Best of SPIN 4: England’s lions to the Ashes slaughter

Interviews by David Wiseman, first published in July 2005 issue of Spin magazine

 

“It felt like our team had been cobbled together at the last moment”

John Stephenson, 6th Test, 1989 Ashes

With England decimated by injuries and further depleted by Mike Gatting’s imminent rebel tour to South Africa, John Stephenson was called up for the final Test of the 1989 series. The Essex opener  partnered his county colleague Graham Gooch in his only outing, and never got a second chance. He retired in 2004 after 20 seasons as a pro.

How did playing in the Ashes compare with county cricket?

It was nothing like I’d ever imagined. We fielded on the first day and afterwards I was completely drained. I’ve never felt anything like it. The intensity was incredible, even though the series was already over. The crowd, the cameras… the occasion creates a pressure. I wasn’t ready for it.

You were picked for the final Test of a series that was already lost – was that difficult?

Yes. The team was a bit of a mess. It felt like it had been cobbled together at the last moment. With the defections to South Africa and me being the 29th player used in the series, it wasn’t the best environment to play in. I remember getting to the ground and Ted Dexter, the chairman of selectors, didn’t know who I was. They thought I was a net bowler.

What are your recollections of the Test?

After fielding for the better part of two days, we lost a wicket in the only over we faced on that second evening. Gooch was dismissed, leaving us at one for one, with Michael Atherton and myself yet to score. As we walked into bat the next morning, Richie Benaud was commentating and said how the “future of English batting was walking to the crease”. He got it half right, at least! There was a lot of sledging and talk from the Australians. I made it to 25 before being hit on the hand by Merv Hughes. It stung a bit and I felt like going off, but it was close to lunch so I wanted to see it through. But I was dismissed shortly after. 

You were dropped after that appearance – were you surprised?

The game finds you out very quickly. As such, it wasn’t that much of a surprise.

Were you ever close to being recalled?

I was playing club cricket on the Gold Coast in Queensland in 1990 and I was put on call for the England squad who were touring in Australia at the time. In the end, I didn’t get the call.

Did it change the rest of your life?

It opened up opportunities for me which otherwise wouldn’t have happened. I’m now the head of MCC cricket, which entails overseeing all its departments. It’s a fantastic job,‑with an amazing view overlooking Lord’s. Who knows if I would have this job if I wasn’t a former Test player? 

 

Tim Curtis

Played 3rd, 4th and 5th Tests of the 1989 Ashes series

A dogged opening batsman, Tim Curtis hit more than 20,000 runs for Worcestershire in his career. After making his Test debut during the 1988 ‘Blackwash’ by the West Indies, Curtis was recalled for the Third Test of the 1989 Ashes with England already 2-0 down. Retired from cricket, he is now a teacher.

What was it like being recalled by England?

I can’t remember the exact circumstances, but Mike Gatting had pulled out – it might have been a bereavement – which led to my call up. It wasn’t exactly auspicious. But there was great excitement about playing in an Ashes series. I wish I’d played in more.

What are your recollections of the Birmingham Test?

 Thanks to a thunderstorm, which flooded the ground, it was one of the two Tests in that series that we didn’t lose. I scored 41 in the first innings and should have gone on, but Merv Hughes trapped me in front. He was the heart and soul of the Aussie attack, though Terry Alderman took more wickets. I wanted to be positive against Merv and whipped him through the leg side for four, to be greeted with “Shot champ!” I remember being surprised by the lack of venom. But when I repeated the shot he was not so positive. This time I received, “Shot, f**k-knuckle”. This made me laugh, which brought a sharp rebuke from David Boon, who said something along the lines of, “What the f**k are you laughing at?”

What about Old Trafford?

We were introduced to Prince Andrew at lunchtime on the first day and it went downhill from there. The chairman of selectors, Ted Dexter, even took me to one side to give me a coaching lesson on the backward defensive shot – all very well intentioned, but perhaps indicative of the fact that there was not a clear structure for progress into the team or the monitoring of performances. In the background was the knowledge that some of those who were playing had signed up for the rebel tour to South Africa and would be playing their last Test match. The atmosphere was strained.

And what about the Trent Bridge Test?

It was a nightmare. I got to the crease on the third morning, but didn’t last long. We were soon following on and I was dismissed again very quickly. It turned out to be my final Test innings.

You were in the Worcestershire side that had beaten Australia in the earlier tour match. What were the differences between that game and the three Tests you played in?

It was a bad pitch, with a swinging ball, an undercooked Aussie side and a strong Worcestershire team. 

Did you feel unlucky to be dropped from the Caribbean tour that winter?

No. And I don’t think I was ever close to being picked again.

What’s it like to be part of Ashes folklore? 

I feel like a fraud because my contribution was minimal. I wanted to go out and sing the National Anthem and lay down my life, but cricket doesn’t really allow you to do that. 

 

Mark Ilott

Played 3rd, 4th and 5th Tests of 1993 series

After being 12th man for the first two Tests of the 1993 series, Essex fast bowler Mark Ilott finally made his debut in the third Test with England already 2-0 down. The match marked the debuts of three other England players (Mark Lathwell, Martin McCague and Graham Thorpe). Ilott was dropped for the following Caribbean series, but made a surprise return two years later in South Africa before injury ended his international career.

What was the difference between playing in an Ashes Test and county cricket?

How long have you got? There’s the pressure, the crowd, the atmosphere, the ability of the opposition and there is absolutely no margin for error. You knew straight away that if you weren’t at the top of your game you’d be looking at a very long day in the field. It was a fantastic feeling playing for your country, but against Australia I did feel a bit like a boy in a man’s world.

You were 12th man for the first two Tests. Did that help your preparation?

Far from it – I wanted to be involved straight away. I was in the 12 for the first Test, and then Alan Igglesden was ruled out with an injury. Of course, I assumed I was playing, but then they brought in Phillip DeFreitas ahead of me. I was gutted. Then exactly the same situation arose at Lord’s for the second Test, this time with Neil Foster. He was a county colleague, which made it even worse. I knew Australia were a special side so I didn’t need to be by the boundary edge to realise it – especially when Shane Warne knocked over Mike Gatting with his first delivery.

What are the recollections of the Ashes Tests you played in?

I have great memories of my Test debut. We drew – which was a good result. I bowled well, taking my first Test wicket – Ian Healy. Then I scored my first Test runs via an inside edge for four off Merv Hughes. I’ll remember the fourth Test, at Headingley, for different reasons. We were still fielding at lunch on the third day. In our second innings I was the last man out, caught by Allan Border off Tim May. My wicket cost us the Ashes. Also, I had Border plumb lbw before he reached his double-ton which wasn’t given, a decision I’ll never forgive Dickie Bird for. As for my final Test of the series, at Edgbaston – I’d rather forget it. I bowled badly from start to finish – I only got one wicket – Mark Waugh, but that was with a leg-stump half-volley that was caught at deep backward square.

Were you disappointed at being dropped?

Of course. I wasn’t surprised, though. I’d bowled badly at Birmingham and deserved it. Keith Fletcher phoned to tell me. He was also my county manager, so he got straight to the point, but was as gentle as he could be – I knew it was coming.

You were discarded after the Ashes, but fought your way back into the side for two more Tests in South Africa. What were they like?

Fantastic. Playing on tour is often easier than playing a home series. You’ve already spent a fair bit of time with the squad and you feel like you belong there. When I walked in to the dressing room at Old Trafford, I saw Stewart, Smith, Gooch, Lewis, Atherton – people I didn’t really know and only admired from afar. By the time I was recalled I was a far better bowler. And the Kookaburra ball swung for me. Previously, in England, we’d used Readers and they don’t swing so much. Steve Waugh told me the Aussies had picked the Reader ball when they won the toss because they knew we didn’t want it. Heaven only knows why we gave them a choice. 

Were you close to being picked again?

Honestly? I don’t think so. 1995 was my best year by far, and after that I had good seasons, but never really managed the figures I had done previously. It could be that I had children that year and my priorities changed in life. Also I had so many injuries that I started to bowl within myself.

What was it like to play county cricket as a former England player?

When I went back to play for Essex after that drawn Test at Trent Bridge it was very strange. We had a big NatWest game against Northamptonshire and I remember me and Nasser Hussain weren’t entirely up-for-it.
The other times I had had something to prove to people, so I took them very seriously and tried my nuts off – I was always a 100 per center. I still think I was very lucky to have played, as I don’t believe I was good enough. But the one thing you realise is that you’re a long time retired.

 

 

“My own team-mates wanted me to screw up and they got their wish”

Mike Smith. Played 4th Test of 1997 Ashes series

Left-arm swing bowler Mike Smith took over 850 wickets for Gloucestershire between 1991 and his retirement in 2004. He was picked for England at the expense of Andy Caddick for the 4th Test of the 1997 series, but discovered the realities of Test cricket the hard way. With Australia on shaky ground at 50 for three, Smith found the edge of Matthew Elliott’s bat, only for the first slip, Graham Thorpe, to put it down. Elliott went on to make 199, but Smith lost confidence and his ability to swing the ball. The game was lost and England’s hopes of winning the Ashes went with it. Smith was never picked for England again, but continued to be a key player for Gloucestershire, picking up six winner’s medals in one-day tournaments in the last five years of his career.

What was it like making your Test debut?

It was very special to me, particularly to be playing against Australia. I was really thrown in at the deep end, but that’s how I like it. I realised I must have been close to being selected because I was the leading wicket-taker in county cricket in 1997 and the selectors had come to see me bowl beforehand.

What were the differences between Test and country cricket?

The media attention. The players also seemed much more keyed up for the game than they would for a county match.

You had played Australia before your Test call-up in a tour game. What was that like?‑

It was a month before the Test and we treated the game very seriously. You have to have intensity when you play Australia, otherwise they will steamroller you. I picked up four wickets in the game and bowled well. Mark Taylor was having a very bad trot and we were pleased to‑do our national team a favour by denting his confidence further.

What are your recollections of the Test?

The Test match was a strange experience.Most of my team-mates, including the captain Mike Atherton, would have preferred Andy Caddick to have played, but the selectors wanted me. That was reflected in my treatment. Many of the players were obviously upset at my inclusion and did not support me during the match. I have since received an apology from David Graveney about my treatment. My team-mates wanted me to screw up and they got their wish. I know I did not do myself justice in the match, but what chance did I have when even my captain did not want me to play?

Do you still think about the dropped chance?

Graham Thorpe’s drop was a crucial moment in the series. From that moment on Australia dominated. It would have been nice to get one Test wicket. But I don’t think about it very often. My best moments have come with Gloucestershire and the joy of playing with the likes of Courtney Walsh, Ian Harvey and Jonty Rhodes. These are my best memories.

Were you unlucky to be dropped?

I thought I was a little unlucky to be dropped, but completely unsurprised. I was never close to playing for England again despite my contributions for Gloucestershire.

What was it like to return to county cricket as a former Test player?

After the Test, life was much the same in county cricket. To be successful at the top level you need more pace and height than I possess. I know I could have got wickets at Test level if the ball had swung, but in my only Test match, it didn’t. I was an out-and-out swing bowler who always got wickets when the ball swung and‑rarely did when it didn’t.

What do you do now you’ve retired?

I’m very proud of the fact that when I retired from county cricket, I had taken 850 wickets for Gloucestershire over 14 years. I am now a corporate lawyer in Bristol and enjoy coaching my son’s under-11 team. I still like watching cricket, -and I have a ticket for England-Australia ODI at Bristol.  SPIN