Test Match Special - Explosive England seal T20 series against Sri Lanka

Episode Date: September 17, 2026

We hear from England captain Harry Brook, and also Tom Banton who made an unbeaten half century.   We also chat to the ECB chair Richard Thompson on England’s summer.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Growing businesses deal with the same problem. Too many tools, too much back and forth and not enough time. Odu helps bring it all together. It's an all-in-one business management platform, fully integrated from sales and accounting to inventory and marketing, so your team can spend less time chasing information and focus on growth. Whether you're in retail, manufacturing or service,

Odu gives you one place to manage your business. Visit Odu.com to book a demo. It's ODbolo.com. Step inside the Range Rover Sport and experience refinement in every detail. With features like cabin air purification and active noise cancellation, every drive feels composed and considered. Explore more at range rover.ca. This is the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live.

So England have won another T20 series and they've continued their long unbeaten record against Sri Lanka. That's 14 wins in a row now and I make it they've won 22 of their last 28 matches. Of course they did lose a crucial game this year, an absolutely crucial game. That World Cup semi-final against India. David Milan is alongside me. David, I would just assess this England T20 side. I mean, they do just keep on winning and winning. why are they so good and how could they get better?

Well, that's a very good question. To answer the first one, why they're so good, I think they play a lot of T20 cricket. I think you look at they play the blast. You play England cricket, you play the 100. A lot of them play in the IPL. They play in franchise cricket along sort of around the world in the off season where they're not representing England.

And a lot of these players, you know, the Bantons don't play test cricket, so they have a lot of periods free in their schedule. to be able to do that. So when you play a lot of a format, you get a lot better at it. I think Brenda McCollum in the White Ball has got a real clear method that he wants to play, the same as what he did in the test match when he started off, and the players are bought into that. He has a captain that really wants to play that way as well and actually lives and breathes that with the way he plays. And if you have that, the players follow you. He backs them.

You look at their depth chart and the way they can sort of probably pick two teams at the moment. No salt. Donald comes in. You still got Bethel to come in. You've got Sam Curran. You've got one or two other players that are missing as well. They're able to rotate the bowlers and it's like for like. If tongue misses out, Archer comes in. If both of them play, Sunny Baker misses out. You still got Gus Atkinson. You've got James Coles to replace Dawson. If there's an injury there, you've maybe got rear-enarmored if Adel Rashid gets injured. So you have so many options and so many players that combat in different positions and

contribute consistently as the as the tournament. go on and as England keep playing. So when you have a team like that and you have a squad like that, it's incredibly exciting because everybody's going to push each other consistently to be better and better and better. A bit like that whiteball era that Owen Morgan had where if you missed out for a couple of games, there was always someone good enough to come and take your spot and at the moment it feels like England are in that position. So I said to you how could they get better? But actually, are they kind of at the pinnacle at the moment? They're playing as well as they possibly can. Oh, I don't think that they're pinnacle. I mean, you look at some of the

players that are missing. They have options with more left-handers that can come in. They still have the opportunity to push the bar. I mean, Josh Butler's been brilliant. They've missed Phil Salt in this. They've still got a couple of young players that's still finding their feet. We spoke a little bit about it on air about Donald taking his opportunities. Jordan Cox, you know, Tom Banton had a new role and he's now looks like he's nailed that a bit. He had a couple of really good innings in the World Cup. He had a good innings against India. He's played a fantastic innings tonight where he was able to win this game and really dominate for England. So I guess the next challenge for England is that these younger players coming through.

Well, I don't want to say younger players, but young players in terms of international cricket are able to come in and fill that gap and be able to perform, obviously not as consistently as the guys whose spots they take as otherwise they'd be playing, but to really be able to fill that gap and to be able to win games of cricket and win games of cricket within the role that they are. designated by the team captain and coach. So one for someone like Noirin Donald who comes into the side because there's an injury and Salt's a banker for England, isn't he? And Donald comes in and England get off to a good start in both games and there are a few highlights from Donald that they were tonight. You made 21 from 13. You think I wonder whether he can go on and make 50 or 60 not out and he hits one up in the air playing the way that he is

kind of supposed to play or normally does play. I wonder how you kind of sort that out as a player. You need to make these eye-catching scores, but you still need to play in the way that you're, for the reason you've been picked in the first place. And I just wonder how he would feel after his performances in these two games. Well, exactly. You've hit the nail on the head.

You get picked to play the role that you get picked. So Phil Salt has been injured, and they're trying to find a player that can fulfill that role that Phil Salt has, which is if the first ball is there to hit, he is able to hit it for four, which Donald has done in these games. He's come in with brilliant intent. He's played the exact same way he does in county cricket and when he has got the opportunity in the hundred. The next question for the coaches are, are you able to do that consistently for long periods of time?

International cricket is sustaining pressure for longer than it is in the blast. It's longer than it is in the hundred. You have better bowlers, more consistent bowlers. So you have to find ways of being able to be better for longer periods in international cricket. And that will be the next test for someone like a Donald or a Cox who are still trying to find their feet is can they do it consistently? How do they do that? Do they keep the same tempo that they go at? Do they become more ruthless when they come in?

Do they watch someone like a Joss Butler and how he goes about it? Does he wait for a matchup? Does he just keep swinging? So you have to learn you've got Kevin Peterson, Brenda McCullough, both fantastic whiteball players. And probably great of the whiteball game sat in that changing room as a lot. alongside Josh Butler, who is the great of the white ball game, especially for English cricket, to be able to pick their brains, learn from them, watch how they go about it, watch how they open up both sides of the field, watch when they take players down. I mean, and there's a lot of

information that goes with it, but you have to do what you can in those small periods of games to be able to earn the right to have another game of cricket for England when that opportunity arises. And sometimes you'll probably look back and go, I have played the way I wanted, I've got out doing that. That's absolutely fine. Or you'll look back and say, I've played the way I wanted to, but I got in and I missed those opportunities. And I think both Cox and Donald tonight and in the first game, I know Cox didn't bat in the first game, but Donald would look back and say, I got myself in. I was flying.

I was striking at 200 and I just missed that opportunity to really show everyone how good I can be. What about the influence of Kevin Peterson on this team? Obviously, it's eye-catching, isn't it? to see him on the boundary edge there. You know, he's on the television cameras a lot. Inevitably, you know, when someone's played a big shot, the television cameras focus on it. What do you think his influence on this

England whiteball team will be? Well, he was a maverick, wasn't he? When he played, he sort of rewrote the book on whiteball cricket and test cricket and how he goes about it. He was brilliant to watch an entertainer. And this team under Harry, Harry Brook and Brenda McCollum, is all about it.

entertaining. It's about playing good cricket, winning cricket, but entertaining as well. And Kevin Peterson will buy into that. And hopefully he doesn't change his tune with a lot of the things that he's been saying because maybe this whiteboard team under Harry Brooke and McCullough maybe needed a little bit of someone to come in and ask a few questions. It's not necessarily tell them what they should be doing differently, but ask questions and say, what, how much do you train? Or maybe he can see how much they do really train and whether the schedule actually. Because he questioned them, didn't he? In India, he said that this is a team that's not training hard enough, that there was a that series.

Actually, they lost the last one that you know that, that's something had a bad time in T20 cricket actually last year. Yeah, and he'll be able to see firsthand what the schedules like. I mean, these guys would have been finishing a test match on the Sunday and playing on a Tuesday. I mean, that's ridiculous for these guys to then go in and train and how do they practice their white ball skills. And you know, we saw it earlier in the year when they were playing against, I

think it was New Zealand or India. It was against New Zealand, sorry, where guys were out on day four of the test match and then practicing their white ball skills. just to get ready for a test much. That's right. Trent Bridge, yeah. So the schedule of the international cricketer is so unique now that you have to find small opportunities to train and you also need a break from the game.

I mean, Harry Brooke has played so much cricket this year since the start of our summer and it doesn't look like there's going to be a lot of break for him going forward. So maybe Kevin's sitting there will understand that from a player's point of view, the modern player that there isn't a lot of time to train, how you can do it and how you can work that out, but also learn his ruthlessness. I mean, Kevin Peterson was ruthlessness. wasn't he as a player? When he got in, he made it count. He scored hundreds across all formats of the game. In his career domestically and internationally, he was able to dominate for long periods of time.

Sometimes that's what you need as a team that's becoming really good. And maybe you said that earlier, Simon, how do they get better? Maybe having someone like that in the team who never was never happy with what he did, always wanted to get better, always pushing himself. Maybe that will keep pushing this team to keep the standards of what they want and keep pushing the, that sort of bar and what they can achieve. Because sometimes you win games of cricket like you have the last couple and the way they played against India and you think, oh, we've done it now. We've reached our heights and let's just keep it there. But actually the best teams keep finding ways to improve, whether that's training, fitness,

whether that's intent, whether that's fielding. And I'm pretty sure. I know Kevin Peters not the coach, Brenda McCullum is and he's spoken really well this week about what he wants from his team and the standards that he wants. And that's really good to see and clear from him. But if it just comes from him, sometimes it becomes a bit stale. So maybe that message being pushed from Kevin Peterson as well

might just really make these players push and work harder for a longer periods of time. What do you sense? I mean, you've obviously played a lot of cricket, a lot of international cricket as well. What would you sense it would be like for international players to see someone like Kevin Peterson in the dressing? Will some be inspired, some slightly overawed by him?

Or do you think, you know, actually it will be just inspired by him? How does it work? Well, I think it would be a mix. I mean, I actually remember playing an ODI game here for England in 2023, and Andrew Flintoff was in the changing room after he had his accident and Rob Key brought him back into the game. And I actually remember looking at him thinking, this is Andrew Flintoff, like sat in the changing room. And I know I'd been number one in the world and I'd played a couple of World Cups and ashes, but I was still looking up to someone that I idolized as a kid and I watched play cricket.

and when you're suddenly in the changing room with someone like that. And yes, you bump into them when you're sort of, you know, walking around the field and they're doing interviews and they're commentating. And everyone's like, oh, hi, mate. How you doing? Everyone's matey, matey. But to actually sit in a changing room and for them to see how you go about your business and for you to see how they handle themselves. I mean, it was brilliant for me to see how Andrew Flintoff handled himself in the change room. He was almost in awe of us.

And we were sat there being like, no, we're in awe of you. We really like respect what you did. And he wanted to play in our area. were like, well, we watched you play and what you did was phenomenal. So I think it would be a mix of players like a butler and these guys that probably played with Kevin early on in their careers and maybe had a little bit of a mixover and have the opportunity to be around him again. And some of the younger players that saw how good he was and have listened to him, commentate for a few years and been around the cricket circuit and probably want to sort of get to know him as a person away

from just what you see on social media or you see on TV. And that would be a good opportunity. not only for them but for him as well because he has done a bit of commentating well a lot of commentating and he's been a coach in the IPL or a mentor so for him to then be in that change he'll learn a lot as well not only from the players but about himself and about his methods and that will probably help him in his career moving forward not that he needs it but whatever he does in his career as well yeah it's an interesting one because i mean he's quite a long-term commitment isn't it's not just a win for a series sometimes you coaches come in or mentors come in for a series or two but he's in it for the relatively long haul up to the World Cup in South Africa. It's fascinating to see how that's going to play out. I mean, it might be hard to deduce actually what his impact is. I think that's also one of the interesting aspects of it. But it's remarkable to see him in that dressing room, really. Yeah, it is.

And it's good to see. I mean, the only way you're really going to get a gauge of it is if you get the players privately and you speak to them and say, what impact has he actually made? Because no one's going to stand up in front of the media and say, oh, he didn't really offer much, did he? Like, I mean, you're going to be gutsy walking back in the changing after he's heard that interview. So, yeah, I get. I dare someone to do it.

Harry Brooks probably the only one. Maybe Butler could get away, but the rest will probably keep their mouth shut. But no, look, you know, and I think one of the dangers of this with having someone with Kevin Peterson's profile in the change room is that you forget about the other coaches that are there, McCullum and, you know, Trescothic and the guys that have been there doing the hard work as well. Sometimes their tension will shift on that it's Kevin Peterson that's now making this team good. He's going to have a part to play in the role that he is given by Rob Key and by Brenda McCullum, who said that he was the one that called him. So he's obviously been given a role that he thinks would help and benefit his team and his coaching team. And as long as Kevin plays that role, he becomes part of that coaching team that then pushes this team forward.

And it doesn't really become about KP and it doesn't become about Brenda McCullum. And there's two different coaches. They have to be together as a team. Otherwise, it just might not work. Harry Brooke, let's discuss him. A phenomenal innings the other day. He actually played a wonderful cameo today. A brilliant catch by Malinga on the Boundary.

He is such a beguiling cricketers to watch, isn't he? I know that he's had his problems in terms of people. I almost expect too much. Every time you watch him play, you know, he looks so good. You think, come on, you can score 100 every time or 70 every time. or 70 every time or whatever, win a game. How do you see his evolution as a batter? Yeah, it's been fascinated to see.

I mean, I was lucky enough to see him first hand at Yorkshire before he got picked for England. My first year at Yorkshire, he was talked about quite highly. And funny enough, he started really well in the four-day game. And then towards the end of the T20, he actually tailed off a little bit, and there was talk about dropping him. And I remember Joe Root was captaining at the time for Yorkshire.

and he actually said to whoever was making the decisions about dropping him, saying, I think you're getting this wrong. I think this guy is going to be like one of the better players going around. I think we have to stick with him. They ended up sticking with him for the last game and he got a 60 knot out batting with Joe Root. And then the following year he came back and he was at a different level. He had progressed in that winter. He'd done his work.

He was clear with his training methods. And I actually remember playing at Durham in a four-day game with him. and Coglin that was playing for Durham at the time was bouncing him, and it was decent pace, and he just kept putting him in the stand. I remember batting on the other end, and I always thought I was right on the short ball, and I sort of felt a bit rushed, and you're sort of tapping it behind square for one, and he just kept banging into the stands. And when you see a player at that age and that level, being able to dominate so well

against good, quicker bowling, and then to see him come into the international team and find it from ball one, really, He didn't really struggle. He didn't really have those moments where he was down and then up. He just found his feet so easily. And he probably had, I would say, that 20-23 World Cup when he was picked instead of Jason Roy, that was probably the only time in his career where he's probably had a bit of a dip and where there was a bit of pressure on him.

And he actually found a way through that eventually. And I think that's actually put him in good stead. But his evolution as a player from when I saw him in 2020 to what he is now, I mean, he is, as Stephen Finn said before, he is probably the best all-format batter in the world. There's no one else that is guaranteed all three formats that can score hundreds in all three formats. Is that consistent across all three formats? So all credit to him, and hopefully he keeps learning and keep getting better because I think the thing that I like the most about him is he's been given a lot of responsibility as well. He's the captain.

He was talked about being the test captain as well, and he's managed to just find ways of dealing with that pressure and still being as good on the field. You alluded to it, just finally, one issue with him is how much they play him because he's so good at all three formats. And England just roll on, don't they? In the various formats, it just goes, you know, T20 into one days,

more one days, more one days, than into Test Series, and then on and on it goes. What do they do with him? He is the captain of the White Balls. So what do they do with him? Do they have to say, sorry, you're not going to go to Pakistan

or you're not going to go to Osses. Australia or what do they do? Because you can't actually keep going to the well as a cricketer. Can you? You do need a break from time to time. Yeah, definitely. I guess that's going to be the challenge. I think one of the things that I really respect him for is that he's pulled

his name out of the hat for all the franchise cricket around the world. He plays just for England and in the 100. I think that's going to benefit his long-term career for England. The only question is whether he needs to develop by playing in different leagues. I don't think he does. He is such a good player already. and I already think that he keeps pushing himself when he does play for England. There might be opportunities to say, for argument's sake, there's next T20 on Saturday.

There might be an opportunity for him to rest in that game. The series has been won. It might be the opportunity to give whoever's the next in line to be captain, giving them opportunity to see. A bit like what Owen Morgan did at times. Can I just say that? Do you need, though, actually, to miss a block? So you need two or three weeks off rather than three or four days off.

Because obviously, the one day series starting on Tuesday. He's the captain of that. Do you know what I mean? You actually need a block of something to miss and say, Harry, just go away from the game, do whatever, go on holiday. Yeah, you do. And I guess that's led by him as well. I think there'll be times where Rob Key would probably offer him that.

And so would Brenda McCullum and Fleming as well, maybe not from the test, but there'll be a period where they'll be able to sit down with him and say, Harry, how are you feeling? And he might turn around and say, I'm fine, or I need a break. I remember actually last year during the 100, he actually didn't practice the whole of the hundred because that was his break. So he would have two days off between games and those two days he'd go and play golf, get away from cricket, turn up at the game, play the game. So it wasn't about his training. He was trying to stay mentally fresh from the game. And in that three week period that he was available, he only played eight or nine games of cricket. So that was his way of managing it

at that specific time. And there might be a time where he sits down with Rob Key and says, I'm cooked here. I really need a break. And it's then for England to understand when the time is for that break. And they might say to him, look, we might need you for these three weeks against Australia, but afterwards we've got, I don't know, whoever else is coming next, let's give you a break here. And we really need you to be clear that you're going to rest and get away, get on the plane and disappear for a week and just, you know, get away from cricket. Okay, thanks very much, David. Let's get some reaction now. Alison Mitchell has been speaking with England captain Harry Brooke. Harry, congratulations, the win, the series win. Tell me your

assessment of that match and the things that please you the most. Yeah, another clinical performance. I thought we were outstanding with the ball. We got off to a little bit of a rocky start, but I had a feeling we were going to drag it back at drinks, and I actually said to Dawson at the time, we'll ball them out for getting them close to 140 by the end of this. So, yeah, I was pretty happy with the way that we bowled,

especially through that middle period after drinks as well, Jammer to bowl four overs on the trot was outstanding. Liam Dawson got man of the match as well. He was awesome tonight, so everybody changed. chipped in and then the way we finished it off, Bantz especially was, was, yeah, it was awesome. It was very clinical. Liam obviously had all that time out of the international setup, but he's coming. He seems to sort of get better and better.

How have you seen his evolution in the most recent times? Who's that, sorry. Liam Dawson. Yeah, he's, yeah, he's an unbelievable cricketer. He's very experienced. He's played almost everywhere in the world now. He's played a hell of a lot of T20 cricket and he just knows a little, um, little change in different parts of the game,

know when to go wide, know when to go straight, get under the bat, and he's a very skillful bowler for the experience he's got as well. He uses every ounce that he's got. This side that you're captain of, how, I suppose, much do you feel in control of it, everybody knowing their roles, you as captain, you having settled into the role as well,

now is it feeling very comfortable? Yeah, I actually said the other night, it feels like we're really building a squad now, that where if someone goes down, I have full faith and trust in the person that comes in to play that role, no matter what position it is. Yeah, I feel like I'm doing an okay job out there.

Everybody knows where they're going to be in the field. They know that the little nuances of the game that we're trying to do out there on the field, especially, it's been outstanding and everybody backs it as well. And for your own performance, you've gone not out, not out, not out. I guess that good run can go on forever,

but your confidence must be sky high with the bat. I'm hitting it nicely at the minute and picking up length, which is the key to batting really, standing still and playing the ball on its merit. Congratulations on the win. Well done. Thank you. That's Harry Brooke with Alison Mitchell. Tom Bantam made an impressive half century in the run chase and he's also been speaking to Alison. Tom, congratulations on the half century. How did you enjoy that match there and being able to be there at the middle for the winning moments? Yeah, it's a special thing, I think, being not out at the end to take us home. It's a different role for me, so always trying to learn. Some days it's going to come off and some days it's not like the other night.

But yeah, it's just trying to adapt to the wicket. And I think that's something we've spoke a lot about in the change room and just, yeah, trying to kind of keep communicating between each other. But yeah, it's going good. How do you have to adapt when your role is then in the middle order? What changes for you? Not a lot, to be honest. It's still obviously the ball coming down.

But I think when you have your matchups, you really got to try and take it down. And just being smart, you look at how. How are he played the other night? I think he hit something like 15-2s or something. So it's not all about hitting sixes and fours sometimes, especially on bigger boundaries. There's the smarter options. And then sometimes when you've got your matchup,

you really try and take it down. How have you enjoyed having Kevin Peterson in the dressing room? Yeah, it's been great. An idol of mine growing up. And for him to be around, it's been great. Yeah, he's obviously a wealth of experience, one of the best players who've ever played the game. So for him to be in the changer room

and with us for, I guess, the next year, and hopefully for longer is great. And yeah, it's just nice. So I actually haven't spoke to him probably about batting yet. You're still in awe a little bit in the change room and he's there. And it's like, wow, this is Kevin Peters. I think everyone kind of still feels a little bit like that at the moment. But no, he's been great.

He's jailed him really well. And yeah, hopefully it continues. So it's a case that he's there for you to approach as and when there's no sort of big, here's Kevin to address the group or you've got, you know, fixed time to go and see him or anything like that. How does it work? No, I think there's no structure. I think he's just trying to fit in with the group.

And I think that's why we've been so successful, I reckon over the last year or so. So we're so close off the field, you know, small things that are playing a lot of card games together. And, you know, small things like that. It's not that big of a thing, but I think it's so important. Like, I'm really close with a lot of the boys now. And it makes such a difference when it comes down to, you know, tight moments. Or if you think you have an opinion on the game, then you can go and speak to, you know, Brookie or Jaxie or the, you know, senior players in the group.

So I think, yeah, Baz has created a really good environment and hopefully it continues. Kevin's an idol of yours. I remember one of your early T20 innings when you really caught the eye playing a flamingo type shot. Was that sort of modelled on Kevin watching him when you were younger? A little bit, probably. I didn't try and guess copy him.

I think just being both quite tall kind of naturally sometimes you get compared to people like that. But no, I've just trying to learn as much as possible. Yeah, and even someone like Brookie, the way he played the other night, he's still one of my best friends. but to see how good he is, it's frightening. I was saying to Baz yesterday.

It's just scary to think how good he is. But no, look, it's a really exciting group, and hopefully it continues. And just to take it, I'll just move away, because I've got to get swept up by the covers in a moment. Taking a broad view on your career, it was just before your 21st birthday when you first made your international debut.

How do you feel you've evolved in that time to where you are now? Yeah, a huge amount. I was, I think, playing in the second team, Somerset at the start of year, and then to be making your international debut, I guess, six months later is something you probably never thought would happen. But look, it's taught me a lot about myself, not only in cricket, but away from cricket. And sometimes that's how some people's careers plan out, and that's been mine. And, yeah, I look back with some good memories and some bad memories.

I think that's how everyone's careers kind of shape out. But, yeah, it's been, I'm not looking back now, just trying to look forward and keep taking the Singling team forward, where I can do, whether it's in the field. I really enjoy my field in trying to something we're huge on, trying to push that as a group and then yeah with the bat and I just try and contribute where I can. And you've spoken about Harry Brook and how crazy he is as a batter. How have you found his captaincy? What's what type of captain would you say he is? Yeah very relaxed. I've known Harry for a very long time so I don't get too involved

with that side of things kind of tells me where to field and I just run off there and kind of do it so I guess it's more the boulders but he's been great keeps it very simple. I think that's been really good for the group and everyone I think the key that Everyone knows their roles. The other night, two people stood up. You know, it's different people standing up each game. I think that's kind of a success to a good team, really. Congratulations on your 50 today.

Well done for the win. Thank you very much. Coming next, Hedry Moran has been speaking with the ECB chair Richard Thompson about England's summer, the controversy over Ashes tickets and venues and his support for a special event taking place at the end of the summer at Lords. You're listening to the TMS podcast.

from BBC Radio 5 Live. Your sales order says one thing, your inventory says another. Your spreadsheet says, good luck. Odu brings your business together on a single platform from sales and accounting to inventory and marketing. Visit Odu.com to book a demo. It's ODbolo.com.

Step inside the Range Rover Sport and experience refinement in every detail. With features like cabin air purification, and active noise cancellation, every drive feels composed and considered. Explore more at range rover.ca. Support comes from Wise, the smart way to manage the currencies you need around the globe. Fed up with losing out to hidden fees when you send money abroad with your everyday bank. Choose the smart way.

Wise. You can count on the exchange rate you'd usually find on Google. No one welcome surprises. Plus, ditch that Where's My Money feeling? Most transfers arrive in under 20 seconds. Join millions, saving billions on hidden fees. Be smart. Get Wise. Download the Wise app today.

Tees and Cs apply. So we're coming to the end of the international summer, but we still do have the rest of this Vitality T20 series plus three Metro Bank ODIs and the climax of the Ross State County Championship and the Men's and Women's One Day Cup. And there's also an event that you can get involved with. the day after the last game that are played this summer,

and that's at Lords, where you could register 100 at the home of cricket, all to raise money and awareness for the Alzheimer's Society and the ECB chair. Richard Thompson is an ambassador. He's with us now. What's it all about? Lovely to see you, first of all, but what's all this about?

It's an opportunity. One of the most iconic things you can do in cricket is to get 100 at Lord's runs. The idea here is to do 100 laps of Lord's. which would be 32 miles nearly, which is an extraordinary achievement in a day, over a marathon. We've got nearly, I hope, nearly 100 people. We've got some places left, so people can register by going on to the Alzheimer's Society website if they would like to try and take the challenge on.

But the opportunity is potentially once in a lifetime. Alzheimer's is a very, very cruel disease. My father died of Alzheimer's. I created a charity called Sport United Against Dementia, which is a very, the origins of this. We hope to raise around £350,000. We're already £200,000 in. We've invited some cricketers to come along that got out in the 90s that complete their 100. I did the one lap with Mike Appleton, so he's now got his hundreds. He was run out on 99. And the opportunities as I say, won't come around very often. I've also extended this offer to MCG, to Headingley,

to Uttford Oval. So the idea is not just getting 100 at laws, you can get 100 anywhere. So it becomes a fundraiser that Alzheimer's Society and Sport United Against Dementia can really own and develop and draw awareness to the fact that it still kills more people than heart disease, cancer, it's Britain's biggest killer, there is no cure. Drawing awareness is very important because between the ages of 55 and 65, there's a number of things you can do with your lifestyle to help prevent early onset. So as much as this is a fundraiser, it's also an opportunity for people to become aware of how they can try and prevent that from happening and how Alzheimer's society. can help relatives that are living with a disease that is very cruel.

And it's a long way as well. It's longer than a marathon. Well, it is. Having done it as well, obviously the slope at Lord's right to left as you look out from the media centre is seven foot. So you actually do feel that slope. And when you're doing that slope a hundred times, you're coming up, then down. And it's a bigger commitment than I think people probably recognise. But it's something that there's individuals that have been training for it, that can't wait to do it.

Roth's Day have been incredible. They've really lent into it. A number of people are bringing teams. So 10 individuals will do 10 laps each, so that team will complete the 100. So, you know, I'm really looking forward to it. So on Monday the 28th of September, huge thanks to Rob Lawson and Martin Nicholas for their commitment in allowing this to happen. And we hope that other venues will follow suit. Yeah, extraordinary. And it really will be a physical achievement for

for those that can complete. Are you going to have a go? I certainly am. I'm going to be that. I'm looking for 8.30 start as well. So I'm looking for. We're stopping for lunch and tea. you obviously have to be cricket. Well, it's cricket. I would expect nothing else.

It's quite good at Lord. Indeed. So look out for that on our social media as well and do get involved if you possibly can. I mean, it's iconic venue. We know that, Lords. It's been a little bit of criticism that we haven't got a men's ashes test in the north.

There is the women's ashes test. And also some criticism that's been around about the pricing of some of those ashes test matches. With all of this conversation about cricket becoming the most inclusive sport. Where does that all fit together? The reality is we are the only national sport that travels around the country. We don't have

a Wembley or a Twickenham, so it's great that we play everywhere. Headingley is a very important ground historically. Some of the best games of cricket anyone can ever remember have been at Headingley. Trent Bridge haven't hosted an ash's test for 12 years. The Utiliter bowl here have never hosted an Ashes test. We have seven great venues, but only five test matches in an Asher series. So there will always be two that miss out. And it was effectively Haddingly's turn. They have had consecutive Ash's tests. They will be hosting the women's ashes, as long with Whiteball Cricket as well. The previous way that matches were allocated were on blind bids. And that created enormous financial tension throughout the game. So I think the process

we have now, which is based on rotation, is fairer. It might not be ideal. But The reality is it's fairer than what we had before. And there are two venues, one that's never hosted an Ashes test, and another that hasn't hosted one for 12 years. And Trent Bridge has hosted some incredible test cricket. So it's got heritage, and we do well at Trent Bridge normally, and I hope we will next year. And in terms of ticket pricing, I think Ash's is our World Cup.

It's every four years, it's the most premium series that we play. The demand is extraordinary. The statistics that I saw today, our ballot, is three times higher than it was for the previous period for the last Ashes. So we're three times higher for the number of people registering to buy a tickets. The demand is extraordinary. Having chaired Surrey, Ashes is always an opportunity for people to join that county. And Surrey, along with other counties now, use the Ashes as an opportunity to get longer-term engagement. So, for instance, if you were a Warwickshire member or others, and you are a member of Warwickshire, which you could become,

you get 20% discount off that ticket. So it isn't the headline price you see. It's an opportunity to join that county and actually become more engaged beyond the ashes. You would also say that probably some of the best cricket I've seen are on days four and five where the ticket prices a fraction of what day one is. So given previous experience, I'd be surprised if the majority don't go four or five days, in which case, you know, there's an opportunity to come on another occasion.

But we do have four formats of the game. We have lots of other cricket that we can engage people with. at way, way lower ticket prices that speak very much to becoming the country's most inclusive sport. 20 pounds to come and watch the women's ashes, 25 to watch 100 match. So in that case, as long as you have a portfolio of different formats, different matches, you make sure there's something there for every pocket. But in an ideal world, you want people to come and watch and be inspired by an ashes test match. So the hope is they do go five days and some of the days, three, four and five prices.

are far lower. Is men's test cricket affordable to the population that you feel that you want to attract a cricket? Well, given this summer, the demand has been extraordinary. But the demand's been extraordinary from those that can afford it. Is it affordable? I think it is affordable. I think it's affordable in the sense of both demand and the fact that the majority of people that watch test cricket are members of that county. And it doesn't cost very much to become a member of many of those counties. receive rewards for that and get discounts, be the first to be able to get the seat you want. So I think it's chicken and egg. We want people to not just come to one ashes every four years.

We want people to come to test cricket every year. And they can do that in a far more affordable way if they join a county. What about the summer more generally? It's felt that, you know, you go back to the start of it, Richard, and you think, well, Ben Stokes is captain of the test side. Brendan McCullum's coach of the test side. A lot to happen since then. Do we need a bit of calm?

amongst it all. I think we've got that calm now. We just won a series 3-0 and we've got a new coaching country. The first thing he did was to start visiting the county. So Stephen's now here. But he was very involved behind the scenes around Pakistan team selection tactics, strategy. So he's very, very engaged. I think what we now have between Whiteball with Harry and Bazz in Whiteball, as we've seen, we've probably had one of the best Whiteball summers I can never remember. I mean, against India, we were extraordinary. I know it got overshadowed by other events. Our whiteball form is on another level. And so as much as there's been a lot of upheaval, there has been a lot of stuff that's gone incredibly well, but been overshadowed by other events,

which is incredibly frustrating. And, you know, when players behave in a certain way, which is totally unacceptable, you know, that you need to understand when you put an England jumper on or you represent your country, it comes with responsibility. And people and players need to understand what that responsibility means. We've had that message many times before and still it keeps happening. I think these issues, when you say it keeps happening, I mean the reality is we've had a particularly challenging 12 months. And there have been an isolated instance. There's been way more than there ever should have been.

But the reality is that we are correcting this now. We've made some very significant changes. And you've seen the changes that have played out. and they have ensured that, you know, corrective action is there and also players are now absolutely know how to behave. It has been quite the summer in many ways

and it is finishing. There's still plenty left of it. Well, in this game particularly, I mean, we've got a great series against Sri Lanka, the 100 series. You know, the new 100, the reset, threw up, you know,

significantly higher numbers that we've ever seen on television before. Comfortably, the best quality 100, I think we've seen in terms of players. The Women's World Cup was absolutely fantastic. shame to have lost against Australia, but the volume of cricket in grassroots cricket, we've never seen volume like it in women and girls.

We're over-trading in some areas. So the game is in very rude health at the moment. We're seeing very significant growth. We're the only team sport to be growing between ages of 14 and 16. And I think we've got a lot to be looking forward to and we can't wait to get out to South Africa. We've got Pakistan before that,

and we've got two World Cups next year. Well, that was Richard Thompson with Henry. Marie Moran. Our next live cricket is at 1025 on Sports Extra where the exciting climax. The County Championship continues with Somerset chasing what could be a critical victory in their attempt to win the title for the first time. They need 214 more runs on the final day to beat Yorkshire with seven wickets in hand and Kevin Howells has been watching at Headingley. Well Stephen Fleming has been here at Headingley today, England's new head coach at the test side.

and the list of players on his need to look at and talk about in this game could be quite a long one, but he can't help have noticed. What a compelling match this has become, and its narrative in the Hulby Crown Champions of 2026 next week. With Warrickshire at the top, watching and listening on with their feet up, having already won their game inside two days away to Essex, it's been a challenging third day for their rival Somerset here in Leeds and Nottinghamshire away at Sussex.

In fact, at Hove, the Nottinghamshire defence of the title, appears to be dangerously slipping. Nots have been scrambling around for runs in their second innings and eventually they got to the close in some trouble at 149 for 7 which is a lead over Sussex of just 31 runs. Now Somerset still searching for their first ever championship title will resume the final day here in Leeds at 73 for 3. That's 214 runs off the target knowing a win will take them back above Warwickshire at the top of the table with a week to go. It's Tom Abel and Tom Lamanby out of the crease. And I've been talking at the close of play today

to Tom Abel's best man in his forthcoming wedding. He's a former teammate and now with Yorkshire, Dom Bess, who with George Hill earlier on in this third day managed a partnership of 166 for the seventh wicket setting up this enthralling finish. I think it's a really exciting game, isn't it? It's been topsy-turvy, I guess, with us being 50 for six

Georgian I able to get put on 156 it certainly wasn't easy there's quite a few balls out there obviously fellow club a lot of lads I know and get on really well with got stuck into me last night for quite a while

and this morning and then yeah got through it nicely and then we've set a beautiful total I think if they go on and get it they've got to get the high score in the game I think the pitch There's plenty left in there I think it started spinning

Got a world-class spinner in Coldip And myself And then yeah We I think it's going to be a great You know cricket And hopefully we get on the Get on the right side of it

That 166 partnership For the seventh wicket You and George It must be immensely proud of that Hard work, hard graft out there Six down in that recovery Yeah, great Anthony McGrath

But this morning spoke about character spoke about today being a massive day in our journey for not only the sort of last two games here, but started next year and how we go about it. Obviously we can't win anything this year, but it gets to that point in the year where you've got to play for something and we're playing for what we can now do, disrupt potential champions. We obviously play knots next year, next week, sorry. So we've got a lot to still play for and if we can put the spanner in some works with it all, I think we'll be really proud of our achievements. But like I said, come back to us, it's more about what we can take away now this year going forward and obviously moving into next year. And like I said, 160 partnership being

five for 60, Mags asked for it and I'm grateful that myself and George could do it. But you know A Yorkshire win over Somerset mathematically it's still possible You know they've never won the title before You've had that rammed down your throat When you were down there for year after year after year What are you playing at against your whole team?

Yeah Seriously I mean you love the place You love the players I mean we know how close you are to want Because you'll be best man and all that sort of stuff So just how difficult is it No I don't think it is at all I think it's quite the opposite

I never won it there so and I'll play for Yorkshire now and and the way um I guess I don't know it probably brought something out in me if I'm honest um I think Craig Craig actually made me laugh out there he said to me this is Craig Overton sorry he said to me bloody I like don't never never seen your bat like this ever before um so serious and actually I thought yeah you're probably right actually because um it It means a hell of a lot to me. Again, obviously, getting a first ball of first innings. Some of the Somerset fans sort of laughed me off and that.

I sort of took that, not personally, but I was like, right, well, next time it's not going to be as easy as that. Yeah, and they were sort of say, are you doing it for the, for us sort of thing? And I thought, no, that's, I'm not having that. I'm certainly not having that for next time round. Stephen Fleming's been here today the new head test coach of England cheeky have you seen him has he spoken to you? No

okay no Michael Vaughn has been talking about you I don't know if you're aware of this so Michael Vaughn earlier in the week he mentioned Jack but he brought you into the frame here and he's saying that his view

four or five years ago perhaps we're not ready for England you are a much better player now and you're ready A couple of thoughts on that. What does that mean to you? The Michael Vaughn might be saying that. And to what extent do you agree with anything?

I think I'm a lot better cricketer now. And there's confidence in what I say. I know what I can do. I think, obviously, today probably showed, and last week showed what I can do with the bat as well. So, yeah, the big thing, though, for me is it's been a hell of a journey so far. And like I said, I'm only 29. I always remember actually Rudy saying to me that obviously Graham Swan came back in at 29.

I always remember being sort of like 22, 23 being like, well, I want to do, I want to sort of do it. I want to sort of do it and you rush things. And actually I've had a hell of a journey here at Yorkshire. We've been through a hell of a lot. And yeah, like I said, I've gone back to sort of focusing on myself and working hard. I mean, it's tough bowling up here. It is tough. and yeah, it would probably make me better.

I think batting, it's also tough up here, but again, we've had some very good cricketers, some proper crickers that I've spoken to, played with, played against and learned from. So, yeah, obviously, Forney speaking about myself, it's great. But again, it is what it is. I think there's some really good cricketers out there. There's a hell of lot of good cricketers out in the county game.

But like I said, it comes back. to what I do for Yorkshire and if I can continuously churn and get, I guess, get into winning positions and have an impact with bat ball and in the field. I think that's all I can strive for. And I mean, the way that Mags has backed me, Anthony McGraw, head coach, Mickey Lewis has helped with my bowling and John Sadler's helped with my batting. I feel like I've become a very good critter, yeah. size a challenge if I may put it this way

size a challenge for your former team Somerset to win this game tomorrow they've got about very well someone's going to go and dig in and get some runs I think do you know what

if they go and do it credit to them shake hands at the end and I'll wish them all the best however there's a day tomorrow where I'll be doing everything I can to make sure that that does not happen

well thanks to Kevin so that county championship Commentary continues on five sports extra at 10.25 and look out for commentary on the women's and men's one-day cup finals this weekend, as well as the third T20 between England and Sri Lanka on Saturday with our coverage live from 2.15pm. This is the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. So much sport today and all the goals as they go in up and down the league. This is five live sports. To the lights and for the table.

To ball him. It's not to stop out. Everyone standing around the 18th green. Overhead, say he's shot off. The show us to the centre. Do it. Of the world's greatest sporting events.

Listen on BBC Sounds. Support comes from Wise, the smart way to manage the currencies you need around the globe. Fed up with losing out to hidden fees when you send money abroad with your everyday bank. Choose the smart way. Wise.

You can count on the exchange rate you'd usually find on Google. No unwelcome surprises. Plus, ditch that Where's My Money Feeling? Most transfers arrive in under 20 seconds. Join millions, saving billions on hidden fees. Be smart. Get Wise. Download the Wise app today.

Teas and Cs apply.