Speaker 3
we were meant to be playing cricket today, but that surprisingly finished yesterday. So, of course, it's afternoon.
Speaker 1
Fantastic. And how did you go? Where were you playing? Who were you playing with?
Speaker 3
We played a place near Nottingham. There's about 10 guys playing 10 lads. It was good. Yeah,
Speaker 1
nice. Very nice. And Felix White, how's your day been? Where have you been?
Speaker 2
My day has been quite good. Thank you. I was in rehearsals. But you know what I was doing yesterday when we were at the Oval Invincible
Speaker 1
was launched for the 100. Can we get into that before we do the test? I think should start with the test. I think we should start with the test to begin with. That's on the agenda. We were at the hundreds little drinks thing as cutting our co-chair capacity yesterday. I'd love to talk about that. I'd love to talk about the women's T20 series as well which finished 5-0. Briefly mentioned that as well because I went along with a very special guest to that final match at Lords which I wanted to share with you too because I've got some stories about that. And yeah, as Jimmy mentioned, there was supposed to be a men's test match on today. It should have been the final day. It was all looking like it might go to the final day as well at one point and they were putting tickets up saying it was going to be free for kids and all the rest of it. And then there was just a mad collapse from the West Indies, which was a real shame for fans of, I don't know, Test Match Cricket because it was looking like a really good close finish potentially. But obviously really good that England got the win. Jimmy, I imagine that's the main takeaway from that dressing that they were happy that there was a pretty tidy victory in the end. Yeah,
Speaker 3
of course. Yeah, it was a tough game. I think, uh, credit to the West Indies, they bounced back well, they batted well, first innings, got past us. I think it's the first time that England have scored 400 in each innings. I might be wrong. Oh, right. What? Yeah.
Speaker 1
What do you mean, ever?
Speaker 3
No, I don't know. It sounds dubious that but I'm not sure. No, no, no, well, Sharkey's nodding.
Speaker 1
Sharkey is nodding in it. And we trust you
Speaker 3
wow. That was a great effort. I just thought it was a really good team performance. Lots of standout sorts of great individual performances. I thought it was a great day and like you say, for the neutral I guess would have been nicer if the West Indies got closer but I just thought we bow really well yesterday. Absolutely made up for Bash, for sure Bashir, I think he bowed brilliantly. I think he's got three test fifers now and he's 20 years old, it's absolutely mental. But yeah, I just thought we bowed brilliantly first things as well actually didn't quite get the rewards that maybe we deserved. But yeah, came back yesterday and bowed really well. And I don't you know, it's one of those things where people go west in this collapse, but actually, we put loads of pressure on him with the ball. I think it was, you know, obviously, partly down to us bowling well and then maybe not bad as well as they wanted to. But yeah, it was just a really good performance and yeah, nice to wrap up the series.
Speaker 2
Just just quickly on Bash, interestingly, he's taken three test fifers already because he's got such an unfussy way about him, doesn't he? Like, it's a very sort of like everydayness to Bashir, but you can imagine that's almost like easily go unnoticed his work because he's, do you know what I mean? He's kind of, he just seems to go about it as if he's just playing cricket at any other level.
Speaker 3
The beauty of him, he's so humble, so down to earth. And he's in a really weird position where he can't get into Somerset's team. So he went online to Worcester. I know. It's just, I guess it's a bit strange for him that he's actually performing brilliantly for England and can't get into that Somerset team. So I think he's just made up that he's around the team, you know, the coaches have shown faith in him, captain shown faith in him, throws in the ball when it's when it needs something to happen. And you showed yesterday that if there's anything in the wicket for him, he'll find it. I thought he bow really, really well, bought some absolute Jeffers. There was one ball I think to Jason Holder that turned through the gate and just missed the top of Middleston by millimeters. And, you know, I can't remember seeing any balls like that since Graham Swan played. So, it's really exciting that he's got the confidence and the ability to bowl like he did.
Speaker 1
Yes. I was going to mention Graham Swan because I was going to do the rubbish Louis Walsh impression. You remind me of a young Graham Swan, but some of those deliveries were. They did have that drift and that, and also that confidence and that fears as well, which you loved watching the confidence of Swann. He was something that was so amazing to behold. You just thought, this guy's going to get some wickets here and he believes that he can. But just, I think it's a broader point on the newcomers to that test team. They look so at home so quickly. Jamie Smith looks totally at home, obviously batting, but even behind the stumps, a lot of people wouldn't have seen him keep before, but he looked really good. There was a really great, really great court behind, which was sort of the under edge, which was quite difficult to do. And then Gus Atkinson looking at home as well, it looks like quite a happy unit and everyone, I wonder with the bash thing, is that he hasn't had much time to even think about what's going on. I heard a post-match interview with him. He was like, yeah, just sort of enjoying it, but he's not overthinking it. Which doesn't necessarily tally with England cricket that we've known since we were kids. Full of players that overthink sometimes, maybe the key is to underthink.
Speaker 3
Yeah, I think the environment that we're in helps that. It helps create that sort of calmness around them, and makes them feel at home, feel like they belong there, they deserve to be there. But yeah, I mean, the whole point of creating that environment is so that young guys can come in and perform how they want to perform and show off their talents, really, like Jamie Smith comes in. And, you know, he's been amazing. He's just given all the sort of confidence in the green light to go away and, or to go out there, sorry, and just play shots from ball one, just express himself really. And there's no, there's no, you know, it's kind of giving them the confidence, but at the same time, there's no sort of, well, if you don't get runs, then, you know, you're gonna get dropped. It's kind of saying, you know, you're sort of in the team now, you get a fair crack at it. So, I think it's just, it's great to see them. So, because I remember being a young guy coming into the team, and it is a quite a daunting place to come, going into dressing room with players that you've seen on TV and some of the world's best players. And, you know, I just, it's great to see them being so calm and going out there and performing well. And I thought Bash's interview after the game yesterday was amazing. You know, on another week without Batter's getting hundreds he would have probably got man of the match for that performance and bowling the team out in a session. So yeah, it's just great to be a part of.