Test Match Special - #40from40: Hugh Grant and Russell Crowe

Episode Date: April 23, 2020

Actors Hugh Grant (in 2005) and Russell Crowe (in 2009) visit the Test Match Special commentary box to discuss their love of cricket.

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Hello, this is Jonathan Agony with another classic view from the boundary and this one brings back so many memories. September the 12th, 2005 will go down as one of the greatest days in the history of English cricket. Two and up in perhaps the greatest ashes series of them all, England needed a draw to regain the ashes for the first time since 1987.

At T, on this final day, there were 221 for 7, a lead of 227, Kevin Peterson unbeaten on 105 with Ashley Giles on six not out. Well, Australian, they could take the final three wickets quickly after tea. They'd have plenty of time to chase down their target. Ingan, they could bat for perhaps 10 overs. Then surely they wouldn't be caught. With England dreams in the balance, we welcomed the acting superstar Hugh Grant to the commentary box.

Auditions, awards ceremonies, Hugh had seen it all. But I'm not sure he'd ever been as nervous, as at that tea break, 15 years ago. Yeah, I'm suffering, I think, more than anyone in the wild crowd. I can barely speak, it's hell. I just say, yeah, you spend all this money on tickets, and in fact, then put yourself through two days of unmitigated misery. Yeah.

How do you feel at the moment? Well, one tiny milly fraction, less frightened than I was 10 minutes ago, but it looks like an awful lot of overs. Apparently you can go on until it's dark. Oh, yes, we'll keep plugging away. Was there a moment I felt when Peterson got his hundred? that there just seemed to be a little bit of a release of that pressure, almost like just taking a bit of the top of the steam cook and just a little bit.

Yeah, I think there was a lot of very frightened and semi-drunk people who needed to let off some steam then. And I know I was one of them, and it was very, it was amazing. It was amazing. I, you know, I worship him now. In fact, I'm now going to dye my hair. Kevin Peterson's guys, yeah. That'd be interesting.

If I can get any more dye in, actually. Yeah. I mean, he had some luck. Let's be honest, dropped a couple of times. I suppose you needed. I know, weird, and who should drop him but, Shane Warren, amazing, amazing. And Eve and I could have taken that, and I am the world's worst cricketer, as Simon Hughes will tell you, who, oddly enough, I know he's the opposition.

Am I allowed to talk about? Oh, absolutely, please do, yeah. Yeah, I used to play school cricket with him, or at least I played, I think, three times in the school 11 with him, and was so bad that he had me fielding at long on and long on. That's not good. Yeah. Which school was this? This was Latimer in Hammersmith.

Right. And he was brilliant, very fast, bald of course, even at 16, but very fast, very good, and I was the kind of rabbit of the team. Is he one of those typical sort of school cricketers who actually could only play cricket? He was a fast bowler, so he took his chance every summer just to beat up those people who weren't very nice to him doing the rest of the school. Actually, no, that's very unfair. He was considered cool and is in my book still very cool, very kind. I've brought an awful lot of children to this test match and we've been hanging out in the Channel 4 box down there he's showing us how all the action replays are done I think I'm more interested than the boys actually

I'm fascinated I mean it's sad for them isn't it if you do know Simon well there's on a terrific job and we're quite happy to say that up here in the BBC section and people like Simon face a very uncertain well yeah I have two pompous things to say about that one is I think it's an absolute tragedy and a travesty that the television's going to Sky.

I really think that's a shocker. And as far as this program goes, which I have genuinely been listening to since I was 10, earlier probably 9, I think it's one of the great radio programs in the world, and you deserve better than Longwave, because I don't know who drives a car with Longwave now, but there aren't that many.

Not many Germans don't, I don't think. I think if you're a German call. And they're the ones I'm really concerned about. Because they love the test match. So you obviously do go back a fair while with cricket then, you? Yeah, well, I was a big watcher. Originally because of smoking, I used to go with my friend Simon Berger to Lords and watch Middlesex play, mainly so he could smoke Ken Caesars.

Oh, right, so quietly without anyone seeing? Well, especially at a county game in the early 70s, I think there was about 400 people in the ground, the whole of Lords. And that's when my worst ever cricketing experience happened because, you know, little boys used to jump over the little fence and throw the ball back to the fielder and the ball finally came to me and Simon and I jumped over and very excited got the ball ready to throw it back to John Snow I think it was and the release mechanism in my hand failed because I was so excited and I threw the ball under arm back over my head and into the upper tier of the stand which was actually closed off for the day because it was such a small crowd and the ball had to be retrieved by stewards and the derisive cheers from all round lords I can just see you a youngster who sort of hiding behind these pillars at lords with a syruptitious fag on it yeah yeah yeah that was us smoking ourselves silly but uh and then and then i remember the last australian series i

remember really well going to was the one with alan massy and all that which was what 70 bob massey the scene of the swinger yes who's alan massey i've made him up so you're you there it's 72 was there you remember would you're watching rodney yeah yeah i remember you're watching rodney Yeah, yeah, I remember marking him down in my home. Because I used to take a scorebook as well, and it was a Rodney Marsh duck. You'd they get a few of those, actually. He was telling us the other day about what a grumpy cricketer was.

I used to sort of throw bats through windows. Yeah, that's what I remember most, yeah. And it still comes over on the radio, which is nice. Is it? Yeah. No, not at all, not at all. You presume it would have been quite a gentleman cricketer, wouldn't you? I mean, the image, surely would be one of someone who always walks when he edged it and, um...

I like to think so. I applauded the bats into the crease when he was fielding? Yeah, I love all that side of it. But most of all, of course, I love the clothes. That's really why I played cricket, just to look nice in the white. Yeah, and that's why I'm so passionately against the one-day uniformer. You're not too? I can't even watch.

To me, it's just too hideous. It doesn't look right. It doesn't look right. Do you mind about that? I've sort of got used to a bit in that with a white ball, I suppose you need probably to have some sort of colour on. I wasn't very pleased. I understand that. I don't like seeing day clothes or day matches in...

Yeah, what is the point of that? No, none for me. What to make money? And you know, I think it's marvellous of N-power to sponsor a test match, but why have your name all over the pitch? What a terrible thing to do. You don't like that either? Too controversial.

No, it's fine. I mean, they're the sponsor. I mean, you are clearly a very traditional and cricket lover. Yeah, well, I love village cricket. My last cricketing experiences were about eight years ago. I played in a team called the Captain Scott 11, which was 11 really bad cricketers, but passionate. And we used to go off and play village cricket every Saturday,

and actually quite often every Sunday as well. and created a lot of very unhappy girlfriends. Are they? Like devoting a whole day to it? Yeah. Yeah. I haven't established yet what you were as a cricket or still are possibly. Well, the answer is nothing.

I mean, I've thought of myself as a batsman. Okay. And actually with a tennis ball, I'm bloody good on a beach. There are some photographs around. My wife saw some other day of you on a beach and playing cricket. Right, right. That was a sort of blast from the past. How was it? But I've always been frightened at the ball, mainly because my brother lost all his teeth

in spectacular fashion in the gully when he was. in the gully when he was 13. They came out roots and all. You know, they're really long. They look like dinosaur. So... Right, that's slightly off-putting, I suppose. Yeah, very off-putting.

Very off-footing. That's what's so amazing. I mean, I'm sitting there in this box here, having calls from all around the world, he's in New York. Just frantic. He's finally founded on TV in America. There's one internet channel

that based in Milwaukee called Willow Warbler or something. And he's finally got the test match, but he's going absolutely crazy. I mean, it's wonderful all this, isn't it? I mean, again, if you love cricket, you. I mean, to see, well, to see them sitting on the roof. I know, I know. With the noses out of the windows and the kids in the science block

in Archbishop Tennis in school. Yeah, yeah, we've had good streakers. It's been like, we think it should be. We had a lady streaker the first time in a long time. Loved her, loved the man in the tutu. Yeah. In fact, I have been thinking about it. Would you be a Barmy army follower? Would you follow in that sort of way or you sit back in a gin and tonic sort of cricket watcher? Well, the funny thing is I'm sitting there in a box full of quite, I mean, not my particular friends, but there's some others who are quite high end, and they've joined the Barmy Army. We've got, yeah, lords and ladies shouting Barmy Army.

It's quite weird. Yeah, but again, do you like that sort of behaviour? Or do you think crowds, cricket crowds should be? No, I like it. We've seen this, it's completely new all of this. This sort of, I hear they are singing Jerusalem again now. Yeah, I like that. I think they sing it well by themselves.

It's terrible when that woman screeches. I think they've cut her to do you mean yeah she was hell she wasn't good I was wandering around the back of the ground there yesterday and for some reason only her voice came out of the speakers yeah that's right

and there were people wandering around with fingers there were people running from the ground yeah wasn't great but this is this is the more conventional form of Jerusalem I mean the umpires are coming out this is it isn't it this is yeah god this is it most excited I mean we were just saying what's the more exciting

sporting experience of our lives and a couple of World Cups a couple of Germany games, and this probably tops them. I just hope. I mean, you're really hoping. This is it after so long. Yeah, I'm, God, I've become so superstitious. I don't know whether to watch live or on the TV inside the box, and I keep changing seats. It's just hell.

It was Leslie Garrett about his singing that. You've just killed Leslie Jones. You've finished Leslie Jones. I feel all for which he's got to improve. Her and Ian Bell. It's been a pleasure to have met you. All right. Thanks very much. Thanks for coming in.

Okay. Hugh Grant is going to go and apologize. Well, of course, England did get through that final session to win the ashes. Kevin Peterson's scoring a brilliant 158. Listening back, there are so many memories. I'm not sure that Leslie Garrett has yet forgiven me, though. We've welcomed many acclaimed stars of stage and screen over the years. Let's have listened to another classic view from the boundary that's part of our 40 from 40 series.

Here's the Oscar winner, Russell Crow, joining us on. commentary at Lords in the ashes of 2009. Yes, Gus can go, because we've got a very welcome guest in our commentary box now. We've got the cousin of the match referee. How you doing, Jonathan? How you doing, folks? Russell Crow, good afternoon. Great to have you here.

Have you ever been introduced like that before? Say it again. Has you ever had that sort of introduction before? No, that was an excellent introduction. Thank you very much. I'll be working on that. And here you are. First time to Lords or not? My first time to Lords. Yes, so it's something that I've been talking about with Martin for probably 20-something years or longer, actually, since he was the, what is it, the junior cricketer of the year here at one point?

Fantastic, so he's been a day. He lived out the back here by the training field. Yeah, so it's finally come true. Yeah, and finally come together to the ground and walk through the long room together, which is something that we've talked about, like I said, for nine on 30 years. And here it is, today's the day. Fantastic. And did you feel it? Did you feel the thrill?

Did it? I've been wanting to come here for a long time. This ground holds so many memories in terms of watching the game but also the direct connection between my family and this ground and I've got a lovely photograph of Jeff and Martin raising a glass of champagne on one of those balconies after a very rare victory over England by the New Zealand cricket team. I think I'll remember that one.

Because of course you are cousin. Just to explain the relationship, you, Jeff and Martin, who of course I have played against many times. First cousins, is that right? Yeah. Yeah, their father David is my uncle, my father's brother. And close? I mean, you grew up together?

No, we didn't. We grew up in different countries. We really began our friendship, you know, our family relationship in our teen years towards the end of high school. But, and as time has gone on, we've gotten closer and closer. And your cricket, Russell, I mean, you'd strike me as being a bit of a ferocious hitter, you know, a bit of a strong-arm batsman. Much more of a bowler than a batsman. Oh, are you? Yes.

Gile, flighting guile, or a bit of pace? not flight and guile no no very sluggish medium patient well that's a bit of a disappointment i thought you'd be more glamorous than that but do you play much i mean is it i mean it's a sport every now and then i have a cricket field on my farm and we have a set of nets and a little pavilion there the jj and md crow pavilion that sounds quite serious as i say to most people when they pursue me about uh cricket questions it's like you know what you know what choice that I have, you know, I only end up being Trevor Chapel, and that's not the best chapel to be.

Ian's lurking, and he might agree with you. That's a very good point. I pursued something else. Yeah, probably just as wise as it. It was funny where we came into the middle balcony, you know, we were standing there waiting to see Geoffrey, but he was busy doing his job, and there was a gigantic photograph of Martin in full cry. I wonder if he did that on purpose. I should think he probably did, knowing Martin.

That's all happened today, is it? The balcony and stuff and going through the long room and it really has been your first day today. Yeah, first time at Lords. What did you expect? I expected there to be

a group of men in white out in the middle and a crowd of people getting noisor and noisor as the afternoon went on and that's exactly what I found. But did you expect to be bigger than this?

Did you expect to me? I actually did expect the ground to be a little bit bigger that did go through my mind before. Yeah, and the slope did that surprise you? Well, it's not that easy to read from where I'm sitting.

No. If you look at the pavilion, from the right-hand side down to the left, so that's why the bowlers here have a bit of a problem, because each pitch has that slope running down it. And so it takes a bit of time to learn how to bowl here. I'd have tested even your sluggish, medium pace, maybe. It's not as helpful as it might be if it was going that way, though. No, that's the way you wanted if you're a quick bowler. Your cricketing feet, what's been your greatest moment on the field? You have your own family team, don't you? Yeah, if we play every now and then. The last time we played was, as a family team with six crows and the 11 was my wedding, actually. Yeah. We had a four-day wedding, and on the second day there was cricket. Excellent.

And everybody had picnic baskets and stuff. All the ladies had picnic baskets and parasols. A man got dressed up in whites. Where did you play? My wife didn't think she'd enjoy it, but once she was in the middle of the experience, she found it quite romantic. Did she? Good. Is she a convert?

heard? Oh, she likes sport, yes, for sure. You're a big sporting fan. Russell, I'm getting wind-up signals behind me. Thank you for coming in. I'll get out of the seat down. Yeah, wickets are falling. All of these niceties when you want me in. Now it's just like straight away, you did that to the last man, too.

Assassinated him to get him out. Well, that was Adam Gilchrist. The last man actually came in as a guest. Yeah, he came at tea. It was fantastic. Thank you very much for the opportunity. No, Russell, just one thing. Robin Hood, how's that going?

You enjoying it? Very good. About five days ahead, about $7 million under budget and cracking on. In the middle of taking a French, holding a French castle to siege, spent the day yesterday jumping 12 or 14 foot off the Port Cullis over and over again, saving a powder monkey from certain death. Which means that the walk from the chairman's box to here took about three times longer than normal.

I'm finding a little bit hard to walk around today because I bruised both my heels. That's on top of the advanced tendonopathy in both legs. You know, saving your country as often as I have It's taken its toll. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it's going to be a top film, is it? I think it's just going to be everything that the imagination will say to you

about what Ridley Scott might do with a story as large and as bold as Robin Hood. It's going to be all of that and possibly more. There are so many delights in the Test Match special archive for you to enjoy. Just subscribe to the TMS podcast via BBC Sounds. Classic View from the Boundary on BBC Sounds

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