294: The Science Behind England’s Ashes Preparation – with Lead Nutritionist Charlie Binns

This week, host Richard Graves sits down with Charlie Binns, Lead Nutritionist for the England men’s cricket team, fresh from Perth as preparations ramp up for the Ashes. Charlie lifts the lid on what elite fuelling actually looks like across five-day Tests, why recovery is an arms race, and how his team builds simple, repeatable habits the players will actually use, from colour-coded carb periodisation to the humble banana bread on the snack table. He also shares the months of behind-the-scenes logistics you never see: venue-by-venue menus for lunch, tea and post-match; shipping batch-tested supplements across the world; and how day–night “pink ball” Tests flip the entire eating schedule on its head. Expect practical insights, no fluff, and a proper appreciation for just how physically brutal modern cricket really is. What you’ll learn from the episode Cricket’s true physical demands: why a Test bowler can cover ~50 km across a match and repeatedly absorb ~8× bodyweight through the front leg, and what that means for fuelling and recovery. Tour prep, six months out: coordinating stadium caterers, training-day menus, and freighted, batch-tested supplements, plus how strategies are trialled at home before heading overseas. Match-day fuelling made usable: the role of lunch, tea and all-day snack stations; when to use liquids vs solids; and why simple, high-carb options (wraps, bagels, flapjacks, banana bread) win. Carbohydrate periodisation in practice: using colour-coded days to align intake with bowling/fielding workloads, then ramping to a high-carb taper before the first ball. Refuel like a pro: stacking recovery windows, shakes on the final whistle, high-carb changeroom options, team-room snacks, and evening meals, to reduce soreness and restore glycogen for day two (and three). Day–night Test adjustments: how pink-ball timings shift pre-match, “lunch”, “tea” and sleep hygiene, and the tweaks Charlie makes to keep players alert without compromising recovery. Communication that sticks: nudging over lecturing, tailoring to individual preferences, and equipping S&C staff to deliver on-ground during play. About Charlie Binns Charlie Binns (BSc, MSc, SENr, UKAD, ISAK) is the Lead Nutritionist for the England & Wales Cricket Board’s men’s team. He joined the ECB setup after roles across elite rugby and football, including First-Team / Senior Men’s Nutritionist at Tottenham Hotspur and consultancy with Birmingham City FC. He also founded CMB Performance & Nutrition, serving athletes and organisations from academy to international level. Charlie’s academic route began with a First-Class BSc in Sport & Exercise Nutrition at Leeds Trinity University, followed by an MSc in Applied Sports Nutrition at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. He is SENr-registered, UKAD-accredited, and ISAK L1 certified. Before moving into cricket full-time, Charlie built experience in multiple environments to broaden his practice, from Richmond Rugby during his Master’s to league and academy football, a deliberate multi-sport grounding he still credits for his applied approach in cricket. Within England Cricket’s performance team, Charlie’s remit spans: Tour logistics & catering coordination across venues (training, lunch, tea, post-match menus). Carb periodisation frameworks aligned to bowling/fielding loads and match phases. Recovery protocols (e.g., immediate shakes, tart cherry, staged refuelling) to hit repeat high-output days. He’s been part of touring groups across the subcontinent, South Africa and Australia, and has supported senior and Lions squads in major series and tournaments. Media reporting has highlighted his role in individualising fuelling targets for players during high-demand campaigns. Outside the ECB, Charlie has hosted CPD for nutritionists across the county game and continues to contribute to practitioner development within cricket.