Nas, Ath and Greg Blewett look ahead to the third Ashes Test in Adelaide

·41 min·3 clips

24 years of pain in Australia finally beaten by England at home.

This episode of the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast features hosts Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton alongside former Australian batsman Greg Blewett, previewing the third Ashes Test in Adelaide. Blewett, a local Adelaide native and veteran of 46 Tests, provides unique insight into the venue and series context. The conversation covers England's 'Bazball' approach, Australia's selection dilemmas, and the specific conditions expected at Adelaide Oval. Blewett argues England have failed to adjust their aggressive game plan to Australian pitches with extra bounce and seam movement. He believes England must be smarter about picking their moments to attack, especially against the new ball, rather than being one-dimensional. The hosts discuss Australia's potential team selection, with Blewett advocating for keeping Josh Inglis in the side and leaving out Usman Khawaja for tactical ruthlessness. They examine the spin debate for England, questioning whether to pick Shoaib Bashir or the all-round option of Will Jacks on a pitch expected to turn. Blewett highlights the importance of senior England batsmen like Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope, who have played over 60 Tests combined, needing to stand up. A surprising claim is Blewett's view that the redevelopment of Adelaide Oval has transformed the city more than any other project. He recalls the members' vote requiring an 80% majority for the redevelopment to proceed. An interesting insight is his preference for day Tests over day-night fixtures in Adelaide for social reasons, despite acknowledging the pink ball's value. Blewett shares that his father, a former first-class cricketer, was result-driven but not overly pushy during his childhood. He recounts his 1995 Test debut century at Adelaide, expecting a first-ball bouncer from Angus Fraser. The tone is relaxed and conversational, blending technical cricket analysis with personal anecdotes and light-hearted reminiscing. The style is interview-based, with Hussain and Atherton prompting Blewett for his expert local and professional opinions. Cricket traditionalists and Ashes enthusiasts will love this episode for its deep tactical discussion and insider perspective on a iconic ground. Listeners seeking high-energy debate or narrative storytelling might find the pace too leisurely.

As heard by us

A dry, useful Adelaide preview built around pitch talk, selection pressure, and Smith's influence.

The piece keeps its focus on the pitch, the selection calls, and the way Australia can bring Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon back into a side that already looks stronger.

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Why you'd press play

Need a clean read on Adelaide, Cummins, Lyon, and Khawaja?

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