Kia Oval Ashes preview, the futures of Broad and Anderson & is Cummins under pressure? | Wisden Pod

0:00 Intro
0:51 Ollie Robinson interview
16:50 Fifth Test
20:07 Stuart Broad & James Anderson
30:37 Cameron Green & Todd Murphy
37:30 Criticism of Pat Cummins
42:32 Northern Tests
49:55 County Championship
1:00:30 Harmanpreet Kaur controversy
1:03:11 West Indies vs India & Sri Lanka vs Pakistan
1:06:47 Outro
The fifth and final Test of the 2023 men’s Ashes begins tomorrow at The Kia Oval. Australia have the opportunity to win their first Ashes series on English soil in a generation, while England will be desperate to prevent that from happening.
The panel of Jo Harman, Ben Gardner and Yas Rana preview the final Test and wonder what the end of this summer means for the Test futures of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
There’s also chat on criticism of Pat Cummins' captaincy, the latest week of County Championship action, a controversial incident in an India-Bangladesh ODI, BazBall being taken on by other countries and county cricket’s transfer system.
Before the main discussion, Phil Walker talks to Ollie Robinson to get a sense of the mood in the England camp following the rain-affected draw in Manchester.
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#Cricket #EnglandCricket #Ashes2023

[@akamiguelsanchez9985]

Anderson was literally the leading wicket taker in New Zealand…less than 5 months ago!

[@An0989]

England must be the only team around that is happy drawing a home series. You are supposed to win in your home conditions! All this chatter around it being more important for Aus to win the series vs. England is just weird. Good to hear Jo state that ‘you don’t create legacy by losing to your arch rival’.

[@simonjess8471]

LOL Einstein! We are 2-1 down with one test left. You do not have to be a mathematician to work out why we would be happy to draw the series.

[@anandvasudevan556]

Was listening to an old podcast where Yas predicted 2-2 with one test lost to thunderstorm!

[@David_178]

Why is Phil always touching himself 😅

[@AS-zj6uk]

I remember when italy knocked Australia out of the world cup quarter finals... we were on a great run, and really put it to italy, but they won... and all these years later, That’s all i really remember...

[@pbfamous07]

Dude well said. I remember Lucas neil and fifa corruption tho, one day we’ll have the urn and the coveted World Cup, hopefully before England….imagine the memes

[@AS-zj6uk]

@@pbfamous07 exactly, that's why this whole english "we're just happy with the way we played" talk, is nonsense

[@jimknight5420]

It's much easier to be wiser after events than before them. England indulged Anderson, Robinson and Bairstow behind the stumps to find themselves two down in the five match series. They thankfully rectified two of those errors at Headingley, and fought their way back into the series with very impressive displays from Woakes and Wood, though to be fair the latter was previously unavailable for selection due to fitness issues for the first two tests. Despite figures of 3 wickets at 75 runs each in the first two tests Jimmy Anderson was indulged again and recalled at Old Trafford, returning 1 for 81. The figures perhaps not surprising but consistent considering his performances at Edgbaston and Lords, and his selection for The Oval perhaps consistent and not surprising either. Foresight is much riskier than hindsight. At the risk of being wrong I would suggest that with an average of 5 at 39 runs each at The Oval in only two matches against Australia in 2009 and 2013, compared to an overall average at home of 24 runs per wicket, his average per wicket in the next test is likely to be much nearer 75 than 39. I predict two wickets at 65 runs each! The key to success in elite sport is identifying falling stars and catching them before they hit the ground. Data courtesy of Howstat.

[@simonjess8471]

I guess the one saving grace is that he is not going for runs. Inadvertently, he has taken the place of a holding spinner, which Mo certainly is not.

[@ross4970]

As an Aussie, I reckon our team is way, way off the mark too. I trust Travis Head to perform but apart from that I can't bear to watch.

[@thatsbollox]

The greatest 1 in a row streak i've ever seen. Plus, Plus Plus...a historical moral victory as well. So Brave....and saving the game as well. Why wouldnt you put the house on them at The Oval ?

[@fasterout777]

Awesome post....do you think these whinging poms can decode you sarcasm?

[@saturdayplayer2492]

Time for Broad and Anderson to gently bow out after the last test. Pace is vital. We need at least one bowler capable of 90 +. Don't know if there is a programme looking for these jewels but it is needed. England should, weather permitting, beat them at the Oval. Huge game for a few aussies as well.

[@iankearns774]

Australia only have a couple 90 mph bowler in Lance Morris and left handed Spencer Johnson, they are scarce as hens teeth these days. Will be hard for these two to get in with Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood still going strong. Neser, Boland, Jhai Richardson are mid 140's at best and also good options to the big three.

[@saturdayplayer2492]

@@iankearns774 Important test for all. Could be the last one for some.

[@mattc1176]

Anderson has the best economy rate but the worst strike rate. It is dereliction of duty if England are not phasing him out at this point - my view is he should not have been selected for either Oldf Trafford or the Oval. I accept he may be useful in India but beyond that England need to prioritise the next Ashes tour.

[@stevenbox4523]

Turner at Hants presumably must be on England's radar

[@iankearns774]

More doctoring the pitches hey? Never done that over here, all our pitches have well known characteristics and our curators have never doctored a pitch to suit a captains request. Occasionally one gets out of control like Brisbane did a couple of years back but that affected both teams and favoured neither of them. Flat tracks suit flat track bullies like your bazballing mob.

[@stevenbox4523]

@@iankearns774 I can see you're a real cricket expert. I was talking about John Turner, a guy who plays for Hampshire

[@iankearns774]

@@stevenbox4523 I am, have played the game since I was 11 in 1976 and still played last year. Not all my knowledge comes from sitting in front of the Telly mate.

[@stevenbox4523]

@@iankearns774 but you thought my comment was about a pitch and not a player 😂 genius

[@iankearns774]

@@stevenbox4523 Dont know who Turner is mate, your comment appeared to be a pitch rort like all your other pitch rorts. But good off you to notice my genius. LMAO

[@ianbetts4435]

They can't complain about the weather, going down 2-0 wasn't the fault of the rain.

[@AS-zj6uk]

Geezus.... if india prepare spinning wickets.... who'll bowl for england?

[@MrKojack50]

Yep you go celebrate not winning the ashes, flashy cricket is only good if you can win a series.

[@iankearns774]

All the power of positive thinking in the world will not lift you higher than second rate if you keep deluding yourself into thinking that winning doesn't matter. As for Zak Crawley, he will never have that much luck again in one innings for the rest of his life. He used up all his luck last week, good sides like the Aussies learn from their mistakes. We have plenty of gears to move through and admittedly didn't play well in this test. They wont be as switched off as that again anytime soon. Stokes should have declared 100 ahead and you would have got the Aussies in the fourth test. Sliding doors, if you dont take that opportunity when it comes you lose.

[@AS-zj6uk]

Should've just won the first 2 games... great teams know how to win not whine

[@sollyolly9547]

Am I the only one who hates those 'bucket hats'? Bucket heads...with many holes in them. I also love the "we're just pure entertainers" schtick...so 'David Brent'! They're total entertainers. And total losers. Brandsters. Bumsters on seatsters. Golfsters. Lads!!! The hundred is the best evs. Totes amazeballs, Yes, they play very good Barry Ball. Good to see the "crowd enjoying it"...peeps like Aussies and Indians prefer to see their team play proper cricket, and (hopefully) win. TOTAL ENTERTAINERS, though! lolz. As an Indian, so pleased that the English took a hiding, some of which was self-inflicted!

[@stevenskliros9608]

Brilliant comment 😂

[@ivormott7309]

Lets be honest here. We have won every toss, we have had almost entirely all the best conditions, Lyon got injured which is a HUGE advatage for us and ironically Pope getting injured also helped us (as he doesn't warrant his no3 spot and it balanced our side better). On top of all that we are at home. Its embarrassing they still couldn't regain the Ashes! Rarely has there been such an opportunity. This side were given almost an open goal and missed. If anyone thinks we can compete in Australia I think you will be rudely awoken! This team is nowhere near as good as they think they are. We were lucky the series was as exciting as it was. Lets see how the Oval goes but I think an Aussie domination is quite likely here.

[@vinceryan4131]

You are arealist and very well put. The truth is Australia only need a draw to win the ashes.

[@rickyausmate196]

You’d a thought England were 4-0 they way you all carry on, Only Aussie’s know that feeling. As Ponting would say “yeah, but you’re in a home series where you won every toss, prepared every pitch to suit, and you’re still 2-0 down”

[@AS-zj6uk]

If it's 3-1 will englang believe they can win 4-3 😂

[@duncanmackenzie4076]

Anderson bowled will only in the 1st in India when he got reverse swing on an abrasive pitch. India will make rank turners, they will only make a road once it's 3-0.

[@roobanloganathan6498]

Archaic laws of this game has destroyed the Ashes this year as this instead of being the classic final has become meaningless. The ICC has to find ways how to make sure a match ends properly instead of being stopped by rain. Not only this match but the West Indies/ India match was also called off on 5th day because of rain. How long more can fans accept such scenarios before they get fed up n leave the game?

[@colinmorrison5119]

There needs to be less rigidity with start, end and break times, and over rates have to improve. Stokes wasn't in favour of reserve days, but there's plenty they could do with the time they already have.

[@hamzaahmad9527]

I definitely like Butch's suggestion about players having to bowl 30overs in a session no matter how long it takes, within reason. Also imposing penalities for running over time such as adding runs to the opposition score or something like that.

[@theredraven]

You could have a reserve day but with how cramped the international schedule is that's going to play havoc in its own way. Also, what happens if you buy tickets for day 5, it gets postponed for a day 6 and you can't make it? Do you get a full refund? Do you let people buy tickets for a reserve day in the knowledge the game might not need it? Nothing to say a day 6 wouldn't get washed out either. They've introduced a pitch clock in baseball to help get rid of some of the down time but would that work for test cricket? Ultimately we have to accept that an open air sport like cricket can be affected by weather. Just look up the highlight video of the 1964 Ashes narrated by John Arlott. Australia won the series 1-0 after winning the third test but the other four were all spoiled by rain and ended in draws. You could build a stadium with a retractable roof but no one in cricket outside of India probably has the money to do that (unlike baseball in the US and Japan where it's been done). If you start rearranging games short notice by moving them to different grounds with a better weather forecast you'll just end up causing chaos.

[@bigglese]

Inflexibility cannot persist if Test cricket is to survive. In-game penalties for time-wasting; 10:30 am starts with the possibility of slightly later finishes to get 90 overs in; switch in pink balls under lights to minimise overs lost to bad light and perhaps incorporate forecasting into decisions on the number of overs per day.

[@hamzaahmad9527]

​@@biggleseI like these suggestions and definitely agree with your point.

[@pbfamous07]

“Aussies really enjoying the fact the English are getting their head around retaining the ashes…..????” What are you talking about, do you mean are we as a nation happy we have retained the ashes, does not matter one iota how it was done but it was done, so fuk yeh we enjoy it, we also enjoy all the random chat about changing the game cos u guys didn’t declare until 600 on the board on an obvious 3 day test. I love this channel but that was silly. Would you guys enjoy us ripping ourselves apart if you came to Australia and shit even 2-2 😢

[@andyc565]

I think the criticism of Cummins is really unfair. Ashes tours are notoriously tough, with home advantage so important. Neither team has won away in donkey's years. Add in the fact he's lost the toss in all four Tests and he hasn't done badly at all.

[@fasterout777]

Well said. Not to mention every curator has delivered precisely Stokes pitch requests.

[@steveparry4198]

Phil - Fantastic insight, analysis and commentary as ever but please get some help to stop you being face into camera picking your noes, plucking your beard , etc Yuk

[@strikez157]

Don't be so precious

[@Human-ig8ok]

At Manchester Rain God saved Australia eventually. Although aussies have retained the Ashes but England won by threatening kangaroos so much that aussies were running scared and praying for rain at old trafford which tentamounts to real victory for England. Another important thing is that the Bazball has generated a buzz with a newfound and a renewed interest in the longer format of the game of cricket. In fact, Bazball is the way to go so as to spice up the Test cricket. Though it is needless yet vital to mention that England did not lose first two tests due to Bazball, but they lost it due to dropped catches.

[@fasterout777]

You need to get off the meds mate......clutching at "tentamounts to real victory for England" is unbecoming and patheitc. YOU DIDN'T WIN.

[@JackButterfield_]

Clueless Pom thinking they are “saving” test cricket. Give me a break you proper ignorant fool believing you have “won” the ashes

[@paulholubecki6386]

😂😂

[@jim7995]

England stuffed it, lost to a poor performing touring side. Poor shots, dropped catches, declared too early and too late, picking injured and underdone players. They could've smashed the Aussies.

[@chatilmaynath2691]

When did murphy outbowl lyon in india ? Only in first test he did, all other 3 tests lyon was better

[@ross4970]

Dead rubber. Poms lead 4 nil. Dont they?

[@dangerdave7223]

Unfortunately it will definitely affect legacy not winning ashes how silly to think otherwise. You literally play test cricket for the ashes when you can't win them at home its nothing short of a failure. You can look yourself in the mirror all day and say it doesn't matter but you and we all know it does. Fancy forgetting about the first 2 tests in a 5 test series? Not to mention the 3rd test was razor close also.

[@MrKojack50]

You didn't get the job done, prob be 2-2 but hoping for 3-1 or 2-1.

[@roobanloganathan6498]

Anderson for sure won’t be going to India as pitches will be rank turners and won’t help fast bowlers at all . Fans in India certainly won’t be watching Bazball there as it won’t be suitable to play it on turning pitches. Spinners will be more useful in India than fast bowlers. So, England better identify more spinners who they can take to India.

[@jackcharlton2544]

The aussies win @ home every series. How isn’t England aiming to do this when they say they want to build a legacy? Surely white wash the Aussie’s at home and try to retain in AUS builds that legacy they are aiming for… not just a close series at home where they lost the first two games and then just announce they are worried about the state of the game in England because they can’t win in AUS. What legacy are they trying to make?

[@vinceryan4131]

Australia only have to draw to win the ashes

[@stevedalton9952]

The arrogance & lack of self reflection. Did Australia even play this series? Did they do anything good? Lost all 4 tosses, but still it’s all England & legacy so the team doesn’t have to acknowledge failures? Delusional nonsense actually dismissing some great cricket played by England, at times.

[@912dreamer]

Whingers weekly podcast

[@nichobee]

What legacy? Hitting and giggling your way to another home ashes loss? Test cricket is dying in england because you traditionally play very boring cricket while usually being shit at it. It's still popular in Australia because we entertain and win while we're at it. Bazball is a step in the right direction, but also a step too far.

[@vinceryan4131]

I recently asked a kiwi if he would rather beat Australia at a t20 or a test match I will leave it to you for his answer. I can tell you test match cricket is not dead.

[@duncanmackenzie4076]

All we have heard is how England should be winning etc...yet they have won every toss which let them control games. Australia has had the majority of the worse condtions, they have had to bat under lights many times and England had 20 minutes on at Edgbaston. Stokes not being given out LBW at Hedaingly turned that test on its head. Then they had to bat under heavy clouds days 3 after rain all day at the worst place for such condtions in the world. And losing Lyon was huge, the guy diesn tget enough credit for making Australia's attacks in the world in recent years, he binds them together like super glue.

[@danb8541]

The bigger picture? The legacy? What’s bigger than the Ashes? You failed fellas. See you in four years.