Memories of 1986/7
The , I was in Australia – so rush out to the bookmakers! Back then I was a teenager on a gap year who had very cannily made sure it coincided with the tour of Mike Gatting’s team.
England recovered from an awful start (sounds a little familiar…) to win 2-1 and I remember working at the SCG as a waiter during the last Test, serving tea to Geoff Boycott and laughing that the Aussie selectors had mistakenly picked off-spinner Peter Taylor instead of opening batsman Mark Taylor.
"Peter who?" screamed the tabloids as the Australians won a consolation Test - Taylor had a very good game as it transpired - and I remember feeling happy for the locals that they hadn’t been totally humiliated at home.
How naive, patronising and downright stupid that 19-year-old Pougatch was.
Now I’m off with microphone, computer, three mobiles (call me Gordon Gecko), camera and notebook to see it all over again. I'll be co-presenting Five Live Breakfast from the grounds, as well as reporting into Anita Anand's programme in the evenings.
Watch out for pics from me on Test Match Special's Flickr account - you'll see the latest pictures from Down Under appearing on the right hand side of this blog.
My friends say "how dare you call it work", and the Australians are worried they will be outnumbered in their own stadiums.
Keep in touch with the team via this blog - just leave a comment - and if there’s anything you want to ask, we’ll do our best to answer it. It is hard work, I promise.
And it is a job watching Test cricket. Just.
Hello Mark, great to see you on the blog.
Sorry to ask a boring coverage question but who will be providing the live reports on the test matches for Up All Night inbetween your stints?
Thanks.
Can't wait until next week. Proper TMS, Five Live coverage and cricket back on Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú TV! It will be mint.
Complain about this postA job??? Its like being paid to be where i cant afford to be this winter :O how unfair! Nah im joking, sure you will do a great job....just like England will!!! x
Complain about this postHi Mark,
Good to hear from you. I will be honest and say I am incredibly jealous of you, and the entire TMS team, even if you have to work, but continue the great coverage TMS provides.
The only problem I have is how exactly I'm gonna be able to follow TMS through the night. Wondered if you have any tips? how can I listen all night but then still be ok to get into work the next day.
Anyway, keep up the good work!
Complain about this postHey there Mark,
Sounds as though you guys are going to have a ball in Aus-land, however much hard work it will be! Very very envious of you all!
Quick question. I'm a regular TMS listener, usually residing in Liverpool/Edinburgh, but I'm studying abroad for the year in Japan...know of any way I can still listen to TMS?
Complain about this postBlimey, if you're co-presenting the breakfast programme from the grounds this winter, it could be a cheerless start to the day for the less hardcore supporters, if we bomb. But a good way for '05 style hype to build if we do well.
I guess you'll be reduced to a 15 minute bulletin if we go two down?
Don't forget the basics:
There's no point interviewing Steve Harmison. Except for his remarkable ability to mix cliches. Make sure there is only a minute until the news.
Get Gideon Haigh on at every opportunity. Rod Marsh is always right. If you disagree with him, change your mind anyway.
Hoggy interviews like his batting: dogged, slightly reluctant, giving little away, but not showing a great deal of natural ability either.
List of people to interview live on air should we win: Steve Waugh, Merv Hughes, anyone called Chappell, Glenn McGrath and Jeff Thomson. How about a little payback for those red eyed, dead of night drubbings we've suffered over the years?
Hope it's a great series, and I don't mind how many we win by. Don't forget to have a good time Mark.
Complain about this postAny chance you could sort me out a couple of tickets for Sydney or Melbourne?
Complain about this post"Back then I was a teenager on a gap year who had very cannily made sure it coincided with the tour of Mike Gatting’s team"
"I remember working at the SCG as a waiter during the last Test"
Sounds a bit like me!
I 'coincidently' chose to do the 2nd year of my degree over here, and am going to be part of the bar staff during the Adelaide test match :p
Complain about this post"I remember working at the SCG as a waiter during the last Test"
Sounds a bit like me!
I 'coincidently' chose to do the 2nd year of my degree over here, and am going to be part of the bar staff during the Adelaide test match :p
Complain about this postHi Mark
If you get the chance, you and any of your colleagues are most welcome to come and join me in my box at anytime during the 1st test at the Gabba.
I am a pom through and through, have lived in Oz for the last 9 years, have enjoyed every minute on ramming Pommie success down our Aussie friends throats and I have invited a number of pom's I know to join me - apart from the token "convict" who will be our butt of jokes, singing etc.
I had to book my box last August - just had a gut feeling that this series was and will be an absolute belter.
The tension as either Brett Lee or Steve Harmison bowl that 1st ball is going to be incredible - they reckon down here that moment is going to be the most watched piece of Aussie TV ever - let's hope that either Matthew Hayden get's caught behind or Andrew Strauss hits it for 4.
Barmy Army...Barmy Army.
Complain about this postyou really are a pillock are you australian
Complain about this postenjoy it mate, ya lucky bugger.
I was there for the Ashes 4 years ago but unfortunately it wasn't at all competitive, thanks to the injuries to gough, flintoff and simon jones that left us having to play the likes of silverwood and tudor.
Anthony.
Complain about this postIts just great to see the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú putting in as much effort as this!
Complain about this postand its great for those who listen to Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú R5 live and also those watching Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú2 for the highlights that the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú is putting in its best effort since losing the cricket rights to Channel 4 in 1999!
at least the Aussie selectors picked the wrong players by accident......
Complain about this postPug
Can I take a sabbatical from a 5 test series after just one day?!
At least your ex Red no3 is starting to perform for us....!
Cheers
Complain about this postGaz