The Finisher! Michael Bevan looks back on stellar career

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Hello, all. Welcome to the Unplayable Podcast. It's been a big week. In Cricket, my name is Josh Shonafinger.

Kane Richardson's here as always. And well, we've got a couple of domestic finals to look forward to now with the Sheffield Shield and the WNCL final set.

It's coming to the end of the cricket season, mate.

It is. We've said it for a few weeks. It's a trophy season. We've had one given out in the past week. We've went into our last pod, so...

Definitely, yep.

Let's start to get the flavor of this month going.

So, yeah, it's one of those times a year where most teams are disappointed and probably happy this season is finishing.

But also for a couple of lucky teams, I've got something to play for now in this next week, so always an exciting time of the year.

It is. And lots of different states represented as well this season.

We had obviously New South Wales and Tasmania in that one day Cup Final, which New South Wales won.

Victoria, South Australia and the Sheffield Shield Final and New South Wales and Queensland in the WNCL final.

So lots to look forward to. We'll preview those finals as well.

We've also got Michael Bevan in the interview coming up with the great domestic and international cricket energy.

He did it all in the Beffo and he's coming up very shortly.

He did. It suits the theme perfectly, Josh.

So you put in these... It's no accident when you put these shows together.

The quality of guests you get to supplement the topic conversation that we have for the rest of the program.

But do we want to weekly winner? I think we should get into the weekly winner.

We should.

It's one again, a category that...

We're talking about people we win.

We're talking about trophies. We're talking about winning. So weekly winner.

I'm going to give mine to Greg Shippen, who's waking up today as...

You know, he's no longer a coach of New South Wales or the Sydney Sixers. He's waking up probably feeling pretty good.

You know, he's a free man. He can do whatever he wants today. He doesn't have to organise a training session or...

Or return in and call us to some guys and maybe have him in pick.

So end of his... Well, I assume he's not going to coach next season at any...

I mean, he's available. He's available, yeah.

But what a career.

Tazzi for 11 seasons to begin. He went to Victoria, his home state fort,

Sheffield Shield titles there, a one-day cup and four big-bash, old big-bash titles with Victoria.

Yeah.

He goes to the... Well, he's the inaugural coach of the Melbourne Stars. Unfortunately, they've...

Well, no one's managed to win a trophy for the Melbourne Stars. Fortunately, unfortunately.

And then the Sydney Sixers for 11 seasons, two trophies.

He was an IPL coach and then he finishes his career at...

Cricket in New South Wales with a one-day cup over, I think it was three or four seasons there.

So we're talking... He's well over 10.

Yeah, that's a lot of trophies, isn't it, for someone of that career.

So to him, weekly winner, well, well deserved.

You can have a beer tonight and maybe reflect on all that success that he's had over the journey.

But also, his tentacles as a coach have, you know, the people that have grown up playing under him

now had coaches themselves and Andrew McDonald being probably the highest profile one of those.

So whether or not he continues on as a coach, his protégés are now moving up through the ranks, aren't they?

So his impact on Australia and Cricket will live on.

And he went into coaching pretty quickly after his playing career for Tasmania.

I believe similar to that in Vodges, actually. So maybe we were seeing a bit of a pattern there.

And yeah, Shippy was also involved in, I think, maybe four losing big-bash finals as well.

So not far off, you know, having an even wider trophy cabinet there.

Well, it could have been double almost, which is unheard of.

So, yeah, an almost unrivaled coaching career.

But as I said, his legacy will live on through, you know, the Andrew McDonald's Cam Whites.

There's been David Hussie. He's been a big-bash coach over the year.

Brad Hodges has coached throughout the world as well.

So that powerful Victorian team that he was the mastermind of, you know,

you're seeing that impact of that team and his work kind of filtering through

international, but also, sorry, domestic, but also international cricket now.

When you were talking about him having to tell players,

they weren't picked when you were referring to yourself at the Sydney Sixers or...

No, he didn't need to tell me that.

I actually went to him and said, just don't even worry about it.

I'll just sit over here in the corner and pretend I'm not here.

Now, it's funny you've gone with Shippy for your weekly winner

because we haven't, we never talk about what each other's weekly.

Because we like an element of surprise.

Yes.

And I've gone with Brad Haddon for this week, who's going to replace Greg Schifford

as a New South Wales coach.

He's been assistant at Punjab and they're recouponing.

He's also did a student with the Sunrise as Hyderabad.

And obviously he's captain New South Wales.

And I think he went astray for a couple of games in there.

Lots of leadership experience now gets his first crack as a head coach.

He's going to take over the Blues.

No one has been made so far on the Sixers or the Thunder's vacancies

as well because Trevor Bayless is no longer a coach over there at the Thunder.

But yeah, it's exciting times for New South Wales as whole.

A stack of new assistant coaches as well coming in.

So haven't really going to get a chance to make his own mark on this squad.

Well, it is great.

You don't typically see those bigger names that have, you know,

storied international careers, go back to domestic coaching.

It's normally they're looking for the top jobs aren't they?

So to get him back to domestic ranks is a great coup for domestic cricket, I guess.

You know, you just said Adam Vogue is his name before,

but he's actually one of those guys who's filtering out of domestic cricket now.

He'll stay in the big bash, but won't be around the shield in the one day cup.

So to grab someone of Brad Hutton and having back around the domestic scenes,

such a big thing for New South Wales.

So yeah, bit of an unknown how we'll go.

It's one of those things.

And I know from being a player, your assistant coaches, it looks like with the best job in the world.

You're mates with the players, you've got your batters or your bowlers that you look after.

You don't have to worry about selection or any of that.

When there's tough calls to be made, you can always just be the guy that puts your arm around the players.

But when you're a head coach, all of that responsibility all of a sudden comes with you.

So I'm sure he's prepared for all of those situations, but it is obviously a much more stressful job than, you know,

and just being the old bowl and coach.

You would have played a bit against?

How didn't I guess through the big bash years, end of his career, started your career?

He always looked like a very fiery individual on the field.

Is that fair to say?

Yeah, competitive, fiery.

I think my first kind of half a dozen games, a dozen games for Australia with him keeping as well.

And he was a senior member of the team.

So I remember team meetings vividly, you know, his input in those.

In those, you know, I was just like, wow.

Yeah, like how we, how we would talk about the opposition, their weaknesses and stuff,

just the depth he would go into it.

So, yeah, no doubt he'll bring that to New South Wales.

Okay, let's get into this chat with Michael Bevan.

I was able to get on a call with him.

It's during the rain delay at a very long four-hour rain delay before the one-day cup final last week.

So that's what he's talking about when he's talking about Blundstone and Randall looking very bleak and rainy.

But great to chat with him about the finisher nickname, lots of amazing finishes in the one-day cup and for Australia.

But also taking a big bag of wickets in the test match.

So here he is, Michael Bevan, the finisher.

All right, after last year Henry Thornton won the inaugural Michael Bevan medal for the best on ground in the men's final of the one-day cup.

We're now joined by the man that the medal is named after Michael Bevan.

Welcome to the Unplayable Podcast. How's it all going for you down there in Tasmania today?

Yeah, thanks for having me on.

Unfortunately, the news is not that great from down here. It's been a lot of rain throughout the course of the day.

And then obviously there needs to get underway very shortly.

Otherwise, there will be no play, although having just said that, like I'm looking out at the ground now.

Obviously got great views over Belrivo and they're just sort of pulling the stakes out now and it's very light.

So yeah, look, there is an outside chance that there'll be a game on tonight if there's no further rain from this point in time.

Fingers crossed. Now, the one-day cup final, it's a game that you had a lot of success in over the years.

Nine finals you played in, five wins and 500 and something runs.

Are there any particular finals that stand out when you cast your mind back to all those matches that you played in?

Yeah, look, I didn't even realize I've been in that many finals to be fair, which is nice to know or recall.

So thanks for that.

But yeah, look, the two that probably stand out for me, I think there was one of the earlier finals that I was in against Victoria.

I'm pretty sure Dean Jones was around. Baron Berry was keeping Flemma was bowling.

He was also in the team and like back then in the one-day competition there wasn't a lot of people turned up and on this particular occasion,

I think we got about 12,000 to the SCG for the one-day fine.

So it was played in front of a, you know, such a really nice atmosphere and it went down to the wire.

And so too close, too close again, I tended to play that way.

And on this particular occasion, yeah, I think we got home in the last over or something like that.

It was a pretty low scoring match in a difficult wicket.

And then there was a, there was a one-day fine against WA over in Perth.

I think it might have been early 2000s or something like that.

Yeah, look, to WA, we batted, you know, I think we batted second.

You know, there was, we were chasing a big score and ended up scoring 100.

But I remember there was a little bit of pressure on Pride to the match, a lot of talk that they were going to target me.

And so to get a big score in a, you know, particularly over in Perth, which is always a little bit tricky to play.

That was another good memory terms of terms of the one-day final for me.

Those two matches probably stand out.

Yeah, well, I'm glad you mentioned those because I had to look at both of those before we came on.

And that one against Victoria, you were only 22 years old.

You scored 64, not out in that low, but in that small chase, as you said.

Pretty good Victorian attack there as well.

James Sutherland, Tony Doddermade, Simon O'Donnell, and Damien Flemingbold, that last over, like you touched on.

Do you feel like this innings was a bit of a, maybe a seminal moment for you,

a coming of age or such or sort of made you establish yourself on the national stage?

I guess so. I mean, you know, you always break it up into one-day game and, you know, the four-day game.

And, you know, so I'd sort of announced or arrived earlier than that for the longer version.

You know, and from my perspective, at least from the one-day game in tight games,

I'd always really had the ability, I think, to take it down to the wire.

And so look at might have been for other people or people who are watching it,

but not necessarily for me, I guess.

But yeah, I think that sort of coincide, 22, that sort of coincide with a good run I would have had in 2021, maybe, for New South Wales.

And so, yeah, I guess it's just those stakes on top of stakes.

And as you're establishing yourself as a player and obviously going for a slightly higher honor.

So, yeah, it was obviously a pretty important match from that perspective.

And you said that you genuinely tended to take it late.

Was that a deliberate tactic by you to take it to the last door of the match?

We always hear in cricket these days about batting deep and taking it deep.

Was that sort of your philosophy as well in those high pressure runchaces?

Yeah, I think so.

I think one of the reasons for that was because I like to minimise risk and make sure and just have certain bolus to target.

When you sort of have plans and you have certain bolus to take, you can't really determine when they're going to come on if that makes sense.

And so quite often those bolus that you end up targeting can quite often be towards the end of the innings.

Because there's always that sort of match up between strengths and weaknesses and trying to find bolus that make a difficult to score, etc.

So, yeah, look, it always ended up being that way.

But I wouldn't say that I went out with a view to taking it deep.

You know, it's just, it sort of presented or played out that way and it seemed natural normal.

And yeah, it seemed like the, the, the appropriate sort of strategy in most, you know, most circumstances.

And then you're obviously given the tagline, the finisher.

I'm not sure if you like that tag or you dislike that tag, but it certainly stuck.

And do you remember when it first did stick and when that sort of name came about?

Look, it must have been late, late 90s, maybe early 2000s.

I think it came from the Indian cricket public, I think, or maybe the media in India.

So, yeah, look, I mean, obviously I liked it.

I created a sort of a unique role there.

And again, it was just natural to me.

I didn't go out to create the role, but it just happened and I found my spot.

Like it was, it was nice to know that, you know, I, I'd created something worthy of a tag or something different at least.

But they're not, you know, look, like if I'm being really brutally honest, I would say the last couple of years of my career, you know, it also became a bit of a burden to bear in the sense that, you know, there's always that pressure to finish the match.

And get a result, I guess.

So, yeah, it was, it was nice, but it came with it, with it's, yeah, the, you know, a few tricky moments.

Well, just on pressure, because I mean, watching back the highlights now these days, it never looked like you were under the pump or lost your cool in any stage.

Was that just what it looked like from the exterior?

What was actually going on inside? Were you feeling the heat or were you someone who was, when you're in the moment, very cool and calm?

Yeah, look, mostly calm until, you know, everyone has their pressure points in terms of run rate. So for me, you know, it was probably six and over to go with 15.

It was probably seven and runs and over to go with five to 10.

And so as soon as it got to that stage, yeah, I started to think, right, well, OK, so it's now do or die.

You've got to bring it down and so I always had those sort of levels.

In terms of pressure on the match, like, I was either called in when the team was deep in trouble or I didn't get a bat.

And so, so when the teams actually in trouble, like most people are expecting you to lose the match, there's no real pressure.

You don't put a lot of pressure on yourself because it is a really tricky situation and difficult.

And so quite often I find I'd go out into the middle.

And, you know, when we were struggling and there was no pressure or at least I didn't put any pressure on myself, then, you know,

you'd take it a bit deeper and then I think, you know, when you were a chance of winning the match was when I started to get a bit nervous again,

or the nerves would start to creep up again because you had something to lose.

And so for me, it sort of edged and flowed. It went from no pressure to OK, we can win now a little bit of pressure.

And then the last couple of overs are right on dial, then on what I have to do to win the match here.

And so you go back to then focusing on, you know, what it is you have to do.

So, yeah, a bit of, bit of everything at times.

That's fascinating. Yeah. As you touched on, you did certainly kind of add a niche for yourself.

But were there any players that you did sort of model your game on as you were coming through the ranks?

Not really. I mean, like I'm down here, you know, for the Dean Jones Cup to present the Michael Bed and Metal.

And, you know, the guy that, you know, I, you know, I guess thought extremely highly of him one day,

cricket was Dean Jones at the time in terms of the way he played.

And, you know, he was probably the first Australian player.

Oh, no, well, he was at least one of them to change the way it had been played.

And to put the very pressure back on the ballers, but of course he did it from, you know,

number batting at number three. And so, so look, I've got to be honest, I didn't.

Yeah.

My role wasn't around when I began my career, like no one had played that.

And I sort of carved that out and made it my own.

And it was different, it was unique, but it was natural to me.

So I didn't plan on it or I didn't watch other people thinking, right, well, you know,

if I play this way or I do this way, then I'll get a good result.

It was just, you know, it was sort of analysis.

It was feel, it was combination of, look, I know what I can do.

And, you know, in the past, one day cricket batting at the back end was a bit of a slog first, you know.

And it was viewed as that, whereas I was a little bit more calculating and clinical about it.

And that was just really to do with my personality.

And the other thing that I would also say is that I got fortunate in the sense that,

I, it was the role felt natural to me.

I felt a level of responsibility as well.

And so when you're in cricket, you know, when you're looking for batsmen and finding where they bat best,

it sort of has to be authentic and intrinsic to how they feel about the role.

And so for me, playing that role felt completely comfortable knowing that, you know,

I could, like, you know, I was at the point, you ended up winning or losing a match.

But of course, you know, all throughout the match, every player had that same opportunity.

It was just because of that snapshot and moment in time where it fell down to me.

But, um, yeah, so no, I didn't really, didn't really have anyone.

I, of course, I had heroes and guys I admired, but no one for that specific role with that make sense.

Yeah, it does. It does.

And as you said, you're coming to us from ballroom over where you enjoyed some success of your own.

Certainly in the latter part of your career, looking back at that 2004 season when you made the move south.

I mean, the runs just flowed in all formats.

Eight centuries in the shield and plenty of runs in the one day car.

Why did you think it clicked for you when you made the move south?

You know, I felt it was time for a change and with that, a change of approach in terms of playing.

I think at that point in time, I kind of realised, you know, my Australian career was done and dusted

even though I had over choose to try and make those 2007 World Cup, I think.

And I was still probably playing well enough to make it, but Australia had such a good team by then

that it was tough to get back in.

So I think one of the things that you do is reflect on your career in terms of what you've achieved,

what haven't you achieved.

You know, and, you know, is there any that I could have done differently?

Probably would have helped if I had a thought about those things throughout my career a bit more often and I did earlier.

But for me, it was at that point in time, I thought, okay, well, how would I play now?

I'm probably not going to play for Australia or how would I play, you know, without fear or, you know,

what haven't I done in terms of my approach that I can implement when I went down in Tasmania?

And so I sort of did all those things.

I had a sort of a lot of mental cues and things that I wanted to implement and insert into my game.

And for that first year, it just sort of really, really worked.

It wasn't really a lot about the cricket side of things.

It was more just me allowing myself to let go, to let my reactions take over.

Probably to be a little bit more confident and carefree that I'd been in my previous parts of my career.

And so, yeah, when it all added up, I sort of got it right.

And, yeah, there were certain reasons why it really worked.

And, yeah, it was a really enjoyable season, of course.

And then it was the one day comp, you know, which was very satisfying as well.

Yeah, I think what's at Tasmania's first winning 30-something years,

and you obviously integral help orchestrate that.

Sort of the Tasmanian community get around the Hobart Hurricanes last year.

Was it a similar sort of vibe when the drought was broken for the Tigers?

It's hard to say because I'd come from a sort of a large state with quite a lot of trophies in the cabinet.

And kind of a slightly different attitude.

And so, I was a Canberra born and based cricket to begin with at the start of my career.

And, you know, there was a touch of Canberra about Tasmania in terms of just the minnoes and the smaller.

And, you know, always having to fight and claw to win matches and let alone competitions.

And so, you know, it was really interesting for me that first season in terms of the headspace.

Everyone was out and how they played their cricket.

I'm not so sure from a fan perspective or an administrative perspective,

but a player perspective, it was really interesting to see some of the changes that happened during that time

and obviously being a part of that as well.

So, it was like it was an enjoyable, interesting season for me.

It would be remiss of me if I didn't ask you about some of your exploits for Australia as well.

Of course, everybody loves to rewatch and talk about that New Year's Day innings.

Is that the highlight of your career or are there other particular knocks or innings that sort of surpass that perhaps?

Look, it's one of them that was what I was known for.

You know, and it sort of brought me to the one-day stage and the one-day team.

And so, I'll always, always cherish and remember what that meant.

In terms of pound for pound, in terms of the quality of the innings, probably wasn't my favourite innings.

You know, I can think of a couple of innings that were, you know, more important to me.

There was a match in Melbourne early 2000.

I think we were against New Zealand,

we ended up scoring a hundred of a hundred balls.

And we needed to win that match to make the final.

And we'd never not made the final for such a lot for it, made it ever.

And we were, I don't know, I'll look on it, you know, I can't even remember what we were.

We were sick for...

Oh, I've looked it up, Michael.

Six for 82, chasing 246.

246.

I'm not allowed to do that.

Yeah, exactly.

And so, that was a favourite because there were a lot of runs to score, not many wickets down.

And it was a pressure situation.

So, that was probably one of my favourites.

And I also sort of recall walking off that game and coming through the stands.

And, you know, just sort of seeing the sort of the...

My team mates faces in terms of what I'd helped, you know, achieve, you know, it sort of resonated really strongly.

And made me feel pretty good inside.

You know, there was a...

Well, there was a series in South Africa where, again, they scored close to 300 or 290.

And that, they were big scores back then and not, you know.

And again, we lost a couple of early wickets, but they had a good attack.

And again, from memory, I got 100 off 100 and helped manufacture a win, you know, there.

And then, you know, obviously the West Indies, 96 West Indies quarterfinal or semi-final against West Indies,

were 4-15.

And it was just survival.

So, I had quite a...

Yeah.

So, I had quite a number of games that I thought, well, you know, there's probably more pressure on, you know,

than the last, last ball win in Sydney on New Year's Day.

So, but like it's top five years, but I reckon there's three or four innings that I probably, probably think more highly off here.

And I guess there was also that World Cup match against England in Port Elizabeth,

you and Andy Bickle, again, combined to get Australia over the line, and again, another high stakes match.

Yeah, I just relied on Andy.

Really, he was the man.

He was a great sort of, you know, bowling all round at a half at the crease.

He was...

Yeah, he had nerves of steel, high levels of confidence.

And, you know, I guess one of my...

One of the parts to my role is batting with lower and just kind of getting understanding, getting a feel for what they're capable of and how to approach them.

And, you know, and, you know, and he was definitely one of those guys who just let him roll with it, because he...

There was nothing I was going to say or that would help him switch on or believe that he wasn't going to win the match.

And so, yeah, that was a great series.

Obviously, we performed really well.

And we had a couple of tough, difficult matches on that wicket, where it was just popping and bouncing,

hard to get the spinners away.

And, you know, so there was a couple of...

From memory, like that...

2003 World Cup, we're minus warning.

But we sort of progressed as a team there, that we were just kind of good enough that no one really worried that warning was missing.

And we didn't really ever feel that we weren't going to win the World Cup.

Even though, as you said, there was a couple of tricky matches in Port Elizabeth could have gone either way.

So, they were pretty fond memories, and also then there was...

I mean, I think the favourite tournament for me was the 99 World Cup.

Just quite simply, because we...

We hadn't really become a one-day powerhouse by then.

We just started. That was the beginning of it.

And we were kind of faced with...

Because of a poor start, and the way they...

I think it was the super sixth tournament of Saiga from memory, that they had to...

You know, we lost a couple of early ones, and then we had to...

We had to win seven in a row.

And at that point, I'd only ever played in an Australian one-day team,

that won three matches in a row.

So, to win seven in a row, in a World Cup was quite amazing feeling.

And I think the real...

The great thing about that, at least from my perspective,

is that we just had someone in every game that just stood up

and just had a match winning performance when they really needed it.

You know, like in most teams, you have sort of three or four match winners,

whereas, you know, just about...

We had six or seven guys throughout the course,

seven guys throughout the course of those seven matches that stood up

and turned the match on its head whenever we were struggling.

So, that was probably my favourite memory of my one-day career

in terms of the team aspect and the team performance.

I just love those photos of the team on the Lord's balcony

after that we never pack a star in that bright yellow kit.

I mean, it doesn't get much more iconic than that, I don't reckon.

No, it was crazy.

And, you know, and I think from memory, the final is a bit of a letdown.

Look, I think, and I know it doesn't happen nowadays,

because it's a global competition and everyone gets a plan,

different wickets, et cetera, et cetera.

But back then, you know, I had the same feeling,

the same feeling in the finals, because I think we played Pakistan,

and we played India in the 2003,

and both wickets had a bit of carry and bounce.

And at that point in time, you know, most of the cricket,

the Indians and the Pakistanis play were on sub-quant wickets.

So, you know, you sort of, you're always peeping an eye

on the first over with Glen McGraw-Bulling

and seeing how much plays and bounces in the wicket.

And, you know, through the course of the first couple of hours,

if those matches, even though they were World Cup final,

I felt that we, you know, we had a very,

the conditions suited us, and so we had a very good chance

of winning both of those, really.

That's great. Where do you keep the World Cup medals?

Are they on display somewhere in your house?

Yeah, in my lounge room.

And, which is, which is, like,

it's, it's, it's difficult to exactly have a small,

well, not a small unit, but I have a unit,

so I've got a sort of,

put all the Michael Weber fanboy stuff up in the shirt,

sort of plastered across all the bedrooms and the lounge rooms,

and so, you know, I didn't have those up for quite a while.

It's only reasonably recently where I've actually just started

to re-connect with what I did in my career and, you know,

and to revisit the memories more often.

And I had quite a lot of memorabilia,

and I got rid of kind of half of that to local cricket teams

and stuff like that, still keep quite a bit.

Probably, I don't even know what I'm going to do with it.

I've got a little bit of, you know, some of it's in the wardrobe,

and some of it's out on the, you know, you know,

you know, out and about in the living areas and stuff like that.

That's brilliant.

Yeah, absolutely.

The more of it, the better.

Now, just before I let you go, Michael,

last week, Rich Owen, I sort of asked our listeners,

who are the best part-time bowlers?

And your name came up from our listeners quite a bit.

Do you reckon you were underbulled through your career,

or were you bolded the right amount with your left arm wrist spin?

Probably at times, both.

Overbulled and underbulled, depending on how I was bowling.

It was a crazy situation bowling wise.

There was a period there where I had obviously,

more from a part timer into a,

probably nearly a regular bowler from memory,

and Anne was picked as a regular bowler

in front of Paul Rife, I believe,

on a green top in Port Elizabeth.

And so, look, there were...

I didn't enjoy bowling.

I didn't have any confidence in my bowling.

Really?

I was flanking the ball, which is kind of crazy,

that you can get picked for playing a test match as a bowler

and still not really be 100% sure where you're going to land them.

And so, there was a little bit of trepidation

and nervous around that role,

and also some irritation,

given that I was meant to be a batsman.

And I hadn't really truly cracked the test team as a batsman,

but my bowling...

I took ten for an Adelaide.

I think before I scored a test entry,

which obviously never eventually waited.

So, internally,

like, you know, I was a little bit unsure.

And I think it was all kind of crashing down.

Like, I think I was probably a genuine all-rounder there for a while,

but it all came crashing down in the Ashes in 97.

I think where my batting struggled,

and the wickets were really slow.

And I really relied on a bit of pop, a bit of bounce,

and I was overspin with the wrong one.

And, you know, I kind of found that, you know,

it was difficult to get as much traction in England,

than, you know, back in Australia,

or South Africa,

where I had success as a bowl or so.

Yeah, a lot of up and down series with my bowling,

and a bit of hit and miss at times.

But, yeah, certainly when I was bowling well,

they were...

You know, I did a pretty good job.

Well, you got to take respect to Adelaide,

that ten-week at home.

Not many people could say they've got a ten-week at home.

Not many people could say they've got a ten-week at home

and test cricket.

What happened that day?

Yeah.

Well, I actually landed them,

and a really good sign when you're bowling is, you know,

is when you're bowling, you're wrong,

and which is probably my major, you know,

my major delivery.

Like, if guys can't pick my wrong,

and I know I'm a big chance,

because you can get away with bowling tripe,

and still get wickets, because, you know,

if you pitch it a little bit short or a little bit fuller,

they actually can't, you know,

they're unsure of whether it's wrong,

and I probably add about two wrong and spare over,

and I just think the West Indies,

look, they got me on a day and in a test

where I actually landed them pretty well,

and they were...

Look, they were...

They didn't really pick it.

Like, I think Glare picked my wrong,

and so he had an easier time against me

than some of the other bats,

and some of the right handers, you know,

and again, they were all right handers,

and so the wrong and became, you know,

a tough delivery when I landed it away to the slips.

So, yeah, like I was...

You know, that was a good...

You know, I'd just come back into the test arena,

you know, at the time I happened to be batting well as well,

so it was kind of like when I was batting well,

that, you know, there's a bit of confidence here

with the ball as well,

and particularly when teams didn't pick my wrong,

and which South Africa didn't...

West Indies didn't.

England didn't either,

because the wicket was so slow they could adjust,

and so, look, I always did better as a bowler

when they couldn't pick my wrong, for sure.

And look, I'm just looking at the scorecard now,

you've got Shane Warren bowling at the other end as well.

So, bowling in tandem with Warnie,

I mean, what a dream that is.

Yeah, I remember times in South Africa,

and obviously the West Indies as well.

And of course, it does make it, you know,

you have to give kudos to your teammates,

or I do, you know,

because they were just so good in creating pressure,

both defensive and offensive pressure, you know,

guys like Warnie, you know,

the Glen Dizzy, you know,

all those guys that they were,

you know, they were world-class bowlers,

and so, you know,

they're always going to create pressure

and wickets from the other end as well.

So, I really, you know,

if I landed them anywhere near where I...

a good, good area is, then, you know,

wickets were going to follow.

Excellent, Michael.

Well, thanks for your time,

and thanks for running us through some of the highlights

of your great career.

Congratulations on the Michael Bevan Award as well.

Yes, thanks for your much appreciated.

The finisher, Richo,

one of the great nicknames as well.

I'm not just a great player,

but a great nickname,

and maybe that'll have to be a top four

for future episodes as the best nicknames.

But when it came to chasing in one day cricket,

domestic, whether international or

for New South Wales or for Tasmania,

there was none better than Michael Bevan.

He was the pioneer, wasn't he,

as he talks about in that chat,

but he was kind of the first to be tagged with that nickname,

and there's been a few that have been,

you know, it's been banned either out since,

but there's only one, really,

there's only one finisher who isn't there,

but we've seen kind of MS Doni take on that role,

I guess, for India,

for so long,

and making an identity for himself,

and then, obviously, James Faulkner

was the modern day version of Michael Bevan.

But I think when you look at his stats

and the longevity,

and no matter who he played for,

you know, he played for three states,

and Australia,

he did, he played that same role for everyone,

and if he was batting at three or four

in domestic cricket, he'd still be not out

at the end of the innings,

or if he'd bat at six Australia,

obviously it was somehow a lot easier

for him to make that mark.

But it's also, that is now filtered into the way,

you know, T20 teams,

one day teams are built now,

he plays in that role to finish in innings,

it's such a big part of the batting order,

whereas I'm sure back in the 90s and early 2000s,

you're probably just picking your best six batsman

that you can fit in the six,

and then just kind of working it out,

whereas guys have a role,

you know, Tim David was playing that for so long

and T20 cricket,

so he's a pioneer,

and he probably deserves a lot more.

You know, you don't hear his name as much,

when one day cricket is spoken about,

but he's such a pioneer

and set up that role for people to enjoy now,

and yeah, I was just looking at his one day stats

before and he touches on the nine finals,

which in itself is crazy to play,

I mean, nine seasons,

to make finals, win five of them,

but he also made over 3,000 runs in the average of 61.

He batted 78 times,

and 25 of those times he didn't get out,

which is just under one in three.

Yeah.

So if anyone going around who played against him back then,

who actually got him out, well done too.

Well, that's a good point, yeah.

And there's probably a couple of runouts in there,

so they're pretty rare,

the old Michael Bevan's dismissals,

so what a player.

And so there he's domestic cricket numbers.

Yeah.

I think in the average mid 50s,

it's an odiacal cricket as well,

so he actually dipped a bit in the form.

He played for Australia,

but again, incredible,

like to average that over a long period of time,

and I remember watching him as a kid,

he was my favourite player,

and I actually had a pet bird,

and I named it Bevan.

Really?

Fun fact, so there you go.

He was like,

and I wanted the Millie Champion Hall

or a Puma that he used to use.

Yeah, classic.

I think they're making a comeback, by the way.

Okay.

Yeah, big fan of Bevan's.

On top of a bird.

A budgie.

Like in the green and gold as well, maybe.

It was a green and gold bird.

Yeah, okay.

So there you go.

So I wasn't as clued into his domestic feats back then.

I was more watching his Australian stuff,

but yeah, I was a big Bevan fan.

Yeah, Bevan.

I don't know what to do with that information.

No, I wasn't trying to solve that.

There's a future big four as well.

Well, which is pet names, you know.

We're running out of content in here.

I'll leave the big four to you.

Okay.

Yeah, I'll take care of today's.

That's for sure.

And then it was nice that we also got to ask him about some

of those listener questions or listener responses

about him being underbulled,

and he made a good point.

Well, I've taken a 10 week at all in a test match

so I wasn't necessarily underbulled.

And we've managed to do some of those wickets as well

from the archives.

So stay tuned for those as well.

But thanks for the Michael Bevan for giving us his time

and having that chat with us.

Let's talk about the Chevy Shield Final,

which is now locked in.

It's going to be Victoria.

And your old mob South Australia taking it to each other

for five days at the Junction Oval for March 26th.

The Sacker.

Now, they've been in the competition since 1892,

which they've never managed to go back to back.

And back in the late 1800s,

it was only a three team competition.

So you've got a good opportunity.

They never managed to do it then.

Could they do it now?

Brendan Doggett is a touch and go for that final.

He would be a huge inclusion if they can bring him in.

But they've got plenty of pace.

Yep, as well.

Don't know the Sackers.

And sort of Victoria.

And maybe that's been a bit of a theme of this season.

Most of the top wicket takers have been quicks,

as has been the case for the last few years.

And the two sides got to have a bit of a look at each other this week,

as well, playing out a bit of a tame draw

with a bit of weather around in Melbourne.

So hopefully some clear skies for that final when the week comes around.

Yeah, it was a bit of an odd one knowing

that the possible scenario is going to pit two teams against each other

again at the same venue a few weeks later.

So once that Queensland kind of ran out of the opportunity

that game, I mean, the spice was taken out of it.

And everyone's looking forward to the final when they say

you say they've got to look at each other.

I probably say they didn't show much of, yeah.

Well, I mean, in saying that everyone knows exactly what everyone does

down to a tee.

So, but yeah, definitely fizzled out.

And everyone's probably preserving themselves for the big dance now.

So, but in saying that Brendan,

he'll get hasn't played what didn't play in that game

and hasn't played for a while.

So to get him back a bit of a shield final specialist,

which we've said.

So that'll be a huge inclusion for South Australia.

And just to get themselves back in the opportunity to defend their shield

is a pretty good achievement because they weren't looking likely

kind of at the big bash break.

They've turned it around really well.

And again, as you said, it's all been on the back of,

well, as the same for Victoria, but the bowling attacks have been outstanding

and they have been for a period of time now for South Australia, especially with,

you know, McCandru, you know, you've got a range of bowlers there.

But the core that's kept them together over this last couple of years

and even going back a bit further is a big part of their success.

But also getting Alex Kerry back from the ashes and chucking him into that middle order

as they did last year in their shield win.

So, yeah, I think they'll be quietly confident.

I know it's hard winning away, but with the new rules for the shield

and not being able to just being more in draw,

it's going to bring them into the game.

Okay.

Yeah.

Okay.

And so, as Jay Clemen said, they've, they lost their first two games

of this season in South Australia, but since then they haven't actually lost.

So they're giving them a chance.

Or Victoria has been so dominant this season.

So obviously deserve to go in favourites.

But can you see World Where South Australia do upset the Victorians?

I think you can with just the way the pictures are made these days.

And again, you can't really just produce a boring.

Oh, it's going to be a good week here.

It's not as if they're going to make it a typical Green Seymour.

But I think over the course of five days,

there will be an opportunity for South Australia to, you know,

there'll be an opportunity in the game for them to be able to take

and get in a strong position.

And we saw that with Queensland even last year.

It is hard winning away in a five-day game,

but there's always an opportunity at some point to take that

and being in the game.

So they will confront them at some point.

But it is hard.

It's definitely hard.

And Victoria have had a dominant season.

They'll basically guarantee them being in the shield final

back at the Big Bash.

And they can felt that way anyway.

So they're definitely going to be confident.

But yeah, I'll dare say there's a good opportunity

that South Australia can...

I don't know how you would say it.

But there'll be an opportunity for them to win the game.

Or at least get themselves in a position to win the game.

It's just whether or not they can, they can really capitalize on it.

So again, it's great to see that finals now are the way they are.

And it's not just going to be the old, you know, 900.

You remember those?

Yes.

Just back in the early 2000s.

Which in itself, I mean, you wouldn't want to watch the live stream.

No.

But it would be great to check the scores and be like,

wow, they're on 700.

They're four down.

Yeah.

They just lost their fourth.

Like that in itself was, because that takes some skill.

But it is nice to see games that are games and people trying to win.

Definitely.

Yeah.

It's a bit faster, cool though, when you get to five for 900, isn't it?

It is.

A little bit.

But then you get part time as bowling.

And as we've spoken about the last couple of weeks...

Wow, we do love that.

The cricket lovers.

We do love watching people who don't usually bowl.

Get an opportunity.

Now, Victoria, they will obviously have their captain, Will Sutherland.

And they'll have Scott Bowland, who's been on fire in this competition.

But then they've got to work out who else fits into their bowling attack.

Yeah.

They've had Sam Elliott, who's been taking wickets for fun this season.

Mitch Perry's got a couple of five firsts.

The third is so Neil has an incredible chef which is your bowling average.

Yeah.

Todd Murphy.

He's a pretty handy half spinner.

Yeah.

How do you fit all them into an Ivan?

It's a good point.

Who didn't play this last week?

I didn't play, I didn't pay attention to that cut.

So Will Sutherland was he managed or did he play?

I have to check this score completely.

But Will was there.

Yeah.

I would dare say that all of them can bat.

Yeah, that makes it tough too.

But then I'm like, well, can you find a way to play them all as well?

I know.

Well, there's going to be someone I like because you can't fit them all in.

But I mean, obviously Will's captain.

So he's in Scott Bolland's first pick.

Yeah.

Ferguson, he was arguably second picked.

You're going to need a spinner.

Sam Elliott's made a pretty good case to be third picked.

He can also bat.

He's very handy with that.

Yeah.

So I mean, Mitch Perry's the one there who's probably unlucky.

But again, he can bat.

He's had a good year.

Especially he's come into form in the last few rounds.

So good luck.

Tough one.

Yeah.

It was Ferguson.

Yeah.

Who was left out obviously round 10.

Yeah.

Obviously resting.

But yeah, it's going to be a selection crunch, which good teams

well often have, don't they?

That's often the result of a strong season.

And a good team is that someone is going to be left out.

So been there.

The one season actually had a good year in Schildkrieg.

It actually ran the drinks in Alice Springs.

Oh, yeah.

That was the end of my Schildkrieg.

So you've shared that one.

Yeah, that's a real bat.

But that was my decision to feel like we'll stuff this form out.

I'm not playing anymore.

But I guess they would look forward.

Mitch Perry's the young kid.

If he does miss out and we're speculating here, but he'll get another

opportunity at some point in the next five, 10 years.

You would think.

How quickly did you make a decision to throw them?

I think it was as the coin went off.

That's how you won.

That was a long five days.

It was a bit of a dead rubber at a cricket central.

New South Wales took on WA in the final matches for both Greg Schildkrieg and Adam Verges

as their head coaches.

And even though there was nothing on the line, we got a great finish.

Yeah.

Four overs to go.

Sean Aberde just taken the eighth wicket of the WA evenings.

Westerners can't win this match.

So they're trying to hold on for a draw.

And then the umpire say the lights too bad.

You have to blow your spinners.

I thought that was a bit of a shame.

But you know, safety comes first.

And then Joel Davies manages to get a wicket in the final over.

And then has three balls to get out.

Albert Esther Hazen.

The new number 11.

Nice.

He gets off strike.

And Corey Rockajoli.

Some great names down there in that lower order.

Managed to the hang on.

So that was a fun way to finish the regular season, wasn't it?

It is.

It's always good to see games go down to that kind of.

Yeah.

The last over and you got a 11 blocks award.

Yeah.

Was a 10 blocks round.

And you got rules of what Solzman was bowling part time.

Spin because he's always normally a quick.

He's coming off a really bad hamstring injury.

So throwing the ball to him.

Yeah.

And he actually looked all right, to be honest.

So interesting.

Yeah.

It's always, I mean, for the last game of the year, you want to.

You want a bit of 10th section, don't you?

And a result that can that can happen.

And so, you have some good viewing.

Cam Green back in the runs.

The WA in that game as well, which is always nice to see.

Again, big names go back to state cricket and.

And kind of show everyone again, how good they are.

So.

Rockajoli with five wickets.

So he's a name going forward that's again going to keep being around the mark for.

For that spin a spot if there is ever is one that vacates.

So.

But yeah, mainly the talking point was about the coaches, but it was a,

it was a pretty good game of cricket that got played.

And Tasmania, they smashed Queensland down in Hobart.

A real missed opportunity for the Bulls there.

Unfortunately, they're batting just didn't quite click at the end of this season.

They were sitting in second place for a good bit of this second half of this season.

And then just sort of fell away at the end.

So disappointing result for them.

But Tazzi, they managed to finish with a really strong win.

And potentially takes some momentum into the next season.

Yeah.

And that'd be disappointed again, no doubt with.

I tip him.

I just had this weed feeling they would with Jackson Bird back.

And as we talked about before that, I feel like they got a good depth of fastballing there now.

So I feel like that was a bit of a missed opportunity for them.

But as you say, there's, there is always next year.

And for Queensland, yeah, they'll be kicking themselves no doubt because it was there for them.

That opportunity in the first innings with the bat to really capitalize and put themselves in the opportunity to play in the shield final.

Again, like they did last year, it would have been away from home, but you'd learn your lessons from.

Kind of how last year's final went.

What can you do better?

You've got big names in that team that came back.

I mean, Osman Quijers, domestic career or four day career is now done.

And he missed this game through the through paternity leave.

So yeah, they'll be disappointed.

Michael Nessa, you know, all these guys, they're just, they're going to be another year old and you might not get that opportunity again.

So again, to be an opportunity to play shield finals is what it's all about.

But then to kind of miss the opportunity is a bit of a kicker.

So yeah, they'll be disappointed as they hit their mad Mondays around the country.

And from Queensland's point of view, they were smashed with injuries, but in the bowling department.

So it must be said that I get feels funny that it hasn't been their bowling.

Yeah.

It's been the batting.

Yeah.

Yeah.

As you said, they'll probably had to do a bricky creak hotel and have a few jars just to stay off the season.

I imagine.

Yeah, they're probably not alone.

It's four other states are on the same thing, isn't it?

So, um, yeah, it's always, it's a weird time of year because you know, I'm sure some of the ballers have had really long camera again.

And I'm pretty sure he played basically every shield game.

Yeah, he did.

Yeah, every time.

Which is amazing.

Achievement at his age.

So he'd be probably enjoying waking up today and having a beer the salvo and looking forward to a few weeks off.

Whereas I think there would be some other guys who wake up and the disappointment of not being able to capitalize on again another year, everyone's another year older.

These opportunities don't always come around.

So it's probably not something we focus on enough is those domestic cricket guys who don't always get to play for Australia like a Cameron Gannon, but have these amazing domestic careers.

You know, you want to be winning trophies and a W I have had two years now down the bottom.

So new coach coming into them, that'll be an opportunity bounce back.

But yeah, it's a weird time of year for sure.

Leading week taker.

Liam Hatcher.

He's in a drink too.

I reckon amazing effort from him.

Nine games and 43 or 44 weekends.

So certainly break out here from him.

Absolutely.

I think he took another, what, half a dozen for this game.

So to do it at that ground as well, like to play a few games at cricket central.

It's pretty flat there.

So we talk about seeing my friendly conditions in the shield at the moment, but probably not.

He's probably the one guy who's been like, hang on what about me.

So he's at a good age going forward where if he can put together another strong summer next year with,

as we've spoken about at length, the age of our quicks in the national team,

he could be someone that kind of comes from nowhere and puts his hand up.

Yeah, okay.

WNCL final.

That's coming up on Saturday as well this week.

It's going to be New South Wales hosting Queensland at cricket central.

Jess Jonathan and Sam Bates, they're playing on opposition teams,

but they both play their 100th match in the competition over the weekend.

Jonison, that conversely has played all 100 for Queensland,

whereas Bates has played for ACT, Tasmania, Victoria, and now New South Wales.

Wow.

So really doing the rounds there and she's been a consistent performer over where she's gone.

Katie Mack recently announced, or just on Wednesday as we're recording,

as the player of the tournament, another great season for her.

So consistent.

She's been dismissed in the 90s three times this season.

Unfortunately not for her, but it's the first time anybody's ever managed that feat in the WNCL.

So a little bit of a history there, maybe not one year.

One, but you'd rather a 90 than a zero, wouldn't you?

That's what I was about to say.

So there'd be a record for someone who's made the most ducks and it wouldn't be her.

Exactly.

No, she's had a great season, same in the big bash.

So that would be a really good final bit of a state of origin.

Yeah, definitely.

All the SA Victoria for the AFL.

True.

And then Queensland, New South, obviously in the rugby league department.

So two storied rivals, two storied rivals in two different areas of the country.

So be some passionate supporters getting, getting amongst or down to those games as well.

Do you feel that rivalry when you're playing for South Australia?

Like, is there that hatred or despise of other teams or is it a bit different in cricket circles?

Well, I was raised being South Aussie to not like Victorians.

Like, that was a big thing.

Like the Kikavik was quite a big thing, wasn't it?

Kikavik.

Kikavik.

You have Victorian.

Yeah.

Well, we didn't hear that because of that.

Yeah, but it was probably a smaller, like a little brother.

So you wouldn't have a hatred towards South Australia because Victorian, that's why we hate Victorians.

It's like Australia and New Zealand.

Yeah.

Yeah, a little bit of that.

Isn't a little brother thing.

So that was definitely, definitely that.

And if you raised on the, like I said, the I fell state of origin.

That was a, that was quite a big part of it as well.

And that's the same in Queensland, New South Wales.

Kids have raised watching rugby league state of origin.

You pick a team or wherever you're born, you affiliate with.

So I'm not commenting for them.

But I was definitely raised as when I played Victoria in cricket.

It was like, go a little bit harder.

But also insane.

They were amazing.

And they're full of like, basically an international team.

So I say that, but I definitely didn't say anything on the field to show my hatred.

So good luck to both the breakers and the fire this week in the WNCL final.

Who's your pick?

Well, New South Wales have only lost one match this season.

They're playing at home.

Alyssa Healey is going to be playing in a final match of cricket.

They're going to be keen to see her off on a high.

This is it.

Tali Wilson.

She's been a star.

She's just been picked in her first ODI squad.

And she's on the scoop podcast this week as well.

So if you want to hear, hear from Taliya, head up onto the scoop podcast.

I would love to see the fire make a man's for last season.

But I think I have to, if I'm tipping, I'm probably going to be tipping the breakers.

Yeah.

That's fair.

Yeah, at home.

I think so.

Pretty amazing.

But you just never know in finals.

Do you?

What about in the shield?

What are you reckon?

What's your field?

Shield.

We've got a little bit of time.

Yeah.

Talk about that next week.

We'll sit on that.

Okay.

Sit on that.

But we'd like to hear who our listeners think.

Yeah.

It's going to do well.

So send them in.

Podcastcricket.com.au is the place to do that.

Or an Instagram if you want.

And speaking of that ODI squad.

Richo.

We've got a strike over in the West Indies at the minute.

Playing some women's internationals.

They're playing three T20s in St Vincent.

Beautiful little caribbean island there.

Those matches are early morning for Australia on March 22 and 24.

Really good times.

And actually, I think they're starting at 9 or 10 in the morning.

And they're available on Disney Plus.

So if you have that streaming service, then you'll be able to watch.

And then some matches in St. Kitts, three ODIs.

There's March 28, March 30 and April 3.

So it's a very short and sharp little series, but a nice warm up for the T20 World Cup.

I think you said that you haven't been to St Vincent.

But I was there two years ago for the T20 World Cup.

And it was a really beautiful ground.

Just a tiny island, really.

And it was the match where Afghanistan beat Australia in that crucial pool match or Super Six match.

And we were watching the game and Afghanistan were getting close to victory.

I think they'd just hit a four or taken a wicked.

I can't remember if they were fielding first or batting first.

And there wasn't much of a crowd there.

But we felt a bit of a shake in the grandstand as if there's been a big roll.

And we learned later that the ground was hit by an earthquake during the match.

So the shake we felt was actually the tremor of some seismic activity.

So what was the number on the Richter scale?

Did you?

6.7, I think, in the end.

It's decent.

Not small, yeah.

Is that a common thing there?

I have no idea.

I didn't sort of want to look into it.

But it sort of matched out well with Australia getting shaken out of that tournament at the same time.

So that's my little memory of St Vincent and I'd love to go back on there.

Unfortunately, you can get to go on this tour.

But as always, the future tour program.

I'm sure you'll get another.

I actually never went to the Caribbean.

That was the one place I never got to go.

I never toured.

That's a shame.

But there was one during COVID.

So I'm not sure it would have been the same.

I withdrew from that.

But even if I went, I'm not sure it would have been the same experience.

Although I'm pretty sure the boys went on a massive boat at some point and had a party.

So maybe I should have.

That sounds fun.

I shouldn't have gone.

The Caribbean Premier League never came across your desk.

Apparently it was a real tough one for what I think the time.

I think the time it was leading into the Australian season.

So it was always harder to get over there.

But also a lot of travel between islands.

Oh, that's true.

Even getting there was a big commitment.

So yeah, never, never got across across the desk.

That one.

Maybe one day's a coach or a journal.

Never know.

Yeah.

Okay.

Maybe we'll do it together one day.

Sounds good to me.

Let's say a quick break.

When we come back, we'll get stuck into this week's big four.

Looking at the best grand finals this century.

Okay, Richo, we've had some listener feedback.

A couple of weeks ago we got you to talk about your favorite bowling actions, past or present.

A lot of people agreed with your listener, including Adam Rompel.

He said, very good list, Richo.

Chain Bond definitely underrated.

And that got a lot of likes.

So thank you Adam.

Can't go wrong with Chain Bond.

And Lord Humongous said Chris Cairns had a good at bowling action as well.

Another New Zealander.

Yeah.

Maybe a little bit on the nose.

Yeah, it's probably.

We'll leave that one there.

Okay.

Anthony Locke said Simon Jones.

Yep.

Yep.

Okay.

Speaking of underrated.

2005.

That's strong.

Strong action.

Smooth.

Smooth.

Yep.

He was good.

He was very good.

He could swing.

I always think of him the poor, when he did his knee at the GABA, that first test.

I know he came back after that.

Or was that after the O5?

Now that was O2.

Yeah, I was O2.

Yeah.

Obviously O5 had a peak of his powers, but I always think that knee injury, the poor, like

first day, the terrible.

But he was again.

Should fastballers be sliding around in the outfit?

Look at him these days.

They're everywhere.

So yes.

Okay.

And then Dilwark, he gave us a triple threat.

He went anderson Akram and Stein.

Sorry, Stein.

He is.

I did miss on that.

But I kind of, I kind of said Jordan Buckingham reminds me of.

He did.

Staying.

And I could have easily gone to him.

He, he's definitely built, again, built in a laboratory for fastballing to stay.

And apart from his height, which is probably what made him so amazing.

Imagine if he was six, seven, like more name orca was.

Like, there's another one.

Well, the Akram and.

He wasn't Akram and.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

They were okay.

There's no wrong answers.

It's everyone's opinion.

It's everyone's opinion.

It's an everyone's taste.

Everyone has different tastes.

Left handed.

Left armors versus right arm.

The swing.

You know, everyone's got their own.

Everyone's got their own look.

Did you play against Alessandro in the big bash?

Yeah, I did.

Yeah.

Did you have the crazy eyes going?

Well, I think I faced last ball of the innings.

Oh, right.

When he was playing for the stars.

Yeah, yeah.

And it was just a little white Yorker that I hit for one.

Oh, not out.

Did Alessandro?

Yeah.

I struck in a hundred two.

But he didn't have crazy eyes because it was.

Yeah.

It was just kind of gone through the motions pretty well.

I think he had like three for 20 or four.

But he was again, one of those through the for my kind of 20s

that every time he bowled on to watch.

Absolutely.

And a beautiful one of the best blocks going around.

Yeah, okay.

Great.

So this week's top four.

Retro to finish us off this week is the best grand finals

this century.

Because obviously we've got the WNCL coming out.

The one day cup is just finished.

It's definitely a chill next week.

It's trophy season.

It's final season.

So Oscar's this week out there.

Okay.

I'll take it.

I think they will.

Okay.

So I've gone through the best.

Now I've gone domestic and international.

And so obviously a lot to choose from.

So I rattled through these.

Yeah.

I'll get your opinion.

First, I've gone for the 2010 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.

Australia Women's Baton New Zealand by three rounds.

Sophie Devine.

Last bully innings.

Five to win off one ball.

She smashed it straight back at the least parry.

And parry's put her foot out.

Stop the force.

Stop the going to a super over.

Australia win.

And the Australian men's team are there watching as well.

You don't get to see that very often.

So a nice wholesome moment.

Australia win that one in Bridgetown.

Number three.

I've got the BBL for final.

Sixers and scorches.

Brett Lee's final game.

Incredible finish.

Couple of wickets.

And then a run off the final ball.

Good to go on either way.

That one.

Yeah.

So that was a classic.

I've gone the 2023 ODI Men's World Cup.

Australia beating India at the Metabad.

Pretty incredible stuff.

They'd look untouchable.

All tournament in Australia.

Thanks to Travis head.

Just get the job done.

And then number one.

I've gone for the Ryobi Cup finally in 2011.

12 South Australia and Tasmania tied match.

No super over in the playing conditions that year.

A tie is good enough for South Australia.

Gary Putland is the hero for the finish off.

The finish off.

Yeah.

The finish off.

Now he went by the iceman.

The iceman from that night on.

Yeah.

And so we actually did an in-depth look at that match

on stories after stumps.

So jump over onto that podcast.

If you want to have a listen to Gary Putland and Theo DeRopoulos,

Daniel Harris, those sorts of guys.

Adam Crossway.

And then Crossway.

Reminis about that particular night.

Ricky Punting was running without pads at the non-striker stand

at the end of that match.

Famous one that.

So I had to, in case you missed them,

which I didn't think you would,

but it was that one and the PBL four final.

So Bradley's last game, Canberra of all places.

Yeah.

And neutral final.

Can we, can we, can we, can someone tell us why that was?

I think they just wanted to try it out and make sure

that there was no home grab advantage.

So that was scheduled pre.

Yeah.

It was well before South Australia.

So they said they were fine.

Adelaide was in Canberra.

That's right.

So they're trying to make a bit of a,

I think so.

Right.

Okay.

So that lasted one year.

I think so.

But it was a great game.

Bradley's last.

Yeah.

Moses on Rekas.

Loved it.

Sorry to bring it up, Mo.

But it happened.

That was a good throw.

I think who threw it in?

Was it Michael Lumb?

Possibly.

Yeah.

Because all of the field was in.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

He bolded such a good last over.

I dragged him back.

And the story of robbery again between those two.

So.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That was a great funnel.

And then, well, I'm going to be biased.

BBOA.

I thought you were going to mention that.

Yeah.

Well, it wasn't a classic funnel.

Wow.

It gets all kind of wise.

I think, I think because it didn't go down to the wire,

the result was known probably with two Overs to go in the game.

But I think the twist in the game and being between two Melbourne teams,

neither at one.

It was on toast.

Yeah.

That's probably the other that honorable fifth definitely.

Yeah.

Because a lot of the international finals,

I sort of scanned over.

I haven't been that close.

So I'm glad we've had some good BBLs and some good one-day cup finishes.

I'm there every year on that.

So we're going to get like, yeah, the World Cup once every four or every two years.

So it's probably harder to think backwards.

BBOA.

Every single year and you want to close one or you want one that you can talk about the next

however long.

That's a pretty good list.

I think we've done pretty well.

Send them in if you think of any others.

No doubt.

We'll have some good nominations that we missed.

Because as you say, there's plenty that happen every year.

So there'll be a few good ones in there.

But yeah.

Is there ever been a super-other?

And there hasn't.

There hasn't.

There's a big gosh final.

Chemi.

Can't think of any.

That would be awesome.

Yeah, imagine that.

That's high pressure.

All right.

We'll have to come back next week and finish this off.

Richo, always a pleasure.