case.

I think what we've seen here at Perth Stadium is that the pitch play pretty similarly to what we used to have at the WACA ground. It's been quick and bouncy. What are you anticipating this week from the pitch? Quick and bouncy. A bit of grass on it currently. I think it looks pretty similar to last year's game against India. I think the temperatures probably aren't going to be quite as hot as the India game, so potentially may not. crack up as much but we'll wait and see.

Last year we saw the Australian team lose this opening test here at Perth Stadium. We had 14 of the 15 members of the squad playing Shield cricket last week. Do you feel like the team's more prepared this time around? I don't know. I don't think we can fault our preparation either way. We've obviously got a few new bowlers in. We lost a couple, obviously, in Paddy and Hoff, unfortunately. But what we've got here is some quality performers.

Doggett and Boland get their opportunity and Jake obviously as we said before so you know we're excited by what we have here everyone's got a good set of skills that they're looking to showcase and yeah I look forward to seeing them. Mitchell Stark's running in. Crawley's on strike. You're captaining. Is there a deep point or a deep cover in place or is the field up? We'll have to wait and see. Can't share too much. But, yeah, we'll wait and see.

I heard it characterised that you and Pat were debating that a lot in the last series by journalist Jared Kimber. Do you recall it like that? Did you want the field more up? Did Pat want them back? How do you recall the discussions, I won't say debates, that you and Pat had about how to play against, in inverted commas, Baz Ball?

Oh, I mean, I can't even remember to be honest. But look, I think for me it's just about playing the game that's in front of us and there'll be different scenarios where we will look a bit more defensive. places where we'll be more attacking. And, you know, it's just about picking those moments live and not letting them pass. That's going to be important this series. Last one. Stuart Broad says it's the best England team in 15 years.

Do you see them as that? I think they're a good side. I'm not diving into who's better or worse or whatever, but they're a good side. We're looking forward to playing against them. Have plenty of good contests. So, yeah, hopefully it's an exciting summer. Who drives the world forward? The one with the answers or the one asking the right questions? At Aramco, we start every day by asking how. How can innovation help deliver reliable energy to the world?

To get to the answer, we first need to ask the right question. Search Aramco Powered by Howe. Aramco is an energy and chemicals company with oil and gas production as its primary business. Big news. Wayfarers Black Friday sale is here. Right now, score up to 80% off everything home. These are our best deals of the year. Shop Wayfair's Black Friday sale now at Wayfair.com. Wayfair, every style, every home. When it's time to scale your business, it's time for Shopify.

Get everything you need to grow the way you want. Like all the way. Stack more sales with the best converting checkout on the planet. Track your cha-chings from every channel right in one spot. And turn real time reporting into big time opportunities. Take your business to a whole new level. Switch to Shopify. Start your free trial today.

the ashes well what a series this is to look forward to and all of the conversation during the course of the last few years is whether this will be the defining few weeks of the basball project In an exclusive interview for BBC Sport, his great friend Phil Tufnell sat down with England head coach Brendan Baz McCullum on the eve of this historic series.

Baz, lovely to see you mate. Lovely to see you too. What have you been doing? No, just enjoying Australia. Obviously immense amount of excitement about what's to come and now we're on the cusp of it.

it's kind of at that stage we kind of you just let go a little bit right yeah you just enjoy the ride and see where it takes and see how we get on with things over next little while yeah what the boys doing today as you say starts tomorrow doesn't it it's buzzing in town mate yeah it's buzzing in town that's good though the biggest arena that's what you play for that's what you wanted as a kid and to get the opportunity to be standing

on the start line. It's pretty exciting. So I'd say half of the boys have probably trained today, the other half, particularly the bowlers, who have had a good head out over the last few days and they're ready to go. They'll put their feet up, maybe head down the beach, get a little bit of... bit of a quiet time before we get into the cauldron of tomorrow absolutely how are you feeling today mate good i'm excited yeah yeah different from playing yeah it's way different from playing but it's

I got asked this the other day. I love my playing time, right? I mean, you and I have talked about it over the years. I absolutely loved it. I feel like, you know, I was never a great player. I had great moments, but I got out of my career what I wanted to.

And I sort of left the game content. But coaching is so different. It's really rewarding. I think the ability to be able to, particularly when you're head coach, the ability to try and shape an environment into... create an environment where you're giving these guys hopefully the confidence to be able to go out there and exhibit their skills on the toughest stage and to try and bind them together and and try and I guess come up with the

an environment where guys feel as if they've got an attachment to something and then create hopefully an identity to how you play and then see how it is under the under the brightest lights and the biggest stage and there's nothing bigger than what we're about to come into.

do you do you feel that as one of the guys and how do you sort of manage as you say it's absolutely kicking outside you know i mean everyone's so excited think we've got a great chance as well you know so there's that expectation how do you manage that with the boys

they feel that obviously uh look i'm sure there's some nerves within the group no yeah as there will be amongst the aussie boys too and i think in the past we've really tried to insulate ourselves from a lot of the outside noise and the expectations and the pressures I think I mean this team's been together now for a good couple of years and we've been we have been building towards this moment so it's almost like you know what let's just just lean into it now but it is

It is the biggest stage and it is the brightest lights and it is a series which could define teams and define people and players within it. That's okay. I mean, yeah, you're going to feel nervous, you're going to feel anxious.

lean into it you know you're ready you know you've got the game to compete at this level and stay together play the style that you've you guys have become accustomed to over the last couple of years and and just keep moving towards the target and we'll see in a couple of months where we land but look i'm super excited we're probably a bit more relaxed now than i was a few weeks ago because now we're on the cusp of it you know we've got our team to the start line and

And I feel like our horse is going to run well. Whether we find another horse in the race better than us, who knows? But we're looking forward to it. You think you've got the animal under you, do you? You think you've got the animal under you? I feel like we've got a... a little bit under the bonnet yeah but you never really know until we open it up right and we'll find out i mean it guarantees us nothing but we come here with

With huge hopes and aspirations we're incredibly respectful of what Australia, the challenge that they present and how good they are in their own conditions and the size of the task at hand. we couldn't be more excited and we're optimistic yeah you said about you know defining moment do you feel that a little bit of what you've been doing with this England side as well it's a bit of a defining moment for you

And Stokes-y? Yes, I think you know me well enough as well. I don't really think like that about myself. When Kiesly put me in this role, it was a matter of trying to give a little bit of... little bit more oomph to the lads to get them to believe in their games and to try and simplify things and take away a lot of the noise and and obviously this was the target which was in mind at the very start of that journey and you know from my point of view

I never wanted necessarily to be a coach per se. I always loved helping environments and helping people. You're trying to shape a set up here which gives them the greatest chance.

But for this team, I guess it will define the progress that we've made. For me, it is what it is, but for some of the guys who are... you know who have had amazing careers to be able to Stokes in particular for him to be able to lead England to an Ashes win away from home would be would be huge but we understand all that stuff but you know you paint that picture at the start but now it's about

sort of being where your feet are living in the moment and just dealing with what comes we'll be challenged on this tour there's no doubt we'll have good days we'll have bad days but as long as we keep moving towards the target and we we're able to still play the style of play that we that we've embedded over the last couple of years, then we'll give ourselves the best chance. Yeah, you talk about the noise.

You've upset a few, haven't you, in the papers over here? Arrogant balls. What are they talking about? Well, I don't read the papers, so that doesn't really, you know, for me it doesn't matter. What is it, the Western males have been having an absolute field day?

water off a duck's back yeah i guess some of that stuff's pretty cool too like yeah i mean i remember tough when i was captain in new zealand i walked in after a press conference and there was three journalists there and i was thinking at the time Gee, we've got to have cricket being a bigger space than this, surely, you know? So how do we get relevance? How do we get more eyeballs on what we're doing?

Walked in the Lords that day, the first day that I took the job with England, and there were 65 journalists there. I thought, all right, this is more likely. There is a big stage. There is a lot of eyeballs, and there is a lot of relevance to what you're doing. It's not always...

champagne and caviar you know there's there's times where you're going to be criticized there's times where it's going to be hard and you've just got to hang on the back of the speedboat to keep going you know until until you get to a few calmer waters and that's the fun of it you know that is the fun of it how do you how do you stay level calm balanced and

forward thinking when the pressure is at its highest and that's what excites me about the challenge and that's one of the reasons why I took the job and now we're on the cusp of the biggest series with the brightest lights and the most scrutiny.

You've got to look forward to that, yeah. Bring it on. A little bit of unfinished business with Ozzy? No, yeah. Well, probably you fellas have all played before as well. Well, you're not the reporter now, mate. Yeah, I mean, we're very weird. 719 players that have played cricket for England and we're respectful and we're trying to lean into the history of what's gone before and understand that there will be cricketers that go

after us as well during the time that we've got as custodians of the English cap and the English dressing room. It's up to us to lay everything out there and to put everything. on the table and to be a good representation of us as players, the environment we've created, and ultimately try and get the best out of the talent that we possess. If we do that, there's no guarantees, but...

Will give us our best chance. Do you feel it's a little bit different? You know, you know play for this a fantastic career in New Zealand and all around the world and everything Do you feel that there's just a little bit something different, you know, England? Yeah, different

yeah of course there is i mean even us is growing up we're i mean we we're sitting here gee it'd be nice to be involved in that series wouldn't it how much fun does that look england versus australia the ashes i mean it's just it captivates world world you used to watch it yeah 100 we used to watch it yeah and you know it doesn't just captivate world cricket but it almost transcends the sport of cricket into other sports i mean i've had

so many messages from people in different sports around the world from different countries and all sort of wishing you luck saying they're going to be watching this series and that's so exciting to be in the thick of it to be in the very middle of it and being able to sit back in the best seat in the house and watch some of the best players play is incredibly humbling. Yeah, say in sitting back, watching it, are you going to be...

Are you going to be feet up with the shades on as usual? Are you going to be a bit more at it? I can't imagine I'll be a bit more at it. No, just the way you go. I feel lucky to be in the position we're in. mate it really is i mean we understand the size of the task but we ain't trying to cure cancer no we're trying to win a few games of cricket that's it so we're trying to represent all that's gone before

live in the moment trying to achieve the tasks at hand and do it in a style and a manner which you've tried to embed over the last couple of years. So to me, yes, there is going to be pressure, but... Just be yourself lads. Just go out there and do the best job that you possibly can and we'll see where we land. Watch the ball.

Watch the ball. You remember that, don't you? Yeah, that's right, yeah. Just watch the ball. Yeah, just watch the ball, lads. And you've got the New Zealand sort of mafia over here helping you, haven't you? What's the all black chap? Gilbert Anoka. Yeah, go on, what's his go? Well we've got a few Kiwis there and I guess like when you're in these jobs right you want to you surround yourself with the people that you think are the best people to help.

and the Kiwis that we do have and the coaching staff and the support staff that we do have. It's been a process to get to this stage and I feel like we've got this really balanced, calm, positive support staff which sit in behind the players.

who are able to alleviate pressure who are able to keep pushing the boys towards the ultimate goal and you try and shape your setup in any organization you go to try and shape your setup to allow layer of protection from the noise and that which is outside and keep pushing the guys towards going out there and testing their skills on the bigger stage and and saying it's okay if it doesn't work out go again keep going

And Gilbert, he's kind of the final piece in that pie. I've known Gilbert for a long time. Was he the old psycho boy, is he? Well, I don't really know his title, per se. Probably not that. You know, he keeps things unbelievably simple. Does he? Yeah, I mean, his stories. Might have to have a chat with him. If you would love him, actually, you'd love him toughest. He might have been a great third wheel on that TV show.

actually. I've known Gilbert for a long time. I'm sure he won't mind me saying. He's been open with his upbringing. He grew up in an orphanage. He's a Maratongan boy who's very humble and very balanced. he thought there's got to be more life than this and he set about trying to be the best version of himself he could and it kind of gravitated then towards not just his own life but then towards helping others shaping others and giving them a simplistic view of

of building teams and trying to get the most out of yourself. He was my neighbour for a while, worked with him at New Zealand Cricket for a period of time and when we got to this kind of last bit of where we were at, where we are as a team leading into this series.

His name sprung out of my head. I rang him and I said, Bert, can we have a chat? So I flew down to Christchurch and saw him and we had three hours together and explained sort of where we come from, where I feel like we're at and what the next steps are for us with the challenge which lay ahead.

And he said straight away in typical Burt fashion, he said, it's so easy Baz, you guys are so close to being able to get yourselves ready for the biggest series. And he talks like that, there's no guarantees and everything. But I said to him, would you come on board? He said, I'd absolutely love to have been honored to come and help you guys. And he's been brilliant since he came on board.

I think the guys have really appreciated this simplistic view and take on how he's gone about things and also the collective manner with which he talks and some of the strategies and tactics he's able to... he's able to pass on to the lads too so we're lucky to have him he's in my opinion the very best in his field in the world that i've come across and i'm sure there's many other great people out there but no one that i've come across that is as good as what

he is in his field and we're lucky to have him and I'm sure the boys appreciate his presence around the group and what he's done for us so far. You touched on tactics there a little bit.

Have you got sort of like an operations room, you know? No. With sort of, you know, some beauty-o-cricket out. Whiteboards, analysis. Because a lot's been made about gruelling tour. Tough tour. Done it twice down here. Hard tour, fast bowlers, rotation and all this. Have you got it all planned out? You've always been a bit of a gut feel kind of guy, haven't you? Yeah, I like to be playing as well though. I think for me it's like your instinct.

is able to unfold yeah yeah that's and your intuition instinct is able to unfold in the most pressurized moments when you have a layer of preparation and and tactical acumen and preparation in behind you so but we don't sit down and have long-winded meetings right but we're constantly and this is across our support staff and the captain and no we're always having informal conversations whether it be

over coffee, over a meal, at the golf course, over a beer, at the beach, at training, whatever it is, we're always trying to have these informal conversations where we're prompting discussion and thought.

around what your tactic is going to be like we know coming down here the wickets are different to what we get back home we know the kookaburra is a different challenge we know where Australia is going to look to try and target us with both bat and ball we know the hostility of the crowd and the boundary sizes and the heat we know all that stuff so put all that into the melting pot now in your own way and alongside your teammates style of play because they're all they are all complementary

How does that come about giving you the level of preparation and detail to now go out there and play on with the instincts and feeling ten foot tall and bulletproof and be in the moment and let that stuff come out. And that's kind of... giving everything away that's kind of that's the kind of simple approach that we like to operate with and i think i mean it doesn't guarantee you but now again it gives you your best chance we feel in the group that we've got

Yeah, well, just on that then, I mean, do you keep one eye on the Aussies or is it just about, look, we look after ourselves, obviously have a little look, see what they're doing and everything. Yeah, definitely, of course you do. But it's all about us moving forward. Yeah, I'd say...

I mean, it's about us getting to the start line full of belief and clearing our thoughts about how we want to play. But part of that is understanding what they're trying to do. We're areas where you think you might be able to... drill down on and other areas where you know you've got to be a little bit sort of solid when they come at you and and I think that's all part of it. The guys prepare unbelievably well. They're as hard a working team as I've ever seen.

They're also very well balanced and I think that gives them the best opportunity to perform. Stokes are you alright? Flying. Absolutely flying. Looks fit. Looks fit. He's not fit. Proper fit isn't he? He's flying. Emotionally he's in the best place I've seen him. From a leadership point of view I've not seen him in a better space as well.

and obviously physically and he's ready to go and you know he knows that this is a huge moment for him as well and I think the key is that and this is where the leadership around him His greatest attribute as a leader is getting the very best out of all those around him. So yes, he's a great leader from the front, but our best chance is for him not just to lead from the front.

but to get the very best out of all those guys around and keep pushing them towards the danger keep being there as a protective layer if things don't quite quite go right in that first moment and asking them to go again that's the strength he's got as a leader he doesn't flinch yeah and if he cannot flinch over the next couple of months which i don't think he will again that gives us our best chance i mean it's so it's such a big thing in it coach captain i mean it was just just piece of cake

Yeah. Well, I mean, most people... You know, that relationship, you know. Yeah, well, Stokes and I, like, we knew each other a little bit before, you know, we came to these jobs. But I wouldn't say we were tied. There was a respect there for both our... how we both went about things. But since taking on this job and us working together, I think we've become good mates. I think we've both got a very similar vision for this team and what we're trying to achieve.

we've both got a healthy perspective on where the game is in regards to life in general and yeah but also being fiercely determined and and competitive and and we also both like getting the best out of the people that are around here and you know i think we We are very similar in a lot of ways and we're different in other ways too, which I think balances itself out. But I'm very lucky as a coach to, in a time that you've got in a job as big as this, to have a captain such as Stokes in.

I feel very privileged to get the opportunity to not just work with him in this role but also to get to know him and call him a good mate. I know all the boys are fit and well. Hammies and Asbash's finger alright. Good, Besh is good. Bowling all right, is he? Bowling good, bowling good and I mean Besh what a kid he is you know he hardly plays for his county which is fine but he comes in here and he is just

He's just a champion, you know. He's a gun bowler and the thing for him is just not let too much stuff in. Just go and bowl. Just go and do your thing, you know. Just try and take wickets. a little bit of this a little bit of that yeah a little bit of that every now and then compete get in the battle have that presence you've got we love him to bits and you know even if he doesn't play in this game this first one

There will be a time in this series where Bash can win us a Test match. Absolutely. And that's it. I mean, that's exciting to be the age that he is. We've seen how tough he is. 21 or 22 years of age coming out with a broken hand against India and spinning that last wicket. getting us a test when you saw the boys what it what he means to this team and what this team means to him and his moment will come yeah

Amazing, that. It actually rolled back and then went that way, didn't it? Yes. I was compensating on it. It was bizarre, wasn't it? I was like that. It done a zigzag. So, yeah, so just really excited. Day to come. keeping your feet on the ground boys just up for for tomorrow and let's bring it on boys you know i mean we you've got everyone behind you mate we will be there in force i'll tell you something

The amount of people I saw on the plane coming over, just so buzzing for it. So up for it, so excited for it. Yeah, we feel that too. Yeah, you do. We know that there's going to be... there's going to be challenges there's going to be yeah you know criticism there's going to be people flying at us but we equally know that in our corner there's 60,000, 70,000 English flying over, flying all that way from the northern hemisphere down here to hit Australia to support this team.

and we'll feel that and we know that the support we're going to get and we know the support we've had over the last few years and we cherish that and we'll do our very best over the next couple of... couple of months to to try and lay down a marker and achieve something special knowing that it's not an easy but yeah we're excited for it.

it will do listen bats listen all the very best mate uh and just good luck mate play well enjoy smile on your face yeah and uh go well mate thanks nice to see you brother you too

The TMS Podcast. On BBC Sounds. Well, don't forget Test Match Special is the only place to listen to full ball-by-ball coverage of the Men's Ashes with every ball live and exclusive from Australia. on 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds. And our coverage goes way beyond that with highlights on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website, plus daily podcasts and the TMS Ashes debrief every day on the iPlayer.

it's nearly showtime in perth tms at the ashes in the mid-90s whilst britain was having its beckham moment South Africa was having its own. But cricket captain Hansi Cronje didn't kick the ball. He hit it for six. I must congratulate in particular Captain Hansi Cronje. Hansi Cronje could do no wrong, but in January 2000...

He did. South African cricket captain Hansi Cronier and three teammates have been accused of match fixing. I'm Mark Butcher, former England cricketer. Join me for sport's strangest crimes. Hansi Cronier, fall from grace. Listen on BBC Sound. Who drives the world forward? The one with the answers or the one asking the right questions? At Aramco, we start every day by asking how. How can innovation help deliver reliable energy to the world?

How can technology help develop new materials to reshape cities? How can collaboration help us overcome the biggest challenges? To get to the answer, we first need to ask the right question. Search Aramco powered by how? Aramco is an energy and chemicals company with oil and gas production as its primary business. We've all done it. Stock our fridge with leafy greens and good intentions, only to have our future self sacrifice quality nutrition for the convenience of takeout.

Keep your body and mind nourished all day with a whole-body meal shake from Cachava. It's got 25 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, greens, and so much more. But the best part? It actually tastes delicious. With six indulgent flavors to choose from, it's easy to make a superfood-packed shake. From chocolate, vanilla, and chai, to matcha, coconut acai, and strawberry, you've got endless ways to personalize your cachava.

Whether you prefer it straight up or enjoy adding fruit, peanut butter, nut milk, or even iced coffee, with every two scoops of cachava, you're getting 85-plus superfoods, nutrients, and plant-based ingredients. Shop now through December 2nd to get 30% off your first purchase of two or more bags with code NEWS at kachava.com. That's 30% off for a limited time at kachava.com, code NEWS.