Test Match Special - No Balls: Alex arrives in India with World Cup fever!

Episode Date: September 30, 2025

Kate Cross & Alex Hartley actually talk cricket as they look ahead to the 2025 Women’s World Cup.They discuss Alex’s not-so-smooth journey to India, why this World Cup could be the closest ever, and why Australia are still Alex’s pick to win the competition. Plus, how Emma Lamb’s “frightening” form can help England on their way to challenge for the title.Also, Crossy challenges Alex in ‘How well does Hartley remember her World Cup win?’

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Bring more gear, carry more passengers, face greater challenges. Welcome to the world of Defender, with seating up to eight, ample cargo space and legendary off-road capability. It's built to make the most of every adventure. 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 Cross in for the Hatrick Ball. Oh, it's so wide. Hello and welcome back to No Balls of Cricket podcast with me, Kate Cross and you are like Hartley. Hello, from India. We had a gorgeous studio, New Look Studio, which was mega and everyone saw it on in Sky.

If you're not looked at it, go on look at it. And now we're back on Zoom. Now we're back on Zoom. I've got a lovely hotel room, though. It's massive. It's vibrant. Yeah, the curtains are amazing. I woke up at 1pm, Crossie.

Like, blackout. Oh, the blackout. Yeah. But Jetlag doesn't exist. doesn't exist yeah you text me saying i woke up at 8 a.m and woke up at 1 p.m. on your first day yeah and then last night i just slept all the way through till 20 past 1 i was like the podcast oh my god podcast in 10 minutes yeah but you're watching the golf the golf was so good it was so good wasn't it i know we're not allowed to talk about golf it's the rider cups everyone

just shut up for a minute i love Shane lowry i'm going to just say it i just i've always loved him And I was really glad he got the moment because we were texting like who on earth is going to get this half a point for us and I'm so glad it was Shane Larry because he looks like the ultimate team man

yeah my favourite player is Tyrell Hatton I just love him yeah nice is it his name no it's his swear words

and when he hits a shot and he turns around to his cad he's like don't lie to me tell me the truth have you ever seen a worse shot than that right probably enough goal for us because

how are you I'm going to ask first today. Are you feeling all right? I know. How are you doing? Are you okay? Are you okay? Stop asking me.

Are you okay? Yeah, I am. I'm really good. Thank you. I'm really good. I am in India. I got here on Saturday. It took me 27 and a half hours because it was just a disaster of a journey.

The journey was a disaster, but you've also had a few issues leading up to the flight, didn't you? Did I tell everyone? What did it? What was wrong with me? What did I do? You didn't have a passport until the day before. Oh, yeah. Yeah. So I had to give my passport to the embassy. We spoke about it on the pod, I think, and I couldn't go on holiday because the embassy had my passport. Anyway, Wednesday, I'm packing my bags, and I'm talking to you, and you're like, have you got everything? I was like, no. You're like,

well, what if you're not got? I was like, I haven't got a passport. You're like, what do you mean? I was like, the embassy had my passport. So when we recorded the podcast on Tuesday, you kept getting a phone call while we were recording. You were just ignoring it. And then you're like, oh, my God, that's my passport trying to get delivered. So you'd miss the delivery on Tuesday. Then they turned up on Thursday, was it? Wednesday.

So I rescheduled it for Wednesday. And then I remembered we were playing golf. I was like, well, more importantly. Yeah, that's it. The more importantly, I'd rescheduled it to Thursday. and then thought, that's cutting it fine because I actually leave Thursday night and then ended up you being poorly Wednesday. I was in the household day anyway and could have got it delivered.

It was fine. It turned up Thursday morning at 10 a.m. Yeah, and then you got it and you open it up and you look at your visa. And it's wrong. It's wrong visa. Just the fact that you've, when I've said that stuff leading up to your journey, your actual flight, was a bit of a shambles. The fact that you've completely forgotten about that probably goes to show how chaotic your life.

is, because that feels like a normal thing, whereas if that was anyone else, it'd be like, okay, I'm probably going to have to change my flight to India. Yeah, yeah, and you're basically saying, and you're still going? I was like, well, obviously. Yeah, of course, yeah. I'm just going on the wrong visa, no problems. But, you know. Yeah, I'm here.

So the problem with my visa, because everyone's going to be like, well, what's wrong with it is the fact that I needed multiple entry so that I could do the first games in India in Guarhardi, then go to Colombo and do the games in Sri Lanka. and come back to India to finish the tournament. At the minute, I've only got a single entry visa, which I've obviously used to get into the country. So, yeah, they're a bit like coupons, aren't you? You can't just keep coming in and out.

You've got to have that visa that's got the multiple entry. So anyway, you're going to Sri Lanka and stay in there at the moment. At the minute, yeah, which isn't a bad thing, I suppose. No, yeah, nice. That's two weeks in Colombia on the BBC. Yeah, no, it's getting sorted. The visa is with the powers above. Nice, okay.

So the reason you're in Gooharty, is because you're going to be following the England girls round. I am indeed. I am indeed. Their first game is here on Friday but I'm obviously going to do the opening game as well. So yeah, I literally just do the England games and a couple of others. So yeah, I've been in Goa Harty since Saturday. They play Friday. I've got obviously all the pre-match stuff and the pre-event. I was doing all my research yesterday. I can't believe it's another World Cup.

I know. Another one. No, another one. Well, not. These come around every four years so it doesn't actually feel that that. Well, this one, because it's a 50 over World Cup. But I can't lie, being in India very much feels like a T20 vibe because that's what T20 cricket is just here all the time. Yeah. And also you've got to remember, the last World Cup was a year late because of COVID. So it's actually only been three years since we were in New Zealand. So that's probably why it feels like it's come around pretty quick. That's very true. Very, very true. But yeah, crossy, I'm happy. I'm giddy. so what I said to me the other day

oh my God your skin's so clear and I was like my skin's always clear but thank you maybe you just look clear yeah maybe I've got that

that filter on yeah I've got a happy filter on crossy I have nice let's leave it that way yeah let's leave it that way and how are you

I'm all right yeah I'm all right thanks Al I am everyone and ask me how you are and I just keep going she's okay. Yeah, she's fine. I will be fine. I just want

to say a quick thank you to everyone because obviously the last podcast we did was a bit of no balls, whiplash and everyone just has been amazing and the messages that I've got were really, really lovely. So thank you to everyone who got in touch because it was very sweet of you. So thank you. Our fans are just

the best in the world. So cute. Really, really sweet. Thank you. also to the guy who has sent a letter into the ECB saying that I need to have my contract reinstated. I'm not really sure that we needed to go that far. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. Loyalty. Yeah. Loyalty. That was my dad. Yeah. Thanks, Dave. Yeah. No. No, I'm all good. Do you know what? Last week was an absolute car crash for me as well because we were going to play golf. I was going to have like my, it's kind of like my only week off after the season

because I'm going to be back training again this week. And I somehow picked up this like gastro bug and I was so, so, so poorly and it literally wiped me out for the whole week. So the one week off that I've had, I was in bed basically, not able to do anything. But I only just managed to get to see you before you flew. So, yeah, not great, but it's okay. No, you text me Tuesday night being like, just so like, you know, I've just thrown up. So I'll let you know about golf

And now I was just like, yeah, yeah, whatever, I'll see you tomorrow, you'll be fine And then you text me at 3am going, it's been six hours I'm not playing golf God, it was relentless, relentless, relentless I'm not going into it because it was disgusting So, moving on, we have got a walk up to talk about because it starts, like you said, six times already, on tomorrow Yes, on Tuesday, the 30th of September

Nice. So, opening game. Opening game, India, Sri Lanka. Every ball, by the way, is on BBC sounds. Nice. Nice. Which is why we're here. We're not here on holiday. Who's your team? Who have you got? We've got me, Dan Norcross, Henry Moran and Fiona win.

We've got a great team. Good team. That's our commentary team for the whole duration of the England games. So sorry if you didn't want me on the end. Anyways, you got me. Yeah. Yeah, India, Sri Lanka tomorrow. Obviously, Sri Lanka is co-hosts at the tournament as well because Pakistan cannot travel to India.

So Sri Lanka have co-hosting the tournament in Colombo, which is an odd one in itself because then Sri Lanka fly to India to play games and Pakistan are in Sri Lanka to play games. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I obviously understand the whole India-Pakistan thing, but I don't think it should affect another team. but then I was going to say host team then but Sri Lanka have kind of come in and saved the day last minute haven't they by offering their services and their grounds up but I still I'm not I'm not sure

I'm not sure that it sits all that right with me what so you're saying Sri Lanka should just play all their games in India no they should be able to play them at home if it's their home woke up as well but then like I did just realize that it's kind of come in last minute that it's also there a host venue so yeah yeah I do think think bigger picture though there has to be some way that we can get around this whole india pakistan thing like it's it's starting to really be bigger news when it shouldn't be it shouldn't

overshadow the tournament should it no and then obviously india won the asia cup yesterday against pakistan and refused the trophy didn't accept the trophy um so yeah i don't even know they were playing you know how about that there's so much because you said you were watching cricket and i was like what cricket's on yeah and i was like the asia cup final India Pakistan, Pakistan are winning. Completely missed it. It was a golf girl yesterday, that's why. Yeah, that's true.

But yeah, no, so opening game, India, Sri Lanka, great opening game for India, let's be honest, playing Sri Lanka. Yeah, yeah. So the way this world, well, for everyone that doesn't know, the way that this World Cup works, everyone plays each other once, don't they? So it's a genuine, like, round robbing of games. It's not two groups or anything where best of the groups play each other. it's round robin. So I feel like that's why this World Cup is always the one that you want to win because it's like the ultimate prize almost

because you've beaten everyone if you win that trophy. So everyone has to play everyone. Yeah, I had to do my predictions yesterday on the World Cup and I've gone Australia to win, obviously. I say obviously, excuse me, England beat them in a warm game yesterday. So I'm not going to lie, a bit of a shock. I was shocked I was shocked. Can't

I'm shocked but I've got Australia win India second England third South Africa fourth New Zealand then I've gone Bangladesh

Pakistan Sri Lanka bottom okay so I think Bangladesh might surprise us yeah but then I think these tournaments are all about batters in form

and I know the whole classic like bowlers win your trophies but batters win your games but the thing with Sri Lanka is if Chamari Atapatu is at that tournament and she is in the mood, she can beat people, like she can do it herself almost because she's that destructive a batter. So I think it's probably more of a tall order in 50 over cricket, actually, but I do think

that her on her day is better than a Bangladeshi in good form throughout the tournament. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I do agree. But it's also like she won obviously slank her a game. she got 117 in 2017, didn't she, or something ridiculous? I don't know, I just think

she's going to have to bat for 35 overs if Sri Lanka are going to win. Yeah, that's true. Yeah. Against the big teams. I think this is, I think, I've seen a lot of chat, obviously the captains did their like

captaincy panel thing the other day, so I've been seeing a lot of quotes and stuff. And I think Healy actually hit the nail on the head and she was like, I think this could be the closest, tournament to date and it doesn't necessarily it does feel like there's probably a top top five in the tournament but it still feels like of those top four and five anyone can beat anyone which is obviously how you want how you want it to go and how you want a World Cup to be

yeah to be kind of position before you go in yeah and obviously England winning yesterday against Australia it's going to give them so much confidence moving forward into the tournament where I actually think, well, I personally looked at England's warm-wit games and said, right, okay, they play New Zealand, in Abu Dhabi, they'll be fine, then they play India, probably win that, and then they'll play Australia, probably lose that, which won't be ideal going into the tournament. But because they've won all their games, it's all about momentum and confidence as well. Interesting that you say that they'd probably win the India game, because that for me was one of the harder ones of those warm-up games, because obviously India at home are difficult to beat.

and we lost to them in the one-day series over in England. So it's interesting that you just had confidence that they were going to win that. I know it's weird, isn't it, how it all works, like how different people get different feelings about different games. Yeah. But I think, like, there was a lot of stuff, again, chat online about England beat India that day, but, you know, Smirty didn't play, and I don't think Harmon played. And I think Dieti literally just came on and bowled and then went off the pitch.

but they beat them comprehensively that day. It wasn't like a close game where, like, you know, it was a comprehensive victory. So I think you're right. I think they'll gain so much confidence. In terms of the prep leading into the tournament, it's probably the best that it could have been for them and the most confidence gaining that they could have got from it all.

So they start against who on Friday? South Africa. South Africa. So that's a tough, tough opening game. But sometimes you want it to be a, like you want it to be a hard game to start to almost get you into the tournament, so I'm sure they're absolutely full of confidence going into it. The one thing that obviously they haven't had is a practice game here in Goula Hearty, and let's flip it back to us and make it about us, Crossy, because Gouharty is our home of cricket.

This is where we, that was where we played our one game together, wasn't it? Our one and only game has been right here in Goua Harty, and I have such a cute picture of us, and in fact, those podcast fans from way, back when like an absolute start that was our podcast thumbnail me and you in yeah it was yes it was um it wasn't our thumbnail for a long time because i remember you made the thumbnail didn't you and you actually just wrote on it no balls no good graphic went into it it's just you writing no balls but yeah that was our one game that was when you uh you and an you chased one of my balls yeah come on come on you're right neck down to third and you chased it down and you

pulled out this amazing diving stop and you picked the ball up with one foot either side of the boundary rope so it went for four anyway. Was it off you? Yeah. That makes it so much better. That is what made it look so much better because it was off my ball and I was like, God's sake, I can't really be mad because she's my best way, but come on. I remember getting an absolute rollicking in the dressing room after the game from the head coach.

I'm so sorry. Yeah. And you actually didn't know you'd done anything wrong, did you? you were like, no, I've just flipped it back in. I was fine, but yeah, but you can't be on the other side of the boundary vote. I was like, well, good bit of feeling that around you. Well done, girl. I'll pick up.

I remember the crowd being really good there. I remember we were getting like 10,000 people watching, and that was 2019, maybe, 2018. So it feels like hopefully the crowds will be really good there. I'm so glad you said the same because I was saying that the other night in the bar. Everyone was like, have you been here? I said, oh, I've played a couple of games here. The crowds were amazing.

I swear there was like 10,000 people and everyone was like, really? And I was like, yeah, it was loud, it was busy, it was brilliant. So yeah, they've sold a lot of tickets for tomorrow's game. And they've also got a tribute act of somebody really famous over here died a few weeks ago. So they've got an hour's worth of his music before. But it's going to obviously bring a lot of people in. Wow.

It was the fourth biggest funeral ever behind Michael Jackson. I can't remember. Loads of really famous. Yeah, it was the fourth biggest community of people come for a funeral ever Well, sometimes that's what you need, isn't it? Sometimes a little bit of entertainment. Why are you laughing?

I don't know why you're talking to me about funerals. So good, I finished that and you went, sometimes that's what you need. Tell me your unwell without telling me your own well. Oh, back to the World Cup, your predictions that Australia are going to win it? Yeah, I just think they've been so consistent for so long. They've been that team two-beat for such a long period of time.

And I know India is a really tough place to play, you know, and they've got different types of soil, where they're going to do different types of pitches, other different types of things. They've also got grounds where the mix of the two soils. But I just think they're such a good team. They adapt well. They've got nine bowlers in their starting 11.

So they've got options. but I do also think that on England's day, they can beat anybody. Do you know what you say? Australia have nine bowlers. They actually have like nine all rounders in their team. I think that's what makes them such a prolific team, doesn't it? So yeah, like you said, they've got options. But what I loved about England's warm-up stuff was it was Nats of a Brunt in one game who scored some runs.

But like Alice Capsy finished a game off yesterday. And I think actually, and you think about 50 over World Cups, like that's the kind of contributions that you need almost everyone to have a game. You can't just realize, like we're saying Atapatu has to win it for Sri Lanka. Like you can't just have one player standing up. And so the fact that Capsi scored some runs in the, and chased down, what was a relatively decent score? Yeah.

Like she ended up 88, not out. But it looked, I didn't watch the game, but it looked like we're maybe three down for not many. And then she's able to have a partnership with Emma. and create something like that. So I feel like that's the kind of stand-ups that you need from your players to go on and win big tournaments like this.

And how good is that my lot of being? Just this year. She just cannot, I don't want to jinx her, but she just cannot stop scoring runs. It's actually, I've never ever known a batter being this much form for this prolonged a period of time. Like, it's frightening. I know.

It's like, she's just been amazing. I had to do my ones to watch for the BBC And, you know, some players pick themselves So like Australia, Phoebe Litchfield, Sri Lanka, Atta Patu, Fatima Asana, Pakistan And it was like, okay, so Natsiva Brunt for England I was like, no, I'm alone I was like, I can't keep picking Natsimabrunn, we can't keep relying on her

And I was like, also, I would love to see Lami at the top of the order It's not going to happen, she's going to be in the middle if she plays But I'd love to see her at the top Where she scored most of her runs all year she's just but she's had this role now at the top where she's scored a thousand and odd runs for Lankes

and she's played really well for England she slipped down to the middle and she's like yeah fine I'll just get another 70 yeah she is she's obviously I would love to know the ins and outs of how she's managed to do this because I think it's classic isn't it if you

could bottle up form and sell it every single cricketer on this planet would buy it off you and you'd be a millionaire but yeah She just looks so calm when she's at the crease and that's something that I think she's obviously worked so hard and I've not actually had the conversation with her

so I don't want to put words into her mouth but it does just look. So we finished the One Day Cup last week and Catherine Bryce scored that century against us in the semi-final and she still finished like a good hundred runs behind Lammy who's missed probably three, four games with Lancashire so it's like that's how good her season has been.

And I think credit to Lammy because she lost her England contract and she's come back and she's just been like, all right. Yeah, it was that this time off year probably? Yeah. I think it was a year ago, wasn't it? Yeah, and then she jumped back into the domestic setup and just as looked probably better than ever.

Yeah, no, I think Lammy's going to be going to be key for England, actually. I hope so, I hope so. I have got a question for you about the World Cup and I know you're not... Do you know with like franchise cricket now and you play with people where you play for RCB and the Superchargers

so you have been heavily involved with the Australian girls and you've become really good friends with them? How, because I've never had this as a player because I never played franchise cricket really. How is it then when you're watching them play for their country? I mean you used to obviously used to watching them.

I think what you get now is like this added sense of, it's not respect, respect is the wrong word, but like almost admiration because I, when you watch Australia play years and years ago, I used to be like, oh, they're just so good and it's so annoying. Whereas now, when you've played with, like, Belsie's a really good example, Annabelle Sutherland, like she is one of the most meticulous cricketers I've ever come across, how she trains, how she thinks about the game, her attention. into detail in everything that she does like planning a game of cricket. So it's not surprising to me now how successful she is. Yeah. But do you want her to be successful? Because I watch her and I'm like, I want her to do well.

But I don't want her to do well against England. Well, you obviously want England to win. Like that's, you want all your mates in that team to go and do well and obviously bring a trophy home. Because I was just thinking when you said about Australia, you're winning it. Australia winning it is probably not the best thing that could happen for women's cricket. India winning it would be amazing. England winning it would be amazing. South Africa winning it would be amazing. We've kind of done the Australia era now so it'd be

amazing if someone else could come in and win this trophy. So you always want your team to do well. But I saw the other day, sorry to interrupt you. I sent it. Here you go. So the World Cup started in 1973 that England won and since then England and Australia have won it every single time bar New Zealand that won it in 2000 yeah so for the good of the game we need Australia not to win it yeah I just think you can understand now why and it's also the same for like England like I can see why Belly's having so much success at the minute I can understand why Lindsay Smith's doing well because I've played in teams with them to understand them as people more and understand

what their games are looking like at the minute so and Glennie's a really another brilliant example we need to shout her out in this podcast as well because she hasn't been that much involved with England this summer and then gets the call up to go to to go to the World Cup and then

take five for in a warm up game against Australia so like you just know how hard she's worked to get that performance so yeah I think that that's probably what I mean around when you've played with overseas players and you kind of see their success, it then becomes not as surprising or you're not as annoyed by it because you just know how much hard work has gone into it, I think, in one

time. Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, I understand, I understand. I just think now it's like, I see all the girls and it's like, oh, how are you doing amazing? I've been following you, like, blah, blah, and I see someone like Nick Carey that I've played with the Welsh Fire and it's like, I love to see you smashing it. I love to see you're really happy, but can you stop doing well against the teams that, you know. Yeah. But it also gives you a better understanding of weaknesses as well. So for the girls that have played with any of the Ausses in the 100, they'll have been bowling at them for three weeks during that tournament in the net. And then you kind of can understand a little bit if they do have weaknesses, what they might be and how you can expose them. So I think it makes

the game better and I think it makes it more fun when you play against those players. because there's an element of like the personal side of it that you can, not in like a mean way and sledgey way, but just you can have fun on the pitch and it gives you a better of understanding of each other. Well, I'm very much looking forward to the World Cup and we will bring you every ball, every game, and BBC Sounds, and we'll bring you a podcast more than a week.

We will, right, Al, just because we're talking about a World Cup, it would be rude, obviously, not to mention the fact that you were involved in a World Cup final. And Jack has tasked me, with a little quiz for you to see how well... Hang on a minute. Hang on a minute

because you don't like surprises and they've been banned from this podcast. So why are you now surprising me with this? Because it's a World Cup quiz. Okay. That was easy. So it is how well does Hartley remember the World Cup win?

Okay, so the questions we're going to start with are quite easy and then are going to get a bit progressively harder. Al, if you don't score 10 out of 10 on it, you need to get in the bin. Okay. Okay. Number one, who did you play against?

India. Ding, ding, one point. Where, number two, where was the match played? What? Who took six wickets for England in the final? It's England's hero, it's Andrew Shrop's all. How many wickets did you take? Two.

Two, good. Which England player, who's played a fairly significant role in this World Cup, scored England's only half century of the match? It's got to be Nat, hasn't it? Nats of a Brunt, correct. Okay, so you're five out of five at the minute. Which recent No-Bow's guest had a four-ball duck? Oh.

Clues in the question. Yeah, but who've we had as guests? I don't even know who we've had his guests. I know Paul Frang Wilson got first ball duck. She's not been on this podcast. No, that's where I went to. Four Ball Duck. Recent podcast guest.

We've all only had Australians on. Do you know what? Because, you know, I don't really watch the bat in. Oh, my God. Who got Four Ball Duck? I'm going to have to go through the team. Just think about who's been on Nobles recently. We've literally had three guests recently.

Two of them have been Aussies. I don't know who's. Who we've had on the podcast? Just quite a big name. Probably the biggest we've had on the podcast. Biggest name we've had on the podcast? Comfortably. What?

Right, this is painful. You've got it wrong. Smitty Mandana. Oh, I was thinking of the England girls. I wouldn't have known she got a four ball duck anyway. No, but you could have known that she was quite a big name on that podcast. Yeah, I was thinking of the England girls. Okay, number seven.

was the other Ingun player not to bat besides you? Danny Hazel. And your shrubs hole. Okay, so you're, you started well, you're out the traps quickly. You're five out of five and you're now five on seven. Danny, Danny Hazel didn't back because she didn't play. That'll be why. Sorry, Danny.

Shout out to Danny. Number eight, who were your wickets? Harmon Preak core. Yep. And the wicket-keeper. Shushma. Yeah, it was the wicket-keeper. Shushma Verma.

Can we give it that, Jack? Yeah, we're giving it that. Okay, number nine, how many runs did you go for? 50! Because I remember someone in the crowd went, oh my God, you just went for 56 in a World Cup final. And I was like, right? I got a winner's medal.

You're a B. 50. Yeah, I'm going to say 50. Fifty-six. 58. Oh, Jack's just come in saying you can have two either side, the answer. Okay, so he's giving you that. Bit generous in my part.

So two for 58 off ten overs you had. And finally, what, you're never going to get this. What was the score when, so we'll give you two either side again. Maybe five either side, actually. What was the score when you took your first wicket of the day? Oh, come on. I don't even know how many we were defending. what was the score when I took my first wicket

so Harmon was in she was on 50 odd so I'm going to say 140 for two that's remarkable but it's wrong 138 for 3 that's a great effort so that it was 138 for 3 when Harmon got out

Yes Good effort Al So you got 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 6, 7 I think I'll give you that last one 8 out of 10

Do you know what It could have been a lot worse It could have been a lot worse That's quite impressive Because if you asked me what we were defending I wouldn't have had a clue I think Go on

What do you're defending 210 It was low 2 to 8 Perfect, see See, I could imagine getting that in a World Cup final Now you'd be like, oh, we're going to have to bowl well Yeah

Especially on the pictures We were a bit like that We were a bit like Ooh, ooh, could do with a few more on the board But it's a final, anything can happen in a final Exactly, it runs on the board Four ball duck for Mandana Hopefully she has a few more of those at this one

Yeah, you were going to answer Elise Perry to that No, I was going to, I was like I didn't have a single name I was firing blanks because I was like we haven't had any England girls on this podcast for a good two years no we've not

we're not we'll have to try and get some Al I'm real conscious that we've talked a lot about cricket here which is unlike us sorry for anyone that actually comes to this podcast looking for something other than cricket but we have got a couple of emails

so should we finish on them yes shall we go upstairs with everyone that's at the World Cup or the umpires did you see the ICC video with the umpires no got on their iCC instagram i please everybody do it and everybody reshare it because it's

brilliant it's all the umpires like checking into their flight and being like wait play on that's so great i hate stuff like that i hate cheesy cricket anecdotes hate them but there's so red phone checking in going go a horsey please nice um right we've had a couple of emails One, it looks very intrigued and I'll let you do that one. So I'll do the first one. Molly has emailed saying hi to you both.

Randomly scrolling and pressing play again. The episode I landed on was from the 31st of August, 2020. This is a great game. She's just going through No Ball's episodes and just pressing play and seeing which one it is. Love that. The roundup of the 100 final crosses first year with the supercharges.

Kate talking about what an ick it was that the Oval Invincibles men were wearing their full kit out at the club. okay i take that back because it's a thing you did that you did that everyone does it it's a thing i just hadn't won anything so i didn't know that that's what you're meant to do yeah you're meant to do it you are actually meant to stay in your kit which made me laugh a lot you know why right crossy amused listener molly yes thank you molly thanks for pointing it out but do you know what when you've won something the last thing you're thinking about is going getting a shower obviously you're not going to ice bath so you just

in your kit and you stay in your kit and you just want to drink so you don't bother getting changed so i get it over invincible as i wholeheartedly apologize for calling you out two years ago i think it would be odd if you turned up to that at a party not in your kit as well do you know what i actually got really annoyed at our staff on sunday at the because we stayed at the hilton on the ground at the utility bowl and um we all went to the bar and all our staff disappeared and came back five minutes later and they were showered in in like jeans and casuals and I was like what on earth you're doing? Why are you not in your kit? And I got really eggy at all of them. Little did I know that two years ago I absolutely slated a team for doing it. But anyway,

Oval, thanks for inviting us to you after party this year as well. Thanks Oval. Thanks Oval. I think we need to bring them back because I've just got so many. So many. Yeah. Okay. We can do anything. I'll put that on my sticky note. Think of some X. doing a episode. Okay, we've had one here from Mike on WhatsApp, which is, yeah, good to know.

Perfect calendar for behind the bar and the slug and mullet, which is true. It's the world's greatest mullet's 2026 calendar. That's an, I mean, that's a solid mullet. It's not a mullet. It's got hair longer than mine. That is a solid mullet. That's,

No wonder he's on the cover. Do you know what I never quite understand? Obviously, girls have long hair, and it's a thing. It's more of a thing for a girl to have a long hair than it is for a boy to have long hair. But boys' hair, when it's long, always looks amazing, like, really well kept and, like, shiny and glossy. And I'm like, why is mine so dry and lifeless when... Yeah. What's the secret, boys?

Because email us, please. on no balls podcast at bbc.com. I bet it's because they don't wash it. Oh, it will be. It might be grim. They'll wash it with like shower gel. That's what it'll be. Yeah, or like fairy liquid or something.

Yeah. Okay. All right. Email it in if it's good. If it's that you don't wash your hair, don't tell us. We don't need to know that. Don't need to know that. Grossie, you can email us on.

Noblespodcast at bbc.c.com. Noblespodcast at bbc.c.com. It's so good. It's so good. said it twice. You can also WhatsApp us on 0-3-123-1826. And you can text us on 8-1-1-1-1. Start both your messages, either text or WhatsApp, with no balls or one word, please. Yes, please and thank you.

Crossie, I miss you all, did it? Oh, okay. England's opening game, your birthday, great day. Hopefully England can get a birthday win. look to everyone playing in it. I obviously will be supporting the girls. I hope, hope they all have an amazing time and do

really well and I'll be watching. Yes, yes, yes. Come on the girls. If it's ever going to be a year it's got to be this year. This is the year. Come on. Where's the next one by the way? Oh, you're asking questions. I don't know the answer to you, Rossi. Bye.

Bye everyone. Welcome to the team behind the team, a new podcast series in partnership with the Open University, where we'll be showcasing the people, the tools and the techniques to help athletes and teams reach elite level. Like all elite sports, it's a pyramid and everybody's trying to get to the top. It's not just my vision. It's a shared vision amongst the team.

What is this? This is not the way I see the game. The team behind the team with Katie Smith. In partnership with the Open University Listen on BBC Sound