The Aussie Ashes squad is in and the countdown is well and truly on. We dive into one of the great unspoken pillars of elite sport: feedback, and how the best in the world learn to live with it.

Across early-morning entries, late-night reflections and a couple of classic check-ins, Mitch Starc and Alex Carey take us inside the mental side of cricket at the absolute highest level.

Mitch opens up about the flood of external attention and how he’s learned over his journey to sort the white noise from the gold. From the best feedback he’s ever received, to the lessons that have shaped a decade of international cricket, Mitch is honest, raw and razor sharp.

Then it’s Alex Carey’s turn. Kez walks us through the aftermath of that Bairstow moment, the noise that followed, and the feedback that mattered most. He shares how he processed it all.

And just when you think the boys are cruising toward Ashes camp… chaos. Mitch takes us into a crucial Sheffield Shield hit-out - a key milestone in his final prep - only for the match to unravel with hamstring injuries to Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott. It’s the full reality of elite cricket one week out from the biggest series on earth.

Lock in. The final countdown is on. And we are in seat 1A!

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Ashes Diaries release schedule. Subscribe to the Howie Games feed so you don’t miss an episode!

Monday October 20 - Episode 1 - Rivalry

Friday October 24 - Episode 2 - Ouch

Monday October 27 - Episode 3 - A Numbers Game

Friday October 31 - Episode 4 - Lights, Camera, Action

Monday November 3 - Episode 5 - Dad

Friday November 7 - Episode 6 - Do What You Love

Monday November 10 - Episode 7 - Nice Garry

Friday November 14 - Episode 8 - Roulette

Monday November 17 - Episode 9

Tuesday November 25 - Episode 10

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s life really like on the road as an Australian cricketer? Mitch Starc and Alex Carey take us behind the scenes.. from airports, flights, hotels and endless baggage runs, to the moments of fun that keep the team bonded.

We roll into Adelaide for the ODI series, where Alex hosts a team dinner featuring good food, better wine… and then a few stories on credit card roulette! Who picks up the tab when the boys go out for dinner?

There’s plenty of laughter, travel tales, and stories from dinners shared with the who’s who of Aussie cricket. Plus, we farewell legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and review the white ball series against India, before Mitch makes a surprise trip to India.

From chaos to camaraderie, this is what life between, during and after matches really looks like.

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Ashes Diaries release schedule. Subscribe to the Howie Games feed so you don’t miss an episode!

Monday October 20 - Episode 1 - Rivalry

Friday October 24 - Episode 2 - Ouch

Monday October 27 - Episode 3 - A Numbers Game

Friday October 31 - Episode 4 - Lights, Camera, Action

Monday November 3 - Episode 5 - Dad

Friday November 7 - Episode 6 - Do What You Love

Monday November 10 - Episode 7 - Nice Garry

Friday November 14 - Episode 8 - Roulette

Monday November 17 - Episode 9

Tuesday November 25 - Episode 10

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the greatest batsmen England has ever produced... and he’s on our shores, sitting down with Howie for a chat that’s as entertaining as one of his cover drives.

From cooking steaks (yes, in England!) to his first job, plus what it would mean to him to share one last dinner with Shane Warne and plenty more.

Before we get to know the real Joe Root, the cricketing genius, the family man, the fun-loving Yorkshire lad, enjoy his Player Profile.

Bring on The Ashes!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.