Test Match Special - Ashes Daily: The Stuart Broad story

Episode Date: July 30, 2023

Jonathan Agnew presents a look back on the life and career of Stuart Broad. Hear from Stuart's father, former England opener Chris Broad, his mother Carole, and teammate Steven Finn on his experiences with Broad.

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This match is to be the last for one of England's greatest bowlers. Back goes potting. He's bowled. Broad had him playing into his stumps. A good delivery. Hit the pitch, cut back. He's chopped it into his stumps.

And Broad is embraced. I've been thinking maybe for a couple of weeks about it. And about 8.30 last night, I made the call and made the decision. So, yeah, it's been a huge privilege and a huge honor to represent both Nottinghamshire and England for such a long period of time. And ultimately, something inside of me wanted to finish playing cricket at the top level. And England versus Australia here at the Oval, in what's been one of the most entertaining, fun, brilliant, Ashes series that I can remember.

And certainly what I've played in seems an appropriate time, to be honest. And, you know, I feel like I'm bowling really well. I've still got a lot to give. I still feel like I could carry on. But ultimately, I think the decision came down to wanting to finish at the very top. And this just feels like this series has been. And he's bought him. And Clark has gone.

And that's a significant breakthrough. Raw is off. He's absolutely delighted. He's been mobbed by his team. They had to chase him. It's been an incredible, incredible ride. I certainly don't think I'd have got to these sort of heights without my bowling partner, Jimmy Anderson. You know, we've spurred each other on for many years and learned off each other so much.

And, you know, we keep pushing each other. We've kept sort of improving each other as bowlers and, you know, I owe a huge amount to him. And ultimately, I've been so lucky to play with many of the greats of the game for England. I won't even try and list all of them. But, you know, a lot of those players that have ended up on. list somewhere i've been very fortunate enough to to share changing rooms with and and ultimately you know when you're part of an amazing changing room and a really good team it improves you as a player and i certainly i certainly know i'm not you know one of the the most skillful or best bowlers

around but i know i've got a competitive spirit and an emotion that carries me a long way in test match cricket and uh you know that's what i that's what i've relied on through all these years really then comes broad bowls and that's hidden in the air down towards fine leg is caught And Brod's taken his 600 test wicket through a very good catch, down in the deep at long leg. Yeah, I mean, 600 test wickets. Never in my dreams did I think that that would be a thing, really,

but very special. It's got a nice ring to it. You know, I think back to when I got my test cap, actually, Vaughney was the skipper who gave it to me, and in Surrey and Botham presented me my cap in Colombo back in 2007. And my ultimate feelings there were, It never felt like the end game just getting my test cap. I wanted to win test matches, win series, create memories with that.

So, you know, I feel like some players sort of feel like they've, they sort of achieve what they wanted to achieve when they get given the test cap. But I knew that I wanted more than that. I knew that that was just the start. And I wanted to create some memories with it. And I've been really fortunate to play in some fantastic teams along the way doing that towards 600 wickets, but, you know, never did. I'll be up in the 160 of playing test matches

and up with some of the greats of the game in the wicket tally. Here comes broad, balls. Edged and taken at slip. It's the end of Donie, a flat-footed drive. And he was comfortably taken at second slip. And well done, Stuart Broad. I think, you know, my emotions have been sky high this series.

I feel very proud that I've been able to do that and be there for the captain when he's needed me. And ultimately, I think my emotions are, playing in Ashes cricket, my sort of family history of that and how much I love it and thrive off it is something that's carried me through these five and a half test matches, four and a half against Australia. So, yeah, I mean, I suppose Ashes cricket's the ultimate competitiveness for an English cricketer, and I feel like that's always brought the best out of me. Broad to Labashane, three slips in position. Here we go. Broad, pushing away. Pass the stumps.

Labashane, edges. It's gone. Broad two and two. It's a stellar for a division. Doni Bessu, diving to his way. Broad is wasting away. He's running around the ground. Slopping hands with everyone he meets. He's got Manus Lavachain, first ball. You know, this series, without doubt, has been spectacular. It's been incredible to be a part of.

I think, you know, every session you just don't know what's going to happen. So you're on the edge of your seat, and that's the sort of cricket I love. And ultimately, I wanted to leave the part. playing side of the game loving it. I wanted to leave with great memories and great experiences and the past 14 months have just been out of this world for me. Being part of Stokesy and Baz's new leadership group and being a part and seeing what they can do to a mindset and a team and

you know I would love cricket forever for that. In comes broad and he bowls and that's lofted up to mid-off and there it is. Stuart Perald takes his sixth cricket and England have won They've won the series, they've won the ashes. Certainly last March, there were times where I thought I wouldn't play for England again, and that really hurt me deep down, to be honest. So, you know, to get the opportunity to put on the England shirt again and have the sort of 14 months the team has had,

the entertainment they've brought to the country, and to be a part of that taking wickets and celebrating test match wins has been a huge pleasure. And, you know, I've learned so much about sort of leadership and management from those two in the past 14 months and you know I've been part of some

fantastic England teams but it's lovely knowing that I'm playing my last game of cricket with one of the best of them on that one don't stand he's got I don't stop

he's gone runs in balls and that's Edgson course it's all over one of the most dramatic morning's test cricket you'll ever see you play cricket for entertainment and for So even when I was 12 and playing Fredgton Park, the first question when I get in the car was,

have you had a great day, have you enjoyed it? Because ultimately, in cricket, you can have a brilliant day with your friends, even if you get no wickets or score no runs. And here's Broad. Just listen to the noise. He's up to the wicket. He's both minds.

It's bowled him. It's taken the Hedrick. It's fantastic. Broad has hit his off stump. Kumar is out. Three wickets and three balls. It always felt like a hobby to me. and ultimately I've reconnected massively with that

under Baz and Stokesy. I think that's been a lot of their philosophy and I'm not speaking out of turn, really, to say the past year and 14 months under these two guys is, you know, I've loved every moment of it and it's been an absolute pleasure to play with them and it's really brought it back to feeling

like I'm playing for Edgton Park on a Saturday for fun. Good old Edgton Park. We'll hear more about Edgton Park over the next day. A few moments, I'm sure. Stuart Broad, of course, playing his 167th in his final test match. He's only the second fast bowler in history to take more than 600 test wickets and has more ashes wickets for England than any other bowler. So who to speak to now?

Well, his dad, Chris. Of course, an Ashes winner himself, player of the series in the 86-87th series in Australia and one very proud dad, I'd imagine. Chris, good to see you. Yes, absolutely. Hi, Jonathan. Nice to be here. I did notice in that package that we just listened to,

there were very few batting, if any, batting highlights. And yet he still goes on about his highest test score, which has been better than mine. But we do, it's interesting you mention that, because of what happened in that game, somehow, and wrongly, entirely wrongly,

that innings have sort of become devalued, wasn't it? Because of those three or four nobles that were bowled. And actually, it was a terrific innings. And actually, I got the artist, Jocelyn, to do a painting of that particular inning, with Jonathan Trot because it was a record

ninth-wicket stand for England at the time I don't know whether it still is now but so I got that done at quite a cost I have to say and I presented it to him

and he poo-pooed it he said I don't want to remember that innings because of what it is because of what happened with the Pakistanis so I have it hanging in my house now which is fine he's also hit

and he's not here but he listed the number the six hitters for England and he's up there in both of them and all these I mean 55 sixes I think he's hit I mean that one that went in there today so you're right his batting shouldn't be

I think it's appropriate that his batting ended on him hitting a six and it was a good six as well a short ball that he managed to get in line with and pull over square legs the last ball he'll ever face in serious cricket he's hit for six absolutely oh god he'll be telling us about that for a while

I suspect. So what about this decision then? I mean, I was speaking to his mum earlier on and she was very philosophical about it all and heard yesterday morning that he'd made his mind up. That's kind of where you were too, I suppose. Absolutely. I got a phone call at 8 o'clock in the morning

saying, Dad, I've made my mind up. This is going to be my last test match. Are you expecting it? Kind of. I think at the start of the season he had planned to do something like this but then when the ashes started and he was enjoying it so much

and taking a number of wickets, he was unsure. I asked him a couple of weeks ago. I said, are you still planning on retiring at the end of the series? And he said, well, he said, you know, I'm not sure because I'm enjoying it so much. So we came here for this match,

perhaps not expecting him to retire. But when he phoned me yesterday morning and I thought about it, it was absolutely the right thing to do you know he he's he's got nothing to prove 167 test matches as a bowler i mean you know as a batter i feel tired doing that but you know you as a bowler know how difficult it is to strap those boots on and go out there without too much pain and discomfort because all bowlers bowl with pain and discomfort but he's done it 167 times and jimmy 180 odd times i mean that is extraordinary as well, but I wasn't surprised because he loves England versus Australia,

the Ashes contest. It's been an amazing series, as have the last any number in this country. They've been fantastic series to watch. And how are you going to better this? You're not. I mean, there are so many people who have retired here at the Oval, great names who have gone out in spectacular fashion, of course, Shane Warren and Glenn McGrouse saw here earlier. You know, they played their last Ashes game here. It's great that they go out like this and we have the opportunity to applaud them.

Yeah, and so it can Stuart can choose to go at the top and that's really something. Yes, and I heard you saying the other day yesterday or it might have been this morning that very few people actually get to choose when they can end their career and he's been very fortunate to be able to do that. And I hope that, you know, there are enough good bowlers around in England today

who are going to be able to step into his shoes and take on the mantle, really. I was watching as he came through that God of Honor, the Australians formed there, and they cut to you, and there were you with your camera taking a picture. So how proud is that? Yeah, listen, I mean, it's a wonderful thing that he's managed to achieve over his career, and I just thought I wanted to, you know, remember it for as long as possible. And these phones are incredible with their cameras these days.

So I can put it in there and someone will be able to tell me where I can store it and keep it safe and what have you. But yes, it was what amazed me was the applause, the sound, the noise as he came on to the field in the first place. And then obviously as they came on as a field team. And even when they went out to field a ball on the boundary, there was amazing applause from the crowd here. I think, you know, the great thing is they love what he's achieved. And I think

he said that he's gone out virtually every time to play at the best that he possibly can. He's never really just, you know, drifted in a game. He's always tried his hardest to get a result whether he's bowling or whether he's batting. And I think people appreciate it. People respect hard works, don't they? Absolutely. You see how many bandanas there are here today? No, I'm. Oh, all around the crowd.

People come wearing white bandanas, which is only a fairly new fashion accessory that he's had since since COVID, I think. No, but you look around when you go back, you'll see loads of it. Now, you're a competitive so-and-so, and I know that from our playing days. Yes. His mum's a competitive so-and-so, I know that, and quite stubborn. She's 17 years, I've been trying to get her on the radio, and she finally relented today so I guess therefore it's not surprising that Stuart does have this kind of feisty side to him

yeah and I would go as far as saying it manifests itself in my daughter Gemma as well you know she's a stubborn old so-and-so as well but listen I you know I think in in the world of sport it obviously helps and and he's but having having said that he is feisty and competitive and stubborn what have you he's a lovely kid as well and you know if anyone asks him for an autograph i heard someone on you were talking about a young kid saying can i have your bandana he had a sign here at the oval and i'm sure if steward has seen that or someone's told steward about that then without doubt he will give that bandana away yeah um but he is a lovely kid a very generous young young boy as well which is young boy goodness 37 he's not a young boy any longer but he is very genuine and

and a lovely kid and I'm sure actually with a young family now he will devote himself as much as he can to doing that and looking after Annabella and you know it'd be nice to see him do that but you also but you need that competitive edge don't you I mean it makes the difference really between the Nealys and people like Stewart you know those who don't quite make it so much is I mean I watch him I must have I must have watched virtually every test matches played

and commentated in all so many wickets and I can see him if he's just a little bit below or what it may be he'll get angry about something he'll make himself get wound up at Lords he was angry about a white line

that had been put across a bowler's run up to mark something so he got the grounds on out to paint it green and he felt angry about that and bang he came running in again he was fine

I mean it's very clever how he manages to make himself dig deep that's the point isn't it he never gives up I remember when you and I were playing Gordon Greenwich You know, you always feared when Gordon Gredge had a limit of any sort

because you knew that he was going to score runs. Vim Richards as well. If he didn't score runs in the first innings of a match, you knew, particularly against Gloucestershire when he was playing for Somerset, but even in international games, you always knew that he would bounce back and get some runs. These top performers have this ability

to be able to suddenly flick a switch and away they go. And I think, Stuart, yes, you know, get angry. I'm sure opposition are saying let's just keep Stuart down you know don't upset him just keep him going I remember Alan Borders saying to his Australian

team in 8687 to Greg Ritchie who gave me some verbals in Adelaide and I went on to score my second hundred in Australia and I remember hearing that Alan Border had given

Greg Ritchie a right dressing down by giving me some verbals because it obviously stirred me up and got me going again So he said, never, ever give Chris Broad any verbal because it obviously spurs him on. So that's where it comes from, I suppose. It's about to Edgden Park.

It's very dear to my heart there. In the middle of Melton Mowbray, which has had a hard time recently, as listeners of the last test match, all know. It's a beautiful ground. Yes. And where he began playing club cricket, of course, and I know how proud they all are of him there.

Yes, and he goes back there whenever he possibly can he has he's great with keeping up with his roots with his school friends you know he loves all of that sort of stuff but for me what made stewart was actually going to australia going to hoppers crossing which was organized through edgerton park yeah hoppers crossing is just outside melbourne and he had a season there staying with the local family playing in men's cricket really for the first time 18 there was he yeah yeah and uh i was over there in my role as a a ref during the Christmas time met up with him and he'd left as a as a boy he was definitely a young man when I met up with him at Christmas time and I think it was because that you know it's so much

more competitive in local club cricket over there than it is in this country that he actually had to stand up for himself and and and fight back and I think that's where you know thank you to the Australians for teaching them how to play cricket at the best level holding him up you Well, absolutely, yeah. When did you first think, you know, I think Stuart's going to make this. I think Stuart, A, a first-class cricketer, which is a big step in itself. But I wonder when you thought, you know, I think you might as play for England here. Well, I'm not sure I've ever thought that at the time.

But I remember going to Leicestershire, which was his first club. And thank you to Leicestershire for seeing the ability of him as a bowler, because I didn't see that. And I was looking at his batting and I thought, well, I don't really think he's going to make it in first-class cricket as a batsman, but they saw him as a bowler, gave him the opportunity, and I went to watch a T20 game between Leicestershire and Knott's at Grace Road, and Stephen Fleming was the opening batter and captain for Knott at the time. Stuart bowled two or three overs at Stephen Fleming, and he couldn't get the ball off the square in a T20 game. And I thought then, blind with this chap can bowl, because he had a great line, a great length, and Stephen Fleming, it was before all these

ramps and moving left and right and doing all the stuff that they do these days which is terrific by the way i love all that sort of stuff but he had him tied down for two or three overs and i thought then that stewart can bowl yes and uh it wasn't long before he made his uh t20 debut in bristol and then his odi debut in cardiff and uh i mean it was just fantastic it's true about the bowling because it has it has come a long way and that's an obvious thing to say but it did even when he started playing for england and test cricket I thought, hmm, okay,

I wonder how many test matches he'll play. And it was a horrible debut in Columbo and 100 degrees and so on. But he didn't have much to his bowling there and he was tall

and he got a bit of bounce. But how he's worked at it and developed it. I mean, he gives Otis Gibson a lot of credit for that, I think. And others, of course,

along the way, people who has come up against and so on. Of course, he played with Otis at Leic at Leicester, which is where they... That was it.

The friendship grew. And then, of course, Otis came on as the England bowling coach and they already had that friendly relationship and were able to get together and work out plans as to how

to take things forward. But, you know, even David Saker. He's had a good relationship with David Saker here who's been England bowling coach twice now and they get on really well together. I think it's pretty easy. It goes away and works, isn't it? I mean, you talk about something and he'll work at it until he gets it right.

And he does work at it. You know, there are times when I've seen him in the indoor nets just on his own with the ball and working out wrist positions and run-ups and so he does work at it. You know, great for the ECB only giving him a test contract because he's had time to work at it.

You know, I don't think he would have played or Jimmy had played as long as they have if they were still playing ODIs and T-20s. So it was good forethought from the ECB to give him an opportunity just to play test cricket and to achieve what he's achieved. achieved at this stage so last thought

Chris I'd let you go favorite memory I mean is there one I mean for me I think it had to be Trent Bridge we heard a lot of there is eight well you know we're here at the Oval and I remember in 2009 I was doing a bit of hospitality for the PCA at lunchtime and Stuart came on to bowl just after that lunch period and got those five wickets

and I was having a quick bite to eat and a glass of wine and and I was watching these wickets four, all right, I can't move now, I can't move. Another wicket, I still can't move. Your superstition. Simon Mayo, who was doing his program from here, he said, we need to have a chat to you because Stewart's on a roll. He's picking up some wickets.

I said, I've had a glass of wine. I can't come and, no, he said, you sound fine, just come and have a chat. So I came and had a chat. And I think that, he said it, that he realized then that he actually belonged at this level. Yeah. It's a great spell. And I saw, I saw it. Knees up.

Yeah. charging in and then of course there's you know South Africa Trent Bridge I mean the 8 for 15

was amazing yes it was but lots of happy memories which I'm sure he will look back on over the next number of years and enjoy

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And subscribe on BBC Sounds. Let's find out more about what Stuart Broad is really like. We chatted to his fiancé, the Radio 1 presenter, Molly King. At home, he is so, he's so relaxed. He's so chilled. And then I see him, I watch him on the TV, and I'm like, is that the same person? Because he's, yeah, he's so relaxed and just gentle and sweet. And then I see him out there being so competitive.

And I'm like, is that, is that Stuart? But my God, he loves it. He absolutely loves it. Is that a brilliant summer? Oh, amazing. He's just, I mean, I don't think he ever thought that he would play every single test, but he's just been amazing. He just adores it.

He just lives it and breathes it. And even when he's not playing, it's at home, he's watching it. And yeah, he just loves it. We just try and, without sounding corny, we try to make as much time to kind of support each other and be there for each other. Like, there's no way I ever would have missed. this you know it's amazing to be here and to support him and i was down at lords as well it's just nice to come and see him do what he loves so much so what about the bandana look is this is something

that came in during i think it came in during lockdown in it did i think it did because he wasn't able to cut the hair during covid oh that was the reason so he started the bandana yeah and then i think he had a really good summer didn't he went the first time he wore the bandana and then he hasn't taken it off since no it's sort of a lucky thing is it i think so i mean i mean I mean, what do you think of the bandana? Well, actually, I quite like it. Because you're right. It was, he was getting a bit straggly, wasn't he?

I did try and trim it for him in lockdown. But obviously, I've never used a razor like that. No. So I had the razor the wrong way, and it did the tightest possible cut just above his ear. Like a zero. Yes. And he was like, stop right there. I was like, I can't stop right there, Stuart, because you've now got one side that's a zero.

And the other side, it's all got to go. So that wasn't a great afternoon for us that one. No. So hence the bandana coming in. Well, I like it. And it clearly brings him good luck. But it's certainly a doting dad. I've seen him in action at Nick 70th.

I mean, he can't accuse him of not. I mean, he's hands on, isn't he? Yeah, he is. He's so proud of her, isn't he? He really is. Yeah, he likes to sort of parade her around a little bit, doesn't he? He just, yeah, he's amazing. He's very hands-on.

I mean, I'm sure she's, well, I'm sure she'll get into the cricket when she's older. let's see if she had a little bandana he actually came home if Stuart's got anything to do with it then I'm sure she will but he came home the other day with a little England Ash's shirt that has broad on the back

so adorable but no he's very hands-on absolutely adores her and she adores him as well her face lights up when he comes in the door so yeah just adorable how long does it carry on for

that's the question isn't it I mean, he just seems to be ageless. I remember a conversation with him four years ago. And he was kind of talking about, will I make it through? I don't know. What shall I do? I hope he's sort of chatting about things. And here he is, four years on, and he's bowling better than ever.

That's the thing. I feel like he is... Does he ever give it any thought about how long he's going to carry on for? Do you know what? It's just a decision that's for him, you know? It's his whole life, so it's such a big decision. But he's playing, I feel like, better than he ever has. But yeah, it's his whole world, isn't it?

As you know. So, yeah, who... knows. She sold me down the river there and everybody else. Well, I'm Molly. She knew and she answered that question with the straightest of faces. What a character. So anyway, we've heard from Stuart's father, Chris. And of course, his mother Carol has had a huge influence on his cricket career and I've been trying to get her on the radio for years. And today I've finally managed to convince her to speak to me before play. Today is right. 17 years of note. I know.

I know. And today is right. Everything about today is right. Yes. When did you know? Did he run it past his mum first? We knew for certain yesterday morning. Right.

So yesterday I was a fidget. Okay. Because our lips were sealed. But yesterday was a great batting day, so I had something to focus on. Yeah. We only knew yesterday morning for certain. Yes, you chose your words carefully for certain. So, I mean, has there been a bit just drifting around?

That's why I usually say no to you, because I'm not going to ask. Those revealing questions. Well, of course you have conversations. Yes. You do. But Stuart's a master of making the right decision. So it's always his decision and he's done it again. Yeah.

It's the perfect time, isn't that? Yeah. I mean, you just went with it, presumably, did you? I mean, he'd made his mind up. He'd spoken to Ben Stokes, hadn't you, I think, by then? No, completely. It's his story to tell. Just why I was saying, no, I won't talk about him.

But he's got it right. And this is right. And being Australia, that is. Perfect. Yeah. What are you expecting? Yeah, well, he is. Let's talk about his competitive nature as well,

because you're quite competitive, Carol. Yes. He's a long time. His dad's quite competitive, for sure. So I suppose it's inevitable that he's got, it's quite feisty, isn't he, Stuart? He is feisty in everything competitive, but he's not feisty at home,

as you well know, because you've known him since he was four. Yes. But, yeah, if you're just, anything, he's competitive, and it doesn't like coming second. No, no. And is that why you think that the ashes really makes his juices flow? Yeah, I don't know what it is about the ashes. I think it's just something extra special about it

because playing any match is the same. And I've always said to him, you know you can carry on if you tingle when you step on the grass. Yes. That's all it's about, isn't it? Yeah, of course it is. When did he get his first tingle? When do you remember Stuart first playing cricket?

Like any sort of cricket, playing in the garden, I don't know, well, when he was tiny, because for years, if you said, what would you like for your birthday, a ball? Really? He was ever so cheap. That's all he wanted. So that's all he's done, but he's played all sports, as sportsmen should, in my opinion. You know, because it's great. You just get that passion for doing it, don't you?

Yes. And he has something extra, like they all do. Every person on this field has, haven't they? Yeah, a bit more. Yeah, yeah. So what was the garden like in the young Stuart days then? I mean, were there a net set up? I mean, was he breaking windows? What was going on out there? No, he never broke a window, actually.

We didn't have any ornaments in the house. Because if it rained, he played inside. We did have the floodlight put on the back of the house so he could play at night. Oh, very important. And they had to make do. So stompbs were a bucket or, you know, his bat was a treasured saved up possession. he just got on with it with all these pals and... And Gemma, was she involved as well?

Well, Gemma could bowl better than Stuart. Really? And Gemma could catch better than Stuart, so she trained him. Oh, really? And you, of course, I mean, you've always kept in the background, Carol, which is very admirable. But you played a big part in his development, didn't you? I mean, you were running him round from game to game, getting him involved at Edgerton Park in our beloved Melton Mowbray. you know you've always hidden your light under your bushel

as far as this is concerned haven't you you put a lot of hard yards in it's fair story it's so me jemma she's done you know charging around the place with her as well but it's about people isn't it and the camaraderie that as parents we have is immense as you know and so it's about people and enjoying it

and that's what I've enjoyed how did you stop being too pushy that's often a problem with parents isn't it no you haven't I know So what's, well, you can be quite pushy. Well, I'll push only with you. I'm not fishy with him. Well, because they can be what they want to be.

So if you want to be that thing, you're going to do it, aren't you? You're going to make it. You don't need your mum to say, go out and play three hours of cricket today. No. He'll go out and play seven hours. So he's just that, no, I've never been pushy. He always said to me that after playing a game, all you'd say to him was did you enjoy it? True.

Same words every time. Yeah. Did you enjoy it? Yes. I won't tell you what you said sometimes. We haven't got any runs. What about the time? So there is at Edgdon Park.

Lovely ground in beautiful Milton Mowbrough. And he went to Australia, didn't he, for a winter? Went off to hoppers. Yes, right. And he went away about five foot seven and came back six foot seven, didn't he? Or something ridiculous. Didn't he? Yeah, he had grown a bit before he went to hoppers.

So he was quite tall when he went there. Right. Yeah, he was like me. I was tiny as a teenager and shot up. so did he. Of course he was so little when he was born that it took him so long to catch up but you got there in the end? Yeah you didn't recognise him

after it. It was six inches in a year. That's extraordinary. Yeah, absolutely. You're down there Carol, you're up on the balcony with the Anderson parents celebrating Jim's birth, they aren't you? How are you going to feel when he comes out? Probably the same as I always feel because I've never changed.

The first day I saw him come down I felt that tingle and I still feel the tingle. Let's talk to Steve and Finn, about actually playing, being on the same field as Stuart. We haven't really touched that yet, have we? So, hi, Steve. Good afternoon, Eggers. Yeah, now then.

Go on then. What's he like? I mean, you've played so many matches alongside him. What's he like actually on the field? Well, he's incredibly focused, and I think his family alluded to it there, the competitiveness. You just got that feeling sometimes. when he got the ball in his hand and you're stood at mid on and those start pumping and you look across you're stood at mid off or mid on and you look across sideways as he's running in and his knees

it felt like we're almost hitting him in his chest and you just knew that it was going to be one of those spells um i remember yeah vividly that but eight for 15 at trent bridge obviously was an amazing spell of bowling there was a spell um in south africa as well at the wanderers i think where he turned the game on its head and took six for in no time. And he's one of those bullies amazingly consistent all the time. But then when he really wanted to switch it on, those knees pumped and it was a pleasure to be alongside him. Helpful, I mean, for you, you played a fair section, and then in and out a bit.

I mean, how is he to you? Yeah, he's a bowler's bowler. I think sometimes you go into teams and you see bowlers, a bit protected. sometimes, but Jimmy and Brody, both of them, when you come into the team, they welcome you with open arms. I was very young. I was 20 when I first played alongside Stuart, and he'd been through it all at my age when he started playing for England. And he just really helped you. He stood up for you. He'd guide you through passages of play, which I think is vital for the senior bowlers. And he'd have only been 24 at the time, or 23, and I'd have been 20. But he was so much more

experienced than me in international cricket and maybe at times saw a bit of himself in me when I was first starting it. He was always helpful and again a great teammate. Yeah I can imagine what's been like to be actually on the field for that

8 for 15 for instance you know I mean when he really is flying into bowl he said with those knees up it was always a bit of a giveaway from here too when the knees were up is charging in you knew he was dangerous but he had these incredible spells didn't they yeah and it's funny because the question to that would be why does he not just pick his knees up every time but i think his his great skill was always to recognize really important moments in games and he's done it in this series he's turned a couple of games on their head with spells that he's bowled in this series getting the crowd behind him he didn't quite do that as much 10 years ago when i first played with him but yeah he just has that great talent of recognizing moments in games and

And when it was really important, Alistair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Joe Roo, would always throw the ball to him. And he'd be your man in that situation. What's like in the dressing room when he's got his boots off? He enjoys sleeping. There was always the Ashes tour of 2010-11. As bowlers, we'd always just disappear into the dressing room and end up getting 40 winks underneath a physio bed or something.

So he's very relaxed, always engaging and always engaged in the game, actually. always talking about it and you don't play as long 602 wickets without being really in tune with the game that's being played and he was always great at that. The TMS podcast. Watch highlights of every day of every test on IPlayer. Just why are there so many cricket murder mysteries? I think the best way to explain it is as an evolving human drama,

a contest between two teams, with each ball bowled by the bowling team to the batting team shifts the narrative in some way. Listen to the cricket and crime episode of She Done It with special guest Andy Zaltzman, available now on BBC Sounds.