00:00I don't know what this is going to be.
00:04Yes, we do.
00:12Usman, Manas,
00:14Cam Green,
00:16Smith, Head,
00:18Bo Webster, Kerry,
00:20myself, Nathan Lyon,
00:22Josh Hayswood and Starkey.
00:25Starkey, not in that order.
00:30It's obviously clearly one of the big decisions has been that opening position.
00:38What swayed you towards putting Manas there for this game?
00:42I think, you know, Cam Green, the last few weeks he's had.
00:46Coming back in, great form.
00:48You know, we thought he deserves a spot in the, you know, somewhere in the batting line-up.
00:52We thought three probably suits him best.
00:54And then, you know,
00:56you know, with Manas moving, we thought it's, you know,
00:59it's, you know, one spot up really.
01:01It's not too different to batting three.
01:03He's done well here in England in the past.
01:05You know, all the boys have trained well.
01:07Him and Sam and Josh Inglis kind of this, you know,
01:10all trained really well.
01:11But, yeah, I thought,
01:13selectors went with Manas, you know, experience and done well here at Lourdes,
01:16but in England in general.
01:18Just on that, Pat, is it just, are you just looking at this test match for that?
01:23And because Caribbean, the conditions will be different and things could happen.
01:26So it's just a one test match decision for it to open?
01:29Yeah, you know, absolutely.
01:30It's a final.
01:32So we just, you know, the selectors picked the best 11 for this week.
01:35Yeah, I think George said in the past, it's not a huge connection between this week and the Caribbean.
01:40It's quite separate.
01:41The main reason being this is the final.
01:43Different conditions.
01:44We just want to pick what's best for this week and kind of think about the windies after this game.
01:48And just with Cam Green and Bo Webster in the slipcourt and like nothing can go past them.
01:54Is this the greatest slipcourt in Newport too?
01:57It's the widest.
01:58There was actually a few people.
01:59Yeah, a few of the boys were watching them just go about their work yesterday just in awe.
02:04Yeah, Manas, he got in there a bit and he said he,
02:07yeah, he felt like a little child standing around them.
02:09You know, he was trying his hardest to catch them whereas they were shelling peas.
02:12So, yeah, see how we go.
02:14But they look pretty impressive.
02:17Pat, just with the Bo Webster, obviously number six.
02:20How, Chris, would you see those overs and your assessment of the surface out there?
02:25It seems hard to know here at Lourdes.
02:27You either kind of don't need a fifth bowl or you really need one.
02:31I think, you know, some of the innings are either short or long.
02:34There's almost nothing in between.
02:35But, you know, I think you saw in Sydney those seaming conditions and, you know,
02:38he was really effective.
02:41You know, it takes, you know, some key breakthroughs but can also hold up an end.
02:44But, you know, I think these conditions were suiting well.
02:47So, he's done brilliantly with the bat as well.
02:50You know, in the, what is it, three test matches he played so far.
02:53But I think his bowling will be crucial.
02:55And just with Scott Boland missing out, that decision just keeps getting tougher and tougher with each test?
03:01Yeah, it does.
03:03You know, there are some guys where you generally say, you know, you've done nothing wrong.
03:08Don't change a thing.
03:09And that's Scottie.
03:10He's just really unfortunate to miss out.
03:12You know, Joshy Hazel comes back in.
03:14We know how good he is.
03:15But, you know, I think the message to Scottie is there's a lot of test cricket coming up in the next couple of years.
03:21And just because you're mid-30s doesn't mean, you know, you're missing this test and that's one test off your career.
03:27I think, you know, by having a squad of fast bowlers, hopefully we can extend all our careers for an extra couple of years.
03:33So, it's a really unfortunate Scottie misses this.
03:35But, yeah, kind of message to him is don't feel like you're running out of time.
03:40We've still got lots of time, hopefully, in his career.
03:43Pat, Smudge thought yesterday that the pitch might dry up a little bit and Gaz might be suited late in the match.
03:51Have you had a good look at the pitch and any thoughts on that?
03:54I haven't looked today, but, yeah, I think it just looks like a really good wicket.
03:59You know, Lourdes can spin, you know, maybe late day three, but into day four and five.
04:04Again, it's one of those wickets that it can look like a good wicket
04:09and then the clouds come over and it looks a little bit livelier, whatever that word is.
04:14So, yeah, it's hard to know, but traditionally I think, you know, spin does play a role here at Lourdes.
04:22Pat, just with the World Test Championship and I guess specifically with Marnus' selection,
04:28is there a unique component to it where you are viewing it as a grand final
04:33and I guess the players who have sort of got you here over the last two years are rewarded in a sense?
04:39Has that been a big factor in his selection?
04:42I think it's part of the factor.
04:45You know, he's a somewhat, you know, known quantity.
04:48He's, you know, I think our selectors have probably shown you that they're happy to,
04:54they'd rather give someone, you know, an extra little run than pull the pin too early.
04:58And, yeah, you know, Marnus, again, he's played some crucial knocks in getting us here.
05:03Look back at the MCG, you know, his batting was right up there as a difference in that match.
05:08So, yeah, I think it's part, you know, rewarding those guys that got us here.
05:13And Pat, there's probably some surprise at home that after what he did in the two tests over the summer
05:19that Sam Constance hasn't played since.
05:22Yeah, do you feel that there's any risk that you've kind of missed a chance just with his development
05:27to have him in the team, in the tests you've played so far this year?
05:31You know, it's something the selectors are always weighing up.
05:34You know, realistically, he's really young, he's got a long career ahead of him.
05:39So hopefully, you know, even by not playing, being in Sri Lanka and here, they're learning opportunities.
05:44But at the same time, you've got guys like Bo Webster who are starting out their test career as well.
05:48Obviously, Cam Green comes back in here.
05:50Josh Inglis got a chance to start his test career.
05:52So, I think it's a good problem that we have, you know, three or four guys
05:57who are all right on the fringe and the cusp of getting a good run in test cricket.
06:07What are you expecting from South Africa in terms of the way they might play
06:10and looking at their side, where do you see the threats coming to your team from?
06:15I think there's a few unknowns.
06:18You know, just the personnel, we've probably played about half of the guys before,
06:22about half we haven't played, you know, in red ball cricket.
06:25Throwing, you know, Duke's ball, neutral ground.
06:28There's a few more unknowns going into the test match, which is exciting.
06:32I think we're going to have to problem solve on our feet a bit more.
06:34I think, no doubt, you know, they're bowlers we have seen a little bit of.
06:37And, you know, there's a couple of big wicket-takers there.
06:40You know, Rabada and Maharaj have been around for a fair while now and been successful.
06:45So, they're an obvious threat.
06:47But, again, some of those younger or, you know, newer guys into the team
06:50that we haven't seen before, we're going to have to be pretty sharp on.
06:53Pat, this is obviously a ground you guys do traditionally very well on.
06:57How do you feel being back at Lourdes?
06:59Obviously, last time you were here, slightly controversial circumstances.
07:02Yeah, it's been great.
07:04Yeah, great few days.
07:06Maybe there's no crowds, that helps.
07:08But it's been, it's always good to be back here.
07:11Yeah, it's such an iconic ground and we do enjoy playing over here.
07:15And, yeah, you know, someone like Smitty's scored a lot of runs here.
07:18You know, past three or four Ashes series in test matches, I think we've won
07:24or gone close to winning every test.
07:26So, yeah, it's a place we like playing at.
07:28Even, you know, white ball cricket, we've had some success here as well.
07:31And what sort of reception are you expecting given what happened two years ago?
07:35A lot of people saying the neutrals will be behind South Africa as well.
07:39Probably.
07:40Yeah, hard to know.
07:41There's a lot of Aussies here in London, so I'm sure there'll be lots of Aussies out there.
07:45Lots of South African fans as well.
07:47And, yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if the English have a few, yeah,
07:52supporting South Africa as well.
07:53But, yeah, we'll wait and see.
07:55Pat, over the period of time where I guess you've seen glimpses of Marnas,
08:00you know, making contributions but maybe not at the same level as he had previously,
08:04have you sort of talked to him about, I guess, what you want from him,
08:07the way you think he's been suited to play, whether it's three or opening this week?
08:12Yeah, no, I have.
08:15I think, you know, the extra layer to that is I do believe the wickets in Australia or the pitches in Australia have been as hard as,
08:22you know, they've ever been probably in test cricket for the top order.
08:26You know, probably the start of his test career was similar to my start and they were pretty flat batting wickets in general,
08:33whereas the last few years have been really tough going for the top order.
08:36So, I think there's that extra layer.
08:38But, you know, I think it's similar conversations to, you know, Davey Warner over here.
08:42I think it's more about the style and how they go about it.
08:45You know, we love when they're busy and they're putting pressure back on the bowlers.
08:48And, you know, that's our message here to Marnas, you know, opening the batting can be tough,
08:53but it can also be sometimes the best time to bat here before the Dukes ball actually starts swinging.
08:58You know, there's runs to be scored there.
09:00So, just, you know, keeping that positive intent, I think, is when he's batting his best.
09:04And are you crossing fingers and toes that make a lion doesn't pop a calf at Lawrence again?
09:09Yes.
09:10Yeah, I wish he didn't say that.
09:17Pat, just on your comment on the pitchers getting tougher,
09:19do you think that sort of coincided with the World Test Championship, you know, coming in six years ago
09:24and, you know, teams looking to win to sort of boost their points?
09:29I've got no idea.
09:31In Australia, I don't really feel like that comes into it.
09:36I think most venues just seem to try and make the best kind of wicket they can.
09:41You know, I think after a couple of those flat years, you know, SCG, MCG in particular,
09:49have tried to create, you know, sportier wickets.
09:51So, I don't think it's related to the WTC that I'm not, yeah, not part of those conversations.
09:58Pat, in the larger context of the game, where does this WTC final feature,
10:03if you compare it with the ODI World Cup final or T20 World Cup final?
10:07Because there is so much hype, buzz around those white ball format and this red ball format.
10:12How do you look at that?
10:13Well, it's an ICC trophy.
10:15So, it's right up there.
10:16You only get a few opportunities, you know, if you're lucky in your career to try and win one.
10:20So, it's a trophy we've spoken a lot about over the last couple of years.
10:25You know, we wanted to be in this final.
10:27You know, personally, I think that 2023 World Cup title is going to be tough to beat.
10:32But, yeah, this is a good one.
10:34Test cricket is my favourite format.
10:36You've got to basically win in all different conditions to make it into this final.
10:41You're competing against all test player nations.
10:43So, it's really special to be here in the final.
10:45And, yeah, if we can retain that mace, that's a pretty awesome thing for this team.
10:51A couple more points about one.
10:53Pat, Jimmy Anderson was here yesterday watching you guys train
10:56and he said that he rated Rabada over you.
10:58I just wondered what your response to that might be.
11:01Cool.
11:03No worries.
11:04Pat, given this team's history in big finals and in comparison to South Africa's,
11:24how much do you use that in terms of when the game will get in the crunch and big moments?
11:29Hopefully it helps.
11:30You know, I think just about everyone in the team.
11:34I have to think about it.
11:35Everyone in the team's been in a final before.
11:37And, yeah, I think in some ways, you know, with experience, you want to, in some success,
11:45you just want to experience more of it.
11:46And that means when the going gets tough or the pressure's on, you embrace that.
11:50You take it on.
11:51You know, you want to be the match winner.
11:53You hopefully don't get overwhelmed by big moments.
11:56So, that's been most of the conversation this week is the guys just have excitement.
11:59They want to get out there.
12:00They want to play well.
12:01They want to win.
12:02There's no fear of failure or if it doesn't pan out.
12:06It's just the excitement to get going.
12:11Pat, just following on from before, I guess, about this being sort of an isolated test
12:15in terms of how the team's been picked.
12:17Do you see it, like with the Ashes coming up later in the year, do you see it as important
12:22that Sam plays in the West Indies?
12:26I think we'll get through this match and see.
12:28Ideally, we've got guys who are, you know, by that first test, it's, you've got, you know,
12:33your side pretty settled, you know, a fair way out.
12:36So, I'm sure some sheer cricket will come into it before that series.
12:39There's a lot of water to go under that bridge.
12:41But, yeah, in a perfect world, you've got lots of guys who have played some test matches,
12:46quite a few test matches leading to that Ashes.
12:49Pat, two years ago, you won the Mace and $400,000.
12:54Now you're playing for the share of $9 million.
12:58Is that significant?
12:59What does it mean?
13:01I'm not sure the maths are exactly right there, Jim.
13:04I've got the comparison ratio.
13:06Isn't it five and a half and it's three and a half?
13:09I don't know, honestly.
13:11But, yeah, I mean, it's, it's good.
13:16You know, test cricket is something we all value.
13:18There's, there's a lot of dollars flying around in franchise cricket that,
13:21you know, can, can, a series can kind of come and go without you even noticing it.
13:26Whereas I think a test series that has real worth by whatever it is,
13:31if it's TV viewership, if it's, you know, being able to fly your family to London
13:36and be part of an amazing final that the world stops and watches,
13:40or if it's a, you know, financial benefit from winning a tournament,
13:43if that helps test cricket, I think that's only a good thing.
13:47Right.
13:48Right.
Comments