WEBVTT - On The Front Foot Episode 181: The likely test team to face Afghanistan 0:00:09.133 --> 0:00:11.973 You're listening to a podcast from News Talk Seed B. 0:00:12.413 --> 0:00:19.533 Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio. 0:00:21.293 --> 0:00:26.333 Take another Patrick, It is out, The test is over. 0:00:28.573 --> 0:00:32.933 Couldn't smokes a beauty? This is out here you guys. 0:00:33.013 --> 0:00:34.053 Just Delivery has in. 0:00:34.533 --> 0:00:35.613 User to Bold. 0:00:37.693 --> 0:00:41.053 On the Front Foot with Brian Waddell and Jeremy Coney, 0:00:41.413 --> 0:00:45.293 powered by News Talks Dead B at iHeart Radio. 0:00:47.733 --> 0:00:51.253 Hello on the Front foot once again. The hiatus in 0:00:51.613 --> 0:00:54.773 Test cricket, the World Test Championship having just a short 0:00:54.853 --> 0:00:58.973 break while we enjoyed the the lights of Rolder climbing 0:00:59.093 --> 0:01:03.893 on the Olympics and other fashionable sports that are being 0:01:03.973 --> 0:01:06.773 played at the present time. It's a month away from 0:01:06.773 --> 0:01:09.733 a test in India for the Black Chair versus Afghanistan. 0:01:10.013 --> 0:01:13.773 How close are they? Just settling the squad winter training 0:01:13.853 --> 0:01:16.573 at home. Teen twenties in America and Canada, they've got 0:01:16.573 --> 0:01:19.333 one hundred. In England. We're going to remember one of 0:01:19.373 --> 0:01:23.293 our greats from seventy five years ago, sadly a farewell 0:01:23.453 --> 0:01:28.853 to an English cricket rock, the death recently of for 0:01:28.853 --> 0:01:32.733 Graham Thorpe. We will talk about him as well. Some 0:01:32.853 --> 0:01:35.613 sad news too. As we look towards what is happening. 0:01:36.093 --> 0:01:39.653 Jeremy and Garth Galloway special guests once more with us 0:01:40.333 --> 0:01:43.973 that Nathan Smith, who must be coming into reckoning for 0:01:44.053 --> 0:01:47.933 the National selectors for international duty, is coming home from 0:01:48.573 --> 0:01:53.133 Worcestershire because of injury. Good thing to do, but it's 0:01:53.533 --> 0:01:56.213 not a good time to be doing it having an injury. 0:01:56.693 --> 0:02:00.373 I don't think Jeremy with so many games coming up. 0:02:00.413 --> 0:02:05.213 Good ay, Garth and Wadds. Look, Wor'stershare have really used 0:02:05.293 --> 0:02:08.013 him quite sensibly. I mean he's been opening the bowling 0:02:08.493 --> 0:02:12.733 I notice, certainly towards the beginning of the county Championship anyway, 0:02:13.093 --> 0:02:15.973 and that's when they were using I think was at 0:02:15.973 --> 0:02:18.493 the first two games they used the Kooko baro ball. 0:02:19.133 --> 0:02:23.493 But certainly he was getting wickets for Worcestershire. And as 0:02:23.533 --> 0:02:26.293 I mentioned last week, he can also handle a bat 0:02:27.133 --> 0:02:30.533 adequately as well, certainly in comparison to the rest of 0:02:30.573 --> 0:02:34.093 our bowling unit here in New Zealand with the red ball, 0:02:34.693 --> 0:02:37.573 O Rourke and Sears. No, they don't really offer a 0:02:37.613 --> 0:02:41.773 great deal with the bat. And then of course you 0:02:41.773 --> 0:02:45.613 know you're looking at Saudi or Duffy perhaps you know 0:02:45.733 --> 0:02:48.893 they don't offer much either at the moment. Maybe Shipley might. 0:02:49.813 --> 0:02:52.493 He's got some runs at first class level, but certainly 0:02:52.533 --> 0:02:55.773 not at the Test level yet. So you know, Nathan 0:02:55.813 --> 0:02:59.093 Smith could be an important character to be watching carefully. 0:02:59.453 --> 0:03:01.773 Yeah, and it's a tough time for him Garth because 0:03:02.373 --> 0:03:05.133 he really only just come off a year's absence for 0:03:05.253 --> 0:03:09.373 the game because of injury. That's the nature of the 0:03:09.413 --> 0:03:13.013 beast is that you do have injuries. But he's in 0:03:13.093 --> 0:03:16.373 New Zealand a consideration and he must be close to 0:03:16.813 --> 0:03:19.533 selection either Test or One Day level. I don't know 0:03:19.533 --> 0:03:21.973 about T twenty, but you know he's got to be 0:03:22.053 --> 0:03:23.933 there from what he's achieved so far. 0:03:24.733 --> 0:03:26.573 I agree, and I think he's done. You know, he's 0:03:26.613 --> 0:03:29.093 done very well for Worcestershire. He's taken twenty seven wickets 0:03:29.133 --> 0:03:31.773 and seven matches. I've left on the notes in the office, 0:03:32.093 --> 0:03:35.453 Watson Jerry. So if I'm slightly inaccurate, just you know, 0:03:35.773 --> 0:03:39.093 forgive me. But twenty seven wickets and seven matches at 0:03:39.093 --> 0:03:42.413 an average of twenty one, so you know, a really 0:03:42.453 --> 0:03:45.493 good return. Put some tent on the county averages in 0:03:45.493 --> 0:03:48.653 that Division One championship and he's got them at a 0:03:49.333 --> 0:03:52.973 good economical rate as well. I really like him. I 0:03:52.973 --> 0:03:57.133 see St Giles's, who's the general manager at Worcestershire and 0:03:57.813 --> 0:04:02.493 former English selector and English spinner, has published a statement 0:04:02.573 --> 0:04:05.173 saying that he's always welcome back at Worcestershire. It's a 0:04:05.213 --> 0:04:07.253 lovely place, of course, in a Jerry, I don't know 0:04:07.253 --> 0:04:09.933 if you played it New Road, but I was in 0:04:10.093 --> 0:04:13.133 Worcester coaching for years a year and it's of course 0:04:13.213 --> 0:04:15.813 got the association with Glenn Turner and of course Martin 0:04:15.893 --> 0:04:18.813 Horton who coached out here, the former England player. Lovely 0:04:18.853 --> 0:04:20.933 part of the world. So I'm sure Nathan Smith will 0:04:20.973 --> 0:04:24.053 have enjoyed it and benefited from it, but just not 0:04:24.133 --> 0:04:25.973 long enough for him. But I agree with you both. 0:04:26.013 --> 0:04:28.173 I think he definitely comes into contention. He's got a 0:04:28.173 --> 0:04:31.573 hamstring injury and judging by the fact that he's coming home, 0:04:31.613 --> 0:04:34.933 it must be serious. So again I wonder if that's 0:04:34.973 --> 0:04:38.413 because he really is genuinely in contention for these tests 0:04:38.413 --> 0:04:40.213 which are coming up in the not too distant future. 0:04:40.973 --> 0:04:43.173 Darth, can I just pick youre for a moment you 0:04:43.293 --> 0:04:46.893 said something slightly inaccurate. I can't believe that you're slightly 0:04:46.893 --> 0:04:48.053 inaccurate at any stage. 0:04:48.853 --> 0:04:51.853 Oh no, thank you, thank you, thank you very much. Well, 0:04:52.773 --> 0:04:54.973 Jerry picks me up occasionally. 0:04:54.853 --> 0:04:58.253 He was, he was inaccurate. It's twenty one point seventy 0:04:58.253 --> 0:05:03.653 five six, right, and you need to get that right. Okay, 0:05:04.533 --> 0:05:08.573 Now I do remember new Road Garth. I irritated all 0:05:08.573 --> 0:05:11.693 the rest of the bowlers, the whole bowling fraternity in 0:05:11.733 --> 0:05:14.893 one of the tours when I went there because it 0:05:14.933 --> 0:05:16.453 was it was a bit of it was a rough 0:05:16.493 --> 0:05:19.333 wicket and I managed to get seven wickets in the 0:05:19.373 --> 0:05:22.253 match and that put me right on top of the averages. 0:05:22.333 --> 0:05:25.093 So I was getting some horrible looks from all the 0:05:25.133 --> 0:05:30.693 ballers at the end of the series for the playing 0:05:30.733 --> 0:05:34.733 the off couldn't get the ball off me once. That's right, 0:05:34.813 --> 0:05:37.213 exactly interesting. 0:05:40.213 --> 0:05:43.893 Nathan Smith's got an injury there. We're talking about a 0:05:43.933 --> 0:05:46.293 World Test Championship. New Zealand have yet to pick aside. 0:05:46.293 --> 0:05:50.693 In fact, they've yet to confirm their contract list. Must 0:05:50.733 --> 0:05:54.173 be tough game for them. How tough is this year 0:05:54.253 --> 0:05:58.053 going to be? I see this as pretty important. We're 0:05:58.093 --> 0:06:00.453 fifty percent on the World Test Championship the moment. We've 0:06:00.493 --> 0:06:04.573 got three in India and three Tests in England Afghanistan 0:06:04.613 --> 0:06:07.173 don't appear in the World Test Championship. But it's a 0:06:07.173 --> 0:06:09.093 big year for this New Zealm, so doesn't it. 0:06:10.253 --> 0:06:12.773 Yeah, chores and I can't see them to be to 0:06:12.813 --> 0:06:15.733 be honest with you, and Jerry and I were lucky 0:06:15.853 --> 0:06:18.253 enough to sit in the studio in Eddington and do 0:06:18.413 --> 0:06:20.373 ball by ball and the last time that they were 0:06:20.373 --> 0:06:24.733 in India and and Wadd's you know it was it 0:06:24.813 --> 0:06:28.413 was pretty grim. Well they drew, didn't they They drew the 0:06:28.493 --> 0:06:31.413 That the what I'm just thinking Ptel picked. 0:06:31.213 --> 0:06:31.573 Up for you. 0:06:31.733 --> 0:06:36.853 They hang on. Yeah the first test, didn't they nine down? 0:06:37.453 --> 0:06:40.093 That's right? Yeah, but it was grim And I think 0:06:40.133 --> 0:06:42.693 these these three tests in India are going to be 0:06:42.773 --> 0:06:45.813 pretty tough for this side as well. Wads and Jerry 0:06:45.933 --> 0:06:49.613 and if you look at this silly competition, which you 0:06:49.613 --> 0:06:53.813 know relies on the winning percentage, I think our percentage 0:06:53.813 --> 0:06:57.493 will be dented after the India series in India and 0:06:57.573 --> 0:07:00.933 that makes those tests against England deposlutely vital. I mean, 0:07:00.973 --> 0:07:03.733 if they lose those three tests, you know their points 0:07:03.773 --> 0:07:05.573 will be down. They'll be at an average of thirty 0:07:05.613 --> 0:07:09.213 three that winning percentage or thirty three point three three 0:07:09.333 --> 0:07:11.733 three recurring Jerry, just to be accurate. 0:07:11.613 --> 0:07:12.053 Thank you. 0:07:12.613 --> 0:07:15.533 Yeah, so you know, and I think it's going to 0:07:15.533 --> 0:07:19.253 be very interesting. Indeed, the attack that they choose, who 0:07:19.253 --> 0:07:21.853 will bowl at the at the start of the innings 0:07:22.333 --> 0:07:24.293 and are they going to play three spinners and they 0:07:24.373 --> 0:07:25.213 have to over there. 0:07:25.813 --> 0:07:28.533 Yeah. New Zealand have won three of the six Tests 0:07:28.573 --> 0:07:33.213 they have played. They now are confronted with against two 0:07:33.293 --> 0:07:36.973 of the stronger sides. England were at the bottom of 0:07:37.053 --> 0:07:40.653 the of the Test Championship becauds. They had played Australia 0:07:41.413 --> 0:07:43.653 in the Ashes and that was a tool wall draw 0:07:44.293 --> 0:07:48.813 and then they played India and India and they lost 0:07:48.853 --> 0:07:53.093 that four to one. So that's why are they were languishing. 0:07:53.133 --> 0:07:55.853 But now they've come up with the last two victories 0:07:55.893 --> 0:07:59.293 against West Indies. They are likely to do the same 0:07:59.333 --> 0:08:04.573 against Sri Lanka, so they will probably improve their percentage. 0:08:05.093 --> 0:08:07.733 New Zealand have got two hard ones, haven't they. It's 0:08:07.773 --> 0:08:12.653 not in conceivable that they might lose all six or 0:08:12.693 --> 0:08:15.413 they might not win one. In other words, it might 0:08:15.453 --> 0:08:18.053 be a drawer somewhere, if there's rain somewhere or something 0:08:18.173 --> 0:08:21.573 like that. If they can sneak through with a win somewhere. 0:08:21.973 --> 0:08:24.373 I think that would be pretty reasonable for a side 0:08:24.413 --> 0:08:29.413 actually in transition. I know they'll be at home. But England, look, 0:08:29.813 --> 0:08:33.773 you know, they could easily have won that Basin Reserve Test, 0:08:34.533 --> 0:08:37.693 even though lost by one run, but they I mean, 0:08:37.933 --> 0:08:40.373 that's how close it was, and they took a gamble. 0:08:40.893 --> 0:08:44.133 I could. I can see New Zealand, you know, not 0:08:44.253 --> 0:08:46.533 winning a Test. It is conceivable. 0:08:46.773 --> 0:08:48.813 I think England also the other thing, when you watch 0:08:49.293 --> 0:08:52.173 the way that they've played against the West Indies and 0:08:52.293 --> 0:08:54.973 some of the series against India where they were well beaten. 0:08:54.973 --> 0:08:57.653 In this series head after they won the first Test, 0:08:58.333 --> 0:09:00.533 you're seeing a side I think that it's changing a 0:09:00.573 --> 0:09:02.413 little bit in the way that they're playing the game. 0:09:02.533 --> 0:09:05.373 So we saw the helter skelter, you know, the stuff 0:09:05.413 --> 0:09:07.173 they call basball and all of that stuff, and it 0:09:07.213 --> 0:09:10.253 did seem at time, I mean, it was highly addictive 0:09:10.333 --> 0:09:12.813 but at times less effective, and I think that's you know, 0:09:12.853 --> 0:09:15.053 the Wellington Test is a really good example of a 0:09:15.133 --> 0:09:19.413 game that they threw away through through ego really and 0:09:19.453 --> 0:09:22.533 wanting to play in that way. And you'll remember Wagner 0:09:22.653 --> 0:09:25.533 took wickets in the second innings and he bowled short 0:09:25.573 --> 0:09:27.213 and he was. You know, they really wanted to take 0:09:27.253 --> 0:09:28.853 him on and had they not, I think they would 0:09:28.853 --> 0:09:31.093 have won the match. They're playing a bit differently now 0:09:31.093 --> 0:09:32.853 and if you look at the straight rates against the 0:09:32.853 --> 0:09:35.813 West Indies of their top order, they're quite different to 0:09:35.893 --> 0:09:37.773 what they were in the first you know, when McCullum 0:09:37.813 --> 0:09:40.853 first took over. That doesn't help New Zealand's chances in 0:09:40.893 --> 0:09:42.773 my view, and that's the point that I wanted to make. 0:09:42.893 --> 0:09:45.653 They're being a little bit more circumspect, but they're still 0:09:45.653 --> 0:09:48.293 scoring their runs at four point five five runs and over. 0:09:49.013 --> 0:09:51.573 We can't make our judgments against the West Indies, but 0:09:51.693 --> 0:09:54.373 they're going to be a better side with the changes 0:09:54.413 --> 0:09:57.733 that they've made in terms of personnel, and better side 0:09:57.733 --> 0:09:59.573 than what they had when they came out last time. 0:09:59.613 --> 0:10:01.413 They were surely Jerry. 0:10:01.533 --> 0:10:07.413 Yeah, I think you know they're batting lineup with Root 0:10:07.693 --> 0:10:12.653 just playing way that he normally plays. He holds and binds, 0:10:12.693 --> 0:10:16.613 if you like that whole order at number four together. 0:10:17.853 --> 0:10:22.613 Poper's not playing so aggressively. I think you'll find Crawley will, 0:10:23.373 --> 0:10:26.253 but I think you know, with Brooke playing aggressively as 0:10:26.253 --> 0:10:31.853 he does, having the bowling services of the captain really helps, 0:10:31.933 --> 0:10:35.773 doesn't it. The whole side looks a lot more balanced 0:10:36.173 --> 0:10:39.013 now they're not having to make up and find another bowler. 0:10:39.813 --> 0:10:44.013 You know, Ben Stokes is there and he's bowling quite well, 0:10:44.653 --> 0:10:47.293 and so now they've also changed some of their other 0:10:47.333 --> 0:10:51.853 bowlers and they're looking very likely. Yes, you've got to 0:10:51.893 --> 0:10:54.173 always put it into context of it was the West 0:10:54.213 --> 0:10:57.573 Indies who were an inexperienced side. But let's see how 0:10:57.573 --> 0:11:00.413 they go. They're changing their side again, aren't they. For 0:11:00.613 --> 0:11:05.253 the Sri Lankan series that is just upcoming. Jordan Cox 0:11:05.373 --> 0:11:07.573 is coming and as the keeper. Whether he plays or not, 0:11:07.933 --> 0:11:10.133 I don't know. I would have thought Jamie Smith would 0:11:10.133 --> 0:11:14.053 have carried on myself. Olie Stone is a fast bowler 0:11:14.053 --> 0:11:16.413 who played against New Zealand and used to play for 0:11:16.733 --> 0:11:19.733 Warwick Shoes at Edgeburston. He's in for Pennington who has 0:11:19.733 --> 0:11:22.973 a bit of an injury I believe, and then Dan Lawrence. 0:11:23.013 --> 0:11:25.133 The interesting even I mean Dan Lawrence is to sit 0:11:25.253 --> 0:11:29.853 to open. That's that's interesting. With Crawley's injury. So you 0:11:29.893 --> 0:11:33.333 know he's normally a middle order player. I'll be interested. 0:11:33.653 --> 0:11:36.253 He's probably desperate to play. Went to India and he's 0:11:36.293 --> 0:11:40.533 been sitting around for the West Indies series play anywhere. 0:11:40.573 --> 0:11:44.693 Probably so. But he's a middle order and a bowler, 0:11:44.733 --> 0:11:47.133 isn't he as well? Part time bowler? Really? Well? 0:11:47.133 --> 0:11:49.413 The interesting thing is that they've had an injury to 0:11:49.573 --> 0:11:52.733 an opening batsman and Zach Crawley. They've decided, how will 0:11:52.773 --> 0:11:54.973 we go about replacing him? Oh, we've got down? 0:11:55.053 --> 0:11:55.213 Yeah? 0:11:55.213 --> 0:11:57.013 Why are we bringing a look at keeper as well? 0:11:57.053 --> 0:12:01.973 Because we've we've dumped he bears though, and poor old 0:12:02.013 --> 0:12:04.493 Ben folks well, he can't keep to save himself, can he? 0:12:04.493 --> 0:12:06.213 He can bat, but he can't keep. Oh if I 0:12:06.293 --> 0:12:08.493 got that wrong or somebody has. But anyway, they've got 0:12:08.493 --> 0:12:11.173 a new keeper as well. But I mean that all 0:12:11.213 --> 0:12:13.853 adds to what they've got and we'll get a good 0:12:14.293 --> 0:12:17.813 idea about England from Sri Lanka, who probably won't be 0:12:18.013 --> 0:12:22.053 any better than West Indies at three home matches, will they. 0:12:22.333 --> 0:12:23.813 I don't know whether you saw. I don't know whether 0:12:23.853 --> 0:12:27.133 you saw the ode I scores. Sri Lanka have been 0:12:27.173 --> 0:12:30.693 playing India, haven't they? They needed I think in the 0:12:30.853 --> 0:12:34.213 in the last match I saw they needed nine runs 0:12:34.213 --> 0:12:38.693 with six wickets remaining. They brought on a guy called 0:12:38.773 --> 0:12:42.733 Ringkul and he's never bowled before he got a couple 0:12:42.733 --> 0:12:46.573 of wickets. They brought in someone else, Suria Kumar, he 0:12:46.773 --> 0:12:50.173 was the captain. He got a couple and they ended 0:12:50.253 --> 0:12:52.853 up tying the match and then only scoring two in 0:12:52.933 --> 0:12:55.333 the super over, so they lost the game. It's not 0:12:55.453 --> 0:12:59.133 a good look. They're batting is awful at the moment, 0:12:59.453 --> 0:13:02.373 so they are going to have to really play well. 0:13:02.413 --> 0:13:05.693 I think to Test England. England are looking guys. They're 0:13:05.693 --> 0:13:10.133 looking sharper. There's a much more steely kind of look 0:13:10.173 --> 0:13:13.013 about them. I think a with the batting, which Garth's 0:13:13.053 --> 0:13:16.773 pointed out, but be their bowling is better with players 0:13:16.813 --> 0:13:19.253 like Wood bowling at ninety now and looking you know, 0:13:19.293 --> 0:13:22.093 he had been bandaged up. He looked like an Egyptian mummy, 0:13:22.333 --> 0:13:28.613 but you know he and Wood and Atkinson. Atkinson looks 0:13:28.973 --> 0:13:33.053 very tidy indeed, and then Stokes to follow that up 0:13:33.093 --> 0:13:36.893 who swings the ball and then this gliber shier and 0:13:37.933 --> 0:13:40.093 I think that they're going to be a much more 0:13:40.133 --> 0:13:42.053 difficult proposition this time around. 0:13:42.893 --> 0:13:45.973 Yes, well, when the first Test comes up against the 0:13:46.013 --> 0:13:49.213 Sri Lankan side, England will be playing due respect to 0:13:49.853 --> 0:13:53.133 a man who's been seen as a rock of their game. 0:13:53.293 --> 0:13:57.253 Somebody who is reliable and dependable and has passed away 0:13:57.493 --> 0:13:59.613 at an early age. I think he must have had 0:14:00.653 --> 0:14:03.453 a terminal illness of some kind. Graham thought, fifty five 0:14:03.533 --> 0:14:07.333 years of age, one hundred Test matches for England. We know, 0:14:07.333 --> 0:14:09.733 I'm pretty well in. He only made a few trips here, 0:14:10.533 --> 0:14:14.613 Garth and a cricketer whoever is what? Nearly forty five 0:14:14.653 --> 0:14:18.493 in Test matches? Great performer and sad to have been 0:14:18.493 --> 0:14:20.213 passing away at such an early age. 0:14:20.933 --> 0:14:24.493 Oh, it's terrible, it's really sad news. And played a 0:14:24.493 --> 0:14:27.373 one hundred tests, of course for England. A left hander 0:14:27.373 --> 0:14:30.573 who was you know, I will well remember him and 0:14:30.573 --> 0:14:32.933 we were all lucky enough to be broadcasting when he 0:14:33.013 --> 0:14:37.453 scored two hundred at Lancaster Park and that magnificent Test 0:14:37.453 --> 0:14:40.973 where as still got two hundred and twenty two in 0:14:41.053 --> 0:14:44.853 two thousand and two, and it was a quite brilliant 0:14:44.893 --> 0:14:47.453 hint things. I think people sometimes think of Thorpe as 0:14:47.493 --> 0:14:51.453 being he was a stoic and a great competitor. But 0:14:51.533 --> 0:14:53.893 he wasn't a dowdy left hander. I thought he was. 0:14:54.453 --> 0:14:56.973 He was an attractive player. He was a player of 0:14:57.093 --> 0:15:00.333 courage and just looking at his statistics one hundred matches, 0:15:00.373 --> 0:15:04.773 sixteen Test centuries and just looking and reading about him 0:15:05.333 --> 0:15:07.493 since he died one of his innings, you know, a 0:15:07.533 --> 0:15:11.173 Test match and pack Kistan and Karachi in two thousand 0:15:11.413 --> 0:15:15.813 when when England won that match and won the series 0:15:15.893 --> 0:15:21.093 against Pakistan after they had been unbeaten for thirty four 0:15:21.213 --> 0:15:24.333 Tests at home and they'd been beaten England five series 0:15:24.373 --> 0:15:27.773 in a row. And it was as England chased down 0:15:27.773 --> 0:15:30.053 one hundred and sixty or so in the fourth innings, 0:15:30.093 --> 0:15:34.013 it was the best of the players was Thorpe who 0:15:34.093 --> 0:15:38.013 got sixty four not out, you know, and again just 0:15:38.013 --> 0:15:42.293 reflecting on some of his innings against against Sri Lanka 0:15:42.333 --> 0:15:44.733 in Colombo where he scored one hundred and thirteen not 0:15:44.813 --> 0:15:49.253 out of magnificent innings standing out against a very good 0:15:49.293 --> 0:15:51.733 Tri Lankan side. And we talked about Sri Lanka earlier. 0:15:51.733 --> 0:15:54.093 I mean this was a Shri Lankan side that's very 0:15:54.133 --> 0:15:57.493 different to what we're seeing now. You know that magnificent 0:15:57.653 --> 0:16:00.493 batting lineup that they had, and you think back so 0:16:00.613 --> 0:16:04.573 fondy out of party, Jayasurias Thinkakara to silver, Jale Wardner, 0:16:04.973 --> 0:16:08.333 hell ofving it, hell of a side and the bowling 0:16:08.373 --> 0:16:12.573 attack wasn't bad either, with Bura Leather and Jayasuria and co. 0:16:13.213 --> 0:16:15.133 And just looking and seeing that he was a great 0:16:15.133 --> 0:16:17.773 player of spin bowling. He did well in India as well, 0:16:18.613 --> 0:16:21.613 and I think people will remember him fondy but gone far, 0:16:21.733 --> 0:16:22.493 far too early. 0:16:23.213 --> 0:16:25.293 Yeah, you talk about that game in christ Church, the 0:16:25.653 --> 0:16:28.733 Astill game two hundred and twenty two. We will never 0:16:28.773 --> 0:16:31.573 ever forget that. But you look at Thorpe's stats. So 0:16:32.013 --> 0:16:34.093 he got a double hundred, as you say, off two 0:16:34.213 --> 0:16:36.773 hundred and thirty one balls. He was in that partnership 0:16:36.813 --> 0:16:41.853 with Andrew Flintoff and in fact he out played flint Off. 0:16:41.853 --> 0:16:43.453 He was Man of the match for his two hundred. 0:16:43.573 --> 0:16:45.453 He had a strike rate of eighty six. Flint Off 0:16:45.653 --> 0:16:47.733 one hundred and thirty seven from one hundred and sixty 0:16:47.773 --> 0:16:51.293 three balls at a strike rate of eighty four. So 0:16:51.613 --> 0:16:56.653 he certainly played an important part in giving England that 0:16:58.213 --> 0:17:00.973 advantage that they had, because you know, I remember back 0:17:01.013 --> 0:17:03.573 to the first day. Wasn't that Ken's had three wickets 0:17:03.853 --> 0:17:08.693 before that even opened the gates to Lancaster Park as 0:17:08.733 --> 0:17:11.573 it was known in those days. Goodness me, it's gone 0:17:11.613 --> 0:17:14.373 for a few changes. It's Lancaster Park Jerry, I was 0:17:14.413 --> 0:17:17.733 reading on the stats that it's Ami Stadium that he played. 0:17:18.853 --> 0:17:22.133 Yeah, is that right? Yeah? No, yeah, well it certainly 0:17:22.213 --> 0:17:25.173 wasn't was it. No? I mean we remember it for 0:17:25.213 --> 0:17:27.493 the Astel innings, don't we, But you're right there was. 0:17:27.533 --> 0:17:31.293 I think also was it one hundred by Hussein in 0:17:31.333 --> 0:17:35.133 the first innings again for England. I don't know. I 0:17:35.173 --> 0:17:37.853 get a bit mixed up now, but I think the 0:17:37.853 --> 0:17:44.373 points that you've made fifty five just so young. Second 0:17:44.413 --> 0:17:47.853 thing I agree with he had the reputation as a 0:17:47.893 --> 0:17:51.093 tough player in the sense that he was you called 0:17:51.133 --> 0:17:54.053 him the rock Quads and right through those nineties which 0:17:54.053 --> 0:18:00.253 were chaotic really for selection of different players game after 0:18:00.333 --> 0:18:04.533 game in England. But he could defend and he could attack. 0:18:04.613 --> 0:18:07.053 I remember an attacking in as he played at Barbados 0:18:07.093 --> 0:18:11.733 where he just smashed West Indies. A fast pitcher, rough pitch, 0:18:12.453 --> 0:18:14.493 and he was known for his hooking and his cutting, 0:18:14.613 --> 0:18:20.413 particularly against the quick bowlers. Wonderful player of spin. Morally, 0:18:20.533 --> 0:18:22.933 of course, that innings he got in Sri Lanka, he 0:18:22.973 --> 0:18:26.133 didn't hit. He got a hundred, didn't hit a boundary, 0:18:27.973 --> 0:18:32.213 didn't hit a boundary, and so he he used to 0:18:32.533 --> 0:18:36.253 play with quite a small backlift and very strong wrists. 0:18:36.253 --> 0:18:40.133 So he became a very effective nerdler around you know. 0:18:40.813 --> 0:18:43.213 So the ball wasn't getting through at all. His bat 0:18:43.333 --> 0:18:49.173 was down always he was. He wasn't really a conformist. 0:18:49.653 --> 0:18:55.813 I knew. I knew saw Pee quite well outspoken, you know. 0:18:55.813 --> 0:18:58.813 I remember he dressed codes annoyed him like hell. He 0:18:58.893 --> 0:19:01.693 never used to turn up with the right clothes on 0:19:02.453 --> 0:19:07.973 for for England. He he once he he was. He 0:19:08.093 --> 0:19:11.813 fough against two dressing rooms for Surrey, one for the 0:19:11.853 --> 0:19:15.173 capped players and one for the uncapped players. And he 0:19:15.293 --> 0:19:18.133 fought like hell against that and made himself quite unpopular. 0:19:18.493 --> 0:19:23.293 He was against touring Zimbabwe, a long serving Surrey man 0:19:23.333 --> 0:19:26.253 with Mark Butcher good made of his one hundred tests 0:19:26.853 --> 0:19:31.293 averaging forty four. And that was against players like Moore. 0:19:32.293 --> 0:19:38.053 He's played against South Africa, Donald Pollock in teenee Pallas, 0:19:38.093 --> 0:19:39.973 I would have thought would have been there as well. 0:19:40.933 --> 0:19:45.613 Gars mentioned Murley and vas of course, great player of 0:19:45.693 --> 0:19:50.213 spin and always the last man to leave at the bar. 0:19:50.493 --> 0:19:54.253 You know, loved a good story, was he. Macram called 0:19:54.293 --> 0:19:56.933 him the most difficult batsman he had to bowl to, 0:19:57.613 --> 0:20:00.213 you think against the team against Ozzie that he played 0:20:00.213 --> 0:20:03.253 against those strong two thousand years, you know that year 0:20:03.293 --> 0:20:08.373 two thousand McGrath, Warren Gillespie, haunting you know, Gilchrist that 0:20:08.373 --> 0:20:12.013 that side, and yet was still able to average forty 0:20:12.053 --> 0:20:16.013 four man, you know, he he was. He was a 0:20:16.053 --> 0:20:18.853 hell of a player, and so yeah, he would have 0:20:19.013 --> 0:20:22.733 troubled relationships off the field. Used to talk quite openly 0:20:22.813 --> 0:20:26.333 about those, but just to you know, and people sometimes 0:20:26.373 --> 0:20:29.493 see that a weakness. I thought that completed the whole man. Actually, 0:20:29.893 --> 0:20:33.253 so I really enjoyed Thorpe and very. 0:20:33.053 --> 0:20:37.213 Yeah, we don't like we don't like conversations that are confrontational. 0:20:37.253 --> 0:20:41.493 We avoid it and the conversations that we should have. 0:20:41.573 --> 0:20:42.893 That's why you became a lawyer. 0:20:44.853 --> 0:20:48.773 I get made to be confrontational. I mean, one of 0:20:48.813 --> 0:20:52.453 these these are good stories that you're talking about with Thorpe. 0:20:52.453 --> 0:20:55.853 You know, he was a character and for English players 0:20:55.893 --> 0:20:58.253 to not like dress codes, you know, he would have 0:20:58.293 --> 0:20:59.013 been rocking the. 0:20:58.933 --> 0:21:01.213 Boat well yeah, you know. 0:21:01.253 --> 0:21:03.213 And and also the player. You know when he got 0:21:03.253 --> 0:21:07.693 those runs in Pakistan it was against the Lakes of Unice, 0:21:07.693 --> 0:21:10.613 and again Clay Mushtack and so on. You know, one 0:21:10.693 --> 0:21:14.693 very fine quick one lovely off spinner, and then I 0:21:14.693 --> 0:21:16.733 look at that that time you got those runs you 0:21:16.773 --> 0:21:19.693 talked about in Sri Lanka, England scored two hundred and 0:21:19.693 --> 0:21:20.133 forty nine. 0:21:20.173 --> 0:21:23.893 He got one hundred and thirteen not out Sri Lanka 0:21:24.053 --> 0:21:27.613 out for eighty one, and then England it was seventy 0:21:27.653 --> 0:21:31.933 four for six in the second innings to win, and 0:21:32.093 --> 0:21:33.373 thought got thirty two not. 0:21:33.413 --> 0:21:37.173 Out of those as well, you know, just in terms 0:21:37.253 --> 0:21:40.813 of incredibly reliable but also capable of lifting his game 0:21:40.853 --> 0:21:43.293 and playing attacking shops. Lovely player, square of the worker 0:21:43.373 --> 0:21:45.133 on the off side, beautiful card of the ball. 0:21:46.013 --> 0:21:48.093 He loved Wimbledon as well because he wore one of 0:21:48.173 --> 0:21:51.373 John McEnroe's throwaway headbands quite often, didn't he. 0:21:52.133 --> 0:21:54.413 Yeah, there's always the shot of him with taking his 0:21:54.493 --> 0:21:56.053 helmet off when he got one hundred and he got 0:21:56.133 --> 0:22:00.093 sixteen of them, and he lifted, he had his hands 0:22:00.093 --> 0:22:02.493 aloft and you'd taken the helmet and there was the old, 0:22:02.613 --> 0:22:07.093 ever present, ubiquitous sweatband that he had on underneath. And 0:22:08.373 --> 0:22:11.733 you're right, but was he mackriman and Wakai Eunice Atherton 0:22:11.853 --> 0:22:14.813 spoke about him in his book too. I remember reading 0:22:14.813 --> 0:22:17.573 that and said, if I ever had anyone to go 0:22:17.693 --> 0:22:20.613 out and bat when it was tough, you know, if 0:22:20.653 --> 0:22:23.173 it was two for two hundred sorphy didn't you know, 0:22:23.293 --> 0:22:24.933 you know, he was going to be heading back to 0:22:24.973 --> 0:22:29.573 the changing room fairly soon after. But if they were 0:22:29.613 --> 0:22:31.733 three for fifty on the first morning of a Test, 0:22:32.413 --> 0:22:35.853 he was your man out. He would go, you know, 0:22:36.213 --> 0:22:39.533 and he would he would really, you know, fight for 0:22:39.693 --> 0:22:43.253 the wicket. So hell of a good player, nice person 0:22:43.293 --> 0:22:46.853 off the field, and quite devastating for a lot of 0:22:46.893 --> 0:22:50.213 those players. He became, of course the batting coach after 0:22:50.253 --> 0:22:53.013