You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills from News Talks.

You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills from News Talks.

At b We've got a very very special guest. We have been chasing around trying to get someone from the English team or the organization to have a little bit of a chat because it's Test Match week in Wellington and doesn't ever ever get any bigger than England versus New Zealand at the Basin Reserve. It's the pinnacle of cricket for cricket lovers. England visiting us at the base In Reserve. We think the Basin Reserve, Wellingtonians think the Basin Reserve's the best ground in the world. I love it. Spent many, many many an hour there. Former test great from England we have got online David Gower.

At b We've got a very very special guest. We have been chasing around trying to get someone from the English team or the organization to have a little bit of a chat because it's Test Match week in Wellington and doesn't ever ever get any bigger than England versus New Zealand at the Basin Reserve. It's the pinnacle of cricket for cricket lovers. England visiting us at the base In Reserve. We think the Basin Reserve, Wellingtonians think the Basin Reserve's the best ground in the world. I love it. Spent many, many many an hour there. Former test great from England we have got online David Gower.

Good morning, David, very good morning.

Good morning, David, very good morning.

Well thank you for joining us. First impressions of the Basin when you first arrived into Wellington, Well.

Well thank you for joining us. First impressions of the Basin when you first arrived into Wellington, Well.

I'm not there yet to be honest, but I have been before. I love the base.

I'm not there yet to be honest, but I have been before. I love the base.

No, the Basin is one of those grounds that I played there. That's three thousand years ago, nineteen eighty four. I think I didn't have a great time, but I love the base and for his character, because there are so few grounds in the world left now which have that sort of history character position. The only thing, of course, we all hate about it is the wind, but that adds to the interest.

No, the Basin is one of those grounds that I played there. That's three thousand years ago, nineteen eighty four. I think I didn't have a great time, but I love the base and for his character, because there are so few grounds in the world left now which have that sort of history character position. The only thing, of course, we all hate about it is the wind, but that adds to the interest.

So now I will be there.

So now I will be there.

I've been well into this afternoon and we'll look forward to a good game.

I've been well into this afternoon and we'll look forward to a good game.

Okay, tell us about the welded conditions, because I haven't made a few England internationals over the years, and they all moan and grown that they have to take two jerseys just in case it's cold and suddenly comes through your bowlers moan and the bedars can't see the ball. We all heard it all before. Isn't that bigger deal?

Okay, tell us about the welded conditions, because I haven't made a few England internationals over the years, and they all moan and grown that they have to take two jerseys just in case it's cold and suddenly comes through your bowlers moan and the bedars can't see the ball. We all heard it all before. Isn't that bigger deal?

Well, it's I mean, there are other grounds in the world where conditions vary. I mean, I suppose one of the most famous is the Whacker and Perth, the old Whacker where the Fremantle doctor would come in and change things around. And the story is this you just adopt. Obviously the black Caps know all about it. England will know from we've got a key we coach, haven't so we've got Brent mcculluch and tell them all about it, and who himself of course has done for Well, they're in the past, so they will be prepared. If someone's got a ball into a strong win, so be it. But I think the key thing is that England know that they've got off to a great start. They know that they have a team that can compete and they will just be hoping that New Zealand continues to drop catches.

Well, it's I mean, there are other grounds in the world where conditions vary. I mean, I suppose one of the most famous is the Whacker and Perth, the old Whacker where the Fremantle doctor would come in and change things around. And the story is this you just adopt. Obviously the black Caps know all about it. England will know from we've got a key we coach, haven't so we've got Brent mcculluch and tell them all about it, and who himself of course has done for Well, they're in the past, so they will be prepared. If someone's got a ball into a strong win, so be it. But I think the key thing is that England know that they've got off to a great start. They know that they have a team that can compete and they will just be hoping that New Zealand continues to drop catches.

We won't talk about the drop catches right now. As a traditionalist, as what I would call an English traditionalist, I'm a self proclaimed England fan of cricket. How did you feel when Brendan mcallum was first given the job? I mean, I understand one day as in twenty twenty, but actual test match coach, what did you think yourself?

We won't talk about the drop catches right now. As a traditionalist, as what I would call an English traditionalist, I'm a self proclaimed England fan of cricket. How did you feel when Brendan mcallum was first given the job? I mean, I understand one day as in twenty twenty, but actual test match coach, what did you think yourself?

It was one of those things that took a lot of people by surprise. Rockie, who runs the England team back in ECB headquarters in London, was the man responsible and obviously with hindsight we're delighted because he's brought a culture to the England team which is absolutely lovely.

It was one of those things that took a lot of people by surprise. Rockie, who runs the England team back in ECB headquarters in London, was the man responsible and obviously with hindsight we're delighted because he's brought a culture to the England team which is absolutely lovely.

He knows it's.

He knows it's.

The atmosphere in the dressing but it's the culture in the dressingroo that I think is the thing where people feel comfortable valued. All these sorts of things you know they are. They are relaxed.

The atmosphere in the dressing but it's the culture in the dressingroo that I think is the thing where people feel comfortable valued. All these sorts of things you know they are. They are relaxed.

I won't say that don't care.

I won't say that don't care.

If they win all whose that have been an exaggeration, but they take failure as easy as success. They obviously aim for success, and I think that culture has been very, very important. I think they love playing under random and under Ben Stokes, who's equally part of that. So it gives them a really, really good cabescure edge.

If they win all whose that have been an exaggeration, but they take failure as easy as success. They obviously aim for success, and I think that culture has been very, very important. I think they love playing under random and under Ben Stokes, who's equally part of that. So it gives them a really, really good cabescure edge.

Okay, I want to ask you one pacific question about betting, because I've fallen in love over one game of the Sky, Ben Ducket. I mean, to me, here England always seems to have one of those guys, and I think that you were later in your career that guy as well, where they become the character the I don't know the persona of it. And this guy with his bleach blonde here, he's going to be it, doesn't he?

Okay, I want to ask you one pacific question about betting, because I've fallen in love over one game of the Sky, Ben Ducket. I mean, to me, here England always seems to have one of those guys, and I think that you were later in your career that guy as well, where they become the character the I don't know the persona of it. And this guy with his bleach blonde here, he's going to be it, doesn't he?

Well, Ben, there's a free spirit for sure, there's an extraordinary stroke player. I mean he's changed the rules of opening bassing for sure. I mean I appreciate that understand that there is a certain element of risk and reward, but his figures show that that's kind of worked out. Okay, it makes it exciting. I mean, he's one of these players at the modern era where they try and put the pressure back on opening bowlers straight away.

Well, Ben, there's a free spirit for sure, there's an extraordinary stroke player. I mean he's changed the rules of opening bassing for sure. I mean I appreciate that understand that there is a certain element of risk and reward, but his figures show that that's kind of worked out. Okay, it makes it exciting. I mean, he's one of these players at the modern era where they try and put the pressure back on opening bowlers straight away.

There's no sort of playing yourself when.

There's no sort of playing yourself when.

There's no sort of gentle reconnaissance, you know, trying to blunt the new ball detensively for an hour and a half. Sometimes it works. When it works, it's spectacularly good. When it doesn't, then someone else comes in. It's that that's again, that's the culture where they don't they don't worry about someone having a bad day or an unproductive day. They say, right, the next amoan will do it. And of course when you've got a batting lineup that goes down to pretty much number ten. We saw at Hagley, Atkinson and cast you know, the two bowlers. We're very very capable, dyed with the bat. So that's what length the batting lineup is equally important. So they can bat deep, they can take so they can score quickly. Most of the time it seems to work for them sometimes, you know, the last two or three years of this new ragion there have been blowouts, but they bounced back so overall it makes it exciting to watch. Actually, one of the great points about the greatest picture is that test cricket is und so much pressure from a short form of the game around the world that someone has to make it interesting to watch. And it's not obviously just Esland part from it. I mean, it's some very good sides out there, including New Zealand, but everyone has to play according to their strengths. So I think the more close games we have, the more exciting games we have, the more chance we have of preserving what people like me absolutely adore, which is the highest form of the game, which is test cricket.

There's no sort of gentle reconnaissance, you know, trying to blunt the new ball detensively for an hour and a half. Sometimes it works. When it works, it's spectacularly good. When it doesn't, then someone else comes in. It's that that's again, that's the culture where they don't they don't worry about someone having a bad day or an unproductive day. They say, right, the next amoan will do it. And of course when you've got a batting lineup that goes down to pretty much number ten. We saw at Hagley, Atkinson and cast you know, the two bowlers. We're very very capable, dyed with the bat. So that's what length the batting lineup is equally important. So they can bat deep, they can take so they can score quickly. Most of the time it seems to work for them sometimes, you know, the last two or three years of this new ragion there have been blowouts, but they bounced back so overall it makes it exciting to watch. Actually, one of the great points about the greatest picture is that test cricket is und so much pressure from a short form of the game around the world that someone has to make it interesting to watch. And it's not obviously just Esland part from it. I mean, it's some very good sides out there, including New Zealand, but everyone has to play according to their strengths. So I think the more close games we have, the more exciting games we have, the more chance we have of preserving what people like me absolutely adore, which is the highest form of the game, which is test cricket.

The same same here. Now a couple of quick guns before I let you go, and I really appreciate you're having a time with this. David Gower English great cricket. I want. I was an absolute fan of this guy. For me to actually even interview might feel pretty goofy about it. Joe Root, how good is he?

The same same here. Now a couple of quick guns before I let you go, and I really appreciate you're having a time with this. David Gower English great cricket. I want. I was an absolute fan of this guy. For me to actually even interview might feel pretty goofy about it. Joe Root, how good is he?

Very good? Brilliant? The figures are extraordinary.

Very good? Brilliant? The figures are extraordinary.

He is one of those people that proves you can be a nice guy and succeed in high level sport. He's flirted with some of the worst parts of bastball, but he's also worked out that he has. The way Joe Route plays is as good as anyone. And it's a lovely contest in the sense within a contest when you have roots against Williamson. Two of the absolute best players in the world today have been for the last decade. You know, they are people who understand the game, love the game, love batting. They look good, you know, they are great to watch, and yeah, I think you'll find that the world at mars them as much as I do should.

He is one of those people that proves you can be a nice guy and succeed in high level sport. He's flirted with some of the worst parts of bastball, but he's also worked out that he has. The way Joe Route plays is as good as anyone. And it's a lovely contest in the sense within a contest when you have roots against Williamson. Two of the absolute best players in the world today have been for the last decade. You know, they are people who understand the game, love the game, love batting. They look good, you know, they are great to watch, and yeah, I think you'll find that the world at mars them as much as I do should.

Both teams have been fined for slow over rate, you know, not doing the overs. When the tist Mitch finished in three and a half days.

Both teams have been fined for slow over rate, you know, not doing the overs. When the tist Mitch finished in three and a half days.

Well, it's one of the bug bears the modern game.

Well, it's one of the bug bears the modern game.

It's a it's half a defense, it's it's a it's a weak defense to say, you know, they won the game in three and a half days and all the rest of it, because there is a sort of a reality behind it, or that if you've paid, you paid for days tickets and it's quite expensive nowadays around the world to watch, says Cricket, and you're being short changed. You are entitled to be a little bit disappointed. No one seems to bowl ninety goers in the day, even with the extra half hour. People dawdle. There's has to been no penalty that seems to work on captions and you've been deducted points in the World Test Championship. Means nothing to England because they're well out of it, so they can pretend it doesn't matter, but it's it's just one of those impossibilities to try and persuade people to bowlder overs more quickly. It's in the same time. And I also side which you know, if it's entertaining and you have a good day out and someone puts on a show, well that's that's actually more important.

It's a it's half a defense, it's it's a it's a weak defense to say, you know, they won the game in three and a half days and all the rest of it, because there is a sort of a reality behind it, or that if you've paid, you paid for days tickets and it's quite expensive nowadays around the world to watch, says Cricket, and you're being short changed. You are entitled to be a little bit disappointed. No one seems to bowl ninety goers in the day, even with the extra half hour. People dawdle. There's has to been no penalty that seems to work on captions and you've been deducted points in the World Test Championship. Means nothing to England because they're well out of it, so they can pretend it doesn't matter, but it's it's just one of those impossibilities to try and persuade people to bowlder overs more quickly. It's in the same time. And I also side which you know, if it's entertaining and you have a good day out and someone puts on a show, well that's that's actually more important.

You would know both of these people pretty damn well. Graham thought in Martin Crow and then trophy that England and New Zealand are playing for. I knew Martin personally, what an amazing he was an amazing, amazing cricket. Tell me about Graham thought as a person.

You would know both of these people pretty damn well. Graham thought in Martin Crow and then trophy that England and New Zealand are playing for. I knew Martin personally, what an amazing he was an amazing, amazing cricket. Tell me about Graham thought as a person.

Well, I mean both of them. You know, I was a great admirer of admirer of Martin's as a friend, as an as an adversary. I as a friend had some very good times with him and Jeff brother. Jeff Sorby was described by all his teammates as one of the best and you know, a lovely man to have in the dressing room. Obviously different reasons why they're no longer with us. You know, Martin caught shorts, caught out by cancer, Graham caught out by severe mental problems. The fact they're on the trophy is special. So they are remembered and will be remembered. And I think, you know, as we look at look back at their careers, we can look they can both look back on their own careers with from wherever they are now with a lot of pride, and of course others can take inspiration.

Well, I mean both of them. You know, I was a great admirer of admirer of Martin's as a friend, as an as an adversary. I as a friend had some very good times with him and Jeff brother. Jeff Sorby was described by all his teammates as one of the best and you know, a lovely man to have in the dressing room. Obviously different reasons why they're no longer with us. You know, Martin caught shorts, caught out by cancer, Graham caught out by severe mental problems. The fact they're on the trophy is special. So they are remembered and will be remembered. And I think, you know, as we look at look back at their careers, we can look they can both look back on their own careers with from wherever they are now with a lot of pride, and of course others can take inspiration.

Well said last quick quick question, were you disappointed with New Zealand's performance after what you saw in India?

Well said last quick quick question, were you disappointed with New Zealand's performance after what you saw in India?

Well, it's not my problem.

Well, it's not my problem.

Yeah, as was your proper bise asking you.

Yeah, as was your proper bise asking you.

Let me put it this way.

Let me put it this way.

I am an amra New Zealand sports. You know, for the ever since I've started playing against some forty years ago, I've been a fan of New Zealand sports. We know how competitive they normally are.

I am an amra New Zealand sports. You know, for the ever since I've started playing against some forty years ago, I've been a fan of New Zealand sports. We know how competitive they normally are.

They had I joke about drop catches.

They had I joke about drop catches.

That's one of the things I've never seen from a New Zealand cricket team is so many catches going down because whatever else their strengths are, the shielding has always been superb so I'm sure they'll be back on former I hope they will because it makes for a better contests if they are. You know, I don't have I don't worry about partisanship national pride. If we have a good game, that'll that'll suit me. I'll be delighted.

That's one of the things I've never seen from a New Zealand cricket team is so many catches going down because whatever else their strengths are, the shielding has always been superb so I'm sure they'll be back on former I hope they will because it makes for a better contests if they are. You know, I don't have I don't worry about partisanship national pride. If we have a good game, that'll that'll suit me. I'll be delighted.

Thank you so much for joining us on news Talk to here b Wellington Mornings. Really really do appreciate it. David Gower, former England captain. Obviously the English cricket team has arrived in Wellington. Dis matched outs tomorrow, one hundred and twelve tists he played, he was superstar and his day. David Gower, thank you, appreciate you.

Thank you so much for joining us on news Talk to here b Wellington Mornings. Really really do appreciate it. David Gower, former England captain. Obviously the English cricket team has arrived in Wellington. Dis matched outs tomorrow, one hundred and twelve tists he played, he was superstar and his day. David Gower, thank you, appreciate you.

For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live to News Talks It'd Be Wellington from nine am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio

For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live to News Talks It'd Be Wellington from nine am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio