Hello and welcome to Stumped, your intercontinental hit of news, features, and debate
from the quirky world of cricket. I'm Alison Mitchell, back home in London after having been
in Nottingham and been lucky enough to witness England's fastest Test century since 1902 and the
second fastest ever! What an extraordinary match and unbelievable display from Johnny Bairstow with
the bat. I think I'm just about still recovering. I had a nice road trip home with Isa Guha and
Mel Jones in the car packed to the rafters with our suitcases, so plenty of time to reflect on what
had happened. Then I had a nice day off at Queen's tennis yesterday. So, here we are in a bit more
space to talk about it all. Hello, Jim Maxwell back for the ABC from Sydney after being
on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. I didn't watch much sport, but I did get home in time to see
the last night at the proms, as it were. Fantastic cricket played by England and New Zealand and just
over there, Australia was playing Sri Lanka. But I have to say I watched that England game until the end.
It was sensational. Just sensational cricket, particularly from Jonny Bairstow. So, well done England.
Well, no doubt about that, England excelled against New Zealand. Hello, this is
Charu Sharma back home in Bangalore after finishing the Saurashtra Premier League and a couple other
things. It almost rains every day here, which is a bit of a dampener but it's great to be back
to the fine weather of Bangalore, considering the blistering heat of North India that I've had to
go through all these past three weeks. But of course in India, it's been all about the mammoth
media rights of the IPL. Maybe we'll talk about that on Stumped some other time because it is
astonishing, those figures. And what has happened though, because of that is only a few fans might have
been keeping track of our national championship - the Ranji Trophy - where Mumbai are staking their
claim for their 42nd. Incredible, their 42nd title, that'll be next week.
It is. A shout out as well, while we're here, to England deaf and learning disabilities squad who've had a victory
over Australia, Jim in their Ashes down under. So just a little note on that before we get going.
Well, it was just incredible. England then have already won their best-of-three match
series with New Zealand. Chasing down, first 277 at Lord's in the first Test, but then 299
in the second at Trent Bridge, and they did it in just 50 overs! So, it was basically a one-day
innings that we saw and yet this was the fifth day of a Test match. Jonny Bairstow was the hero,
Jim. I was lucky enough to have a front row seat for commentary and in that second innings making
the second fastest century by an England batter in Test history. The 100 came off just 77 balls.
His innings in total 136 off 92, including 14 fours and seven huge sixes. It was just an obliteration.
It was reminiscent of Ben Stokes at Headingley in 2019, which we all thought you know, we'd never
see the likes of again, and yet here we were. For Jonny Bairstow, an innings of a lifetime.
It's not going to get much better than that for him, is it? You wouldn't think so, given that
he's been a bit in and out and roundabout and inconsistent in his Test career. But
that was the most extraordinary innings. When you look at the bold way he went about it after tea.
They were determined, and just an attitude in the England team to carry the game forward as quickly
as they could. And the influence of Stokes and McCullum, whatever it is, it's been extraordinary.
And Bairstow played the innings of his life. I know it's a short boundary on one side and
New Zealand probably erred by trying to bounce him out. But you don't expect every ball to be cleanly
struck, or even uncleanly struck and still went into the stand. So, it was an astonishing innings
and astonishing performance. They won with a leg in the air and 22 overs still left in the match.
I mean, I think they scored 100 off nine overs after tea. So, I'm glad I stayed up to watch it. It was brilliant!
Yeah, it was a challenge for a commentator, Charu, to keep coming up
with new words to say unbelievable, extraordinary amazing. Yeah, they obliterated that run chase,
but for Bairstow in particular then, his three Test hundreds this year,
he's come in with England 36-4, 48-4, and this latest one now 56-3. He's had criticism at times,
but he plays a really important role for England, doesn't he? Yes, he does. I think that's the whole
fearlessness. And of course, it reflects the new management of England as well, particularly
the captain. But Bairstow himself has probably credited the IPL, if I remember correctly, for the
form that he is going in. Just three or four weeks ago, he couldn't score a run in the IPL and his
team was kind of wondering whether we should even keep him in the XI, but then of course he did ramp
it up and did rather well and has credited just the mindset of being so super, hyper aggressive,
which is what he brings to England. Now of course he can bring that in white-ball cricket and people
will accept it, but in Test cricket it looks very dangerous, doesn't it, for somebody to be going
full pelt all the time. You wonder is he going to get out next ball? Is there irresponsibility
here? In the past, of course people will be accused of playing too many strokes rather
than leaving the ball. But I think the mindset of Test match cricket also seems to be changing
and the fans, I'm sure would love this kind of an aggressive, hyper aggressive finish.
Rather than somebody trying for tame draw, which used to be de rigueur for Test matches
in the past. So yes, he brings something very special. I just hope he can continue, because this
very aggressive cricket can easily backfire as well. And then some people can be quite critical.
Yeah, the hashtag bazboys has started to take off on Twitter for the influence of Brendon McCullum,
and also the moniker of BairStokes, because the partnership between Bairstow
and Ben Stokes. I mean, Bairstow's obliteration of the run chase started after tea. I was on
commentary for the first 20 minutes when the acceleration began. I mean,
it took off with even greater ferocity after I stepped away from the microphone, but
Ben Stokes afterwards said that, you know, Johnny got what he calls sort of Johnny eyes. He said,
you can see it in his eyes when he gets into that kind of mode. He also revealed that at teatime,
he had a cheese toastie and a cup of coffee. That was his fuel to then go out and cream these runs.
Jim, we often replay things that you say on this show, don't we? So, we're going to just rewind
for a moment and replay to you what you said on the day that Brendon McCullum was announced
as England's new men's Test coach. I seriously think this potentially can be a huge turning
point for England. You know how strong I was a few years ago about Ben Stokes leading England,
and I think he's got everything else going; in his head, and with his
ability to play particularly as a batsman, perhaps his bowling is not quite where it was
a few years ago. You've got two of the most, as you said, dynamic, inspirational people in charge,
and it's got to make a difference. I'm really looking forward to staying up late at night
down under to watch all of this unfold. I really reckon it's one of the best things, potentially,
that's ever happened in English cricket. Well, that's two prophecies coming true than isn't
it? It's the Brendon McCullum one and the fact that you did stay up all night to watch it unfold.
Brilliant. Yeah, I probably got a bit carried away looking back at that the other day, but
then again, two run chases like that... I'd like to know how many other teams in Test history have
chased as many runs as that in back-to-back Test matches to win by five wickets. I mean, it's been
extraordinary. How long it lasts, well, we'll see. But, it's pretty good to watch. I mean, if they'd
lost one or two of those games, it's the way they went about it that's going to inspire, encourage
people to follow this England team, as they've often done before when they've had a Botham type
figures and Flintoff playing in such an electric way. So good on England. It's taken well, two
New Zealanders, I suppose, to bring this inspiration, you'd have to say, Ali. The fact that Ben Stokes
has rated this win as a greater achievement than his performance at Headingley, or winning the
World Cup in that same year. So that's what they feel about it. They're on an emotional high.
Yeah, very much so. Ben Stokes, born in New Zealand, of course. Brendon McCullum cuts such
a relaxed figure. He was on the balcony throughout lots of that Test match sort of reclining,
sunglasses on, shoes off, feet up on the balcony. There are times where he looked like a sort of
teenager lounging around, you know, watching Netflix. Yet he's the driving force behind all
of this. This England team, Charu, are going to go about it in a different way. I did have a text
from a friend in New Zealand saying it's going to be interesting to see how long the honeymoon
period lasts, if this approach doesn't always come off. And you think, well it can't always come off.
But for that crowd who were in, you did sit down after tea thinking, you know, if England lose one
wicket here, and then they sort of shut up shop and just pat out a draw for the rest of the day,
it's going to be so deflating. And the crowd would have rather, and probably England bought into the
fact that they would almost rather lose this match trying to win than bat out a long period
for a non-entertaining draw. It's a bravery versus caution thing, and people love bravery.
But remember that you know, the fans can also be very hyper critical. So in case, and God forbid,
a wicket was lost and people turn around and say "why did you ever play such a rash shot? Because
we needed to just be there." It works both ways. And of course, we need to enjoy it when
it's happening. Something like Bairstow and even Stokes, you've got to just let them be. Of course,
Stokes is now the captain, so he can lead the team in whichever direction he wants. But a bit
like saying, well, you don't really counsel them you don't tell them what is needed or what we need
to do, or batten down all the hatches and can play out for a draw. Show that kind of courage to play
a draw. This courage is now being utilised to win matches. And people love match winners. Someone
like Bairstow or Stokes are match winners. It'll work, sometimes it won't. So it now depends on the
fans to understand that there's a change in the style of English cricket, and we'll win some, but
we may god forbid lose some, and in which case you got to stay with the plan and appreciate this new brand of English cricket.
Now while the headlines have been dominated by Brendon McCullum's England
Test team, this week the England men's white-ball side are also in action this month. Matthew Mott
begins his tenure as England's white-ball coach as they travel to the Netherlands. But sadly, Mott's
counterpart fellow Australian Ryan Campbell won't be in charge of the hosts. In April, he collapsed
suffering and unexplained cardiac arrest. He was placed in an induced coma for seven days,
but we're delighted to say he's on the mend. He's continuing his recovery in the Netherlands,
and he joins us now. Ryan, welcome to Stumped. You're looking well, how are you doing?
I'm doing great, to be honest. You know, obviously, it was not a great seven days of my life. Well,
I can't remember the seven days to be honest. So, I had a great sleep. But my wife went through
hell, obviously. She was there by my side the whole time, and it just goes to show. I'm 50,
I'm fit and I'm healthy. But yeah, the old cardiac arrest doesn't discriminate against anyone really.
Can you tell us what happened in the lead up to your collapse? And indeed, what you've been told,
had happened from that point? Yeah, well I had been in New Zealand on a tour and then I
stopped into Perth on my way home. I hadn't been home for I think it was 856 days with Covid and stuff. So,
I wanted to see Mum and Dad and got back to the Netherlands and then two days later,
we had planned to go to England to see my wife's family and spend a bit of time there for Easter.
I can remember driving my car to [Amsterdam] Schiphol airport and getting the family out,
moaning and groaning a little bit because I had to park four or five storeys high, which
was going to be busy here. And then to be honest, I don't remember anything from that point on. I
got on a plane with my family. Apparently, we arrived in England. The next day, we went to a
very famous playground down in Cheshire. And I was with my daughter on the top of a slide
and basically just went to the ground, laid down and I was so lucky. I actually
laid on the foot of a four-year old girl whose mother happened to be the one that saved my life,
who'd just finished a CPR course literally two weeks before and she brought me back.
Goodness, that is quite something. You obviously don't, as you said, you don't remember much else after that.
What was the point your memory does come back when you came out of the coma?
Yeah, so when I woke up, firstly I thought I was in Hong Kong and wondered why my kids weren't with me. And then the next
sort of minute I woke up I went back to sleep, woke up and then I was adamant that I'd been
kidnapped. And they'd been taken to Bali by some kidnappers, for some reason, because I
was very serious. I looked at my wife, I said, you know, you got to cancel my cards. I can't find
my wallet, I can't find my phone, I can't find my watch, my wedding ring. They've taken that.
And of course, you know, over the seven days I'd been pricked and prodded so much I had all these
puncture marks in my arm, and I said, "you've gotta give me an AIDS test because they filled me full
of heroin. That's why I can't remember anything!" So yeah, I was off in fantasy land to be honest.
And she had to settle me down and explain that I was in the United Kingdom and you're in hospital,
you've spent seven days asleep, you know, things are okay. And she was amazing, in all honesty. The
courage that she had, and she knew that I wasn't quite ready to know the extent of it, so to speak.
So, she sort of kept a few things up her sleeve but then as I was getting better, she sort of let
me in on how desperately bad it was and kind of woke me up a little bit. I guess I have a second
chance at it, but the one thing I will say there was no pearly gates or white lights that I saw.
Jim Maxwell in Sydney, Ryan. Nice to see you. You're sounding pretty good. Having had
this brush with mortality, what are you feeling about your situation at the moment? Are you
cautious, nervous? Well, it's a funny one because, you know, I've been asked that
quite a lot. Well, you know, am I having a second shot at life and all this sort of stuff, but
the facts are that I can't remember the seven days, so, you know, to me, I
was really healthy. And then I woke up, and I still feel really healthy. But obviously, the
more I've looked into it, and the more my wife has sort of told me how close it was, I've obviously
made a few changes, and I won't be putting up with idiots, that's for sure. And letting the
little things affect me as much. And I think we're all like that, you know, our day to day lives,
things get under our skin, which probably shouldn't really matter. But again, it seems a
big deal at the time. So, you know, obviously, I'm making some pretty clear indications of which way
I want to head. Family is the number one priority. I always felt that my family was number one, but,
Jim, you've seen so much sport over a long time, mate. We're all a bit selfish as elite sportsmen,
as in my career, and obviously, as a coach, I spend so much time with a bunch of what 20 to 25
elite cricketers here that, you know, sometimes you forget about a few things. And
I guess that's one of the things for sure that I'll make sure that I'll correct.
When do you think you'll be able to return full time to duties? Is there are a lot of supervision still? Are
you allowed to do what you want? Yeah, well, I'm obviously getting the boxes ticked as we speak.
The biggest news for me was when I could have a beer again, that was some great news. But
look, my goal is the first of August, which would let me then be back in charge for the
T20s against New Zealand and then the Pakistan series. Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to fly
for two months since I had a defibrillator put in my chest. And that pretty much rules me out
of the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe. And Ryan Cook, who's done a fantastic job,
and my assistant, James Hilditch, he's a good Aussie boy, who's the son of Andrew Hilditch,
who's obviously South Australian royalty. Look, they're doing a great job. And we're
going to have a very tough task qualifying for the World Cup. As everyone speaks about, we
probably won't have our county players for those sort of series, which is a bit frustrating, but
he's also part of our job, unfortunately. So yeah, we've got some massive things ahead. And you know,
hopefully I'll be back in the reigns in August and then hopefully in a World Cup in Australia.
Ryan, we wish you well in your continued recovery. It's great to hear and to see you
looking well. Let's hope you meet that first of August deadline. Thanks so much for being with us on Stumped.
That's all we've got time for on this week Stumped. My thanks to Jim Maxwell and
Charu Sharma and of course, to you all for listening. We'll speak to you again next week. Bye bye.