Cook Responds To Pietersen, Sooryavanshi India Debut & Robinson’s Return? | Stick to Cricket Ep 43

0:00Michael Vaughan: Before we get started, I'd like to thank our partners, Betfair. Hit subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Enjoy the show.

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1:48Michael Vaughan: Morning, everyone. You all good? Wednesday, I'm back. Ooh, ooh.

1:54Phil Tufnell: And I've got some. Oh, you're back. Where's your back? I bought your gift. Rhubarb? Yeah, I've got your gift. It's fresh. You've bought them. All right, lads. Hey, you've bought them from the shop. That's tough. Yeah, but these are to make. You make potatoes. These are second early. They need to go in now. What, are they made potatoes? Oh, I see. I mean, I can't make a potato, can I? These are for making potatoes. They're making potatoes. No, I thought, Put them in your plant. Yeah, but you've got to put them in the ground before they come up. These are seed... How did they get to that stage, then?

2:30Phil Tufnell: These are seed potatoes from a manufacturer. Let's have a look. They're tubers. They're what? That's it. And these have been chitted. Look how they've been chitted. Look how they've been what? Chitted. They've chitted them. You put them in. A bit low. You put them in. They've been chitted. I've brought you some. But how do they get to that stage? Don't eat them. They manufacture, they're made out of a seed by the potato people.

2:55Michael Vaughan: So you put the seed in the ground and it comes out like that?

2:57Phil Tufnell: Well, I don't know about that. But when we get there... That's heating, isn't it? No. You put these now either into the ground mounded or what I do is I put them in big tubs. Just put one in and you get a shed full of potatoes. So that'll make a few? Oh, will it ever? Loads. Do you keep them in your shed? No, keep them outside. You seem to get a shed full of potatoes. No, no, a shed full of... He just said it, he just said. Just as a shed full. A shed full of potatoes. And then, you know, they flower like mad. They come all green and then all the greenery dies away. Flowers, potatoes. Yeah, yeah.

3:31Phil Tufnell: And then they die away and then you pick them.

3:33Michael Vaughan: So if I put that in my garden, right? Yeah. I'm not going to arrive back in a couple of weeks when I've gone home. There's going to be potatoes all over the garden. It'll be a shed there. I built a shed.

3:44Phil Tufnell: It'll start flowering, green, real lush, and then it'll just die. and now you pick them. But you've got to water them. Keep watering. Get enough water in, haven't we, with the rain? I've just said, when all the flowers die... August? Yeah, August. August, September. What else have you got there? Green. Are they yours? You've actually done some work on them,

4:07Michael Vaughan: have you?

4:07Phil Tufnell: These are mine. I know, exactly. They just come out of the ground. You said you like rhubarb.

4:12Michael Vaughan: I do, yeah. There you go. Pick a rhubarb. You've got to make sure you cook it well, won't you? Do you know what I have to do? No, no, no.

4:19Phil Tufnell: Do I boil it? Yeah, you've got to boil it for a long time. You put it in a drop of water. A bit of sugar. What, like that? Just put it all in. No, cut them up. Just with scissors. Cut them up with scissors. Put them in a pan with a drop of water and some sugar. Ready in five minutes. Yeah, well, I'll give them some. Put them in a crumble. I want crumble. Crumble. Stick of rhubarb. Yeah. Yeah, there you go. Should give Geoffrey, then. That's his bats. Yeah. There you go. But these, if you check, you'll get loads of potatoes from that lot. Really? Are they Jersey Royals? Well done, Sir Chef. Not quite.

4:54Phil Tufnell: They'll be new potatoes. Can we move on from the spot? Yeah, yeah. Well done, Sir Chef. Finish the marathon. Just paid up. Yeah, hey, well done, well done. I just missed out. Just missed out. Three hours.

5:05Michael Vaughan: What was it, 3-0? 3-0-5. Great effort. Couldn't you whip yourself a little bit just to give? I was done, buddy. Was it harder than you thought? I thought I'd get closer, but I did have a... I'm going to use the excuse. Always got an excuse. You know, I told you about it. No, don't say you got a niggle. I did get a niggle. No, on the Tuesday, my last run... You've got something on your lip there, mate. Anyway, a little niggle, but to be honest with you, that didn't... How old are you now? 41. How old's Will McPherson of the Daily Telegraph? I don't know, but he beat me. He's a young one, isn't he?

5:39Michael Vaughan: Oh, did he? What trainer? Did you have one of them pairs of fancy... Not the new, new, new ones. But you'd have had a fancy pair of them. Had the next edition. Do you know Will McPherson? £2.58. Amazing. What did he? His trainers, 40 quid from Lidl. Really? Yeah. 40 quid pair of trainers, Lidl,£2.58. There's some trainers that have springs in them now, and they're sort of like, you know, boing, boing, you sort of like hop there. Can you root? No, there are those trainers. There's like really carbon fibres. Was it the record? He said, they said, well, someone said... Someone said, if you turn up like the...

6:20What's it called? I've never been on it. The treadmill in the gym, virtually to the top. He ran at 21km. Yeah, it's like doing that. That's the pace that he did.

6:30Phil Tufnell: 21km? I don't think I've ever done that on a bike. Where's your friend? Withenshaw?

6:37His... I think... Why is that? I've missed that one. No, no, no. No, OK. I think it's 30k. From 30k to 35k, he did it in 13 minutes, 50 or something. So that is just absolutely... Sprinting, virtually. Well, he is sprinting, isn't he? When he gets tough, he just goes faster and faster. Anyway. Well, not quite enough, I have to have a go. One more go. Oh, you've got one more. You're going again, are you, next year? I think so. I'll go one more go.

7:01Michael Vaughan: What are you going to change in terms of your prep? Probably a bit more training. You've got your data analysts on it. I will do it. Do it in roller skates. Do it in roller skates. Go to Little and get a pair of their wheels. Maybe that's what I need.

7:14Phil Tufnell: Well done, Will, Mike first. Well, well done, Sir Chef. 305 is highly commendable. Will said he actually went past you. Did he?

7:22Michael Vaughan: Did he, did he? Bastard. Cat's birthday last week in London. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Great day. The big one. I'll tell you what, there was an eclectic mix there. What a crowd. What was our man, the posh fella, Dom? Oh, I liked him. Dom, yeah. Yeah, Dom Parker. Dom Parker. From Gogglebox. From Gogglebox. From Gogglebox. From Gogglebox. From Gogglebox. You weren't invited? Huh? Well, no, it was only... Why weren't they? Well, I know. What? I can't invite everyone. I couldn't invite everyone. We had Oller and James Jordan doing a bit of dancing. Yeah. We were all doing the chat. So they got invited? They got invited.

7:59Phil Tufnell: Who was the most famous person there, in your opinion? Sue Barker. All right, yeah. Sue Barker. Yeah? Lovely. Sue Barker. Is she alright, Sue? She was great, wasn't she? Yeah, she was great. Made a lovely speech. Yes, she did. Oh, lovely. Yeah, we all had a nice bit of grub. How many people? 500, 600? No, no, no, just 40. What about the size of your plates?

8:18Michael Vaughan: Remember what we had for starters? Lovely plates. The Conrad, London. Oh, beautiful. Nice and washed. Spruced up. Go in there. Start. The plates, honestly, the plates were this size. I've looked at someone. What's going to go in there? Scotch eggs. There you go. You like a Scotch egg? Sausage rolls. and asparagus. Absolutely. Temporous asparagus. There you go. What a neglecting mix.

8:41Phil Tufnell: He asked us what the thing about asparagus, Dudley Cook. Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. Peter Cook and Dudley Moore live. I like asparagus, it makes me fart. Fuck it up. And you've been to Spain, haven't you? Then we went to Spain to celebrate with my Spanish lot, so basically, you know what I mean, I've been on the smash for about a week, as you can probably tell. No, but it was good. What was the drink of choice? Well, I'll do here. If you're due, in London, for you. For me? Yeah, what was your drink of choice? Well, we started off with champagne. We had a few bubbles, didn't we? Yeah, so we started off with champagne and then it was red, white, rosé.

9:21A few cocktails flying around at one. Cocktails. On stage, Philip.

9:24Phil Tufnell: You're not a beer man? Do you like a real ale? Well, yeah, I don't like a real ale. I'm a bit more of a lager. Yeah, nah. Hey, Bumble, tell us about your trip to Rochester.

9:34Michael Vaughan: Was it at Rochdale? Yeah. It was a wave, wasn't it? Yeah. Come on. Are you one of the ultra? Is he an ultra? I was playing in a golf medal and the sky comes up, doesn't it, with goals. And it came up, Rochdale, 95th minute winner. And it said promoted.

9:49Phil Tufnell: Yeah.

9:50Michael Vaughan: Did it? It said promoted, 95th minute winner.

9:53Phil Tufnell: And then there was a pitch invasion. That was a great goal of theirs. Desiree, good centre forward, up, bang. and where we were, a complete deathly hush went down. We were the best team by a mile. Did any fans leave then? Did any of your fans leave? You didn't see anybody leave, but it was dead quiet. We were sort of around where families were, but, you know, in the cheap seats. They invade the pitch. They invaded the pitch, all their spectators, which gave York time. Gave York time. Another ten minutes. Centre-half goes across to the manager, get everybody together we will get one chance we get one chance and so they start the game again after about 10 minutes straight down throwing throwing head down centre forward in were you on the pitch?

10:43Phil Tufnell: I got on legit at the end so you didn't steam on old coach tried to get on the pitch but he couldn't get over the hoardings he couldn't get over the hoardings

10:52Michael Vaughan: what about Michael of Wednesday Saturday new owners look at this play this for you Where'd he from? Listen.

11:01You were saying. You were saying. You were saying. Is that your new manager? That's our manager. Our owner. Our owner?

11:09Michael Vaughan: Storchy, yeah. Storchy? Have you met him? Yeah. Storchy. Verdict. What's your verdict? He looks like a very energetic... Donald Trump. Driver. I wouldn't say he's Donald Trump. Driver? Driver, like a driver. A real enthusiast, yeah. Driver of a kind of cult. Has he got any brass? Plenty. Has he? Yeah. I think Wednesday will have a go next year. Well, he'd enjoy Kenny Road, won't he? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, we'll come down to Kenny Road. A bit of a shock for him. Can we get on to Langs? I read something in the mail that you'd been turned down. So you applied to be on the board? Yes. Right.

11:48Phil Tufnell: You have to... Is this part of the coup or before the coup or after the coup? Because at the minute, I thought the story was you are trying to, you know, overhaul the board. Yeah, that's true. There's a vote of no confidence gone in on the board. But I sent an application in with my CV to be considered for the board, which means the first step is to be interviewed. How big was your CV? It's not a bad CV. It's a pretty good CV. Just roll it out. I can quote it verbatim. After careful consideration, we will not be taking your application further. We thank you for your support of Lancashire County Cricket Club, signed HR Team.

12:37Phil Tufnell: Now, that's either Harry Redknapp, Harry Ramsden or Elena Rubenstein. I don't know who it is. HR Team. I don't think they've got an HR Team either. Right. HR Team. Is that human resources?

12:49Michael Vaughan: Can I ask you, right? Does it hurt you that you've not... I was so embarrassed that they've come up with that decision.

13:01Phil Tufnell: Utter nonsense. But why wouldn't they want you involved? Tell me. But they wouldn't want someone who wants to take over. You're trying to oust the board, so why are they wanting you on this one? That's why I can see why they don't want you now. Turkeys for Christmas. Turkeys for Christmas. I can see why they don't want you now, because obviously what you're trying to do... But you've got to understand that the current board are the custodians of the members' interests. Right. That's what they are. Right. The members wouldn't have anything to say at all if everything was right. Can't the members vote you in?

13:33Phil Tufnell: Yeah. No, I have to be interviewed... By the HR? ...process. By Harry. By Harry Rednard. By Harry Rednard. No, by the nominations committee. Oh, come on. By the nominations committee. It's complicated. And after careful consideration, they've decided they won't be taking this application further. So it's not a members club then? Well, the governance is wrong. So how many applied for that role? I've no idea.

14:00Michael Vaughan: You don't know? I don't know. And was it a role that was advertised as ex-players? So you needed... No, no. What did it say on the role? Did you need cricket experience?

14:10Phil Tufnell: Well, I was applying for the elite sport position. Right. Oh. Did you wear your absolute badger tissue? Looks are deceiving. Well, that's disappointing. If you're not going to get this fella involved in your club, what's that? Correct. He's done everything. Enthusiastic, knowledgeable. Passionate.

14:32Michael Vaughan: Exactly what my coach, absolute badger. They don't want him because they're scared of what actually your talk said. I worry about county cricket clubs if they're not allowing him. Absolutely. I was absolutely staggered. I was staggered. Did you put on your CV about the seed potatoes? Why didn't you offer that to the members of the group? If you bring a few pieces of rhubarb... I can bring the rhubarb in. You can get your cake from Cake Cross. Cake rhubarb. You can just provide... You can have an organic stall in the car park. I've got some great onions. Have you? A little farm shop in the corner.

15:11Oh, I just want... A little farm shop. That car park's big at Old Trafford. You can have an organic stall. But you're right, Mike. You're right, Mike. If a fella like this fella sitting across the road from us can't be involved in a club that he played for, for how many years? 20. 20. 20. Coached them.

15:25Michael Vaughan: For how many? Three and four. Three and four. Been around the club for how many? One things. Oh, yes. You see, one things. England. There's something weird you like.

15:40Michael Vaughan: Before we get started, I'd like to thank our partners, Betfair. So just hit subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Enjoy the show.

15:52If I went to the IPL and sat next to Jai Wardner, Jacques Callis, Brian Lara, would they improve my batting?

16:01Phil Tufnell: Yes. You had Bethel opening the batting. Yeah, that was two weeks ago.

16:05Michael Vaughan: Joe Root at three. Yeah, that was two weeks ago. Joe Root's not going to bat three. That wasn't the point. It's for us. It's irrelevant of what Joe Root thinks. It's what we think. Have we made too much of opening the batting? No. I think you have. You're all openers. I think you all have a little bit. As I said earlier on in the programme, he's that... I think you slightly disagree with, but I think I'm correct. What are they signing for as a 14-year-old? What did Rajasthan sign him for? A couple of gay boys and a load of a reboot. How's this fella got so much power? And also, just on... What's he benching?

16:41He's only going to get stronger. Look at the children's faces. Are you a bowler? Yeah. I know who it is. I know who it is.

16:54Immersing yourself in all things soccer ahead of this summer's World Cup? I'm Alex Abnos, senior sports editor from The Guardian. Whether you're a soccer beginner or you know the game inside and out, we've got you covered. From one of the fastest growing soccer newsrooms, The Guardian brings you in-depth World Cup coverage that gets into the winners and losers on and off the pitch. Read, watch, and listen as our journalists connect the dots between the games, the cultures, and this political moment. We'll have daily newsletters throughout the tournament, a global perspective, and a squad of Americans, including me, on the ground with the U.S.

17:26national team. Plus, if you want to test your soccer knowledge, try On The Ball. It's a game in the Guardian app, and it's really, really fun. And if you're into stuff like this... Well, I think the problem is if you give footballers an inch, they will take a mile. Is it too much when it's this close? It's a bit much. It's a bit too real. Maybe you could just talk with a slight delay. Be sure to listen to our Football Weekly podcast for on-the-move expert analysis. The Guardian, bringing you the whole picture on soccer. Search Guardian Soccer for more. Think you know where to go for happy hour?

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18:58Cookie, can we start with you?

19:00Michael Vaughan: Can do. Great to see you grab a few headlines, Sir Alistair. Oh, yeah. I'll read you like this. Is this with KP? No. One step back. Sorry. Who said this? Oh, sorry. If county cricket was as strong as it was in the late 90s and early 2000s, I'd also want Bethel back playing it now. But it's not. It'll benefit England more by him being in India, and he's already shown that. Who said that? Well, I should imagine there's been a little bit of to and fro with Mr Peterson, hasn't there? Well, there hasn't been any to and froing. I just gave my opinion. As always. But your opinion still stands? I can justify it in my thing, saying that at the time he wasn't playing and all last year he went to the IPL and didn't play either.

19:42So he's had that benefit of doing that once or twice. And I thought, actually, in my opinion, he's done a bit of that. Now he can come back and play. Actually, ironically, since all that's come out, he's now played.

19:56Michael Vaughan: Well, the fact of the matter is, as we sit here, Jacob Bethel, he played two games in 25. Yeah. and he's played three an average of 13 striking at 150 this year averaged 33.5 last year striking at 150 so he's had five games in two years at the IPL I get the other argument of learning from but there's got to be a stage where you have to play like you can't just learn from it and I know the IPL's a great tournament but there's also no one's publicly ever going to say the IPL's not the place to be because everyone knows it lines everyone's pockets Is there a middle ground that you could get to where someone like Jacob He's clearly not...

20:34Michael Vaughan: Phil Salt had to come back. He's injured. If Jacob wasn't going to play the last couple of weeks for RCB, they look like they're going to get into the eliminations. Is there any kind of communication that could happen that you spring him back to play? They'll say he's under contract, he's made that decision, he's our player and we might not need him for 10 games. It was a Lions game against New Zealand, didn't it? But there's been one game he might have to play because of a couple of injuries and you think, well, we signed him. I actually understand both his argument about actually like he signed the contract two years ago.

21:05I'm going to honour my contract. It's just like it's quite hard for someone like and I haven't I don't know what the IPL is like quite clearly haven't been there. But I do like you hear some of the little undercurrents. It's not quite as good as everyone thinks it is because no one ever say that. Very pressurised. It is pressurised. No one's ever slagging it off. I'm not slagging off the IPL. I'm just saying he's like, no one ever says it's terrible because they don't want to ever upset their bosses because they want another contract. If I went at the IPL and sat next to Jai Wardner, Jacques Callis, Brian Lara, would they improve my batting?

21:43Yes. They probably would, actually. It couldn't get any worse. You're right, you have got to have a knock once in a while.

21:51Michael Vaughan: You're right in saying that the IPL, it clearly is going to better you as a player. it has to being around all those legends and coaches but also playing a bit of county cricket is going to better you as a player as well at some stage sitting and talking there's a happy beat there's a certain talking and training and also playing as well in a different thing so I actually think you can two opinions can actually be right

22:11Phil Tufnell: yeah I agree have you seen Joe Roots quote the last couple of days that he's played for Yorkshire says he doesn't feel great what's that but he's not playing the next game I think Harry Brook's coming in the next game yes

22:25Michael Vaughan: He got 100, didn't he?

22:26Phil Tufnell: Has he dropped?

22:28Michael Vaughan: Well, he got four for it. Four for it. Oh, Joe. No, I mean, Joe, he's... He said he doesn't feel great. What, with a bat in his hand? Yeah. He doesn't feel great, but he got 100 runs this week down in Taunton. He got a 90-odd against... The week before. Who did he play the week before? Was that Notts at Headingley? I can't remember. But I guess... So there is a certain time. Obviously, for Rooty, he doesn't want to peak now. Like, players, like, if you're in that England team, you don't want to peak in May, do you? He's signed by a contract, century contract. For an England fan and England bosses, they want him to prepare, so he's on the upward curve, feeling fresh coming into the 1st of June.

23:08So the peaking now, he doesn't want to, does he? Unfortunately, Yorkshire cricket for him isn't his be-all and end-all. But to get into form and to get stamina into your body. He's playing one more, isn't he? He's playing one more game.

23:21Michael Vaughan: Yeah, one more game. I think that's the big thing that we don't talk about enough in these players. Like Jacob, they'll arrive back from the IPL. Probably go straight into the test. No problem. But it's more the body. You know, he's been used to being on a pitch for 20 overs, doing a bit of fielding, running around. But to play test cricket, that first day in the field, you know... Doesn't matter how fit you are. It's horrible. First day in the dirt for 90 overs.

23:45Phil Tufnell: It'd be an interesting... I know that Kevin Peterson has sort of responded to Cook. It would be interesting to ask Kevin, when do you think you should be playing? There's that sitting down and soaking up experience. Yeah, get that. When's the time come when, now I've got to play? Got to put that into practice.

24:06Michael Vaughan: I don't care what anyone says. You can improve by being in the dressing room, of course. When you're a young player, you can watch and learn, can't you? There's only so much. But you can only go to that next stage by playing. Putting it into practice. You've got to play. You've got to put it into practice, all that knowledge, haven't you? and that's out in the middle, surely. I mean, I'm a great golfer when I'm not playing. Yeah. As soon as I play, I'm shit. Yeah, I'm great at everything. I'm great at everything until I have to do it.

24:30Phil Tufnell: I mean, you guys will know, wasn't KP fabulous on preparation? Yeah, practice. Yeah, yeah. Work hard at practice. Fitness and practice, yeah. Excellent. And you can't actually... I know Bethel always seems to be kind of like the headline, isn't he? Because he's always there. It's actually not his fault at all either, is he? It's not his, he signed the contract two years ago and now it's just like he's kind of in the middle of a fan debate. And a meteoric rise from having signed that contract, you've got to honour the contract, but I've done this and I'm going to probably bat three for England.

25:05Phil Tufnell: Yeah.

25:06Michael Vaughan: Well, let's get on to that. Two weeks ago, was it two weeks ago we were in here, weren't we? Yeah. And we kind of picked our team then from when it was at. Yeah. It's moved on since then.

25:16Phil Tufnell: Yeah.

25:16Michael Vaughan: I'll tell you he's a good player. Alimi Oge. Emilio.

25:22Phil Tufnell: What do you call him? Emilio.

25:26Michael Vaughan: Emilio Gay. Emilio, yeah.

25:29Phil Tufnell: I saw him last year. I saw him when he played for Durham last year. He moved from North Ants. Yeah, he played.

25:35Michael Vaughan: Do you know he played 450 over games for the great Azuri in November against Tanzania? Italy? Yeah, qualifies to play for Italy. Oh, right. He was going to play for Italy in the World Cup. Why didn't he play for Italy in the World Cup? I don't know. Well, it's funny. What I've just noticed... Did he, though? Did he not? He didn't play for Italy, no. He's getting hundreds. No, what I've noticed is that there's been a slight shift, doesn't there? There's been this sort of real desire now from the county. Well, two weeks ago, Rue, you were going to say... Two weeks ago, I had Rue at six, I was opening with Jacob and Rue was three.

26:13Michael Vaughan: Two weeks later, it's moved on. No, there you go. No, but I'm just saying that the attitude we've been talking about you know, Baz and Stokes and everything and this what have you about county cricket, you just do get a feeling, don't you, that there's been a shift that, right, I'm pushing here because I can see that something's changed a bit. They're taking notice.

26:31Phil Tufnell: We've said before, a reset and we'll look at it. Yeah, but you just get that feeling. Well, what's...

26:37Michael Vaughan: Emilio Gay got injured. Zach Crawley can't get it wrong. Emilio Gay got injured for the World Cup so he couldn't play for Italy. But he would have represented Italy in the World Cup. So he didn't play in that. I like what you said on the last show when you say, you mention players and you see how they react. So there's a pressure on James Rubek because everyone's talking about him. He hasn't got too many since. Emilio Gay has been spoken about. He's gone. McKinney's kind of had a stumble. So he was talking about that double under at Gloucester. And I like Mason Crane. Mason Crane's done well again this week.

27:07Michael Vaughan: How old's he now, Mason? 30-odd? I don't care how old he is. Jimmy Anderson's 43 and still trumbly. Is he 43 or 44, Jim? Don't mention his age, Jimmy. All right, Jimmy Anderson. No, I think as a spin bowler, and especially as a leg spin bowler, as a leg spin bowler, you've got to learn that craft a bit. A few runs. And gets a few runs. So, OK, fair enough, if you're a 16-year-old Shane Warne, you go in there, but he's been on that spin as you do. You're dead right. So for me, like now, you're looking, obviously, a guy who's gone to the top of the run-scoring list. I know what you're going to say.

27:39What? Division two. I'm going to say that has to be a little bit of consideration, but now it's what he was like with the Lions, what he was like in the academies. Ooh, attitude now. Absolutely, because now he's delivering runs, but what is his personality like? Who cares? You need a character, Phil. There are certain characters. One thing now, he's obviously scoring runs, how will he handle the big situation?

28:05Michael Vaughan: Say what I like about him, he's got 100 against Lance, Jimmy Anderson, and he's got 100 at Lord's. Where's the first Test match? Lords He has to have got his nose in front Who's the selector? Big Finney Big Finney Is it your mate? Big Steven Finney Well he's gone now He's gone We're saying Finney He's running marathons We're only saying Finney because in the Daily Mail in the Daily Mail there's a picture of I'd actually I haven't subscribed to it so I don't know behind the paywall but there's a picture of Finney I haven't yet, no There's a picture of him I reckon he's hot favourite Yeah, I do enough Hot favourite Yeah, I do as well I reckon I reckon Finn, I'd throw Nick Knight in there.

28:44Yeah, I think Stitch would be good.

28:46Michael Vaughan: Surely they need to do it fairly quickly because... They've got to start making some decisions. And I'll say, I think it's ridiculous how they're announcing a selector so late. Do you know when they are going to? I wanted the selector there April 1st. Yeah, going round and looking around. Going round and looking, gathering information. Do they have a set date when they're going to announce it? No, but the only date that we know that Luke Wright quit as chairman But you've got to get the right walk. You can't just throw somebody in. You're telling me from January what? January the 8th we knew, didn't we?

29:16Michael Vaughan: That Luke Wright had gone. I didn't know. Yeah, it was a long time. Four months to try and find someone. We were in Australia. Well, exactly. But that's when he announced that he was moving on. But if we're saying, just quickly, you're back on that selection. If now in the next two weeks someone else scores lots of rounds, does he go to the top of the queue? Well, no, because the selector should have been going around looking at them. That's all we've done. All we've done. Baz McCollum. They'll have an Ayan who they want. Yeah, but all we've done is gone, well, he's scored runs, so he's now top of our list.

29:44James Roo at the beginning of the season scored a couple of hundreds or some scores. He'll now we've gone go. Form comes. I'm not speaking for form. Form. Comes and goes. No, but it comes and goes, but then also it should be a factor, shouldn't it? You know, like, especially at the start of the season, right, who's in Nick? Who's in Nick?

30:02Michael Vaughan: Nick Knight. Well, there's no... Yeah, yeah. Who's in Nick? Emilio gave if he gets picked now he's in great form he'll never get a better chance of being successful nah he's the one for me let's see what happens in the next few weeks but

30:16Phil Tufnell: you've changed the whole team

30:17Michael Vaughan: then

30:18Phil Tufnell: I haven't

30:18Michael Vaughan: I went Mason Crane two weeks ago you had Bethel opening the batting yeah that was two weeks ago

30:24Phil Tufnell: Joe Root at three yeah that was two weeks ago Joe Root's not going to bat three

30:27Michael Vaughan: that wasn't the point it's for us it's irrelevant of what Joe Root thinks it's what we think so Joe Root back to four and there'll be Jacob at three and Emilio Gaye are open now. There you go. There's an opener in form two weeks ago. There wasn't an opener in real form. That feels like a more simple... By the way, Emilio Gaye's batting three for Durham. He does bat. I'm just confused even more. Can people just bat where they bat and stay there, please? I've never really got the idea about these batting line-ups. I mean, I was always 11. But, I mean, you know, they do seem to tinker around with nine.

31:00I'm going to throw in a debate here. Were you behind Devon? Sorry? Did you bat behind Devon? Or did Devon bat behind you? No, I batted nine once. I batted nine. That's a problem for him. That was a problem. That was an issue. Sorry, I just... No, I batted number 11 because I didn't like walking off on my own. Oh, no, oh.

31:15Michael Vaughan: Here's a debate then. In T20 cricket, you have a batting line. It kind of mixes and changes, doesn't it? Fluid, fluid, Mike. Can that happen in the longer format? Why are we so rigid? Those two have to open. Why is it? They have to bat three or four. Well, we've seen it. Why can't you move it around for the conditions? We've seen it. We've seen it. Stokes, he opened. Josh Butler opened a couple of times, didn't he? Yeah, but I'm talking throughout the game. Does it have to be that you have to be so rigid?

31:42Phil Tufnell: Ask the player. Ask the player. Let's just think, Joe, it would appear, was reluctant to go to three. I think KP may have said that he's earned the right to bat there. That's where I bat. Going back to Colin Cowdery, which is a different era completely, He said, do not mess with the batting line. Up people, nor where they're batting. But that was many, many years. Yeah, it sounds good to say.

32:07Michael Vaughan: These players in this area, they're still used to it. Well, in T20 cricket, they sit in the dugout, all right, 20 over. They're ready to go. I'm not saying that that's going to happen in Test cricket. But if you're in a second inning, just say, particularly if it's spinning, why are you going to send out a load of right-handers to a left-arm spinner? Well, absolutely. Because at some stage, that right-hander has to bat as well. Yeah, but the left-handers have probably got more chance of getting a bigger score and knocking him out of the attack and putting him under pressure earlier rather than giving him a start with a couple of early ones.

32:36I think the game's so long that you end up... Coach, sorry, mate. You said you've got to know where you're batting. Why?

32:46Phil Tufnell: Well, I've only caught him... The clarity, I think.

32:52Michael Vaughan: To know you're in next. You need to know when you get your pants on. I think clarity helps, doesn't it, a lot? But I do think people are more, you know, more like open to change now. Yeah, I do. But there is something about the openers. And I think if you give back one, two or three, you give back one, two or three. Travis Head in Perth. I mean, that's a perfect example. Travis Head, obviously batting in the middle. Suddenly has to bat at the top in the second. That's it. Not look back. Yeah. Do we make too much of opening the batting? No. I think you have. You're all openers. I think you all have a little bit.

33:25Yeah. We keep saying. Yeah, you know, you've got to get stuck in, you've got to know where you're off stumpers. It's the place to bat. It's the place to bat.

33:35Phil Tufnell: It's a pristine pitch. You don't go into your mind that, oh, it's wet and it's damp. A load of gaps. Old gaps everywhere. Rortis. All you boys have just been... Bulls it in. Ball hits the bat, it goes for four. Yeah, new ball, though, fresh bowlers. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. There's obviously... There's pros and cons. the 10 minutes at the end of the day. That's not good. Don't seem any middle order runners.

34:02Michael Vaughan: Are you picking Ollie Robinson? Am I picking him? He got some with the bat. Got 100, didn't he? He got the oval. Hang on.

34:11Phil Tufnell: Who are the candidates?

34:14Michael Vaughan: Geoff Reicher? Geoff Reicher. Will he go straight into test cricket, having played T20 cricket for two months? Gus Atkinson? Injured. Go injured again? He's had a niggle, hasn't he? He played against Essex. Did he play last week?

34:27Phil Tufnell: The game isn't for a month.

34:29Michael Vaughan: All right, Gus Atkinson will be fit. Brad and Cassie are struggling. Tongue and Atkinson are the two.

34:37Phil Tufnell: Tongue, Atkinson, Archer. Stokes.

34:39Michael Vaughan: There's your four. I'm not sure they'll go straight. Do they need to pick a dedicated new ball bowler? Yes. That was the problem, wasn't it? Tone setter, I think you said the other day, Mike. What do you call it? Tone setter. I thought you said a tongue setter. Well, we got one of those. You want a bloke. Now, you say about opening the batting is an art, with the new ball. I think bowling with the new ball is an art. 11 wickets at 28 apiece, and he's averaging... 71 with the battle, he rocks. I mean, it takes a bit of time to get in a bit of nick when you're bowling, you know.

35:13Phil Tufnell: To be fair, he's come back into the mix, hasn't he? Yeah, he has. From being ostracised and out of it, he's playing himself back in. So he's given himself a good chance. Just needs a little fifer up his sleeve now. Yeah. Well, you should keep bowling, keep fits. Yeah, there you go. Keep your head down. No, actually, like, it's been quite sunny, hasn't it? Get on with it. It's sunny. There have been a lot of big scores.

35:33Michael Vaughan: Yeah. A lot of big scores. Well, I've got an actual bit of stats. Can everyone always... Moans about how... Mark's on about, oh, April, can't play county cricket in April. Sonny Baker. Where did I get that? Oh, quickly. Rolling fast.

35:45Phil Tufnell: There's another, quick. Rolling fast. He's one to look out for. Is he a tone setter? He doesn't take Newball for Hampshire, is he? No, he is an artist. AD couldn't bowl with a new ball for a couple of years. Do you remember AD?

35:56Michael Vaughan: They didn't. There you are. In the 2020s in county cricket, overall runs per wicket. Which month's got the best average? April. Second. Averaging 34.81. In June, 36.91. I've always said it, down the back end in September, it's a shocker. People are desperate for wins, so the pitches are desperate. And they're tired. They're tired. They know that light comes into place. They're like you this morning. The Jew. 29 the average in September. August 29, that surprised me. Spin. But April when the pitches are pretty fresh. And they're only playing one. No one's kind of, dare I say it, scrubbing the decks.

36:37Michael Vaughan: And also there's no other cricket, isn't there? Well, it's true, isn't there? But there's no other cricket. Well, you know, with eight inches of grass. Mutiny on the bounce. But there's no other cricket, isn't there? Scrubbing the deck. No other cricket. There's no T20, there's no one-day cricket to slide in. It's just the groundsman can have their week to prepare each week. Yeah. There we go. Overall spinners collective average in county championships in the 2020s. April's 42, May 40, June 43. July, the best month for spinners. August. It's a back end. September. Of course it is. September. Wearing pitches.

37:11Michael Vaughan: Yeah. September. Omelettes everywhere.

37:16Phil Tufnell: There's nothing wrong with a spinning pitch. You go to India, you get a spinning pitch. There's nothing wrong with it. I agree. I agree. And there's also nothing rather seeming with it either. No. There isn't? No. Or a swinging pit.

37:28Michael Vaughan: How do you get one of those? How do you get one of those? A swinging nip. The boys always used to come off, I could always remember. If someone swung it, well, you know, you get bowled out. We've got to have something. It's swing it. We've got to have something excuse. It's swing it. We've got to have something excuse to others. Is that where we're leaving? No different to you. Oh, it's flat. You can't get a wicket on. Anyone score runs on that. Are we looking at selection with that? Emilio Gay at the minute's got his beak in front. Absolutely. Yep. Yeah, I think. And are we picking the leg as we speak now?

37:58Michael Vaughan: Well, we've been consistent with that leg. Jack Leach has got a dodgy neck, Mr Laskin. He's not the only one. Yeah. So we're saying... I'm not so sure. Where are you with Will Jackson, test cricketers? Oh, no, that is the one for me. Listen, the opening spot. I'll tell you why, because Joe's bowling nice. Jacob will bowl a bit of that. Surely a little bit of... Listen, listen. Have you seen any footage? Is he bowling nice? Oh, beautifully, last week. I think... Well, straight into that Lions game and throw him and see what... Pickle Morgan, it's probably... It's spinning down there, isn't it? Down in the diff.

38:33Michael Vaughan: I think the spinners... They always used to. Crofty. Oh, it's a two-day. Basil Barwick. No, Dean Koska. Koska, Dean Koska. He was a good bowler. Crofty. Basil. Basil. I got my best figures in. Bus driver, isn't he, Basil? Yeah. I've got my best figures at the Sophia Gardeners. At Cardiff? Yeah. Basil Barwick. Absolute ragamuff. Used to just have two fielders on the offside. Used to have a mid-off, extra cover, that was it. Ball into leg stuff. They're reverse-weeping now, aren't they?

39:04Phil Tufnell: Yeah. When I umpired, Ravi Shastri was the overseas. Come in and clatter it like and then ball them at Sophia Gardens and at St Helens at Swansea. Swansea. Oh, lovely.

39:17Michael Vaughan: What was the other one? Mumble Mile, is that? Mumble. Mumble. Yeah. Mumble Mile is about 12 pubs that you have to go down.

39:24Phil Tufnell: Ooh. I never played there. Ooh. It would have been good there. It would have been good there. I think the spinner spot and the sort of the ethos of the side and the make-up of the side is more of a topic, actually, than the opening batter, because the opening batter, right, there you go, go and get your runs and we'll see who we pick. You know, it's about... But then the spin bowl. Well, it is. It is. No, actually, tough as I get what you're saying. Absolutely. You know what I mean? Right, opening batting spot. Right, lads, there's four or five boys. Go on. You've got a couple of weeks to impress us.

39:55Boom, in you go. The spinning spot is about do you pack your bat in with this guy? Do you do this? There's no clear path. Do they pick their best spinner? Do they pick their best spinner? Do they pick the thing that's the best job for the side? The balance of sides? I think that that is more of the balancing of the sides than just a straightforward fight.

40:11Phil Tufnell: It's exciting if you think that we've got... Thank you. These boys look to me like... I've got a person in the head. Very good, Phil. Very good. It's exciting if you're thinking about England playing a front-line leg sport. Oh, it is.

40:25Michael Vaughan: Well, I like him because he's got backup in Joe and Jacob. Yeah, absolutely. So all the pressure in the first innings won't be on him. He'll be there in the second innings when there's a bit of an omelette. Yeah. First innings, down the particular detail. And also, Mike, as I said earlier on in the programme, he's that... Right, I think you slightly disagree with him. But I think I'm correct. He's got that little bit more extra experience now that when it's not coming out right or people start coming up, go after you a little bit, he can fall back on that experience. Where does Rahan sit then?

41:00I don't know where it's from. He's in Delhi, isn't he? Yeah, but he played in Pakistan when they had a free hit at the spin. He's a good cricket.

41:07Michael Vaughan: He is a good cricket. But in the minute, I don't think he's... He's not on my radar yet. I think he needs to come back for Leicester. As Cookie says, I haven't seen enough of him.

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42:52Michael Vaughan: Stick to Cricket is brought to you by Betfair. I mentioned Delhi, the IPL. Yeah, a bit all over it. Table as we sit here. Who's at the top then? Punjab. Ponting, your team, isn't it? Ricky Ponting. Just to let you know, my team, Mumbai. Bottom, second bottom. Excellent. Who's possible? Sanju's been playing well.

43:15Phil Tufnell: I can't believe how badly he's been.

43:17Michael Vaughan: Who's coach of Mumbai? Jao, wasn't he? Yeah. He's gone. They've had a shocker. That team at the start, I thought it could win a T20 World Cup. Has Bumrah not got a wicket or something? He's got three wickets. I'll be a bit tired. Best ever's got three wickets. I'll be tired. He needs a breather. They're on six. Bottom. Who's bottom? Look now, Supergain. Ten Oats. As the Orange Army. Your Orange Army, they're up there at third. Who's coach at Lucknow? Who's bottom? Lucknow, Super Giants. Who's coach at Lucknow? That's Lancashire's bonus. It is, yeah, with the elephant.

43:51Phil Tufnell: Who's coach then? Who's like Justin Langer, isn't it? Has he gone somewhere? Justin Langer?

43:56Michael Vaughan: I think it is Justin Langer, yeah.

43:58Phil Tufnell: He's coming to Lancashire with Tom Moody.

44:03Michael Vaughan: KKR, third, bottom on seven. Dele, Rayon's gone two, replaced Duckett on eight. CSK, you all right? Is that you? That's where we started. That's what we started off with. Gujarat. That's what we're doing there on 12. I was still in the shower. Rajasthan. Let's go on to Rajasthan. I know what you're going to say. Surrey Vanshee. Gets us loads of it, so we'll speak about him again. What, the youngster? This kid, right? So Chris Gale's got the fastest 100. He hasn't beat the universe. Right, 30 balls. This kid has already hit 100 in 35 and 100 in 36. He's catching up with the boss. Right, most sixes by any Indian batter in IPL history is 42 by Abhishek Sharma in 2024.

44:46Michael Vaughan: This kid's on 37 now. And Hanraal Games, then? He's the best six-sitter in the world as we speak. Yes. But also, can we, like... Say absolutely, we need some hits. Okay, I said yes. Absolutely, Mike. I said yes. But what did he go for? How old is he? What did they sign him for? What did they sign him for as a 14-year-old? What did Rajasthan sign him for? A couple of game boys. A load of a Rebo. Is that not the best... Will that be not the best value for money ever? Well, I'd love to know what he's called. It's Dave, because he signed two years. I think they run his management as well. I just know.

45:23Michael Vaughan: I thought he signed a two-year deal. I thought he signed a two-year deal. Get him sat there. Get him sat there. We weren't allowed. Get the sweets out. He'll have to have his parents sat with him. I think he'll come on the Gunnar Island. He'll go on that tour with India. He should be in the Indian party. Yeah, absolutely. How much is he going to go for next year when he's thrown back in the auction? I just don't think he'll get thrown back in. Well, how are they going to keep him? They'll just retain him. Yeah, but can he say, well, actually, I want to go back in the auction? It'll be a private deal done for him.

45:49He could be burnt out by 21. He'll have enough cash by 20. He can't be burnt out. He plays 30 balls.

46:01Michael Vaughan: He might be doing his GCSEs this week. I don't think they do GCSEs anymore, mate. Well, not when you hit a ball like him, but it is remarkable to think he's got two of the fastest three IPL centres at the age of 15. He's like... The universe boss is just behind. If he overtakes the universe boss, what are they going to call him? But he's also only... Double boss. He's as good as, like... You'd say that Gales go down as the best opener in T20? Yeah. At the moment? T20 history, yeah. T20 history, most runs... He's knocking on the door. He's 15. He's 15. He's flicking just a bit warmer into the stance.

46:35Michael Vaughan: Is he 15? Well, I think he is. Is this true now? I just had my 40th birthday the other day. Is this true? I don't know whether I'm on my social media because I'm not actually on it. Didn't he face Boomerah and hit him six first ball? Yeah, yeah. Then Cummings, hit Pat Cummings for a six first ball. I doubt with Pat. And then Hazelwood, six first ball. I doubt with them, yeah. So they're three of modern greats. Well, they're modern greats, aren't they? Best in the business. Have a look at him, mate. no, don't worry, I'll just pump him for six. He's on the pathway to becoming the greatest striker of a cricket ball of all time.

47:10Phil Tufnell: It'd be interesting to hear what Sachin and Virat think of him. Oh, lovely bum, that. That was lovely. What did they think of him?

47:21Michael Vaughan: In fact, they're looking like a lucky bastard. What a player. How were you going to... Has anyone asked him how he got there? What? Was he coached? He must have played a bit of school. How's that happen? How's that happen? How's that happen? Where's that car? He's playing cricket. I felt sorry for when he played in the Under-19 World Cup. These 19-year-old England lads making the way of playing against this guy. He's just whacked Boomer and Cummings everywhere. So there you go. That begs the question. That is just pure, pure talent, is it? That's just natural. That's just natural pure talent. Well, he's 50 years in that time.

47:59Michael Vaughan: If you look at, in COVID, videos doing the rounds, when obviously no one was allowed to be around, but he was in his backyard, literally. Do you know with the ball on top of the cone? Yeah. Where you dip your shoulder and you play the on-drive, and it's hours. Hours. Hours. Hours. There you go. Hours. It's a long way from hitting that to hitting. Yeah, but if you've done that from the age of two, and you've got a natural eye and you just get it. I had it on a washing line. You did.

48:27Phil Tufnell: A swing ball. A washing. A swing ball. Straight through Mrs Barton's window.

48:33Michael Vaughan: What about Bradman? He had the golf ball. And the stick. On a water tank. No, he used to throw it against the water tank. Throw it at a water tank that was corrugated or sort of slightly rippled so you didn't know which way it was coming at you. I want you to give us a demonstration of Suri Vanchi. How'd you get his power? I've gone in the hip a bit. No, your bat's there. Look at his start. Got me child. He's left-handed, by the way, mate. Left-handed, Phil. Have you ever seen him? Yeah. What does he do? Well, he's a typical left-hander, isn't he? He's a typical left-hander, which is just clear of what they're going to whack it over.

49:10Right, thank you, Phil. Thanks for that. No, but he's got a little bit more than that, hasn't he? I don't think he's necessarily an offside, Ollie. Hang on, he'll be watching this. Yeah, I think he's a little bit of a leggy. I think he is.

49:22Michael Vaughan: I think he is. You see Jameson gave him a send-off. Did he? Yeah, he gave him one, yeah. After getting 100. The other thing, Mike, of course, which are left-handers and you've got a couple of lefties here, it does open up the field, doesn't it? Does it? Well, no, because you're coming in here, I can remember bowling at that bloody Kluzner. Zulu. Zulu. Like that. And it felt the most natural thing to do that and bop it over there and then you try and run it across him and then it's just the most natural thing to do that as well. So is that correct? Easy game. Does it prove, right, in a way that experience is a load of garbage in some way?

50:02Michael Vaughan: No. No? No. Like this kid. Talent. So do you think we'd have a 15, 16-year-old in this country that could do, not saying to that level, but could play professional cricket and do well? Our system doesn't really... Adam Thomas for Surrey this week. 18, 19. Fantastic. He's a proper player. He's been in Perth all winter.

50:23Phil Tufnell: Yeah, but that's 18, 19.

50:24Michael Vaughan: Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Three or four years. And we're celebrating an incredible achievement from a young player at Surrey. Is there a 16-year-old?

50:31Phil Tufnell: You will know Joe Root from a very young age. Very young age, Joe Root. He didn't have the power.

50:38Michael Vaughan: He didn't have the power.

50:39Phil Tufnell: How's this fella got so much power? And also, what's he benching? He's only going to get stronger. Especially when he gets bigger. Can I change the subject ever so slightly? Because the name just been mentioned, a little story about Zulu, Lance Klusner. When we played them in 1997, something like that, and Matthew Fleming's playing Jazza, Matthew Fleming from Kent, very, very posh, great lad, playing for our 1-day team. He goes out to bat and Klusner starts blowing kisses at him. He just kept going. And after a while, Jazza went up to him and said, I say, were we at school together?

51:27Michael Vaughan: What a player he was. Who, Jazzo? Jazzo's a good player as well, but he could give it a one-up. Stick to Cricket is brought to you by Betfair. Right, move on from Suravanchi. It says here, Betfair, back your section. Right. Mike will open an envelope with an unpopular cricket opinion sent in by a viewer that the team will debate, discuss, OK? Oh, OK. This is like, would I lie to you? Yeah. Here we go. Done that. What haven't you done? Brilliant programme. What haven't you done?

52:00Phil Tufnell: I did that, yeah, yeah. Have you done that?

52:02Michael Vaughan: I thought you'd have been on the train. With Lee Mack and David Mitchell and Bob Mortimer. I kept having a dream that I used to be traced around the garden. Do you remember Mr Potato Head? Yes. Yes, by a bloke with a pitchfork. Yeah. Yeah, and that's true. Right. No, isn't it? Is that what you had to say? A recurring dream. Is that what you had to say? I had a recurring dream. Why didn't you do the traitor? I thought you'd have been on that. You'd have been good on that, Phil. Right, here we go, lads. Here we go. Right, here we go. Michael, back your opinions at Betfair, but let's debate them first.

52:35Michael Vaughan: Let's see what we have in store this week. This one comes courtesy of Paul Palmer, who believes... Ooh, this is strong. The 100 has had a detrimental effect on English cricket. Debate. Has it had a detrimental effect? Has it affected our cricket? No. I think for one thing if we're taking a game as a whole it's improved women's cricket no end so I think that's been massive I do I think it's has it given us a tournament which made us a billion pounds made a lot of money and also given the players the same franchise opportunities as every other country I think it's been good the only I think it has been good the only thing where it's not good is that was it August isn't it yes is that month of August I get that it's taken out this year the final is on so it starts on July the it's a bit earlier this year July the 21st is the first one and the final is August the 16th so it's right in the heart of our summer but that does now allow a couple games in August of Red Bull cricket which I think the last well the test match starts England-Pakistan August the 19th is there any Championship will come after that.

53:52Michael Vaughan: The Metro Bank with the 50 over with a lot of young players get an opportunity.

53:56Phil Tufnell: It's the only competition of its kind in the world when there's so much T20 cricket. Is it now with all the money coming in going to change to a T20 competition? Without question. Without question.

54:12Michael Vaughan: I read and I don't always believe everything but I've read that the non-100 ball counties had a private meeting. Yes. Is that right? Yes. And that was for what? They're worried about potentially that happening in the future. So if it goes to a T20 tournament, the 100... Why was it the 100? From what I thought, it was just so you can get on... Do you know what my guess is? I thought it was to get on terrestrial TV in a shorter period of time. Yeah, I think that was... So it doesn't upset Gardner's world. It had to be against what the Vitality Blast was. Something different. Something different.

54:44Is that because Sky earned the right to the T20 in the country?

54:48Phil Tufnell: I think you're right about shorter window terrestrial selling. Sky embraced the 100. They were massive promoters of the 100 with the BBC to get some matches on terrestrial television. Which is, I think, very important. Yeah, they were very instrumental.

55:05Michael Vaughan: Mr Modi said it would be gone in three years. Well, the 100 will be. It'll be a T20 tournament. Do you know what? The 100, is it or not? I quite enjoy the 100.

55:14Phil Tufnell: The actual format. But it's the only thing. You can't advance it into a world event because it's the only place that it's played. What we can do is increase the number of teams. Yes, one down in Somerset. Definitely Somerset. Up north. Chelmsford, definitely Durham. There'd be three major candidates.

55:33Michael Vaughan: So maybe that's where we're going to get to. I completely understand that a lot of counties will be worried. Because if in the heart of your summer you have a four or five week window of a T20 tournament and it starts going to 12 teams, you're not going to have an 18-team county T20 as well. But, I mean, look, I haven't some of the people watching county cricket this year gone up quite a lot. Well, yeah. Was there a record at Surrey? I mean, again, this is... Yeah, 6 ,500, I think, for one day. So, I mean, that's... The one thing I'll say is about this T20... So, in India, no one knows. So, the IPL is obviously their juggernaut.

56:08Michael Vaughan: You know, we're talking April, May. Yeah. They've got T20 tournaments. They've got loads of T20 tournaments all over India.

56:14Phil Tufnell: Yeah.

56:14Michael Vaughan: All the different regions, and that's where they go scouting. So maybe it is that we take away all the counties who can't have a T20 as well as that. We actually can, because we need to scout the next generation of players as well. The one thing that did get right, I mean, we do it, Mike, don't we, we commentate and everything, is that look at the children's faces. What do you see, Phil?

56:37Phil Tufnell: Look at the children's faces. It is so popular. Yeah, it is. I've been to 100 matches and it's a good event. Yes, it's a good event. It's very enjoyable. Very enjoyable. And there's a demograph of families.

56:52Michael Vaughan: And they've got that right. I'll tell you what I'll say about that. So you go to an international 50s or an international T20 or a test match day, you walk out the ground, there's a commentator and people know. There's a lot of the time you're walking out of those games and there's a lot of... A bit of rowdy. And you get a bit, don't you? Yeah, a bit boozy. Yeah, you do. You walk out of a 100 game at night, you're basically getting a selfie. There's kids wanting selfies. Absolutely. And it's a completely different vibe. And they've got that right because they said at the start that they wanted to attract young families, a couple of young kids and everything.

57:25Threes and fours are you're old. You do see them there. Can they improve the scoreboard, though? Because I've been to a couple of 100 games. And also the graphics on the tally. I've gone to a couple of 100 games myself and I didn't realise who's bang. I sat on the lawns with the kids as a fan, and I was like, even I don't know who's on what runs and stuff.

57:45Michael Vaughan: Stick to Cricket is brought to you by Betfair. Right, so it's Paul Palmer. Where is he? Cole Palmer? He's not playing well at the moment, Cole. Is he not? No, he's been injured. No, he has been playing. By the way, they're garbage. What a shambles they are.

58:04Phil Tufnell: Is that what Cole said?

58:06Michael Vaughan: Paul Palmer is Cole's brother. It's Cole Palmer with us, Sean. Yeah, Cole Palmer says that he thinks that the 100 has been a detrimental effect. We disagree, Cole. No, I think...

58:16Phil Tufnell: Who's that footballer that's massive on cricket?

58:19Michael Vaughan: Jude... Bellin. He's bought into the Birmingham. He's bought into the Phoenix. Phoenix. Yeah, he's bought into them. He's put a million large in. Nice. One week's wages for Jude. Anyway, Phil. Yeah. And the ex... Sorry. Captain of a question of sport. We're finishing with a mystery guest round. Oh, we know. Yeah, so we got a mystery guest. They dressed me up in my robe. Harry, where's Harry? All right, Mon. Mon's is here. Mon's in the back. Yeah, here he is, Harry. Here he come. Right, this is Miles. Miles, come in. Hello to all the team. How are you, mate? Nice to see you. Hi, here I am. How's it all you, lad?

58:54Michael Vaughan: Nice to meet you. Who's that? Have a seat, have a seat. Right. But he's not a mystery, is he? I can see it. Yeah, but you've got to try and work out why he's here. Oh, he's a strong boy.

59:05Phil Tufnell: Yeah, he's a big lad. What did you say? You said something at the beginning about him. Well, Question Sport X captain got sacked. Is Miles to do Question of Sport? No.

59:20Michael Vaughan: Oh, OK. No. I'll give you a clue. Is he baseball? He's been in the news this week. Big news this week. Oh, big news. I think I know.

59:28Phil Tufnell: Is he a dancer? Go on, straight in, Cookie. Is he a dancer? No. He might be. He might be. Is he on Strictly Dancing? No. No, he's not. Is he in the jungle? Has he been in the jungle? I'll ask him. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Have you been in the jungle? No. No. Cookie. I think I've got it. Miles, where do you come from? Anchorage. Where? Pardon? Anchorage. Where's that? Sort of like Staffordshire way. Oh, yeah, yeah. Stokey. Stokey. Yeah. Not quite. Stokey, are you? No, no, no. Not quite. Villa? No. Did you, you're a bowler? Yeah. I know who it is. I know it is... What a cookie! I know. Did he... Miles, sorry.

1:00:09Did you take six wickets and six pools? Yes. Oh! Oh, my son. Look at that. He's genius. There he is. Look at this. There he is. Colour kit. Oh, that's six in six, Miles. That'll be it. Caught down. Caught down. That was the trick ball that was. So that's the first at-trick. Oh! Stump out of the ground. Caps off from second slip. I'll tell you what, nice ground. Bit of a green top, innit? Yeah. That's five. Then that's six. Oh! Oh, yeah! Yeah! What? It's the ground's in it. Oh, sorry, mate. Your ground's in it. Has your mower run out? It's all down. Oh, Dad as well? Oh, no wonder you've got a few wickets.

1:00:49Leave a bit of grass in it, Dad. Six out of six. What did you do all afternoon? You bowled them out then, obviously. What, did you bowl first? Yeah, I bowled. No, I bowled second, sorry. Bowled second. So wait a minute, your team got 160 some at? When we was by that, 168. Did you think that was enough? Well, I was stood down at third man thinking, this can be over in 30 overs. Yeah. We've stuffed it. And then, miracle happened.

1:01:11Michael Vaughan: So what was it? Did you open the bowling? Yes. Right, so did you get an early one or did they get off to a decent start? There were 40. Me and my bowling partner, we got one each. But they were 49 for two after 10. So I thought, this ain't going to last much longer. And then, yeah. Was it first ball the over? No, so it was... My tenth over I got two at the end. Yeah. There was another over. Yeah, then you got four. Then I came back in for four and a round. Who were you playing for? I played for Penkridge.

1:01:38Phil Tufnell: Ah, Penkridge what? First XI? Yeah, first XI. Oh, good lad. What league? Staffordshire Prem. South Staffs Prem. Good league.

1:01:45Michael Vaughan: Top of the league? What about this, then? Yeah. So you played for Penkridge, yeah? And you were playing Pelsall. And who was meant to be playing for Pelsall that day? Monty. Monty. Monty? Monty. Monty, come in. How many club sides have you signed for? You could have been 77. You weren't going to get any of those that. Oh, my God. No chance. Oh, nice. Another club side. So why did Monty not win? Why didn't you win? It was my birthday. Oh, that's good. All right. Thank you. It's a nice light in the season. I got our first motor on Saturday. I'm sorry. I can't make it. What were you doing on your birthday?

1:02:26I was celebrating with family and friends. Yeah, I didn't play. I'm glad I missed it. I probably would have got a first baller as well. Well done, mate. Did he hit that one down the leg? Caught down leg, yeah. I love the cap throws. What pace are you balling? Pfft, not a clue. Slow, medium. Where's your dad?

1:02:44Phil Tufnell: Dad, where's dad? Get dad up. Dad, come up here. Come up, Dad.

1:02:50Michael Vaughan: Dad's not mine, but come in, Dad. Groundsman, isn't he? Is it green this week as well? 10 million metres. 10 million metres. That's groundsman.

1:03:02Phil Tufnell: So he hasn't got a mic on. No, he's not got a mic, so you have to speak down your son's mic. How quick is he? Probably early 70s. Early 70s? Oh, a little wobbly. You must have watered the old stamps, cos they were going flying, weren't they? At the end, yeah, did the stamps, yeah. Not the wicked. That was done 10 days before. How do you celebrate getting six in six? Well, I couldn't celebrate on the day, because I was on call for my job. What did you do? Electrician. So I finished my job and then finished the game, sorry, and then back to work. But then this weekend, it's safe to say, I've celebrated this weekend.

1:03:35Phil Tufnell: Yeah, made a big time. You're doing a fortune, isn't it? You can't get an electrician.

1:03:39Michael Vaughan: You can't get an electrician for a loan of money. And when you play Monty later in the season, how are you going to bow to Monty? What's your tactic? Full. Yeah, well...

1:03:50Phil Tufnell: I don't know how it works. He plays very well, full and straight. Think of Jimmy Anderson. Yeah. Down at Cardiff. Absolutely. That was against proper bowling. He's got the best technique in world cricket,

1:04:02Michael Vaughan: but scores no runs. How does that work, eh?

1:04:05Phil Tufnell: Monty gets down Bakerloo when it's coming down Waterloo. He gets down the wrong line. Well, well done. Six out of six. Yeah. Has that ever been done?

1:04:14Michael Vaughan: Right, I'll tell you what we're going to do. We're going to do some community questions with you all. Right, so you're all going to add to this. Why not? Go on. Er... Who's this from? Here's one for you. Who's it from? This is from... Kevin in South Africa. Kevin in India. Kevin in India. Have any of the Paddle... Paddle? Paddle. I'm playing that later. Have any of the Paddle ever had a team owner offer to pay for a private jet to get them to a game when feeling ill, like Mark Wood? No. Miles? Not yet, no. Not yet, good answer. What is the one skill you wish you had or could learn? I want to be an electrician.

1:04:53Phil Tufnell: Plumbing. Well, my first job, which I never took, leaving school was an apprentice plumber with a council and then I signed for Lank, so I never... I should have carried on with that. They make a fortune, plumbers. Yeah, they do. Do. Singer. Wish I could sing. Karaoke. I've had a karaoke. What would you go to? What's your go-to? I've already got one because I can't sing. I'm Whitney Houston. What? I will always love you. DIY. Voice of an angel. DIY for me, I cannot do it. I wish I could do DIY. You're good with your hand up sheep's arse. Bringing lambs out of sheep's arse. I need to tell you something, they don't come out of the arse.

1:05:36Good enough.

1:05:38Michael Vaughan: Right, here's one for you, Miles. This is from Daniel in Lancashire. Should David Lloyd have been appointed to the Lancashire County Club board? You can put that out. It's come from Daniel in Lancashire. He doesn't. Absolutely. Legend of the game. Exactly. Brilliant. Thank you. Is that it? We'll do more if you want. Is Sonny Baker ready? As a bowler. Is Sonny Baker ready for a recall to the England set-up? I think so. He's bowling quick enough, isn't he? Yeah. Instead of who? You've always got to say that. If he's playing, instead of who? I'll tell you what, Miles, pick your first test team now.

1:06:20Michael Vaughan: June the 4th, playing New Zealand and the Lord. Put me on the spot, yeah. Duck it. Go duck it, I think. Duck it, duck it. New opener. David Lloyd. No, no. No, I just... I don't know. Put me on the spot there. Emilio Gay, you having him as a... Yes, he's scored buckets one, Diaz. Jacob Bethel. Are you happy with Bethel staying at the IPL, or should he come back and play a bit of cricket, as Alisson says? I don't know. You'll get a pile from Kevin Peterson.

1:06:48Root, obviously. Broke. Broke. He's thirsty. Yeah. Skipper. Stokesy. Oh, who's your keeper? He's keeping wicket now. Who is? Now, folks, he's gone in the hammy. Now he mentioned it, he's keeping wicket. He's keeping wicket. Folks, he got injured having a bowl. One over, he won.

1:07:07Phil Tufnell: One over. So he's not picking the team, we're picking it with Smith. Yeah. I think you've got to pick it up. We'll finish on this one for Phil. Are you a football fan? Not really.

1:07:18Michael Vaughan: Monty, you're Luton, aren't you? Well, Luton and Arsenal, but let's not talk about it. We missed out the playoffs because of Steven. Who do you think will win the Premier League now? I'm going to say now. We look like we've got the fizz back. We look like we've got the energy back. Fulham have been a little bit of a bogey team for us. I think we've only beaten two out of nine or something. I might be totally wrong, but we played nicely. I think we're going to somehow... You've got West Ham away, haven't you? We're going to somehow drag ourselves over the line, mate. Right, so Arsenal for you. Who do you...

1:07:47You're the football one. Arsenal. Are you an Arsenal fan? No, I'm Man United. 3-2 the other day, they played all right. Yeah, yeah. Man, you going with the Gooners? And Luton. No, but who's winning the league? To win the Premier League? Yeah, to win the Premier League. Man, we're not a mastermind. Yeah, I know.

1:08:07Well, this is having another mastermind. Here we go. Who's going to win the Premier League? The Hatters. The Hatters. We're doing well done, everyone. Well done, everyone. Well done, well done, well done.

1:09:08We'll be right back. football weekly podcast. The Guardian, bringing you the whole picture on soccer. Search Guardian Soccer for more. You don't need a passport to taste the world's most luxurious beef. Just head to Benihana. Introducing the Wagyu of the World menu. From the rich flavor of American masami ribeye to the bold Australian New York strip to the legendary melt-in-your-mouth A5 Japanese Wagyu, this is the finest beef on the planet, expertly grilled right at your table. Why settle for an ordinary steak dinner when you can taste the world in one bite. Only at Benihana. Book your table at benihana.com.

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