Cricket Collective - Can Brendon McCullum Prove He Can Adapt After ECB Backing?!

Okay, Seven stops to write this best man's speech.

Hi, I'm Liam.

And I've got nothing.

Stop funny.

When he's good.

I beat her.

He'd never forgive me.

What about friendship?

Is a journey.

Ugh, cringed.

Come on.

That's it.

In year five, Dan had the bright idea to cracking the best best man's speech.

On the train.

You can.

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I'm Hayden, producer of the Fantasy Fan Girls podcast, and your resident lover of all

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And I'm Steven, your bookish internet goofball, but you can call me the smash daddy.

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You're listening to following on with me, Neil Mantle, along with former England fast

polar, Steve, Hamerson, right, let's get into it, Hamie.

I don't know whether history will judge today as being a keynote day or a watershed moment

in English cricket, but Richard Gold and Rob Key, the chief executive and manager of England

men's cricket, fronted up to the media today to reveal their findings and their decisions

into the review of the disastrous Ashes campaign.

You and I weren't there, but we have been following proceedings very closely and we will

hear from Gold and Key during the course of this program.

Thing that struck me is that they were very authentic.

I mean, you know, it's all very well to mock PowerPoint displays, but, you know, I think

they dealt with issues head on.

They didn't, you know, go into the nitty gritty, no one said we shouldn't have gone to

NUSA, but they answered the hard questions and they have put together a plan which may

or may not constitute the change of direction, but they certainly are hoping it's a change

of results.

Yeah, hopefully it's a change of results.

I would have gone to NUSA, but I'm not sure I'd have stayed too much at Linerkill.

I think that's the way a lot of people will look at what has been a difficult six months

for Robin for Brendan and for, you know, for the two Richens at the top.

There was a lot in that.

I enjoyed what we're seeing.

You're right.

Very authentic.

What I'm hoping for a C change is that there's a little bit more accountability on what happens

if things aren't going as well.

I don't want Lingerlose the first test match.

No, really go.

Key and McCullen have got to go.

We've made this decision now.

I actually want to see the end of this film.

I want to see McCullen finish in September at the Oval, either when the ashes are lost

because I've probably been the most vocal and critical that he should lose his job.

I can't believe after what's happened over the course of the last isolated six months

that I think somebody's been able to keep their, do everybody be able to keep their

jobs over it.

But that's gone now and it's about England supporters turning the corner, getting things

in the right place.

I worry about one or two things which I'm sure we'll come on to, but I think what we've

got now is we asked for something different in Rob Key when he first came in and I think

we've got it.

We asked for something different in Brennan McCullen.

Now we're asking for a little bit of change.

I think Rob Key can potentially change and bring people in around him from a selection

point of view, from an advice point of view, has Brennan McCullen got it in him to change

an environment because I think that's what people are asking for because a couple of

times, a couple of things in there that when we listen to is about the ashes and about

the world.

Yes.

And I think I want to bring up.

OK.

Well, let's hear now from Rob Key.

He was speaking one on one with Abos, Talksport could produce a John Norman.

So the big question, Rob.

You and Harmie, OK?

You're still exchanging what's that message is?

No, I rang Harmie to speak to him about some of the things he was saying and just to

ask why he was saying them at times.

And a lot of the time Steve's very fair in what he says.

And three hours later we got off the phone and that was that really, but I feel like we're

still on decent terms.

Have you been stung by, I mean, I'm just talking to Harmie, but there's so much attention

on the ashes as you knew there was always going to be.

And I know that Brennan says he doesn't read the prayers, he doesn't, whether that's

true or not, I don't know.

But you haven't been aware, you've read a lot, you've seen a lot, has it, I mean, it's

hurt, right?

Oh, yeah.

It's, you're trying to sort of have perspectives because I know there's a lot, this

is an unbelievably privileged position to be in.

But in terms of my career, like everything I've thought about, every waking moment has

been about how can you win games, a cricket for England, how can you try and help enhance

English cricket?

And when it doesn't go well, then it becomes really hard to take along with all the scrutiny

which is there, right?

Like I knew that's part of the gig, but it's been as tough a time as I think I've had

in my career and life really for the last what, three months.

And you feel helpless at times because you, just when it doesn't go to plan, you're

just sitting back and watching, I think I must have said it's the hope that kills you

with Luke Wright, probably every day of that test series.

And we had our opportunities, that's the most frustrating thing and we didn't take them

and that's what stings.

It's been a common theme with this England side though for a number of years, isn't it?

It's almost like they don't know when they've won a game of cricket.

I mean, how do you change that?

Is that fair?

No, that's absolutely right, you look at the India series, you get to that point where

you think we're there, we've done it.

And then all of a sudden Siraj comes and bowls brilliantly and you're just sitting there

almost like you freeze almost in the roll that I mean just in disbelief.

But that's the thing, that's where this is still a side though, I believe.

This is not the end of an era, whoever's in these roles to be honest with you, it's not

the end of an era.

You look at that bowling attack now, whether you look at West Harm he was when he started,

where Andrew Flintoff was, where Simon Jones was, Matthew Hoggard, Jimmy Anderson, Stuart

Broad, this bowling attack is at the start of its career.

And we have got to try and take them for to be in world class and those players themselves

as well, they have the potential, they've got to be sitting there now going right, I

need to become world class, this is how I'm going to do it.

And we'll help them along the way, along with the batting, we have so much talent, sometimes

I think the basketball narrative is an excuse for players, where they can go out there and

it's like, oh no, but that's just, but no, there is never a time where we expect people

just to go out there and throw their wicket away and get to 70 and chip one up in the air.

This is now about, once you get in, you go on and you make it count, you go in there and

you get 150, 200, that's your currency as a batter.

And maybe we haven't been strong enough in the way that we've spoken about that in

the dressing, because you're constantly trying to find ways to get the best out of players

under a huge amount of scrutiny, but that's the mission.

Of course, it must be your proud man, it must have been a very painful process to essentially

not reapply for your own job, but certainly explain how you're going to take it for, your

vision for the next couple of years or whatever, and the same for Brendan and Ben.

So where, what changes are we going to see, how is, how are things going to be any different

coming up first test against New Zealand throughout this year and all the way up to the

ashes next year?

Oh, everything that we try and put in place is hopefully some people do see a side, that

we don't want players to necessarily, we don't want to completely different style and

philosophy, we just want them to become smarter, more ruthless in the way they go about

doing these things.

There's so much around behind the scenes that we're going to try and do, we're trying to

enhance the environment as much as you can.

We've signed Troy Cooley, who's Steve Harmasson will now, I believe he is the best person

for bowling.

When we have an inexperienced bowling attack, like we do at the moment, with the bowlers

at the start of their international careers, I believe we've managed to bring in the best

person to do that.

The person that helped create Flintoff, Harmasson, Jones, probably one of England's best

attacks.

The same thing with Stark Cummins, Hazelwood and then with Bummerer and the like with India

where he's just been.

So that's one of the things, you're trying to bring in people, now it's not a question

of changing that environment, getting rid of people, it's about enhancing it, so you're

trying to bring in people that will be able to offer insight, help to some of those younger

batters, the likes of Jamie Smith, even Harry Brook, who's got to number one in the world.

We're trying to create a system that isn't reliant on just a coach and a captain, that

can actually, when players go out of form, they get them back into form quicker.

They get them ready for what's coming, which is not easy, international cricket's hard.

The culture was an issue at times, it appears, certainly hearing from yourself from which

you're called today, that's also an area that's going to be fine tuned.

So again, do you think there was a cultural problem within this setup?

And if so, what changes and why those changes have been implemented, if not?

I think that the thing we're always wrestling with all the time is that these players are

away for almost 12 months, so the Harry Brook has been at home for six days this winter.

So you're trying to find a way so they can escape, get away from something, especially

an Ashes series, where the scrutiny, the intensity of it is so great.

You're trying to get them away from it every now and again, so they can just relax and

think about something else.

Now you've got to make sure you're doing that in the right way, and at times they may

not have done, but ultimately you're trying to create an environment where we try to create

an environment where players make the right decisions.

They make the right decisions what's best for them to perform later on.

And actually at times, if you've got to get to a point where these players are making

the right decision, that's what we want to do.

We don't want to be school teachers that just tell them you can't do this, you can't

do that.

We end up with a problem the other end of it when players burn out because of the constant

pressure that they're under, so it's trying to find that balance.

You don't want the pendulum to swing one way and the other.

You need to find that ground in the middle that gets the best out of these players and

their longevity as much as anything else.

So they can perform over and over again at their best for England.

Last question, and it's just a short one, but you know, what you've been through over

this last couple of months or two or three months, and of course the years have gone

into this.

Does that almost make you, or give you more desire, not just to still be in this job for

the ashes here next year, but also the next one over in Australia for years, ton?

You just love the opportunity really to try and enhance things and try and win series

especially against Australia.

And I think what happens in sport, you go through a really tough time and in life and

everything, it's the tough times that make you.

And the decisions we make in sport is you get people to go through that experience where

they're going to have learnt so much, they're going to be hard and they're going to be

more ready for what's coming, whether a player or a coach.

And what you do, you sack them with all of that experience, whereas actually now it's

about can you learn, can you learn from every all the hardship you've been through to

go and take this further and make you an even better version of what you were before.

Let's hope that's the case.

OK, well, I've got three questions for you.

The first is about McCullum, so I don't want to read too much into the silences because

obviously sometimes it's what people don't say that is more interesting and pertinent

than what they do say.

But there was a long pause.

And I think that both men actually, which I thought was a sign that they were thinking

about the question and not giving us blase cliched answers.

But when John asked Rob, can Brendan change, there was a long pause and he said, well,

you have to be authentic to yourself and your way of doing things.

So you know, red flag may be some people, I think it might be to you.

So there's that point.

So secondly, there's the specialist coaches, the issue of specialist coaches.

Rob did say that Troy Cooley was the best man and he appeared to be giving him credit for

you know, the emergence of one of the great four-man pacer tax outside of the West Indies

in Hoggard, Harmerson, Flintoff and Jones.

So that was interesting.

And the third point is, were you really on the phone for three hours?

No, it not three hours.

It was two hours, it was one hour, 59 minutes.

That's exactly how long the phone call was.

It went a little bit for a tell enough and I don't mind, I don't mind saying what the

start of it was.

I mean, ECB were right to pick me up on what I said about Mark Wooden.

It was a poor choice of words and I apologize for using the word neglect.

At the end of the day, that's how the conversation went.

Two good friends haven't, haven't had a chat about all things from about minute three,

minute four, everything was fine.

Me, I've got so much respect for that lead.

I love the blocked bits.

I will not have too many work bad words said about him, you know, unless it's in a

constructive way, which is doing our job, which is his job in my job, a completely

different at this moment in time.

And I'm back him to get it right because I think like I said before, I think he can

change and potentially bring it in a Troy Cooley.

He talks about this bowling unit and that's the point I want to make.

You mentioned that about a bowling unit.

I'll get onto my column in a second.

For the bowling unit, that choice coming in, Neil Kilings done a fantastic job in building

these boulders into positions to play for a Cooley knows he's got a little bit more

experience and killer in the game check.

And obviously that four man tacked that one in 2005, but you need a leader of the attack.

You need a leader.

And when he talked about myself coming in, there was, Caddick was there.

When Simon came in, Caddick and Gough were there, I first came in, Caddick and Gough were

there, Poggy came in, Caddick and Gough were established.

We put a lot of cricket with each other.

We were a little bit more unique where we came in as a group.

We came in in that Jamaica test match in 2004 as a group.

And we built that group together, but what people don't realize is our leader of the attack

in our basic solid point wasn't a fast polar.

He was a left arm spin baller and he helped us all together in Ashley Giants because he

was the father figure that we had.

He was our leader.

You know, we were doing the donkey work and doing all the hard yards and running the

end and bowling fast.

But our leader was somebody who stood up and on him and off talking to us all the time.

And I think what I think England of God is, England have got some very, very good fast

bowlers.

But I still think the neatest structure and my structure would be this summer.

I look at this summer and think, right, once the IPL is done, can we get Gough Rarcher?

And I would only play Gough Rarcher in test matches in an oldie eyes for England until

the end of September.

This is what I would be saying.

If I was in charge, if I was in selection, can we get them into, play five test matches

out of six and then play 50 over games because we've got a World Cup in 2027 in South Africa.

But only if we need them to play in the 50 over games and not read that ball.

We will build for the ashes in 2027 with having Gough Rarcher is our leader of the attack.

He plays less cricket.

We don't travel him around everywhere and he plays the five test matches.

And we build our bowling attack around our leader because I think this is our problem.

We haven't got somebody at the forefront to lead the attack.

Yeah.

We'll talk about repairing the relationship between the England set up and County cricket

as well.

In part two, we'll also hear from Richard Gould.

You're listening to following on with me, Neil Nathopoulong with Double Ash's winner,

Steve Harnesson.

Next up, as I said, we'll discuss some of the changes that England may make and we'll

hear from ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould.

OK, seven stops to write this best man's speech.

Hi, I'm Liam.

And I've got nothing.

It's not funny.

Funny is good.

I beat her.

He'd never forgive me.

What about friendship is a journey?

Crank.

Come on.

That's it.

In year five, Dan had the bright idea of cracking the best best man's speech on the train

you can.

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Howdy, howdy ho, and welcome to Fantasy Fanfellas.

I'm Hayden, producer of the Fantasy Fangirls podcast and your resident lover of all things

Sanderson.

And I'm Steven, your bookish internet goofball, but you can call me the smash daddy.

And we are currently deep diving Brandon Sanderson's fantasy epic Mistborn, but here's the catch.

Steven here has not read Mistborn before.

That's right.

Hey, hey, so each week you'll get my unfiltered raw reactions to every single chip.

And along the way, we'll do character deep dives, magic explainers, and Steven will

even try to guess what's next.

Spoiler alert?

He'll be wrong.

News flash.

I'm never wrong.

Episodes come out every Wednesday and you can find Fantasy Fanfellas wherever you get

your podcasts.

Welcome to the Talksport cricket YouTube channel.

And subscribe.

Okay.

I've got more questions about Rob Key, but we need to sort of bring Richard Gould into

the discussion now.

So let's hear from the chief executive who was also speaking to John Norman.

The decision has to be made to retain the services of Brenda McCullum and Rob Key there.

Of course, there's always some fallout after an ashes defeat and it was a particularly

painful ashes defeat.

So the reasoning behind your decision and of course Ben Stokes as well, Stang is captain.

Yeah, it's been a very difficult winter with the ashes because there was so much expectation

anticipation.

We thought that we would be able to go there and compete more strongly than we did and

we ended up losing for one and we've learnt a lot of lessons along the way.

This cricket is the pinnacle in terms of the men's game and the ashes sits right on the

top of that.

And therefore, what we want to try and make sure that we can do is take the lessons, embed

them within our systems and we're very lucky to have Rob Key, Ben, Baz, available and having

the desire to take us forward.

Can you explain to the talks for listeners a little bit about the lessons that have been

learnt and why they're being learnt now rather than before?

Yeah, I think the ashes is a particularly unique challenge going to Australia.

I don't think we'd want a single test there for the last 12, 13 years.

So you can see the magnitude of that.

And I think sometimes when you have a change over of players, coaches, you can end up

sometimes losing lessons.

And our determination is to ensure that we don't lose those lessons.

We don't want to be making the same mistakes as we go forward, whether it's in terms

of the culture, the planning that needs to go into it or indeed the performance systems

and processes.

So we're very fortunate that we've got a management team that we will be adding to with particular

skills, but we've got a management team who are so determined to adapt, to learn.

And frankly, look forward to 2027 when the Australians come back and allow us to get

our revenge on them.

There's a lot of determination there.

Is there a determination to change?

I mean, you would have sat down and looked and spoke to Brendan, is he going to change?

Everybody has to be authentic to the way that they lead their teams, whether that's Ben,

Baz, myself or Rob Key.

You always need to remain authentic in the way that you do things, but we also need to

make sure that we can learn and adapt and evolve.

And yes, I think during the Shannankator and the World Cup, we saw really good evidence

of us being able to change the way that we do things, not a complete U-turn on things,

but to get other things smaller, smaller elements right, whether that's in the way that we

try and manage in-game or we manage our people.

So Brendan will adapt and evolve like everybody else?

Yeah, you say that as if it's an easy thing to do.

It's not an easy thing to do, but there is a real determination there within the management

team and also within the ECB.

When you look at the journey that we've been on for the last four years, the test team

has done some amazing things.

I cannot be forgotten, just because we have a very serious road bump in Australia, that's

no reason necessarily just to tear that all up, throw it away and start again.

We want to build on what we've been doing.

I can't speak for the county game, but you certainly worked within the county game for

a number of years with great success.

Do you feel a disconnect there with certain parts of the game?

Do you think that that is a bridge that also needs to be possibly just tinkered with?

We built the touch.

Yes, absolutely.

I think we have at times left some parts of the county game behind in terms of the way

that we have either talked or selected players and that's never been done with any harmful

intent.

It's just an acknowledgement that sometimes the international game is played in a

different fashion to domestic cricket, but the talent that is coming through the county

systems is incredible at this particular time.

The level of talent young players that we've got coming through is it's so rich and we

need to make sure that we can assure that all counties feel involved in the journeys

of the England team.

We want everybody to feel positive when the England team does well and so certainly

we are redoubling our efforts with the county game and I know that they'll meet us half

way.

Lastly, you mentioned about the priorities within cricket.

You talked about ashes and India.

The ashes 2027 is going to be next year.

Is that an indication that this has now been parked in terms of the results aren't necessarily

so important over the next two years?

Winning is really important.

We know that winning is really important.

So we could revisit this situation if results don't go particularly well.

I worked in sport for a long time.

We know that everything is discussed on an hourly or not daily basis particularly within

the media, but we look forward to a really good summer of test cricket.

We then head out to South Africa for a series before we've got the ashes back here in

2027.

We want to win all of our games.

That's the ECB chief executive Richard Gould speaking to our boss John Norman.

Lots of interesting things there.

He did rather overuse the word learning, but just back to Rob Key because Richard called

mentioned it as well there.

It was a really interesting Scott Taylor did a great interview with Gareth Batty in which

he I thought he spoke with typical bats frankness about the county cricket being overlooked

as a pathway to play for England.

That was last week and it was up on the YouTube.

Really interesting and it's been a source of massive frustration for you and I actually

as well.

You can't just be picking blocs because they use their left limb in their six foot six.

If they haven't done anything in county cricket.

Yeah and I think what Batty said it brilliantly, Andy McGrath said it to us.

I mean, I thought Thomas talked about young Josh Hull and Rian Ahmed.

And Rian Ahmed, yeah, Rian Ahmed I think there's quite a lot of county coaches have either

got players back or had players around the England set up and I talk about this informal

approach and they've either had to rebuild their players out of confidence or from a technical

point of view or a load point of view.

That's the problem.

Sometimes that a load point of view is that when they come back towards the county game,

they don't feel as if they're ball enough overs and they're at the run the risk of getting

injury.

That's the source of I think frustration from the county set up towards the England set up.

We've never had a county game and a test game where everything's been rosy.

It hasn't, not even in my lifetime, probably not even in your lifetime,

the manners of covering cricket where the England cricket team and the county game has ever

been in sync.

But I don't think it's been as far apart as where it is now and I think that's the concern and

bit.

Some of the frustration I had last year was the test match, someone was finished and

Zach Crawley never went back and played for Kent.

At what point did Zach Crawley deserve not to go back and play any cricket in September

at the back end of the season and how is he going to get better by not playing gone into

a national series and the same with the amount of overs not balled by some of our bowlers

by the time they got to lie the kill and didn't play in the sort of county set up towards

the back end of the summer, it just seems as though it's locked down upon.

You mentioned the word excess, it just seems to me, is it not just a matter of the utmost

simplicity, it's just curb excess in every department and you know like England's record was so poor

when McCullum took over and Ben Stokes took over in test match cricket, they'd won one out of

17 and so their argument I suppose was there's no point in just diluting things and tweaking things,

it needs to be a complete revamp but now it just seems you know Rob mentioned I think he didn't

specifically mentioned the oval test match but you know he did say that England played an

incredible cricket and you just when you think they've got the job done they you know they'd bundle

it, that was an excess wasn't it you know Harry Brook played the most extraordinary innings to get

close to the finish line but then didn't curb the excess, if you want to go out for a couple of

drinks don't have too many, if you want to play golf absolutely but not on every, do you know what I

mean? It's just if you want to identify players who don't necessarily perform at county cricket

because county cricket is played differently to international cricket, they don't put all your

eggs into one basket, don't try and pick the whole squad from players who don't play the way

you want to play and don't play county cricket, do you know what I mean? It's just at every step

of the way it's just yes you had reasons for doing things yes you wanted to wait change the way

things were done you know doing the same thing over and expecting a different result as the

definition of madness so they wanted to change everything but curb it, it's curb it it's managing it

but it's also being smart, how many cricketers of you sort of commentated on manners in your

illustrious 400 test match career where you look at the difference between the good and the

great are the ones that got to a point and use the gearbox, use the gearbox and use the gearbox

is the one it goes from it goes from one to six behind the ears from left to right ear and that's

what Brendan McCulloughm keeps talking about the other games played in the top two inches but

unfortunately I keep coming back to that informal group is that who is managing this point when

you're exactly what you're right 100% about the excess is when we lose and games from winning

position when our banners are given 150 200s aware when they just get over three figures who is the

one that is just helping that individual go from being very very good to unbelievably great

and that for me is what I think Brendan McCulloughm's not and that's why I said at the end of the

ashes especially now with the informal bit where is the accountability going to come from what are

we learning are we learning that everything's going right and we've just made a mistake and we'll put

we'll we'll go on the same road and everything will be all right when we get to the end of the

summer because we're playing in England and we should be beating New Zealand three now,

should we beat Pakistan and everything's rosy again the other little concerns that I've got

and why I was saying what I was saying at the end of the ashes so have I learned a great deal

of what's been said not really okay there's never a good time to change a coach but you know there

are times that are worse than others and it is interesting I mean let's say England have a

so so summer you know I've like maybe a couple of two one wins I mean I I agree with you they

should beat New Zealand and they should beat Pakistan but they they then go to South Africa

who are pretty good test team actually and and South Africa could could win that I mean they are

defending test champions although they've got I still think very brittle batting but anyway

if they lose in South Africa and change the coach then his first series will be the ashes

in 2027 and if they change the coach after the ashes then the new coach starts off with an

away test tour of India so oh well I guess what I'm saying is if they're going to make a change

it has to be either between New Zealand and Pakistan or after Pakistan I mean like if he if

there is a length of rope I don't think it should be longer than this summer yeah I agree I agree

I don't think it should be longer than this summer part of me wants him to go to the end the ashes

no matter what because this is what we signed up for do we have enough money to get rid that's

another argument that people are having you know you know I don't buy that I don't buy that I think

if we just some million quid there's 500 million in the bank I was just about to say we've just

sold the 100 for 500 million but there are people thinking it could be financial I don't think it

it is financial to put the argument the counter-argument to the financial part if I thought it was

a financial thing you've got comfortably comfortably people within the setup to carry on against

New Zealand at home Pakistan at home South Africa are aware with likes and Marcus just gothic

with likes of Andrew Flintoff you could have Marcus just gothic his head coach really into summer

and then reevaluate where you go from there and it would cost you a little bit more money but not

a great deal of money I didn't I didn't buy that for one minute I think like Rob said it would be

very very easy to sack him and then you pay him the money off you go you bring somebody else in

in their eyes they've gone down a hard route which is we believe in this process but I just think

there's a little few bumps in this road of that process which I think need to change and unfortunately

I mean I'm looking forward to seeing where Brendan is in that change mentality how do they do this

from now on it's going to be interesting but part of me now like when I said at the start man I want

to see this film end I really do I want to see the film end and I really want Brendan McCollum

to win the ashes and finish that we're because and that has been a lot of positivity out of this

but I just think that off the back of what happened in Australia I still think there's more

bumps to come which I think never getting them I think it's going to be more difficult for

Keane Thompson and for for Gould Richard Gould did say let's not forget the good that was done

let's not forget yeah and do you know what homie I am absolutely proud to say that I was a total

convert and disciple of basketball for a for a whole year as I said England won one out of 17

and and suddenly you know they they were winning I'm playing incredible cricket so let's not

let's not forget that just on the cornerstones Prince the cornerstone principles of

Brendan McCollum's coaching philosophy slim down back room team very few specialist coaches

don't play meaningless warm-up games there's there was a fourth you'll remember what it is

but for me four sort of cornerstone principles have now been changed or at least significantly

adapted if not compromised and Brendan McCollum has never particularly struck me as being a big

swallower of pride but either he's grinding his teeth at night or he has swallowed a bit of pride

we haven't heard from everybody so we don't know and that's the that's the thing you're right the

cornerstones of the we're Brendan McCollum get him into the job and you're right you're right and

I'd like to think I've I've tried to is in all my negativity I've tried to sort of be thankful

of where we've come from and you've given them the benefit of the doubt we've given them the benefit

of the doubt of course we have and like I said before I really am I happy that he's staying I'm

intrigued by what's going to happen I think that's what's making me happy that he's staying

because I've got the cornerstones like you say of what's met Brendan McCollum successful with

England in the initial up until the last six months they're going to be questioned now and he

doesn't strike me to go with authority that much keys he's not the sort of disciplinarian that

probably Andrew Strauss would be and Ashley Charles would be but I think that's a positive

dealing with a coach like Brendan and that's why we've got that's why I think it's a good thing

that Rob is in the position that he's in but now if you're going to have to put layers in because

above is saying well we need to prepare better we need more this we need more that we need more the

other that have been clearly left wanting over the course of the last 12 months then can Brendan

in all good conscience change with that so I haven't a bowling coach in there that's not his

having a another sort of layer of selection that's going to make it more difficult for him to get

the way he wants it to coach if you know what I mean and I think that is that's going to be a

challenge I think because I'm not sure of him and Ben ended Australia on great terms they'll

never ever fall out I don't think I think professionally I think it's a bit strange and I think

because of that bringing somebody in the middle might make it more challenging for Brendan to do

the job the way he has been doing and then how does then Brendan react to that.

Harvey I just want to finish this section by again reminding people that you and I have always said

that when it comes to Brendan McCullum and most other subjects actually that we are not adamant

that we're right we've both left the door open to doubt I want to say that I think Brendan McCullum

has a very high EQ I think he's pretty good a very high IQ as well I think he's a smart man and it

may be that I've entirely wrong in saying that you know he's had to swallow a bit of pride he might

well be going do you know what I did I did make mistakes and I've revisited my coaching philosophy

and I don't think that it was right I mean I doubt that I doubt that he's doing that but I definitely

leaving the door open I mean I think he's a smart man than me and you know he has had great success

so he there's just that possibility army that he'll go you know what yeah actually I can't do

everything myself I do need some help and this is the best thing for England I will tell

he is the one that's it's a little bit like the key the KPI cook scenario without

being anything like the KPI cook scenario it's every single chance that the media gets to speak

about Kevin Peterson it's to allow us to cook so everything we talk about it's about Brendan McCullum

because Brendan McCullum's a coach he is the man that's leading this England cricket team it's

not real key not Richard Gould or Richard Thompson they're driving the business they're driving the

brand Brendan McCullum is the man that's in charge and he is ultimately judged on whether we win

or we lose when we win he is lauded because we win in such a brilliant way and when we lose he is

catapulted with so much negativity because we lose in such a catastrophic way but that's what we

brought him in for and that's what we need to understand and unfortunately for us some of the things

I think that's come out Brendan McCullum's mouth at the end of the ashes it doesn't make me feel

as though he's willing to change that much and are we going to get much different and Richard Gould

and Rob Key have explained some stuff over the course of what we've heard in this last half an

hour of the show is that potentially the bumps in the road that I'm on about is we've got a captain

who's starting to think his way which is a little bit different to where the last time I heard

Brendan McCullum speak to now we've heard the manager and director that you've exact speak

there we are I'm not getting four people all in sync let's see what happens

you're listening to a following on with me Neil Mantle along with double ashes

with the Steve Palmerston and you can now get in touch with us directly by emailing cricket at

torxport.co.uk or by tweeting us at cricket underscore TS so do you get your questions in

and your comments okay on to some of the stories which are called R.I. and news stories

England will tour Australia for three T20s and five ODIs I'm not sure that Scott Scott

the dates right here from the 13th of November to the 2nd of December that sounds like a game every

second day eight white ball games between the 13th of November and the 2nd of December I hope

they're taking a squad of 23 and that's just a couple of weeks before the test tour of South Africa

harmy that is a packed schedule that is a packed schedule he's right I've seen it it is a packed schedule

here's one for you the manners what about this for an idea no one to talk to about couldn't fit

the South African ODI's in because of the schedule and everything like that why don't

put the South African ODI's in during the time just before the test tour in do you know when we

talk about the women's game and we say we've got it right where to play multi format game England

have got a one off 150 years Chris Miller said last week he wanted it as an ashes test match

well and to play that one in March and have three or T20s five ODIs in a test match

on the end of it and have it as a one series and have a multi format series and see if they can get

some interest in international cricket that way what do you think of that idea because

we talk about franchise cricket taking over the world an international cricket is a back burner

but the big two teams playing against each other in a multi format like what the women's is for

a point system where you play three T20s then you play your five ODIs with a test match at the end

of it which you're there anywhere to play the 150th in Melbourne is that pie in the sky or is

that stupid idea or you know something that's been around the world more times than anybody else

what do you think that one you compare me to Phineas Fog I think that the women's game I've got

the patent on that yeah I think it works really really well I think it's unique to the women's

game and I think that the men's game is too stubborn and you'd need to conform and I think there'd

be too many flies in the ointment of trying to do that in the men's game but I love it in the women's

game I really do I think it's it reflects the value of each format and I'm just thinking because

you've got a one off test match why don't we do something different yeah no I would not be a

dissenting voice if I was on the committee to discuss that okay there was a story I think it was

written by Lawrence Booth our old friend the Daily Mail the mail correspondent about the shortage

of juke's balls but the ECB have said that the troubles in the Middle East has led to a supply chain

issue but the ECB have said there will be enough juke's balls for everybody don't worry about it

New Zealand cricket have their board of directors announced an in principle decision

to scrap the super smash which New Zealand cricket have owned and administered for over a decade now

and they have decided that to go the private franchise route establishing an NZ 20 with private

investors you've got the big bash and cricket Australia wrangling over how best to sell their

big bash league and now you've got NZ 218 again as well it's all the hundreds fault you see if

they hadn't got 500 million quid by selling the 100 then they wouldn't be the scramble to to

privatize but it's causing a lot of consternation in both countries Australia and New Zealand

with directors and administrators of a more traditional bent army resigning in protest

Dion Nash did so the former New Zealand all round he resigned from the board didn't like this idea

of money grabbing privatization yeah shame I mean it's it's tough one it was easy for South

Africa you see because there were no partnerships in the essay 20 it was just a we ain't got no

money at all but you can buy us you we've got good venues good crowds good players but we got no

money so you can have it all but it's not the same for everyone else no it's not the same money

and and I think to carry on from that bit from the South African point of view and obviously

no more than that because you're out there but they didn't have instruction really they really did

the I spent a short time in South Africa we getting some fitness and I've from that moment I've

always kept an eye on domestic cricket in South Africa and they've changed the the first

last format they've changed the domestic structure in in how many teams and what it looks like so

many times I'm sure you're dizzy thinking about it where English cricket 18 counties you had

the blast it had a structure Australia six statesides yeah the big bash was a structure so

it was a super smash so to come in and take over and that's what it is it's a take over you

know the 100 was a take over it will be in the big bash it was in the IPL and it'll be interesting

because they'll be fighting for time slots as well on when their tournaments are played because

in the Southern hemisphere you want to maximize holiday time why we have no cricket other than the

100 in August July and August because the school holders everybody is going to want to have their

tournaments so South Africa want their unbox and they're going forward being patches over Christmas time

a lot of it is over Christmas time and beyond I don't imagine if a franchise not going to come

into New Zealand cricket I'd imagine they'd want to maximize the festive period as well so I think

it'll be there'll be three tournaments in January be the IELT 20 the SI 20 well four actually

NZ 20 and big bash so I need to go around and then it comes then it comes down to financially

who's got the most money and the one that's probably not sanctioned the best is the IELT 20

probably got more money than as much money and more money than anybody else then it comes down to

where the players want to be pissed and it'll be targeted because the bigger players will get

a fortune the lesser players will not get that much to sort of the balance things out and then

you die out in cricket and the idea of the 100 which I liked was to do the opposite which was to

get from 450 professional cricketers playing for 18 counties into 8 teams to be the best playing

against the best before overseas players I like that it's not like the former but if you've got

four tournaments going on at the same time then it's so kind of productive for me for my cricket

point of view I'm all for the players getting paid more money but it's spectacle for me it's not

and then you run the risk of other outside influences coming in which I don't really want to go into

right okay we weren't then we move on to cricket Ireland by the way the big bash we're hoping

to persuade New Zealand cricket to rather than have their own tournament send a couple of teams

have a couple of places in the big bash and expand that to 12 teams but New Zealand cricket

have voted as I said to do it yeah they do that's right yeah yeah Wellington the earleague has got

Wellington and they've got Auckland and Auckland just been relegated to the first division but

they're in the earleague there's two teams I think in in the earleague Wellington Phoenix

Wellington Phoenix football club yeah that's it okay right cricket Ireland has caught my attention

I love cricket Ireland there've been lobbying for support for a Euro Nations Cup

along the lines of the Asia Cup and I think it's gaining some traction to be honest

but Ireland have also announced their fixtures they've got a one-off test match against New Zealand

at Stormont from the 27th to the 30th of May and this is the bit that I thought was fascinating they

are they've agreed to play two T20 internationals and five ODIs against Afghanistan now I haven't met

Sarah Keane but we're going to get her on the show because I've absolutely taken I was just an

administrator who stands up and goes I'm not going to forbue off I'm going to tell you the truth

those were her exact words so she she she was asked about England and Australia not playing

bilateral series against Afghanistan in protest at the basically the abolition of the Afghanistan

women's team or at least the in Australia yeah refugees basically and Sarah Keane was asked

about this and she said I'll be honest I'm not going to forbue off and tell you that we need

the money because we don't we can survive but we need the cricket and a lot of us feel her words

morally uncomfortable but here's the best bit she said during those games I will make certain

that me and every other female employee of cricket island is very prominent during that series

yeah just that that's absolutely fantastic I can just see the I cricket island chief executive

walking around with the banner saying you know support for the Afghan women's cricket team

but that that was great and they also announced that they'll be playing a white ball series against

the UA and and Nepal going forward at each ILT 20 franchise will sign at least one island player

from the 26 27 season onwards so a lot of sort of pro activity going on there to you know

keep games for island and I've got sympathy for them harmy you know I mean that's seven white ball

games and you know the Irish men and women don't play it that many so they need the cricket

yeah they do need the cricket I've said all along about the what our plan is and you know we've

we've said it many times about you know playing a a test match is a warm up for anybody that comes

into England I think we all know that should happen but I think I look at first class cricket in England

in England and if we could get you talk about the the Euro Cup of nations why can't England put

a team into that doesn't have to be the first team it can be it can be a select team that

the players who aren't playing in their first class counties at the time that'll be great development

will be in England banner bound you know the ECB badge supporting the European nations because you

know there's not many Southern Northern hemisphere teams but a cricket and I think we have to help

each other I think if we can have a strong bond with you know Scotland and Netherlands island you

put people like that think it would make it so much better to and we will we will eventually get

their talent we will we mean one of the best captains that's ever played for England is an Irishman

a proud Irishman and he still sounds Irish because we all win Morgan is a proud Irishman

but he kept in England to one of the best years of my lifetime when England won the World Cup

so if a good Irish player comes through he will end up playing in a franchise league and then

you know half potentially if he's test match good enough playing in England so I think there's

a lot more can be done and I'm with you I think the I think the chief executive Sarah she sounds like

Sarah keen sounds brilliant I'd love to get her on here and I'd love to see you know the prominent

women of Ireland sit there and it's not a protest not a protest it's standing up for what you believe

is right and I think what we believe is right in cricket it is not always what it is believed

around the world but I think you have to stick to what you believe in and in everything you do

and I think the wish is set it the matter is said was what makes it a lot better for me

okay right onto the final word harmy now I know that you've been following the Nigeria

invitational women's T20 tournament in Lagos as closely as I have so we have I'm I'm forewarning

you you're going to read the second one I'm going to make the announcement that and not many

people will know this but Fanny Utagushi Manendi 15-year-old Rwandan girl has become the first

and youngest woman to score a hundred on T20 i debut with 111 not out of just 65 balls against

Ghana in that tournament the aforementioned tournament and I know it's going to sound like we're

taking the Mickey and I suppose we are but in a loving encouraging nourishing sense because I

genuinely love the fact that these four African nations are playing sorry the yeah it is for

yeah they're playing a quadrangular so obviously there will be a couple of bumps in the road and

a few a few crashes because this is not very experienced women's teams harmy so that's a that

truly is a fabulous performance not so good for Ghana no no Ghana I'm pleased that that's me with a

second one yeah Ghana dismissed for a 23 and reply Niger 169 for four with Abigail she tops

scored with seven you've been listening to following on with me Neil Randall alongside former

Indian fast-polar Steve harmison will be back at the same time next week to continue building up

to the start of the county championship season but for now this has been another edition of following on

okay seven stops to write this best man's speech hi I'm Liam and I've got nothing

stop funny when he's good I beat her he'd never forgive me what about friendship

is a journey cramed come on that's it in year five Dan had the bright idea

cracking the best best man's speech on the train you can howdy howdy ho and welcome to fantasy

fanfellas I'm Hayden producer of the fantasy fangirls podcast and your resident lover of all

things sanderson and i'm steven your bookish internet goofball but you can call me the smash

daddy and we are currently deep diving Brandon sander since fantasy epic misborn but here's the catch

steven here has not read misborn before that's right hey hey so each week you'll get my unfiltered raw

reactions to every single chip and along the way we'll do character deep dives magic explainers

and steven will even try to guess what's next spoiler alert he'll be wrong news flash I'm never

wrong episodes come out every Wednesday and you can find fantasy fanfellas wherever you get your