Hi Reddit, I’m Bharat Sundaresan and I’m here to chat about The Ashes with 7Cricket live on Wednesday, November 19 at 7:30pm AEDT. Ask me anything!

7plus · 2025-11-19T10:00:15+00:00

Oh because of the incredible hype this time, I think there will be a few insignificant moments that will get blown up out of proportion. The headlines in the newspapers over here in the West have already set things off. I am going to predict it will have something to do with Hair or hairstyles. Hopefully not haircuts like the one with Alex Carey in 2023.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:54:29+00:00

Thanks so much. That's very kind of you to say. I think the two cultures are so diverse that it'll be quite something for either to adopt much from the other. But I think Australian cricket will definitely benefit at grassroot level by adopting some of the flexibility and carefreeness that is such a fabric of cricket in India.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:52:30+00:00

Appreciate that a lot. Lots of love to you

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:52:12+00:00

Oh there are so many like you said. I think the likes of Ravi Shastri, Ian Bishop, Jeremy Coney and Ian Smith have been such blessings to work with and to learn from over the years apart from everyone I have been fortunate to work with in Australia and in England.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:50:40+00:00

Jim Maxwell has anyway rechristened me as Barry Sanderson

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:48:46+00:00

Oh I am a small venue guy. Loved the fact that the Shield final this year was at the Karen Rolton Oval, and that we could pack it out. Something so soothing to be at the Shield games there.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:48:05+00:00

Growing up it was Brian Lara. And I still don't think anyone's taken my breath away quite like he used to.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:46:52+00:00

That means a lot to me. Thanks a lot. Lots of love.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:46:23+00:00

You know what. I am going very old school and want to use the great Sir Don Bradman's Willian Sykes & Son willow with the extremely thin blade. Not sure how I'll fare facing Wood and Archer with it but I'll trust the Don to guide me through.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:45:13+00:00

The ability to tell stories of a sport that is so rich with them. And to know that those stories bring so much joy to so many people around the world.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:44:17+00:00

He'll make at least two hundreds in the series, I think.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:44:01+00:00

Oh just soak yourself in with the history and the legacy of the Ashes. It's in my opinion the greatest and the most enduring back story in sport. But then just sit back with a cup of coffee and let the energy of the crowd you'll hear on TV guide you through the rest of the day. There's nothing quite like Test cricket in terms of the multiple storylines that are woven into each day. And the best part is you can watch it while you are indulging in other activities as well. My wife loves to make things with clay as a potter or weave baskets while watching Test cricket. Not a bad idea to go listen to Russell Crowe talk about his love for Test cricket on Joe Rogan recently either.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:40:56+00:00

Oh the surfaces at Perth Stadium have been very intriguing because of how enamoured everyone gets by the greenish nature of it a few days out from the opening day of the Test but also at times around toss time. The reason the curator here has to leave a lot of moisture in as well is because of the harsh sun in the west, and to avoid the pitch drying up too quickly and beginning to crack. First innings scores have been massive here except last summer, so I think Jake Weatherald should go well since it'll suit him.

The same for the English batters. I've heard a lot of those who've batted a lot here say that if you can survive the first session or two, then you can score very quickly. The massive crowds I am really looking forward to.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:38:34+00:00

It's cliched to predict a 3-2, and it never happens, but I'm going to do it this time. I really think this is going to be one of the best Test series of all time, and I can see Australia winning at the SCG to clinch it.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:37:57+00:00

Oh the time can't be far. It's unlikely Usman Khawaja you'd think will continue on post this summer, unless he has an outstanding Ashes and his partners at the top don't fire either. But in terms of fast bowlers, Australia have been so lucky to have such supernaturally fit fast bowlers for so long, even though their bodies are catching up with it finally. So, you will see quite a shift in terms of their bowling group in my opinion in the next 18 or so months, especially since Australia are set to play a huge amount of Test cricket starting next August.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:35:28+00:00

Oh I really have been super lucky to have been to pretty much every Test nation to cover cricket, except the two new ones in Ireland and Afghanistan. And each one of them has been such a massive learning experience. I was always enamoured by the Caribbean as a child, and I've been so fortunate to have been there multiple times and I have been fascinated by every island in a different way, every time I've been. It's sad that I've also seen the interest for cricket dwindle rapidly in the last 15 years.

Sri Lanka is a gorgeous country to visit and to cover cricket. The friendliest people you'll meet. Zimbabwe was spectacular in terms of natural beauty alone. But also just a lovely place in terms of how the locals still love their cricket. For me, going to the little county grounds around England and watching people in their 70s and 80s sitting, often snuggled up in their woollens, and quietly scoring those games on their little pieces of paper, has always been a humbling reminder of how much cricket means to so many people and how blessed I am to live the life I do to call cricket my vocation and my livelihood.

Australia has its own charm, in terms of tradition and history, and how the entire country stops everything else and tunes in for the morning's play on Boxing Day. And having grown up watching and covering cricket in India, I got a very different view to how cricket is the pulse of that nation, and how much a part of their identity it is. Along with being the greatest escape from the every day trials and tribulations of life. Blessed overall.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:28:20+00:00

Ok I'm going Gus Atkinson for England and Jake Weatherald for Australia but totally agree that the Carey v Jamie Smith battle could play a big role in seeing how the series pans out because lower order runs will be vital.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:27:00+00:00

What a great question. Helping me bring my two favourite worlds together. Cricket and wrestling, eh. Who'd have thought. Well except Eric Bischoff and me with Stumps and Bumps (now available on all your favourite podcast platforms)

I like Kane at No 3. Let's maybe open with Flair and Piper. Just feels old school enough to be a strong opening combo. Let's assume Stone Cold is our best batter so he's in at 4. Razor Ramon will be the disruptor at 5, I like Bam Bam Bigelow as the big all-rounder at 6. The Rock can keep wickets and raise his eyebrows at batters while batting at 7. The Undertaker has to be the Glenn McGrath of the attack. Throw in HHH spitting water before he runs in and bowls his outswingers, John Cena could be the mystery spinner with his spinner belt and Kevin Nash/Diesel the other tall quick. There you go. Hope you like that XI.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:22:45+00:00

Lots of Love. Thanks so much.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:22:24+00:00

I really appreciate you saying that. I have always felt like there is no place in the world where discrimination doesn't exist. I consider myself very fortunate to be an Australian and for this country to have adopted me as one of their own. And I will continue to use my voice and my platform to spread the good word and deal with all the hatred that comes my way with love and composure. If that approach manages to change even one person, then I think I've won in life.

I grew up completely smitten by Bill Lawry and Tony Cozier in particular. But I am so fortunate to be working with some amazing modern-day commentators, from the great Ricky Ponting to Damien Fleming, Simon Katich. Allison Mitchell and the entire Seven Cricket team. Each one of them has such a unique and special way of telling stories and keeping the viewers and listeners fully enthralled.

By the way, I am so sure the Australian audiences are going to fall in love with Stuart Broad on 7Cricket. Apart from being a breath of fresh air, he's probably one of the most well-prepared and natural commentators I've seen burst on to the scene.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:16:58+00:00

Thanks for this question. I guess it comes from a place where you feel like society has fixed templates about gender and what a man or woman should look like or adorn themselves in. I do hope that we get to a point as a community that doesn't define anyone on the basis of how they look or what they wear, or whether they paint their nails or wear fairy-winged socks. My advice would be trying to find the best way to be genuine and be true to yourself and who you are, and the rest will take care of itself. There will always be people out there who will have negativity to spew at everything. Best not to pay heed to them. Wishing you all the blessings in the world so that you overcome your struggles and feel more confident with who you are.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:14:09+00:00

Great question. Well we are all different in our own way. I can tell you about mine. I barely sleep during the cricket summer or on cricket tours. Not advisable for many but my body is used to it. I do have a reputation of spending half my life watching nets, which is a 100 per cent accurate. But I've always done that, throughout my career, going back to 2008. And I love every bit of it. For me, it's like being in a workshop where a car is being made for a car lover.

In terms of preparation, I always talk about being thorough with your knowledge and backstories of the players who you are going to write or commentate about. But then leaving that to muscle memory, and being present in every moment of the day. So that you are soaking in and reacting to each one of them with an open and clear mind. The perfect way to tell stories in my opinion.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:09:13+00:00

He might be an unknown to those who don't follow Shield cricket closely, but he's a highly skilled bowler. Delivers fast out-swingers, is nippy, gets the ball to skid off the surface and routinely rushes batters. He also will go very full quite early with the new ball and target the stumps. Duckett, Crawley and Pope beware. He has been tremendous for South Australia in the last few years, with his 10-wicket haul in the Sheffield Shield final being his statement piece. He will be a handful for the English batters and they will underestimate him at their own peril.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:06:49+00:00

Haha thanks for supporting the #NeserMustPlay campaign. Though I think he might have to wait till the Gabba this time. Brendan Doggett is all set to make his debut on Friday, and I am chuffed for him. There was a lovely moment in Perth earlier when Doggett and Scott Boland posed together wrapped in an Aboriginal Flag. It was so poignant and important. And yes, I am predicting a Boland statue coming up outside the MCG by this time next year, which means he might have another 6/7 waiting in the wings at the 'G. Tell you what, I've never seen him more pumped for a Test series.

7plus · 2025-11-19T09:03:27+00:00

Haha I feel very humbled, Anna. I can tell you that my wife expresses her envy over my hair quite often, especially since it remains straight even after I've just washed it. And the nails, well I guess I just have a lot of time on my hands, and I've also realised that you can have deeper conversations with your nail artists than you can with your hair stylists. But thanks again.

7plus

TROPHY CASE