Joe Root: 'Ashes doesn't need pink-ball Test'
Test Match Special
BBC
4.4 • 2.2K Ratings
🗓️ 30 November 2025
⏱️ 47 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Joe Root tells Stephan Shemilt that the Ashes doesn't need a pink-ball Test match. Australia's first Test centurion Travis Head responds by telling Stephan "Pink ball, white ball, red ball - who really cares?".
As the pair differ on views ahead of the Test between England and Australia at The Gabba, Eleanor Oldroyd sits in a cafe just outside the iconic venue with Andy Zaltzman and Henry Moeran to look ahead to the second match of the Ashes. Plus, former Australia Test skipper Tim Paine discusses what the pink-ball offers under the lights in Brisbane.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, podcasts. |
| 0:07.3 | Welcome to the Wayne Rooney show. |
| 0:09.3 | Twice a week, Wayne Rooney, Kayeard and me, Kelly Somers, |
| 0:12.4 | break down the biggest stories in the Premier League and beyond. |
| 0:15.5 | Coming to the Premier League, he's shown one called Play, he isn't. |
| 0:18.2 | He's been probably the sound of the season. |
| 0:19.6 | Plus, we'll hear the funniest and most outrageous stories from Wayne's career. |
| 0:23.7 | I had two seasons when I played as the number nine and scored 34 goals in both the seasons. |
| 0:28.1 | But I was bored. |
| 0:30.3 | The Wayne Rooney Show. |
| 0:31.5 | It's what everybody's talking about. |
| 0:33.8 | Watch an eye player, listen on sounds. |
| 0:42.5 | You're listening to the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. |
| 0:48.9 | Hello, I'm Eleanor Aldroyd and welcome to the Test Match special podcast in Brisbane. |
| 0:54.2 | Four days out from the second test of the men's ashes, we're in the shadow of the gabber. |
| 1:00.3 | And I use the word shadow advisedly because we've taken shelter under the awning of a cafe just around the corner from the famous old ground, the floodlights standing out against the blue sky. |
| 1:05.5 | It is absolutely cooking in Brisbane today. |
| 1:08.4 | I think about 35, 36 degrees and we've just been standing watching |
| 1:12.7 | Joe Root doing his press call with the assembled media and there were hats, there was sunscreen. |
| 1:17.7 | I've got my own personal fan here, handheld fan, because it is so hot here and Henry Moran |
| 1:23.7 | Andy Zaltzman and I are sitting with a cooling drink. And Henry, we're just very glad that we only have to broadcast in this temperature and not play cricket in it. |
| 1:31.9 | Well, Ellie, as if there was ever a reminder needed of the challenges of playing in hot weather. |
... |
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