Latest / The Follow-On / Test Selection Shocks, Peculiar ODI Slating — Aus captain Tahlia McGrath and Daniel Drew preview a bumper cricket calendar

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Test Selection Shocks, Peculiar ODI Slating — Aus captain Tahlia McGrath and Daniel Drew preview a bumper cricket calendar · The Follow-On

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to Fox Cricket's The Follow-On Podcast. My
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: name is Will Fortner. We're back for another summer. It's
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: been a little while since we've jumped on the microphones,
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: but I'm joined by former first-class cricketer Daniel Drew.
• 0:11
  Speaker 2: Daniel, welcome. Thank you for jumping on board.
• 0:13
  Speaker 3: Thanks for having me, Will.
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: Appreciate it. Just a bit of a background for Drew.
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: You played a fair few games in South Australia. When
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: was your debut year? When was your first game?
• 0:24
  Speaker 3: Oh.
• 0:25
  Speaker 4: Actually can't remember the year, but, um, it was against Tasmania. Uh,
• 0:29
  Speaker 4: I reckon I was about 24, 25. So I reckon
• 0:32
  Speaker 4: I'm going to say 2019 as a guess.
• 0:34
  Speaker 2: Okay.
• 0:34
  Speaker 4: Yeah.
• 0:34
  Speaker 3: But yeah, a while ago now.
• 0:36
  Speaker 2: No, very good.
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: It's good to have you on board. A little fun fact.
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: I had to get out something. You're the last South
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: Australian to score a double hundred in the Sheffield shoot. Uh,
• 0:43
  Speaker 1: saw them pretty well at the WACA back in February, 20, uh, 2023.
• 0:46
  Speaker 2: I think it was.
• 0:47
  Speaker 4: Yeah. Um, it gets brought up a fair bit actually. Um,
• 0:51
  Speaker 4: but yeah, it was obviously a nice milestone to get. Um,
• 0:54
  Speaker 4: I think we were struggling a little bit as a team.
• 0:56
  Speaker 4: So to be able to get that win against the
• 0:58
  Speaker 4: Wackers when they were going quite well during that period,
• 1:01
  Speaker 4: obviously to make runs as well was nice. But, yeah,
• 1:04
  Speaker 4: nice something to look back on.
• 1:06
  Speaker 5: Excellent.
• 1:06
  Speaker 1: Look, Drew, thank you for having us. Thanks for coming
• 1:08
  Speaker 1: on board, rather. And we've got a lot of cricket
• 1:10
  Speaker 1: to dive into. Obviously, the pressing tour we've got at
• 1:13
  Speaker 1: the moment, the Aussies, they're touring South Africa. That starts
• 1:15
  Speaker 1: on Friday. We're recording this on Thursday. So there's a
• 1:18
  Speaker 1: little bit of conjecture over what the teams will look like.
• 1:20
  Speaker 1: But it's been eight and a half years since Australia's
• 1:23
  Speaker 1: last Red Bull tour last in South Africa. That was
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: in 2018. And we know what happened back then. Sandpaper gate.
• 1:29
  Speaker 1: Team looked very different, but a few familiar faces as well.
• 1:31
  Speaker 1: So the first test starts 6.30 p.m. Australian Eastern Daylight
• 1:36
  Speaker 1: Time on Friday. I'll quickly read out the squad members
• 1:38
  Speaker 1: to you one by one, and then we'll have a
• 1:40
  Speaker 1: bit of a chat about a few of the discussion
• 1:41
  Speaker 1: points in there. So we've got Pat Cummins as the captain,
• 1:43
  Speaker 1: Scotty Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Sam Harper's
• 1:47
  Speaker 1: been recalled for his first Australian test squad, Josh Hazelwood,
• 1:51
  Speaker 1: Travis Head, your former teammate, Matthew Coonerman, Marnus Labershain holds
• 1:55
  Speaker 1: his spot. Nick Maddison's the second call-up there, which we'll
• 1:58
  Speaker 1: touch on very soon. Nathan Lyon, Michael Nessa, Matthew Renshaw,
• 2:02
  Speaker 1: Steve Smith, Mitchell Stark and Bo Webster. So they're taking
• 2:05
  Speaker 1: a fair old-sized squad over to South Africa, Druid. The
• 2:08
  Speaker 1: first two talking points we'll touch on. Nick Maddison has
• 2:12
  Speaker 1: come in to the squad. Josh Inglis has been removed.
• 2:14
  Speaker 1: He's got a fractured finger. He's gone back home to Australia.
• 2:17
  Speaker 1: And Cameron Green looks... He's not going to play the
• 2:19
  Speaker 1: first test. He's under a bit of an injury cloud
• 2:21
  Speaker 1: for the second and third test. What were your initial
• 2:23
  Speaker 1: reactions to Nick Maddison, who made his debut in 2016
• 2:27
  Speaker 1: for Australia? It's been 10 years. What were your initial
• 2:30
  Speaker 1: reactions to him being called into the test squad?
• 2:33
  Speaker 4: Yeah, I think like most of the media, I think
• 2:35
  Speaker 4: it was a little bit of a shock. But in
• 2:38
  Speaker 4: saying that, I think, you know, although he's been out
• 2:39
  Speaker 4: of the game for 18 months, the first class level,
• 2:42
  Speaker 4: I think he brings that experience. He's obviously played for
• 2:45
  Speaker 4: Australia a handful of games, like you said. and he's
• 2:48
  Speaker 4: that mature type player that I think is versatile in
• 2:51
  Speaker 4: the middle order, can bat at the top of the
• 2:52
  Speaker 4: order like we've seen from New South Wales. I think, yeah,
• 2:56
  Speaker 4: bringing that experience to the Australian team and having that
• 2:58
  Speaker 4: counter-attacking role that he plays, similar to Travis Head, I
• 3:01
  Speaker 4: think the versatility that it can bring to that squad,
• 3:04
  Speaker 4: I think the Aussies like it, and the way he
• 3:06
  Speaker 4: goes about it with his bat, I think, is something
• 3:08
  Speaker 4: that the selectors saw in him.
• 3:10
  Speaker 1: Well, what was something that you guys, when you were
• 3:12
  Speaker 1: playing at South Australia, that if you're playing against Nick Maddison,
• 3:14
  Speaker 1: who we should mention has had a pretty incredible last
• 3:16
  Speaker 1: 18 months, he's overcome a pretty aggressive bout of testicular cancer.
• 3:20
  Speaker 1: So it's an amazing comeback story to see him back
• 3:22
  Speaker 1: on the international arena, really. But I guess planning against
• 3:26
  Speaker 1: someone like Nick Madison, what do you think the selectors
• 3:28
  Speaker 1: would have seen in him to recall him into the squad?
• 3:31
  Speaker 1: The Australia A tour, which we'll touch on later, there
• 3:33
  Speaker 1: weren't too many players that made runs. Sam Harper was
• 3:35
  Speaker 1: the only one that really didn't. He's been recalled into
• 3:37
  Speaker 1: this team. So what do you think selectors specifically would
• 3:40
  Speaker 1: have seen in him that you might have seen as
• 3:41
  Speaker 1: well on the field.
• 3:42
  Speaker 2: Back in the day?
• 3:43
  Speaker 4: Yeah, I just think he's a dangerous player. He can
• 3:46
  Speaker 4: bat the top. He can bat middle order. He takes
• 3:48
  Speaker 4: the game on. He also has a great defence. I
• 3:50
  Speaker 4: think he covers all bases for the Australian team. And
• 3:52
  Speaker 4: I think, you know, although it was a shock him
• 3:54
  Speaker 4: getting called up, I think he's that player for them
• 3:57
  Speaker 4: to be able to do that role. I think, although
• 4:00
  Speaker 4: it would have been nice to see potentially they blood
• 4:02
  Speaker 4: in a young gun like Ollie Peake, get him into
• 4:05
  Speaker 4: the mix and throw him into the deep end a
• 4:07
  Speaker 4: little bit in South Africa series, I think going to Maddison,
• 4:10
  Speaker 4: being 35 now, I think... done the experience at the
• 4:14
  Speaker 4: first class level, I think it's not a bad option. Obviously,
• 4:17
  Speaker 4: I'd love to see him get a go, but in
• 4:20
  Speaker 4: saying that, I think there are some better options potentially.
• 4:22
  Speaker 4: Cooper Connolly, give him a go on that middle order,
• 4:25
  Speaker 4: but like I said, I think the way Matto goes
• 4:28
  Speaker 4: about his work, can bat anywhere in the middle order,
• 4:31
  Speaker 4: top order, any counter-attack, so I think it covers those
• 4:34
  Speaker 4: bases like a Travis Head in that role.
• 4:36
  Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely.
• 4:37
  Speaker 1: So the second talking point in that squad, which is
• 4:39
  Speaker 1: a bit of a surprise, but was Sam Harper. So
• 4:42
  Speaker 1: part of his selection would be the fact that Josh
• 4:43
  Speaker 1: Inglis was flying home and Inglis has been almost a
• 4:46
  Speaker 1: pseudo-bat keeper reserve for the Australian team. We know that
• 4:49
  Speaker 1: he made his debut in Sri Lanka not too long ago,
• 4:51
  Speaker 1: but that was a genuine bat. Alex Carey's still taking
• 4:53
  Speaker 1: the gloves. So his injury means that while they're also
• 4:56
  Speaker 1: looking for a replacement bat, obviously a wicket keeper, they
• 4:59
  Speaker 1: need a reserve in the squad. And Harper couldn't have
• 5:01
  Speaker 1: scored his runs at a better time on the Australia
• 5:04
  Speaker 1: A tour. I guess, again, you've played against Harper. What
• 5:07
  Speaker 1: did you see? in him as a player, and what
• 5:09
  Speaker 1: do you think the Australian selectors will be? There's a
• 5:11
  Speaker 1: chance that he could be called on as a bat.
• 5:13
  Speaker 1: If they don't go Maddison, it's really between Connolly and Harper, really,
• 5:17
  Speaker 1: for that extra batting position. We can't rule it out,
• 5:19
  Speaker 1: but what have you seen of Harper, and what do
• 5:20
  Speaker 1: you like about his selection?
• 5:21
  Speaker 3: Yeah, I've been playing against Harps for a while now.
• 5:25
  Speaker 4: Obviously, you know, a couple of years ago, he was
• 5:27
  Speaker 4: at a bit of a crossroads with his career, getting
• 5:28
  Speaker 4: dropped from Victoria, not playing as a keeper. He also,
• 5:32
  Speaker 4: you know, moved from the Renegades to the Stars, which
• 5:35
  Speaker 4: I know personally he wasn't overly pleased about, but I
• 5:37
  Speaker 4: think since then he's gone to the top of the
• 5:39
  Speaker 4: order for Victoria when he's come back in the team,
• 5:42
  Speaker 4: changed his technique. He's gone quite attacking, and I think
• 5:45
  Speaker 4: it's the best thing that he's done for his career.
• 5:48
  Speaker 4: Last season we saw him make back-to-back hundreds, dominating the
• 5:51
  Speaker 4: top quarter for Victoria, which helped him make the Shield final.
• 5:54
  Speaker 4: I think he's gone, he's got picked in the Aussie A,
• 5:57
  Speaker 4: he's made runs there in Indian conditions, which can be
• 5:59
  Speaker 4: tough work, especially if you haven't played there enough.
• 6:02
  Speaker 3: So I like the call. I think it's aggressive. I
• 6:04
  Speaker 3: think it's good.
• 6:05
  Speaker 4: Although he's 29, 30 years old, he's mature enough. But
• 6:09
  Speaker 4: I'd love to see him get an opportunity. If Alex
• 6:11
  Speaker 4: Carey does break a finger or something happens to him
• 6:14
  Speaker 4: on that tour, then I think it's a great initiative
• 6:16
  Speaker 4: to put him, Sam Harper, in the middle order there
• 6:18
  Speaker 4: and bat as a keeper. Even as a batter, I
• 6:21
  Speaker 4: think he has the capabilities to do that against those bowlers.
• 6:24
  Speaker 4: And I'd love to see him get a crack.
• 6:25
  Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely.
• 6:26
  Speaker 1: There are two very attacking types, Nick Maddison and Harper.
• 6:29
  Speaker 1: And the South African bowling attack, which we'll touch on soon,
• 6:31
  Speaker 1: there's certainly no joke. So to have that experience with
• 6:33
  Speaker 1: the middle order's Probably not a bad thing as well.
• 6:36
  Speaker 1: So one of the omissions from this series was Jake Weatherill.
• 6:40
  Speaker 1: So he was dropped off the first test in Bangladesh.
• 6:42
  Speaker 1: Did you feel like perhaps he was maybe a little
• 6:44
  Speaker 1: bit on the rougher end of the stick there? I
• 6:46
  Speaker 1: think he was someone that we thought maybe selectors would
• 6:48
  Speaker 1: pursue a little bit longer than the Ashes series. It
• 6:50
  Speaker 1: was a tough series for most batters in that series.
• 6:53
  Speaker 1: The summer just gone here in Australia. I guess what
• 6:55
  Speaker 1: were your initial thoughts with that? Because that's probably, he's
• 6:58
  Speaker 1: probably the next man in of sorts at the top
• 7:00
  Speaker 1: of the order. But we know that Travis Head and
• 7:01
  Speaker 1: Matt Renshaw will hold down the fort here in South Africa.
• 7:04
  Speaker 4: Yeah, I think most people think he's stiff. I know
• 7:09
  Speaker 4: Jake quite well. We're quite close mates on and off
• 7:11
  Speaker 4: the field. Speaking to him a little bit about it,
• 7:14
  Speaker 4: he's quite level. He knows he's got some things to
• 7:17
  Speaker 4: work on for his technique. I think we all saw
• 7:20
  Speaker 4: that a little bit in the Ashes series facing Joffra,
• 7:23
  Speaker 4: which obviously is an easy task. But getting across too
• 7:27
  Speaker 4: far on the front foot and getting LBW a couple
• 7:29
  Speaker 4: of times there, he's gone back, worked on his game,
• 7:31
  Speaker 4: changed his technique, I think. You know, against Bangladesh, it
• 7:35
  Speaker 4: was a little bit of a scapegoat there. I think, again,
• 7:38
  Speaker 4: they should have won. He missed out a couple of
• 7:41
  Speaker 4: times and obviously was a bit under pressure from the
• 7:43
  Speaker 4: last series. So I think being dropped there was a
• 7:46
  Speaker 4: bit stiff. I would have loved him to play the
• 7:48
  Speaker 4: second test there, been able to have an opportunity to
• 7:51
  Speaker 4: go out there and make a run and put his
• 7:54
  Speaker 4: case forward for South Africa. But knowing Jake quite well,
• 7:57
  Speaker 4: I think he'll go away for South Australia, about at
• 8:00
  Speaker 4: the top of the order. pile on some runs there
• 8:02
  Speaker 4: and i don't i have no doubt um that he'll
• 8:04
  Speaker 4: be back for australia at some point.
• 8:06
  Speaker 1: Yeah absolutely so that's the squad i guess we've debriefed
• 8:08
  Speaker 1: but um the big selection point is sort of who's
• 8:11
  Speaker 1: going to replace cameron green with this adductor injury um
• 8:14
  Speaker 1: or abdominal injury rather but um in the middle order
• 8:17
  Speaker 1: who would have batted so we've got connelly we've got
• 8:19
  Speaker 1: harper and we've got madison do you have a personal
• 8:21
  Speaker 1: preference at the time of recording we don't know who's
• 8:23
  Speaker 1: going to replace green but when you look at that
• 8:25
  Speaker 1: team who do you see is the best person to
• 8:26
  Speaker 1: replace green uh.
• 8:29
  Speaker 4: Yeah like like i previously i'd love to see connelly
• 8:31
  Speaker 4: i'd love to see coop um bat in that middle
• 8:33
  Speaker 4: order that five six role depending on where alex carey
• 8:35
  Speaker 4: bats and where they want to bat by web surf
• 8:37
  Speaker 4: is if he's playing also um i think you know
• 8:41
  Speaker 4: we've seen it in the white ball format um for
• 8:43
  Speaker 4: australia he's made some big runs looks comfortable at the
• 8:46
  Speaker 4: level um he's obviously coming from the wacker in western
• 8:49
  Speaker 4: australia he loves a short ball loves quick bowling um
• 8:52
  Speaker 4: So I think to be able to blood him in,
• 8:54
  Speaker 4: bat him at five for this series, or at least
• 8:56
  Speaker 4: for the first couple of games, would be great to see.
• 8:58
  Speaker 4: He also adds, you know, the versatile of the off-spin
• 9:02
  Speaker 4: that he's got with left-arm ortho, help Nathan Lyon, help
• 9:05
  Speaker 4: the bowlers out if he needs to play a role
• 9:06
  Speaker 4: when the wickets are turning. So I think I'd love
• 9:09
  Speaker 4: to see Coop get a crack. If not, then I
• 9:14
  Speaker 4: think Matto is probably the next choice. Like I said,
• 9:16
  Speaker 4: very versatile, can bat at the top, can bat five
• 9:18
  Speaker 4: if they want to change around where Travis Head bats.
• 9:21
  Speaker 3: I think both pretty strong options. But personally, I'd love
• 9:24
  Speaker 3: to see Coop get a crack.
• 9:26
  Speaker 1: Yeah, so we've obviously got Marnus locked in at three,
• 9:27
  Speaker 1: which is probably somewhat held by Inglis' injury. We know
• 9:30
  Speaker 1: that he hasn't been in the best of form. Obviously,
• 9:32
  Speaker 1: Smith at four, and then Green probably would have batted five.
• 9:34
  Speaker 1: Would you shuffle that order around at all? Would you
• 9:36
  Speaker 1: like to see Kerry go up to five, Bo Webster
• 9:38
  Speaker 1: maybe have a little bit more responsibility batting at five?
• 9:40
  Speaker 1: Where would you see that five, six, seven? If Connolly's
• 9:43
  Speaker 1: your guy, what order would you have that in?
• 9:46
  Speaker 3: Oh, I'd like to see Coop bat at five. I'd
• 9:48
  Speaker 3: like to see him.
• 9:49
  Speaker 4: bat there and have his predominant skills of batter. Obviously
• 9:53
  Speaker 4: have bowling if need be, but I'd like to see
• 9:55
  Speaker 4: him give him a crack there.
• 9:57
  Speaker 3: And then I think Alex Kerry at bat six, Bo
• 9:59
  Speaker 3: Webb's at bat seven.
• 10:00
  Speaker 4: Obviously if Bo is bowling, he's going to bowl, you know,
• 10:03
  Speaker 4: 10 overs max maybe in the bowling innings. You could
• 10:06
  Speaker 4: swap him to six, seven there, I guess. But I
• 10:09
  Speaker 4: like Kerry at six. I like Bo at seven. I think, yeah,
• 10:11
  Speaker 4: you've got an option between Koop or Maddo at five.
• 10:14
  Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely.
• 10:14
  Speaker 1: So on the South African front, one name that we
• 10:17
  Speaker 1: haven't seen in the test arena for Since March 2023,
• 10:20
  Speaker 1: Enric Nortia, who would be an absolute nightmare to face, Drewy,
• 10:24
  Speaker 1: I'd imagine. But it's a pretty scary prospect, seeming the squad.
• 10:28
  Speaker 1: So Kegisa Rabat has been under a very heavy injury
• 10:30
  Speaker 1: cloud heading into this series, and we probably don't expect
• 10:32
  Speaker 1: him to play in the first test, perhaps not the
• 10:34
  Speaker 1: second as well. Do you see this South Africa attack
• 10:38
  Speaker 1: filled with Marco Jansen, obviously a tall left-arm quick, Nortia,
• 10:41
  Speaker 1: Jared Coats here, who's got a fair bit about him
• 10:43
  Speaker 1: as well, and Maharaj, who's a seasoned campaigner with the
• 10:46
  Speaker 1: left-arm orthodox. It does feel like their bowling attack goes
• 10:49
  Speaker 1: pretty well toe-to-toe with Australia's.
• 10:51
  Speaker 4: Yeah, I think, well, there's obviously been quick bowlers there,
• 10:53
  Speaker 4: isn't there? They've gone pretty pace out attack there. Obviously,
• 10:57
  Speaker 4: Nokia hasn't played for a while, but, you know, he
• 10:59
  Speaker 4: bowls fast. He's probably going to play that attacking role
• 11:03
  Speaker 4: for their lineup. He's going to come in, bowl quick,
• 11:05
  Speaker 4: bowl short. You know, he might go at four or
• 11:07
  Speaker 4: five and over, but he's going to play a pivotal
• 11:09
  Speaker 4: role in trying to break through those middle order, especially
• 11:12
  Speaker 4: the tail end and trying to clean up them quickly.
• 11:15
  Speaker 4: and I think, yeah, he's obviously accompanied with the other
• 11:17
  Speaker 4: bowlers who are seasoned players. Marco Jansen obviously has a
• 11:21
  Speaker 4: versatile left arm. He's obviously done really well, and Maharaji
• 11:25
  Speaker 4: obviously continues to take wickets, especially on the turning wickets there,
• 11:28
  Speaker 4: day three, day four, he's going to play a massive role.
• 11:30
  Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing how that pans out.
• 11:32
  Speaker 1: Do you have Stark Cummins, how is your starting attack.
• 11:35
  Speaker 2: For the first test?
• 11:36
  Speaker 4: I do, yes.
• 11:37
  Speaker 3: Yeah, with Nathan Lyon as well.
• 11:38
  Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, very good. The last thing we'll touch on
• 11:41
  Speaker 2: in terms of squad, so.
• 11:42
  Speaker 1: Travis Head came out in the last 24 hours and
• 11:45
  Speaker 1: he said that he was asked about past players and
• 11:47
  Speaker 1: their opinions of the squad and I suppose their response
• 11:50
  Speaker 1: to that. He said there's a few of them who
• 11:54
  Speaker 1: are pretty eager to put the bullet through representatives of
• 11:57
  Speaker 1: the Australian cricket team. I guess as a player who's
• 11:59
  Speaker 1: been in that ecosystem for a little while, what was
• 12:01
  Speaker 1: your initial reaction to that? It feels like there probably
• 12:04
  Speaker 1: have been a lot of past players who have been
• 12:05
  Speaker 1: pretty eager to have their word and rightly so, a
• 12:07
  Speaker 1: lot of them have been there and done that. But
• 12:09
  Speaker 1: I guess take us through the mind as a player
• 12:11
  Speaker 1: of hearing comments like that um you know the idea
• 12:14
  Speaker 1: of someone like nick madison or sam harper being selected
• 12:17
  Speaker 1: on this tour is a massive moment in their career
• 12:19
  Speaker 1: in their life um how do you know do you
• 12:21
  Speaker 1: think that would be affecting them too much or it's
• 12:23
  Speaker 1: very much outside noise inside camp ready to go.
• 12:26
  Speaker 4: Um yeah i mean it's tough to to block it
• 12:29
  Speaker 4: out um you're getting spoken about the media it is
• 12:32
  Speaker 4: all over the news and i think for example like
• 12:35
  Speaker 4: you said nick madison he's coming to the test squad
• 12:37
  Speaker 4: everyone should be you know getting around him and how
• 12:39
  Speaker 4: exciting is this after the story and not playing for
• 12:41
  Speaker 4: a while? And I think a lot of the media is,
• 12:43
  Speaker 4: how is he getting picked? Why is he picked in
• 12:45
  Speaker 4: the squad? They could have picked someone else and so
• 12:47
  Speaker 4: on and so on. So I think for Trav to
• 12:49
  Speaker 4: come out and back his team and back the squad
• 12:52
  Speaker 4: is really great for him and great for the team.
• 12:55
  Speaker 4: I know these past players like to voice their opinions.
• 12:58
  Speaker 4: They like to be quite strong in it. And I
• 13:01
  Speaker 4: guess it is part of their job and they have
• 13:03
  Speaker 4: played the games, they understand it. But like Trav said,
• 13:05
  Speaker 4: the game's changed. It would be nice to see both
• 13:09
  Speaker 4: parties have a bit of respect for each other um
• 13:11
  Speaker 4: you know we're Australian way we want to we want
• 13:13
  Speaker 4: to win and I guess and I get that but
• 13:16
  Speaker 4: yeah to to back them in um just to be
• 13:19
  Speaker 4: I guess better blokes about it all and be like
• 13:21
  Speaker 4: you know have some positive positive intent um into the
• 13:24
  Speaker 4: into the media would be great um but as a
• 13:26
  Speaker 4: player I think you know the state level there's some
• 13:29
  Speaker 4: criticism but not as much obviously you jump to the
• 13:31
  Speaker 4: Australian level and it is is all over your face
• 13:34
  Speaker 4: um But I think, yeah, like I said, it would
• 13:36
  Speaker 4: just be nice to put some more positive media into it.
• 13:39
  Speaker 4: We're coming into a test series in South Africa where
• 13:41
  Speaker 4: everyone's excited about it. It's a big series for Australia.
• 13:44
  Speaker 3: I know, you know, if things don't go well, there.
• 13:46
  Speaker 4: Will be negative feedback, but some positive to start would
• 13:49
  Speaker 4: be a nice change.
• 13:51
  Speaker 1: Was that ever anything that you felt behind closed doors
• 13:54
  Speaker 1: at Saka, specifically at any time throughout your career with
• 13:57
  Speaker 1: their voices or I suppose people that wanted to have
• 13:59
  Speaker 1: their say that maybe could have stayed in their lane
• 14:01
  Speaker 1: at all?
• 14:02
  Speaker 3: A little bit.
• 14:03
  Speaker 4: I think, you know, when I was young and coming through,
• 14:05
  Speaker 4: we were struggling as a state and we weren't winning
• 14:07
  Speaker 4: much and that was obviously a bit of an overarching
• 14:09
  Speaker 4: feeling around the squad. Being quite young and not playing
• 14:13
  Speaker 4: as much, I didn't feel it personally. But I guess,
• 14:16
  Speaker 4: you know, once you are in it and you are
• 14:18
  Speaker 4: playing and you miss out a few times, there are,
• 14:19
  Speaker 4: you know, voices and there are a bit of media
• 14:21
  Speaker 4: stuff that happens and it is hard to block out,
• 14:23
  Speaker 4: like I said, but at the same time, that's professional cricket.
• 14:26
  Speaker 4: You've got to do your job. If you're not performing,
• 14:28
  Speaker 4: you are going to be in the limelight and you
• 14:29
  Speaker 4: are going to get critiqued. criticised for not making runs.
• 14:32
  Speaker 4: So I think to be able to block it out,
• 14:34
  Speaker 4: stay in your own lane, I guess just focus on
• 14:36
  Speaker 4: what you need to do and the job at hand
• 14:38
  Speaker 4: is the main thing.
• 14:38
  Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely. Well said, Drewie.
• 14:40
  Speaker 1: So part of the reason there's probably been a little
• 14:41
  Speaker 1: bit of conjecture, and I suppose that selectors may have
• 14:44
  Speaker 1: felt like they needed to lean on Nick Maddison for
• 14:46
  Speaker 1: a series like this, was Australia A's just had a
• 14:48
  Speaker 1: tour in India, or they're finishing up their tour, but
• 14:50
  Speaker 1: they've had their two Red Bull games, their unofficial tests.
• 14:53
  Speaker 1: There probably weren't as many runs with the exclusion of
• 14:55
  Speaker 1: Sam Harper out of there to pick someone. There would
• 14:57
  Speaker 1: have been a few that would have been on the cups,
• 14:59
  Speaker 1: so Nathan McSweeney, who we know has played test cricket,
• 15:01
  Speaker 1: was given a fair bit of a baptism of fire
• 15:03
  Speaker 1: against Jasper Boomer as an opener a couple of summers ago.
• 15:06
  Speaker 1: But I suppose what were your initial takeaways with a
• 15:08
  Speaker 1: few of the players? Jason Sang is another former teammate
• 15:10
  Speaker 1: of yours who I think scored 440s in a 20,
• 15:13
  Speaker 1: looked like he got going a little bit. How do
• 15:15
  Speaker 1: you see this next crop of batters and perhaps the
• 15:17
  Speaker 1: people that might be challenging for this summer against New
• 15:19
  Speaker 1: Zealand and then also in India in January next year?
• 15:23
  Speaker 1: Did you have any takeaways or any players that you
• 15:24
  Speaker 1: perhaps thought you'd be pretty keen to see make some
• 15:27
  Speaker 1: runs heading into the summer?
• 15:28
  Speaker 4: Yeah, I think you named them both there. I think
• 15:30
  Speaker 4: Nathan McSweeney obviously got blooded in against India and in
• 15:34
  Speaker 4: that test series against Jasprit Bruma. And although he was opening,
• 15:38
  Speaker 4: I think he's a three or a four. And I
• 15:40
  Speaker 4: think he'll come in when Steve Smith decides to stop playing.
• 15:44
  Speaker 4: I think he's a quality player, a great leader, a
• 15:47
  Speaker 4: level head. And he's obviously had a great 12 months
• 15:50
  Speaker 4: for South Australia, for Aussie A. He went and played
• 15:53
  Speaker 4: for North Hance, had a really good summer there. I
• 15:56
  Speaker 4: think he's definitely the obvious one next in And also
• 15:59
  Speaker 4: Jason Sanger, I think, you know, after moving to South
• 16:02
  Speaker 4: Australia from New South Wales, had a great season there.
• 16:04
  Speaker 4: He's won back-to-back shields, been a very important player in that,
• 16:08
  Speaker 4: you know, top middle order for them, I think. And
• 16:11
  Speaker 4: going away to India in the Aussie A stuff, did well,
• 16:15
  Speaker 4: made a few starts. I think he's around the mark
• 16:18
  Speaker 4: as well. Also would love to see them potentially blooding
• 16:22
  Speaker 4: Corey Roccaccioli as well. Been in the media a little
• 16:25
  Speaker 4: bit about, you know, not getting picked and... still having
• 16:28
  Speaker 4: great seasons back-to-back. I think he's a quality bowler. Playing
• 16:31
  Speaker 4: against him at the WACA, spins the ball tall. He's
• 16:35
  Speaker 4: obviously going to be someone they look at, especially for
• 16:37
  Speaker 4: the subcontinent, India, when that comes around. So I think
• 16:40
  Speaker 4: they're probably my three players. But in that, I think
• 16:43
  Speaker 4: Nathan McSweeney's probably too good a player not to be
• 16:46
  Speaker 4: in that squad at the moment.
• 16:48
  Speaker 1: Yeah, you've definitely read the rundown, Drew, because that blends
• 16:51
  Speaker 1: in perfectly to my next question. But I did want
• 16:53
  Speaker 1: to tap into your mind about the spinners for the
• 16:54
  Speaker 1: next Porto Gaviscar Trophy. We're really throwing ahead here. into
• 16:57
  Speaker 1: a few months' time, but it's a big series. It
• 16:59
  Speaker 1: obviously comes around once every four years in India, and
• 17:02
  Speaker 1: spinners play a key role in that. Last time around
• 17:04
  Speaker 1: in 2023, we saw Todd Murphy make his debut, had
• 17:07
  Speaker 1: it bowled excellently over there. Roccatrolli is probably more of
• 17:11
  Speaker 1: a like-for-like replacement for Lyon and can bowl alongside him.
• 17:14
  Speaker 1: How do you see that spin battle, I guess, coming
• 17:16
  Speaker 1: into the next few months? Is there a particular type
• 17:19
  Speaker 1: like Roccatrolli you'd like to see blotted over in India,
• 17:22
  Speaker 1: or do you think the likes of Todd and Matt Cooneman,
• 17:23
  Speaker 1: who's obviously the second spinner in South Africa, How do
• 17:26
  Speaker 1: you see that spin battle?
• 17:27
  Speaker 2: Mitch Swepson's another one who, I guess, could be in
• 17:29
  Speaker 2: the frame. He's a seasoned leg spinner.
• 17:30
  Speaker 1: But stats probably suggest leg spinners don't bowl as much
• 17:34
  Speaker 1: over in India, certainly from an Australian-India perspective. Kordi Yadda
• 17:37
  Speaker 1: is probably the only exception there. But, yeah, just your
• 17:39
  Speaker 1: initial thoughts on who you want to see butted.
• 17:41
  Speaker 2: I'm looking forward to heading into India next year.
• 17:44
  Speaker 4: Yeah, well, depending on what Nathan Lyon's doing, if he's
• 17:46
  Speaker 4: on the tour, if he's not, if he's stopped playing,
• 17:48
  Speaker 4: we're unsure what's happening there. Like I said, I'd love
• 17:52
  Speaker 4: to see Corey Rocachelli get an opportunity. I think Todd
• 17:54
  Speaker 4: Murphy will be on the tour. Done well, played for Australia.
• 17:57
  Speaker 4: He's very reliable for the Australian team, especially in those conditions. Also,
• 18:02
  Speaker 4: Matt Coonerman, he's gone over there, done that, dominated his
• 18:05
  Speaker 4: record in some continents elite. So I think he'll be
• 18:09
  Speaker 4: a lock. I also wouldn't mind seeing Tanvir Sanger. Like
• 18:13
  Speaker 4: you said, obviously leg spin not getting the tick of
• 18:15
  Speaker 4: approval as much, but I'd love to see him get
• 18:17
  Speaker 4: another crack. And then I think as a smokey, we've
• 18:21
  Speaker 4: seen this player– played for white ball for australia recently
• 18:23
  Speaker 4: but joel davies potentially is someone that i think could
• 18:27
  Speaker 4: really have an impact for australia obviously batswell gunfielder um
• 18:31
  Speaker 4: and i think his bowling has come along a lot
• 18:33
  Speaker 4: way and i think they'd like the way he goes
• 18:34
  Speaker 4: about it so he's a smoky for me for that tour.
• 18:36
  Speaker 1: Yeah i really like that joel davies pick drewy um
• 18:39
  Speaker 1: it's been a very south australia dominated podcast so far
• 18:42
  Speaker 1: you're a south australian i'm a south australian and another
• 18:44
  Speaker 1: south australian that's going to make an appearance is australian
• 18:47
  Speaker 1: captain for this next Bangladesh women's white ball series. Talia
• 18:51
  Speaker 1: McGrath spoke to her earlier. There's three one-days coming up
• 18:53
  Speaker 1: at Allen Borderfield against Bangladesh. This is what I had
• 18:56
  Speaker 1: to say with her earlier. I'm now joined by South
• 19:00
  Speaker 1: Australian Talia McGrath, 128 international caps next to her name,
• 19:05
  Speaker 1: and she's about to lead Australia into a three-match one-day
• 19:08
  Speaker 1: series against Bangladesh. Talia, thank you for taking the time
• 19:11
  Speaker 1: out of your day the day before the series.
• 19:13
  Speaker 2: How are you?
• 19:15
  Speaker 6: No worries.
• 19:15
  Speaker 5: Thanks for having me. I'm going really well. I'm excited
• 19:19
  Speaker 5: about this series kicking off against Bangladesh. It's the first
• 19:23
  Speaker 5: time we've been together since lifting the trophy on the
• 19:27
  Speaker 5: Lord's Balcony. So really excited to be back with the
• 19:29
  Speaker 5: group and play some cricket again.
• 19:31
  Speaker 2: Excellent. It's good to hear.
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: One of the key, I guess, storylines heading into this
• 19:36
  Speaker 1: series is you're captain. You've captained the international side before,
• 19:40
  Speaker 1: most recently against the West Indies, I think back in April.
• 19:43
  Speaker 1: Is there anything that feels different about taking this side
• 19:46
  Speaker 1: into this series?
• 19:47
  Speaker 2: Having been there, done that now?
• 19:48
  Speaker 1: And what do you want the group to feel like
• 19:50
  Speaker 1: under you, I suppose, for these three games in the
• 19:53
  Speaker 1: leadership position?
• 19:55
  Speaker 5: Yeah, pretty excited to be captain again. I love every
• 19:58
  Speaker 5: opportunity I get to lead this side. And I suppose
• 20:02
  Speaker 5: it doesn't look too different with me in charge.
• 20:06
  Speaker 4: Ash.
• 20:06
  Speaker 6: Soph and I have been working really well as a
• 20:09
  Speaker 6: leadership group.
• 20:10
  Speaker 5: We all think pretty similarly and just both bring our
• 20:14
  Speaker 5: own little strengths to the group. But I don't think
• 20:17
  Speaker 5: it will look too different.
• 20:19
  Speaker 6: And yeah, just looking to go out there and play
• 20:21
  Speaker 6: some really good cricket and.
• 20:22
  Speaker 5: Hopefully put on our brand and some good cricket against Bangladesh.
• 20:29
  Speaker 2: Yeah, 100%. How does that look like?
• 20:30
  Speaker 1: Obviously, Soph's out with an injury at the moment, but
• 20:33
  Speaker 1: how does that look like bouncing off her and the
• 20:35
  Speaker 1: leadership group, I suppose, being off the field? And, you know, additionally,
• 20:38
  Speaker 1: how do you and Ash Gardner split the decision-making on field?
• 20:41
  Speaker 1: You're both bowlers, you know, can certainly bowl the ball. Like,
• 20:45
  Speaker 1: do you guys tell each other when you think you
• 20:47
  Speaker 1: should be bowling or how does that look like, I guess, as,
• 20:49
  Speaker 1: you know, as vice captains heading into this series now
• 20:51
  Speaker 1: with you with the leadership?
• 20:54
  Speaker 6: Yeah, Soph's here with us, which has been amazing.
• 20:56
  Speaker 5: So she's still involved, you know, with a lot of
• 20:58
  Speaker 5: the planning meetings, a lot of around the group all
• 21:00
  Speaker 5: the time. And, um, yeah, she's awesome to have around.
• 21:04
  Speaker 5: So that doesn't change too much. And then, um, yeah,
• 21:07
  Speaker 5: with Ash and I, uh, we work really well together and, um, yeah,
• 21:11
  Speaker 5: we are both bowlers and sometimes I need a bit
• 21:13
  Speaker 5: of encouragement from her to bowl myself.
• 21:15
  Speaker 6: And other times I'm like, right, Ash, I need you
• 21:17
  Speaker 6: to come and take the ball. So no, it's great.
• 21:20
  Speaker 6: We work really well together.
• 21:21
  Speaker 5: She probably takes a little bit more of a spin focus,
• 21:24
  Speaker 5: a spin lead. I take probably take a little bit
• 21:26
  Speaker 5: more of a pace bowling lead, but, um, It works
• 21:29
  Speaker 5: really well. I'm pretty much more of the calm one.
• 21:34
  Speaker 5: Ash comes up with all the genius outside the box
• 21:37
  Speaker 5: plans when things aren't happening and it works really well.
• 21:40
  Speaker 5: And the three of us together collaborate awesomely together.
• 21:45
  Speaker 1: It's a very humble response, Talia. Specifically, one thing I
• 21:48
  Speaker 1: found really interesting with that. So when you have Ash
• 21:51
  Speaker 1: herself spinning, obviously a spin bowler and other spinners in
• 21:54
  Speaker 1: the team, is that very much literally her setting the
• 21:57
  Speaker 1: field during that time or is it sort of you're
• 21:59
  Speaker 1: leaning on her shoulder a little bit more in that
• 22:01
  Speaker 1: instance than what you might otherwise.
• 22:03
  Speaker 5: No we're pretty lucky in this side that yeah lots
• 22:06
  Speaker 5: of planning goes in with our individual bowling coaches and
• 22:10
  Speaker 5: individual bowlers take the lead with their fields and yeah
• 22:15
  Speaker 5: they're all world class at that it's just more of
• 22:18
  Speaker 5: a yeah sort of reading conditions or we think we
• 22:22
  Speaker 5: need spin in this option or this ball like matchups.
• 22:26
  Speaker 5: But yeah, we're pretty lucky that world-class bowlers come up
• 22:31
  Speaker 5: with their own sort of plans and feels and we
• 22:33
  Speaker 5: just help facilitate that and maybe throw a few ideas
• 22:36
  Speaker 5: in there where we think there's a little edge.
• 22:39
  Speaker 2: Very good.
• 22:40
  Speaker 1: On your own personal form, Tyler, if anyone unfamiliar, you
• 22:43
  Speaker 1: knocked out a casual 154 against Victoria at the end
• 22:46
  Speaker 1: of last month.
• 22:46
  Speaker 2: Is it fair to say that you're seeing them pretty
• 22:48
  Speaker 2: well at the moment?
• 22:50
  Speaker 6: It was a bit of a relief, that knock, to
• 22:51
  Speaker 6: be completely honest. It was nice to spend some time
• 22:54
  Speaker 6: in the middle.
• 22:55
  Speaker 5: I'm in a really good place with my batting at
• 22:57
  Speaker 5: the moment and hopefully able to contribute a little bit
• 23:01
  Speaker 5: to this team as well.
• 23:02
  Speaker 1: Yep, very humble. Two wickets in that same game as well.
• 23:07
  Speaker 1: Heading into this series, there's sort of been a little
• 23:10
  Speaker 1: bit of chat from Beth Mooney. She's come out and
• 23:12
  Speaker 1: suggested that perhaps the timing and the time slots within
• 23:15
  Speaker 1: this series aren't particularly great to help put the game
• 23:17
  Speaker 1: in front of young girls and fans that might want
• 23:19
  Speaker 1: to come and play the game Is that something you
• 23:21
  Speaker 1: sort of feel aligned with as well? I mean, you
• 23:22
  Speaker 1: guys don't get to play international level here in Australia,
• 23:25
  Speaker 1: I don't think, until next March against New Zealand.
• 23:28
  Speaker 6: Yeah, pretty topical at the moment.
• 23:30
  Speaker 5: Really difficult in how much cricket is actually on the
• 23:34
  Speaker 5: calendar with all the different international things, our own Australian
• 23:39
  Speaker 5: domestic cricket and all the franchise leagues around the world.
• 23:42
  Speaker 5: So really tricky one for schedulers to... put us in
• 23:46
  Speaker 5: the right spots. But in an ideal world, we would
• 23:50
  Speaker 5: love to be playing in December, those school holidays, get
• 23:54
  Speaker 5: prime time, get as many fans to the game as possible.
• 23:57
  Speaker 5: So yeah, really tricky one. And I'll leave the scheduling
• 24:01
  Speaker 5: up to the experts. But in an ideal world, we'd
• 24:03
  Speaker 5: love to be in December.
• 24:05
  Speaker 2: Very good. Very good.
• 24:06
  Speaker 1: It's been about two and a half years since you
• 24:07
  Speaker 1: guys played your last bilateral ODI series against Bangladesh. How
• 24:11
  Speaker 1: much of your opponents do you come across like since then?
• 24:13
  Speaker 1: I know obviously there's franchise leagues at times around the world.
• 24:16
  Speaker 1: I think you've played one 50 over match against them
• 24:19
  Speaker 1: maybe since, but do you have much crossover with the
• 24:21
  Speaker 1: Bangladesh girls and like how familiar, I suppose, are you
• 24:23
  Speaker 1: against them in that sense coming into this series?
• 24:27
  Speaker 5: Yeah, that series a couple of years ago was a
• 24:28
  Speaker 5: really tricky one for us with it presented a different
• 24:31
  Speaker 5: challenge in the Bangladesh conditions are a lot different to
• 24:35
  Speaker 5: what we come up against in Australia. And since then, yeah,
• 24:38
  Speaker 5: a couple of times in World Cup games, but not
• 24:41
  Speaker 5: a lot and a little bit of a.
• 24:43
  Speaker 6: More unfamiliar opponent to us.
• 24:45
  Speaker 5: I mean, we play the likes of India and England
• 24:48
  Speaker 5: all the time and know them really well as they
• 24:50
  Speaker 5: know us.
• 24:51
  Speaker 6: So a little bit of a trickier one to plan for.
• 24:54
  Speaker 5: And they've got some really well-class spinners, which pose probably
• 25:00
  Speaker 5: the biggest threat to us. So it's going to be
• 25:02
  Speaker 5: a really good series, really looking forward to it. And yeah, hopefully,
• 25:06
  Speaker 5: like I said, we can just play our brand, our
• 25:09
  Speaker 5: blueprint and go out there and showcase our talent.
• 25:11
  Speaker 2: Absolutely. Last one for you, Talia.
• 25:14
  Speaker 1: Is there anyone you're liking the look of at the
• 25:16
  Speaker 1: moment heading in the last few trainings into tomorrow being
• 25:19
  Speaker 1: Friday with the first one day? Anyone that's seeing them
• 25:21
  Speaker 1: particularly well or setting them down at a pretty good knot,
• 25:24
  Speaker 1: fair bit of revs on the ball? Who do you
• 25:25
  Speaker 1: like the look of heading into this series?
• 25:28
  Speaker 5: Everyone was in very good nick for the WNCL sides
• 25:31
  Speaker 5: and training's been amazing. But if I'm going to single
• 25:34
  Speaker 5: out one, it would be Annabelle Sutherland with With both
• 25:38
  Speaker 5: bat and ball, she is an absolute class act and
• 25:40
  Speaker 5: looks like she's seeing beach balls when she's batting at
• 25:43
  Speaker 5: the moment. So I would expect a really big series,
• 25:46
  Speaker 5: but also summer from her.
• 25:48
  Speaker 2: Very good.
• 25:49
  Speaker 1: Hopefully Annabelle's listening to that little pump-up piece. But thank
• 25:52
  Speaker 1: you for joining us, Talia. Really appreciate it. And hopefully
• 25:55
  Speaker 1: we'll see you knock out another 154-2 at some point
• 25:58
  Speaker 1: during the series.
• 25:59
  Speaker 2: And all the best for you and the girls come Friday.
• 26:03
  Speaker 6: Thank you very much. Thanks for having me.
• 26:06
  Speaker 2: Thanks very much, Talia. I appreciate it. It's very good.
• 26:09
  Speaker 6: No worries.
• 26:11
  Speaker 2: Yeah, all the best on Friday and the rest of
• 26:13
  Speaker 2: the series. And yeah, go well. Thanks again.
• 26:16
  Speaker 5: Cheers.
• 26:16
  Speaker 6: Thank you.
• 26:17
  Speaker 1: Drewie, just wanted to pick your brains as a Sheffield
• 26:19
  Speaker 1: Shield player. It started yesterday, the time of recording between
• 26:23
  Speaker 1: Victoria and South Australia, a grand final rematch from last summer.
• 26:26
  Speaker 1: Sackers that went back to back, as you very well know.
• 26:30
  Speaker 1: Who do you like the look of heading into this summer?
• 26:33
  Speaker 1: Does South Australia, first of all, have a three-peat in them?
• 26:35
  Speaker 1: I suspect they probably do with the very strong list
• 26:38
  Speaker 1: they have. But more broadly speaking, I guess, you know,
• 26:40
  Speaker 1: some states that you're liking the look of and perhaps
• 26:43
  Speaker 1: some players to keep an eye on. Joel Davies is
• 26:45
  Speaker 1: one we spoke about earlier. But anyone else beyond that?
• 26:48
  Speaker 4: Yeah, I think the Sackers can do a three-peat. You know,
• 26:52
  Speaker 4: they've got the team for it. Their depth bowling-wise is unbelievable.
• 26:56
  Speaker 4: I think they've been working on that for a while
• 26:57
  Speaker 4: now with selecting players from interstate. You've got Brendan Dogger there,
• 27:02
  Speaker 4: Nathan McAndrew, continue to do well.
• 27:05
  Speaker 3: I think they're.
• 27:06
  Speaker 4: Versatile with the bat as well. They've got players that
• 27:08
  Speaker 4: can dominate the game, players that can lock down. So
• 27:10
  Speaker 4: I think South Australia, in my opinion, is still favourites.
• 27:14
  Speaker 4: I think Victoria obviously have a similar team. So I
• 27:17
  Speaker 4: think at the end in March, I think it will
• 27:18
  Speaker 4: be those two teams again. And in saying that, I
• 27:22
  Speaker 4: think I like the look of New South Wales' line-up
• 27:24
  Speaker 4: when they get their players back. I think under new
• 27:26
  Speaker 4: coach Brad Harden's going to, have a bit of a
• 27:28
  Speaker 4: change the way they do it, quite attacking, take the
• 27:31
  Speaker 4: game on. And with that, I think Riley Kingsley was
• 27:34
  Speaker 4: someone that I think we've seen him play white ball
• 27:37
  Speaker 4: already at the start of the season. I think he
• 27:38
  Speaker 4: could be someone that could have the impact at the
• 27:39
  Speaker 4: top of the order, especially if Nick Maddison is away,
• 27:42
  Speaker 4: Sam Constance is away. I think Kingsley will play this game.
• 27:45
  Speaker 4: I'd like to see him do well. I've played against
• 27:47
  Speaker 4: him a couple of games, second level in cricket.
• 27:48
  Speaker 3: Looks like a good player. He's only young as well.
• 27:51
  Speaker 4: It's saying that Curtis Patterson is someone that He's a
• 27:55
  Speaker 4: seasonal player, played for Australia, continues to dominate the last
• 27:58
  Speaker 4: couple of years. Obviously went away and got dropped and
• 28:01
  Speaker 4: found what he needed to work on, his comeback and dominate.
• 28:04
  Speaker 4: So I think he's going to have another big season
• 28:07
  Speaker 4: as well for New South Wales.
• 28:08
  Speaker 3: Also don't mind the look of Tasmania.
• 28:10
  Speaker 4: I think Tim Ward at the top of the order
• 28:11
  Speaker 4: is going to be important for them. Averaged low 30s
• 28:16
  Speaker 4: last year, batted three, opened, had a great white ball
• 28:20
  Speaker 4: series as well for Tassie. I think he's an important
• 28:22
  Speaker 4: player and someone I'd love to see dominate and obviously
• 28:25
  Speaker 4: get some higher honours as well if need be and
• 28:28
  Speaker 4: available to do so. And then with that, I guess,
• 28:30
  Speaker 4: looking back on the Saka team, I think Liam Scott's
• 28:34
  Speaker 4: the most important player in that team. You know, bat, bowls,
• 28:36
  Speaker 4: 10 to 15 overs a game, can bowl with a
• 28:39
  Speaker 4: new ball. And then obviously his battings come with leaps
• 28:41
  Speaker 4: and bounds. You know, he's that important number six batter
• 28:44
  Speaker 4: for them. Comes in when, you know, they're four for
• 28:47
  Speaker 4: not many, makes runs, comes in when they need to
• 28:49
  Speaker 4: go hard. He's that versatile player for them. And I
• 28:51
  Speaker 4: think another big season for Liam's on the cards.
• 28:54
  Speaker 1: Australia's been blessed with Cameron Green and Bo Webster and
• 28:56
  Speaker 1: being able to bring them into the team. And currently
• 28:58
  Speaker 1: right now, before Green's injury, being able to play both
• 29:01
  Speaker 1: of them in the same team. But Liam Scott's probably
• 29:03
  Speaker 1: someone that has flown under the radar a little bit.
• 29:04
  Speaker 1: It feels like, I don't know about you, but way
• 29:07
  Speaker 1: back in the day, he's improved out of sight since
• 29:08
  Speaker 1: coming from New South Wales in the ACT. I guess,
• 29:11
  Speaker 1: how have you seen his development the last couple of years?
• 29:13
  Speaker 1: Because he's really been shining for Australia when.
• 29:15
  Speaker 2: He has had that opportunity.
• 29:16
  Speaker 3: Yeah, 100%.
• 29:17
  Speaker 4: I think, you know, I was around the squad and
• 29:20
  Speaker 4: he came in, he was quite young. He was a 19-year-old,
• 29:22
  Speaker 4: I think. And he was bowing to me and I
• 29:24
  Speaker 4: was like, yeah, he's got some talent and his batting
• 29:26
  Speaker 4: looked good. And then I think, you know, the last
• 29:28
  Speaker 4: couple of seasons we've seen, he's dominated for South Australia.
• 29:31
  Speaker 4: He's won the medal there. He's Player of the Year
• 29:33
  Speaker 4: last year in the Shield for the competition as well.
• 29:35
  Speaker 4: So I guess having that player in that middle order
• 29:38
  Speaker 4: for South Australia is.
• 29:40
  Speaker 3: ideal.
• 29:41
  Speaker 4: It's obviously helping them win games as well. His new
• 29:43
  Speaker 4: ball bowling is awesome as well. He can do that
• 29:46
  Speaker 4: role for me if there's a key player out for
• 29:49
  Speaker 4: South Australia. We've seen him do that. But, yeah, he's
• 29:53
  Speaker 4: such an improved player. I love the way it goes
• 29:55
  Speaker 4: about it. He's obviously played for Australia recently as well,
• 29:58
  Speaker 4: so he's got that experience at the top level. But, yeah,
• 30:01
  Speaker 4: like I said, just such an important player for South
• 30:03
  Speaker 4: Australia and hopefully we can see some higher honours for
• 30:05
  Speaker 4: him soon.
• 30:05
  Speaker 2: What do you see his dominant skill set at?
• 30:07
  Speaker 1: It might feel like a bit of a silly question,
• 30:08
  Speaker 1: but I always saw him as a bat when he
• 30:09
  Speaker 1: first came into the South Australian team and I know
• 30:11
  Speaker 1: there were times where he was batting at number three
• 30:13
  Speaker 1: and first dropped to SA. It feels like his bowling,
• 30:16
  Speaker 1: he's just so economical and so metronomic. What do you
• 30:18
  Speaker 1: see his specialist skill at?
• 30:21
  Speaker 4: I think it's probably still batting at this stage. I
• 30:24
  Speaker 4: think if he was injured and couldn't bowl, I still
• 30:27
  Speaker 4: think he plays the batter for South Australia in that
• 30:28
  Speaker 4: middle order. So that's probably where my answer is. At
• 30:31
  Speaker 4: the same time, I wouldn't rule out just playing him
• 30:34
  Speaker 4: as a bowler if that was a case that happened.
• 30:37
  Speaker 4: But I think, you know, having both skill is so
• 30:40
  Speaker 4: important to him. If he misses out with the bat,
• 30:42
  Speaker 4: he's obviously got the opportunity with the ball to do
• 30:44
  Speaker 4: well and he always has an impact one way or
• 30:45
  Speaker 4: the other. So predominantly I think batting, but yeah, both
• 30:49
  Speaker 4: skills are awesome.
• 30:50
  Speaker 2: Last one I've got for you, Drewie.
• 30:52
  Speaker 1: Was there a team in particular, I think you sort
• 30:54
  Speaker 1: of alluded to Victoria before, but back in your playing days,
• 30:57
  Speaker 1: was there a state that you sort of didn't like
• 30:59
  Speaker 1: playing against as much? Or, you know, they've been at
• 31:01
  Speaker 1: the top for a long time, Victoria, without having the
• 31:03
  Speaker 1: ultimate success since 2019. But I guess, yeah, a state
• 31:06
  Speaker 1: that you sort of, South Australia is probably, they're the
• 31:09
  Speaker 1: hunted at the moment. Other states are going after them.
• 31:11
  Speaker 1: Who do you think is leading the pack to charge them?
• 31:13
  Speaker 1: Is it still Victoria in this instance?
• 31:15
  Speaker 4: I still think it's Victoria, but at the same time,
• 31:17
  Speaker 4: I think Victoria's been going so well for a number
• 31:20
  Speaker 4: of years now.
• 31:20
  Speaker 3: So I think, yes, they're a good team. They're always
• 31:25
  Speaker 3: around the mark.
• 31:26
  Speaker 4: I think when I was playing, Queensland was probably the
• 31:29
  Speaker 4: team that we struggled a little bit against. They've obviously
• 31:32
  Speaker 4: got some great bowling stocks, some experienced players. Their top
• 31:35
  Speaker 4: order batter was elite back then. I think they might
• 31:39
  Speaker 4: struggle a little bit this year with their depth, but
• 31:41
  Speaker 4: they were always a team going up to the Gabba
• 31:43
  Speaker 4: was intimidating. You're not sure what the wicket was going
• 31:45
  Speaker 4: to do they always played pretty well against us. So, again,
• 31:48
  Speaker 4: when I was playing, that was probably a team that
• 31:50
  Speaker 4: I didn't enjoy playing as much against and probably didn't
• 31:54
  Speaker 4: have as much success against. But I still think, from
• 31:56
  Speaker 4: a South Australia point of view this year, I still
• 31:58
  Speaker 4: think Victoria is probably that team that's right under the
• 32:00
  Speaker 4: mark for them.
• 32:01
  Speaker 2: Very good. Great insight from you, Daniel.
• 32:03
  Speaker 1: Daniel Drew, thank you so much for joining me and
• 32:04
  Speaker 1: thank you for listening to the follow-on podcast on Fox Cricket.
• 32:08
  Speaker 1: You can come back to our website to follow all
• 32:10
  Speaker 1: of the coverage of the South African series on foxsports.com.au.
• 32:14
  Speaker 1: And you can also watch that live and exclusive on
• 32:16
  Speaker 1: Fox Cricket and KO.