Inside The Tour

Bonus Episode: The Ashes '86/87 - Gladstone Small Guerrilla Cricket

Gladstone Small speaks with journalist Tony Bishop from Guerilla Cricket about the legendary 1986/87 Ashes tour.How did England beat the Aussies? Where did Gladstone’s love of cricket came from? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonus Episode: The Ashes '86/87 - Prostate Cancer UK - Live panel

A special ‘Inside the Tour’ online event, in partnership with Prostate Cancer UK.Mark Pougatch hosts a bonus episode where he’s joined by some familiar faces from the Inside The Tour podcast, as well as appearances from the 2021/22 Ashes squad members.We’ve teamed up with Prostate Cancer for this event to help to raise awareness of prostate cancer, which former cricketer Allan Lamb is currently getting treatment for.Guestlist:Allan Lamb: Former England cricketer who played in the 1986/87 Ashes series. Since his prostate cancer diagnosis, he is raising awareness for others to get tested.Gladstone Small: Former England cricketer who played a key role in winning the 1986/87 Ashes. He took the winning catch at the SCG.Alec Stewart OBE: Former cricketer and former captain of the England cricket team.Lawrence Booth: Cricket writer for the Daily Mail and editor of cricket magazine Wisden.Take Prostate Cancer UK’s 30-second risk checker here:https://prostatecanceruk.org/risk-checker?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=risk-checker&utm_content=organic-linkFind more info and donate to Prostate Cancer UK at prostatecanceruk.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 1: The Ashes ’86/87 - The Wooden Spoon Series

English cricket is in a bad place and Australia isn’t faring much better. As they prepare to meet in the Ashes of 1986/87, cricket’s ultimate contest dating back to the 1800s, there are tongue-in-cheek suggestions this is the battle for test cricket’s ‘wooden spoon’. England had lost 5-0 to the West Indies on their previous tour, to India and New Zealand at home that summer, banned their best player and changed their captain. It’s hard to imagine worse preparation. Australia were also feeling the impact of retirements and rebel tours, draining their team of talent. Did Allan Border really want to be the captain? Do the selectors know what they’re doing? This is the story of two proud nations, in cricketing disarray… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 2: The Ashes ’86/87 - Can’t Bat, Can’t Bowl, Can’t Field

England’s ramshackle cricketers arrive in Australia and, true to recent form, start losing to part-time state teams. The cricket seems secondary to the drinking as England lurch from the Bundaberg Rum Distillery to parties with the America’s Cup yachtsmen in Perth. “We were rubbish, truly rubbish”. As the late cricket writer Martin Johnson wrote at the time: “There are only three things wrong with this English team. They can’t bat, they can’t bowl and they can’t field.” Of course, at the time, he was totally correct. Just a little premature. On the eve of the first test, things take a surprising turn thanks to a legend of English sport... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 3: The Ashes ’86/87 - Botham’s Brisbane Fireworks

“One of the greatest innings I’ve ever seen” says Phil De Freitas who, for a few hours, on the second day of the first test match, stood at the non-striker’s end at The Gabba in total awe. Sir Ian Botham’s final test century was one of his most memorable. In one over, he struck the bemused Merv Hughes for 22. It just so happened to be the over which brought up his three figures. Botham had been in trouble with the TCCB, so much so, some selectors didn’t want him on the tour. This is why he wanted to be there – why he had to be there. This is the story of one of the greatest innings, from one of the greatest England cricketers, and the result which shocked Australia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices