Test Match Special - No Balls: The Cricket Podcast – Anya Shrubsole’s retirement party

Episode Date: September 4, 2023

Cricketers Kate Cross and Alex Hartley chat to former England teammate Anya Shrubsole to talk through her time in the game, including finishing with a trophy at Lord’s.

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It is actually so that your family can all listen. Your kids can listen. But we will say... Sugar. That's not a way of it. I nearly said a really bad one. Cross, I'm doing round, the wicket. Boulder, boulder, leaving a ball alone, Litchfield.

I 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, an absolute seed. That is a beautiful cross. Hello and welcome back to No Balls, the cricket podcast, with me, Alex Hartley, you, Kate Cross, how are you? You know what, Al? I've had a tough week. We've had a big old tough week in the international cricket world, and I'm doing okay. Yeah, it's not gone how we imagined.

No, it's really not. And also, I remember we spoke in the last episode about me coming back. I knew at the time I was going to play the T20 series. Obviously, can't give that information out. And we were optimistic. you really made me upset the other day actually not only not with your bowling because I was like that's fine that's fine but when you text me saying

I'm going to start believing what people say about me and I was like crossy don't you dare yeah but when you've waited four years like four years out to play an international T20 and you're not in the team because people tell you you're either no good with the new ball or you're not good at the death or not good enough at the day or whatever, you're not good enough to make the 11.

You do start to believe in, and then I thought, right, I've got my chance, and I've been absolutely pumped everywhere. Like, there's nothing I can say because you have, but what I can say is Hove was a wet ball, dead game. I forgive you for that. The other day... Well, it wasn't a dead game,

because they only won by 13, right? Hit two, fours, three, fours. But no, wet ball, wet ball. Yeah. But the previous game just gone, like, you're not going to see it like this, but Atu Patu just had a day out. And you're going to be like, I'm rubbish, I can't do it, and I know, because I've done it before, you've done it before,

but it was Atu's day. I know, and I do know that some of my good balls got hit before, and I know some of my bad balls got hit before as well. but you just like it's so funny how quickly you can go from like feeling 10 out of 10 from the 100 to them feeling like gosh you really don't belong here like it's so quick it's like it's been a week it's so quick and obviously like if I get the opportunity to play on Wednesday at Derby then I'll do everything I can to like be better because I do know that at Chelmswood I was probably a bit too predictable with the new ball but I don't know it's just it's crazy how quickly it all

around like you the the road we talk about the roller coaster a lot but the rollercoaster she didn't have a bad day in the hundred your worst day was probably the eliminator but yeah that was your worst day the eliminator yeah but then you go oh it's fine because she's had one bad day in the last six weeks she's going to come into international cricket find a groove but that just shows the pressure of international cricket and the difference in mindset especially when you've been so desperate to get into a team yeah I'm So anyway, I'm okay. How are you? I really. I've never been better, to be honest.

I'm retired. I'm happy. I'm fat and happy. Good. I've joined a gym today because I looked in the very yesterday. I thought, Jesus, Christ, Hartley, you are not well. I've got a double chin. I've got massive boobs. I've got love handles. I've got thick thighs. I'm like, sort that out. So I've joined the gym. So I'm going to...

Proud of you. Well done. But also you retired, doesn't matter. No skin, so fitness testing. do it for me it's for me do it for you do it for you um i've got purple hair because i had yet another shocker um last week it's bruises on my head this week it's purple hair i just think my life's going to be a bit of a disaster but i'm i'm for it right with it right to ride the wave ride the wave i want to talk to you about you and each year just always turning up in the same year it's getting a bit weird so a couple of weeks ago we've all had pin stripes and we're both in

green jackets um yesterday i'd send up orange pants black top not one those orange pants since the very start of the summer when I was doing the TV highlight. So I was like, perfect, sat down, I was eating a bag of crisps. And here she'd go, I went, are you joking me? And I went, salt and vinegar crisp for breakfast. What's wrong with that? And she went, no, I've got orange pants and a black jacket. I was like, I was like, no.

And when we say we were identical, we were literally identical. You literally were. The picture's amazing. Yeah, it's embarrassing, really. It just looks like you had a uniform for the day. Yeah. Yeah. Did you hear Jimmy say, yeah.

Yeah, me and Lokesy are matching today, but we didn't get dressed in the dark. I was like, thank you. Yeah, well, it's hard to question someone's fashion who's not dressed identically to someone next year. Yeah, yeah. Are you going to start texting each other now and just make sure you're not colour-coordinated? No, I think we've got to keep it. Yeah, I like it.

Keep it weird. We used to do this, though. Do you don't remember with our socks? We'd always wear the same socks. Yeah, like our Tuesday socks on a Wednesday. Yeah, but it wasn't a Tuesday. Yeah, we just had socks, or we just wear it? Remember in Perth when we were out there,

you were playing cricket out there, and I just went out there and we rocked up in the exact same outfit, like the same t-shirt, the same jeans, and we were like, what is going on? Oh, what is going on? We're spending too much time together. That was when we went to watch a horse show. It was very strange.

And we watched the sheep. We watched the sheep getting sheared. That was a good time. A simpler time. Yeah, a happier time. I've got nothing on my sticky note, but before we go to our guests, I just want to make a,

sorry, say a sorry, to a girl in the crowd who has made us some signs recently. She came to a lot of the hundred games and she'd been making us some nice bracelets. And she came to watch us play at Chelmsford the other day and I'd just been hit for six to lose the game. And she gave me a bracelet and it's, I don't know if you can see it. It's this top one. B S, B.S. B.G. Bold straight, be great. Be great.

The timing couldn't have been. It couldn't have been worse and I tried to I did try to smile and I said thank you but internally I was pissing myself because it couldn't have died of any worse whoops

so yeah thank you but I'm really sorry for my reaction because I had just had one of the worst days in my international career yeah um should we got I'm set for my specky catch what a cat you need to send me that picture actually it was off a no-ball so don't count

but um Shall we go speak to our guests because we had around for ages and we're just wasting less time here? Yeah, because we're talking about socks. Yeah. Let's go. Everyone, I'm so excited to say that we finally have World Cup superhero and just all-round legend, Anya, recently retired onto the podcast.

How are you, Annie? I am. Good, thank you. How are you both? Very well, thank you. I'm excited, Annie, because you've put your feet up, you've retired from cricket, you're actually a legend, and you've retired with a trophy. How are you? I'm really good.

I can highly recommend retired life. Sorry, talking to me there because Al has retired as well. Alex, you've seen the light as well. Yeah, mostly you cross seats. It's really great, thank you. Having a lovely time. So, God, what have you been doing since Sunday, since the final? What have I been doing? I've been to see the foot surgeon to get the toe sorted out.

So that's put in for early October. That was agenda number one. Dean, I've got a, how old is she now? Just over three-month-old niece, and she had a kind of a slightly less version of a christening because her parents aren't religious, but we have some religious people in the family. So that was, had that yesterday, which was really lovely. Yeah, and just generally, you know, milling around. Having time at home, milling around, it's great. You couldn't have finished in a better way, to be honest, Anya, could you?

Everyone was saying the fairy tale for Anya, we were trying to stop that. We were like, no, Anya cannot have a fairy tale, but you had it. How was it finishing with the trophy and that night? Oh, it was amazing. Obviously, we got to the final twice, lost twice. And I always think that sport's just not that, sport's not that kind. Because obviously, I knew I was retiring from international cricket

at the end of the World Cup, and obviously that would have been lovely if we'd have won, but like I say, sport is not that kind. So, and I won't lie, at eight for two, I was like, oh. Here we go again. I was like, I literally sat there in the dug out thinking, surely we can't do this again.

So I think at that point, I definitely had a thought. I was like, oh, well, this isn't going to go well, is it? But luckily Danny Wyatt remembered how to bat and George Adams and Freckham, et cetera, et cetera. So, yeah, it was pretty special. Did you ever allow yourself to think about the fairy tale finish? Or are you just like, Sunday's my last game, I know I'm done, get me off this cricket pitch? I probably did.

Like, I'm not, I would say I'm not on the whole and overly kind of emotional. person, not necessarily an overly sentimental person, but of course I thought about it. I think you wouldn't be, you wouldn't be human if you, if you didn't. But mostly I was thinking about it in terms of like, I just want to bloody win this trophy. I've won everything else. So that more that I've been at Lords twice to watch the Invincibles lift that giant age. And I was like, oh, I just want to win. Is it as heavy as it looks?

like so in my opinion impractically heavy okay because you did have to sort of waddle it across the pitch yeah it's heavy it's bulky it's like I think it should be smaller I got told off and the the main like the initial trophy lift when I then had to do it again so I was like you need to hold it upright so that we can see the age

because I'd like to flip it because heavy and he was like, you need to hold it more upright so the photographers can see the H. I was like, okay, cool, thanks. Thanks for the feedback. I saw Belly the next day, and she was like, my biceps are really sore. And I was like, it's probably because you were dragging that trophy

into every TikTok that you've ever made all night. Belly did not want to be separated from that trophy at any. Every time I turned around, I was like, oh, Belly's got it. They're talking about being separated from the trophy. Is it true you took it home? No, I was going to. but then as we were about to get on the bus Pat our security liaison guy was like

I'm pretty sure we're supposed to leave the trophy like it says in an email somewhere we need to leave the trophy at Lord as I'm like barely like manhandling it onto the bus I was going to take it home for a couple days I was like why not but there we have to be absolutely otherwise I don't know with someone

yeah and me and I were talking yesterday when we're planning this podcast that the 2017 bowling attack now basically it's done you've all retired in the same week yeah it is isn't it and also like so I knew that you had both retired and you were going to retire

I was like but I really want to retire I don't want to yin and yang and Tweedle Dumas over here retiring together not at all I was like oh shit I was like but I cannot possibly think about playing another game of cricket sorry, Anya, that I went, you're a legend, you and Brunty, both legends of the game,

and I just tried to go under the radar. So are you? Have you spent to Catherine? Everyone is part of that World Cup winning team, like, he's automatically get good status. What a world club. I mean, you do. Yeah. Have you spoke to Catherine, Anya?

I haven't yet. No, I obviously saw her when we played them, but I haven't spoken to her yet. And, like, I'm pretty gutted for her that it kind of ended. how it did obviously being injured and stuff like that that's kind of not the way you want it to go and she'd obviously had a pretty decent break from from cricket and the way that she plays her cricket makes her an injury risk what she needs to learn is what you need to do is bowl not bat and stand at short third foot and you're way less likely to get injured do you tell katherine brunt to do that yeah did you only bat the once and that was against us the game

you beat us when you shouldn't beat us. Yeah, and I kicked it for one, yeah, that was the only game. I think I've maybe got my pads. The thing is, I'm carded at nine, but as soon as there's only a few balls to go, like I just sat next to a lot and go, should we just send someone, we'll send someone else in, so I just send someone an answer. Even in that game against you, we said reeing before me. The logic being we needed, well, we needed someone who could run, and I cannot run.

Anya, you're an athlete. You know, you're winding down, actually. Yeah. Yeah. Was it always your plan? You obviously retired from international cricket after the World Cup. Was it always your plan to retire this year from everything? Or could you have carried on?

Um, I think after I, after I retired from international cricket, I always kind of planned to carry on playing. But last season when I was playing, so I played the kind of CEC for Vipers, and we were playing some warm-up games for, um, some 50-over warm-up games. And A-I of stood in the field in a warm-up game playing with almost exclusively age... It was like me, Georgia Adams, and 18-year-olds,

and I was up for my life. And it was raining. What am I doing with my life? So I kind of had a bit of a moment around 50-over cricket there. But also, something happened with my knee that then made the 100 last year really quite unpleasant. So I kind of said to myself after last season, from the 100 to, I don't know,

April, April, May, I didn't play any cricket at all. So I thought, well, I'll see how things go from August to April, see if I can get my knee in a decent place, see how things go. And then I got to, I was kind of getting back into cricket to play 2020 cricket again for the Vipers. And I got like hamstring tendinitis flared up, my knee flared up again. To be fair, though, Ania, like you've, your career has always been injuries. not always injuries. I know there's some really good stuff in there as well, but you've always had to battle with the injuries.

Like, how many times do you think in your head over the years you've thought this injury is going to end it and I'm done? But actually you've come back. I think a lot of them. Like I struggled, I think initially, like when I was younger, I struggled a lot with kind of muscle injuries of like side strains and stuff like that. I think lots of the stuff later on as being kind of more joint stuff. I've had problems with my joints.

I've had a condition that, kind of inflammatory condition that made things difficult. So, but they're always easier to manage because I don't wish to diminish it, but that's just pain. Like I'm not going to cause any more damage. It's just kind of pain. And that's like, it's not okay, but that's okay. I could kind of deal with that. But I think more in the last kind of 18 months, it's just the reason I carried on playing cricket

it was because I enjoyed it and it was something that good at and blah blah blah but the kind of pain element has got to a point where it's just not enjoyable and that's kind of when I knew that like I needed to call it a day

I basically can't train but I think I barely like once the 100 started I didn't train and I think I also know that obviously everyone is training all of the time I am training none of the time so like

they'll get a point where I just won't be very good and I don't like I don't put for me personally I don't want that to kind of be how I end up because I had definitely had a first game of the season this year I stood at the top of my mark going not 100% sure I'm exactly know where this is going and that was really horrible feeling I was like having had so many years of being like I'm like I feel very in control I know what's happening I've stood there and I thought oh this could go anywhere but people are people won't actually know what you went through in your career because I remember the 20 World Cup in Australia you were waiting for the toss to happen at every game and then if we were bowling you were running in to see the doctor to get a numbing injection in your foot

before every single game and like people just didn't no one has a clear that that's what you're putting yourself through every time you put your England shirt on yeah and I wouldn't like massively recommend that as a course of action I knew I was having I knew I was having surgery

kind of when I got back from that to fix the issue. But yeah, that was not a fun time. But yeah, I'd just do as much as I could do. Was it not at, oh, God, we're bowling. We could get it. Well, no, it doesn't really matter because I had to have it at some point. So actually, if we were bowling first, I could get it done, get out there. And the only benefit it had is it meant my warm up was restricted to like 20 minutes, which.

Perfect. Which is perfect. Don't actually need a warm up for longer than that anyway. That's testament to you, though, I knew, isn't it? Because, you know, you're going through all these injuries, you keep coming back, and you've played through injuries, and now you've played through pain, just shows, like, the sort of character you are.

And when people have asked, you know, what's on you like? And everyone said all these lovely things. But actually, you're tough as well. You are, you're a tough cookie, aren't you? Oh, I try to be. But I think that's also the nature of sport, and I guess you can argue whether that's, kind of right or wrong or what that's like I said I always have a question where I'd say

is it going to is this going to cause me more kind of damage and if the answer is no then it becomes a question of pain and you kind of you make choices there so we were thinking about what we can ask you because you'll probably have done a million interviews in the last week about retirement and cricket and we're trying to think about what we could ask you that no one's asked you and we came up with the question what do you want to talk about ania what does Anya shrubs all want to come on nobles and talk about because we know that you've had the same conversations over and over again and we don't want that we want to be different so what is

go on anna what do you want to talk well it's on your mind god what's on my mind well would you like to know how I spent the last few days how my last couple of we'll call them training sessions yes loosely training sessions how I prepared to play in the 100. Yes, please. If you like to know, because I think you're going to enjoy this story. So about a two-minute walk from my house

is the local village cricket club. And on their square, let's be generous, they have an astro strip. Because I live to where I work and where I train is Southampton, which is about two and a half hours away. So it's quite a long way for me to go and just do like bowl a few overs. So there's an astro strip. So I went out onto the astro strip.

I put a shoe at one end, shoe at the other end. I had a couple of incredibly balls. And I bowled. And my partner and my dog fetched the balls for me and threw them back. The ultimate professional. I love it. Possibly not the most professional way to prepare, but I had to do what I had to do.

It's either. Drive two and a half hours to bowl four overs. or utilise what I had available to me. Did you need the dog? Did you need the dog because your partner couldn't catch? No, no, just he needed a walk. I'm real honest, he was really enthusiastic for about an overt, and then he got tired, so he took one of the balls and laid down and chewed it.

So he was actually useless. He was like, oh, this actually is a really boring game. I don't wish to play anymore. And look how you're prepared. I love that. And everyone now, everyone now playing club. cricket or whatever the standard of cricket is going to be like if any shrugthole can do it or win a trophy i'm going to do it i think you should suggest it to mace whenever you see him

next yeah when he says i'm going to go to all of these plans to save mace don't need it i've got a shoe for stumps i need a dog and ask for an incredible i mean just find a person it doesn't have to be a partner just find a person it will pop the ball and throw it up the ball and you've been trying to find a partner for 15 years i'm not going to find one to throw a cricket ball back for me but you never know someone might be yeah maybe Maybe it's the bit you've been missing. It's a turning point. What's next for Anya Shrubsal, so you put your feet up.

Are you going to carry on coaching? Like, what is life for Ania like next? I'm actually, I think I will always kind of be around cricket. And that will always be something that's kind of there. But I'm actually kind of at the end of the season going to I guess the best way to say it is kind of take a little bit of a break from cricket. I think, as both of you know, it's a very particular way of life, even at a kind of regional level and stuff like that. It's a very particular way of life and one that I've really enjoyed and has really worked for me, but kind of one I'd like to leave, I guess, for a bit.

I think obviously having your kind of life determined by, and your schedule determined by someone else's schedule, like all of those kind of things. Even if you're, even if you're with a regional team, as I have been, the training days are set by someone else and the match days of the match days. You're kind of stuck to England a bit the whole summer

and all of those kind of things. So, I mean, it's pretty random, but I'm actually retraining as a, I'm going to retrain as a financial advisor and kind of set up my own business and kind of and just try a different way of life I guess I'm going to go from absolutely zero flexibility to all the flexibility in the world so anyone any financial advice in approximately seven months let me know I'll be texting you're basically going back to school for a bit going back to school and I'm a bit of a bit of a nerd and I love

learning so it actually really kind of suits me however I don't love learning what I'm learning at the moment, it is sinfully boring. I reckon you're good with money anyway. Financial services of regulation is not fun. But once I get through that, it'll be okay. So, I mean, I can't imagine, because I've always thought, and I've finished, I'll always have cricket in my life. And obviously, Al, you're still doing your commentary.

But I can't imagine what it'll be like to not have cricket and to just go and do a different life for a little bit. it excite you? It does really excite me and I think like yes the kind of the kind of pain element really not force my hand with retirement but did to a degree

I think like I said before actually there's lots going into it there's just kind of life and wanting a different kind of lifestyle than I think that cricket affords with the kind of scheduling and all of that sort of stuff but I always think I'll be around

I'm sure in the summer I'll commentate on a few games and let's be honest so. I'm hoping the majority of my clients are going to be cricketer. So I'm never going to, like, and I obviously love cricket, like, if Motty messaged me and said, oh, we're doing this, like, can you come down and help for, like, of course I would do that. Like, cricket will always be there, but for the foreseeable future, it's going to be more of a kind of background there than a foreground there. Yeah. So you're going off the

radar for seven months, then you'll be back. Yes and no. Still here. And then you'll be going, Al, stop spending all your money. Even when I am playing cricket, I go off the radar in between. Yeah, you do. Very cheap.

And yeah, I don't want to make this podcast about someone else, but I just want to ask about Lottie for a second because you work with her at Bipers, you work with her at Southern Brave, and you went over to the Sixers and worked with her over there. why is she so successful? How is she doing this? It's a very good question.

I think she, like in terms of the, I guess the franchise tournaments and stuff like that, I think she recruits really well. And I think that I definitely think that there's a kind of Charlotte Edwards factor. I think people want to play in teams that she coaches because she is successful and she obviously her kind of legacy

that she has from her playing days, legacy that she has from her coaching days. I think people want to like, I think as a youngster, like I'm trying to think, if I was a youngster and Charlotte Eb was wrung me up and said, I'd love for you to come and play at Southern Brave, I'd be like, yes, brilliant, I'm yelling. So I think she definitely has that factor,

which means she's able to recruit good teams. Like, there's no doubt that Sixers team is very good. Not necessarily by her. Southern Brave were very good. Like, the teams are good. So that obviously... When you look at her teams, though, like, so obviously with Boo,

she's like mentored her for a representative. toured her for a very long time. But I always look at her teams and go, steady eddies. Everyone, you've got some superstars, obviously, but everybody is a steady eddy, but they can bat, they can ball, they can field. And I think that's shown throughout this 100, because we came into the 100 and was like,

bloody hell their bowling attacks, not all that. And then actually, everyone's been brilliant because everyone, you know, Mary Taylor came on the scene and was outstanding. You're obviously always going to be outstanding, belly outstanding. But it was the people that chipped in and I don't know. Do you know what I'm trying

to say? Yeah, I do. But I think what like if you look specifically at Southern Braves, you look down that team and everyone had a role, like everyone had a really clear role and everyone was playing in the role that they would ordinarily play in by by and large. Like I look around at some of the

other teams and you have some people who are batting at 7, 8 and 9 who don't bowl, barely ever bat. Like they're essentially fielders. They don't really you have a role in that team or you have someone who ordinarily bats at five who's opening the batting or stuff like that. I think if you look down that Southern Brave lineup

and I think she does it elsewhere, like our top three, our top three batters, that's where they're all of the time. Same with our middle order, like, and then we had a couple of all-rounders, then you have followed. Like everyone played a part and was an outstanding wicketkeeper who is much better than a number 10

batter and I think she will be in time, but everyone had a really clear role and played a big part. I wouldn't say we had any kind bit part people in there. Yeah. No, that's true. And I think that's a massive thing. And it's something you notice sometimes, you suddenly have someone who's batting at seven in regional cricket

who then opens the batting in the 100. And I'm thinking, that's just not going to work. And it's not going to work. So I do, like, she's good at kind of compiling squads and making sure that everyone's got that kind of rolling. And she just gives people a huge amount of confidence. She's very straightforward. She's very different to how she was when she played,

and she'll admit that. she's more relaxed than she was when when she played but she's very clear you know where you stand and if you if you stay on the right side of that line you'll get on like an absolute house on fire you step the wrong side of that line and and she's not afraid to kind of give you that feedback and I think people like that kind of boundaries I guess I think I think boundaries are important like you've got to know how you're kind of expected to behave how expected to train and and she does that as well as any coach i've come across i think in women's cricket there's that fine line isn't there because it often i got feedback from coaches that have

been in the men's game that women's sport generally is more emotion you're going to get people crying but you always ask for honesty and i think sometimes with emotion people shy away from honesty because they don't like to make people cry but actually if she's willing to do that then like you said those boundaries are so clear yeah and she does it she goes into it She kind of goes into it going, I think there's going to be tears. So she almost goes into it, knowing that that's going to happen. And obviously she's got a massive grounding in women's cricket. She knows what it's like.

She's been around it since probably she was born. A bit like you. Yeah, exactly. So she knows all of that, but she just deals with it really well. And actually, do you know what? When you've got someone who's honest, you've got someone who's straightforward and all of that, you end up actually, not that emotion's a bad thing, but you end up getting less emotion because people know where they stand.

they know what's okay, what's not okay, what they need to do. And lo and behold, when people are like that, they're less emotional. Yeah. Well, we've said in the past, like, from previous coaches, all you want is honesty. That is all you want. And if it's shit, but it's honest, you can get your head round it. If you get airy, fairy reasons, you start to question it, of you. Well, you want things to be able to go away and work on.

You won't construct it. And sometimes it is, player X is better, is, like, You're in competition with Player X and they're a bit better than you. And you go, okay, how do I get better? You get good, clean. What you want is something to go away and work on. You've got that. Then you kind of left thinking, well, what on earth am I going to, like where do I actually go from here?

I said we don't want to talk about anyone else. We just spoke about someone else for a bit. So I'm going to bring it back to you, Anya. I'm much happier talking about other people. So I know you are. I know you are. So I'm going to make you really uncomfortable now. We could talk about all the brilliant bowling performances,

but everyone knows about them. So I want to take you back to Eden Park, 2022, World Cup, 50 over World Cup. Yes, we needed five to win, nine down. Might have been like an eight or nine or something like that book. Tell me what you're thinking when you walk out to back, because we needed to win that game to stay in the World Cup. like I was so I knew that I was I knew I knew I was retiring at the end of the World Cup and and a couple of other people knew a few people probably suspected but I knew like I knew heading out on that whole talk so we're obviously there for what felt like most of our adult life months months I knew going out to Australia for the ashes that I was like I'm pretty sure this is going to be my last talk and and kind of across the ashes, I was like, yeah, this is definitely it.

So I knew going into the World Cup, that was going to be it. So, obviously, like, I was walking out about being like, A, absolutely furious. I was like, how the hell are we in this situation? Like, we're walking again, again. What's what's what I'm doing? And then I've just kind of my overriding feeling was like, I was like, this is not how my international career is ending. I refuse to let this game.

and how, like, I refuse to, like, because I follow up on an absolutely drain as well. I was like, I refuse to let this be how my international career is going to win. Like, this is no. Who was the little dibly doubler who kept getting wickets? And I was going, what is going on? Haley Jensen. Yes. No, it wasn't Haley.

No, it wasn't. I can picture her. She bats left her. Holiday. Yeah, Brooke Halliday. Holiday. She kind of rolled off the wrong foot. She had like a little hop.

Yeah. And she kept getting wickets. And I was like, no, she can't knock England out the world. The blind had gone in the park. on in the back, in the back inning. So she couldn't field or bowl. So Halliday had to bowl. And then, yeah, God.

So, yeah, that was, I remember that being my overriding feeling, being like, this cannot be. This cannot be how my career is going to end. My international career is going to end at Eden Park when we've lost like eight for minus two. It was a bad day. It was a bad day. You've done it before with the bat though, Bristol, 2017. I love a little, I love a little cameo at the end.

Yeah, love it. You know me. I love all the glory. Yeah. It's all about you all the time. I love the attention. I love the attention. So, yeah. That's why.

That's why you took all those wickets at the World Cup final because you're like, I won the attention for the rest of my life. But yeah, that was, that was the best, that was the best extra cover drive. Because normally when I drive, it goes behind point. That was the best extra cover drive ever. Even I was like, oh my God. Yeah. We were, we were not fine, Cossie.

Well, both of you actually is a lower order about it. Like you play a shot and you're like, that was. like that felt really good like really technically good and then you watch it back and you're like no it wasn't yeah feet went nowhere just somehow at the middle of my bat

yeah I don't think I've ever hit one I've never hit one never hit one out of the middle yeah yeah it always feels better than it looks but like as me and you where I went to scoop you last year

in the hundred and nearly landed on the keeper's head I was like that's got to look good and I watched it back I thought oh no that is why I am number 11. I also feel like I'm better than I actually am at batting. And I don't have you to understand, but I'm like, God, I could probably buy a seven, you know. Maybe I used to.

Definitely not anymore. As evidence, by the fact, it gets in the end I'm like, well, she'll send someone else. Yeah, well, that's Captain's privilege. If you don't, if you're not up for it, then just send some youngsters. One of my most hated things in cricket, and it happens quite a lot. And you're in danger territory if you're like eight, nine normally is padding up and not getting in. Hate it. Every time it happens, I'm like, I try really hard not to, like, unpack the kit bag.

I'm like, pats up. And then you don't get it. By the time I've padded up, I'm like, well, I want to get in now because I've made it. Yeah, you want to get in. And, Anya, what are you going to miss most about playing cricket? Um, I think. Padding up. Padding up.

but now one's asked me that I spend most of my time thinking about what I'm not going to miss so I think there's something very how do I say being like good at something is really cool and I'm not to say I don't think I'm good at anything else

or I may not be good at something in the future but obviously like doing something and being really good at it and is a really nice feeling and obviously I'm not going to do that thing again which I'm very comfortable with and very happy with but like it is pretty cool

to be like really good at something like to be really skillful in a particular area and so like that probably is something I'm going to miss to go what's the thing you're going to miss the least well I don't know if I can warm-ups is right up there hate them

One of the really good things about being a captain in the 100 is like there's such a rigmarole around everything that it takes so long. So I start all work and I'm like, oh, I've got to go and toss. And that takes like 10 minutes. By the time the umpires want to talk to you and tell you to like bowl your sets fast for the 50th time and that you're responsible for all of your players. Like by the time they've done that again and you've done the toss and you've done all the interviews, so it's basically time of the game to start. It's great.

But warm-ups is one. Just general faffing and time waste is right up there. You would not believe, well, obviously you two do, but the amount of time that is wasted. Like when we finish a game, we have the debrief. I've packed up my bag and I'm like, right, let's go. And like, some people are still padded up. What are we all talking about? Like, what do we have left to talk about?

Like, let's go. Let's go home. Are you the initial, like, are you the initial instinct? of backpacks then? Was that you? I don't know. I thought it was Jenny Gunn was back back. Both me and Jenny Gunn are like so in the days where they introduced like they took away, I think the bus is back but towards

the back end like there was no bus and it was cars. I thought this is the greatest thing ever. I can finish again. We can have a chat. I can pack my bags and I can leave. And I guarantee I get back to the hotel before some people are even out of their playing kit. Very true. Guaranteed. But we get to the ground like, let's just get into the ground because I'm not someone who does anything particularly

as throughout my career. I don't do anything pre-warm-up because I eat warm-up so I don't believe in warming up to bowl before to warm up so maybe not even bowl first to have to warm up again to bowl like that's not I can't so I do nothing before warm up so we get to the ground like two hours early and I've got an hour of 15 where I'm like yeah what now how many coffees can you have not my rumour pile oh that took two minutes oh have a chat that took another five so yeah just general like faffing and time wasting. The one for me is watching it rain knowing you're not going to play,

but oh, we'll wait around until four because the forecast gets better. I've had a couple of instances this year where we've waited around, despite the fact the forecast has 100% chance of water wall rain. We had one where they went to inspect, while they inspected, I'll never know because it was pouring. They inspecting they're like, we'll have another look in half an hour. I was like, when it will still be raining. the lack of common sense

cricket has a common sense problem yeah it does that's why you should be in charge of cricket I've always thought they should be the Prime Minister of cricket yeah if that's available we'll see speaking of common sense in cricket we can't have you on here without talking about

the most iconic bit of fielding that has ever happened in the history of women's cricket and that involved both two people on my street involved all of us I was bowling I got nicked for four We're in Guwahati, Ania, you're looking a bit confused No, are we in Guwahati? We're still in.

Yeah, we are. We're in, was that Assam, India, very north. I get Nick for four. Any is running from Shortford, races, makes this unbelievable diving stop, keeps it in play. Alex Hartley's rum for 45 to help her out, picks the ball up with

140 the side of the rope. Alex Hartley, everybody. Sorry, Anya. And Anya, your bit of fielding, I have to say, it was probably the best had seen you do for a long time. And I was like, oh, get in, Anya. And I just, I got an absolute borghan from Robb, didn't I? Yeah, it was the worst.

They've never ever seen you do well. I'm glad it was you too involved and not like someone else. Catherine. I've had a few. I remember one with you, Crossie, because I haven't seen you do it for a long time, which is a real shame. Because it's always fun, it's your own throws.

it was freezing you bowed hit back to you through it miles over the keeper's head and I was at third man trying to run around and dive and stop it and I remember there being a clip

of me like getting off the ground and just like giving you staring at me that goes as if to be like what are you doing you did that in the 100 and you're chasing yeah I know

and I was commentating you text me saying I can't believe you I was like oh she's not happy with that well yeah because well I didn't realize it was quite camera, but basically I stood up, turned around and the camera looked at me and I went, for fuck's sakes.

Do you know what? That was in the first game and I was feeling fresh. Get that. The rest of the toilet, I could rather send someone else. That is my favourite bit of camera work when they get that reaction where someone goes, for f***, say, oh, fuck off, it's my favourite.

Yeah, that was me at Trembridge, opening game of the 100. Oh, it was so funny. It was so funny. That's not how I, that's just not. When you're, when you're, when you're, when you're like, this is the problem with batters now. Like, you're like, oh, I'll go to short third or short fine just to hide. No, no. They're like, oh, let's reverse sweep. Let's paddle. Let's do this. And I'm like, no. They're like, they don't want to chase it. Sometimes you're safer at mid-off. I swear to God. Yeah.

I don't think I would be. He took some speckies at mid-off. Hartley, I've seen you roaming the boundary, this comp. Oh my God, I've been a deep cover. I was like, she must be lost out there because, and you're in front of the Western Terrace at one point. I was like, she is brave. And there's actually one this year, right? And I'm at the cover.

It shamps is bowling. And I look at Laura Harris and I went, am I in the right place? I went, I feel like I'm really close. And I was on the ring and I was like, I feel really, really close. I said, the problem is, if it's not in the vicinity of my hip width, it's. I've got no chance one comes at me flat bats at me

it's this far away like seven inches away from my kneecap and I just watch it go for four and shabs are taking it well though Shabs just went looked at me and went it's you it doesn't matter oh oops

right Annie we've had you for longer than we thought we would but there's so much to talk about but we have made a little quiz for you because we know you're very good at quizzes. Oh, I've got the questions. I'll send it to now. Bear with.

You're surprised then, Alex. I forgot. I thought we just did. I forgot to send her the picture. So we were watching something the other day, actually, about you knowing every slag in the history of flags. Very impressive. It was quite sexy, actually, Anya.

Oh, that's partly. Yeah, it was. So are you ready to take on the Anya Shrubesaw's quiz? I am. yeah. Okay. The points don't matter and you can't win anything

upset pride. Well, that's the point. All right. If you win, I'll buy your coffee or a bottle of gin. Much better, thank. They're quite different

levels of expense, those two things. That's right. We've got the no balls budget. We'll work it out. You've got to get five out of five to win. Oh, my word.

Okay. Okay, are you ready? Number one, have you had more five first in one-day cricket or T-20 cricket internationally. I would have to say T-20

that I don't know. You failed. You've sailed already. Oh, no, didn't for you. Oh, no. So in ODI cricket and one in T-20 cricket. Oh, yes. I can answer too soon. I can picture them now. one of them I bowled a 10 over spell

and then was probably injured in India against South Africa in the World Cup and then I got a side strain I'm not surprised 10 overs on the bounce and you've had a shed load of forfeas but that's not a question on the quiz How many forfeas have you had shed load Yes

Actual number How many games in total have you played for England? 100 and 70 something. Give us a number. Seven. Oh. 9.173.

3. That was a great ballpark. Well done. That was so good. Thanks. Okay. You're non from two, but it's okay. Number three. Who has got the higher ODI batting average, Alex Hartley,

Anya Shubesol or Kate Cross? Now, this question came along because I saw your batting average and went, mine's got to be near that. And then so I looked at all of ours and we're all ballpark. We're all very close. Is it like a truck question that's actually going to be Alex Hartley because she keeps getting like one, not out the whole time? She's never got more than one.

out for like not out for like five years or something yeah i only ever got out once which actually annoys me to this day so is it you then because you only ever got out once it's not well the best batter of the three of this is crossy so i'm going to guess crossy that's very nice of yanya and that is a correct answer rodden yeah that innings at bristol will have bumped her up yeah that really got me up it's got me um because before that mine was higher and Crossies. Crossies average is 10.6.1. Anya, yours is 10.55

and mine is 10 on the nose. So in never getting out, you still only scored 10. How many of them are naught, not out, not faced a ball? So many. I want my highest scores 3, not out. And you're averaging 10? Yeah. I love cricket.

Again, no common sense. Love it. How many T20 balls have you faced in your career? I'm just going to throw it out there. I realise I've got the first two role that maybe I could have got right. I was never going to get five out of five. No, I know. You were never getting that bottle of gin.

You might have done. It's an empty. And yeah, if you get a five out of five, I'll buy you a house. How many T20 balls have I faced? 99. Oh! Is it actually? I love it.

I just pulled the mic off the table. I got so excited. Is it actually? Yeah. 99. I can get that right, but I can't say you're telling you about Fipers. Oh, gosh. I've not been as happy for about a week.

That's so good. I've got adrenaline. You know, when you said you're not going to be good at something ever again. This is it. This is it. bit of knowledge about ball's face right

I'm on the high let's ride the way let's go with it watch this be a right old downer how many international wickets have you got all together I feel like I've seen this

but I was going to say you might see this in my head I have 229 but I don't know if that's right do you want to stick with that or are you not quite as good as you think you are I've got 209.

Oh, 27. 227. I'll take that. Anya, I think you win the quiz. Those other two were just bad decisions, you know. Yeah, I honestly think, so getting a question four, right, you win. I reckon I'll probably drop two catches at some point, so it could be 229. I have had plenty of catches dropped.

I'm buzzing about. that. I know, me too. What highlight? Who's about about how many balls you've faced in T20 cricket? When you next get asked what your last high was, forget the World Cup final and the 100 final, it was just getting question number

4 about on the no balls quiz. On the nobles quiz. Okay, I'll remember that. Seen good. So good. And yeah, I think we've got a finish there, yeah. One thing before I do let you go. Best ever moment at cricket ever quickly

well I mean I mean the 27 I mean the 27 World Cup yeah absolutely but a close second is the test match in Perth oh yeah

that was an end great mems I did remember you collapsing in a heap at fine leg yeah I got cramp so I was chasing the wall I got cramp and then the next ball like got top edge towards me and never have I been more to

I was like it was the last wicket as well I was like I will catch this and I will get off the field I just remember us weighing in and weighing out every session crossing we were losing like two kilos a session yeah

we and constantly were in the ice bath between sessions we'd just get our beer off getting the ice bath and then be like I've got to go out again it's only tea break it's only 20 minutes

so was that just due to the heaks I could do with Liza could be like yes the 100's not being kind it was hotel life it's tricky I'm not sure we've laid the hotel for you Alex um Ania thank you so so much

yeah thank you oh it's like thanks for having me if you need any financial advice in six to seven months time let me know I'm there well when we send you the bottle of gin you remember that we did your kindness and if we need help you could do us a kindness yeah

I'm going to say a huge big thank you not on behalf of me and Alex but on behalf of every single person that has ever watched you play cricket because you will have brought so many people so much joy and you'll have inspired so many people to want to go and play cricket and now want to go and bowl at their local park on the Astridor

with the dog and hopefully be a World Cup winner one day. So thank you, Anya. And congratulations on such an outstanding career. Don't be a stranger. We'll see you around, hopefully. Of course you will. Yeah. Thank you.

Hockey surgery goes well. Thank you. Lovely, great, inspiring, just a good egg is Anya Stubsov. Oh, why would we not have had her on sooner? Forget. Yeah. Well, I actually think we had her on very, very early, because I think she had an LBW in one of our, like, first episodes.

And then I think we just thought we've had Anya on, but we obviously hadn't spoke to her in detail about stuff. But I just love her. And actually, the game is going to be lesser for her not being in it now. Yeah, her and Catherine, to be honest, it's going to be weird. It really, like, we obviously spoke about the 2017 bowling attack, but it really is like an era is coming to an end, isn't it? Yeah, yeah.

I mean, they're slightly older, I just can't be asked. Yeah, yeah, there is that. But no, I'm super proud of Anya. She's a gem. She had the fairy tale ending. She couldn't sleep with the trophy, which is a shame. But yeah, we wish are all the best. I think we should also, like, make a bit, blah, blah, blah, we should have a little mention

about the next time we speak on this podcast, you will be in your dirty 30th. That's the end of this week's episode. Goodbye. You are old. Dog crossy, I feel sick. Can't wait, though. We're going to be in Derby to have a nice celebratory pipe. Who? Who? I can't think of anything better, right, than working on my birthday, but also working in Derby. Well, beautiful. It's going to be one to remember.

I can't wait to see you. I feel like I've not seen you properly for ages. and you're going to be 30 next time I see you. Don't forget to No Ballers on. No Both Podcast.com.com.com.com.com.com.com. It's so good. It's so good. They said it twice. She's now old. Oh, I'm 30.

I've been through all this so I can really take the piss. Is it going to hurt? 30's fine. 31's terrible. Oh, okay. 32. Right. Okay, perfect. Bye, everyone. Bye. Cross comes in round the wicket Boulder

Boulder leaving a ball alone Litchfield I 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 An absolute seed

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