Test Match Special - No Balls: Holidays and the Hundred finals

Episode Date: August 19, 2024

Kate and Alex are back to reflect on the Hundred and victories for Oval Invincibles' men and London Spirit's women. Spirit bowler Tara Norris joins the pod to reveal what went on in the dressing room during and after her side's victory in the final. Kate also tells us about her French holiday with some of the Hundred's leading names. And we have the story behind an embarrassing hotel encounter between Alex and an umpire.

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Not another one. And you need to remember that 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. Cross.

I'm doing round the wicket. Holder. Boulder. Leaving a ball alone. Litchfield. Think it's the wobble ball. And it just nips back. It jags back. It's the nipbacker.

That is a beauty from Kate Cross. It's an absolute seed. That is a beautiful cross. Hello and welcome back to Nobles Cricket podcast with me Kate Cross and a very beautiful Alex Hartley. That is such a lie, you've just been telling me how tired I look.

You do look tired. It's been a long month, crossy. And it was 100s final yesterday, so you've just driven back, thank you very much by the way, you've driven back to Manchester to meet me in the studio. Yeah, baby.

We're in the studio, so we sound great. Of course. are you? I'm really well. Yeah? How are you? Tired. Shock. Didn't I tell you? Sykesi. I said Sykesi. First thing she'll say, I'm tired. What do you expect? Two fingers if you play in the drinking game, everyone. But no, I'm good. I've got energy still. I'm tired, obviously. I look like, look at the state of these bags. These are Gucci. Not. You wouldn't pay that much for them. I can't think quickly enough for a knockoff brand. But no, I'm good. Thank you. I'm good. you've been on holiday

I've been on holiday yeah we got eliminated and we booked a flight to France I want you to tell our listeners why and how you ended up on holiday please because we got eliminated no you booked it under the influence oh that bit yeah

so traditionally you get knocked out of the hundred you have a few drinks as a team because it's suddenly the last night before you know it we thought we might have a chance of going down to London suddenly we're all going on a team now out because we're out. We've lost a London spirit. And we kind of joked about maybe going on holiday

if we didn't get through. And then we didn't get through. I was doing some commentary and I get added to a group chat that is holiday mode. And the Holly was like, fancy it. So I was like, yeah, I'm thinking nothing will come of this. And then it's 1am. Someone said they'd found an Airbnb.

I booked it. It was a non-cancellation one. So we were going to France. But then we looked at the dates and the flights and there was no flights. So then we had to make, we came back via Barcelona yesterday. That's hilarious. So how long did it take you to get back from France?

About six hours. Went south, further south to come north. But you made it. It was amazing. Best three days. So wholesome, so amazing. The villa was stunning. France was hot.

So who did you go with? So there was me, Holly, Lindsay. Yeah. Annabelle Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Phoebe Litchfield. And we sun bathed, we swam in the pool. We had like just so much fun. It was just such a nice way to. and the tournament obviously being so disappointed

that we hadn't made finals. It was a little bit disappointing you didn't make finals because last time we did this podcast episode you told everyone you were going to win it. Yeah, I did. We didn't win it. London Spirit won it, which I'm really glad about

because then we, our quarter final, which was effectively the Tuesday game, the final group game, we've lost to the team that have won it. So I can sleep quite easily knowing that. Yeah, nice. And I actually think they were the best team in the tournament.

I know they didn't finish top, but I think balance-wise they were the best team. Yeah, I think I agree. with that. You don't necessarily have to finish top to be the best team. Obviously, Welsh Fire were technically the best team with the performances, but I actually think London Spirit had that winning momentum going into

it, didn't they? And they just, like, when you've got Heather in form like that, and I think especially in the women's game, having someone who can chase and chase so well, and Heather did that so wonderfully this tournament, you've always got a great chance of winning a big final because

she'd done it so many times in a few clutch games but then it comes to a final everyone thinks she needs to get runs on the board in a final she's won the toss and bold and then I've got Heather Knight's stat in the 100 so setting she's your average is 16 chasing she averages 60

that's remarkable really isn't it yeah but that as well as captain she's got that much confidence in herself her team etc that I just felt like going into the final they had a great chance and I've also I've said this as well about being if you finish top and you go straight through

you don't play cricket for quite a while. So four or five days of Welsh fire stewing on the fact that they're in a final, it's Lords. They last played, I think, Wednesday and then played Sunday in the final. So it is quite a long time, especially when you've got, tournament cricket is about that momentum. It is massively.

I think that's what you asked me actually when we, because you interviewed me after the Tuesday match at Headingley, didn't you? And Tash Farrant asked me that. She said, do I feel like we lost our momentum when our game got rained off at Welsh fire? but I mean I wasn't there you were there it looked like a great final it must have been an unbelievable game you were there um unreal game like unreal deep charm average is like 190

in the hundred this year it was 214 yeah she's unreal she was unreal I mean it was such a close game and it was actually two finals that the hundred probably needed because obviously there was stick around it as usual and the crowds were down from last year the hundred final crowd was up from last year but two belting games you know a good team won over invincibles they've won the comp every bloody year now

said it again so I've noticed everyone that Alex really is fixated on the word bloody at the minute yeah say it every other word I've really tried not to text it to you saying it all the time so you'd have put it on your Instagram caption the other day did I nearly commented saying bloody hell

anyway carry him Saki Mahmood so good to see him back and so good to see him performing a final and he changed the game didn't it again i didn't i've seen the clips but the the clip obviously that he's going quite viral at the minute is the winning moment for london spirit for the women when cordelia griffiths she's like oh her face is like a cartoon um we've actually got a guest she's here i can see her we've got a london spirit winner we've got Tara, Norris, welcome you champion to Nobles, the cricket podcast.

How are you? How's the head? Hi, girls. Thanks having me. Yeah, a little bit dusted play, actually. But now we're good. Thanks for having me. Have you made it back to Manchester? You've gone down to see the farm? Like, where are you? No. No, Manchester is a bit too far today. I've gone home to Eastbourne and then I've got a few days chill

and then I'll go back up north in a few days because we have a 50 over game on Friday. So, yeah, back to the day job, unfortunately. Just before we get into yesterday and how epic it was, how long is 50 overs going to feel now when you go from the 100 to 50 overs? I know, and 10 overs as well. Yeah, it's going to feel long.

But I'm excited to get back with the length skills and I'm excited to get back to Manchester. So Tara's like literally been bowling five balls. You bought 10 yesterday though, well done. I'm going to get 10, thanks. You've got to get a 60 in the body. Yeah, it's going to be tough. It's going to be a shop to system.

And also just like three hours in the field as well, just in the feet alone. And I also might have to bat as well, which is not ideal. So, yeah, it's going to be a big old spike in the workloads. But yeah, no, it'll be right. Let's talk about yesterday, Tara Norris, Champions of the 100, 2024. Well done. Thanks, guys, thanks.

Tara, I've said the last few years that I think it could be a disadvantage playing the Saturday, the Eliminator game and then being so tired that you've then got to do all the adrenaline again and play a final the next day. How did you find that, especially from a bowling point of view? Was it a lot? Was the adrenaline just carrying you through? How did it go? I feel like, I've been in a couple hundred finals days.

And I feel like the team that won the Eliminator just had more momentum. So I don't know physically, I mean, I, again, I wasn't a key bowler. So, like, physically I felt fine. But I feel like from a momentum point of view, the teams that generally have won the eliminator and just carried on actually have been more successful. So I think everyone was just really giddy and just really excited. and it was just like, right, like one more rendezvous, let's just give it everything.

And obviously, a slight home advantage, I guess, for us we've obviously played there. I've tried the competition, so it felt it didn't feel like a different game, really, which is quite nice. And it was third time lucky for you, Tara? Third time lucky, yeah. Yeah, I have been on the other end,

which obviously isn't nice, but it just felt surreal, to be honest, like, considering the last couple of seasons that we've had as London Spirit, and then, yeah, it felt like that game you played at Headingley against Supercharged, crossy. Like, it felt like sort of from there, if we won that, I really felt like we're going to win the whole thing. I don't know why. It just felt like this real, this like calm

competence in the group. I don't know. But yeah, sort of since then, it just sort of flourished really. Thanks for hanging that. Tara, that was the game that not turned out. You are right because that we obviously spoke about that as a team going into it, that that was basically a quarter final. So you had played knockout cricket before Welshire had even got into the final stage of the tournament. So we were talking about like, Heather had so much confidence in her chases. She's one of probably the only captains who would have won the toss in a final and bowled first.

But she's just, she's had a great tournament and obviously led from the front. And her start is outrageous. So I was just telling Crossie, she averages 16 batting first and 60 chasing. It's actually, it's a joke. She's been unbelievable. And Deepty as well, Deepty Sharma, the two of them

have been so key for our group, especially on our badders and just finishing the games left like she did yesterday. Tell me, tell me what was going through your mind when she hit that six. well slash thought it wasn't going to be a six thought it was going to be out then it went for six yeah there's a few explicit that were that I was thinking oh and say then we beep them out oh perfect I was just like oh here we go like it's make or break now and then apart me thought

oh I've not brought my pads and I was like ready to wear your pads she was like oh my leg was like it's fine just put someone's pads on get someone's bat and just go out if you have to but I mean at that point I probably wasn't in a bat anyway but it was just I mean you've seen causes reaction, it's unbelievable. Everyone, like, everybody's heart stopped. It felt like the ball was in the air for, like, hours. Oh, my God. And just, yeah, watching the replay back is hilarious, really.

I mean, we've spoken a little bit about that clip that's gone basically viral, but everyone is so different in it. And I actually love Heather the most because she gives nothing away. You don't know if you're about to win a game there. She's quite stern, isn't she? Yeah, she almost looks like she's really miserable. Probably thinking, oh, not another one. Bunch this out.

Yeah, not another one. So we threw your emotion. once that had gone for six and you're running on the pitch and you've just won at the final. Yeah, just surreal. Like, I don't know how to explain it. It just didn't feel like it was,

just felt this massive occasion. Obviously, because it was so close as well, like it felt like the whole atmosphere, the whole of Lords, like it was just electric. And I think either way, like, it would have been a really good game. I think because it was so close, it just heightened all the emotions.

But just, I just actually remember sprinting on the pitch and being so out of breath. I'm just running on and jumping and then just having to catch my breath after and everyone was just so, so pleased with each other and it was just, it was a really good group and just really pleased to get out of the line but I actually just remember really out of breath

with some sprinting and just jumping up and down with everyone. Do you still have your GPS on? I think I took it out well by that point actually but I know that would have my high speed actually. High speed, you would have got it in, peaked. So what made your group so special? Like, why do you think you've won the tournament? What made you guys so good?

I think in the start So obviously this is Ashinovsky's second day of spirit He's massive on It's very like player led And at the start we spoke about We spoke about quite a few things But everything that we spoke about

Seemed to come true Seemed to just happen We spoke about like fortress lords And making it like a real A real spirit home base We spoke about like roles And how everybody had a key role to play And how we sort of fulfill that responsibility

And it's been really player led And everything that we wanted to do and how we wanted to play. I felt like we were lucky as well. Like it obviously went our way, but we sort of did what we said, and it just seemed to work. And once we caught that momentum, it just sort of kept going with us.

The ultimate manifest. It was a massive manifest, yeah. Just sort of did what we preach, I guess. I will win the lottery. Yeah, I win a million pounds. How were the celebrations? Yeah, the big, come on. Get us in the dressing room.

What happened? Who was messy? What was Gibbo up to? Did Gibbo get on the karaoke? Yeah, she did have a mic. microphone with her. It wasn't really karaoke because Gibbo just had the mic the whole night really. I wouldn't call it karaoke. But there was a bit of break dancing. That's been quite big this summer post-Olympics. Heather was a big oasis karaoke singer. It was good actually.

Nobody went out. We just stayed at the hotel, a lot of speeches, a lot of singing, a lot of dancing, still in kick, got a bit of the sort of actually. So obviously, not won the tournaments, I don't know. But I always think when they do the big picture with the big H in the middle of lords and the men are on one side and the women are on the other, That women's team must be so drunk. Yeah, it's a long time to wait. It's like you're drinking, well, yeah, you're drinking for the whole game pretty much. And they also said whatever you do, don't jump on the age.

So obviously, well, obviously, what does everyone do? That's on the age. So, yeah, I also don't even remember seeing the men to my right. Like, I've watched the, I look at the phone and I was like, oh, I don't even see them walk past us. Like, I don't think I drank that much. But, yeah, I think we just, we just soaking it all up. It was honestly hilarious. Shirts and hilarious watching them celebrate.

So both men's and women's teams are on. They've had their joint photo. The men then just disperse. And the women are still stood out there celebrating, jumping around with the big massive trophy. And I was like, girls, this is your seventh trophy. Get off the outfield. Yeah, literally, yeah.

A million trophy list. But also, like, it was a bit of shame. I guess the crowd had pretty much left. It was quite late at that point. It would have been great if there was a bit of a crowd there. I think a lot of the friends and family had bugged off at that point. but yeah just i don't even know what we did i don't really remember watching the men's game either just being the bar maybe or just getting the stuff signed or did you feel obviously it was

a record crowd for the hundred final for the women i think it was 22 000 did it feel like that or was it just the the kind of occasion was so big and so much that you you didn't really notice it i was a lot going on to the field it felt really loud and it really felt like like there was a good crowd behind us but then i reckon the last 25 balls we came to sit in the double out and like yeah that last ball like honestly you could have had a pin drop it was so quite like everyone held their breath but no i'd say fielding wise and like whenever we took a wicket like you could definitely there was you could tell a bit of a home advantage it just felt yeah it felt electric was the trophy as heavy as Heather made it seem yeah i she said she was a bit sore this one i was

like yeah um i didn't actually i didn't go see over head press i just held it here um it's it feels quite delicate, like it did actually twist a few times. And then also by the end, there's so many fingerprints all over, like it looks a little bit gritty. That means you've done it well, though, I think. Yeah, yeah, maybe, maybe. You can't drink out of it, though. It's not a traditional trophy. It's just a big massive page. So you had your team room night last night celebrated as a team. What was it like this morning? Was it like catch up on social media, realize what you've done, realize what you've won, or was it like, okay, everyone in the cars, it's time to go home? It was a bit of a dusty start. And then last night, we'd all

decided before bed we'll go for a brunch at 10 o'clock so 10 o'clock a few people had left at that point but there's probably 80% of us still there majority that still went able to drive home or pack our stuff up yet so we just went for a little brunch this morning a little coffee and just it was a bit like a big night out and you just have a big debrief it felt like we had a massive wedding yesterday and like it was like oh can we do it all again today and like just sort of reliving like watching caused expression that video just sort of watching it all back and just reminiscing really Good, Tara. Thank you so much for joining us. Is there any other bit of gossip that you've not maybe told us that you want to tell the rest of the listeners? You must have something on Heather. Come on. Have you got a video of her breakdancing?

Heather. No, she didn't breakdance, unfortunately. Heather was actually very well behaved. It's shame. But I presume you'll be in the gym tomorrow with me at 9.30. Yeah, I'll see it. I'll see it. David Lloyd. Thought so, yeah. Yeah, he's born to Manchester. Yeah. Tara, thank you so much. Tara, thank you. We don't want to keep you so too long because we know that you're probably very tired and you need to see your family before you go back to the grind of 50 over cricket. Amazing. Thanks, having you guys. Thanks, Tara.

Massive congratulations. How good. Thanks, guys. Thank you. Up the spirit. They're so spirited. Oh, my God. They're so good. They're the winners.

They're the winners. I'm really glad it was a new name on the trophy as well. Yeah, I am actually. And I was really pleased about that. I was like, you know what? Whoever wins today is going to be a brand new winner. And it just felt right. I don't know the Oval won 2021, 2021, the women.

The Oval men have won 2023, 2024. But on the women's trophy this year, it's a new name. You know what is annoying? How smug Greg James is about the whole Oval thing. Greg, you're not actually involved in it. It's not your trophy. No, but it's his team. No, it's really annoying me.

But well done. Be better, not bitter. Right, we have a test match starting in two days. Oh my, I thought of 50 overs was going to feel bad. Five days for these boys coming up. I know. Test match, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka played against the Lions last week and got bowled out for about 100,

so not ideal. Although on my commute, it rained. It's raining. The forecast looks okay. It doesn't look great. It's very Manchester, but obviously without Ben Stokes, because he came back and played in the 100, and it was the biggest flop I've ever seen.

Yeah, it was, wasn't it? It was all hyped, all hyped. And I feel really. sorry for him actually because he's such a big profile such a big name brilliant that he's come back and played in the hundred and then he gets out first ball and everyone's talking about that and suddenly the news goes from oh it's brilliant that ben stokes he's playing in the hundred to why is he playing in the hundred he's got injured it's wasted his time and now he can't captain the test team and what do people want do you want to see him play cricket if you play cricket

you might get injured yeah he might get out first ball you might dip out of form, you might be in the best form of your life but it could have got injured doing a running session in the park and just because it wasn't on telly, no one would have got mad about it. I know, it's crazy isn't it? It is crazy. They're angry today. Good opportunity for Ollie Pope. Amazing. And Harry Brooke, vice captain.

Yeah, so good. It really feels like the new era is starting of test cricket because obviously they've announced the team today. Dan Lawrence is going to open the bat in replace of Zach Crawley who's injured his finger. Matty Potts is coming back in. We had debutants in Gus Atkinson and

Who else debuted last series? Ashia debuted in India. Yeah. It's the new, it just feels like now there's a genuinely new test team on the horizon. Anyway, if you want an actual cricket podcast, you can go to the TMS feed. That's not about our life.

I want to know what's on your sticky note. Oh my gosh. I've got, didn't make the finals, so I went to France. Yeah. It's a bit crickety all my stuff. I got Ben Stokes on there as well. Sorry to bring up more cricket,

but there was a super five. Oh my word I missed it I was on a plane There was a Super 5 It was unreal What happened Joffra bowed it didn't he

Joffra bowed it And Wicked first ball Joffra did Joffra things He got Liam Livingston out First Ball who had got 50 off 30 balls

In the Eliminator Birmingham Phoenix were cruising They needed three from five And they didn't get it What pressure Does mad things

To people And obviously when Joffra's bowling a super over it's just Joffra at Lord it wasn't at Lord No it was at the Oval When Joffra's bowling a super over

Super 5 they win Yeah The other thing I've got Which was probably one of my favourite moments ever in cricket It was one of those moments Where you think you've seen it all And then this happens

And you go Oh that's never happened before And it was in the game That I commentated on at Trent Bridge So Trent Rockets are playing Against the Oval Invincibles And Sakeeb Mahmood Has to come on and bowl

because Sam Coren has bowled two head-high full tosses and gets taken out the attack. When that no-ball happens and it's a free hit the next ball, Oval go over the time and they have to bring a fielder in. But they're not allowed to bring a fielder in because you're not allowed to change the field for a free hit. Right. And the batters haven't crossed.

Right. And no one knew what to do. No. It was, they did end up bringing a fielder in, but the umpires, you could just tell the umpires are going, this has never happened before. What do we do? What do we do?

Yeah, I didn't even notice that and I was also working. Brilliant. Yeah. My sticky note, the 100's done. Yep. Which means it's basically September. Which means it's Halloween, which means it's Christmas. So happy new year.

Happy New Year, everybody. Happy New Year, everybody. I've also got a bit of cricket. I just want to shake your hand. Congratulations. You were the hat trick ball again this summer. God's said. Have we not talked about that?

No. Oh, this is why I wanted to stop and have a break from the podcast. Twice. Two years running. There's been three hat tricks. in the history of the Women's 100 I've been two of the Hattrick balls at Old Trafford

What happened? Why did you come down the pitch? Because I was stumped. I was treating her like a spinner. It's Catherine Bryce bowling. She bowls big in swingers or leg cutters at the death. Yeah. Well, the pace on ball. Didn't expect that one. Anyway, we needed 17 to win off four balls so if I'd have defended it, I'd have looked like an idiot. Yeah, but you wouldn't have been the hat-trick bowling?

I wasn't thinking self-flish. Yeah, of course. I was thinking selflessly. Oh, okay, fine. If I'd have hit that for six, I'd look like an epic batter. Yeah, that's true. But I was out, and I was a Hattrickball again. And thanks to everyone that tweeted me about it,

that was really what I wanted to read when I came off the pitch. And that's how you found out, wasn't it? People tweeted you? Because I text you saying, I've been the Hattrick Ball again. And I was like, really? I've missed that one. Unlucky. Love the game.

Love the game. Next thing on my sticky note is pale ale corona, G&T, Diet Coke, and again, and I got that round, and then I left the pub. because we had the Eliminator the next day, and I was with 25 Hawkeye boys and girls that worked for Hawkeye. And they booed me out the pub because I left early. I've never been booed for leaving a pub early in my life.

I've never left the pub before anyone else. Yeah. Never been seen before. Yeah, I got booed leaving the pub, which was a blow, really. That's it for my sticky note. Yeah? Anything on yours? I've just done mine.

As in anything else? Oh, right, no. No more TV shows. And we've got time for like two emails, do we reckon? I've got one here, Alex. Oh, who do you want to go upstairs with? Oh, I lent Anna Harris some conditioner yesterday. Great story, actually.

Should have been on my sticky note. Got a text. You got any conditioner? I said, yeah. Come to 801. There's a knock on the door. I've just got out the shower. I'm in my braring pants.

I answer the door, and I lean round to give my bottle of conditioner to her. She went, no, I just put it in the cup. So she brought her own cup. So I was like, right, okay, so I have to open the door. And I'm just there stood in front of Anna Harris in my brawring pants, conditioning her into a cup. Did she boo you? She didn't boo me.

She had a luscious locks yesterday. What's going on with this golf day? We've got it book now. We've got some golf balls. Yeah, we've got our golf day book. So Chris Sykes, we need a cameraman. I'm going to just get, because this group is actually brilliant. It's called the Fantastic Four.

Yep, obviously. And Anna has bought golf balls. Where's the camera? With our faces, names on it. It says, no balls the cricket podcast. And then it says, Players versus the umpires. Stop talking so they can not.

There you go. Amazing. It's happening. It's happening. 18th of 17th? 17th of September. So Anna and her lusiously conditioned her. Let's go upstairs with her.

Bring more gear. Welcome to the world of Defender, with seeding 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. I've got one here from Ed. It says, Dear Alex and Kate slash Kate and Alex, I coached junior cricket and before the season started, I told our under 13s, I expected them. to know their own bowling well enough to set their own fields. How old or in which age group were you when you and your teammates were allowed

slash encouraged to set your own fields? Is this an important part of learning about yourself as a bowler if bowling to your field is an effective mode of bowling? Well, I actually played cricket and got in the Lanks Academy before I knew the fielding positions. So John Stanwyth told me

I wasn't allowed to go to training the week after unless I'd learn all the fielding positions. I think I remember this day. Yeah, so I got them on a t-shirt. Yes, I do you remember. I remember testing you on them. Yeah. And I was like, right, that's mid-off. That's long off. That's, yeah, mid-wicket. I'm not going to lie, Ed. Under 13s feels young to be expecting people to know how to bowl to a field. Yeah. I think you've got another fielding positions. Yeah. But I would say when you get to

like 15, 17, that's when you start taking on the responsibility. I think I was older than that. I think this is something that I really struggled with probably until I was 32? I would, genuinely, mid-20s. Yeah, okay. 22, 23.

Because even when I first made my debut for England I wasn't setting my own field in, I knew how to bowl to a field but I wasn't confident to come in and say I want X, Y, Z. Really? And I'm going to do this. Interesting. I was different to that, I knew.

But I could only really have square leg deep midwicket long on long off. Yeah. That's an interesting 13 does feel really young for that Yeah, I'm me As an extra question Did you slash and or your teammates

Have any trademarks or quirks About your field settings My scene bowl is like a short mid-off About 15 or 16 yards from the bat And we've been the only team To have someone in that position this season Thanks Ed I like quirky field settings

We saw Harry Brook in the 100 Go to short leg for one ball I love that It puts pressure on the batter What about Harry Brooke has really impressed me As captain actually because he had a field for Kieran Pollard at Hedinley

where he had a very, very, very straight mid-on, a long on that was very straight, almost sight screen. But the mid-on in the ring was hilarious because it was Graham Clark and he just didn't know what to do. He'd never fielded there before. He didn't know if you could walk him because he's behind the bowler's arm. So he almost looked a bit like a competition winner. Bit like a second umpire.

He just stood with his hands by his side because he didn't want to move. So he wasn't going to do anything if the ball came to him because he just had his hands by his side. But it was really quite funny. but thinking outside the box ultimately might have meant that Pollard was out. I don't think it was, but...

I like Quirky Fields. I think they should be encouraged. I think you should do anything and everything to put the batter off. Under 13s? Maybe keep it simple. I actually do keep it simple. I think that's our motto in this podcast,

isn't it? Keep everything simple and bowl straight. And now we're saying have a square leg and a short leg in a... No, yeah, definitely at that age, keep it simple. This one's called presenting and commenting. Hi, Alex and Kate, Kate and Alex and everything in between.

Congrats on everything you have both achieved in the 100 this year and the cricketing summer in general. I wanted to ask about TV and radio work and specifically how does the prep you do before a live game change if you're presenting compared to commentating? And is there any difference in prep for TV and radio?

That's from George. Firstly... That's for you because I've not done any presenting. But you did. You did the Match Hero. A Match Hero Award, make out Match Hero. Yeah, you did that. You were nervous for that, weren't you? Your first time was so nerve-wracking, isn't it? You're like shaking the microphone.

I was more worried that it goes around the ground, and I hated the thought of the whole of Trent Bridge listening to me, even though people listen on telly. They're not real because you don't see them. But Owen Morgan was really brilliant that day. He just took me under his wing, and he was like, put both your ears in, because it's like noise cancelling,

so put both your ears in. And he was just great. He helped me hand up my interview. Good. Presenting and commenting. So commentating, you need your research on the players, So you need to know stats and, you know, you need to know how they've gone in previous games. You need to be able to react to what the commentator is saying, so summarising, sorry.

Presenting is just a whole different gravy where it's just so chaotic. You've got to know everything. You've got to know your intro to the hello and welcome to Manchester. Today it's game 32 of the 100. We've got Manchester originals versus Northern Superchargers. So you've got to remember all of that. But then you've also... You can have that written down, though, can you?

You can have your notepad? I had my clipboard, my comfort blanket. But you've also got to remember your links into things. So if we're talking about you and we're talking about Kate Cross, I've got to be like, okay, so Kate Cross, why has she been so good this year? She's got 11 wickets for the superchargers and then Finney would take over and explain why you've been so good.

It's just two completely different jobs. Yeah, two different jobs. So how long would you need before a presenting day versus a commentating day to prep? Both a day. Take a day for both, really. I think for a test match I'd probably prep for a day and a half just to make sure, especially when, you know, this England series against Sri Lanka, I haven't seen Sri Lanka play since, you know, White Bowl World Cup.

So I need to know their last, you know, test matches and how they've gone against the lions and who's in, who's out, you know, know the breaking news that Dick Weller's not here because he's been banned or suspended. And then for presenting day, just get your head down the night before, go through the running order and take all morning that morning to get your head around it. Nice. So a lot, there's method to the madness. Right, this one looks fun, so shall we finish on this?

Yes. Okay, it's called Late to the Party, and it is from Sarah. Hi, Alex and Kate slash Kate and Alex. I have a confession to make. I'm late to the nobles party. My wife, Mel, who's an OG listener, has been telling me about your pod for ages, and I finally gave it a listen and obviously loved it. I'm still about a year behind, and I'm listening in order because I'm not a psychopath. But I've got some LVWs and a Nick.

So for anyone who doesn't know, an LBW is? A little bit weird. Context? Oh, and an LBW and cricket is when you get it. No, no, no. It's something that you do or someone else does that is a little bit weird, but we linked it to cricket because it says LBW in it, and that's how it's loosely linked to cricket.

Well done, Alex. And we know what icks are. My ick is that I can't stand it when people scrape their teeth on metal. Oh, me too. When someone is eating a meal and teeth touches cutlery, the sound just goes through me. You do it. Yeah, sometimes put your teeth on the fork,

and I'm like, I don't know what to do. I also have a question. I was gutted that the fire lost the 100 final this year and loved Alex's skirt. Oh my gosh, you've not mentioned the skirt. We need to talk about the conversation we had about the skirt. Loved Alex's skirt for the occasion. How gutted were you, Alex?

And do you wish you'd been out there with them? Sorry, you didn't make the final crossy, but we did get to see you against Trent Rock. and we had a brilliant day and that's from Sarah. P.S. Toaster on the side and wash the bread knife every time. Yes, Sarah, you can stay.

I was living every moment of it. Like, I was actually behind the sky pod getting ready to go and do my winners pitchwalk with the teams, which I absolutely loved doing. And I lived every moment. I obviously wanted the fire to win, but I wasn't gutted in the slightest. Like, no, one part of me was like...

I wanted to be there. I wanted to be there. No, I don't want to be playing anymore. I can't think of, you know, anything worse than actually bowling in front of 22,000 people anymore. And then it was literally, oh, well, the fire have lost, right, I've got to interview as many London Spirit girls as possible.

So it was a case of like, okay, switch back on to work. Yeah. So, no, I was, you know, now I'm, I wish fire had won and I was gutted for them, but ultimately, I personally, I don't actually care. Nice. Sorry, fire. But the skirt. But you wore the skirt, right?

So you sent me a picture of you wearing the skirt. Here you are. Great skirt. I actually got the colours nailed on. didn't I? So you just said, my skirt, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, in a picture. So I've put the laughing crying face

and gone, oh, have you got a different top? I think it'd probably look okay with a vest. I've not twigged that this is for the fire. And you were like, I'm actually laughing, not wearing a vest because you didn't like how the vest looks. So I was like, oh, maybe it looks okay. And you thought, I can deal with okay. And I was like, yeah, like quirky doesn't match,

but it's actually cool, if you know what I mean? And he said, to be fair, it's all just for a laugh. I'm going to get changed if they lose. And I was like, oh, it's, for the fire. Yeah. Well, I just thought you had a really bad outfit on.

But the outfit went down so well. Like, everybody loved it. So it was quirky and looked cool. It was quirky and looked cool. And you just didn't know that I was actually taking the... Yeah. So I just said maybe mention early on that it's for the fire and you said, yeah, I mentioned it straight away, good advice.

I said to JJ, Jess Jonathan. I said, oh, it's weird. We're wearing the same outfit today. Guys, we're going to call it a day because I've got working 45 minutes and I'm hungry and we're going to get some food. So don't forget to email us on. Balls Podcast at BBC.com.com.com.com. It's so good. It's so good. They said it twice. You're even Mike twice. What a time to be alive. Oh, yeah. Look at this. Two mics.

Two Mike cross. Unlucky about being the hat-trick ball again. Oh, shut up. Bye. Cross. I'm doing round the wicket. Oh, that's... Boulder. Boulder. Laving a ball alone. Litchfield. Think it's the wobble ball. And it just nips back. It jags back. It's the nipacker. That is a beautiful. from Kate Cross, an absolute seed. That is a beautiful cross. This is the story of one of the biggest football clubs in the world,

Paris Saint-Germain, and how two teammates became bitter enemies. They spent holidays together. Kara and Aminata was friends. That rocked the club to its foundations and left lives, careers and reputations in ruins. They want to stop my career. The police is talking about her. It's absolutely shocking. Join me, Maisie Adam, for sport's strangest crimes

of French football scandal. Betrayal, plots. We've gone beyond women's football in France. Listen on BBC Sounds.