Test Match Special - No Balls: A truly DEVINE episode

Episode Date: October 13, 2025

Kate Cross & Alex Hartley speak to New Zealand's legendary captain Sophie Devine as she plays in her last ODI World Cup before retirement. They discuss the timing of her decision to announce that she was retiring from the 50 over format, what she'll do next, and the state she's leaving the White Ferns ODI squad in. Plus, as is No Balls tradition, she tells Crossy & Al what animal she can catch.Alex and Kate also discuss England's strong start to the World Cup, after they made it 3 wins from 3 beating Sri Lanka.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. To embrace the impossible requires a vehicle that pushes what's possible. Defender 110 boasts a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms, a weighting depth of 900 millimetres and a roof load up to 300 kilograms. Learn more at landrover.ca. Al, we've got to issue a swear warning because you are an absolute potty mouth. Not another one. And you need to remember that you.

Your grandma listens to this. She does. She also abuses me on social media. But don't worry, we beep it out. See your kids can listen. And Grandma Jean. First ball, castled. Now I'm celebrating for crossing.

That one was for Crossy. That was a beautiful delivery. The wobble ball again from Kate Cross. And that is such an important wicket. Kate Crossing for the Hattrick ball. Oh, that's so wide. Hello, and welcome back to No Bowls of Cricket podcast with me Kate Cross and you're Alex Hartley. Hello, from the hotel reception, so I'm really sorry about the background noise.

It doesn't sound too bad. Okay, that's good. There is a water fountain currently directly behind me that is making splashing noises and there's music, so it's fine. It's fine. Literally the last thing Jack said before he went off was make sure you're talking to the mic, Alex. And within the first 30 seconds, you've turned around and looked at a water fountain. Oh, sorry. But if I'm my back sauce, I don't want to keep leaning into it.

Anyway, how are you? I am okay now, thank you. I have had a day. Yeah? A day, yeah. A longover day. A big bat hangover day. You did two nights, Al.

We did two in two. It's the award season. You just got to back it up. And I did PCAs on Thursday, Lank's due last night, Friday night. So, yeah, big two days. And you're 34 now. So that's, you've got a two day. hangover, but you're off on holiday tomorrow. No, not holiday tomorrow. It's a summit tomorrow.

Well, it's a holiday. It's not a holiday. It's a working holiday. I've been on those summits, I know. It's going on a holiday. It's a working holiday. Oh, whatever. You can't tell people it's a holiday because then everyone I want to be a PCA rep and it's a sacred. It's a secret. Well, technically, it's my last summit out, because I'm England PCA rep. I'm not an England player from October 31st, so it's my retirement one. Oh, my, make the most of it. Wait, let me just be really clear on that. It's my retiring from my PCA role.

Yes, yes. I'm not retiring from any headlines. Before there's a headline, I'm not retiring from cricket. I'm retiring from being the PCA rep. Yes, yes. But other than The Hangover, how have you been this week? Yeah, it's been okay, actually. It's been a nice week.

I always think this is the best week of the season. It's not because cricket's better. I always love the awards, like part of the year. So it's always really nice. Yes, it is. It's always a really good week. But I can't do them when they're back to back. So I don't know how you've done it.

They always seem to be back to back though. I think because if it's fallen a bit later this year, so this is the year it shouldn't have been back to back because normally it falls around my birthday, which was last Friday. And it's been late this year because Josh Behanan got mad. married so the Lanks one got pushback and then the PCA one got pushback because of Josh Bahanan well yeah because otherwise there'd be no Lancashire players there oh I thought he meant just him

no he's his friends generally are in his cricket team so that's how it works normally yeah yeah yeah I see I see I've had a long day well but then the PCA one was late because the England men flew out to New Zealand so they based it on on their travel time so anyway it somehow ended up being back to back on the year it shouldn't be back to back but anyway I'm here I've survived it and I'm okay you've got through the day it's currently 7 p.m. at home and you can go to bed in the next 45 minutes I didn't brush my teeth until 3pm I was that bad oh my god I couldn't I couldn't face the world that's how bad it was it's like that time I was with you and the thought of brushing my teeth made me sick oh yeah anyway how are you I'm good thank you I'm good I'm good I'm having

some troubles out here, Crossy, when it comes to visas and whatnot. We spoke about my visa coming through on the last episode. It turns out it's been rejected. So I am off to the High Commission apparently on Monday to get that sorted out. So we shall see what happens.

But at the minute I'm in Colombo and I've just watched England win a really good game of cricket again. Well done, England. They're top of the table now, aren't they? We are top of the league, so we are top of league. Yeah. Yeah, because we are three from three in Australia. Obviously had one rained out. so yeah another great day for the girls crossing it didn't make me laugh but i found it quite ironic

that you spoke about england having a really good run of games now and then they thankfully had heather night in their team against bangladesh but bangladesh proved to be a much more challenging game than you led everyone to believe yeah as i got three really easy games don't worry about it guys we'll be fine we'll be top of the table australiav had one rained out the bangladesh game was when you look at the scorecard it it was it was you look at the scorecard it It wasn't a rips norther, but in the moment when England were losing wickets, and Heather Knight was 16 or 53 balls or whatever, 16 or 51 balls, we were like, no way. We knew Bangladesh had a brilliant bowling attack, but we didn't know.

They'd cause so many problems. It was a slow pitch as well, wasn't it? It just looks so hard. Yeah, yeah, and Charlie Dean, to the rescue. Yes, well about it, Dino. She's done that a few times for England now. I remember she had a couple of good partnerships in New Zealand with Amy Jones. Was one not with you?

No, I don't think so. I made that up on Combs then. Okay. But I guess that really does go to show Heather Knight's worth in this team, isn't it? Like when she had that injury, how many months ago and you're, you know, is she going to make it? Is she not? That's why you give her the opportunity to have all the time in the world to get fit because she's such a key part of that batting like that. Yeah, exactly.

And even today, she didn't get like a 50 or whatever, but she just loved. looked really good and she played really really nicely she'll be frustrated when she got out she gloved the ball which is really annoying one of those on a review that you might get away with it you know because it just it just brushed a brush the knuckle i wanted to ask you about the crowds because i what i'm seeing on tv doesn't look great is that accurate yep absolutely accurate although today there was six and a half thousand in um oh nice okay yeah so there was a few in today It built really strangely about 7pm, more and more people came in,

about 1,500 people came in, I guess when people have finished work or whatever. 6 and a half today. India, Australia, is sold out, and India England has sold out. So I think... Did see that. The India games are doing really well,

and they're bringing in the crowds. Obviously, the Indians love Elise Perry because of the WPL as well. But yeah, the crowds have been disappointing. They weren't originally free here in Colombo, and now it's free entry. Okay. Yeah.

Yeah, I was just watching it on telly today, and I was like, it's just such a shame that, like, this is the pinnacle. This is like our Olympics, and it's just not quite been sold to everyone the way that it maybe should have been. I can tell you, it's still loud, obviously. Yeah, obviously. There's one thing I want to talk about today's game, and I came off my long run on TMS Crossy because it really, really f*** me off. Shamari had to passu

got a stretcher like full stretcher four blokes carrying her off and I was like well tournament's done she's on a stretcher she comes back out to bat she had cramp

yeah I did see that well I was having a snooze and I heard Natalie Jamano on commentary saying oh this doesn't look good and I kind of woke up and saw Chamari on the floor so I was like oh that looked like

it looked like a back spasm at first I was like oh gosh she's not moving well and then an hour later she was batting again and I was like oh okay does she not get embarrassed I had secondhand embarrassment for her someone emailed TMS saying she should have got stretched back out to the middle I just think I think if you go off for cramp which you can do it's part you can do that you've got to walk off you can't get stretched off like did Glenn Maxwell against Afghanistan had cramped the whole way through is like a salmon out of water

I do feel, I know you've got really wound up by this but she might not know what cramp feels like it might be the first time she had cramp we don't know that so it might have, it is painful cramp the stretcher does feel extreme but I feel like yeah the stretcher was extreme

but I feel like if you're not sure what you've done you're going to listen to the medical advice around you it was hilarious and then she ran the quickest single I've ever seen her run when she came back out Well, they've got a good medical team and the Shrinkins

Right, her and Gulberdeen from Afghanistan They've got the same one Yeah, that is Stephanie Taylor used to be a big one for that Didn't she? She'd always get carted off the field And then come back out and play Yeah, it just gets to me And I needed to get it off my chest

With somebody that we'd listen So it's there I feel embarrassed for And if she's not embarrassed, then I need a bit of her confidence Yeah, well I hope she's okay she's fine good

you got cramp cramp's bad yeah you've had some bad cramps terrible cramps I wasn't allowed to go back on the pitch for cramp I was gutted I'd board my ten overs

and they were like no I just stay off I was on Southampton in the ashes I got a little thing that I wanted to bring up very quickly but do you remember on last week's episode someone mentioned that hen two fingers was mentioned on a football podcast yes it is them

Oh, really? So two fingers if you play in the drinking game. There we go. Yeah, so it is, I'll message them and I was like, please, can you explain what's going on here? And they said, literally it's nothing fun, but I've been getting into this podcast called football clichés. It's about the language of football. And I sent a question in, and they read it out. And my friend Jake also appeared on it once and mentioned me by first name, but my ties to football cliches and nowhere near as strong as my ties to no balls.

That is correct. correct 10 two fingers and the only thing I've got on my sticky note crossy is you're just picking up more awards darling I know oh last night was really lovely actually I really wasn't expecting to win anything because I've got emma lamb in the same team as me and she absolutely cleared up she won player of the year at the PCAs and obviously one player of the year for lanks but I got the like the one that the members vote for which I think is a really lovely award actually yeah that is that's really sweet yeah it was really nice so I had to go up on stage. I had to go up on stage at the PCAs as well,

which I only found out about 24 hours before because Field of Dreams won an award. And Fred wasn't there, and Hoggy wasn't there, so I had to go up. So, always nerve-wracking. Never nice. And you're a PCA team of the year, and you got PCA player of the month.

I'm sorry. It did. Just so many medals. Strong finish to the season. It was good. It was a good year. Yeah, I think it's, I think, Good year, bad year.

Yeah, yeah. Ups and Downs, the ups and downs of cricket. Yeah, yeah. Right, we need to crack on because everyone knows because we've already put a little teaser out this week on the old gram. A divine episode coming your way. That's what Jack told us to say. Yeah, we had to make some puns with the word divine.

I forgot. I just read that message now. Anyway, we've spoken to Sophie Devine. You've seen a teaser. Shall we hear the rest of it? Let's go. 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. Hartley, I'm very excited to say that we are joined by New Zealand legend and Captain, Sophie Devine. Sophie, welcome to the podcast for the second time. I feel honoured that I've been asked back, I thought for sure, won and done. Well, we've invited you back because I actually want to know if you're over the Commonwealth Games pocket yet that England didn't need. No, actually, and I've made sure every uniform since, he's made sure that there's not any little wee middle pocket attached.

Yeah, it didn't go well for us that, did it actually? No, but it made a great podcast episode. agreed so if you're in india we're in the middle of a world cup whereabouts are you uh currently indoors at indoor um we've been lucky we've been here now for i don't even know time just blew us into one but we've been here for about a week or so now so uh yeah ventured out about three times which is a record for me i think nice we're just talking how far about the weather in this world cup has been really quite disappointing hasn't it it's like being in in manchester I was going to say at least

England's got an excuse for having crap weather But yeah it's not what you want I think at these sort of tournaments You know there's a chance that it could come onto it But you just hope that it doesn't affect Too many of the games and points are decided by Not playing rather than who's played Yeah it is a strange one though

And I know so if you're probably not going to be able to say anything Because you're in the middle of the tournament But it's monsoon season So you know what were they expected We've just come out of monsoon season here And I learnt the other day in Guwaharcy where I still am. I feel like I've been here four months. It's only 100 kilometres away from the wettest place in India.

Great. Great. As a player, how do you actually get your team mentally prepared when it is down all the time? I'm probably not the best person to talk to because I've got the attention span of a goldfish. But yeah, I think everyone talks about the cliche stuff down there in terms of being able to switch. and then being able to switch back on and how people do that's real different especially now

this generation coming through like I mean not that you can have phones but they'll be doing TikTok dances and oh I saw you doing a TikTok dance honestly Eden Carson is she's got something coming to her I don't want to give too much

but she is seriously under huge threat so or are you thinking prank or like pain both and I don't care if there's tears actually in fact part of me once a little

just tear me and dancing a very yeah you did it you did it you say that so if I saw you

in that RCB outfit doing some dancing and I thought you I thought you owned it thank you that's probably the only time I've ever beaten Pez at anything before

I'm not saying much though she's not the strongest of dancers but yeah I think it's cool. How people switch on and off is up to them, and that's something that's really big in this group is

you've got to be free to be yourself and express yourself. But as long as when the time comes to switch back on, we're back on, and that's the tough thing, isn't it? They could say, oh, it's 10 minutes, it's 20 minutes, it's an hour. You know, like the other day, at a warm-up game, I ended up having a sleep on a physio table because I'm about 86 and I love a map. A little nun and up.

Yeah, it just makes you leave me alone, but yeah it is it's frustrating but it's also part of cricket i mean you english people know that better than most you know rain's gonna happen at some stage or just the word of worn and hearing giver so they obviously cover the whole ground like they do everywhere else in india and schlanka the announcement we got was game starting three minutes and we were like pardon so they do get the covers off real quick oh it's unbelievable the amount of people that they've got on board though like that's the thing they just come out of all these corners and pockets of ground and you just think all of a sudden there's 300 people on the ground

removing these cavers so they do an unbelievable job like you just couldn't do it in new zealand or or england so let's talk about new zealand for a little bit so you had some warm-up stuff in abadabia against england um obviously disappointing start to the tournament but how's the how's the vibe in the group what was your chats to the girls coming into the tournament like what was the vibe because you technically champions at the world at the minute I mean in T20 cricket, yeah, a bit different. Double it, double it, and you'll get to 50 overchamps. Yeah, there we go.

Yeah, oh, look, I think the great thing about this group is the confidence we did take from last year. Just the belief, particularly in those younger girls, to know that we can win, you know, a pinnacle event. And yes, it's a different tournament, it's different conditions, everyone's 12 months down the track. But the confidence that we've got from that, and I think you can see it in some of those younger players and how they're playing. the warm-up games are awesome for us absolutely you know you want to win those games of cricket but the fact that we pushed England twice

in both those games and then the warm-up games against India and India like the top six top eight batters all got time in the middle we got bowlers got through we started to think about plans and I guess our big thing

with the warm-up games was we're preparing for the World Cup we're not preparing to win warm-up games they don't count for points So as frustrating as it was at times to lose and I think you both know how much I hate losing but you know when you look at the bigger picture the fact that when we turned up here in India

yeah we're in a great space and despite the first up loss to the Aussies the way that we played that game and put them under pressure you know I'm really proud and I think it's given us a bit of a boost in terms of moving forward because at the end of the day

I mean, this is hard for me to say, but you can accept losing if you know you've gone out there and you've really, you know, played well. Well, you can lose in the right way. Yeah, absolutely. And I think any team that gets Australia 130 per 5 and you got, hang on a minute, we're doing something right here.

Yeah, absolutely. And that's what makes them just in a different league is they just keep coming. I mean, what Kim Gath came in at number nine and was laping and bashing us down the ground and stuff like that, you just think, when does it end?

Yeah, I think exactly that. The confidence we get from knowing that when we get our plans right, we can put the best team in the world under pressure, and it is. It's just about, you've literally got to do it for 100 overs. You can't do it for Atlas because what you saw, Ash goes out and scores a ton of 80-odd balls. And, yeah, with the ball, they just relentless.

So, yeah. Great start for you, though. To say it's your last tournament must be, yeah, I'm going to, you know, I'm going to take this team and we're going to do something that's pretty special and I'm going to do it as my bowing out. Yeah, it's funny. Like, people have, a few people have been like, oh, you know, you must be emotional with it being your last tournament. And I think the really important thing for me was that I think because I made this decision so early, like I've had time to process all of it and to go through the emotions and to be sad and upset and angry and, you know, scared. So that now that I'm here, I'm just like, fuck, I just want to go out and play cricket, you know? And, yeah, I guess the position we found ourselves in, which a bat wasn't ideal.

But you don't plan on being naught for two? Well, I mean, for us, you know, it wasn't a plan A or B, but, yeah, like I think, again, that shows the resilience in this group and where we've grown is that we can fight back. The way that Maddie Green, Brooke Halliday, Izzy Gays came out, they were just like, bugger this, we're just going to keep going at you. Great start for you, so scoring 100 in your first world cook game. Yeah. Well, not your first world cook game, sorry. The first world cook game of this tournament. Definitely not your first, about your 100 and first.

Yeah. Oh, look, it was nice, isn't it? I think, cliche game though, but I'd chuck it all in if it meant that we could win that game. Yeah, I think the thing for me is obviously coming in a pretty tricky spot, but to be able to build it with Merely and then to probably counterfeit. punch a little bit was really cool and just to keep back myself in there I think it's probably a funny one because I've played so much with the Aussies against the Aussies you know I know what they do but they also know what I do so yeah it's cool it's just a really cool challenge and

I mean I don't think I've ever flirted as much your shirt was stuck to you I've never understood like the blokes that you know how they do the old helmet squeeze yeah and I did that at one stage and I was just like bleh like like well that thing but yeah like to get through that to be honest it took two days to recover but

yeah I mean that's what you play for do you know what I mean is trying to help your team get into winning positions in India and hard conditions yeah it was cool in a weird way just to let everyone know Alex is never normally this quiet on a podcast but there's a few

power cuts going on in India so she keeps dipping in and out so it's just being soap having a chat really but you're back now al i did say deny on the grief i said just let you know i'm in the middle of the jungle power comes in and out you missed it al but sof just alluded to obviously it being her last world cup and she's had a lot of time to process this we wanted to talk to you about that a bit so if you're happy to chat about it so what was it that made you realize this is the time i guess like looking back to

last year's world cup and sort of going down a similar process in terms of wanting to make a decision early that way I could let the team focus just on the job and I could focus on just playing and leading as well as I could

that was almost the blueprint for this and gets the difference between the T20s and the 50 over stuff is only every four years is the 50 over stuff and I'm sure

not hanging around for another four years I'm told How old would you be at the next one if you went I'd be 40 so I'll be Yeah nice

yeah do it no way in hell like I'd be in a zimmer frame pushing it down between overs but yeah like there's a really tough decision like yeah like I mean cross with obviously what you've gone through lately and Alex you as well cricket's being your life and it's all I've done nearly 20 years do you I mean like I was literally a 17 year old kid rocking up into this white ferns environment and now I'm a 36-year-old kid in the offends environment. And that was a lot of, it was a lot of anxiety for me to even think about retiring because I'm just like, what do I do?

I've only ever done cricket. Like I've been so lucky that this has been my job and this is all I've had to worry about and I love it. But, yeah, that was probably what took the most processing. It was, yeah, what am I going to do without it? Who am I without it? I'm lost. And, yeah, like, I was super lucky.

Like, I've had so much great support from family and friends, but also psychs. Like, my psychologists have been awesome at understanding that and on, yeah, putting me first, I guess, as a person, which, again, as a cricketer, you get told where to go, where to be, when to train, went to bowl, you know, what you have to do. And actually, it's nice to something. Oh, it's weird, mate. Trust me. It's so weird. Yeah, but that was a spuff that took a lot of time to process and to accept was that I'm going to be okay. I mean, I've still got no blue one going to do.

But I'm able to sit in that a lot more comfortably now and be okay and I'm content with my decision, which is a really nice space to be in because I think if I was still a bit like, oh, I'm not sure. Whereas now I'm like, nah, I'm happy. Decisions been made. I can just literally just enjoy it for what it is. but you're still going to play a bit of franchise stuff yeah I mean that's the plan I mean I haven't officially retired from T20

internationals either but sort of have just left that one a little bit but yeah aim is to hopefully play a bit more franchise cricket and just see what happens again like I would just take whatever comes my way not sounding spirit or anything like that but teams please pick me

but yeah there's a new one in Canada there'll be one in Sri Lanka there's loads of it popping up yeah absolutely I'll be I'll be floating around But again, like I do, I feel in a space now where I'm, if I pick up a couple of gigs, that's awesome. I still feel like I've got something to offer in that space. But equally, if I don't, well, that's cool.

I can start the next phase of my life as well. Has it almost given you a sense of freedom coming into this World Cup on a selfish level, knowing that, okay, you can just go out and enjoy it as your last one? Yeah, absolutely. And that's hate what I spoke about with my psych, was now I can drop all that other stuff. Do you know what I mean? And just go out and I can play cricket, which, yeah, it seems stupid because what have I been doing for the last 20 years and I've been playing cricket?

But, yeah, just to have that sense of we spoke a lot about almost trying to manage how much energy I've got and almost trying to tease it out a little bit, I guess, and make sure that I don't burn out. And whereas now it's like, well, I've got nothing else afterwards. So if I'm absolutely carked it by the end of it, it's like, who cares? And I'd much rather be in that space than be like, I've still got something in the tank and I wish I could have given more. It's like, you know what?

I'm just, I want to be carried off the field in that last game because I've given absolutely every part of my mind, body, soul to the game. And, yeah, there's a real sense of freedom within that. There was a really lovely moment when you sang the national anthem for your first game and there was a little photo of you with a tear in your eye. I mean, so if you can't cry before every game, otherwise you literally will be so emotionally drained by the end of it. But you know what?

I probably will. I don't even care anymore. Do you know what I mean? It does. It's such a cool moment. And the anthem's always been a real interesting one for me because I don't sing it and I never have. And yes, it's mostly because I've got probably the worst singing voice

you'll ever hear in a lot. But I've always used that time to think about everyone that's been a part of my journey. And that's probably why I do get emotional, especially now because I'm not going to get the opportunity to hear the National Anthem alongside my mates. playing for my country too much anymore and yeah if i end up crying another seven or eight times then that is it's just because i'm reflecting on just everything that i've been able to do

and the people that have helped me on my way and yeah it probably surprises people that i'm absolute suck and things like that but again i've got to that point in my life and i don't actually give like if people are like oh you're soft cock who cares like i am yeah i um even with national length of now, when England are like in finals or semi-finals, whatever, I'm still like, I'm still like, I don't even, I'm not even friends with half of these girls, but I'm like, oh, that's my team. So that, that feeling never really goes away. And it's been, what's it's been crossing for me, eight years or something. Ridiculous. Yeah. So what Henry said the other day, actually, it was like, you lost your job eight years ago. I was like, thanks, Henry.

I can't believe it's been that long, actually. I know. I know. But this is, it's not about you this one. I was literally about to say that. I actually think so, though, like, you have obviously been such a huge part of New Zealand's story for what, 15 years, or is that? 20 years. About as long as you've been. 2006, I made my debut, so coming up to 20 years, wow. So, like, you deserve to have the spotlight for this tournament. Like, you deserve to have a farewell.

You deserve to have all of it. And Susie will be the same when she decides to go as well. But, like, it's, I think it's really lovely that you know that this is going. going to be your last tournament. Yeah, it's funny you say that because, yeah, I've given a lot to New Zealand cricket, but New Zealand cricket's given me everything as well. And we all know that cricket doesn't always end in fairy tales and you don't get the choice most of the time.

So again, I know I've made it very public that this is my last one, but it's also, I don't want it to be about me. Look, I want it to be about this team and enjoying it. and yeah it's going to be my last one but it should be about what's happening on the park and you can have both you know you can do really well as a team and you can still get a bit of spotlight

yeah yeah oh but I know that's not in my nature but you are you're right but like it is I just want to have that freedom and enjoyment just when I first started playing do you know my first real cup and you're so naive and were you in skirts

yep Colots and Levi socks too actually funnily enough She mouth I mean But do you know what it's like when you know what it's like When you first make those teams Whether it's county or international or whatever

You are so Yeah naive and blind to Everything that goes on Which is a great thing And that's the way it should be In a way how quickly has those 20 years gone for you Now you're like it's over like unbelievable me and sues were just talking about the other day like sort of just going back

to yeah those earlier world cups and you sort of think where's that time gone like 20 years is actually a decent chunk of time like so we've we've been flying long as you've been alive but um yeah to think what how the game's gone in that time like it's almost yeah it's hard to see it is the same game in a way. But how good is it now for you knowing that New Zealand cricket is in a really good space? Obviously, you've won the T20 World Cup, but from my point of view, this World Cup squad that you've picked isn't one that for the first time in quite a few World Cups that you could

have predicted. It's almost like over the last few years, it's like, okay, well, we know 15 players that are going to go for New Zealand. I don't really need to do that research. This time there's new names, there's faces that have missed out. And that must leave you quite proud as well, knowing that it's in a really good spot. Oh, absolutely, and that's probably a big part of why I feel so content walking away is that I know this group's in really good hands and the work that Ben Sawyer and, you know, Liz Green and New Zealand cricket high performance staff, it's taken a while, as you say, you know, it was sometimes I struggle to find 15 names, if I'm being honest, and then here we've left people at home that have got experience, if it played, have had success on the international scene. So the fact we're in starting to get to a position now where we've got depth and competition for places, it does.

It makes the thought of me stepping away a lot easier and happy to sort of hand over the reins to whoever will, knowing that this group, the set up, the structure, the people. To me, I think that's the most important. The people that we've got involved are the right people and are the right people to take this group forward. I know you said you're not too sure what you think about doing next but should we get our listeners to give you some suggestions maybe and we could send them on to you please do because I mean at the moment there is not much that's going on really

I'm a professional to-do list writer so I'm very good at sleeping as well so any mattress testing out there that's sort of the two leading options chocolate sponsorship yeah mattress testing What about a bit of commentary? So if I can see you in the comms box, you like talking. Oh.

You good at talking. I mean, what I'm saying is of any value, but yeah, I do. Like, I love the game and I love, yeah, seeing the strategy side of it, the tactical side of things. Like, I find it fascinating. Oh, my God. You and Katie Martin would be a dream commentary duo with both of you loving the tactical side of it, though, because she loves Hawkeye.

She is net believable though and I don't think me and here I'd lose my shit at her at some say her everywhere and I'd be needing to be marks and ordered but yeah I think that like honestly the funny thing about commentary

is if it was just literally sitting on a couch talking with mates about the game I'd love it. Oh you could do the red button you'd be red button commentary so like on TV yeah obviously I have the proper comms but then the red button is when you go to two

people who are just sat in the living room just doing like your average shows just doing commentary and that could be you and katie that is like it's just all the like makeup and hair and having to dress up and get there early and i just want to talk about the game and have some chips and dip and you know just yum the best thing about when you got to stop playing cricket is that you can have the chips and dip and you don't have to have breakfast and you actually survive it's mental people tell you that you need need breakfast to survive i've not had breakfast for nine years. And you're going to have this like new world, this new Sophie divine world. It's going to be amazing. And that's, do you know what I mean? Like that's a real exciting thing.

It's like that sort of shit that you just don't think about. It's like, oh, what do you mean? I don't have to warm up or I don't have to turn my watch on and track, you know, how fast I'm going. It's like, oh, I don't know what it's going to be like. I have one the other day. So someone, someone was like, what will you be doing next year? Like December and I was like, yeah, I can say yes to things in advance now because I'm going to know what my schedule looks like and I don't have to worry about fixtures and traveling and all the rest of it.

Yeah. Oh, it is. It is. It's a new world which sounds so stupid to everyday people, do you know what I mean? But, I mean, it's been literally mapped out for years in advance. Yeah. God. We'll look after you, if not.

We'll make a space on this podcast for you so you can come join us. Oh my gosh. Imagine that. It really hits the fan. I was going to say that's the last resort, is it? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I'll sub you in for Alex.

Oh, I like this. It keeps me going. It gets me up in the morning. You get to have in your breakfast. It does. So we've asked our listeners for some questions, which are always really rogue, but we've had literally hundreds

because you're a massive fan favourite. But the first one we've had is cricket is dead now. and I presume that's because you're retiring oh so you've got a big fan in showeb I love it thank you show up it's beautiful but I please keep watching

there's lots of people that are a hell of a lot better than maybe it have um caroline has asked who is your favourite franchise and why oh it's a good Christian um well done caroline

you've won yes it's a great one one um that's a really hard one like i'd always say like the strikers and the scorches for me i've just loved playing in the big bash i think being it from the start seeing it grow has been so cool but then the southern brave this year was so much fun like just a great bunch of girls the support from the club just like yeah awesome environment to be from and then ask be it's I don't even know how you explain it Oh you're choking up as you talk about it

It just means so much to me But you know It's one of those That franchise is like You just have to be part of it To realize the absolute monster of a thing it is Do you know what I mean? Like it's just

It sweeps you up That's a great way of this guy It does sweep you up But then they Even like I played a domestic game a couple weeks ago and I got a three-fer and they posted about it. Like they really look after you even though it's been two years. I never even got out on the park for our CB and they're posting my figures from a length game. It's well cute.

It's funny you say that though because I was scrolling through some of my DMs and this is like one of my favorite things. I mean it's not actually that funny in all seriousness in terms of the keyboard warriors and stuff like that. But literally within the space of all messages it had gone from being like, beep beep, beep, you should retire. I beep, beep, beep, beep, beautiful century baby girl. And I'm like, how has you gone from wanting me like tire and never play a game to being like, oh, congratulations. Yeah. Awesome, baby girl.

Beautiful century baby girl sums up DM so perfectly well. Oh, dear. Michael Ingram wants to know what you've done with your World Cup medal. Currently, it's at my mum and dad's house in the second drawer. in a cupboard somewhere. I'm planning on getting it framed with the shirt. I actually need to talk to you about this, Crossie, because I think you've done it with a lot of your old shirts.

Oh, the chair? Yeah, I love that. And I was like, I would love to do something along those lines of just patching together of all the shirts and stuff that I've played in over the years, something like that. I mean, would you want to get it shipped from England because I didn't get it done in New Zealand? Yeah, that's probably a slight issue, and I'm not too sure about, yeah, the old costing with that.

And I'm not quite now with New Zealand cricket, so money's a little bit. But, yeah, I think something like that would be so cool. You know, I don't quite have a pool room where I can put up, you know, a lot of things. But something like that, just to show, I mean, how old I am and how many teams clubs I've been, been around a bit. But, yeah, something like that would be cool. That would be really cool. Eleanor says Did you enjoy the Rugby World Cup

I think she said I think she I saw her Blackburn's game Yes loved it I managed to get to their first game up in York and like I

love rugby I love for Black Ferns I just the thing that was most cool though was going to another sports World Cup as a fan

yeah it's funny when you go as a player like I was like where do I park? I can't just go. Like, where do I go? When I first went and I went to watch Crossie when I first retired,

she gave me a ticket. I had a physical ticket. I was like, where stand E in Roe for? I was like, what do you mean? So you're just so ridiculous, but it goes back to you saying before you get given everything. Everything gets told for your whole life. And then all of a sudden, you've got a ticket

and you're going, how do you be getting the ground? Honestly, I'd hate to think if someone saw me wandering around the stadium, and being like, what, where's the, I don't help, help. Go to a stall to buy your own food. And I was like, where's catering at? I think every time it's going to be really good for yourself. Yeah, but it's so nice.

Like the Rugby World Cup was insane. I honestly got to admit the way that England get behind women's sport and whether that was with the Euros that were on, obviously, just before the 100, the Rugby World Cup, like the vibe they were able to create and the ground swell was just so cool to be a part of. And it's the support for the woman's game is what it deserves. It's not, you know, a token thing. It's not, oh, yay, go the woman.

It's like these are serious athletes playing some serious good quality rugby. So, yeah, I loved it. I mean, there's still a part of me that holds out hope that maybe I could make the Blackfins team, but I'm so far past that and I would get absolutely smashed. I think if you can't do cricket, I'm not sure you're going to be able to get tackled themselves. Yeah, oh look, that would be the angle of not to get tackled as I would be on the wing and I would run as fun.

Keep running. Even my own team, I'm just bolting. All right, yeah, you've left me, speechless. So if you could tell your 13-year-olds of anything, that's a bit serious this one, what would you tell her? Good job. for getting rid of the dreadlocks. We need a photo of that, please.

Honestly, I'll send it to you, but you'll be like, that's not even you. And I'll be like, unfortunately, it was. Please send that so we can put it out with this podcast. If there's in our self. Plan for retirement? Yeah, start doing some stuff now. Maybe pay a bit more attention in school, maybe. Might be good stuff.

I don't know, more honesty. It's almost what my 13-year-old self tell me now. And it's just, yeah, enjoy the game. It's why you play it. It's because you just love it. Like, you just love the game of cricket. That's why you play it despite the money and all the stress that comes with it, whatever else.

Like, you genuinely, you just love the game of cricket. We'll just swing it back. Give you a bit of no-balls whiplash now. So a dead serious question. if we were to cannon an animal at you what would be the biggest animal that you could catch how can I catch it like just in my head like just

so we're just like throwing it out of a cannon at you and Pez decided she was going to hug it and it'd be a wombat she reckon she could like grab a wombat Peas did a wombat Alana King did a koala they're so Australian I'm like going amenity

what are they from now to the big long nose yeah I'm going a manatee oh okay tell me how you're catching that oh I'm just I'm probably just going to lie on the ground and just hope that it lands on here I reckon just take me just yeah I don't actually know but I'm yeah I actually don't know are we back on the mattress testing there just lying on the ground and hope it takes you I just think you might as well go big you know what's the worst that can happen You suffocate. Yeah.

No, we'd be there to save you, don't worry. We're there as well. Yeah, there'd be health and safety checks. I think the thing that would probably put me off most would be the sound of the manatee getting shot at the flubber and the, like, flubber. I'm just going to Google what a manatee looks like, because I think I've got the wrong animal in my head. No, I think I got it.

Oh my gosh, Sov. How are you going to catch one of them? I mean, the last time I saw a manatee was about, Yep. No, this. It's got a big nose. Yeah. Well, I'm not peshing.

I'd be slimy. That'd be, this is, you're thinking you could catch one of these, bad boys? Oh, yeah. That's actually what I looked like after the game against Australia. It was very similar. That much water retention. Wow, we. Right, I want to watch that, yeah.

I'm keen for that one. Yeah, you might get a few calls from some animal safety groups, but I'm afraid. Don't worry. It's the least of our problems with this podcast. Hypothetical Nobles World, it's fine. Love it. Well, so good luck for the rest of the tournament. Enjoy it.

Be the 13-year-old self that would tell you to go and enjoy it. And we will look forward to seeing you possibly in the commentary box or in a mattress store near you anytime afterwards. Well, some things, too. Guys, loved it. And I hope to see you sideways after your last game. With amenity. Crossy

Mm-hmm A manate She wants to catch a manatee Out of a cannon She's not thought this through, has she? A manate She's, you know, she's gone Oh, I know, they're big, I'm strong

I could catch one of those Do you know how much they weigh? I don't know But I can imagine that they're heavy But she is strong, Al They're 450 to 600 kilos That would kill her and she's saying she's going to lie on her back

and let it land on her. She's going to get squished. Yeah. She can get squished. That's the end of Sophie Devine if we do that. I don't think we're going to get that one through health and safety, are we? No, that one, that particular one with my own. We might not have a cannon big enough.

Yeah, true. I thought, joking aside with her at the end, that was amazing because she's often known for, you know, being this playful. She even said, didn't she being a 37, year old kid or 36 year old kid whatever she is but how she spoke about her uncertainty i thought was really quite powerful because that is how everyone feels when they leave a job or leave sport or whatever it might be and transition into something different and i just thought she did it really well and was just really honest about the uncertainty around it all yeah me too i thought

it's it's the best i've seen or heard her speak for a while and also still be quite emotional but no she's comfortable with her decision and i think for me me, how she's played cricket in this World Cup has been so impressive. She's leading run score. Yeah, and she's like averaging 80 or something ridiculous, isn't she? She just looks free.

She looks like she is being that kid that just learned to play cricket in the back garden and he's just enjoying herself. Yeah, I thought she spoke amazing. I think she is amazing and I actually just love her. Yeah, she was very good. So thank you, Sophie, for coming on. I actually didn't do the normal follow-up text

when we have a guest on. I've just completely forgot to messages say thank you, so I will do that today. Five days later. I put it on my Instagram saying, love this girl, thanks. Yeah. What a woman.

So what are your plans now? You might not be... You might be coming home, might you? Yeah, I'll either. I'll either be in India for the rest of the World Cup, which hopefully, obviously, touch would, that that will happen. I've got a visa appointment on Monday,

or hopefully got a visa appointment on Monday. That needs to be sorted out. Well, hopefully it all goes well at the High Commission. Is that where you're going? Yeah. The visa place. Hope that goes well, and hopefully you'll be off to India on Thursday.

I reckon I will be, sure. fingers crossed email us crossy oh yeah on no balls podcast at bbc.combec.combec.combec.combec.combec u.combec. It's so good. They said it twice.

Why's Jack unpinned our thing? I can't see what our numbers are. Oh no, Jack. 30 days. It only stays there for, doesn't it? I'm going to just search no balls. Here we go. You can text us on 8-1-1-1 and you can WhatsApp us on it's been pinned again now on

oh-3-123-1826 but do your line wow happy hangover start your message with no balls all one word please and then we know it's for us

Crossy enjoy the summit make sure women's cricket is the topic of conversation it will be don't you worry about that good luck with your high commission thank you you'll be the first to know bye everyone Bye. 5 Sports Extra and keep up to date with the TMS podcast on BBC Sounds.