England Ashes hero looks unrecognisable after incredible body transformation as he sits next to Masterchef host Gregg Wallace in the fifth Test at The Oval

The former England bowler took the series-sealing wicket back in 2010-11
At 6ft 8in they were an imposing presence before taking up weight training
Follow all the action as England take on Australia at the Oval in fifth Ashes Test

By Dominic Hogan For Mailonline

Updated: 13:13 BST, 27 July 2023

Viewers were left stunned by the transformation of one of England’s Ashes heroes from the infamous 2010-11 series in Australia – the last to see a visiting team win the urn.

The former England bowler was in attendance on Thursday at The Oval as the current incarnation of the squad began their attempts to level the series 2-2 in the fifth Test, with the fourth drawn after heavy rain at Old Trafford.

As a result, having taken the final wicket of the series at the SCG, the former star was the last player from either side to seal an away series win, with Australia now bidding to end that wait at the Oval.

He was spotted by cameras in the crowd alongside BBC presenter Gregg Wallace, most famous for his work on cooking show Masterchef.

The 39-year-old enjoyed a promising career in the game, but found his time ravaged by injuries, with back and knee problems preceding an untimely retirement in 2015.

Viewers were left surprised by the physical transformation of Chris Tremlett, sat with Gregg Wallace (right) at the Oval

Tremlett was a crucial part of the last side to win an Ashes tour as the visiting team in 2010-11

Since the end of his cricketing career, Tremlett has undergone a remarkable transformation

The bowler in question – Chris Tremlett – has since undergone a big physical transformation, after taking up weights training post-retirement.

Tremlett was already an imposing figure at 6ft 8in, but has since put on plenty of muscle to bulk out an already impressive frame.

In fact, in 2020 – five years after his retirement – Tremlett claimed to have put on four stone since his time as a cricketer.

‘I like lifting weights and seeing how heavy I can go,’ said the former England, Hampshire and Surrey bowler back in 2020.

‘I am limited because I did have so many injuries playing cricket and I have to be careful.

‘I am a big bloke but I have a fragile body and the main problem is my back. That’s why I retired in the end. My body was saying no to cricket much of the time.’

However, rather than look to pursue another sporting career after hanging up his bowling spikes, Tremlett is not looking to get into body-building or weight-lifting competitions.

He set up Source Investment with former Surrey cricketer Tom Jewell in 2019, and operates as a property consultant, while former team-mate James Anderson is sitll bowling for England as he approaches his 41st birthday.