Today's guest on this episode of Lessons Learnt with the Greats is a true batting technician and one of my favourite teammates, Chris 'Bucky' Rogers. Bucky was a run machine as a left-handed opening batsmen, compiling more than 25,000 runs and 76 centuries at first-class level, not to mention his 25 Tests in the Baggy Green. It's why there is perhaps nobody better to talk batting technique and the mental side of batting than Bucky, who shares the lessons he has learned across his playing and...

Today's guest on Lessons Learnt with the Greats is a true warrior, Andy Bichel. Bic is Australia's most celebrated 12th man but when he got on the park he was a beast of an allrounder. I'll never forget his 2003 World Cup campaign in South Africa, where he played the perfect game against England to bring his country back from the brink twice. There were fewer fitter, stronger fast bowlers than Bic in his time in the game and in this episode he shares his fitness methods, how he captured more...

During the late 1980s and '90s there was no fast bowler mimicked more in the backyard than today's guest on Lessons Learnt with the Greats, Merv Hughes. Merv was part of the trailblazing group under Allan Border that led Australia out of the doldrums to the top of the world. His aggression, attitude and serious skill led Merv to take 212 Test wickets for his country along with hundreds more for his beloved Victoria. In this episode, Merv talks about his beginnings, the advice that has stuck...

Michael Vaughan is today's guest on Lessons Learnt with the Greats, a former England captain, No.1 Test batter in the world and one of the sharpest cricket minds in the game. Vaughany was a master technician with the bat, carving up Australia in the 2002-03 Ashes series and a few years later was the inspirational leader of England's epic 2005 Ashes victory. In this episode, Vaughany shares his brilliant insight into leadership, batting and his endeavours off the field. It's not to be missed...

Our first guest of 2021 is one of my old teammates and one of the most skilled fast bowlers I have ever played with, Ryan Harris. Ryno came into international cricket late in his career but boy, he didn't waste any time making an impact and helped Australia win the 2013-14 Ashes and the following series in South Africa. Since his retirement in 2015, Ryno has turned his attention towards coaching and on this episode he shares the invaluable lessons he has learnt as a player and a...

On this episode of Lessons Learnt with the Greats you will hear from six greats – Stephen Fleming, Mike Hussey, Simon Katich, Harbhajan Singh, Dean Jones and Brett Lee – about the mantras they live by and the life lessons they have learnt. One thing I have learnt over the years is that life isn't a fairytale. There are tough times, down times, times when things can go from good to not so good instantly. This happens to people in all walks of life, including the legends of the game who have...

Today is a special episode of Lessons Learnt with the Greats, focusing on the mental side of the game. I've been lucky enough to speak to some of the games greatest players about how they developed their mental skills and what their ultimate mindset looked like. Today we hear from five legends – Shane Warne, Allan Border, Kevin Pietersen, Mike Hussey and AB de Villiers about how they handled the mental aspects of cricket. I hope you enjoy it. Episode Rundown 00:56 - Shane Warne 09:31 -...

As Dean Jones is remembered at the MCG today, on Deano’s favourite day of the year, Boxing Day, I give my little tribute to my hero and good friend. I miss him so much but his legacy and impact that he had on so many people around the world will live on forever. Rest In Peace mate. Episode notes 03:10 - My favourite memories of Deano 04:45 - Deano's most cherished moments for Australia  12:20 - We chat about batting and the skills Deano focused on 18:09 - Deano talks through how he became a...

This week on Lessons Learnt with the Greats I am lucky enough to chat to another one of my fierce Ashes rivals, Ian Bell. Belly was one of the finest and classiest batsmen I played against, particularly during the 2013 Ashes series in England where we could not get him out!. In our chat we discuss the importance of preparation, finding the right mindset, putting faith in the right people and how to handle the modern traps of a professional athlete. It was truly a privilege to speak to Belly...

Today's guest on Lessons Learnt with the Greats is a rock-solid wcketkeeper, dashing batsman and a wonderful teammate who shared a very similar ride to my own, Brad Haddin. Hadds worked as hard as anyone to become one of Australia's greatest glovemen and played a huge role in the 2013-14 Ashes whitewash and 2015 World Cup triumph. His thoughts on how he sharpened his on-field skills, altered his training regime and switched off mentally are priceless. I hope you enjoy this chat with...

During his five-year Test career, nobody took more wickets than this week's guest on Lessons Learnt with the Greats, former England spinner Graeme Swann. Swanny was a master of his craft, spinning his country to memorable wins in Australia and India and playing a huge part in England becoming the No.1 Test team in the world. What really impressed me was Swanny's simple yet beautiful perspective on cricket and life and how he mastered off-spin bowling by trusting his gut and learning a secret...

In Part 2, Macca talks about his mindset and how he set lofty goals that put him up there with the greats of the game. We discuss how he dealt with the media (something I wish I had done), how he played the game for love not money before finishing with three of his favourite books and a wonderful story about Mitchell Johnson. I hope you enjoy it.  Episode rundown 01:00 - We kick off Part 2 by discussing Macca's mindset and what he did to get the best out of himself 19:05 - Macca then...

One teammate I wish I got to know even better during my playing days was the great Stuart MacGill, this week's guest on Lessons Learnt with the Greats. Macca didn't care about economy rate or average, he cared about taking wickets, which he did at a strike rate few have ever matched. In Part 1, Macca talks about playing behind Shane Warne, playing under different captains, his bizarre strategy against fast bowlers (it worked on me!) and goes into great detail about the technical side of...

There are only a few bowlers who terrorised Australia like Shane Bond did and he is my next very special guest on Lessons Learnt with the Greats. Only injury held him back from being labelled as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, but when he was on the park, he was one of the most potent and prolific pacemen in the world. In this episode, Bondy shares golden insights on fast bowling and his mental approach before talking about coaching and how he gets the best out of the best...

Mark Butcher is not just a former England batsman, although in his day he was sublime player and single-handedly won the fourth Ashes Test in 2001 at Headingley. Butch is also a polished media pundit and brilliant musician and on this episode of Lessons Learnt with the Greats we take a deep dive into his cricket career and his new passions. I still remember watching him bat against Australia when I was 16 and it was a great thrill to chat to him about how he went about it and how he met one...

I first knew Murali Vijay as a dangerous rival on the international stage but I've been lucky enough to play alongside him with CSK and learnt what a great player and person he truly is. I can vividly remember the times Vijay put the Australian teams I played in to the sword, and I can say it's much better having him as a friend than a foe! Vijay is a master of playing fast and spin bowling and hearing him chat about how he handles the turning ball is not to be missed. Vijay speaks so well...

Dwayne 'DJ' Bravo is the ultimate cricketer, a genuine allrounder who can star with the bat, ball and in the field and it's my great privilege to speak to him on this episode of Lessons Learnt with the Greats. DJ might make the game look easy but behind the scenes he is a true professional in his preparation and practice. During our fascinating chat, DJ talks all things cricket and goes in-depth about his aspirations as a music performer and producer, which serve as an inspiration for all...

It is my absolute pleasure to have an extended chat to my old adversary and now valued teammate Faf du Plessis over two episodes of Lessons Learnt with the Greats. Faf is one of South Africa's greatest batsmen and leaders and we dedicate Part 1 talking about batting, fielding and leadership, and I can honestly say this is one of the most enlightening interviews I have done to date. The way Faf explains his batting technique will be loved by casual fans and true cricket tragics (like me!) and...

Part 2 of my fascinating chat with former South Africa captain and Chennai Super Kings superstar Faf du Plessis goes off field. We talk about the mental side of the game - a topic Faf and I could chat about for hours - before discussing how he worked with, not against, South Africa's media and how a chat between mates led to a boutique business. Part 1 is available now too and if you haven't already listened to it, I thoroughly recommend.  Episode Rundown 00:41 - Part 2 starts with Faf...

Kevin Pietersen is the kind of batsman every player wants to emulate. Confident, aggressive, audacious, skillful - KP had it all. It's my pleasure to be able to pick his brain on this episode of Lessons Learnt with the Greats to discover how he forged one of the finest cricket careers in history. Not only do we discuss the physical and mental side of the game, KP and I talk about how he handles the media, his finances and his brilliant conservation work. Rundown 04:13 - We start by...

Ricky Ponting is one of cricket's greatest captains, batsmen and fielders and I am delighted and privileged to have him on Lessons Learnt with the Greats. Punter took me under his wing from the day that I met him as a nineteen year old playing with him for Tasmania. He went on to play a massive part in the success I had on the field, but I wish I had asked him the questions I put to him on this episode when we were playing together - it would have made the world of difference. Fortunately,...

It is an absolute honour to speak to Lisa Sthalekar on this week's episode of Lessons Learnt with the Greats, one of the game's greatest players. Lisa is four-time World Cup winner, Hall of Famer and perhaps the best T20 allrounder ever in the women's game. On this episode we discuss how she perfected her craft, was taught mental resilience from an early age and how she carried her professionalism from the field and into the commentary box, so much so that Lisa grills me...

Today's guest on Lessons Learnt from the Greats is a magnificent person who has gone from a fierce rival to close friend, Harbhajan Singh. 'Bhaji' as he's known, tormented batting lineups around the world but saved his best for the Aussies. His efforts in the 2001 Test series against Australia is truly unbelievable, kickstarting one of the most successful cricket careers of all time. While he might have rubbed a few people the wrong way, I can tell you Bhaji is one of the kindest, nicest...

I am truly honoured to welcome one of the game's greatest players of all time and the batter every aspiring cricketer wants to be - AB de Villiers. AB's record on the field goes without saying - as one of the most dominant batters of his generation, AB destroyed bowling attacks in every corner of the globe and produced a long list of jaw-dropping innings I still can't believe happened. While we were fierce rivals on the field, I'm so lucky to be able to chat to AB now as a friend, and discuss...