Former England spinner Phil Tufnell has delivered crucial advice to current stars Ben Stokes and Joe Root on handling the infamous hostility of Australian crowds, just days before the first Ashes Test begins in Perth.
Embrace The Banter, Don't Fear It
Tufnell, now a BBC Test Match Special pundit, draws from his own colourful experiences facing Australian crowds during the 1990s. He famously endured one of cricket's most memorable sledges when a spectator at the Melbourne Cricket Ground shouted: 'Oi, Tufnell. Lend us your brain. We're building an idiot.'
Another incident saw a minced beef and onion pie slapped off his head while he signed autographs. Despite these encounters, the 59-year-old reflects fondly on his time Down Under and believes the current England squad should adopt a similar mindset.
'Embrace it, love it,' Tufnell urged. 'All the hard work comes down to this, so don't let a bit of chat put you off your stroke, embrace it and let it bring the best out of you.'
Taking On Australian Society
Tufnell highlighted that the Ashes rivalry extends far beyond the cricket pitch, permeating every interaction the England team will experience during their tour.
'You take on every layer of Australian society when you go over there,' he explained. 'Whether it's the bloke opening the door at the hotel for you or the bloke making your breakfast, you know you're in it.'
The former slow left-armer, who took 121 wickets in 42 Tests between 1990 and 2001, admitted he often engaged with the crowds himself. 'I gave the crowd a little back. I quite enjoyed it in a funny sort of way. It's all good fun, it can get a little bit lively but you've got to expect a little bit.'
Australian Crowds Want Competition
Despite Australia great Glenn McGrath's traditional 5-0 series prediction, Tufnell believes the Australian public ultimately desires a closely-fought contest rather than a one-sided affair.
'I think this Australian crowd – even though they're very supportive of their own side – like a team that goes out there and plays good, intense, aggressive cricket,' Tufnell explained. 'They don't want to see a 5-0, they want to see a good competition.'
He suggested that if England can establish a foothold in the series, the hard stance of home supporters could soften. 'If we can give them a good competition, that will go a long way to not getting them on our side but warming to us a little bit.'
The first Ashes Test begins this Friday at Perth's Optus Stadium, with England already facing media baiting aimed particularly at captain Ben Stokes and star batsman Joe Root.
