25 Dec 2025 · 35 min
Alex Hartley and Kate Cross discuss England's Ashes defeat on Christmas Day, mixing cricket analysis with festive chat and a quiz where guests guess cricket personalities from clues. Glenn McGrath, Stephen Finn, and Matthew Hayden are among the names featured.
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Not another one.
And you need to remember that your grandma listens to this.
He does. She also abuses me on social media.
But don't worry, we beep it out.
So your kids can listen.
And Grandma Jean.
First ball castled.
Now I'm celebrating for crossing. That one was for crossing. That was a beautiful delivery. The wobble ball again from Kate Cross. And that is such an important wicket. Kate Cross in for the hat trick.
Ball.
Oh, so wide. Hello and welcome back to no Balls, the cricket podcast with me, Alex Hartley and you, Kate Cross. Christmas.
Took me 17 minutes to find that bit in a song. I always thought it was at the beginning.
Yeah, you said. What's that song that starts with It's Christmas? And I knew exactly the song you were talking about. Merry Christmas, everybody. Merry Christmas, Crossy.
Merry Christmas. It's the Christmas festival. God, it's flown by, hasn't it? Happy New Year, everyone. Should we get in the spirit, Al?
I think we should. I think we. Oh, you've got your Christmas hat.
Christmas hat.
I Don't have a Christmas hat. I have got.
Is that what. Is that what Australian Santa wears?
Yeah, I've got an Aussie Christmas hat, so I'm ready.
Do you think when Santa flies over each area of the world that he puts on the representative hat? Because obviously there's flies in Australia, so he'll. This won't keep the flies out of his face.
No, but this one. This one will. I like a cork hat.
I don't really understand them, if I'm being completely honest.
Well, it stops the flies getting in your face.
Yeah, but I bet it doesn't, because look at your face now. A fly could fly straight into that.
As could Santa. Anyway, how are you?
Yeah, I'm all right, thank you. I'm all right. How are you?
I am very well. I couldn't feel less crucial.
Why are you lying? Don't lie. Tell everyone. Tell everyone that you had to set an alarm for this podcast, even though it's 8pm over there.
I did. I did. I had a night out last night. Christmas night out, you know, in Adelaide.
Works Christmas party.
Works Christmas party with just me and Jack.
Yeah. Nice. Oh, so I missed the podcast Christmas party.
You did miss the podcast.
Thanks for the invite. Oh, you could FaceTime in.
I did try and send you a few photos.
Yeah, you sent me the same photo six times.
Yeah, you could only apologize for that. So today's been a real, real tough day. But, yeah, I don't feel Christmassy, which is really sad because you know how much I love Christmas.
I know you do, but you've already had your Christmas Day, so this is technically, like, probably Valentine's Day for you, isn't it?
Don't do that.
Oh, sorry. Okay. Pancake day. So I bit that. Pancake day for you.
Better. Better. How are you?
Yeah, no, I'm okay, thank you. I don't feel Christmassy, and I. The only thing I can put it down to is it's just not that cold. Here.
Well, you look Christmassy right now.
Thanks. It's a good hat, this, isn't it? Don't know where I found it.
Is it not that cold?
No, it's been really mild, so. So a family that I've known for ever from Australia on Saturday, they've come over for Christmas, and I was like, it's not that cold. You know when the Aussies come over and you're like, oh, are you okay? You coping? It's just not been. Yeah, it wasn't really a topic of conversation, so I didn't think we'd get.
On to global warming, but here we are.
No, but if you're not feeling Christmy, let's up the moon. Just gonna throw a few Christmas songs in every now and then, get everyone in the mood.
Yeah. What's your favorite Christmas song?
I think it is Step into Christmas by Elton John.
It is a good one that, isn't it? I just like we wish you a merry Christmas. Of course you do. We wish you a merry Christmas. Because I can't think of any more off the top of my head right now.
There is some bangers, though. I'm just on this playlist.
You just told me a good fact about Felice Navidad.
Yeah, let me get it on. I don't know if anyone's realized this, but if you listen to Felice Navidad, it could sound like a person from Liverpool is saying that the police have stolen their father.
Police nab me dad. Yeah, it does sound like police nab me dad.
Yeah.
Anyway, what have you been up to? Where are you? You at home, are you? Mum and Dad's like, talk to me about your life.
I'm at home at the minute. It's in the morning for me. Really could do with you guys coming back from Australia so I don't have to keep. Set an alarm to do a podcast. Oh, you had to. That's.
Yeah, I. I think Jack did as well, to be fair.
Yeah, it's been a long day for you guys. What am I doing? I'm going down to my sister's for Christmas. She's got all the kids, so easier to do that. And then I don't. I don't really have much planned this year. It's funny because normally when I come back for Christmas, I'm like, oh, I have to pile everyone in and see everyone. But I'm kind of here now, so I don't. I feel like I'm gonna have a normal Christmas.
Have you done your Christmas shopping?
Yeah. Parents are, well hard to buy for.
Yeah, You. You just. Because we're at the edge, or mum and dad are as well. Like, you just gotta ask what they want and what they need.
I know. My dad had a theory once which is probably too late to tell everyone. If you're struggling for what to buy for people, you should get everyone four things. Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read.
Oh, nice.
It's good that, isn't it? But buying four things for my dad's, like, impossible. I just get him a block of dairy milk every year and he seems Quite happy. So.
No, he loves that, though.
He does. It does. He does, yeah. What about you? We. We will talk about cricket in a minute. But you've just got to Melbourne.
Yes, yes. This Christmas afternoon. Christmas in Melbourne. Boxing Day Test. Crossy Ash's Boxing Day Test.
As if anyone forgot. Well, I think a few English fans are trying to forget.
Yeah, it's.
Are you feeling Christmassy?
No, I couldn't feel less Christmassy in my cork hat because I. Because I haven't seen like any like Father Christmases or anything. Like, it's just not cold. It's just not Christmassy.
I think there's two types of Christmases. There's English Christmas, which you know, and you've grown up with and you get. And then I think we can be quite used to an Australian Christmas. And if it doesn't even feel like an Australian Christmas, then I think you're struggling.
I know, I know. And the last Test match was called the Christmas Test match.
They should have all maybe worn like test shirts, but that had like felt red piping on it. Make it a bit more Christmassy.
Yeah, yeah. Wore Santa hats as they're running into ball. But no, we've got some nice plans over Christmas, actually. Andy Zoltzman's cooking for us.
Andy Zaltzman's on taskmaster later.
He's well famous at the minute for that, you know.
Yeah. What's going on there?
Yeah, he won't tell me how he's done, though. Cause he knows I'll tell everyone.
Well, it doesn't matter if it's on today, tomorrow, last night.
So Andy Zaltzman's cooking for me. Jack Henry, Simon, Philip Brown, which will be lovely. And Christmas Eve Tuffers is hosting a get together, so that'll be so nice.
Nice, Nice. Have you got, like little apartments or you're in a hotel? Is it gonna be easy to have a Christmas?
We're in an apartment. But there's two chairs in mind, so we might have to. Bring your own chair.
You're gonna have to be brutal with who you invite then.
Yeah, no, it's orphans only. So if you've not got anyone else here or you've got all the plans. Yeah, right.
Nice. Okay. Well, it'll still be lovely whatever you do. I always think that about Aussie Christmases. They're always really lovely. You just don't feel like you're having a Christmas.
Cricket, Crossy cricket.
Let's just play a quick Christmas song to make everyone feel Christmassy. Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell, rock J Jingle Bell.
I can't listen to this one without thinking of that film Mean Girls where.
They do a really sexy dance to it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Right. Cricket.
Oh. We've lost the Ashes at the earliest possible opportunity.
Wasn't it even earlier than that? Because of the actual amount of time they've been on the pitch. It's like the quickest Ashes defeat ever or something. Or one off.
Yeah. In days it's not. But overs bowled by England. I think it might be nine hours. Yeah, it's been a bit of a. Yeah, it's been a bit of a disaster actually. And you know what's frustrating cross here because I don't know how much you watched this week, is we finally played like competitive cricket. Like we won sessions, but it's just too little, too late.
That was my. I actually did watch a bit. We had our Christmas party on Wednesday, so I got in and turned it on and then it's like six in the morning. I'm still somehow watching cricket. But that was my overriding feeling was this whole wave of frustration that was like, if they just started with this game.
I know. Or even if they just bloody prepared properly.
Right, I'm gonna, I'm gonna talk about this because this is where hindsight is amazing because you can then say that their preparation wasn't very good. And I think historically preparation hasn't been very good. This feels like the preparation they've had for what, the last three Ashes. They go over and play the Lions in like a two or a three day. They do a lot of netting, but there's not actually that many warm up games, which I often think they are going to be your best preparation. But if we'd be 21 down now, would we be talking about preparation or are we just talking about it because they've lost?
We've been speaking about it over here since the very, very start.
Yeah.
And Baz came out after the last Test and said sometimes as a coach you got to reflect. And I think I got that wrong.
Yeah. But he wouldn't be saying he's got it wrong if they've done well. I don't know. I. I don't really know why I'm defending this because I, I just think there's such a fine line between they've got a five match test series and when they had a five match test series versus India in the summer. I know prep looks different because you can go back and play county cricket, but they're not playing warm up games for that. It's different because we're in the middle of our summer. I get it. But I just think as a player, there were times where I was like, oh God, we've got two warm up games. I'm gonna be so tired by the time we get to the T20s of the Ashes or something like, do you know what I mean? There's always the worry of fatigue.
Yeah, of course there is. Of course, I get that. But like when your bowlers have only just started bowling the right lines and lengths during the third test match, I.
Don'T know why I'm defending it because I, I do think they've been under prepared. I think I'm just playing devil's advocate. I don't know why.
It's nice sometimes to argue with yourself, just what?
Yeah, let's just, just be annoying. Just disappointing.
But yeah. Did you watch much?
Yeah, I watched quite a lot of us. Well, you know when you're sleeping and you wake up and there's wickets and stuff? Yeah. But then when Will Jax and Jamie Smith went out to bat the other morning, I was really quite calm and I text. You didn't. I was like, I think, I think they're gonna get quite close to this. Like, slash could win it. I just had this, like, they're two great, really great batters. They could do this. And it's. Alistair Cook was saying on comms, he was like, you've got to see this as an opportunity to go and do something really special. And they can go. And if they'd have got 78 to each, then we would have won that game.
I know, I know. It's so frustrating. And then Jamie Smith, I was like.
What are you doing? What are you doing?
Yeah, but a young lad. He's a young lad. He won't make that mistake, will he?
Well, I think he probably will. That feels like what this team's a bit like. Harry Brook came out and said, I hold my hands up, I play some really bad cricket shots. And then I didn't see his innings, but then I saw a lot of people angry at him for how he played his innings at Adelaide. So it's like they're saying one thing to the press, but then coming out and not doing it.
I thought I actually gave Harry Brooks the benefit of the doubt because he got out playing the reverse sweep to Nathan Lyon. And Nathan Lyon is obviously, obviously a better bowler than Travis Head. And he was playing it really nicely against Travis Head. He was scoring runs off it, even if it was one or four. And then Lyon comes on and he plays it and gets out. But it was. It was a.
It was.
I think it was the right passage of play.
The frustration I saw on. On social media wasn't for that shot. It was for him ramping, trying to ramp the seamers again. But there are gonna be a lot of frustrated England fans because it's the same old story of that. Going over to Australia feeling like it's gonna be a really exciting series. And it just hasn't been, has it?
How. How do you cope, Crossy? You obviously had the 16 nil whopping in January.
Can we just go one episode without you bringing that up?
No, because I want you to tell the fans how tough it is as a player right now.
I mean, it's not the only Ashes series that I've been a part of that was a disaster for me. Probably the one in 2015, was it 15 or 16 when we. That was when we had the Elise Perry massacre at Kent. Do you remember she got Sevenfer.
Yes.
That was probably the one that I can relate to the most because obviously I didn't play in January. So as much as I felt that and it was really hard being a part of, and obviously I was losing so badly, I think when you play in it, you feel more responsibility.
Yeah. Okay.
So in 2016, it's almost like, you know you're gonna lose because you've got. You look around the dressing room and there's just so little confidence in the dressing room, but you have no choice but to go out there in front of and face up to it. Yeah. And try to win. And obviously you go out there to try and win. You. You have to. Otherwise what's the point in going? But I remember Belly saying, in this ashes that's just gone recently, it's like, you know, you're going to get punched in the face, but you have to just go and get punched in the face. And that's the best way I can describe it. Belly summed it up perfectly. Like, you know, you're going to. You know it's going to be awful. Well, you've got to do it.
You've got no choice.
Yeah, but I, obviously, I'm not. Obviously not sat in a Ben Stokes dressing room. But the thing that we've heard for the last three or four years is how empowering him and Brendan have been and how much confidence they give to their team and how much they believe in each person in their individual roles. So they might not be feeling like that they might be going, do you know what we were really close to winning that game there. And I thought, oh, God. I saw Zach Crawley said that if we come away with 3, 2, then the whole series looks a bit different, which is.
He said that before they lost, like before the game was done.
God bless me. What is going on with them? Do you know when you, you know when your mate's doing an interview and you say, right, you got to get this word in. It's a bit like that, isn't it?
Yes, yes. Oh, do you know how we've got no balls. Bingo. There's definitely, definitely an England player bingo to be done.
Although a media bingo.
Yeah, media bingo. Although we've heard from the bowling coach, the swim bowling coach, the assistant coach, we might hear from the bus driver next week, like, honestly, we should just.
I think we should get him on. He'll be an Aussie. Yeah, he will.
He'll be going, this is bloody great, mate. Bloody great.
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From a small village on the banks of the River Nile. Everybody called me Muhammad, but You know, it's short name or nickname. They call me Mo. To the biggest stages of world football. Goes for the Kerma Salah. Salah is moving more than just a player. He's an icon, a symbol, a king.
It's six nil and Salah rips off his shirt.
Muhammad Salah represents a dream for Egyptians, for Muslims, for Africans. More than just a football player. He gave us hope. I'm Kelly. Kate. This is Sporting Giants. Mo Salah. Listen on BBC Sounds. That is a really, really strong indication of where the dressing room's at, because that's a protection thing, isn't it? You. You're not sending a player out who's in a vulnerable position. But then Australia sent Nathan Lyon out on the morning of the Test match that he's dropped. Why are we not doing that? Get Bashir on the telly.
I think Australia are really, really good at doing interviews and stuff, though. I think they're better at it than we are.
I think they're just honest, aren't they? And that's the only thing you want as a sports fan, the only thing you ever want is to hear your team be honest.
Yeah. Yeah. And I think that's why I've come away from this series with a lot more respect for the team, because at the end of the last Test, and it was 2 nil, the end of this 1, 3, 0. Stokes and McCollum have actually been really honest with the media and they've come out and be like, yeah, we might have got the prep wrong. And Ben Stokes said, I don't want weak men. You know, we're not playing well, we're not executing for long enough. It's like, finally, you're not trying to gaslight us like other people have done.
Yeah. But you also know what that's like. You've been in dressing rooms where you're not gaslighting, but you. You have a narrative. You go into a tour and you're told your narrative and that is how you talk to the media. Like, sometimes you even get a whole list of, like, if you're asked this, this is the. The route that we're going to go down, this is how we're going to talk about this. So they'll have had that and they'll have stuck to their guns with that, even when they're losing. But I think the second that you do lose the opportunity to win the Ashes, then you have to be a lot more honest. But could you. Could you actually imagine if Ben Stokes and Brendan McCollum had come out and gone. No, we think we're doing really well. Like, they just can't do that in that situation.
No, no, that's what happened in January, though.
Yeah, that is true.
Yeah.
We stuck to our guns.
Anyway, everyone was like, oh, okay. I think, Crossy, I might have a Guinness Book of World Records on the horizon.
That's a throwback. Is that still going?
I would presume so. The most watch the most Ash's defeats in a calendar year.
Well, quite a few people will probably be there with you, won't they?
Yeah. Henry.
Yeah. Every England fan that watches both the men and the women.
Yeah. Bit of a shame, really.
Yeah. It's been not. Not a good year.
That's. That's what me and the fans have got in common now. Not a good year. But Zach Crawley's right. If they come away for 3 2, it looks better than 5 nil.
It absolutely does. It really does. It was like ebbs the other night on. When we were behind. We were behind by about 220 and she asked Alice to cook. If it's better to be 100 behind or 200 behind.
Let me think about that one.
It would look better, Abs. Three two. Right, here's to three two, everyone. Let's have a quick one.
Here's to three two.
I'm not. This is a good intro. Oh, three two. Do you know what that one's called?
Churchill?
It's called Stop the Cavalry by Jonah Louie, which feels quite apt. Because it's nearly John Lewis's name.
There you go, Crossy. I think Jack's got a game for us. Christmas special.
Yeah, I've heard about this. A little Christmas special also, everyone. Happy New Year.
Happy New Year.
Merry Christmas, everybody.
Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas.
Seasonal greetings. Three two. On the horizon. If you listen on the podcast, if you listen on five Live. Merry Christmas one and all. And we're going to do something very, very silly to cheer everybody up. Of course we are. I've been sleuthing away behind the scenes during England's exceptional performances on the pitch. And it's really funny, actually. In the media center, Santa's had some of his elves working for him, scoping out, seeing what people want for Christmas. And I thought I'd get a few of them to kind of give some facts about themselves and you've got to try and guess who they are.
Okay, so these are people that have physically been there.
Yes.
Alex, it feels like you've got a slight advantage here.
Well, I know the people that are there, but I don't know who he spoke to. Cause there's like Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer, Ian Bofam. These are all, all the cricketing elves.
Yes, indeed.
Right, I'm ready. I'm ready to watch.
So you guys play, play along at home as well. Don't guess until you've heard. So you're gonna get five clues from each elf. So don't guess until you've heard the fifth one and then there might be a little reveal as well.
So do I need a pen and paper?
No, I don't think you need a pen and paper.
I'm just gonna get one anyway. Nothing like being official in a quiz.
Everybody at home, Pens and papers at the ready.
Yep. Gotta think of a team name, everyone.
Okay, Right, elf number one. Clue number one.
I played for Worcester and Middlesex.
That's a great voiceover.
Worcester and Middlesex.
That won't help me.
Did you make them have a suck of a helium balloon before they do they did they? No, no, they're Christmas elves.
That's what they sound like.
Oh, sorry.
They have the little elf hats and then the voice comes out. That's what happens. That's why it works. Crossy.
Okay.
All right.
So clue number two.
I played in four one day World Cups.
I haven't played any four day World Cups. It's weird. I think yourself's got a little bit of an accent. I don't know.
Yeah, it sounds like an Aussie. That one day World cups.
Clue number three.
I made my international debut in 1993.
That was the year I was born.
He made his debut in 1993. International debut in 1993.
Okay, right.
How confident are we. Don't reveal any names. How confident are we feeling so far?
I've got one person but I don't know where they played.
I'm hoping that. Yeah.
Clue number four.
I played my last test match in the final Ashes Test of the 200607 series.
I played my final test in the final Ashes Test in the 067 series.
I thought the clues might get a bit easier and like really narrow you into the person. But it's just more facts about this person's cricket career.
Well, the fifth one might help you out big time if you are struggling. So here we go. The easiest clue. Here we are.
I took 563 test wickets and predicted an Aussie 50 win for this Asher series.
I know who that is. Yeah.
Right.
Drumroll please. Alex Hartley, who do you think it is?
That is Glenn McGrath.
Kate Cross, who do you think it is?
That is Talia McGrath's dad. Glenn. It's me, Glenn McGraw. Yeah, that's quite triggering there. It's me, Glenn McGRaw.
It was at that point he took his elf hat off and his voice returned to normal, obviously.
Yeah, yeah. What's your team name? Alex.
My team name is I'm panicking. Christmas in Australia.
It's a good one. Spectrum.
What's yours?
CIA for short bands.
Casey and the Snowman Band.
Very good.
It's good though, isn't it? Can I have a point for that?
Yeah, yeah. Bonus point for Crossy. That's a good team name.
Nice.
Are we ready for elf number two?
Yeah, ready.
Clue number one.
I played locally for Langdbury Cricket Club.
I played locally for Langbury Cricket Club.
I don't know where that is.
Okay, Clue number two.
I took a fivefer on my international home test debut.
I took a fivefer on my international home test debut.
I know who this is.
I think Crossy. I can see the cogs whirring away.
Yeah, there's not many in there, though.
Listen to the action posse.
Who?
Number three.
I have one test match half century to my name.
Yeah, listen. Yeah, listen to it. You can hear him.
Friend of the podcast again, Quite a strong accent. Might give it away a little bit. Clue number four.
I'm Middlesex's youngest ever debutante.
Middlesex's youngest ever D sounds well cute. Clue number five.
Despite being an elf, I'm six foot eight.
Yeah, got it, got it.
Right. I, I, I think, I think this one might be quite an easy one. Crossy.
I think, I think I am Stephen Fin Hartley.
Did you have the same?
I think it's Stephen Finn.
Stephen Finn. It's me, Stephen Finn. Friend of the podcast. The only man as well, actually. Have we had Glenn on twice? I'll, I was gonna say Finn. He's been on twice, hasn't he?
Yeah.
I want the cricketer to come on twice. Finney. Three times, actually.
Right, we have got one more. I Hope you've got two out of two at home.
I love this.
Elf number three. Clue one.
I average either 54 in the Sheffield Shield.
I averaged over 54 in the Sheffield Shield.
It's Australian.
Then clue number two.
In 1992, I shared a record breaking partnership of 2, 3, 6 with Gary Neville.
Gary Neville.
Gary Neville.
In 1992, I shared a Record Breaking Partnership of 236 with Gary Neville.
I also love how I'm leaning in to listen. I've got my AirPods in, so it's making no difference. Okay. Gary Neville.
Yeah, it's a bit of a rogue one that. Clue number three.
I made someone storm out of the TMS commentary box in my very first stint on tms.
What? I hope you got the story of who, whoever this is.
Yeah, I might have done this Chris myself made someone storm out of the TMS commentary box on their first stint for tms.
I could take a guess because of that.
Good job.
I don't know if he's over there.
Clue number four.
Hold that record for the highest test score for an Australian scoring 380 against Zimbabwe.
Oh, we should notice on that, shouldn't we?
Scoring380 against Zimbabwe. I reckon a few at home might have got it from that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Including number four.
I like the one that gives it.
Away before the last one. Can you tell me the date of the Gary Neville thing, please?
That was 1992.
Okay, thank you.
And clue number five.
After the run around the McD naked. If Joe Root didn't make a century in Australia, this Ashes series.
This elf offered to run around the McGuire didn't make a sentry.
I have as well. It would have been so funny. That is Matthew Hayden.
Yeah, you got me. It's Matthew Hayden. Or just call me Hatos. Ooh, nice bit of flirting. That's flirting from Haydos. Good game, Jack.
So Hartley, Crossy, both get three out of three.
Yeah, yeah. KC and the Snowman band. Three out of three.
Well, I think Crossy takes that one four three out because of the creativity in the team name. I'm very sorry.
Yeah, but you like, she's obviously said, what's your team name? Because she knows she's got a good one and she knows I wouldn't have one.
That's how you win these things, Alex. You gotta have the, Gotta have the edge.
Goodness sake, that's Christmas.
It's Christmas.
It's Christmas. Fully, fully Christmas, Crossy. Merry Christmas, Jack. Merry Christmas. I'll see you in four minutes.
Merry Christmas, guys. I will go back into Santa's little grotto and let you guys finish off the pod.
Thank you. Bye, Jack. Good game. We never play games anymore, do we?
No. I liked that. I, I hope people got. Got those right before we. Before the last one. Last one. Gave it away.
I, I can just imagine Jack going up to people going, can you just record this for me? Don't worry. Not going to. It's not. Nothing bad's going to happen. And now they're going to have been played as elves and probably didn't sign up to that. So. Thanks. Thanks. For participating.
I was wondering who he's gonna ask because, like, I was like trying to ask Justin Langer and I wouldn't ask Justin Lange. I'd feel like he'd stare at me.
I thought he was the first one for the first guess, actually.
Did you? Did ya? Yeah. I can't believe it's Christmas. It's the end of the. It's the end of the year.
It is. But we're gonna do something a bit different, aren't we? We said we'd do an episode in between Christmas and New Year, which we normally never do.
Yeah. Because we have a lovely Christmas.
Have a great time, Al. I know it'll feel a bit different, but you'll still get drunk. So it'll still feel like Christmas.
Yeah, it'll be fine.
Well, I hope you have a great time. Hopefully it gets. I don't want it to get colder here. Actually, I'll take that back. You don't forget your emails on noblespodcast.BBC.co.uk noballspodcastbc.co.uk.
It'S so good they've said it twice. You can text us on 8111 or you can WhatsApp us on 033-01-231826. Merry Christmas.
Bye.
This winter, cricket's oldest rivalry is reignited.
England and Australia.
Australia do battle to compete for the.
Ashes.
Here Live ball by ball commentary.
On 5 Sports Extra. And get analysis and reaction of every day's play with the Test Match Special podcast. The Steps out of the Ground Test.
Match special at the Ashes.
Listen on BBC Sounds.
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