VIDEO SHOWS: FORMER AUSTRALIAN CRICKET PLAYER GREG CHAPPELL AND FORMER ENGLISH CRICKETER IAN BOTHAM HOLDING CRICKET BATS PROMOTING THE 2027 ANNIVERSARY TEST MATCH / SOUNDBITES FROM BOTHAM AND CHAPPELL RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (NOVEMBER 11, 2025) (AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION – Broadcast: No use Australia. Digital: No use Australia / .com.au internet sites / any internet site of any Australia based media organisations or mobile platforms / Australian NVO clients / smh.com.au / news.com.au) 1. CRICKET BAT READING (English): "1877-2027 ANNIVERSARY TEST MATCH MELBOURNE MARCH 2027' / FORMER AUSTRALIAN CRICKET PLAYER GREG CHAPPELL AND FORMER ENGLISH CRICKETER IAN BOTHAM HOLDING CRICKET BATS 2. VARIOUS OF BOTHAM AND CHAPPELL POSING FOR MEDIA 3. MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND 4. CHAPPELL AND BOTHAM STEPPING INTO NEWS CONFERENCE 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER ENGLISH CRICKETER, IAN BOTHAM, SAYING: "Well, it's not the way I would prepare. I think historically, you have to acclimatise when you come down here, you've got to remember there's 24 and a half million people you're playing against, not 11. And you have to take that on board. And to start in Perth is an interesting decision after Fortress Gabba. But I'm wondering if you think perhaps get in and they're not doing a lot apart from net bowling or what have you. Because the ball does get quicker it gets to you, seems to get quicker and the light's different and you've got the Fremantle Doctor. Yeah, there's all kinds of things that go into the melting pot." 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN CRICKET PLAYER, GREG CHAPPELL, SAYING: "It is an interesting attack, England attack. I think it's exciting to think that, you know, we're going to see a real contest. History tells you that pretty much every series that's been won in Australia has been won by the best bowling side, which has usually been fast bowling.” 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER ENGLISH CRICKETER, IAN BOTHAM, SAYING: "I think it will be. It's one of those if's, big if's. If England bowlers stay fit, which they're not, it doesn't happen very often. But if they can stay fit and the captain can play a full part. Then I think England have got a real chance." 8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN CRICKET PLAYER, GREG CHAPPELL, SAYING: "Yeah but I hope the powers that be know who their first choice opener alongside Khawaja is because, you know, I think it's an important role and always has been an important role. Specialists generally have done better than people that have been press-ganged into the role. Opening is a role that I think you need to want to do.” 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER ENGLISH CRICKETER, IAN BOTHAM, SAYING: "No I think it's the right way (having a four-prong pace attack). You want to be aggressive, you want to come through and players, if they're not playing very well, don't like it in the ribs. So, yeah, it'll be interesting” JOURNALIST: “Can they rattle Australia, you think, with that kind of attack?” "I don't know if you're going to rattle them. All these guys have been around for a long time." 10. CHAPPELL AND BOTHAM FINISHING NEWS CONFERENCE STORY: Former England captain Ian Botham raised questions on Tuesday (November 11) about the team's lean Ashes preparations and whether the players will be ready to take on an entire nation backing Australia's bid to retain the urn. England did not have their full squad of players in Perth until last Sunday (November 9) and will play one internal match before the series-opener in the Western Australian capital on November 21. All but one of Australia's Ashes squad, meanwhile, are warming up with the red ball in domestic Sheffield Shield matches around the country. A number of England's squad played white-ball cricket in neighbouring New Zealand before arriving but Botham said touring teams traditionally needed time to adjust to Australian conditions. Botham said England could consider unleashing a four-prong pace attack against Australia, saying West Indies had done pretty well with a similar attack in 2024, splitting a two-test series 1-1 with Pat Cummins's team. Botham was speaking with former Australian cricket captain Greg Chappell at a press conference looking ahead to the 150th anniversary test between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from March 11-15, 2027. Governing body Cricket Australia is launching a ticket ballot for the test from December 23 as it expects huge demand from fans. (Production: James Redmayne)
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