England's cricket team has made a surprising culinary appointment for their demanding Ashes tour down under, placing their trust in an Australian chef to power them through the two-month campaign.
The Man Behind the Meals
The England and Wales Cricket Board has enlisted the services of a chef named Rob to manage the colossal task of feeding the entire touring party. Despite being Australian by residence, Rob was actually born in England and has retained his English accent. The team's social media team humorously acknowledged this dynamic, posting about 'trusting an Aussie with the cooking'.
Rob's role is critical, with the first Test in Perth beginning on November 21 and the final day of the fifth Test scheduled for January 8. This marathon schedule means the squad needs optimal nutrition to perform at its peak.
A Staggering Daily Operation
The scale of Rob's operation is immense. He revealed that he prepares an astonishing 1300 to 1400 meals each day to satisfy the hungry players, support staff, and match officials. 'The total in both squads is 69 and then I feed the umpires, the scorers, the roomies, so I'm probably up to 80 a day,' he explained, highlighting the sheer number of people relying on his kitchen.
His daily menu is designed for high performance and includes:
- A carbohydrate base, such as pasta or gnocchi.
- A chicken dish, recently a Portuguese chicken recipe.
- A fish dish, which presents a unique challenge as the selection is a daily surprise from the market.
- Vegetables like potatoes and pumpkin.
On top of the main meals, the team gets through a remarkable amount of snacks and fruit. 'I'm going through four banana bread a day,' Rob said, adding that he also uses a minimum of 70-80 Chobani yoghurts and 60-70 bananas daily.
Long Days for a Satisfying Mission
This mammoth task requires an intense work ethic. Rob's days are long, typically spanning 12 hours, starting when he leaves home by 6am and arrives at the kitchen before 7am.
Despite the gruelling schedule, Rob finds the job incredibly rewarding. He expressed his admiration for the players, stating, 'Seeing someone like Joe Root, like, you know, these guys are the rockstars of cricket. So you've got to be in awe of them.' His ultimate reward is seeing the satisfied faces of the cricketers, even if his duties leave him little time to actually watch the matches.
