Test Match Special - TMS Top 10: Ashes moments

Episode Date: January 1, 2026

From Nathan Lyon dropping the ball at Headingley to Shane Warne's 700th Test wicket. From Steve Smith's century on return from his ban to Steve Harmison's first ball wide at the Gabba - what is the ultimate Ashes moment? Isa Guha, Sir Alastair Cook, and Jonathan Agnew debate their top 10 Ashes moments.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Bring more gear, carry more passengers, face greater challenges. Welcome to the world of Defender, with seating up to eight, ample cargo space, and legendary off-road capability. It's built to make the most of every adventure. Learn more at landrover.ca. Hello and welcome to Ashes Top 10 on the TMS podcast where we'll be ranking the greatest individual moments in the men's ashes. Winning or losing, over or innings. Who has taken the game by the scruff of the neck to help their side?

I'm joined once again by two men who have lived Ash's moments from either from the crease or from the commentary box. Sir Alistair Cook and Jonathan Agnew. People always forget my one knot out in the Ashes test match of 1980. at Old Trafford. I don't because you told me about... I'm an Ashes winner as well, you know. Either from the crease or the commentary box.

You're both from the crease and the comedy. I don't because you told me so many times about your one not. There you go. I'm an Ashes winner as well, thanks very much. Jack Leach, eat your heart out. So the greatest Ashes moments we've been asked to rank are... Income Stokes. He drives through the covers.

And there you go. Steve Smith in his return test match. after a year's ban from the game has scored his 24 test century in goes lion Bowles reverse sweep field of field it over there no no no he's set off oh no lions dropped it

Bowlin Bowling Bowles and that's egg and court caught that third slip by Lavin's and he's just not going to stop and Flintov goes roaring in again he's there he bowls to Ponzing oh my word he's caught behind is he there Biss he is

he's caught behind A FABILUS Overson from the far end. Bowles the first ball of the series. Oh my word, it's gone straight to second slip. What a horrible start. Walks in now, on a hat-trick to bow to Malcolm. Malcolm pushes forward and his cord at your leg, is he? Or did it come off the face?

Yes, he's out. He comes forward, plays out the offside, big every quick single cratch. I've got to hit them. They could have probably run out. Run out. A marvellous piece of fielding by Gary Pratt. It's broad coming in and bowling to Vodges. Oh, he's brilliantly caught.

Brilliant. That is an outrageous catch by Ben Scopes. I can't warn bowels. And he's got it. There it is. He's got it. Horn has taken his 700th wicket and Strauss walks disconsolately away. Steve Smith scores a century on return from Sandpaper Gate.

Nathan Lyon drops the ashes as Stokes secures an iconic headingly win. Scott Boland takes six for seven at the MCG, Freddie Flintosh's infamous over at Edgebaston 2005, Jimmy Anderson's perfect response to Mitchell Johnson's sledge, Steve Harmerston opens the ashes with a wide that misses the cut strip. Shane warns hat trick at the MCG in 1994, substitute Gary Pratt runs out Ricky Ponting, Ben Stokes' flying catch as Stuart Broad runs riot at Trent Bridge, and Shane warn's 700th test wicket. Well, we kicked off with Alistair last time first of all

is there anything on there that's missing I guess are you going here you're off your long run backstage Steve Orr's century 2002 should be in there because his career was going up in flames and so for me the last ball of day bang it was Australia's captain

that for me was one of the great ashes moments so that I think that should be in there Ball of Century Ball of Century that might get a mention sure he should be in there It's surprising, but yes, that's not in there.

But are these just, are we just ranking these moments? Because what about Chris Tremnet taking the wicket in 2011? Mitchell Johnson's first baller at Sydney. Sydney, or even went that moment when the team won the Ashes in 2011, first time for 20 years? Basically, there's a lot of moments. Who chose he? Well, no, these definitely aren't mine.

They were handed to me. Don't blame me. Stuart Broad's first bowler at Adelaide. You love that story. The longest first baller in test. Test history. Jack Leach's one run. Yeah, I mean, when does this start?

We should probably say 1995 because... That takes out of all of the century. I like what you're doing. Like what you're doing. Okay, let's go, shall we? Agas, we'll start with you. 10 to 6. Okay, well, number 10, I have got, I'm afraid,

the Jimmy Mitchell Johnson sledging thing because that, well, okay. I mean, it was amusing. It's funny. It's a good clip, babe, is it? Yeah, you're a bit quiet now. mate, you know, not getting anywhere against bank on him out. I mean, you know, yes, it's amusing.

But he's at number 10. Warren's Ash's Hattrick. Now, people say, come, are Hattrick and the Ashes? Yeah, yeah, it was. And, of course, I was there. DeFratus, Gough, and then Big Devon at the end. So, surely, if it wasn't Shane Ward, like, Siddles Hattrick, I mean, actually comparing Bassman.

On his birthday. On his birthday. He got himself, he did get Matt Pryor and Brody out, so probably quite similar to... I mean, they're not big scalps, these that Shane... Darren Goff. Shane nipped him. Van Gogh's. Oh, what have we heard me to speak about?

Van Gogh's Sydney. Yeah, when they bowled for hours, didn't they? Oh, producers just come in here. He hasn't heard any of our preamble. No, he edited out. Probably just as well. No, so that's why I have got the hat trick at, I mean, and Ashley's hat trick is brilliant,

but I've got it at nine because it was the end of the game. England were absolutely frazzled. And yes, it was Defratus, Goff and Devin Malcolm. Now, the one number eight, I could have put this higher because we now know rather more detail about Shane's seventh-hundredth wicket, which was Andrew Strauss, wasn't it?

And how he'd deliberately moved the field and how he'd actually told Glenn McGrath as he'd turn around, they're going to move that field there, and what Strauss is going to do is going to try and knock it away into that gap there and I'm going to bowl him. And Glenn at mid-off goes, oh yeah, mate.

And it happened. Next ball. And so if you watch the replay, Shane runs around a circle waving his finger and goes straight to Glenn McGra points out and he said, I told you, I told you, I told you, I told it. Great stuff.

And actually Andrew didn't know because Andrew, I talked to him about it, said, well, I wonder why he put that field. He just took that, you know, mid-wicket for a left-hand against a wristpin. He's got to be there, isn't he? From round the wicket, he's got to be there. But he moved him, and the whole thing was a plot, and it came off. So that should be a great story.

It should be higher than eight, really. But then Scott Boland coming, we've never seen him before. He took six for seven at the MCG. I mean, you know, great story. So that's why I've got him there at number seven. And Steve Smith, again, I mean, it's a wonderful story to come back. so much pressure on him after the sandpaper business which frankly he should never have been involved in

he should never allowed to have let that happen so all of that frankly he brought upon himself but to come back from that and to somehow block it out I don't know Steve very well I've into him a lot but he always strikes me as quite sort of nervy kind of agitated you know he's always moving isn't he fidgety and yet he could mentally psychological can block all that stuff out he could block all that stuff out he could block out the Hollistern, all the abuse he was getting, and score 100.

So that's a pretty tough performance, isn't it? Well, cricket is his game. It's his life. I mean, you look at players across history, and you know that there are players that have, you know, the great ability to be able to enjoy playing the game, but also recognize that there's stuff outside playing the game as well. And, you know, he tried to do that in that period. He was out of test cricket, started playing the guitar, and also.

sorts, but you know that it's 24-7 for him. So I think there was an element of relief for him, for his family, the Australians behind him, and actually probably a lot of the English fans as well who had been booing him all the way to the Queen's. Well, he was booed badly, wasn't he? I mean, he really was when he walked out to bat. I mean, he was very, very hostile. I mean, he could, he blocked it out.

I mean, he could say fair play. You see, and he served his time, you know, I mean, that's to be said, isn't it? He was out of the game. He served his time, comes back and does that. However, it's only number six for me. Okay. Alistair? I don't often agree with Hager's.

But I did agree with the clickbait of Jimmy and Mitchell. Number 10. Great little moment, but it can't be an all-time classic. Scotty Berlin's six for seven. I've gone for number nine. Basically because... You're such a batter, aren't you? No.

Yeah. Was the series still alive at that stage? You know, like an iconic moment, six or seven. No. I think the game, it'd already been done. Is this COVID? Is this COVID? Was it the COVID? So it doesn't actually count?

Broadie's told us it doesn't count that one. So that's why it has to be slightly lower on my list. Brilliant achievement for Scotty Bowland. Obviously, six or seven doesn't happen ever, really. But in a COVID match, it doesn't count. So that's why it's number nine. Warns Hatrick. I'm going again at number eight for the fact of,

the game was done I'm pretty sure and was done I mean I'd have a chance for hat trick against those three as well so I'm going to have to go that unfortunately there's probably

no as we spoke a little earlier and our Jack is back the producers back in the room bigger hat tricks and more important hat tricks in the ashes since that time which could be well ahead of that one

I'm saying that a smile on my face everyone by the way so joking and then I've actually gone for Harmison's wide at Brisbane at number seven Oh, come on. You had to be there. I was.

I was at short leg. If I was standing at a silly point, you'd have hit me. Of course he were there. Yeah, I was there. And you still get number seven? Do you know why I'm going for a number seven? Did you say anything after that moment? No, silly.

Do you remember the crowd? Yeah, I do remember everything. I've had two moments at Brisbane. That moment. And then obviously when Straussie got out in the first over. It's great to point. When he hit Ben Hilton else to Gully or point to everyone's third ball. And I'm pretty sure there was no one else out there.

It was just me. And then the rest. Because the umpires go, me together. The Australians are Cockerhoove, and I'm pretty sure because only... That was the first ball. That was all the build-up, all the hype, everything, it waited all this time for that and he ran up and bowed that thing. But then

there's still so many other times that you can influence the game for that one ball. Do you know what I mean? After that one ball, it happened, it was a wide, it slipped out of his hand. And I know they won't lose Series 5-0, and it's really easy. But it's really easy then to go, that

one ball cost us every. But I mean... I think set a tone, because Brisbane Well, you then have to think about Rory Burns, Mitch Stark. Yeah. Yeah, but you say it's... Darren Goughby and Muggles later. But I just... I think we read a little bit too much into it.

It's too easy for us as journalists and broadcasters in the media. That one ball was thinking, well, well, actually then every first ball or whatever happened in 2010-11, Straussie cutting in there, and then Australia won the series. Do you know what I mean? Or Sat Crawley hitting the first ball for four. That was a big moment. Yeah, was it? But it doesn't...

It's just one of... Or Joe Rue... Actually, Joe Roo, if we're talking about that moment, Joe Rue, trying to play the reverse sweep of a thing, I'll talk of another moment. But, like, it's one ball, such an isolate into it. I love it. It was so deflating, though.

Well, yeah, but then if you don't... If you... You listen to two commentary. Listen to my commentary, listen to Jim's commentary on ABC, the difference. Have you watched the next over? The over after? The other six balls. Well, I was commentated on them, presumably, but I forgot about them.

I was still in tears. I know, but what happened? There could have been three drafters there and Langer could have played a miss. I don't know. And I was still at short leg, I still can't remember. But I get your point. I just think, I just thought, do you know what?

It's one ball. I love Harmy and the poor blois every time I ever hear. Anyone I'm talking about Steve Harmson. It's about that one ball. And it must be horrible. You can't remember for that. So that's why it's going down a bit lower. And I've got Steve Smith returning for number six.

Just for all the reasons you said. And when you walk out as a batter in those moments, when all the attention is on you, For whatever reason you find yourself in there, it's a really uncomfortable place. Even if you're the biggest peacock in the world, even the guy who wants the centre of attention, I just think it must have been horrible.

So then for anyone to then deliver a skill, that's not just one ball skill. That is however many balls it took him, 200 balls over four, we'll say four and a half hours of batting in the concentration like that with the crowd on your back. And in both innings.

I know. I just an extra, he hasn't written that in there, but I didn't want to tell him he got under the next innings as well. But I just think for that as a moment, as a player, I admire something who can do that. And that's why he's quite hypermissible.

Can I tell you one more Harbison story? Please. Well, after it all... It might be edited out, but go on it. After it all had a go at Brisbane about it, you know, and said so much, you know, whatever it was. But we did. It was a big story, obviously. Of course it was.

We moved to Adelaide and went in the same hotel as the England players, and I'm on something like the 10th floor, press the lift, and it came down from, like, the 12th floor. Door opened. There was one person. standing in it. It was Steve Harbison. The door closed. And I just go down 10 floors in the lift with Steve. I don't know what to say to him. He was clearly looking at me thinking, oh, you're things you've said about me. It was of those awful moments.

So nothing was said for 10 floors. He had his bowling boots in his hand. I was tempted to say, off the net, Steve. There was no. No, it's absolute, 10 floors. I'm trying to actually get on that game now on the internet and just see whether you can actually see what happened in that first over. I'm not on the right website. I'm sure you probably could but I mean... We also don't have time on this podcast, too. No, good.

Just shut me out and then I'll just... Go on. What's yours? I'm going to go. I'm going to go. Purely for Bowler's Union and for the reason of not wanting Steve Armisen to be remembered for this. Because actually, before... So you've done it in a positive way? Yeah, I don't... I like it. I don't think it should be a big moment.

That's interesting. Okay. That's good. I could have that. Just to have interest, Alistair, what is that feeling when you're out in the middle, boxing day test, 90,000 people, you can't hear yourself, how are you feeling inside? I actually don't think the boxing day test match is as big as the first one. But I look at anyone who performs on the first day of that series, in particular with the bat, because you only have one chance. Your senses are just so much more heightened for that day. are all the build-up you've you know you've been picked on the tour but this tour or any tour whichever that date of the 16th of november or the 20th of november it's been in your mind

for about 12 months and everything is building up like you try and try and not to do it in the summer before think about the ashes but it happens every like even this the last summer we've just done this india series wow it's been good preparation for the ashes you know it's all it's things so those players as much to say it's about winning against india in that series It's still there. So everything is more heightened. The crowd, that buzz is unbelievable. It's one of the things I don't miss, but I do miss because your whole body is alive.

It's full of adrenaline. It's full of anxiety. It's full of a thing. The one thing after, that's why you say back to Boxing Day, you ask about the Boxing Day test match. Yes, it's good. But you've kind of suddenly realized after day one of Brisbane or wherever the first

test match, you've got over that. You realize it's still just to get another game of cricket. But that first day is really special and really uncomfortable as well. I'm just imagining what Steve Armisen would have been thinking at the top of his mark. Oh yeah. I mean, it's a big thing with, like, Hillfinney has bowled that ball or I faced it a couple of times. Yeah, it is varied. No matter how mentally strong you're meant to be or mentally aware of what's about to happen.

And I think I faced the ball twice, I think, first. One in 2013 and one in, I don't know, I'm in 15. I can't remember 15, but I did Brisbane in 17, 18. and David Warner, like, I think I got off the mark third board. He said, it's pretty cool that, and it was. It's like, and I'll remember that moment. Oh, he didn't sledge all the time, then. Not all the time.

I think it was past that. I was a bit too old just sledge that. Great insight. Thank you for that. Anyway, Harmison at number 10 for me. I've got Gary Pratt running out Ricky Ponting as number nine. Oh, that's quite controversial. Same sort of reason.

I just think there were much bigger moments that have happened, And although that was a great moment. It was funny, though. It was very funny. I mean, that was a great moment. In 2005, when that happened, everyone was just like, yeah, it was. Because Ricky's reaction.

He had to go at Duncan Fletcher. I think it was the reaction we made, isn't it? And also, we're looking about that iconic series. It was an important runout as well. It was. Yeah, they were getting back into the game, weren't they, Australia? And it's Ponting. The opposition's captain, their best batter.

And the fact they had already been moaning that the basically the bowler's bowled their spell and went off for the three overs and basically Gary Pratt was on all the time. But it was, you know, it's, I think it's a brilliant feeling, but also quite a significant moment in that series as well.

So that's what I've got it a bit higher up. When I think about big moments, I'm thinking about like on the more positive side. You're putting then the sledging ahead of that. Just one, an off. Just imagine like how many one off things have been set which haven't been repeated up, which is compared to one arm,

I'll run out hitting one stump with the Australian captain. That's true. I think that one's a little bit like that. Maybe I am revising that one. Maybe I am revising. I've got Jimmy against Mitchell Johnson at eight. More so because

the Aussies in Australia are so arrogant, aren't they? That's a fair point. To have Jimmy be able to get one back, I think that was quite a good moment. The reason I had that at a low as well, we lost that game. That was the one we lost.

It was, yeah. So that's kind of like Brody didn't count that one we forgot about. But yeah, I do like your point about any time you get one up on the arrogant Australians. Which I guess you could say is number nine as well. But anyway, I've got Warns, Ashes Hattrick at number seven because it was his arena. And again, we're talking about the theatre, the emotion, the drama, very special moment. I've also, we've gone all the sixes for the last podcast and this one. Smith returning from Sample.

Did you do what I do on this list? I started with my top two and then my bottom two and then just fiddled around with the other list and then suddenly... I think that's basically what happened, yeah. But yeah, just the fact that he was booed to the crease, he'd been battered by the media to be able to stand up and do that. You could feel the tension and almost how much he'd been thinking about it

prior to the actual match. He'd been thinking about that for two years to get that moment. It's a really good point, actually. To get that moment to prove himself once again and almost, That redemption moment. Was that his first game back from the band as well? Or had he played another, had he played test matches before that? It was his first test match back.

Extraordinary. He was so exposed, wasn't he? In tears on the telly, I mean, you know, the Holly's stand is pretty cruel. Crucky, they did rip into him. And also, going on this before saying about that date in your mind, first death in ashes, that date would have in his mind as soon as his band had been announced and how when he, He would have known that for two years, even bigger buildup.

Yeah, 16 months, March to August 2019. But he's an unbelievably special player, though, isn't he? So it doesn't actually surprise me that he could do that. Not many people could. The TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. My name's Steve Bradnell, a sister-manager of Royal Oak FC. You may have seen me online, going viral. Vinyl sensation.

And now, the BBC. have given me the chance to set the footballing world banter eyes. This could be a great opportunity for us, lads, a podcast for the BBC. Can I just say, what's a podcast? Brilliant. Great start. Well done, Bob. Brilliant.

We can completely show utter transparency to Royal Oak fans. I'll use my charm, gift it gab. Games gone. The Steve Bracknell podcast. Watch on YouTube. Listen on BBC sounds. Aggers, let's go your 5 to 3. Five to three.

Okay, well, I see, I've got Pratt running out, Ponting at number five. Just because it was just, I mean, we've been 12th man. We've been 12th man. Actually, it's not an easy thing to do. You suddenly walk into a game that's taking place. You're not part of it yourself. Wait a second. Alistair, have you been 12th man before?

Not very often, but we're saying he was actually on all the time anyway. Yeah, most of the time. But it is not an easy thing to do because you don't feel part of the game. And just that the 12th man. should come on and he was on legitimately because Simon Hughes was off and finished Simon Hughes Sorry

Simon Jones is off Oh Simon Hughes has done well to play on That's got to have you got to hate that in there That's pretty Simon Jones is off legitimately It never came back on again didn't they So he was actually legitimately on the field So anyway

He's at five for me Four Yeah Trent Bridge again Brilliant catch by Ben Stokes I mean it all happens so fast I was on I was commentating that one And it's one of the those where I wasn't quite sure who the fielder was because it all happened so quickly

and because it was such a brilliant catch you had to name the fielder and it's one of those we're just almost buying time with a sentence to try and just waiting to see I thought it was Stokes but wasn't quite sure it happened so quickly and the ball was actually it was behind him it had gone it was incredible it was absolutely superb and you know Stuart's face and everything I've seen that incredible spell. And then, yeah, number three, well, this this really is, I guess, my favourite moment, actually, if I'm honest, is Lyon missing that run out?

Because he said some pretty ugly things over the years as well at Brisbane before test, oh, we're going to finish some careers and all that sort of stuff. So I've always been a bit negative about Nathan Lyon. So that he dropped that. But he should have run him out by yards. I mean, it was just the game over, wasn't it? And then there was the unfortunate business of the LBW to follow up afterwards.

You know, it was all of that. So I have got Nathan Lyon dropping the ball and failing to run out Jack Leach at number three. The best thing about that whole chat was that you were giving a bit of insight into commentary there, aggers, and just how we basically blag it. Well, you buy a little bit of time, don't you? So what you do actually, yes, you switch your attention from the fielder

to the bowler from a moment. Look at the bowler's face while you're thinking, come on, let's have a little. You're buying five seconds, aren't you? and that's why he's the best everyone Alistair I've gone Shane worn 700 wicket

I've never heard an atmosphere like it you know very early on in my career that was I was already out at that stage of course I was around I was watching the game and just never heard a noise like 90,000 people shouting warny warning it was incredible

as you keep saying it was his back garden it was his Melbourne boy just the first time I've ever really seen hero adulation outside of I suppose India but for someone doing something which I didn't think was possible to do like 700 wickets as a leg spinner in Australia

so I thought that was an incredible moment there I've gone the I've gone the Gary Pratt four just because he played so many times and it's great to see Ricky Ponting getting so stressed about it when he's walking off I just think I just like it makes me smile It just makes me smile

And the fact that probably Obviously I've played again A couple of times I've played against Ricky Ponting He's such a good player And he's normally scoring runs He's abrasive He's great off the field On the field

He plays cricket He plays cricket actually probably as you should play cricket Absolutely hard as nails on it You know, nice as I've talked about it since Have you talked about it? Has anyone dared bringing up with him No I know I might do

I might do I would like to have a beer Ricky And I've got number three I get the feeling he'd be probably a little bit Surely he's fine now. Not wanting to talk about it. You think? Surely now, it's 2005.

Yeah. 20 years ago. Surely he's fun. I'm sure he's on a bit of therapy since. Yeah, possibly. And then I've gone for the flint off over at three just for the skid of the bowling. I thought it was just absolutely fantastic.

A bloke at the peak of his powers, Bonn is one of the best bats in the world. obviously getting Langer out early on first ball, second ball, whatever it was no ball and then the extra ball getting the wickets and just imagining how loud the holliestown would have been I wasn't there but just the atmosphere would have been

unbelievable as it was cricket was gripping the nation and just on a purely skill based over there can't be many better overs than that bold and if there was I'd like to see it I'm sure Geoffrey would have said the over that he faced against holding was as good and I'm sure it absolutely was

but that for pure over it was quick absolutely a far frighteningly quick yeah yeah steaming in so that's my five to three okay I've gone with the Stokes catch and Broad 815 at 5

just again theatre at the moment when you're up against Australia you want to continue and he massively got on a roll straight abroad how often do you manage to do that against Australia usually usually you're thinking there's a partnership coming

and it just never came and then that ridiculous piece of fielding from Ben Stokes and then the kind of half surprise celebration from Stuart Broad and I remember that going viral around the grounds

that summer so yeah for that moment I think that was pretty special I've got Shane worn 700 test wickets number four again pure theatre MCG his backyard, showman in action.

So I did have this at number two. But I've actually gone with Scott Boland a bit higher out than you guys. Just purely because... Were you there? I was there. And I still have Mark Howard commentary ringing in my ears. Build the man a statue. Six at the G.

Six at the G. Build a man a statue. Six for seven. and it was just absolute carnage but also because he was the kind of unlikely hero came out of nowhere but the adulation he got when he went down to Bay 13 was just so heartwarming

and I think was a real moment in time for Ashes cricket and also I suppose he's unexpected hero as well isn't it which adds to the story in terms of if he's always been behind you know the great trio boulders of Hayes would come in and stuck so then to get a chance and then to blow them out of the water. And he bowed beautifully too. He really did.

I mean it was unplayable while I was watching it he just kept coming in. Maybe as an iconic moment I could have been hiring on the set show. I mean certainly in recent times it's one of the best moments. Also for the fact that

you know second Aboriginal man on record to represent Australia at a test level and he wins the Johnny Muller medal who was the player of the series on the Aboriginal tour back in England in the 1800s so I think for all those reasons

it all coming together for him I think that was just a really special moment in Ash's cricket Agreed Two and one So Agas to you Oh well you see this is where

We're very different here Because I'm afraid I've got harm me at number two We've just We've talked about it But just the impact of that ball Jim's reaction on ABC My reaction on BBC

It just said everything Jim kind of Just laughing And look at this It has a shambles and me go, oh my God, what's he done? You know, he's got that sort of reaction, you know. It just felt, it just looked as if England were really nervous

and kind of intimidated and, you know, it's quite hostile place to gabberism. It just gave the impression that Harmie was really, you know. It might have been. Yeah, I think he probably was. Anyway. Which is quite understandable, it's not, doesn't it? Or did the ball just slip? But it went to Flint up.

Well, it went in quite a reasonable place. No, I've watched it. I mean, Agers, you would know, like, when you feel like you haven't got control of your body. Yeah, it's horrible. And you're bowling. Yeah. And you're in the arena. It sort of pushed it.

It was... That tells me he was full of anxiety. Yeah. It was a really nervous ball. And I can't watch it because I'm like, oh. I need to go and watch the next other six sports. I do. I do that as in just out of interest.

You can go and watch this evening. Good luck. So I've got him there at number two because it just... And England's record, the first ball that they bowled at Brisbane, just down the years, Well, first balls happened at Brisbane. It's been so bad. And that was just in that catalogue. And then number one, yeah, it's that flint off over because, again, I was...

It definitely helps when you're there. And particularly, it helps when you're commotating too, and I was for that over. And that commondry box at Edgebaston, you were right in the game. It was a different one that we have now. And you were lower, and you were kind of in it. I mean, it was just hard to explain, but you were like almost over the boundary edge. So you could almost reach out and touch Flintoff, you know, who is turning from our end and running in.

it was a fantastic over and at Ponting again Key Man and that match was so important after losing the first game all of that there's all that stuff kicking off there was Ponting having put it in there was his row with worn there was McGraw and his tennis ball

all of that stuff and this over which is just brutal over wonderful fast bowling and one of the finest players in the world hopping around all over the place frankly So I've gone I've misread it as well

I don't have to put my hands up and misread the thing because I actually thought it said broad his spell rather than just stokes his catch You got to read the question Cookie, you're asking rubbish at exams I'm actually sure Well I was

But I still think it was that too To be honest So I actually do think it does say So I actually had that as my number one Because 8 for 15 So I'm actually going to now change the rules The 8 for 15 I just wasn't

I mean you know We were one Two one in the Ashes From the series A little bit set the scene Mark Butcher said you're going to watch

this series behind the sofa because England have got no chance and we were two on up after a great game at Edgeburston

win the toss bowl and within No Jimmy Jimmy is injured yet within an hour and a half we had won the ashes and as a captain who'd lost it 5-0

and all the fallout from there to have pretty much done it by quarter to 1 quarter to 1 that summer it felt like it was

It was almost predetermined that you were going to win it. Well, we went one-il up at Cardiff, where none expected to do. Then we're hammered at Lords. Everyone's, there we come. And then we just had two great games. I had a fortnight of Bowling out cheaply both times, borne it around a bit. And, yeah, but I mean, I did not that I slept well after that day at all

because I thought, Donby, the captain who can see bowled out of a side out for 60. And I think we're at 2.40 for four and really got a brilliant 100. But, you know, we're going to win the game. But again, as there. So that, for me, was, has to be. the mind number one, the fact that the emotional attachment I had of that and the 5-0 before, and I had the spell rather than the catch-catch unbelievable part of the spell. So sorry, Jack, I've changed the rules.

And I've gone line dropping the dashes, as we call it. What a moment. I want to say it was my first commentate test match I was commentating on. I might have commentated on some one day. It was pretty short. Yeah, I remember it was your early days of you. It was very early on. And I actually, I could see it building up.

and not that I'm an experienced broadcaster at all but Agas did say to me just think about what you might say when it got a bit close and just allow it space I don't know when he said it he definitely said that to me I try to get out of that stint

because I was so nervous about messing up my words I do anyway and so I offered Vaughney to do it because you know you get time slots you get 20 minutes last or half an hour and I knew it was going to have to finish I was like, no, Vaughny, you do it, you do it.

Because I did want to mess it out. So I had the run out where all my literally brilliance came in where I just shouted, no, no, no, as I could see what was happening before he dropped the ball. I shouted, no, no, no. So that's not adding much to the listeners, the same word three times. No, I remember listening to that going, that's brilliant.

Well, I mean, I was just, and also, when you're, I was just out of the side, I was so emotionally attached to the side. I genuinely was emotionally attached. Like now it's seven, eight years. Still good friends of the players, but nowhere near as emotional about the England cricket team, just as relationship. So that was one.

And then when the moment happened... What about Glenn, though, by the way? Glenn McGowan. Oh, brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. No, the best thing about that was when obviously the LBW is given out, off eight. He threw his thing, I turned his microphone off and goes, and that's why you don't waste reviews or something like that.

He's fuming. And then said it again on air, but he was so cross. That was actually the day I was a taxi driver. That test match, I was taxi driver for Jim Maxwell. and Glenn McGrath. I mean, driving along thinking, this is surreal after. And then at the moment when Stokesy cut it,

Aguze, I was like, what? Yeah, what am I going to say? And then lucked out with the phase saying, it was the greatest thing I've ever seen, and then just stopped. Normally I'll waffle on like I've waffled on here. So that holds such a big memory from me in terms of the next start of the career.

And also, Nathan Lynde drop in the easiest thing. It always brings a smile to my face. It could easily probably be my number one compared to Stokesy's catch, but as I read it as Brody's spell, I've gone that way around. And of course, Adam Mountford in the background there, that's, you know, an iconic moment. Because he couldn't see. So Adam, just to explain, the producer was sitting well behind, and he was sort of, it was heading at very high seats. So he actually couldn't see the play. So he's listening. So hearing you shouting, no, no, no, he's going, oh my God, hit his face. He was all because of, he couldn't see what's going on. So his hands are going everywhere in his mouth anyway.

It was an incredible place to be. I mean, when you think about some of the most incredible moments in cricket, I think about 2019, being in the Lords Media Centre there and Haggis. I guess for me, 2019 was at a time where there weren't as many female commentators, so we had to get shared around a bit more. So I was working for BBC and Sky for the ashes. So I was splitting between the Skybox and the BBC box. And I remember coming into the BBC box and everyone's just like high, on edge. on the edge of their seat and just really kind of

anxious everywhere you looked and then I went into the Skybox similar thing it was just one of those unbelievable moments what was sad about that was 2019 with the World Cup and that test match

English cricket was just kind of on the launch pad it felt like a rocket and the steam was coming out the engines were firing up and then COVID came and it sort of fell off a bit of a cliff

that just felt to me because of what had happened to English cricket that summer, that could have been the moment when it really took off and it was real shame that COVID immediately and just kind of killed it. Yeah, incredible summer. I have got mine. So I've, I went with the Flintoff. He was originally at number one for me. But then I've kind of merged everything for number one. So Freddie Flintoff, 2005, unbelievable over of skill, accuracy, precision, being able to do it against Ricky.

I remember watching it live. And as I mentioned before, we had our women's ashes on at the same time. And from a pure inspiration point of view, for me as a bowler, as someone who tried to swing the ball, it was honestly one of the greatest overs I've ever seen in cricket from an inspiration point of view. And I just watched that over going, oh my God, I want to do that. And so every time I would be at the top of my mark during that series, I'd be thinking about that over from that point on, just about the way he was able to set him up,

the different kind of movement that was on offer for every delivery. Every delivery was clearly executed. He knew exactly what he wanted to do every single ball and he was able to do it. And I just think for that reason, Freddie is at number two, that specific over and to be able to do it against Ricky as well who is arguably one of the greatest ever I thought was really really special and then flinch off on the bus

I mean does that go mention as well here because you were on the bus I know you were no well we were on the bus behind behind yeah the crowds we weren't the wags as everyone else thought we were we were on the bus behind and it was one of the most unbelievable

you know how old will I have been I think I was just 20 at the time and so us youngsters were just completely awesome because the players thought no one was going to turn up that'd be in there for me as an ashes moment yeah I mean that was pretty special

and we'd we'd done a kind of lap of honour the last day the Oval Test and so we'd had a few days of enjoying ourselves prior to that but I do remember being on the bus on the way from there to Downing Street to Lords

and that's when Harmy drew on Freddy's face and I remember walking past him going oh my God it's Freddy Blintock I don't think Freddy knew not the day it was by then but there we go yeah well we sort of cottoned onto that when we arrived at the hotel

and he was hobbling about anyway that was a special moment but my number one has to be that I've actually encapsulated the whole day because I think it's you can't describe that moment without talking about the excellence and the miracle of Ben Stokes and you know at the start of the day you know I think a lot of people had hope for

England but as the wicket started falling they needed 73 one weekie I was on commentary and I did what you you did Alistair I stepped aside I let Shane Worn come in or Ricky Ponting because I was like you're about to to take the ashes here and then it just continued and just one of the most yeah just I mean of all the innings of all time it has to be up there

in terms of one of those innings that it just doesn't happen it was just so unbelievable I interviewed him the other day in a different capacity and so I said to him come on then you got all the fielders on the boundary edge which they were nine on the boundary edge you know you've got to have to hit sixes

because you can't get ones, you can't get leach on strike, you've got to hit it over them. How were you able to actually do that? What was going through your mind that you've got all these fielders out there and yet you're still hitting sixes? And he looked at me like I had gone a bit simple

and he said, well, because I had it over them, didn't I? So the fact they were there didn't matter. I thought, wow. That's how clear he's thinking. I had to hit it over them. And also, if you go back to that, actually the first 40 balls, he said he had to go,

for England to win that game, game he had to be not out overnight. I think it was one or two of 40 balls. Yeah, he was two off 73. So the actual innings, like the reason I had it, of course, the greatest things I've seen was the fact that it had everything in it. You know, it had the lot. And also getting over running at Josh Butler as well, didn't he?

Oh, yeah. Just extraordinary. I just say, yeah, with the 70 odd there, we were in the back of the box discussing where do England go from here? We were discussing, because we're going to do the podcast after. The lunch feature was, yeah, English credits finished. Where do we go from here? And also we were discussing what we were going to say, the end of the game, where it was a series game.

And then as he got, you kind of think, oh, I hit a few. It got to 50, 40. And then you start, the worst thing, you start believing, don't you? And you start believing at 30. Well, that's what happened with the Nathan Lion incident happened. Yeah, extraordinary. And what a, yeah, like, not a bad way to get introduced into punditry, that was. Well, my thanks to Sir Alistair Cook and Jonathan Agnew,

but did we get it right? You can join the conversation. Email us at TMS at BBC. dot co. UK, text 81111, start your message with TMS, all one word, all capitals, and you can WhatsApp us on 03301826. Again, start your message with TMS, all one word, all capitals. That's it for now. We'll speak to you next time. Five lives for WSL. Our referee for this afternoon, close her whistle, and we are underway. That's the only goal

And she is able to just pick her sport Curls this way past the best Goalkeeper in the division BBC Women's Football Weekly The latest news, insights and analysis from across the women's game Lucy Bruns, welcome back What one lioness do you think would make

the best rugby player? Me? Listen With the BBC Sounds app