Inside The Tour

Episode 5: The Ashes ’86/87 - We’re Still Standing

The tour arrives in Melbourne. Not just for the Boxing Day test, but far more importantly for the Christmas Day party. That’s right: England’s preparation for a series-clinching test match involved fancy dress, with the meticulous preparation that brings; and as close to an all-nighter as possible. Graham Dilley gets injured in the nets. Gladstone Small claims he’s bowling to Elton John. We’ve heard some tall tales on this series but this is right up there. This is the story of a remarkable test match and an even more remarkable after-party...
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The inside story of the most triumphant tours in sporting history.

Season 2 returns this December as a box set, following the England cricket team on their astonishing 1986/87 series. A tour hugely significant for both nations – after this, England wouldn’t win the Ashes again for 18 years. The embarrassing defeat sent Allan Border’s Australia to rock bottom and yet, somehow, they recovered to become a cricket superpower. This is the story of that incredible journey, told by players from both teams plus host Mark Pougatch, who was a backpacking 18-year-old in Australia at the time. His diary brings to life an incredible story of unknown call-ups, unlikely heroes, and a result that shocked the sporting world.

In series 1, presenter Alastair Eykyn took us back to the legendary British and Irish Lions rugby tour in South Africa, 1997. With few giving them a chance, a disparate group of characters bonded into a band of brothers that upset the reigning world champions.

This is Inside The Tour – giving you the inside story, told by those who were there.