What’s sport’s toughest away day?

BBC | 17.11.2025 22:00

England’s men’s cricket team have won only one Ashes series in Australia in the past 35 years. Why have they struggled, and what makes certain places more intimidating for visiting teams?

Mani Djazmi is joined by Australian cricket journalist Geoff Lemon and South American football expert Tim Vickery to discuss the toughest places for sports teams to visit. Is an Ashes series in Australia a uniquely challenging prospect? How much does playing away from home affect the mentality of elite athletes, and why do some teams and fans seem to intimidate visitors more than others? Is there any truth to the idea of some stadiums being 'fortresses' - and can that backfire on the home team?

Plus, Tim explains why a team that hasn’t qualified for the World Cup since 1994 is the one that other South American countries dread visiting the most, and Geoff considers what England need to do to change their fortunes.

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