23 episodes

The inside story of the most triumphant tours in sporting history.

Season 2 returns this December as a box set, following the England cricket team on their astonishing 1986/87 series. A tour hugely significant for both nations – after this, England wouldn’t win the Ashes again for 18 years. The embarrassing defeat sent Allan Border’s Australia to rock bottom and yet, somehow, they recovered to become a cricket superpower. This is the story of that incredible journey, told by players from both teams plus host Mark Pougatch, who was a backpacking 18-year-old in Australia at the time. His diary brings to life an incredible story of unknown call-ups, unlikely heroes, and a result that shocked the sporting world.

In series 1, presenter Alastair Eykyn took us back to the legendary British and Irish Lions rugby tour in South Africa, 1997. With few giving them a chance, a disparate group of characters bonded into a band of brothers that upset the reigning world champions.

This is Inside The Tour – giving you the inside story, told by those who were there.

Inside The Tour Auddy

    • Sport
    • 4.5 • 39 Ratings

The inside story of the most triumphant tours in sporting history.

Season 2 returns this December as a box set, following the England cricket team on their astonishing 1986/87 series. A tour hugely significant for both nations – after this, England wouldn’t win the Ashes again for 18 years. The embarrassing defeat sent Allan Border’s Australia to rock bottom and yet, somehow, they recovered to become a cricket superpower. This is the story of that incredible journey, told by players from both teams plus host Mark Pougatch, who was a backpacking 18-year-old in Australia at the time. His diary brings to life an incredible story of unknown call-ups, unlikely heroes, and a result that shocked the sporting world.

In series 1, presenter Alastair Eykyn took us back to the legendary British and Irish Lions rugby tour in South Africa, 1997. With few giving them a chance, a disparate group of characters bonded into a band of brothers that upset the reigning world champions.

This is Inside The Tour – giving you the inside story, told by those who were there.

    Bonus Episode: The Ashes '86/87 - Gladstone Small Guerrilla Cricket

    Bonus Episode: The Ashes '86/87 - Gladstone Small Guerrilla Cricket

    Gladstone Small speaks with journalist Tony Bishop from Guerilla Cricket about the legendary 1986/87 Ashes tour.
    How did England beat the Aussies? Where did Gladstone’s love of cricket came from?
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    • 38 min
    Bonus Episode: The Ashes '86/87 - Prostate Cancer UK - Live panel

    Bonus Episode: The Ashes '86/87 - Prostate Cancer UK - Live panel

    A special ‘Inside the Tour’ online event, in partnership with Prostate Cancer UK.
    Mark Pougatch hosts a bonus episode where he’s joined by some familiar faces from the Inside The Tour podcast, as well as appearances from the 2021/22 Ashes squad members.
    We’ve teamed up with Prostate Cancer for this event to help to raise awareness of prostate cancer, which former cricketer Allan Lamb is currently getting treatment for.
    Guestlist:
    Allan Lamb: Former England cricketer who played in the 1986/87 Ashes series. Since his prostate cancer diagnosis, he is raising awareness for others to get tested.
    Gladstone Small: Former England cricketer who played a key role in winning the 1986/87 Ashes. He took the winning catch at the SCG.
    Alec Stewart OBE: Former cricketer and former captain of the England cricket team.
    Lawrence Booth: Cricket writer for the Daily Mail and editor of cricket magazine Wisden.
    Take Prostate Cancer UK’s 30-second risk checker here:
    https://prostatecanceruk.org/risk-checker?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=risk-checker&utm_content=organic-link
    Find more info and donate to Prostate Cancer UK at prostatecanceruk.org
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    • 1 hr 5 min
    Episode 1: The Ashes ’86/87 - The Wooden Spoon Series

    Episode 1: The Ashes ’86/87 - The Wooden Spoon Series

    English cricket is in a bad place and Australia isn’t faring much better. As they prepare to meet in the Ashes of 1986/87, cricket’s ultimate contest dating back to the 1800s, there are tongue-in-cheek suggestions this is the battle for test cricket’s ‘wooden spoon’. England had lost 5-0 to the West Indies on their previous tour, to India and New Zealand at home that summer, banned their best player and changed their captain. It’s hard to imagine worse preparation. Australia were also feeling the impact of retirements and rebel tours, draining their team of talent. Did Allan Border really want to be the captain? Do the selectors know what they’re doing? This is the story of two proud nations, in cricketing disarray…
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    • 27 min
    Episode 2: The Ashes ’86/87 - Can’t Bat, Can’t Bowl, Can’t Field

    Episode 2: The Ashes ’86/87 - Can’t Bat, Can’t Bowl, Can’t Field

    England’s ramshackle cricketers arrive in Australia and, true to recent form, start losing to part-time state teams. The cricket seems secondary to the drinking as England lurch from the Bundaberg Rum Distillery to parties with the America’s Cup yachtsmen in Perth. “We were rubbish, truly rubbish”. As the late cricket writer Martin Johnson wrote at the time: “There are only three things wrong with this English team. They can’t bat, they can’t bowl and they can’t field.” Of course, at the time, he was totally correct. Just a little premature. On the eve of the first test, things take a surprising turn thanks to a legend of English sport...
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    • 27 min
    Episode 3: The Ashes ’86/87 - Botham’s Brisbane Fireworks

    Episode 3: The Ashes ’86/87 - Botham’s Brisbane Fireworks

    “One of the greatest innings I’ve ever seen” says Phil De Freitas who, for a few hours, on the second day of the first test match, stood at the non-striker’s end at The Gabba in total awe. Sir Ian Botham’s final test century was one of his most memorable. In one over, he struck the bemused Merv Hughes for 22. It just so happened to be the over which brought up his three figures. Botham had been in trouble with the TCCB, so much so, some selectors didn’t want him on the tour. This is why he wanted to be there – why he had to be there. This is the story of one of the greatest innings, from one of the greatest England cricketers, and the result which shocked Australia.
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    • 28 min
    Episode 4: The Ashes ’86/87 - The Fear of Failure

    Episode 4: The Ashes ’86/87 - The Fear of Failure

    One down in the series, Australia needed their world-class batsman and skipper Allan Border to step up, which he promptly did. Less predictable was the performance of a gangly Nottingham opener and a Cornish wicketkeeper. Chris Broad and Jack Richards turned into the unlikely England heroes of the second test match. We track Richards down to his home in Belgium to hear a surprising story of anxiety from an international sportsman whose career ended early, trapped by his fears. And if we tell you the Adelaide 3rd Test is more memorable for it’s rest-day than the cricket, that gives you an indication of where we may be heading. It gets messy…
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    • 32 min

Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5
39 Ratings

39 Ratings

Richard9989 ,

A superb listen

This brought back happy memories of listening to the final session of each day for these test matches on a crackling radio first thing in the morning before trying to watch the highlights on TV that evening. I vividly remember watching Lamb score those 18 runs to win the one day match…what a moment. A fabulous podcast sharing great insights. Well worth a listen. Cheers

Bomber chuckle ,

Amazing Story

This is an amazing story from the people who these days are quite literally legends of the game. There will never be sports tours quite like that again! As much batting as boozing

Djfkdjdshsjdndixje ,

They’re back!

Season 1 was such a fantastic series, I didn’t think they’d be able to top it! But what a great lineup, great tour, and great cast they’ve got for series 2! Bring on the ashes 86!

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