Ashes Preview: England Optimism & Mike Hussey Joins | Stick to Cricket in Perth! EP 22

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0:33to read every done it that David Warner played last week in the Wednesday comp 25 points 25 I've been chewed up spat at it you saw us before what's Dave you play off things are five Z good class yeah 25 points out of out punchy don't keep it low it's windy she very nice but that's a nice touch isn't it look I like the ashes yeah nice she's taught 2025 26 well you've been up to us not playing golf not playing golf chasing kids doing the doing the home duties you know before school runs after school sport getting a bit of credit in yeah a few brownie points get it in the bank when did you arrive yesterday yesterday Mike flew in you do the direct no no stopped off in Doha okay which was didn't see too much of it the direct flights of beauty yeah the fans on your plane loads my I came two weeks ago there was obviously none on They kept annoying me a little bit.

1:29I was just getting my head down in my little suite. Your suite? You had a suite? I had a little suite. Was that on stick to cricket? Yeah. You were giving them a suite? And they kept popping their head over the door like that, going, Phil, what do you think the score was going to be? I was getting a little bit miffed by the end of it, actually. But no, they were very excited on the plane. 40 ,000 coming out, aren't they? 40 ,000. Oh, mate, there's millions of them. It's unbelievable. Millions. It's going to be full. Well, this is going to be full. What is this all, 60? The side screens will be just under.

1:58But yeah, that's all right 50 58 ,000 I reckon for 20 I bet it I bet it won't be far 50 50 really yeah Very last year against India. It would have been what 45 ,000 and there was a lot of I reckon I reckon that the expats are coming over for this one as well Barmy army are in in fine boy. It was there was that there was that pub called the lucky shag

2:28Yeah, yeah any good. It's a decent spot. I'm not quite a little creatures the lucky She's done and wood. What's the show? What you can get one in my facing room last night. Yeah What did I have last night for flowers on the silvers? I'm a consumer local local No cars, no car. Well, if you're in training on the tequila. Yeah, it's just a client I'm adapting to Perth. Yeah, I had to push through get rid of jet lag Did it work? Yeah, it felt alright this morning. Shall we start the show? Come on.

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3:14Lots of things begin with an S over here that can kill you. Sharks. Spiders. Snakes. Steve Smith. Do the Aussies like Bazboa, Tom? Do you like Bazboa? I do, but I think it irks the Aussie public. I think that is bang on, yeah, for sure. Ben called a few of us has-beens. Well, I'm happy with the has-beens. At least a bean. At least a bean. What are you? Bean, but baked bean. Root rot. The dud does it again, out for one, against a team of Pommy Regens. It feels to me like the end of an era in the Ashes. So look at guys like Steve Smith, Osmond Quadrant. They played in the 2010-11 Ashes. It's a glaring opportunity.

4:03An opportunity that England... I think England have to take this week. They have to come out and win. Got to be sort of patient early. Once you get in and get set and get used to the pace, then you can start to force. But Tuffles is actually right. CrossFit actually.

4:22it's great to have you on Michael Hussie, Tommy Deason thanks for joining us, Willman first you've been on the Ashes debate before you know exactly how this show rolls go with the flow, Tuffers hello mate, great to see you first and foremost, Kurt, I'll come to you what do you make of this? this is nice this stadium, what a place the whacker is the old history but what about this? this is modern, up-to-date, mate It looks, well, we've got, what a view this is, by the way, quietly. Last time I played at the Wacker, it was 45 degrees. 1990 it was. We're three days out. You can look down and see the 22 yards.

4:55That'll be the pitch on Friday. From your experience, Phil, you look down, what do you see? Well, it's still 22 yards, Mike. It's only 22 yards. Yeah, it looks a little bit fruity, doesn't it? What about these conditions? What about the clouds? English conditions. We like this, but we haven't got any English bowlers. We've all gone for the pace. We've gone for pace and bounce. Perhaps we need a few English boys just to pitch it up at the top of off-stamp. What do you make of the squad England have brought out? I look back at when I played here and you needed a load of pace. You needed express pace.

5:34We didn't have it back in the day. Whereas in the last two or three years in Australia, the pitches have done all sorts. And you've almost needed the Anderson Broad woke-style bowler. Yeah. Bowling's been exceptional. Hazelwood's been exceptional. Well, they've obviously identified pace and bounce as the key in Australia. And Australia do have pace and bounce, or they have had over the last few years. You know, Cummins, Stark, Hazelwood, oh, decent pace. Shut up. And got that extra bounce as well. So it is a good sort of theory, but you still have to bowl well in Australian conditions. You can have all the pace you want, but if you are off, you can go the journey and you can get scored against really quickly.

6:10So that's going to be the challenge. I mean, the pitches in the last few years, though, have been really green. And so the skilful bowlers, and so that's where the Aussies have been very fortunate. You've got Stark, Hazelwood and Cummins, very skilful bowlers with pace and bounce as well. So you need both. You can't just afford just to have pace and bounce because if you don't get it right, you're going to go. But it's going to be fascinating. I mean, I'm looking forward to watching the Aussie batsmen hop around a bit because, you know, I'm sure there's going to be plenty of bouncers' bowl, there's going to be fielders' back.

6:40It's going to be exciting cricket. They'll go that early. Well, they have done in recent times. As soon as a partnership's developed, generally Stokesy goes to the theory. They're not very subtle, are they? They go all in, no slips, just five men back. How long will they stick with that plan for? Until it gets a wicket. Honestly, he just keeps going. I think in the summer, India played it well. They didn't kind of take the bait. Gil just playing it down. Yeah, they played it down. and then took away the egos. I think that's the key. When someone goes to that tactic, if you put your egos to one side, I mean, if Australia went to that tactic with the England side, which happened in 23 at Lords.

7:19Yeah. I mean, the Aussies think it's a safe option. We interviewed Brennan Doggett yesterday. He said, I actually think it's a safe option out here up to Stadium, very long square. So, I mean, it's definitely something they talk about. So many of the England players, especially like the younger guys, Harry, Brooke, James, they're genuinely compulsive hookers. Like they will, Brooke got out on 99. Do you remember hooking at Headingley in the summer? And Smith got out, Edgbaston doing it against India. He played beautifully that game, but they just will keep going. They hit two sixes and then the third one.

7:46Well, you just look at the size of the battle. That's enormous. That's a par three for me. That's a par three. But the other thing, Varnie, is if they're going to stick to it for as long as it takes to get a wicket, like think of this five test match series, fast bowlers that haven't played a lot of test cricket, that's going to be hard on the body. The Aussie Sun is different to the English Sun those your pictures are hard as well I'm gonna maintain that to come in and just ball bouncer after bouncer after bouncer for hour after hour That that'll take well they've got to adapt to make yeah They've got to be smart, you know, especially if the pitches are like that Have they got it in them to be smart?

8:20I think Yeah, I think they just tweaked it a bit. I mean they tweaked it a bit I don't think they're just gonna come steaming in steaming is there that that they're better bowlers than that the English boys mm-hmm so I'm Chief Correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald, I think you were the breaking story man of Josh Hazlewood. Hust has mentioned the bodies. You know, Josh plays one four-day game on the back of a few T20s, a few 50-0s, and his string's a bit tight. You look at both teams, and England haven't really had much cricket. They like this preparation style. They've done it for the last few years.

8:53They pretty much go away from home to New Zealand to Pakistan. They play golf, they play one couple-a-day game, two and a half days, and then they get straight into the Test match. But it has to be a risk on the bodies, doesn't it? Absolutely. Like, as a catch-22, Australia wanted to get Josh a final bowler in that Shield game, and he goes, and Sean Abbott as well, who's out for longer with a hammy as well. Yeah, ruined my pub session on Saturday when Hazelwood got ruined, you know, called out. Yeah, unfortunately, I had to file on that. But, yeah, duty calls. But, yeah, very tough one, obviously.

9:25Clearly, I don't know if he'll be back with the second test as well. It's obviously not in person at the moment. I think what happens in this first test might dictate what Pat Cummins does. We saw him bowling in the Nets this week and looking pretty good. Yeah, I couldn't believe, I could not believe how far along he looked. I mean, back in England, we've kind of heard everything, everything from he's out of a series to he could have played here. And yeah, he looked great. He looked like he could have played here, but he's obviously got, he needs some bowling. Well, Huster, I don't want you to give us any of the inside secrets because you've been with the Aussies.

9:57Oh, I know. You were there watching Cummins yesterday. He looked good. I did have a quick chat to him and he said his body's feeling great and he's steamed in off the long run. Poor old Jake Weatherald trying to impress, you know, trying to get himself a test match. Pat Cummins has had it on a string. I don't think he got bad on him for about an hour. So Pat Cummins looked really good, but it's just he hasn't played much at all really for the last, well, how long? Since the win is. Yeah, so six months. So he'll just build it up slowly. I think they'll be pushing hard for the second test. If he's not quite got that sort of volume behind him, definitely solid for Adelaide in the third test.

10:34Yeah. I think that would back the bowlers they've got in Brisbane in a pink ball game, even if it's not that. Obviously, Josh out is a factor as well, but I think maybe in Adelaide and a day game, that's someone you might want to rely on. But again, the pink ball game's probably not going to go as long. Is that a better introduction for him? I don't know, but I think it will be dictated by the result. There's long gaps now as well, aren't there? The series starts quite slowly and then in get to Adelaide. It's like bang bang bang to finish off Stick to cricket is brought to you by Betfair What's this felt new fella like dog it what what could we expect what's he's what does he bring to the party?

11:08He was a carpenter when he was 20, so I was I don't like it. I don't know my kitchen They're artifying you know Nice but proper one You know what I mean? Is he a good one? Yeah. Measure twice, cut once. I'm going to be nice to him. Yeah. Do a bit of work at the house. Yeah, absolutely. What are you doing? Sandpaper. What's it called? What's it called? I met early, Phil. We've got a few weeks off. We've got another seven weeks here, Phil. Leave it till Sydney, that one. No, I was playing it. He's just an assault to the earth Queenslander who's ploddy's trade. He took a bag of wickets for Queensland, went down to South Australia, averaging 14 or 15 in the Shield this year.

11:52He's been in the test squad for the first time in 2018, so he's been around the set-up. What pace are we talking? 140, for sure. Huss would know a little bit more, but yeah, everyone you talk to, he is the clear next cabin in the range. He's a good bowler, very good bowler. The challenge for him, I think he's ready as well to play test cricket. He's got the skill, he knows his game, he's got experience in first-class cricket. But the challenge for him is coming in for your first test match with so much hype, Ashes series, it's all the external distractions. How do you deal with that? You can't prepare anyone for that.

12:22To come in in your very first game, deal with all the external stuff, the extra media, the extra crowds, the hype of the fans, et cetera, that's going to be the challenge. But I think he seems like a very level-headed guy. Yeah, I wish him all the best. I think he'll do well. Yeah. Well, it was just a funny story. He said he was waiting to bat when Hazelwood got injured and Travis' heads walked in. He's in a separate Shield game and Head said, you're in mate, like, hey, so it's down, you're going to play? And he said he was completely rattled trying to bat. Yeah, so, yeah. So he's a little bit more calm now in Perth, but so, yeah.

12:53Does he pat a bit? Does he pat a bit? No, not really. No. So Australia could have Stark at eight. Yeah. Boland, Doggett, Lion, or you can kind of mix those. Stark, he definitely has eight, and the last three are going to pick out the hat. As a theory, you know, could Australia go two front-line quicks with Lyon and then play Green and Webster as your all-rounders to beef up with batting. Now, that's left field and it leaves you a little bit exposed. I don't think they will do it, but it's definitely been talked about. Well, I actually think that the selection of the number eights for both teams will be quite revealing.

13:24So if Australia go for Webster, pack the batting. Utility Bowling go with the two quicks and Nathan. If England go Will Jacks at eight, purely to pack the batting and offer only a little bit of offspin, that tells you that England are slightly concerned about the batting. So the selections of the number eights is quite revealing for me this week. Yeah, I just think, I just like going your six specialist batsmen, your best batsman in the country, get your four best bowlers. You've still got to take 20 wickets as well. Don't just feel your way trying to, you know, have a bet each way. I just think you've got to go your best team.

13:58It is a little bit of a long tail if you've got Stark at eight, but you're backing your top six to get most of your runs. Spinner play here? I would. I'd play Nathan Lyon for sure. His record here is outstanding. He loves the extra bounce. I think the average is 21 or something with the ball here. Nice. So he's definitely in for me. And the skippers knocked that narrative on the head. It'll bubble up whether Australia might try and play four quicks in a test, but Pat said that Nathan will play. Obviously, Nathan got dropped for the last test Australia played in the West Indies in Kingston on an absolute diabolical deck with the pink Duke, so let's not go there again.

14:30So Starker just ripped through him and pretty much does with the pink ball. Doggett's skills what is it that he primarily brings just to give him half a chance is it outswing, is it nip, is it wobble seam, what's he got well he's quite tall but skinny sort of guy, comes from a nice height, hits the seam a little bit, I think his natural shape would be go away from the right hander a little bit, but just a good honest hard bowler bowles good areas, hits the pitch nice and hard if there's any movement there and he's relentless you know like the old Hazel He's like a bit of a clone of Hazelwood really.

15:05He'll just come in and bash away and bash away. The last thing we need to hear. Don't understand that. We don't like clones of Hazelwood. We don't like clones of Hazelwood. Before we get on to some of the headlines, Scott Boland. 2023 at Edgbaston, England decided to go for him. Played a few ramp shots, charged him. Yeah. But I was kind of thinking back to that test match and think, but wait a minute, there was one night where the clouds came in and England were batting. I think it was the third evening and suddenly Boland bowled a spell. and the ball was nipping around. It looked like it was going to get a wicket every single ball.

15:38Number one, Phil, I'll ask you. Go on. How are England going to challenge Bowling? What are they going to do to him? I think they'll look and use their feet to him. I do, I do. That's what they did when they did in England, didn't I? Listen, the average is about 12 over here, isn't they? I think they'll look to come at him. It's the only way this top seven play, isn't it, Mike? And I think they're going to look to get after him and it'll be and put some pressure on him and then the likes of Doggart are going to have to... Will Bowling take the new ball? Or will it be Doggart if he plays? That's a good question.

16:04Don't know. I'd probably say Doggett and Stark, but I'm guessing. Because I think that first spell of Boland, whoever he's bowling to, could decide quite a lot of the series. Because if England come out and play him well and get on top of him, but if he suddenly goes, bosh, bosh. I think the challenge for Boland is going to be, in the last few years, he's been the backup guy. Anytime Hazelwood needs a break or there's been an injury, Pat Cummins, whatever, he's come in mid-series and had massive impact on these pitches. He's unbelievable on these pitches. He just finds a movement. It's not going to be that easy to say, oh, let's just put him under pressure and just smash him off his length because he will find any movement in the pitch there.

16:42But I think the challenge for him is now he's in the series test one and probably looking to play the whole series. That's a different dynamic for Scott Bolin. He's normally come in as the little bit less pressure, come in as a replacement guy. And, oh, wow, how good's Scott Bolin? But now he's got to be one of the main men. So I'm going to be fascinated to see how he handles that extra pressure. And what's his fitness like? Good. Yeah, he has actually battled with a knee injury over the last few years, but I had a good chat to him a few months ago, and he's managed to get all pain out of his knee now, and he feels his best he's ever felt in his career, so he's excited for the summer.

17:16The most interesting battle for the Australia-West Sydney stuff was the Bolan versus Labashane at the back of the nets. Like, when the 11s were on, that was some serious viewing for that month because the point in the 11 is a nightmare to face in the middle of the nets for Bolan. and Lambert Shane has just found a better form in state cricket. Do you expect him to carry on? Is he up too early? I don't know. Best when fresh. I read a few quotes that the Aussies have told him to play a little bit more. Is it aggressively or they want him to get on with it a bit more? Yeah, he's definitely changed his mentality.

17:46I think over the last couple of years, there's been more around just look to bat time, bat for survival, just hang in there and survive. And that doesn't work. And I think a player needs to go through that sort of thing to come out the other side. So for Queensland and Sheffield Shield cricket, he's been a lot more aggressive, scoring at a much better rate. And even he has sort of said, I want to come out and just be free, play my shots, look to score runs. And I think so that change in mentality has been really positive. He looked kind of wrapped up in himself, I thought. The World Test Championship final and watching him back, it was like he was thinking about his own technique, his own game, rather than the game situation around him.

18:20If he's got back to that player, even as recently as the 23 Ashes, he didn't have a great series, but without his 100 at Old Trafford, People talk about the rate, but he got 100 at. He went at it a bit more, didn't he, at Old Trafford? Yeah. You know, he danced down and whacked the spree. Bit more buzzball-y.

18:38Stick to Cricket is brought to you by Betfair. Do the Aussies like buzzball? Do you like buzzball? I do. But I think it irks the Aussie public. I think that is bang on, yeah, for sure. But it's good fun. What is it that drives them? I don't know. I don't know. So I would like have wins maybe over that time. There's a lot of traditionalists over here. You've got plenty in your country as well. Absolutely. And they love the game to be played properly. Take your time. We love it. Build in innings and that long period and see the big scores. But it's exciting for cricket. You like basketball, don't you?

19:12I like it, but I would have struggled with it. I would have struggled if the coaches are saying to me, come on, you've got to get on with it all the time. What if someone's bowling well? Sometimes you've got to work your way through a tough field. Got to absorb. Absorb a little bit of pressure. That's what I love about chess cricket. Sometimes you've got your opportunity to dominate and then sometimes you're just going to have to soak up a bit of pressure. That's where that changes down a bit. And talking about, at the top of the order, whether or not we'll play. Yeah. What do we expect? I mean, he's been around the traps for a while.

19:37He's been playing state cricket for many, many years. Big Bash played nicely for a number of years. But this is different. Walking out there on Friday, it's going to be different. I mean, a few years ago, though, he was playing Tassie too. So he hasn't, you know, he's had his ups and downs for sure. made 900 runs in the Shield last year an incredible season on the back of that doing reasonable this year and made enormous runs hasn't made a century in the Shield this year but clearly next man up he's a bit of a lad goes about his business Pat likes the way he goes and takes the game on so I think he will be more your Warner style opener and then questions around Uzi too he's a bit thin on runs if Constance hadn't been moved on do you think Uzi would have been more under pressure?

20:18you can't change both openers on the Even Asher series But if Constance had been fine, would they have looked at Uzi? Maybe. I mean, after the Windies, Andrew McDonald came out straight away the day after the tour when everyone was playing golf and said, we are sticking with Uzi for the first Ashes test. Goodest goal. But I think if he doesn't make runs in the first two tests, we'll see. I mean, both top threes probably are going to decide the Ashes. Because he's in the top three. Love Ducky. Yeah, little Ducky. Ben Ducky, he's got a little bit of a genius at times, the way that he plays. Then you've got Zach, average his 30, but he'll come out and be aggressive.

20:50And then you've got Oli Pope, who runs this last week, starts tours well historically and then kind of fades away. I'll be intrigued to see how both top three go. You've got Marnes for Australia, you've got Wetherord, you've got Usman under pressure. Whichever top threes can last a long period of time to allow the number fours to come in a bit deeper. And then the number fives, both Brook and Head, they're coming in inside the first 15 overs. Plus what do you think about the idea of Marnus opening and playing Green and Webster in the same side? I don't like it. No, I don't like it because I think opening is such a specialised role.

21:27We should learn our lesson from last year. We tried Nathan McSweeney who bats number three and four for South Australia. Very good player. Put him up opening against someone like Boomer with a new ball. We're not setting him up for success. So I think Marnus feels so much more comfortable at three. It's where he's made all his runs for Queensland for Australia. for Australia so I personally like just leaving him there and playing the specialist opener. The even bigger problem is Green as much as Marnus isn't an opener, Green surely not a three as well, he just doesn't feel like a three, he might be a four in the long term, definitely could be a five or six but just doesn't feel like a three.

22:00I think Ing would love if Australia opened with Marnus, Green at three, like that kind of opportunity to access Smith early is what they crave as you say, you know both teams four and five are actually very similar in style as well, Smith and Root the two great players, and then Head and Brook are the chances of clients. There was definitely some types in the Australian set-up who asked Smith whether he would bat three, and I think that was smock on the head of the cricket. He's been around a bit there, hasn't he? He went up to open for a little bit and then back to four. Where do you rate this series in terms of anticipation?

22:31Oh, right up there. Right up there, isn't it, Mike? Right up there? I think so. It feels massive. I've been in Sydney for two weeks down the Cooch, and little Jack Horner's on the corner there. Not often you get talking about cricket, but even the bar staff at Little Jacks is talking cricket. The hype is as big as I have ever remembered for an Ashes series. This has been unbelievable. I mean, I've been here in Perth and everyone is so excited for this first game. It's sold out the first three days. Everywhere you go, people just cannot stop talking about it. So the hype's been massive over here.

23:04And you guys, from your desks, your bosses, your editors, they'll be saying, come on, liven it up, jazz it up. Yeah, absolutely. We're waiting for some barbs, you know, it'd be nice to England fired a few shots this week. It feels like they're intentionally not firing any shots, but they start talking today. No profile. It's been quiet. Well, Ben called a few of us has-beens. Well, I'm happy with the has-beens. At least I've been. At least you've been. What are you? Bean. Baked bean. Never been. Oh, well, I've been. No, no, you have, Phil. You've got a tremendous record here. You've got a good record here.

23:42You've got three for here, day one, don't you? Think so. Think so. Doink. Yeah. Just went like that and they're just punching it off the face. Who was your bunny? You've got Junior out a few times. Have you Mark Waugh? You've got him a few times? He's got a few. He got a few against you, Ben. You got him out through the legs at Laws, didn't you, when he was on 99? No, that was at the Gabba. Gabba, was it? Yes. You got him out of the Oval? Oh, I did. No, no. It was at Laws, yeah, through the legs. Didn't you get six? I got him out through the legs a couple of times. He doesn't mention that, does he?

24:11He doesn't mention that, does he? No, he goes quiet. But you've got six foot at the Oval, didn't you? Seven foot. Seven foot, sorry. What year was that? God knows, Mike. But the crowd used to get stuck in you for your fielding. Absolutely, yes. That was what I remember as a kid watching you play. As a kid? Oh, no. It's just a little youngster watching. With your milk and your cooking.

24:3745 degrees we played here in 91 yeah jesus christ it was hot right as usual when england rock into town um this is your paper isn't it the western australian it's not my paper no so we're gearing it is your paper just a few headlines look let's just look at that one Root rot the dud does it again England's great ashes hope Falls deeper into Perth who do out for one against a team of Pommie rejects

25:11Guys can you explain what a dud root is What do you think of me? I'm not sure. I have no idea. It's an English player. Sounds like Shane Warne's commentary. Who are we here today? Have we got a slow route? Yeah. Here's another up-reached joke. What about his luggage? Oh, well, it's golf clubs. Oh, is it? Well, what did you think it was? A Christmas tree. Like me Nan's bags, you know what I mean? Hello, his golf club. How will Joe root? Will he read all this stuff and laugh at it, or will he take it on board and say, right, I'll stick it up? I think he's very focused here. I don't think he needs these headlines to be driven.

25:48You don't need that to motivate you, surely. So average Joe, averaging Australia 36, averaging Perth 14. Centuries on our turf, none. That's your papers. Oh, there's another one here, your paper. Baz Ball, England's cocky captain complainer, still smarting from crease gate, lands in Perth early thinking dopey Baz Ball can take the ashes. Again, that's your pay for us. What do you make of it? They've had to eat humble pie quite a few times. I remember the Big Bash, they absolutely bagged an opposition team. Might have been the Melbourne Stars, actually. They came in here and, sure enough, they lost their game.

26:26They sort of got knocked out of the tournament and poor old West Australian had to eat their humble pie. So, yeah. There's more. There's more. There's more. There's more. Kent Stokes sitting at practice. Sitting dutch. Sitting dutch. England captain cuts the lonely figure at first Ashes net session in Perth with the with most of his arrogant teammates not even bother it not even bother it turn up yet

26:54he's got front and back page back page no balls he's not a lot going on in Perth the captain has first net in Perth but isn't ready to bowl yet this is exactly what the paper wants they've won already this is going to go out to millions and millions of people around the world and then they've got another one look at the Western Australia green monster a green monster but cocky Tories Tories skip practice to play golf in stepfunky they're in the buggy oh this is cute there's been some players hiding in the bushes this is first apparently I better close me there's journos what what do you make of do you just think all this is we just take this up into size just it's all part of the theater it's a bit of pants It's a bit of fun and it'll be interesting to see how the West Australian respond if England win this week.

27:40They did the same with India last year after the intro member. Kohli was mocked up as a clown and things like that. And by the end of the test they were apologising pretty much. It is painted as the Australian media when it is one youth favourite. So I do love the attacks come at us but it's good fodder. I'm interested to see the journalists this week. Yeah, they might be. What's the one in Brisbane? Three M.A. Yeah, they blacked out broadly. Yeah, yeah, that's good. England are using, well, you'll tell me, they're using the all-black site guy. Gilbert Anoka. Yeah, I've listened to him on a high-performance podcast this morning.

28:16Yeah, he's the guy who's credited with coming up with the all-black no-dickhead policy. Right. They've got one of you to week, eh? That'd be a great bloke. It's not working for the rugby. Again, again, it's a couple of months late. He's around in the summer for the Indy Tour and he's been with them here in Perth as well. I'll be interested to see what he's kind of been. And is he with the England side for the tour? I don't mean he's doing the whole tour. If he comes, he drops in for a week or two. He's Baz's old mate, for example. Right, OK. We saw, actually, downstairs, Adam Hollyoak. Yep, smidge.

28:47He's with the England side. Yeah. What else have they got with him? They've got David Saker's back, the bowling coach, who was with England in 2010 and 2011. Oh, nice. Were you in that series, us? I played that series, yeah. Enough said. Enough said. What do you remember? Remember, because that's what we're all kind of, we're looking at, people say, all right, it could be like 05 this series. We're looking at 2010, 2011 thinking. England came here with a top seven that was quite consistent. This side's arrived here, although they're a more flamboyant batting unit, but they've been consistent with their selection for quite a while.

29:18This is a top seven that we've seen. That's why we've seen Pope at three. That's why they couldn't win. Yeah, and they had a bowling attack, which was the likes of Jimmy, Graham Swan, Tim Bresnan, Tremlett, Steve Finn. Broad played as well. Broad played and then went home. Back to your test. What do you remember of that series? Could you tell in the series that England were ready for that kind of victory? It's a good question. I've been thinking about this a lot and thinking about the preparation side of things. So for one, that England team had stuck together for a number of years. So they were a good, strong group, good players that had been together.

29:51The second thing they did, and I don't know, it's going to be a hindsight thing, but when they came to Australian Shores, they played about four or five first-class games before that series. Oh, dear. And they were used to the conditions. And I felt it going to play county cricket in England. It used to take me three or four weeks just to get used to the pitches, you know. It's the same coming to Australia. It's not – you can't just fly in and think, oh, yeah, I'm going to be fine here on these pitches. Plus, they've sent England out to Lilac Hill, which is a beautiful, beautiful ground. But it's a club ground.

30:18It's not going to have the same pace and bounce as this sort of pitch. So I felt like England prepared unbelievably well for that 2010 series. The batters were just in nick. They were used to the conditions. And they just battered us, you know. They just batted and batted and batted and batted and wore us down. The last thing you want to be doing in an Ashes series is trying to figure out how to play on the conditions. And he gets to test three and you go, OK, now I'm starting to hit my straps. You want to hit the ground running. But I understand that the schedule, the way it is, the landscape's a lot different now.

30:48They like to come in, just do what they've been doing and then get on with it. But I think it's a risk, but hindsight will tell. It's not the concern of them playing three or four games, but I think those days are gone. It's more the pitch that they played on. And they'll come here this week. They've probably got, what, three days netting here at the first aid. The nets will be lively. Yeah. But it's three days netting. Nothing's not enough to get you ready for what's going to happen on Friday. Time will tell. Yeah, that's right. I'm in the school of thought that I'd love to have seen them play a game at the WACA.

31:18Like India did last year. I think India had eight days preparation at the WACA. They played a two-day game amongst themselves, but they were there for eight days netting on those pitches. And I'd have middle practice. Yeah. That's my concern for England. They've not had enough of the conditions that they're going to find here on Friday. They've generally started tours well, haven't they? They've won five away series under Vazbol. They've won a lot, all five first tests. But then India last year, 2024, they started brilliantly. Olly Pope made that amazing 100 in Hyderabad. And then by the end of the series, they're looking at a 4-1 defeat and they've faded massively.

31:50So the idea behind the way they prepare is that it should keep you fresh through the series. it's not like a three-month tour but yeah as as has said it's all like we're gonna just after time this one we're gonna have to look back and but it's just this week it's been escalated with you know no cummins no hazelwood yeah you know this this feels to me it's a glaring opportunity an opportunity that england i think england have to take this week yeah they have to come out and win yeah the pressure's going on them a little bit i don't think england come back from going one little down with cummins and hazelwood to come back into the series they have to win here In 2023, England learnt the halfway that you don't go one, then 2-0 down in the Ashes.

32:28It doesn't work. You don't come back from 2-0 down in the Ashes. So, and I think they're only going to, based on what we've seen this week, what Tom's saying, Husk's been right up close at that comes. I think we're only going to have one game where both Cummins and Aisling might play. Absolutely. The other thing too is if Australia go down, they're not going to panic. Like against India last year, it was pretty grim when they did that. And while externally there was crisis talks and the whole country went into meltdown when they got pumped by India that test. but internally they just said, let's keep it calm and really not worry about that and they came back to win the Series 3-1.

33:00But they're vulnerable. Definitely. You feel the pressure's gone back on England from being sort of the underdogs, let's go out there and see what we can do a little bit. You know what I mean? Now it's like, as you say, crucial first test. But also England can't, I don't think England can play the whole, oh, you know, we're coming here as much as underdogs things, because they've been building for this tour since they got beaten here last time. They've spent four years building up to this moment. It's all been they've built a bowling attack especially this tour they select me stuck with guys like that crawly because of this to the potential He's not getting a girl Yeah, sure, Bashir.

33:32They've selected a spinner and will Jack's to a lesser extent as well very specifically designed for this tour They've then they've got to back it up now as Tom said they kind of one of the reasons Australian public probably thinks They like a laugh at basketball is because England have had three big series three kind of flagship series five test series two against India, one against Australia. They haven't won any of them. The two at home have both been two all. This is their last... This is the last chance for this group, this squad, to get a result. And do you think you're going to go all-out soon?

34:01I do. I think it all kind of hinges on the fitness of Mark Wood. These two training sessions, Tuesday and Wednesday. You still think he's in the frame? I think he's in the mix, yeah. Even though he's bowled eight overs and he strolled off at Laila Coe with a tight hammy. Yeah, I think he's still just about in the mix. They really want to play him, I think. but in an hour's time we may know that he's not going to play right um then josh tongue would be the the guy probably come in um but they'll also they'll keep that will jacks option in mind i think i think that but that by picking jacks it would put a lot of pressure on the fitness stokes who also hasn't played for a long time he last played in late july old traffic when his arm looked like he's going to fall off so um yeah there's so many unknowns about this bonnet attack you could weirdly we've actually got to a point where Joffre Archer is one of them most reliable fitness wise bowlers.

34:52He played two fast matches in two years. You can't slow them. That's not a great job. Dennis Lilley bowled us out at Lilac Hill. He was about 65. He got four for. He got four for at Lilac Hill. I bet you've been to Lilac Hill and abused England players in the past. No, no, no. You would have chirped a bit. The festival match that we used to play at, to start the tour, the touring team would come in, They packed it out, put up these temporary stands, about 10 ,000. It was always a great day. Your tour, didn't David Hoops? David Hoops was about 50 and he... Doug Waters got four for it. Doug Waters got four for it against us.

35:30Aubrey Wodonga. Is it Aubrey? Is it Aubrey? What was your line in the week about preparation games? You said you used to play the Fire 11, Police 11. We used to play every Shield side. Ballarat, Port Peary Geraldton, is it? We used to play everywhere and one sod all so why not do it this way? Have a little net and then go and have a wet Stick to Cricket is brought to you by Betfair Let's get into the conditions here in Perth, Huss, local lad I don't know if you've watched Stick to Cricket but we have our batting expert which is phil tuffnall yeah really you can get into your zone you haven't got your back it'll arrive on tour at some stage uh batting here in perth phil there'll be a bit of extra bows yeah um can you give the england players in particular who haven't played too much against the bouncing ball here in perth some advice well what i can remember from playing under wacker when i was there all our boys english high elbow off the back foot looking to punch it that way a little bit like Joe Root, perhaps.

36:38That's his sort of onion, isn't it? Bang, like that. Cork third slip, called gully. Play it with the crossback tonight. Got to play it with the crossback. Headed on the head, pulls in front of square, and you said, which I didn't quite understand, was the 45-degree angle cover drive. I don't like the pile, though. No, don't like the pile, because if it bounces, you just... Yeah, lots there. I would say that drive early is... Put it away. We'll get the expert. Come on, Huss. Come on, Huss. Now we've got a... I would say it's quite a risk here in Perth with a bit of bounce. There you go. There's your back.

37:11Right-hander. In Perth here, here or over there, yeah, if you're trying to drive on the up, it's a low percentage shot. That's going to bring slips into play. Quite a few of the English guys like doing that, so that could be a problem. And yeah, that's why Joe Root hasn't scored 100 yet in Australian conditions. I'm not saying he won't, because I think he will, but he loves that little run to third man or that little punch off the back foot. Again, with the extra pace and bounce, that is low percentage here in Perth and Brisbane and Adelaide for that matter as well. So I think it's just hard because if it's your natural instinct, you see it, you just sort of play it.

37:46But you've got to be sort of patient early. Once you get in and get set and get used to the pace, then you can start to force. But toughness is actually right. Crossbait actually. The cuts and the pulls are the way to go here. And then that's when you'll get the really full ball and that's when you can just punch down the back. Puss, dare I say that England may just kind of go against the grain of their natural kind of want and try and leave a few early. Would you say that's probably the best way? Leave well in Perth early and you earn the right to come a little bit later? Well, I think so. But, I mean, that's not the way they're going to go about it.

38:21What is the stat going around about Duckett? 43 leaves in his career. In his whole career. Yeah, exactly. I joined this week Travis Head saying they would meow at each other when they let the ball go. Really? Is that what they're going to do? That's what they have done in basketball. Oh, I love that. I love that. I love that. I love that. I didn't know that. So I think some players that have had some success go the other way. They just go even harder with the extra pace of bounce. Trying to get it over. And if you get something on it, it just flies over the slips, you know? So there's two trains of thought.

38:52You've got to get through the tough period while it's bouncing and moving around a bit, or you just go harder. And I get the feeling of some of the English guys. Like Travis Head, he'll just go harder. Yeah. Do you want some stats here in Perth? Stat attack, mate. And I know the WACA has been the ground, and it's a similar pitch. So since 1970 to 2017, 14 tests. England, England upon one. Lost ten, drawn three. Right. It's not great, that. No, no. We're going to have to do something as an England side that's only been done once since 1970. 1970? Yeah. We're going back a long long period of time.

39:31I was full but the one hope I give them What I'm going to have them give them is India last year here. Yes India play great Yeah, and they had boomer though. How did they who's gonna be in? What runs did they get here in the hole I got a hundred in the second dig yeah I saw well he put it on fire for that. I thought it was what it he would have gone after it 17 wickets on day one what's that they batted very well in their second innings in there They've got a Jace while battered majority of the day Coley about a long time and I was all injured from memory Hazelwood injured, so yeah. So they really sort of wore Australia down in the second innings.

40:06Do you guys get nervous? I mean, as an ex-player, I get really excited about commentating and broadcasting on the Ashes, so it's an excitement. Do you ever get... Not nervous. Are you the same? I think. I've been waiting. Ready to write your articles? Is it like, right? Handwritten, just warming up the wrist. Do you like a sharp and you come off? A pencil, yeah. No, just really excited. We've been waiting for this tour for so long. I feel like we've been talking about it. England had a mega series against India of summer and a lot of the undertones were about the ashes. It doesn't reflect maybe that well on English cricket overall, but we're so obsessed with this, but we are.

40:40And also, in journalism, you can kind of see where it's going to go, in a way, the stories. If you've got a crystal ball that you can look into and think in two or three weeks' time, that's what you'll be writing. I think one of the reasons this series is so exciting, I don't know what Tom thinks, but this feels to me like the end of bit of an end of an era in the ashes. So look at guys like Steve Smith, Usman Quadrant. They played in the 2010-11 Ashes. They played that long ago. It's good omens. Joe Root and Ben Stokes were here in 13-14. Mark Wood played in 15. Loads of these players from both sides have been around for a really long time.

41:15And it feels like, especially the Australia side are coming to the end, but a lot of big figure English players, Joe Root and Ben Stokes have only won. They haven't won the Ashes since 2015. England haven't won the Ashes since 2015. That's a long time, isn't it? That Australia have held the Ashes. And I feel like this is England's worst opportunity. Yeah. Australia have dominated that era of the Ashes. And I feel like it just, it feels like the closing of the chapter. I don't know what the result will be, but whatever happens, by the time 2027 comes around, both teams will look quite different.

41:44And that really excites me. All I'd say is I know Aussie player in this side has won an Ashes in England. And that drives them immensely. Like Pat Cummins, I think, will stick around for that. Not sure about the bowlers, but there'll be boys in that side. who kills them that they didn't win those two recent series over there in the UK. Tom, will Usman Khawaja still be in the Aussie team by Sydney? I don't think so. Really? I know for a fact that after two tests, I'll reassess. Look, I hope Usman does make runs, but, yeah, he turns 39 in a month today. History shows that that is very hard to make runs at 39.

42:18He's made one score over 90 in his last 44 test innings. that's a pretty sizeable package there so we'll see do you think the Aussies made a mistake by taking him to Sri Lanka so after the Indian series they went to Sri Lanka two test matches Constance went on that trip but didn't play they put head to the top of the order I think they made a mistake that was a mistake I think they made a mistake by not picking Sam like was he good to double 100 and good luck to him there and he's very good in spinning conditions that you play him every day of the week but you're never going to get a situation where world test champ points don't matter because they'd already qualified for the final.

42:53They were two free-hit tests there where they could have played Sam Constance. You never know. He makes hundreds there. He might be playing here, but he's completely out of whack at the moment. But, yeah. Is there any players out there in Australian cricket that we might see in this series that we don't know a great deal about? I mean, I heard a whisper. I mean, Jai Richardson's playing against the Lions, isn't he, at Lila Kill? Yeah, he's class. He's been out for a long time with his shoulder, but they've been just quietly working him back to full fitness. He's lost about 10 kilos, got himself really fit.

43:20And from all reports, he's got that hunger. Sort of about four or five years of his career have gone. He burst onto the scene a little bit and suddenly it's like, oh, I'm 27 now. This is getting away from me quick. So he's worked really hard to get himself back. They've just been slowly preparing him behind the closed doors. And I think about mid-series, depending on how injuries are going and things like that, he might be someone that could just sneak under the radar and come in. Such a skilful ball. And so just say Usman fails the first two test matches, who would come in? I've actually been speaking about Mitchell Marshall a while.

43:51Yeah, they are. I think it's going to be too late by the time that may happen. I think you might be training here this week. Renshaw? It'll be Renshaw. Renshaw. So he came back into the white ball. I thought when they brought him into the white ball squad, I presumed that they were going to open with him in the test, just to get him back into the ranks. Well, it's interesting that Renshaw got 150 after missing out on the test squad and whether it, I think, made 20 and 30. So they picked it a week early. And if they picked that after the four Shield games... Just over the road as well. Kemble Kellaway from Victoria, I've whispered about.

44:17Ed Cowan likes him. There's a few guys who are liking what he's done. Got a 50 against a test attack the other week. Still needs a bit more time in shield cricket, I think. A bit like Constance, you know. Just let them play some shield cricket, score plenty of runs, learn the game a little bit more, and then we can bring them in. You know, there's plenty of time. It's like that's the opposite of England. That's what I was going to say, yeah. They just get them out of county cricket and have them come to stop and play a county cricket. It's funny, you did make your international debut to you at 28.

44:43Is that right? One day is 28. 28, 30. Test match, 30, yeah. What have you been doing? What a hard thing to get into. It was a hard thing. 15 ,000 first-class runs before you played Test cricket. 15 ,000. Jesus. Scoring. It's a lot. Yeah. Flaying counter-attacks. In English cricket, you only have to get 15. Yeah. You've just got to look right. You've just got to look right. You've got to look tall. Well, that's an interesting point. So Bethel's an interesting one. Obviously highly regard, great talent, but he hasn't scored a lot of county runs, has he? He hasn't got about 200. He's got 100 in his professional career against South African one-day cricket.

45:24And there's talk that he could bat, if Olly Pope doesn't go so well, he could bat three in an Ashes series, which is a big call, a lot of pressure on a young guy. Just on Olly Pope, Phil, you gave a demo. I came at stick to cricket in the studios with your bat, where you took my head. I know it's only mine that kill. yeah is that what we got well i i saw a different technical who's been doing hands in a lot tighter yeah so his head was more over our stone that left foot that used to fall over to the the offside which his head would follow because his hands would go with it yeah it looks a little bit more compact tight looks tighter so that ball just outside off stump for ollie with that technique now becomes width which is his strength well so i saw some uh some good time i had junior war on a podcast i listened to this week basically said england have got what do they say well well Well, yeah, he said he rates it being team quite highly, but I think the quote was, Olly Pope won't score a run.

46:19So Mark Warris said, oh, number three, won't score. I did notice Rodney Hogg, I think. Oh, God. The weak link for him was Joe Root. I'm not sure I can agree with that. The second highest one scorer ever. Well, if he's our weak link, we're in good shape. Stick to Cricket is brought to you by Betfair. Right, let's finish with some community questions. Community questions for all of you. Here we go, this is good. What single piece of advice would you give to both captains ahead of the first test starting on Friday? Let's start with you, Tom. What are you going to say to me? Well, Steve, go on then.

47:00Don't declare on day one. Couldn't agree more. What the bloody hell were we doing there? Crikey, yeah. Win the toss and bet first. Oh, yes, yes. That's interesting because Stoke's best. I think it will be, especially when he sees it. England like the chase. They do. I actually think sometimes when they bat first get confused. Well, not quite sure. They do. No, they're not quite sure how to play it. When they see a number on the score, of all the teams that I've seen play Test cricket, they look confident when they chase them. And in India, haven't they? 3-7-8? Never looked like that. India at Esbaston in that one.

47:36Even in that game in the summer where Wokes came out, They only fell six runs short with 10 men chasing three, six, five. Yeah, yeah. So they're a good chase. Difficult pitches. This pitch will crack up and it gets treacherous to bet on the longer the test match goes. I just remember that game in 17, the last England test of a whacker where James Vint's that huge crack. And Mitchell Stark from around the wicket, base to Boulder. Yeah, just hit the crack. Tom, advice for Steve Smith or Ben Stokes? Who am I to say? But you don't have to complicate it for Steve Smith. Sometimes when he's captaining, he wants to do a lot and move the pieces around a lot.

48:13Clearly, he averages more when he's captaining as well than when he does as not. He's fine. I'm not here to give Stokes advice either, clearly, but he did average 70 with the ball last time in Australia and 20 with the bat, so I think he's a bit of a watch as well. I think Stokes, he was just coming off his seven iron there a little bit. I reckon he just needs to stay over it a little bit more. I was for sure. I saw that goal swing yesterday. I thought he looked to Mackey. Stokes is weird. A bit like Phil Mickelson. Is he? 140 to go is he using what's he using he uses i think he's punching wind he's punching an eight iron into and if it's with he's probably just hitting a wedge he's got all the skills he can fade and draw what's your advice god knows my i'm a guy i don't know i don't know some bats ah thank you thank you uh film um there you go uh for you aussies um tips for surviving Australia as an English person?

49:07Just lock yourself in your hotel room and you should be fine. All right, let's get yourself away. Lots of things begin with an S over here that can kill you. Sharks. Yeah. Spiders. Snakes. Snakes. Plenty. Steve Smith. And salties. Saltwater crocodiles. Watch the S's. Watch the S's. Watch the S's. Have you been to Rocknest? No, no, I have. Oh, I love Rottenest. Big gerbil. The what? Massive gerbil. Big quokkas, mate. Big gerbil. Don't say that, yeah. Big gerbil, I'm going to show you the gerbil. They're massive hamsters. Massive hamsters. I think me and you. Yeah, we've got a selfie, haven't we?

49:53Who are you? Are they quokkas? Quokkas, native to Rottenest. Yeah, I'm sure me and the huss, we had a good day there last year, didn't we? He was the typical Englishman. He was sitting out in the sun, he had his shirt rolled up, you know, he had his shorts and he had his big thing of brawn. Oh, they're nice. It's a massive hamster. I can tell you, he's definitely not a gerbil, OK? I'm sure I've got one of you, Huss. Definitely, we're at that. The pub's great, isn't it? Yeah, lovely. So when England win in three days... We can go. Yeah, we can get on the Elmer Ferry. Golf or Rottnest? I reckon you can do both.

50:32You can play golf at Rottnest if you want. Yeah, of course. There is a course. There's a little course there. I saw a brown snake on the road there. Brown snake? You'll see plenty of snakes over there. That'd kill you. Yeah, well, I was on a bike, thankfully. What's some shot I'd do with last year with a quokka? With a quokka? Right, we'll finish off. What's going to happen this week? Let's go. I think England win here this week. England win. I think they'll get it done. Yeah, I'll do. I fancy England. Yeah. Is this a one shot? No, I'm backing Australia in, to be honest. I think it's going to be exciting, though.

51:04What I'm looking forward to is watching how the Aussie batters handle the pace and bounce that England is going to hit them, how they're going to handle the short stuff, how they're going to handle it. I'm glad I'm not 20 yards away, 22 yards away playing it. Will they take it on? I think some will and some won't, and it might depend on the situation of the game. I don't think they'll be reckless, no. I think it'll depend on how they're feeling and the situation of the game. Obviously, they're a confident bunch. Yeah, they're pretty confident, yeah, definitely. I mean, there's definitely question marks.

51:34No Pat Cummins is a huge loss. He's the number one. Well, they've got Boomer up, but then there's Pat Cummins. He's the captain of the team, makes handy runs as well. He's a calm influence around the group. He is here with the team, but that's an enormous loss. And I think the Aussies would be nervous coming into it because losing both him and Hazelwood for the first test is a big loss. Tom? I think if England win the toss of bat, I think they'll win the test. I think the class in their top order, it will click at some point. I think Joe Root scoring 100 first innings here is a great bet. I think he'll just do that off the top, knock it off and go from there.

52:13How he goes for the rest of the series, I'm not sure. But if Australia get the advantage and bat first in the decks, not a green mumble, which it's not at the moment, I think they'll be OK. The other one I'm looking forward to watching is Harry Brook. Oh, yeah. Because he's obviously a gun. And he's scored so many runs all around the world. This is the one place that he hasn't scored runs. And I know it'll be in the back of his mind. I was lucky enough to work with the England T20 team at the T20 World Cup. It was in his head about the extra bounce here in Australia. So if he can get a score early in the series, that'll be enormous for his confidence.

52:45But if Australia can keep him down early, then maybe the mind games will start playing in his mind as well. So he's a massive watch for me as well. I can't wait. I love watching him bat, but he needs to score early for his own confidence. Brilliant, guys. Thanks for coming on. I'm sure we'll see you throughout the series. Good luck throughout the week. Hope you scribble well. Hope you've got plenty of stories to write about. Plus, I'll see you in the commentary box. Yeah, looking forward to it. See you in the bar. See you in the bar.

53:18Thanks for listening and thanks to our partners, Betfair. You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and you won't miss an episode. And if you want to support the show, please leave us a five-star review and help others find it too. See you next time.