Once Upon a Time in the Ashes

Mike Smith played his only Test for England in the 4th Test of the 1997 Ashes at Headingley. Find out the inside story of that Test, including Graham Thorpe’s dropped catch, the controversy around Mike’s selection ahead of Andy Caddick and why his captain, Mike Atherton, took a shine to his bowling in the Headingley nets. Plus he shares his memories of his trophy-laden career with Gloucestershire.

Jo Angel, of Midland Guildford and Western Australia, replaced Peter McIntyre in the Australian side for the 5th Test of the 1994-95 Ashes series in Australia. It was to be his 4th and final Test for the national side and it would come at his home ground, the WACA in Perth. Jo tells us about chaotic debuts, a thrilling series againt the West Indies, AK-47s in Pakistan and getting 'barbecued' in both innings in his one and only Ashes Test.

Peter McIntyre played his one and only Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval in the 4th Test of the 1994-95 series. Peter tells us about his cricketing rivalry and friendship with Shane Warne, his restorative trip to Magic Mountain after a South Australia Sheffield Shield win and the ‘real’ ball of the century when he snared the Indian captain, Sachin Tendulkar. All this and much more.

Steve Watkin was unbeaten in his three Tests for England. In his one and only Ashes Test at the Oval in August 1993, he ripped through the Australian top 3 in the second innings to set up a famous England win. Steve tells all about etching his name into Ashes history, playing with and against the great Viv Richards and his long and successful career for Glamorgan.

John Stephenson and Alan Igglesden were the 28th and 29th players selected by England for the 1989 Ashes series. John tells all about his one Ashes Test at the Oval and his subsequent near misses in terms of international selection. Alan, who played his one Ashes Test alongside John in that game, tragically passed away in November 2021. His brother, Kevin, joins us to take us through his life and legacy.