Test Match Special - Inside the Women’s T20 World Cup: Dunkley and Jones give us the goss!

Episode Date: July 4, 2026

Head inside the England camp during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. England World Cup winner Ebony Rainford-Brent speaks to batter Sophia Dunkley and wicketkeeper Amy Jones about featuring in Vogue magazine, as well as their funniest cricketing moment and which England legend was once Jones’ landlady?You can WATCH this episode in full on BBC iPlayer just by searching 'Test Match Special'.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. How did a boycott Jimmy become a billionaire from posting videos? On Good Bad Billionaire, we're going to find out how the world's most popular YouTuber, Mr Beast, made his fortune. He's buried himself in a coffin for days. Counted to 100,000 on camera. And even recreated squid games, all in an attempt to go viral on the internet. But it all started when he gave a homeless man $10,000. So is he a philanthropist reshaping capitalism?

Or is he just the king of the attention economy? Find out on good bad billionaire. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Test Match Special at the Women's T20 World Cup. I'm Ebony Rainford Brent, and today we are behind the scenes with England's women. And today we're getting to know the amazing Sophia Dunkley and Amy Jones to get to know you both. First of all, sun's out. Are you guys a tanner? Are you sun worshippers when the sun's out?

I am. I love the sun, yeah. but it's a t-shirt tan. Yeah, classic t-shirt tan. Like cricket, proper cricket tan. Cricket tans are the worst. For anyone doesn't know it. Obviously, the clothing, you always get the tan down.

Okay, I want to break the ice a little bit. So I want you to both give three words to describe each other. Oh. It's just people not for cricketers. You go where you want. Amy, I'd say, kind, funny and very talented. two words but talented very talented oh you're welcome for dunks thoughtful I would say funny as well and I'm trying to think a cricket one now I reckon dynamic this is a lot

of love here guy I mean this is proper emotion I should say irritate it amazing all right we want been to get to know you both a bit. Clearly very nice people at the moment. I would have been a little bit more savage. I was going to say, funny. Are we talking 10 out of 10? Are we talking sort of... No, funny.

She's funny. She's funny. All right, let's talk a bit about your journeys, first of all. Dunks, I've heard it, but many people haven't heard how you got into cricket. I know you and your neighbour got stuck in as a young kid, but give us a bit of the journey. Yeah, so I say my first kind of introduction to cricket would be in the cold where I grew up, paying my next-law neighbour, just literally in the street. and yeah we just used to like chalk up the fence with some wickets,

hit a few windows in cars, but just kind of found a love of just hitting the ball and I'd be out there for hours, just, yeah, loving it really. So that was like my first introduction to it. And were you one of the only girls as well, like when you started with your neighbour and then did you get into club cricket? How did that work?

Yeah, so yeah, I used to be one of the only girls at the club that I used to go to. So with Zach, when I was like 10 or 11, to probably like 20 other boys there. And then I joined the girls club like a year after, but yeah, for a while, just me and the boys. So, yeah, it was fun. I enjoyed at the time, but obviously,

you do feel like an outsider at times, and the teams are always saying, oh, like, don't get the girl, get you out and all that kind of stuff. So, yeah, it was nice to kind of find a girl's club where you feel connected to the people and everything. What about you, Amy? What was your early days into the game?

I think mainly just playing a lot of sport, generally, as a kid, and then sort of got into cricket because I played a lot of football and the people I played. football with played cricket so it was more yeah like similar to dunks like influence from friends and then just got pretty lucky really in my local club like five ten minutes away had already had like a good women's and girls section

which is kind of like quite special really considering like back then there weren't many so very lucky that sort of fell into that but also just enjoyed like most of my friends were boys so still played a lot of boys cricket growing up which I think was quite cool as well but good to have both options yeah and what are you you guys liked, I had three older brothers, I was quite competitive when I played with the boys growing up. What were you like when you were sort of one of the girls playing in the boys' teams or playing with Zach? How did you find that? Yeah, I think, I didn't really think about it being, kind of normal for me, so I just kind of got stuck in really and yeah, I guess

the other teams found it more intimidating because I didn't want to get out to a girl. So yeah, and I was so lucky with the people that I was with that they included me so much and they celebrated me and they loved having me around, which is really great. So, yeah, I just tried to get stuck in, really, and get competitive and just felt really good and they hit them to falls. Got a lover four. What about you, Amy? Yeah, very similar.

I think it's quite funny. I think in the team that you're in, like, all the boys I played were very supportive, very protective. And it's only really, I think, yeah, opposition teams really where you kind of think, oh, it becomes more of a thing or teams without girls in, really. So I think once you're stuck in with a team, I was very, yeah, well accepted, which was cool. Amazing. about now you guys are living the dream as professional athletes. What have been some of your highlights as players so far? I mean, you've been part of World Cups, you've travelled the world.

What have you enjoyed the most? Loving travelling for me as being really fun. Getting to see so many different places in the world and travelling with some of your best friends and creating those memories, I think it's been really awesome and also kind of meeting people around the world that maybe wouldn't have crossed paths with, yeah, I think the connection part of the sport has been really fun and, yeah, just sharing those memories. And like for us this summer's another amazing time. where hopefully creates some more memories. And I think obviously sport and cricket as well,

like there's a lot of outcomes. But at the end of your career, the things you hold on to, probably aren't, you know, how many runs you get, but more just like what you did and the people you met. So, yeah, I find that really special. Yeah, I think connection's a huge one.

It's got to be the best job in the world, hasn't it? Like Dunk says, travelling round with, yeah, a group of friends, basically playing a game for a living is unbelievable. I think the, I guess, the things that stand out, you know, evening games at the Oval, places like that where it's packed out, you can see sort of, yeah, the impact you're having on people as a team and, yeah, how much they're loving coming out and watching you. And when you get the win, sort of the elation on everyone's faces as well as looking around the dressing room, I think it's really cool how,

yeah, the impact you can have. You mentioned friendships a moment ago. So Catherine Siverbrun, who we all know, former England cricketer, I heard a rumor. that she is or used to be your landlord. Is this true? Yeah, a long time ago now. But, yeah, when we were at uni, Nat and Catherine together bought a house and we all lived in it and got.

So me and Beth Langston at the time, we were, yeah, I guess they were our landlord. So we got mates for eight. They looked after us. But yeah, I've since flown the nest and my own life. Was it carnage? I mean, if I lived with a lot of the other cricketers,

I mean, it'd just be so fun, but it'd be kind of. Yeah, it's funny. It's like all we've, all we've known, because we literally since uni, yeah. So we just, all, we lived together for so long. Like, I really think we, yeah, we clung on to that. But it was great fun. Yeah, I think we're quite good at switching off. So there wasn't loads of cricket, cricket chat, but it was, I just remember it being so much fun. You live with any of the girls or? I live with some of the, like, the domestic girls. Oh, yeah. Tar and Nora. So he fell or cowed. I had a, yeah, a good dinner at uni, which is really fun.

I can imagine. Yeah, it's good times. well. Say some of those stories for the next one cast. All right, let's talk a bit more about some of your cricket. Well, first of all, you were the first black one to play test cricket for England. How did that feel? Did it mean anything? Did it not?

Did you even know? Like, what was that? Yeah. Well, yeah, it's funny because, like, the day of the game and stuff, I didn't really know that that was, yeah, the case on the day. I was obviously like just nervous. Davey, just trying to watch the ball. Going to be here for four days.

So, yeah, I think at the end. the day kind of found out and I think it's something that more reflected on like as the game finished and I kind of sat back and realized kind of what a cool achievement it was and yeah I think you know obviously when people you hear that you've inspired people you don't really kind of feel like you're doing that by playing but I think kind of sitting back and reflecting on it was really special to kind of feel that and just to know that it does make an impact which is great and and hopefully in the future it's just like so-and-so plays test cricket fringling and it doesn't have to be a massive deal around it but I think the fact that it is inspiring is really great and yeah it's just a really nice memory for me

sit back on. And you've got a few good memories as well. 2018, you made your way into the T20 World Cup in the West Indies. I hear there's a story to ask about how that all came about. Tell me about it. I don't know. I heard there is one. Was that your first... Was that her first call-up? Yeah, it was that your first call-up?

I mean, you tell me. What was that like? Was that your first... Yeah, well, I don't know what the story is, but I remember... I remember getting a call and being very, very shocked. It kind of... I've kind of been around the group for a little bit training, but in no way that I think that I was ever going to be in the squad.

So I don't know, probably saw on the phone to Finchie at the time when he told me. I think he said something like, oh, I hope you're passports in date. And I was like, what the hell? But yeah, it was, yeah, it was, yeah, out of the blue for me. And obviously I've been playing with so many stars at the time. I kind of, I suppose kind of make my mark a little bit in that and coming off the back of that. So, yeah, it was just, yeah, it was a whirlwind for me. But, yeah, absolutely loved it.

And such a cool place to play cricket in the West Indies. The crowds were amazing. and we got to the final as well, so really cool experience. I think looking back, like, yeah, I didn't really take that all in, to be honest, but yeah, really another great memory. The story stars was the Little Mix era,

was it? Do you remember the song Power by Little Mix? We used to be obsessed with it. Yeah, this team were obsessed with it. And every day they were like, Epps, can you get Little Mix to come down and sing to us? I was like, no, it's not going to happen. We used to love that song.

You guys loved that. So yeah, that was the Little Mix era. I got you into the England squad. The power is. Amy, what about you? When was your first World Cup, T20 World Cup, because you've been in the squad for a little while, but when would your first have been?

T20, yeah, so in 2013 I didn't play and I ran the drinks in Sri Lanka. That was very cool. And then I think I got called in I got called in to play the game before the semi-final and then the semifinal and the final. So it was quite, yeah, a bit different, really,

not playing the lead up to the big games. but obviously back then I was a bit in and out of the team sort of just batting only obviously with Sarah keeping so yeah it was a bit different I think it was cool to I couldn't yeah I remember you know the semi-final and the final in particular just I've been so young I think I don't know I think you feel nervous but also not overly I don't know really just sort of excited to be there and just sort of happy to be there really so it was yeah cool it was cool experience

From BBC Radio 5 Live. How did a boycott Jimmy become a billionaire from posting videos? On good, bad billionaire, we're going to find out how the world's most popular YouTuber, Mr. Beast, made his fortune. He's buried himself in a coffin for days. Counted to 100,000 on camera. And even recreated squid games, all in an attempt to go viral on the internet. But it all started when he gave a homeless man $10,000. So is he a philanthropist reshaping capitalism?

Or is he just the king of the attention economy? Find out on good bad billionaire. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Talking about that, because it's interesting, because for many people who might not know, use a key, but you were one of the best in the world, but you had to sit behind another great that we had Sarah Taylor for many years and you were having to, like you say, sometimes run the drinks.

What was that experience like of having to stay in the squad, have to stay competitive, you're behind another one of the best in the world but you want to be the best in the world it's a really interesting sporting experience yeah definitely I think you know Sarah was yeah the best in the world for sure and I guess

she had a big impact on me and what I wanted to achieve I guess I think sort of chasing the best stands you in good stead so yeah it definitely was always a challenge like can I can I get the gloves it felt

a way off obviously and some of the things she did were just unbelievable so yeah I think a great role model to to have and to aspire to be as good as but yeah different different challenges I guess trying to break in with my batting was yeah up and down played some didn't play some so a bit of a roller coaster so to sort of yeah once you know when Sarah retired to sort of get that consistency sort of really felt like I guess almost the start of my career really really like with that consistent element of it. How does it feel being one of the best keepers in the world now? That's pretty insane.

Yeah, well, yeah, it's great to have the gloves for England, I think. It's a huge honour. And something that I just absolutely love. I think, you know, you're in the game. Every ball. And I think it poses different challenges. Being the only keeper in the team, I think, is cool. It's exciting.

It's like sometimes I feel like I get a lot of pressure. from the girls because they just can't imagine being the wicketkeeper, I guess. Sometimes it's easy wins like that, which I quite like a pat on the back. But then obviously has its challenges as well. It can be pretty hard. But yeah, as I said, it's a huge honour, of course. You both are batters who like to smash it. Like, is that something that you've always enjoyed just hitting the ball far?

Or is it something that you've developed? Yeah, I think for me it's something that I've always enjoyed and probably like the raw, me growing up as a youngster was someone that always just wanted to whack the ball and that was just my instinct really so every day I play just try and whack it so I think that's probably one of my strengths now but for a while it would probably a little bit of a weakness

because then they went to rain it in a bit but yeah I think obviously when I do play for England opening the batting is something that I love to do and it gives me kind of a licence to take advantage of that power play and yeah I find it really fun I think I'm a bit different and I'm not a big six hiter

oh you've hit some big balls like to me Well, I like to joke with Heather, that it's their accidental sixes. I think that's the key for me is not trying to do it. If I try and do it, it all goes wrong. Everything, yeah, everything's all out of sync. But, yeah, I definitely love timing the ball and always, yeah, you know, hitting a boundary is a great feeling. But yeah, it's pretty cool to watch.

So the power that we've got in the team now, and, you know, most of the girls, Dungs and Cleveland, obviously, can clear the ropes with these. So, yeah, it's really exciting time to, yeah, I guess. Are you all in the gym for the gun? show these days. That looks like she's hitting smoking, I'm you in the gym?

Oh yeah, in the gym all the time. On the bench press. On the bench press. Okay, a couple of other things I wanted to ask you. Fog shoot. Oh, yeah. You were a little bit delayed coming into me yesterday and I heard that you might have been just getting top up.

What's it like being in phone? Yeah, it was a really, really cool experience. Obviously, something that doesn't happen every day. Going to Lords was slightly different. different thing this time. But yeah, it's awesome. I think sometimes we're not natural models, obviously, with our athletes,

but we had to turn it on for that day. Turn out of the world. Get it full of the instructions as best we could. But yeah, I think obviously such an iconic magazine and it's really cool and getting cricket in that is just amazing. I think, you know, we're talking about cricket and how I want it to be cool and be something that people really want to get involved in.

And it's like, you know, how football is viewed as and stuff. So I think just having that is amazing. And yeah, it was just a cool experience. A lot of cameras and a lot of hair and makeup, which is very different, but yeah, it was great. Did you see yourself strutting the catwalk? Oh, I don't know about that. We're in cricket kit, so it's quite familiar. I thought we might be in some kind of fancy dress or something, but that it's good, it was really good.

What was it like in the changing room was everyone having a good giggle, but also loving it as well for the girls? Yeah, loved it. Yeah, it was such a cool thing for them to be a part of. I think we, yeah, I think most of us were a bit disappointed that you're in your kit. You know, we thought we could have some proper... Yeah, I know. I was ready. Ready for something rogue.

Yeah. With something rogue. And talking about this tournament coming up, there's a big team which are often the big rivals Australia. But you're married to an Australian fast bowler. How does that work? Like, she's going to be cheering for you. You're going to be saying no to the Aussies.

How does that work? Yeah, well, she would definitely be cheering for us, I think. Although she, so, yeah, she doesn't, she doesn't shout about that. She probably wouldn't want me to say because she's also very loyal to the Australian. But yeah, she's just retired from cricket now, so hopefully that's, yeah, you know, she's a bit more chill around the competitive side of it. I can't imagine she'll remain impartial, but maybe she'll pretend to. If it's an England-Australia final, I want to hear that phone calls.

I know you're supporting us. Yeah, she will be. Amazing. Right, I got some quick fire for both of you. What was the last gig or event you both went to? Oh, that's a great question. gig. Oh, I went to The Kukes.

Oh, yeah. A bit different. That's so indie vibes, right? Yeah, it was great. It was in Perth, outside venue. Oh, me. Gorgeous, yeah. I think my was Calvin Harris.

Oh, yeah. Really random. It went in Pretoria, he was playing. We had a training camp. So, yeah. Are you a giggoers? Are you? Yeah, we have this event on.

I love to go. We're just very busy, so it's quite hard to piece it all together. But when it fits, absolutely. Between training. Yeah. All right, another question for you. Funniest moment. on a training pitch.

Oh, actually I do have one, but she might get a sad if I mention it. Mention it. It is when Emma Lam got stung by a wasp by a bee and she pulled a trousers down on the pitch.

It was on live stream. Oh, she got stuck on her leg or something. She felt the wasp like in the trousers and she just pulled them down. And like no one knew it was going on and that was quite funny. And eventually. Yeah, I had my gloves on and I was like running over. I was the newest person.

And as I got there, and as I got there, she pulled her trousers in. I was like, I think you've got this cover. If you weren't a cricketer, what would you be? I'd love to be, I would love to be a lioness. I know you can't just, it's not as simple as that. If I had the skill, it'd be cool to play football. I think, yeah, that would be really cool. Have you, have any football coming up through the ranks?

When I was very young, yeah, like under. I stopped when I was 16. and I like to say I peaked at 13. I was playing for Ashton Villa and then slowly was... So yeah, my prime was 13. Dugs? What I do? It's a great question.

I actually am kind of going into the F1 at the minute. So I think working F1 would be pretty cool. I don't know what, but something into it. Maybe not just be in one of the teams. I just think it's really cool. So you both keep into the sport. Yeah, sport theme. All right.

Give us one thing that people don't know about you. Um, I got grade to read trumpet. Oh. Yeah, not very great at it, but... Do you ever occasionally? Well, so the last time I did was... So I played for Sydney Sixes in the Big Bash and we had a big barbecue

and one of the girls had a trumpet, which they brought for me to play. So I played Hot Cross Bonds. Oh! Little rendition. It might be a feature on this. That was the last time it's coming out. So yeah.

If I've got the music, in front of me. I can probably get a tune going, but off the cuff, a bit harder. If we've got the tunes, yeah. I'll give you rendition, yeah. I'm signed up for this. Something we don't know about you. I've not got any hidden talents,

but I'm very claustrophobic. Oh, okay. So I can't go in MRI machines, like, press the buzzer. Get me out. Get me out. Lifts? Like, if it's really necessary, because also, you know, I don't like climbing upstairs. What about the one at this hotel?

This hotel, absolutely not. So I actually got so to come. It's literally tiny. Tiny little thing. And you have to like hold the button down the whole way. Oh, what's a gift? Yeah. You have to hold the button down the whole way.

You like lift up. So it's a bit, it's a bit ropey. Yeah. It's rapy. Not for the faint. She took my bags up. Thankfully. And finally, if you could add one skill from a teammate to your own game, what would it be?

Ooh. I would go Danny White Hodge. I think just like has just steps and hits it over cover with absolute ease. Doesn't even get us over. That'd be great. Yeah, that'd be great skill to have, I reckon. And I'd have Freya Kemp's power down the ground. It's like effortless.

Yeah. She's a big ball. Big ball. I wouldn't mind batting left-handed as well. She's left-handed. So if you could do the sort of switch hit, that would be amazing. Amazing. It's been an absolute pleasure.

Thank you so much. So remember, you can keep up. today with everything around the women's T20 World Cup on the BBC Sport website and app as well as the Test Match Special podcast on BBC Sounds. Guys, thank you so much. It's been a pleasure. Thank you very much. Five life sports.

My favourite World Cup moment. It's the first World Cup I properly remember watching Argentina 78. The ticker tape, Mario Kempes, Ari Hahn's scoring goals from miles out, and always one of my favourite World Cup moments, Archie Gem. great goal for Scotland against the Dutch. What makes the World Cup such a special tournament is the atmosphere, the colour, it is a meeting of the nations

and of people who love football. The People World Cup 2026. Listen on BBC Sounds. How did a boycott Jimmy become a billionaire from posting videos? On good, bad billionaire, we're going to find out how the world's most popular YouTuber,

Mr Beast, made his fortune. He's buried himself in a coffin for days. Counted to 100,000 on camera. and even recreated squid games all in an attempt to go viral on the internet. But it all started when he gave a homeless man $10,000. So is he a philanthropist reshaping capitalism? Or is he just the king of the attention economy? Find out on Good Bad Billionaire.

Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.