Test Match Special - Day 1: Pope provides belief for England

Episode Date: July 24, 2020

Jonathan Agnew presents from Old Trafford where England have the upper hand after the first day of the 3rd test between England and the West Indies. After looking shaky at 122-4, unbeaten knocks of 91 from Ollie Pope and 56 from Jos Buttler leave Joe Root’s side in a good position. Michael Vaughan, Carlos Brathwaite and Aggers look back on the day while Eleanor Oldroyd speaks to Pope about his innings and whether he’ll be able to sleep with a century so close. Sir Andrew Strauss joins Aggers to discuss his late's wife's foundation on Red For Ruth day.

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from BBC Radio 5 Live I'm Jonathan Agnew Welcome to the Test Match Special podcast Looking back on the opening day Of the third test here at Emirates Old Trafford To come we'll hear the thoughts of Carlos Brathwaite And you'll get reaction from Holy Pope Who batted so well today

And I'll be joined by Sir Andrew Strauss To tell us about Red for Ruth Day This is the TMS podcast From BBC Radio 5 live England closed the day, put in on 258 for four, a partnership worth 136 between Pope and Butler that's still going on. They'll resume tomorrow as really buoyed England after a bit of a sluggish first couple of sessions. Pope 91 not out.

Butler, 56 not out. And earlier on, Sibley was out for Norton the first over, LBW to Roach. Root was run out for 17, a direct hit that just trimmed the bales. And he was out by a couple of feet. guess, for 17. Stokes was bowled by a roachable that cut back at him for 20. That was 92 for three and then 122 for four when Burns was brilliantly caught by Cornwall. A reflex catch one-handed at slip off the off-spinner chase for 57. So the new ball was taken but only a few hours were bowled with it before the umpires decided that light wasn't good enough. The bats

one seemed rather surprised by that and I think maybe the fielding team were as well. But But anyway, that's the umpire's decision. It's entirely in their hands these days. And the first day, therefore, close at 258 for Fort. So where do we start? Let's start with Michael Vaughn, who was off his long run a bit earlier on. How do you assess today's play, Michael? Unless light comes into play, which I haven't just seen the umpires take the light that we're in now,

which is a glorious evening in Manchester. I think that session will have cost the Western as a Western trophy. Unless light comes into play and weather, the England's side. were very, very good in that sense, particularly Ollie Pope, very impressed with, you know, the way that he kind of read the situation and was busy, play some wonderful strokes,

Josh Butler playing, you know, a stable inning, I thought his front foot playing particularly looked like he found his balance, he's opened that front foot up to create better balance. You know, you go back to the toss, Jason Holder, winning the toss and bowling.

They had to strike today, the West Indies, had a good first part of the day. I thought they were very, very good, they were on it. that tone was set in the first over of the day when there was a stop by Campbell at mid-wicket Dom Cibbley was kept on strike next ball LBW I thought the West Indies are on it

and then the tactical side of the day for the West Indies was strange. Rossden Chase, Fifeer in the last game wasn't used till the 46 over he gets a wicket, Rory Burns so he had two overs one for one and then he went missing he wasn't bowling for a good few overs and then after T you think he'd come on the West Indus this is your chance you get two wickets

you're two away from Dominant Bess. Yes. You're two wickets away from Dominant Bess and just allowed that partnership to develop too quickly and by the time the spinners came back on, Butler and Olly Pope were set and the capitalised. So England

had been very, very good, particularly that partnership but from a West Indian perspective I'm sure Carlos O'Grath just didn't look right and the foundation and the engine room, the keeper, you know, Derry's just had one of those days. Well, it was hitting him in the chest, he was hitting him on his wrist, he was just dropping every single thing

that came to him and that sets a bad tone and example in the field so I'd be very, very disappointing if I was Phil Simmons, the West Indies coach with particularly what I saw in that last session. The longest groundsman's hose I've ever seen that's being taken out there at the moment. It's enormous.

How long is that? It must be at least 20 yards long that is dragging out over his shoulder. It's an amazing piece of hose. Anyway, Carlos, are you frustrated by what's that happened there? No, man, I think sometimes I need to give credit to the batsman but I do second what Vonny said

tactically they may have gotten it wrong I remember being on air and they spoke about Jason Holder versus Josh Butler and Jason wanting to get a crack at him. That's where he gave Ollie Pope credit because Butler came in

he was very tentative to begin with and Ollie Pope you know got some impetus in even ran a couple short singles which Butler probably mentally wasn't there for yet but that was of injecting some momentum into the innings. And then it just drifted along and drifted along and drifted along and drifted along. And Ollie Pope got into it.

By the time the spin came back on, Josh Butler was well into his stride. He'd seen off all the fast bowlers. And then he took Cornwall to the cleaners with a couple sixes. By then, the best of pulling the momentum back out of much preferred to see one of the spinners, probably even Ross and Chase, continue from one end. and you defend from one end, attack from there and knowing that there's not much behind these two as Vaughney mentioned, the two wickets away from Dominic Best.

Woke's in next. But that being said, I also ask for them to be a bit greedy and try to knock them over tonight. And the beauty of cricket is there's so many different plans that can be chosen on any given day, any given session, and this one backfired. So tactically, we would have to say

they've gotten it wrong. but a couple things the way they started Cornwall showed me enough on the first day that you know he can be a handful moving forward especially in the third innings and then taking the second

new ball is not something West Indies have done in the recent past 80, 81 over having the second new ball weary legs and the ball is trying to have a proper crack at it so I think and the short balls finally you've seen some short balls from the West Indies bowling attack.

But no, there's been a lot of positives from the West Indies today. And I'd be honest and just say, hold my hand up, well played Ollie Port, well played Joss. But there's obviously things that the wrestling could have done a lot better to slowly scoring. And tactically, they could have done different things that we hope would have had a different impact.

But you must give credit with credit it's due and those two guys badly fantastically. He's asked a lot of his bowlers, isn't he, to put England in again? and Shannon Gabriel charging up and again he'd tweaked a hamstring still kept going I mean they do respond well for their captain

but they must be pretty tired Well full credit to them They look like they've got great attitude I did say at the start of the day I have a huge amount of respect for leaders that make calls that if it goes wrong You're going to get criticised Alder's going to get criticised for that decision

You know it was a massive gamble that he made Third test in three weeks The same bowling unit barring one but the same three seams are going to have to charge in again. You know, you'd have to say from the way that the pitch has played, I didn't think it did anywhere near as much as the pitch the other day. I thought this was a typical Old Trafford first day a wicket. There's a little bit there now and again the odd ball seams.

True bounds. It doesn't spin a great deal when it does. It's quite slow. That was a typical Old Trafford first day wicket. And even though there was a few clouds around just for a short while, you know it generally doesn't have the same effect as some of the grounds in the country you know if you get clouds at Headley

I don't know why I guess you get Clouds at Headley and Trent Bridge you know it's going to hoop around corners for whatever reason it doesn't always do that here you know I'm pretty sure if Jason Holder could have that decision again at the toss know now what that pitch has done he would have batted first and just ask the England team

to do something different you know I was impressed with Rory Burns at the top of the order you know I think he's looked good throughout the whole series and you know he must be kicking himself that he's got out to Rost and Chase three times

and Ospinner that he's decent but he's not mystery he's not got any... And cutting again? Yeah, cutting again twice in the series that he's got in that fashion Ben Stokes got a decent delivery

roughed up by the short ball Carlos was smiling with a huge smile in the green when he saw the bounce as well maybe that was the downfall for Ben Stokes maybe his bat was just going out towards good because he's expecting the short ball

He was going to play the pool shot and it's a full-length nitback and his bat just came across the line of the ball. But from an England perspective, when you've gone with a batter less and you're four down for 122 and you end up the day 258 for four and a young player in Olive Pobo, I have to say, he's the best young player that I've seen in the England team since Joe Root. And then, Josh Butler, we all know how popular is. We all know that within this England group and management and selection group,

they are desperate for him to be consistent at Test Creek because he brings so much to the dresser but you have to go out and do it and you have to score runs while he's giving himself a great chance to go on and get a big score hasn't he just? 56 not out overnight he's got a great chance to just to shut everything up

well he's facing an attack that is tired and he's got a second new ball if he can see that off for 10 or 15 overs in the morning there's a big score out there for Josh I thought his balance was excellent I just look at that front fight I always look at players at this level can you play a forward

defense with balance with control, eyes under the ball and play it back down the ground. Well, he did it straight away because of that front foot. If you go back to his second in his dismissal at Southampton, his front foot is shut off. So it's like 90 degrees his toes point into cover point. And he's moved his foot across and his head goes with it and his balance goes with it and he can't get back access towards that full of lamp to live. Particularly the ball that nips back. By just opening the front foot up, it just allows you to get back towards where the balls come from.

and that's what he did today. So technically a lot better, but 56 doesn't buy you another 10 test matches. It probably buys you the Pakistan series. Take some heat off. You get 100 and you know you're in for a while, so he's got a great chance to go and get the three figures. We will hear from Olli Pope.

I think he's doing the room for interviews, which again is a real change, and you have to say well done to the way that England are doing their media these days. A few years ago, 91 not out. You asked to speak to someone, oh no, no, he might put him, off, you know, no, no, no, he's got, he's on 91.

You wouldn't even be allowed to interview it? I apologize, I think I did that once in 2002. I think you might, but it's true, isn't it? I think it was 190 not out as well. Well, you still come and speak to the press. Well, there you go. You're going to put me off. It has changing, so I think we'll hear from, I think we'll hear from him.

Any moment now, he's going to make it round to our interview position, which of course is down, down by the boundary at the moment. Interestingly, Carlos, when I interviewed Jason at the toss, he seemed to suggest that part of the reason for putting England in was actually because he thought it's quite damp, and therefore the spinner, Cornwall, might be more effective. Do you think in hindsight that perhaps to have batted first

might have been a better option? The problem I think with the wrestling is that the batting line-ups, sorry, is that you can't quite fully trust them. You always feel as though the one wicket away from being rolled for 190, 200. They've offered a lot of resistance to the series thus far and made it to 300 but as you saw

with the second test in the first innings is very easy to just blow through them and in a crunch game if you get that batting line up there and there's a bit under the pitch

the cover was on and it was sweating for a bit and you find yourselves 50 for 4, 50 for 5 then it's hard to get back into the test match and the banking on the strength which is the bowling attack

to e-cote some early wickets finish the day strongly probably get five, six wickets and take somebody pressure off the batting line up. It worked well in Southampton. It didn't work so well in the second test because of the amount of runs that England got. And they're still

quite in the balance now. There's still two wickets away. So it hasn't been the most favourable decision, as Vaughney said, but I understand why they would have made it. And you've always talked about Cornwall's abilities as a slip catcher. Wow. That was a way.

We'll talk about that in a second because Ellen Roll droids with Olly Pope. Olly Pope, congratulations. You have not quite got to the 100 yet, but it's looking good. How does it feel to have got some runs there today? Yeah, it does feel nice, especially after missing out in the first few games. I think in this intense environment, you can end up spending too much time thinking about your failures, so it's nice to sort of go in overnight with a few behind my belt.

How do you think you're going to sleep tonight? Hopefully I'll sleep well. Probably take a sleeping tablet. I normally do if I'm not out overnight because I normally struggle and yeah, hopefully hit the hay pretty hard. Right, yeah. Well, at least you haven't got far to come in the morning afterwards.

Just had Michael Vaughn on Test Match Special saying he reckons you're the best young batsman to come into the side since Joe Root. What do you make of that? Yeah, it's a massive compliment, especially for an ex-England captain and one of the greats to make those kind of comments. But yeah, I take it as a massive positive.

I don't necessarily see it as extra pressure. It's just a nice thing to. to sort of have said about you and hopefully I can sort of fill those shoes. Do you feel such a thing as pressure? Yeah, to be honest, I do. I think you're lying if you say you don't, especially being young and sort of people do talk a lot

and you do read these things, but I think it doesn't change how I play on the pitch. I'm not out there thinking, oh, I've got to live up to these, live up to what they're saying. So it doesn't have changed the way I play, so I just use it as a positive. Do you just enjoy batting?

Yeah, I love batting. I think I hate getting out. It's nothing worse than getting out. And it's the worst feeling being back in the shed. So while I'm out there, you've got to enjoy it. Do you have a discussion among the group this morning about the fact that they'd opted to leave out Zach Crawley? So everyone was going to have to push up the order a little bit

and maybe a little bit more attention would come on what you could get on the board? It's not necessarily a chat we had, obviously. I think just the way, obviously, Stokesy's, we're going to see how he is with bowling. So unfortunately, for Zach, it's just the way it is. I mean, a couple of innings ago, you got a brilliant 70. so it's a shame for him to miss out but yeah it's not something we talk about you know the pressures you're under

and I think everyone knows their role in the side pretty well what did everyone say to you when you came up onto the balcony just now just a few sort of pats on the back and well played and everyone sort of comes over and says well done and I imagine everyone's pleased for Josh Butler as well yeah absolutely absolutely I think he's been the way he's obviously hasn't got the big scores that he would have liked in this series

but I think he's looked really threatening especially so in that first innings at Salampton and the first innings here last week and it's nice to see him get over that 50 mark and hopefully we can kick on. And in a game like this way we're probably going to lose some time to the weather. How do you see the next few days panning out?

Well, hopefully the weather doesn't affect it too much. If Jost and myself can try and sort of put on as many as possible, I'm not sure exactly what we're on now. We'll just keep trying to bat as long as possible. I think the way we both play, the runs will come. And if we can bat big, then I guess the dream scenario would be able to sort of put them in, make them follow on and go again. But the pitch is spinning.

It's offered a little bit with a new ball. So there is stuff in there for the seamers. Very well done. Sleak well tonight. Thanks very much. Cheers, Ollie Pope. It strikes me as being a very uncomplicated character. He just talks about his game.

One of the greats. Carlos, did you know that we are in the presence of one of the greats? I hadn't realised. I'm very aware. We're not talking about Adam. We were talking about Michael Juan. My comment about Ollie is a lot closer to kind of him becoming great than his comment about me. I have to admit, I think he's a wonderful player.

You can just see young players, when he came on the scene a few years ago and he was playing those big drives outside of Austin. You could tell he was probably not ready in his mind. His game was possibly ready, but he probably wasn't ready to cope with the big surroundings of test match cricket, the kind of spotlight that you're under. But I think we saw pretty much straight away that. that was a young player that was going to come back in and have success at this level. He just makes batting, you know, look busy. He plays well on the front foot, the back foot.

He's always trying to score against the spinner. I love a player against spin that kind of dances down to not the ones down the ground. You know, most of the time, people come down the wicket to spinner to launch into the stands. Well, he comes down to unsettle the length of the spinner, which is the sign of a quality player. He looks already like he knows his own game, and that's a good sign for a young.

play. He's got obviously a few boxes to tick, going to India, playing in subcontinent conditions. Australia in a year and a half time, obviously to face that attack in Australia conditions. That's like the big test as a player, can you do that, you can do it here, can you do it in India, can you do it in Australia?

But I don't see a great deal going wrong with his game. I think he's got a game that can pretty much cover all the different conditions. Similar to Carlos, your thoughts? Yeah, I agree. What I love about him is coming in when he came. in, the position of the game, the position of the series, being a battle light, is easy

for a young player to come in and think, hold up, I can't lose my wicket. Instead, he automatically thought, let's get some runs on the board. And you can see it was almost like a flip of a switch. When Butler came in and started to struggle, he was like, no, we don't play at this tempo. This is the tempo I'm accustomed to. And watching a young man dictate a World Cup winner and the way he plays in the impetus that they have in the partnership, it was impressive and there are a lot of things that go on past the forward defense, the drive, the pull and there's

things like that, the personality, the character that was standing in good stead at this level I've really enjoyed it. It's almost as though you have to get him out, you can't keep him quiet he'll sweep, he'll pull, he'll cut, he'll drive, he'll dance, down the wicket of the ball, on the ground, it's been fantastic to watch, and as I said, it's easy to nickpick

and, you know, pull at the tactics of Jason, pull at the tactics of the spinner or something, just got to give credit and he played very, very well. We were going to talk about Cornwall and a slip catch. You know, for such a very big man, who clearly is not very mobile, just the size of him,

but the reaction speed, one hand, bang, to his right, was incredible. For me, the biggest thing about that catch was just be the trusting his instincts, trusting his ability to grab the ball. A lot of times you see players at a slip or a short extra cover or a sharp make it,

they think too much, and they try to get the hands in that perfect position, the hands are stiff, the heel of the hand and it bounces all over the place. For him, he was happy. Just get my eyes, follow it, and let the body react. So you know the sign of a good catcher in a good field when they're able to do stuff like that. So he didn't know much about it, but he trusted his instinct and he came up with a fantastic grab. The TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live.

It was read for Ruth Day at Old Trafford today, raising money and awareness for the Ruth Strauss Foundation, following her death at the age of just 46 in December 2018. Her husband, Sir Andrew Strauss, sat down with me at tea and reflected on the first Red for Ruth's Day at Lord's last year and the impact that it had on him. I was utterly exhausted at the end of the day and I think just such an emotional roller coaster, first of all, coming to terms with Ruth's death

and obviously going through that with the boys and not understanding at that stage how the flow of grief would go for me. But launching the foundation was definitely a really kind of positive thrust for me, I suppose. It just allowed me to focus on something and to see it all come together. Red For Ruth last year was extraordinary.

I mean, we were completely blown away last year. We didn't know how it was going to land. We were hoping that people were going to get behind our cause, but people didn't know much about our cause at that point. So, you know, I think I walked away from that just thinking this is the right thing for me to be doing. This is going to create a legacy for Ruth's name. And I think we can make a difference to people's lives who are going through a similar horrible thing. You know, for a parent to have the idea of departing and leaving a dependent child behind.

And that's contrary to everything we're about as parents because we're all there about trying to protect our children. and unfortunately in circumstances like that you can't protect them you have to prepare them so you know I think we are moving forward with the foundation we made a lot of progress over the last 12 months and you know to be back here in very different circumstances but to still feel like there is support for us in our cause and to start seeing it come to life it's really really you know it makes me feel like we're doing the right sort of thing and how do you feel like There's a huge banner over there laid out over the empty seats, unfortunately, but there's a photo of Ruth.

So, I mean, how does that grip you? Yeah, look, I mean, what is interesting is when you are grieving, there are these moments, these little touch points where it all comes back to you. So it might be it was Luca's birthday a week and a half ago. So, you know, for him to have his 12th birthday without his mum there, or Mother's Day or Christmas, And I suppose, yeah, this is another one of those days. As you say, to see Ruth's photo up there to tell her story is tough.

There's no doubt about that. And it doesn't get any easier. But I always, you know, I like this idea of when it is tough, it's tough because you're remembering her and you're not just sort of charging on and sort of forgetting all that side of your life. You know, that's a very dangerous thing to do. So to take some time to remember, for me to take some time to remember, what she stood for and what she was like.

She was incredibly compassionate and charitable and really wanted to focus on those people in the world that were either underprivileged or taken advantage of. And the foundation is trying to keep that spirit alive. That's what we're about. And hopefully wherever she is, she's looking down, thinking we're on the right track. Yeah.

And a large part of that foundation, if I'm sure right, is actually to deal with bereavement counselling. That's actually part of what it does. I wonder how you have used that and what benefit you have had from that? Well, I think where we've found a massive gap is when someone is diagnosed with incurable cancer, you know, at one level or another,

they have to prepare themselves without they're going to die. Hopefully they're going to live for a long period. But when you come into those final days, weeks and months, That's where we were so lucky because Ruth was courageous enough to accept that reality and go right, we need to prepare for it which means we need to go and speak to a counsellor

you and I need to have the conversations we need to about what Ruth wanted to for the boys and our own sort of fears and insecurities and sadness and then for us to be able to talk to the boys in the right way about what was happening and involve them in the process rather than just sort of pretending everything was normal

So that preparing people for death thing is not something that most people were comfortable doing on their own. And you need professional help to do it. So you do that with somebody there. Yeah, absolutely. You know, Jenny, who was just a kind of fairy godmother for us and gave us so much. She was so calm about the whole thing and so matter of fact, but also compassionate to our situation. And just those really simple, practical tips she gave us about the boys, about, you know, you have to involve them in it. you've got to have those conversations with them.

And when it does happen, these are the things you need to think about. You know, you need to make sure that you keep a routine for them, that you surround them with other people that love them, to know that there is a wider support network for them, and that they keep doing the things they love at school, whether it's cricket or drama or whatever. Just, you know, there's sometimes an instinctive thing as a parent to, like, let's just take them away just so they don't have to deal with the awkwardness of people being around them. and often that's not the right way to go.

Yeah. How are they doing? Yeah, well, look, I mean, we're a year further on. You know, I think one of the things that when you're coming to terms of the fact that your kids are going to lose a parent is you just worry you're never going to see that joyous smile again and they're going to walk around with their head down and that just hasn't been the case. You know, those boys are just loving life. They're going out there.

They're growing up like any other kids and they're definitely feeling the love and support. So I'm just so proud of them. You know, I suppose as a single dad now, they have to do more. You know, they have to do more than perhaps they would have done otherwise. And they've responded to every challenge, even though they irritate each other. There's a real bond between the two of them now as well. And as a three-person unit, I think we're moving forward as well as we can do. Good. That's lovely to hear that.

And the foundation continues to grow. I mean, are you getting more and more plans and higher targets? one. Yeah, I mean, so last year we were lucky enough on the back of the Red for Ruth Day to give a sizable contribution to cancer research UK to one of their projects called Tracer X, which was understanding the origins of lung cancer better and getting much better data on that. So that's been really successful and we were really pleased to be able to help them out. But this time, it's about, you know, training up these healthcare professionals to be able to give this pre- bereavement support. And our ambition is to make sure that, you know, all cancer

and nurses perhaps have the opportunity to have this training and maybe even teachers, you know, every teacher in any school, if we have a teacher in every school who is trained up to offer this pre-breedment support, I think it's going to make a massive difference. So it's a long-term project. We're not going to do it overnight, but we're off and running and obviously the funds that we've raised along the way has helped us greatly. Good.

Are you missing cricket? Well, I did miss cricket until this test series started up. You know, it was, look, we're all stepping into the unknown. We didn't know where it was going to be like behind closed doors without atmosphere. And my overall observation is that the cricket spoken for itself, hasn't it? I mean, it shows what a great format test cricket is. You know, the ebbs and flows of it, and it's given you guys plenty to talk about in the commentary box. And we've had two great tight test matches.

So delighted that we're here talking about cricket again. and, you know, I suppose for the country who's been through a lot and you think about all those people that have been affected by COVID, many of whom have lost a friend or a relative to have that feeling of a slow return to normality. You know, it's a significant step forward, isn't it?

Yeah. But you're missing involvement in cricket. I mean, you personally. I know you're involved with the ECB, chairman of the cricket committee, is it? Yeah. So you are kind of involved, but not, I mean, professionally involved.

Is that, you know what I mean? Yeah, no, no. Exactly. I mean, I'm definitely, I've definitely taken a back seat. And that's okay, you know, that director of cricket job that I did, you are right in the middle of it, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And I actually sent Ashley Giles a text when the Joffar Archer situation having because you know he's going to be fending off from all angles and it's a tough time. And so I'm quite happy to take a step back and just be a bit more respectator

and watch the cricket and value it for what it is. Would you do it again? Never say never, but not in the short term. It's a massive job, that. Yeah, it is. And in the short term, obviously, the priorities, the boys. And if I can sort of find a way of doing part-time work and being around for the boys and watching them play their sport and whatever,

that feels like a good solution to me. But I still feel like I've got another challenge in me somewhere. I don't know what that challenge is. But, you know, there's plenty of time. We don't have to get... Yeah, exactly, we don't have to get... Well, I was reading somebody, you're off to Australia, actually, to go and be the new chief executive.

I don't know what newspaper I found that in. Yeah, I said I was up for a challenge. That sounds like a pretty big challenge. It does. I mean, are you... Was that complete nonsense or... Yeah, I don't know where that came from. I mean, first of all, it's a long commute to my kids' schools from there.

And, yeah, look, I'm in cricket Australia, it's a tough time in all cricket. It's not an easy time to be at a... administrator, actually. If you think about the loss of revenue and all these, just think about all the planning that had to take place to put these games on. So, you know, it is a really, really tough time. And just to navigate our way through this as a game in this country is going to be hard enough. And Australia are no different. Yeah. Plus, I suppose after what you have been through, I mean, there is kind of a line you could draw, couldn't you? I'm off to do something completely, have a fresh start somewhere or something like that. Or do you need friends of people around? Yeah, I think that would be a hard. I mean, obviously, Ruiz's family are over in Australia. But I'm feeling the boys are very settled here. And they've got their friends.

They know what they're doing. And I think to rip that all apart, you'd need a pretty big reason to do so, actually. So for the time being, it's just being around. I'm loving being here this week and reconnecting with the likes of you guys and seeming and support staff and players. And this feels like home, doesn't it? You know what I mean? like there's a sort of, there's a fraternity to it or whatever.

Well, I saw your face last night. I was surprised to see you. You thought, whoa, there's Andrew again. But you just seem so pleased to see everybody. Yeah, it's great. I mean, and also, I didn't have any idea what this sort of biosecure environment was going to be like, you know. So it was reassuring to see people out, you know, around the hotel bar, even though it's in a socially distanced manner. But you can still have those sort of conversations that you have with people, which makes these sort of jobs fantastic, doesn't it?

We might need some of your experience and guidance in managing Phil Tufnal in the bubble for much longer. Right. I get the feeling he's just starting to get a little bit. Yeah, well, I mean, I did have the pleasure of captaining him for a while. I know, that's what I'm asking. Yeah, and that didn't go very well for me, so I'm not sure I'm the right man to ask. But can you imagine playing like this?

I mean, actually being out there and playing in this atmosphere. I mean, what you're hearing your headphones now obviously is our little hummed. I think you're using that on Sky as well. Yeah, exactly. It just takes the edge off it, but in fact, there's nothing out. There's nothing. Can you imagine that? Look, I mean, cricketers do it when they're playing county cricket, don't they?

And there's very little atmosphere there. But I think for it in England or an international cricketer, you know, the buzz of the crowd, that feeling of momentum that builds, isn't it, when something's really happening or out on the pitch, you know, I think that's what you remember, because what it makes you feel is, like, I'm actually doing something important here which makes a difference to people's lives in a way. Do you know what I mean? like people really want to to be there and see those great moments. So look, it's a challenge.

I would say, though, you look at that England team. I mean, A, it's a great thing to play a test match. But B, you look over your shoulder and there are plenty of other people just breathing down your neck. So it's not a time to take a breather and just cruise. As Stuart Broad discovered, I want to ask you about him because he's approaching his five hundredth wicket, which seems incredible those years.

Where did those years go? And all those wickets take us. remember his first game but you're in sweltering heat and Colombo and here he is nearly 500 wickets on how do you think

he'll be remembered for the bowler that he still is but you know was if you like yeah well look to one degree or another I mean him and Jimmy

Anderson have formed an extraordinary partnership but you always feel he's slightly in Jimmy Anderson's shadow isn't he he's a lot younger than Jimmy I mean potentially he's still got

quite a lot of cricket left in him so I think he he really doesn't like being labelled in the same breath as Jim in the sense that he's on the way out and he's not far off retirement etc so he's he's sort of fighting against the dying of the light I think and he's still got lots of game

but you know the England bowling stores have never been better I don't think you know there's a lot of variety there with wood and archers and real pace as well so it's going to be about performing consistently you can't live off your name for too long that is for sure What I admire about Stuart, and possibly Patsman don't get this, but old bowlers do.

He's got most of his wickets on the wrong end. That's what I admire incredibly about him. I mean, Jimmy always has choice of ends. And Stuart will end up voting from the end that he wouldn't possibly naturally choose. Yeah, that's right. And also, you think about those two. They've had to play in some pretty inhospitable situations

away from home as well. They played a lot of cricket. and just to keep doing the training and the practice is hard work, isn't it? So, you know, it's great to see how enthusiastic both of them still are for the game. None of them. You don't get the impression that either of them are particularly keen to hang their boots up anytime soon. And they're a great example to the young bowlers coming through as well. We can watch the highlights of the day on today at the test on the BBC Eye Player

or catch the video clips on the BBC Sport website. And we're back on air on Saturday from 1015 for our highlights, half hour on Five Live Sports Extra. BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. Juergen, you're a big fan of the BBC Sounds app. Oh yes, oh yes. Well, we've heard reports that you've been enjoying the Football Daily podcast on it. I loved it.

That makes me quite happy, to be honest. Jose, Football Daily is bringing top analysis and comment on BBC Sounds. How do you feel about that? Of course, it's the best thing in football. Are you a fan, Oli? Yeah, I love that. Wow, this is massive. Pep. Football Daily has some big-named guests.

Are you excited to listen? This is a good news for us. The team is really good. Listen to the Football Daily podcast on the BBC Sounds app.