Test Match Special - No Balls: 50 Shades of Grace Harris

Episode Date: January 15, 2026

Kate Cross and Alex Hartley speak to Australia and Royal Challengers Bengaluru star Grace Harris. They discuss the scale of fandom around the WPL, opening the batting with India great Smriti Mandhana, and what Australia will miss when Alyssa Healy retires from international duty. Plus, they also play '50 Shades of Grace'.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. The Dakar Rally is the ultimate off-road challenge. Perfect for the ultimate defender. The high-performance defender, Octa, 626 horsepower twin turbo V8 engine and intelligent 6D dynamics air suspension. Learn more at landrover.ca. Al, we've got to wish you a swear warning because you are an absolute potty mouth. Not another one.

And you need to remember that your grandma listens to this. He does. She also abuses me on social media. But don't worry, we beep it out. See, your kids can listen. And Grandma Jean. Now I'm celebrating for crossing. That one was for crossing.

That was a beautiful delivering. The wobble ball again from Kate Cross. And that is such an important wicket. Kate Crossing for the Hattrick ball. Oh, it's so wide. Hello, and welcome back to No Balls, the Greenup podcast with me, Alex Hartley, and you, Kate Cross. Hello, Dante. We got our time zones wrong again.

We did. need to just make a public apology. My internet's rubbish. I'm in a pub on a golf course in Dubai because I'm on my holidays and we have got a guest. And you're on your date of roaming, so anything could happen? Anything could happen. Anything could happen. And if we could do a quick go-fummy page for Alex's phone bill for next month because she's going to need to pay it. Please, thank you. How are you, Rossi? I'm good, Al. I'm good. I'm in Navi Mumbai in the middle of India, doing a little bit of commentary and it is, it's been good.

It's been full on. Is it? It's been good. Yeah, it's been good. When you were like, oh, I'm not at home on those weeks. I was like, where the hell are you? You're like, commentating. I was like, commentating on what?

You're at WPL. And I was like, do you know what? You've got the best of both words. Last year you played in it. Year before you commented. Year after, you commentating. I know. I know.

I'm going like, I'm going commentate, play year off. Commentate, play year off. That's how my theme's going at the minute. So if anyone want to spit me up in the auction next year, you go for it because I'm due to play. Well, not play because I didn't play, but you know what I mean? Yeah, but you got the prize money for winning. Got a nice watch, yeah?

Yeah. Are you fine? I'm fine. Do you know what? I'm on my holidays, post-ashies. Got a little bit of like, have I just done an Ashes series thought process? Do you know what I mean? I saw someone messages on Instagram saying,

which was the worst ashes, the men's or the women? So I thought that would be a perfect question for you to answer. Oh, gosh. The women's, easily. They may not obviously I want to win, but I'm not attached to them. Yeah, fair enough, okay. But yeah, you did what? Did you do eight weeks out there?

And it was just a lot. Yeah, two months. Yeah, it feels like it, now I've left, it feels like it went really quickly. But at the time, because even when losing, there's so much criticism, it was quite a hard tour to do. It was almost like the last week you're counting down the days to leave. So I'm very thankful I have a little holiday on the way home. Nice. And we've just realized, which we didn't know, I think we might have known.

But we both land back in the UK this weekend. Yes, I can't wait to see. I can't wait. You're going to be sick of me because I don't have a job now, Crossie. I've got time off. Yeah, that is true. And I kind of do have a job again. Well, I need to speak to your office call,

but I'm going to have to come and do a little bit of cricket training, so I might actually have to come and train with you. Have you said yes? Yeah. Oh, amazing. Can you tell people? Not yet, no. Okay, right. Well, hold that thought. She's back in the 100, everybody.

Yes. I'm buying for the sunrises. No, I'm joking. I'm not. But yes, I need to... Okay, we'll have a quick chat. We'll have a quick chat. I actually would just want to hear from our guests, to be honest with me, because she's great. Yeah, let's get her in. Okay, everyone. Al, I'm so excited to say that we've got an RCB current player on the podcast. We've got Grace Harris. Thanks for having me. Thanks for having me. Thanks for having me. I should say Australian international as well, sorry. No, no. I like TV better.

That one's fun. Yeah. Nice. How you doing? I'm going good. Going good. Little rest day today. So excited to be on the podcast to do something in Navi, Mumbai.

Something entertaining. Yeah. I did think when Crossie was like, I'm going to ask Grace to come on the pod. I was like, if she's got a day off, he's probably not going to be doing much else. Yeah, yeah. Nah, there's not, there hasn't, I haven't been getting up to too much. But we do have a pretty intense period coming up with three games in four days. So I think a rest day right now is ideal.

So happy to have a chat, really. Yeah, you can have a chat with us about all things RCP. How's your sleep schedule? Because mine is messed up. I have changed my alarm in the mornings to quite later, pretty much midday. It's at 1130 currently. And not often do I actually sleep in that much. But I've been going to bed at about 3 a.m.

Post a good celebration in the team room recently. So at least we've got the things to celebrate, which is enjoyable. That's the one thing people don't see about the WPL is that they put on a party after every game. When or lose, there's food in the team room, dancing, singing, all sorts. And you kind of get sucked into it, don't you? Yep, yep. I'm working on my Hindi and working on some Hindi dances, although I've got two left feet compared to a lot of these girls.

they can dance, right? And I thought, maybe I need a couple more drinks, like, just get better at it, maybe relax a little bit more. But Sri Lanka Patel, she can dance, and Rada Yadav can dance. They love it. Oh, yeah, they love it. But I've never really done dry karaoke before until coming in India. And I was like, no, generally, and crossy, you know about karaoke back in the business

in his place, right? So, no one will know this story. I don't think I've told it on the podcast, but we did karaoke when I played for the heat, didn't I? And Courtney Winfield Hill got me up to do a duet with her. I'm not a singer. I'm not an entertainer.

And just as the song's about to start, she bolted off the stage and left me up there to sing. Was it a hero? I need a hero, that one. Adelaide. Was it Adelaide? In Chinatown? Adelaide, yeah.

We found a good karaoke bar in China. Was it you that sang Titanic? Was that you? No, I think I did Adele, rolling in the deep, maybe. I didn't hear the single note. Of course. But I really love. They're the best karaoke.

They're the best karaoke. We've lost Al, but she'll join us in a minute. Grace, how are you finding RCB? Because obviously, UP last year, well, last couple of years, haven't you? How's RCB? Bigger franchise? Oh, look, I didn't. UP, obviously, very brand new franchise, right?

I absolutely loved our owner there, Janisha. she was such a lovely owner. We had really good management, like good coaches and everything in the three seasons that I was involved with UP. But being a brand new franchise, probably didn't expect how intense the fan base can get. Yeah.

So I think, mate, over my time too, it's a lot more intense than in Oz anyway. So for UP, I even got a burger sent to my room in Mumbai one season, right? How many of you had this year? None this year so far. It just been outstanding, only because I reckon they don't know where we're staying, okay?

But usually you're worried and flags out the front, everything. And I was like, oh, I think we could be a little bit more incognito here. That's hard with the buses as well. I've seen your bus driving around. It's hard to be incognito. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. But luckily, well, this season, you know, previous years there's a knock on the door at 2 a m you know ma'am there's a burger here and i was like i didn't order

it like it's not mine you know like next door maybe but it's no ma'am ma'am it's yours and i was like okay it's some some sponsorship that for you grace you love your burgers don't you yeah yeah yeah didn't mind it but i was just thinking like i've already eaten done my dry karaoke celebration had cake to the face um covered all all the celebrations that you could get and then the burger came up about 3 a.m. And I was just like, who's got my hotel room? Is it a prank? Like, you know, did someone else send this as a bit of a little, little steak?

But R-CV, just, they're so passionate about cricket, aren't they, Indian? Well, Grace, you say that you didn't know the fan base. I've just gone on their Instagram. They have 21.5 million followers on their Instagram account. How did you not know that this was going to happen? I just figured they'd go for the Indian. not the internationals too, but they've jumped on board and I've actually enjoyed it for now now while I'm doing well. Can't wait until I'm at dark. We'll see what happens.

I feel like you're 80 odd the other day that was kind of settled you in. I feel like they're going to love you no matter what now. You could get three ducks in a row and they'll know that you've got that in you, that 80s. Oh yeah, okay, good. Yeah, so just start off on the good foot. Start off well and then you can go downhill. But no pressure, obviously. obviously. Did you enjoy the other evening because it looked so much fun out there? Yeah, yeah. And I must admit, you know, when you said in Com's like, oh, you're going to belt some boundary? And I was like, hang on. I only played one game. Like, ease up. And Belly was swinging it around corners, you know, swinging her from London to Mumbai. And then you're like, oh, yeah, you're going to whack it.

And I was like, hang on a second. They got Shika. And you can also swing it from London to Mumbai. They've got, they've got. She was bowling cross. See him to you. Yeah, yeah. It comes back in, but it doesn't matter. It's still a moving ball. Come on now. They're hard to work with. You've played golf, right? You just have to eat a steel ball and how hard's that? Yeah, Grace, my golf does not go straight either.

That swings as soon as I hit it. See? That's hitting a still ball. I always say to Dad, listen, pipe down, Chachi. You have to eat a still ball off a ground and you still can't hit it straight. So don't come at me when we hit a moving ball. But, yeah, like, it just, they've got a good bowling line up too. And I thought, you know, just with Dots is over, I just, I was thinking like, oh, it's a short boundary.

You know, I've been batten on off stunt recently anyway for a moving ball, just have better access and just see if I can reach one. Grace, you made her cry. You hit her for 32 in and over and she cried. I didn't intentionally. Do you feel bad about that? Should we address it? I love hitting international bowlers. If I was a Australian player, I would have checked in.

if it was an Australian player or a friend. But international bowlers, I'm like, oh, yeah, how it's this? I'm lacking a clubby. I'm lacking a skillful player. Yeah, nice. What's it been like about him with Smitty? Because when she does the toss, Grace, I don't know if you recognise this because you might be warming up,

but as soon as she speaks into the microphone, the whole stadium just cheers and you can't hear anything. Yeah, she doesn't even have to do the toss. She just has to walk out for the toss and the old stadium cheers. You're like, oh, Schmitty's made it to the game. the ground. That's good. She's here. We've got our captain. No need to worry everyone. Our opening batters here.

Nah, she's very, like, I did say to Smrini when she said, when the coach actually tapped me on the shot, it was like, you know, you're going to be opening. And I thought, oh, better face a new bullet training, you know, like, got to have a crack. Well, you said that on comes to me. You said you've practiced with the all ball and not the new ball. Yeah, yeah, well, I didn't know. I always, I was figuring, like, you know, we've got Georgia Vol.

We've got myself, we've got noodle and belly. Now, obviously, we were down Pez, which probably provided this opportunity for me anyway. Like, as in Pez being out probably meant that I was more likely to get selected, especially because there's only five internationals in our, where one short. Yeah, they replaced Paa's with a local girl, didn't they? Yeah, yeah. Same skill set, I think, like, as in the baseballing and batting all rounder. But, like, obviously, Pez is class.

Yeah. There's big shoes to fill. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, good luck. Good luck. Good on you, girl. Give it a good girl. Yeah, no expectations there.

No, not at all. But like, it just, when the coach was like, oh, you're going to open, and then I was like, I'm opening him with Shmitty. So I walked over in the very first training session, she came over. Now, if Shmitty sneezes and you say, bless you, that's about as outgoing as she gets, right? That's a conversation with it. She's one of the quietest, like, introverted people and shook my hand.

She's like, how you going? I'm like, yeah, yeah, good. And that was it, right? We walk out to bat together. And I was like, oh, shapes, girl, like, how good she's smarting out here and whatnot? And she's like, you talk like this all the time. I'm like, so I do it.

She's like, can you just dial it down a bit, Grace? Yeah, but it's working. You've had two good partnerships so far. Oh, she goes to me, oh, I've batted with Danny Wyatt. And so she talks. So I could get used to this. And I was like, yeah, me and Danny might be a bit different. Like, same, same, but diff.

If you carry on batting the way you are, she won't care. Whether you're talking, whether you're quiet, she'll just be like, keeps growing, runs great. Yeah, pretty much. I did say to her, though, sometimes I'm just talking to myself. So don't feel like you have to respond. And then I'll tell you when I'm talking to you, okay? But I'll address you.

Most of the time. Most of the time I'm just like, oh, what a shot. Like, like, was it Deepty the other game that bowled? And she hit it inside out over cover. And I was like, oh, oh, dreams, dreams of that short. That's, I wish I could do it on the offside like that. Like, I've got to hold my shape better. But, you know, that bottom hand comes in.

No, you're not bottom-hand dominant, are you? No, not at all. Not at all. I think you had a free hit the other night, and I was on comms, and they said, where she's going to go? I was like, she'll go to the deep, mid-wicket boundary. yet. And then I got that slow, low, full toss. And I was like, thank you. Because what I was thinking was just anything but wide. Just don't go wide.

I'm not ready for a wider delivery. But got the old slow ball full toss. I was like, that's a dream delivery for a free year. The closest I've ever got to batting with Smitty was in a training session in 2024. And she was doing the, we did like a gameplay situation. So she was captain in the fielding team. And then so she batted later down in the order. So I was batting with her and I was like, oh, I could get used to this, Mr. Ritty. I said, but you're either going to have to bat nine or I'm going to have to bat two.

So which one do you want? She was like, I think I'll stick with one and you can have two. It's good fun though. I don't want to bat with you. Yeah, basically. She was like, you stick to your role, mate. I was like, yeah, that's just me. I actually just bowled at her in the net that season and got her into some form.

Oh, yeah, nice, nice. That's my job lately in the nets too. I've just getting noodle into form, really? Well, you've not bowled yet? What's going on? No, no, I'm not recorded. We've got a few, listen, I'm not like, you know, if stuff's hitting the fan and you know that you just need something to happen, I could either go for 36 or I might get a wicket.

Like, something's going to happen, but we don't know what it is. We don't know which way. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's the fun of cricket. And now that I'm a mystery bowler, I'm a mystery spinner, because no one's really actually seen me bowl for a little while, so I keep using that tagline. You're going to come in a balsam or something? Yeah, I don't know.

Yeah, no. I'm working on my bouncer recently because I've always totally Matthews to it, and I was like, oh, yeah, I could do that. Like, I'm tall. Shriang Cabald won the other night as well. I really appreciate that. Yeah, yeah. And over here, it skids onto your faster, so off the wicked book.

So I'm like, it's actually effective. Like, it's surprisingly quick. And if you can get it right at their head, like, or, you know, right at that helmet crest, it's actually not bad. Like, it's harder to hit for it for to control. So. For anyone that's wondering, by the way, Al's lost her connection.

She's just disappeared. So me and Grace are just having a chat about cricket, which is perfect. But we're going to carry on. We're going to keep going. She's being off at the golf club. Yeah. Oh, yeah.

She was at the golf club, so she's probably, yeah, she's on the third already. Right, Grace, so we've chatted a little bit about WPL, but we wanted to, there's been a certain announcement recently about a certain opening batter

for Australia retiring. And do you, are we thinking this might open the opportunity up for you? I don't know. I don't know. We've got, like, we've got a lot of openers. and a lot of good batters.

But also, do you juggle going back to a person who's already, well, do you go back to an opening batter who's already 32, which is me? Or do you look to the future and then, because you've still got moons opening, so you've already got experience there. Yeah, but Grace, you want to win this world. Australia are going to want to win this World Cup. And if you're in the form that you're in, obviously,

if you're in the form that you're in, surely you might be getting the opportunity. Oh, yeah. Like, I'll take it. So you've not had any chats about it, basically. No, I haven't had any. You've given nothing away. Listen, she's only just announced her retirement. I feel like, I think coach is going to be like, oh, hey, Grace.

Viggies out. Grace's there digging the grave. She's like, getting home. Grace is convinced Healy to retire. We have to pick a captain first. Oh, yeah. You're putting your name in the ring? No, no thanks.

I'm still a pie-fo worker in this squad. I'm still flying, flying. There's no way you're 32. Yeah, mate. Yeah, I just act like a mate. Oh my God. Yeah, okay. Who's this 32-year-old you're talking about?

Is that Mooney? Yeah, it is. I'm still not the oldest, though, in the squad. So, you know, I'll take that. Now I'm back, and I'm back in the podcast. I actually want to know how you find it, Grace, because obviously you're such a good opening batter, but then for Australia you're back in the middle of all.

order. Yeah. How do you find that adjustment? Well, it actually, to be honest, I find it, it actually is a little bit difficult if you're trying to get ready for every kind of scenario or every role. And essentially, within the Aussie stuff, I kind of float too. So sometimes it might not even be, oh, you're only coming in from the 15th. Like in some scenarios, they're like, oh, we're off to a fly. You've got to pat up and you've got to be ready. So I, um, I, find that each one has different challenges so up front right a new ball you've got a it can either seem or swings but you've only got two out so with my power game i often back if i have really good shape and and good shots to the right bowlers then i know that it's only that 30 meter risk that

you're taking because you basically just have to clear the infield now if it happens to go for six bonus but like one mound fours I'll take early too okay like like you weigh it up but it's just so easy so easy cricket it's just so easy it really is so easy and then at the back end you've got changes of pace or you might have like I thought Eccles did really well the other night like changing her plan for instance where you got to think is she going to bowl a really fast arm ball that middle stump or is she going to go wider or wide and slow. So you've got like the variations that the bowlers can execute. And then based on conditions with four out,

you've got to think how you can best either access the fifth pocket or whether you're backing yourself in just to hit over the sweepers that already there or through them. So a lot of the time I find I'd probably do more running between the wickets, not as an opener, but as a number six. Number six, because you're hitting gaps and you're just running, but most of the time your shots can going to get cut off, whereas as an opener, well, I don't know if you've watched lately,

but I don't think there's been any run in between the weekends for all the openers over here. Because you're playing on a 44-meter boundary at one side. And the outfield's lightning fast. So I was going to go through. I've watched Smitty the other night, Edge one, and then she just stood there and I was like, mate, what happens if she runs out down? And she's like, mm-mm, it won't happen. Like, no, I don't run.

And I was like, okay. What do you prefer? Well, if I'm being honest, I've always preferred opening because you get to spend the longest amount of time doing a skill set, right? Like, if you're a batter or if you're predominantly a batter, then you want to bat. Like, the only way that you score runs is by facing the ball. But I can respect that there are better players within the game that can take those spots. So I feel like I just wanted to kind of be a gap filler in cricket.

I feel like you're being a bit humble here, Grace. I feel like you're doing yourself such a big disservice. Like you've opened the bat in for the heat. Yeah. You've done it for Australia. You're doing it now for RCB. Like it's a really good role. I would hate to open the bowling and know that I've got a bowl at you.

But like, if you get me out, you know. Well, yeah, I look like a legend. Oh, yeah. like how bad. Like, you've got to look out at it both ways. Yeah, there's a big cheese, but there's also a big cat. I'm going to, if you hit me back down the ground. They're true.

That doesn't look good. I guess. I just, I appreciate, or like when I play my best cricket, I just appreciate kind of like the role clarity that you have. So with the heat, often, if I'm batting with a Georgia Red main, my role within the PL play was like, I've kind of got to go beast mode straight up, because Reddard holds her wicket,

she takes like no risks or less risks in the game. And so she kind of like anchors innings. And then based on that, it's like obviously moving forward. The game's getting that getting more progressive. So you do have to up your strike rate and you have to start. If there's only two out for six overs, you're trying to capitalize on those six overs. So I think more teams in T20 cricket that play is successful.

T20 cricket are now actually opening with power and people that are willing to take the game on. Yeah. So you've got the compliment. Yeah. And then more your rotators go to like number four, number five. Because if there's a couple of quick wickets in the power play, you then send them in. And then if not, you're absolutely moosing the power play and then you just roll on from there.

And then when the field spread, your rotators come in and then it's taking the game away. Oh, this is Matt Chawley's urgent questions. Your daily dose of political mayhem from the heart of Westminster. Order, order. I call Matt Chawley. I'm a supporter of flags. It turns out time is finite. Government doesn't want to be involved in this.

I do not think the candidates are fruit books. Matt Cholley's urgent questions. Subscribe to the podcast and you'll get the best bits every day from around 5 o'clock. Listen on BBC sounds. Grace, you're talking like a true tactical. Captain her feels like there's a spot available for that World Cup. I just, I like, I like that side of the game, that thinking side of the game. And I can get around when there's a game plan.

Like, with CA, if they want to pick an extra paceballer and a batter needs to fall out, I'm more than happy to go like, yeah, it's me. Because we've got that stacked line up. I don't bowl for CA. A bat number eight. Like, play, you know, Darcy Brown or whatever comes in as that extra baseballer for conditions, but I love the way... So you don't feel...

No, like... There's a reason. Yeah, I won't feel like in a team if we're playing a style of play that I can get around. But if you just keep your wicket, you make 130 every game, you're like, we might beat

some teams, but you're not going to beat the best ones. Whereas I can get around like T20 style cricket when it's, you know, you take the risk here or you line up your particular bowler or you can get out playing a certain style shot and instead of saying, oh, you know what you should do, you should bump that along the ground and run one.

No, you shouldn't. You just execute better because if you want to hit a 60-6 meter-6, you only have to hit the ball out, not up. So, like, what do you do? Miss execute your shot. But play the exact same way next game and we destroy it. So that's how I like it. I can get around that too fair because he's good to watch and I hate watching cricket.

I kind of. If it's the European League and they're on those concrete wickets, oh, I actually love that. You don't watch that. Please don't tell me you watch that. When they kick it for four or like he throws it over the rope trying to save it. Oh, that's funny as. Oh, I love those.

No, Grace, I got asked to play in that this year. I was like, I can't. I actually can't. I was like, is that where my career is at now? You be best, what about Laris rolling over to the CPL and get like leading wicket taker? I'm telling you, Alex, you can do it. You can do it.

No. Why laugh so hard at some of Laura's bowling recently. And then when she actually got a ball and I was like, no chance. Like, this is genuine jokes. No, she's rolling around as an all-rounder now. I think some teams think that it's fine me, not her. And then she shows up and it's like, oh, you reverse the six. That's not great.

Yeah, I know. I'd never seen her bowl before, having played with her for however many years and against her however many years, and then she's getting five for nothing. I've never seen her bowl before either. That's why she's been successful. Crossy, what you've got to do is you just become a mystery bowler. You just don't bowl for two years, then roll back in there like, what's she do? I don't know.

Where do I hit her? I don't know. As long as she hit it. Grace, we've taken the Mick a little bit, but can you please talk to us a little bit about Mitch because obviously she is going to be a big mess for you guys and she's played for Australia for 13 years or so probably more actually

I'll be sad to see her go I guess she's one of the teammates that you actually want on your team and I know that we spoke earlier about like styles of T20 cricket but I can guarantee that she was probably one of the first female players that could I guess evolve the T20 game

the way that it has currently. She used to play the exact same style that we play now, but, you know, five, ten years ago, and it's been so fantastic to watch. But not only that, she's fantastic off the pitch. Like, just some of the banter that you have over the years. And, you know, mid, she's the first one that you want to play for. there's a lot of really good players

there's a lot of really good players in women's cricket but there's sometimes they're not you know that they're they're playing like for themselves or they play just they're keeping their own little bubble but midge she tries to get to know each of her players or the playing group and she can take on a fair bit of criticism at times and stuff like that which has also been

kind of a little bit unfair to see but I just I'll miss it's a big big loss for us where do you think it's come from the retirement because she's still she still is at the peak of the game isn't she yeah she is like she can still she can still bat i'd say yeah well recently i guess she's come out and said um that the injuries and whatnot have probably been that a little more mentally draining. And then if you add in being an Australian skipper, I can't imagine that role's very easy to walk into either. There's so much pressure, so much pressure.

Obviously taken over landing as well. Yeah, and not only just pressure, but I reckon it's probably a lot of admin and a lot of work off the field too, to, you know, think about how the program wants to run or you've got to think about all the series that you've got coming up or what's the best prep to try and win a World Cup, how do you get the best out of yourself

and also the teammates that you're thinking about selecting for these squads? And then if you're going to be even less self-centered, which mid-c is, you're also thinking, what future opportunities can you provide to develop further Australian players? And, you know, how does that, like, there might be some tougher calls made on older players to sit out for a series to play young,

like to get talent in, to get them in off the group. You know, I think cricket Australia have had ruthlessness through their selections for a fair period of time. But, you know, I can't imagine that the Australian women's cricket captain is actually just like a breezy role. You know, you just go in. We're just going to dominate world cricket for the next two months. say.

How are we going to win? You got to, you know, there's a couple of tours, or there's big tours coming up. So a series at home against India. There's obviously the World Cup in England, so it's an away World Cup. There's a series in the West Indies, which is multi-format, if I'm correct. So that's three Wonders, three T-20s and a test match. So that's, they're actually quite draining series as well. They require a lot of energy, a lot of effort.

You know, the Australian women's cricket team, it's prided itself recently on athleticism to try and make sure that you finish those series fully fit or at least be able to give a lot in them. So, yeah, I guess maybe just being that little bit older, me just probably, and I guess she also might have a taste of what life is like. She said that. Oh, yeah.

So she's got to work on a golf because Mitch got a hole in one. Yeah, then I get, sometimes I feel like there might be that time where you know if you're enjoying stuff more away from cricket than you are at cricket, I feel like you should probably pull up stumps then. Like if you have something else to look forward to post cricket field, and it's not to say that you won't miss a lot of aspects of cricket because it is good fun. And, you know, you miss your teammates and on, but. I feel like if you're like, I think I'd rather be on the golf course or I'd rather be here

than fair play. There's enough. Yeah. What was she actually like as a captain, Grace? Because to play against, she is an absolute nightmare. And she's one of those players that everybody actually hated at the start of her career. They're like, oh my God, that Alyssa Healy. Now everybody loves her.

She's actually one of the best people. And we said when she came on the podcast, you're actually annoyingly likable. She was like, I'll take that as a compliment. But what is she like as a captain and as a person? She's just genuine, I guess, with Midge. There's, I feel like you could kind of just say anything. And I'm pretty rogue in a lot of meetings. No, you're not.

Who's told you that? I can be pretty rogue with a lot of stuff that I say. But Midge, she just kind of goes like, oh, yeah, Harry. like, we'll take that on board or I can see your point or whatnot. And then, and sometimes she just might be like, listen, shut up. You're like, yeah, fair black. Well, she's like, you talk too much. Okay, fair enough.

I'll get more to my, I'll get to my point more direct. Okay. But, like, she just brought a good energy and I guess the ability to, kind of like relax off field. So other captains that I've played under have been very intense and very driven and it's like, the on field has to be perfect or that's what you're striving for.

And Mitch still had that drive, but off the field, you could have a drink, you could go out, you could go out, you could, like, genuinely have a good time and it wasn't seen as you're not taking the game seriously or like, you know, is that really your best prep or is that really what you should be doing? It has to be like that now, though, with the way the game's gone, doesn't it? Like, you play so much, you can't be how professional or non-professional cricketers were 10 years ago

because you just eat yourself alive. Yeah, it does. And there's cricket 12 months of the calendar. You basically don't really have an off season anymore. You just find like full week breaks where you might train less. It's a good way of putting it. Yeah, that's how it rolls these days. And, like, you might try and find one tour or two tours where you think,

oh, we're in a good spot here. And, you know, we're six months out from, like, a World Cup or something. So maybe here we get to be more relaxed or have a more relaxed approach about our prep. And then when we get, you know, in the next trip, we're definitely nailing in how we want to prep for the next tour and the next big series. So she's just, she's added a bit more flexibility and, and kind of like you feel like you can have a life without thinking like, oh, another, another trick.

Without being judged. Yeah, it's another tricky. We have to show up and not small and run, run our laps. Left right, left, right, yes, lieutenant. Oh yeah, if that was cricket, I'd be no, thank you. Hey, look, it's a pretty good job, though. I've worked admin, and I think I'd rather than cricket in life. How have the conversations been in the Australian camp since obviously not winning the last

couple of World Cups? What have the conversation's been about the next one? Well, each World Cup, there's been a fairly honest debrief, actually. And there's, to be honest, it's not like we've done a lot wrong. I think we lost maybe one game leading into that World Cup, like the one-day World Cup, for instance. And then in the T20 side of things, it's just kind of about how we can now. We play really good cricket in the round games,

and then we just lose that one game in a semi-weigh. you are knocked out. We can't make it that be our loss. Let's make it in a series or let's see how we can really just get switched on from the get-go, especially in the knockout games. But like the way that we've played cricket and the way that we keep playing cricket is fine. It's now how we can just do it a little bit longer. There hasn't really been dramatic talks about anything.

it's just simply because it's not the end of the world Yeah and if you start If you're judging it on If a loss or if the worst thing that you could do For a cricket thing is losing the semi-final Then we've done poorly But the thing is

If we lost every game leading up to it You'd go hey like we've got problems Yeah Like we're not You dominated the 50 over World Cup didn't you And then it was just that moment in the semi And then that's it You're on the plane home

It kind of it comes down to maybe two, three clutch moments in a game. Like, can we hold it? Can we hold our nerve just out a little bit longer? Maybe we, wait, maybe we mis-executed. Maybe we didn't. But, like, you can't really throw, like, the baby doesn't come out with the bathwater for that.

Like, everything else, everything else is going good, you know? And other things are actually allowed to play really good cricket, though, too. Everyone kind of goes, oh, cricket Australia, you know, you've won everything, you know, you'll win everything or whatever. But England and India now have domestic competitions, they have professionalised setups, they have resources available that cricket Australia women's team have probably had now for a couple of years extra. But so you're allowed to play really good cricket and everyone kind of understands how they

want to play the game now too in this modern version. So sometimes you just got to tip your hat to really good performances. as well. And everyone loves it when Australia don't make it to a World Cup Final and they lose. Sorry to tell you, Grace. Ironix, every straw.

Yeah. Right, Grace, we've been too serious with you. Oh, yeah. We've got a 50 Shades of Grace game and Crossy is going to ask the questions. Our producers come up with this, Grace, it's not weird, don't worry. But it just, grey sounds like Grace,

so. Okay. Oh, yeah, great. Great. Yeah, it's just quickfire questions. Okay, one word. responses direct if you if that's possible for you yeah yeah okay grace you ready yeah radio what's the first song you put on in the change room after a win uh id g a f by dual leaper do you prefer batting or bowling batty what's your favorite burger zinger stacker do you have a

favorite wicket me glanning nice kfc or nando Oh, I'm going on KFC. WPL or WBBL? Oh, that's being harsh. Which pays you more money? I'll go. I'll go WBBO because it's my home, Graham. It's my home.

predictable. She don't mean it. She don't mean it. R-CB fans. She doesn't mean it. She loves you. Al, you missed it earlier. Grace said she didn't realize how big the fan.

was with RCB and I said they've got 25 million followers on Instagram. Took a by surprise. Back to 50 shares of Grace. What is your favourite six that you've hit? Or probably a slog sweep of Eccles recently. Can I tell you mine? Mine was when you asked for a new bat because your bat was broke. Oh yes.

It's for six. Is that your favourite? Yeah. You had asked stuff out, I'll hit it. Was that a Piper? It was, unfortunate. It was all right. Like, North Sydney, that boundary's about 38 metres top.

So I think you could hit a six one-handed. It's 30 meters to the ring. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You take two steps. You're on the boundary rope from the ring. Grace, do you think that there's a grace more famous than you? Oh, yeah. Yeah, these.

Can you name her? Grace Kelly. Yeah, nice. That's a meeker song. Well, wasn't she, is Elvis Presley or is that Grace Land? No. No.

She, I was, I was saying, I want to be like Grace Kelly. I could be brown, I could be blue, I could be violet sky. Oh, great singing.

I like that. Dry karaoke. Yeah, yeah. She was an old, Hollywood actor, Grace Kelly. How have you got that info? That's more... I don't know.

Producer Jack's a wonderful mum. Sydney or Surrey? Oh, Surrey? That's it. Oh. Sydney? Sydney's rubbish. Sydney's like 90 minutes traffic.

Every... Like, Surrey every day of the week. And if you weren't a cricketer, what would you be? Oh, what could I be? A food critic, although only desserts, not like, I don't want any like caviar or anything that's like, you know, fancy, fancy. I could be like a burger taste tester, but no vegan options or vegetarian. Like, I want solid protein in there. I could.

I don't know, actually. If there was a job where you could just talk for the rest of your life, I could do that. Commentator, yeah, sort of. Maybe go on like, have you been paying attention? I love that show. Is it like... We don't have that. No, we haven't.

It's like, you know, they get the news. What do you guys do? Nine out of ten cats does countdown or something. Okay, okay, yeah. Yeah, stuff like that. Yeah. Producer Jack has just asked, are we going to see a Grace versus Food, Grace?

And it reminded me of when we actually did a Grace versus Food when it was the England Academy versus the Australian Academy back in what, 2012 or something? When I was about 80 kilos, every on. We've all been there, Grace. It was Grace versus Holly Armitage to see you could eat the most donuts, and they both got an absolute... 24 donuts in one sitting.

I can do that. Oh, great. They taste so good. And just wash them down with, like, a good drink, and you're good to go. Nothing too feeling, but, like, oh, donuts. Nothing fissy. Yeah, no, they're good. They're real good.

I don't know. What about those spicy foods, like spicy foods a little bit iffy? Like I can try it, but I can tell you right now, I already sweat just standing still. So like, sweating post, a hidden chili. Do you remember when he came to training that time and you'd had your entire face threaded? Yeah. And you were like, it's good, but now my sweat just gets in my eyes. That was, that's one thing I've never done again, okay?

I'm not surprised. I'm sorry. I walked into a beautician and I was like, oh, I'm just going to get my eyebrows on it. And then she's like, oh, get your face thread. And I was like, yeah, yeah. And there's a trainee person on. And I thought, oh, well, it's more development. But you can do it.

You can do it. It'll feel real nice. And then they're like, ready to my whole face. And I was like, it didn't all feel nice. Your face did feel good at training, though. It felt so smooth. It felt good post-threading. But whilst I was threading, I was like, oh, this, better wrap it up through.

Speaking of wrapping it up, Grace, I think we can finish on that note. Yeah, yeah, we probably... Why not? I could only thank you. Thank you both for carrying this podcast that I feel like I was a guest on. It's great to have you, Al. Thanks so much for joining us. Thanks, guys.

Grace, thank you. See you later. How do you dissect that? I actually I don't think I've ever laughed as much in my life and I was off the call for half of it Yeah you missed it She was well funny in that first 10 minutes Al

I don't have to listen back What a hero She's a absolute Do you know what She did an interview post her 85 that she got the other night for RCB And she just said With a massive smile in her face

That whether she's Batting opening, batting six bowling not bowling Fielding whatever She's just so pleased to be playing cricket And she just loves it And that just comes through and the way she plays, the way she talks.

And I think what people probably don't see about her is how switched on she is, like when she was talking about the tactical side of it, you probably don't assume that from her, do you? Yeah, when she's on the player, Mark, and you get her talking about bowling and the tactics of it, she just knows everything. I actually think she would, she'd be a crazy captain, but her cricket brain's so good.

She's an absolute badger. She is an absolute badger. She's great, and thank you for getting around. No, no problem. I just thought on the off chance she might be free because we are in Nabi Mumbai, there's not masses to do around here. And yeah, she was free.

Everyone you can email us on... Noblespodcast at BBC.co.com. Noblespodcast at bbc.com.com. It's so good. They said it twice. They've said it twice. You've really got to go. Okay, you can WhatsApp us on 023-1826.

Or you can text us. 81-1-1-1. 8-1-1-1. Right. Start your message with No-Balls. Bye, everyone. I see you in mine. I've thought. be the best

that you can be. We're going to go out there and lay it all in the line. A 12-yard touchdown run. And skill collide. And the Eagles have beaten the Chiefs convincingly in Super Bowl 59.

Five light for NFL. Listen on BBC Sounds.