Test Match Special - An evening with the Aussies

Episode Date: June 9, 2025

Alison Mitchell speaks to Australia captain Pat Cummins, wicketkeeper Alex Carey, and bowler Beau Webster from the Australian High Commission in London.In front of a live audience they discuss the mood in the squad ahead of the World Test Championship final, the younger players joining the squad, and returning to Lord's for the first time since the 2023 Ashes series when Carey infamously stumped Jonny Bairstow.

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you're getting a fair exchange rate with no extra markups. Be smart. Join the 15 million customers who choose Wise. Download the Wise app today or visit Wise.com. T's and Cs apply. from BBC Radio 5 Live. Hello, I'm Alison Mitchell and welcome to the Test Match Special podcast and welcome to the Australian High Commission in London. We're in the exhibition hall, three enormous chandeliers,

stunning Australian marble columns. In front of a live audience, I've had the opportunity to speak with Australia Captain Pat Cummins as well as wicketkeeper Alex Carey and fast bowler at Bow Webster. TMS will have full ball by ball commentary of the World Test Championship Final between Australia and South Africa.

Ahead of the match then, we'll talk about the return to Lords after the infamous events of the 2023 Ashes Test, the shape of the Aussie test squad, and their thoughts on Stuart Broad helping their rivals as the legendary England bowler briefly joins the South Africa coaching setup. So, without further ado, let's get into the chat. Hello, everybody, and a huge thank you to High Commissioner for inviting us all here to this stunning exhibition hall tonight. and a really warm welcome to Pat to Bo and to Alex. Pat, we come to you first. World Test Championship Final. Just how different does this feel to all those other big test matches

that you've played across your career? It's a little bit different. I think it's a time to reflect on the last couple of years. You know, the core of this group's basically been here for the whole two years. And it's quite a, you know, good feat. Every team, test playing nation in the world is trying to get into this final.

So to make the final in itself its achievement, So, yeah, I think one, it's kind of you enjoy it. You know, we've got our families over here as well. And it's a one-off game. So you never quite know what's going to happen. But, you know, I think it's, again, a good time to kind of look back on what's done well over the last couple of years. And, yeah, you know, hopefully play well. Lords against a team that we haven't played in about two years as well.

It's the first time in a long time, isn't it, that you've got so many decisions to make about so many positions in the team. You haven't been in that spot for a while? I don't, I'm not a selector, so. Handballed that. That's a very quick handball. Yeah, I mean, it's the old. It's a good problem to have.

You know, there's genuinely, you know, 16 people here who all absolutely deserve to be in that starting 11. So, yeah, a few tough conversations coming up again for the selectors. I'm happy to tell anyone that they are selected, if that's the case. Well, I have seen a clip of you on social media saying that Steve Smith, Will Basset number four? Can you confirm? That was you saying it? Probably I haven't actually asked him. Are you right for it? Steve? Where are you? Number four? You'll let us know yep, he's happy. There we go. Locked in. Alex, you've been in Disneyland, haven't you, in preparation for the world test champs? You've all had a bit by the day. I have. I put myself

in a high-pressure situation with two kids for test cricket and I think I'm ready. Ready and pumped. We'll come back to you in a second. Let's say hello to Bo. You've been here playing for Warwickshire, but also you got married not too long ago to Maddie, congratulations, and I understand yet to honeymoon, but you did bring her here to Birmingham in the midst of a bin strike. I really treated her to a month in Edgebaston after the wedding, but no, thank you, married on the 12th of April, and she's over here watching a bit of cricket and holidaying herself, but yeah, it was a good day. In your first tour, the last time I saw you in the flesh. You were hitting the winning runs to secure the board of Gaviska

trophy. How was that for a moment for you and just that build-up and everything? So you had a brilliant test day of you. Yeah, it was a bit of a well-win week, actually. I reckon, found out I was playing 24 hours before, so a bit of a mad rush to get the family up there to Sydney and watch the test. But it was a quick one. It was two and a half days and, you know, plenty happened and was lucky enough to be on the end of the winning runs there with Travi out of the which was, you know, probably something I'll never forget, but it was, yeah, a good week. I probably can't remember a hell of a lot of it. It was, like I said, a bit of a whirlwind. Can't remember much after it either, but it was a good, a good week, first week in the Aussies, yeah, definitely.

Have your parents been able to come over here? Because I know at the time, they were having trouble finding a dog sitter, weren't they, just to get to the Sydney test? No, mum and dad are going to watch it from the, from the telly, back in Hobart. They're not over here, so, yeah, they're no trouble looking after my dog, Franklin, luckily, this time. So he'll be happy. about that. Good to know. Alex, just how special then is this as an occasion? You are the holders, you've been here before, but it's new and you sort of start again from scratch, don't you? Yeah, you do. As Pat mentioned, I think it's just reward for hard work to get to this position. And look, I think the maze would just grow and grow as a trophy that everyone wants to win. Test cricket, I think we've seen Verac Kohli mention how much it meant to him to play as much test cricket. And I think for us, you know, Australia, we've got an opportunity to win

another trophy. We've had an amazing two years in all formats, and it would be a great opportunity to go back to back. No one's done it. I know it's year, well, three, I guess, cycles, so it'd be nice to go back to back. What of what Viracoli said the other night, he's just won the IPL, Pat, something that you have experienced as well back in 2014 with KKR, and he won it. It was very emotional and said, you know, still for him, test cricket is five levels above even that. What did you make of that? Where does it sit for you? I think my first thought was Joshie Hazel was playing that final. So if he gets too big for his boots, I'll pull out that quote. I was going to ask if you've located him. I think he's flying

in tonight, as is Joshie English. I mean, that's special. We're lucky in Australia. Test cricket's huge. We all grew up watching it, and still now, it feels like where the focus of pretty much everyone in Australia they sit down on Boxing Day and they want to watch the Aussie cricket team because that's what they've done forever and as a player it's the toughest out of all the formats I find

you know even today it was our first session for some of us over here and you know bowling a few X or over is a bit harder on the body using a Duke's ball that's different to what's in Australia it's different conditions so you know you're playing at home and away and against news

new people. It's challenges you in so many different ways. So that was great to hear. You know, I hope it continues on for another thousand years because I love it. Alex, playing at Lords. I'm not going to ask you what you're going to think. I'm going to ask you. I will come to that.

Promise. The slope. Exactly. How are you going to go against the South African bowlers? What are the specific challenges you're going to face in this test match? Yeah. Look, they've got a really good

test cricket team and they've earned their way to this position. So I think they're really well balanced. They've got some good firepower with the ball. I think equally our batters are pretty well prep for this challenge. And then their batting orders found ways to get it done as well. So look, I think, you know, one thing that the Australian cricket team does really well is prepares really well. We go into each game knowing, I guess, the opposition. And for this one, I guess you normally play in a series in test cricket where it's at least two, three games

and you can sometimes find your way into the series. But, you know, like I said, I think we're really well prepared for a standalone test match at Lords. We'll have a week's training here in England, the Duke Ball. I guess the conditions was perfect today, a bit overcast.

Yeah, I trust this amazing cricket team that we've got. Now, Pat, the South Africans have chosen somebody quite specific to help them prepare for this test match. Stuart Broad is joining the camp. I'm sure this news hasn't escaped you. Some may say your Ashes' nemesis. How does that go down? I can't say.

Yeah, I'm glad he didn't make it to our golf trip. Yeah, I don't know. Have you ever thought of inviting him to work with the Aussies to advise on bowling at lords? It feels like you have to be Kiwi to get on our coaching staff nowadays. We've got Dan Vittori. So no. He needs to get everywhere, I tell you. No, no, it hasn't crossed our minds.

It's being very diplomatic. You can tell we're at Australia House, can't you? But come on, Stuart Broad, he's going to be helping, and he's your big Ashes arrival, helping the opposition. You must have a lot of respect for him as a fast bowler, though. I don't think he's bowling out there. I mean, I think some of the wins we have, the coaches do think they play down there. We have to let them know that, you know, was the players? No, joking.

Oh, huge respect. You know, as I said, it's a hard format. So for him and Jimmy Anderson and even some of like Rabada's now over 300 wickets, that shows a lot of toil over plenty of years. So, yeah, well done to him. Serious question. Do you think then we'll see Kehiso Rabada switching the Bales mid-test match? Maybe. I mean, if you wore a headband, that would be even funnier.

We'll watch with interest. Alex, returning to Lords for a test match for the first time since the Ashes 2023. A certain stumping, Johnny Beirstow, does returning to the ground, I know you toured here last year in the one day form up, does returning to the ground bring back memories of that time and how do you look back on it? Yeah, I'm excited to go back there. I think this time round I reckon it might be a little bit different in the long room they said today the walking space between players and spectators a little bit wider so we shouldn't get kicked in the shins which would be good but

no look it brings back great memories we want a we won a test match I got a stumping off a 140k tall fast bowler which doesn't happen too often so yeah I can't wait on a serious note has there been a situation since where you've had the opportunity to do it again

and you haven't or I tried to do it to Marnis at training today and I missed the stump so I need to make sure I get that right going into this game but no look I no I don't think the opportunities come up but you always are aware of what's happening

and yeah look I think if you can get a stumping in a test game, you're always going to try to take that opportunity and on this occasion we're able to pull that off. We have got a mixed audience of English and Australian support here and you're all being very, very polite. Pat, it was within the laws out was given. You've been asked this before, but you would do it again? Yeah, but I don't think Johnny will leave the crease again. Actually, Bo, you've played in a game with Johnny this championship season? Yeah, I was up in Heddingley there and he was very quick when he left a ball

to look back at the keeper and the slips for, you know, four or five seconds before leaving his crease. I think he's learned his lesson, Johnny. So no hesitations. You do, again, no problem. You do? You do? Sorry.

You have hesitation? No, no, no hesitation. No hesitation. No hesitation. No hesitation. No. Just clarify. Just clarify.

We've got your families over here. How important is that, Bo, Pat, Alex, you know, you've just been on holiday with the kids, but to have them around for such an occasion and, you know, be able to share this sort of occasion with them. Yeah, it's, it's, um, look, we're, we are fortunate enough to travel the world and, and live our dreams. And I guess without that support of family, you know, we're not able to do that. So, um, yeah, it's, it's beautiful after games to have kids run onto the Oval. And I think over the, the four, three, four years that I've been a part of this test team. There's certainly a lot more kids, and they're growing up, and it's great to see,

I guess, you know, all the players bring their kids and, yeah, see them growing to great young children. Yeah, and your family's expanded, Pat, in recent times? Yeah, that's right. Yeah, we've just had a second, or Becky had a second, a couple of months, or four months ago, so it's great to have them over here, and, yeah, again, a bit of a celebration over the last couple of years and London's always pretty awesome to come tour with all the families so yeah it's going to be a great couple weeks well let's look ahead because it's a massive

six months because you've got the ashes on the horizon as well not just this world test championship the team that England will put out at the moment they've got a lot of 20-somethings no broad I mean their fast bowlers have been well they've retired or they've been retired in Broad and Anderson the Australian team that last Sydney test match think it was

with Sam Constus at 19 and everybody else in their 30s. Is this a team now a great team that's achieved so much, Pat, but coming to the end of an era? Yeah, I mean, no doubt it's going to end at some stage. I think, you know, some of the older guys haven't shown any signs of slowing down, so I think they've kind of earned the right to, you know, they've got a fair bit of time left in before they need to call it, I think so. Hopefully no one's going to leave us before the ashes this year. It's going to be a wonderful series. I think, you know, playing teams across, you know, it would be, what, three and a half years or something since we last played them. You've got guys who you're super

familiar with, like Joe Rood and a couple of those guys. And, yeah, you're going to have probably half the team that we've never seen before, haven't seen much of, which is always great. Bo, what's it been like for you coming into a team that has been so established for so long? Yeah, it's been great. It's been great to sort of rub shoulders, I suppose, with the best in the country and try and learn what you can. I mean, I played a lot of cricket against Guys like Kesa and Trav and Marnas and all these guys, and it's great to actually share a dressing room with them and sort of pick their brain a little bit about test cricket

and try and pick up little bits here and there, but it's been excellent since I joined in, I think I joined to run the drinks in Adelaide, so it's been a few tests now, and it's, yeah, I hope I stay here for a bit longer, it's good fun. Alex, although you've been in Disneyland, I've neglected to congratulate you at the start because I am half Australian, but specifically half South Australian,

and I'm sure there are a few in the room, so congratulations on winning that chef. Shield Shield for the first time in what, nearly 30 years. That was quite something. Yeah, it was a great week. It had been a little bit too long, but no, it was fantastic to bring the Shield home to South Australia. But yeah, there's, I don't think there's too many South Australian boys in the team that are here tonight, but it was fantastic. Pat, what can you say about the dominance of this Australian side at the moment? First of all, let's actually first

all focus on you because you have won so many things. The IPL have mentioned that worldwide T20 World Cup, the World Cup you've won the ashes, you hold now the border Gabasca trophy, you've got that back again. Where does the World Championship final

sort of sits, I mean to be able to retain it for you personally with what you've achieved? I think it's huge mainly because it is a test match trophy. You know, we've had a lot of success over last couple of years and you know you have the memories and obviously the individual games but I think you know retaining that that mace is going to show a really successful era really

for this playing group of which pretty much everyone's been here for almost both um both cycles so yeah it'd be right up there again it's a nice to see trophies here against every other basically team in the world so yeah we're pretty excited about it we've talked about your European holidays I remember that last World Test Championship fun. I think Travis Head had been on a sort of European Odyssey, and he came straight back in, having played next to no cricket, hit an amazing hundred and won you the match. He's been in great form as well, hasn't he?

Yeah, I think Ronnie's plan was to send him on that holiday again, but he's been at the IPL. I did forget to mention Brendan Dogger is here, and he got man to the match in the Sheffield Shield final, so sorry, Doggy. But, yeah, I think that's the beauty of it. everyone's preparation is different leading into a series and everyone's preparation is trusted within the group. What is going to be left to achieve, Pat? I mean, you've got to win this mace first,

but after that, what is that challenge of continually setting goals? I think, you know, I can only speak for myself, but I never look too far ahead. We just love, well, I love playing cricket, really and especially with these you know this bunch and you just try and you know for us after this there's we go to west indies and i've never played test cricket over there so that's you know something i want to do really well in and you've obviously got a home ashes which you know we've done before but it'd be good to do it again and yeah i just you know love love playing so we just want to keep doing it for as long as possible and yeah no grand kind of goals there you just each day trying it a little bit better and try and give it a good crack well this talk about two

tiers of test championship potentially in the future, would you be in support of such a move? Honestly, I haven't thought so much about it. I mean, yeah, I don't know too many of the details, but I think, you know, any, I think you've got to have a bit of a plan to keep test cricket going. So if that's what we think is going to be the best crack to make sure test cricket's still here in 20 years plus, I think we should be open to a fair few ideas. Alex, you're nodding. I probably agree with Pat. I haven't really thought too much about it, but But, look, ever since I've played test cricket, it's amazing.

And I think the crowds have really shown that and most theories that we've been a part of. So, yeah, again, I hope it lives on forever. And Burr, you're well-placed as somebody who's come into it to almost sort of compare, how that step-up is when you come from domestic cricket into the test team. How does the intensity differ? Tell us about it. Yeah, it is definitely a step-up. in skill, obviously, with nation competing against nation,

but also just the outside noise, I think, the media, the attention, everything that sort of comes along with playing test cricket, especially a series like we had against India. So, yeah, I'd say that's probably just the biggest difference. But, yeah, at the same time, I suppose our domestic system is set up really well that guys like myself and Brennan Dogget, who's in the squad tonight, who can, you know, perform at that level and break into a team or get a crack at the next level from our performances there,

which speaks a lot about our domestic cricket. And Pat, if we don't know when, retirements are inevitable, they're going to come. What about the young talent that's coming through? We saw Sam Constus make an incredible debut. In fact, let's just dwell on that for a moment because Boxing Day against Bumra, that was out of this world.

Yeah, semi's over at the kids' table at the back there, colouring in. That was crazy, and I feel like most of the guys and coaches have seen a lot of test cricket. you kind of generally know how things are going to play out. No one saw that coming. I think Sammy included. So that was just incredible.

And, you know, Smithy and Mann were next into bat. And I know Smithy said at one stage, maybe test cricket, maybe it's past me, if this is where it's going. Just, yeah, incredible. I think kind of any fresh guys that come through, they always bring something different. We've had a lot of guys debut in the white ball formats over the last couple of years as well. So we feel very well placed. You're practising your reverse scoop in the seventh over against an opening bowler?

I hope you're not in that earlier, I suppose. Nah, I actually spoke to him about the other night and he didn't go into the game of those plans. So, you know, he must be a smart cricketer because it's good thinking on the go. It was an amazing debut to watch. Guys, congratulations on making this final. Please give a huge thanks to Pat, to Bo and to Alex.

Well, thank you so much to Pat Cummins, Alex Carey and Bo Webster. And thanks to the Australian High Commission here at Australia House in London for hosting us too. That is it for this episode of the Test Match Special podcast. Make sure you're subscribed so that you never miss an episode. TMS has full commentary of the World Test Championship final live from Lords Wednesday morning for the first day's play. We'll speak to you then. The TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. BBC sounds. This

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