Test Match Special - No Balls: The Cricket Podcast - back in the country, baby!

Episode Date: April 19, 2024

Kate Cross and Alex Hartley give their thoughts on the new women's domestic set-up and have tales of their winter adventures. Plus, Alex is becoming a golf person...

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. BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. Hi, everyone. We've got to let you know that we did. sometimes swear on this podcast. But don't let that put you off

because Henry beeps them out, but we might sometimes say shish kebab. Flippin' heck. That's a twid word. Cross. I'm doing round a wicket. Boulder.

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 an absolute seed that is a beauty from cross hello and welcome back to no balls the cricket podcast we're in the studio it's me alex hartley and you freshly cut cake cross not freshly rooted Alex hartley over there that is so bad is it so do you know when i went blonde i thought i'll be able to maintain it my hair's not that dark and then now the roots on it do you know i love the most your grandma's comments on your instagram post she's a savage she's so savage you know when you need to get your hair done

when jean hartley comments on your instagram so i put an instagram up in new zealand with like it was like a little carousel of hair up hair down hair up hair down commentary she just put hair down looks better need to get your hair done definitely hair down or something like that it was so savage Cheers, Grandma. She always comments saying, like, eating again, ha ha. I need to function. How are you? I'm good, thank you. How are you? We're both jet lagged, so let's apologise now for whatever happens in the next 40 minutes.

I think that 30 seconds was a bit rogue anyway. We talked about your grandma. Yeah. Shout out, Jean. She doesn't know how to get it on the podcasts. She knows how to get on Instagram though, so. One of the kinds. Do you remember when she thought that that fan account was me? She was following it and saying that I used to post her.

strange things. She used to be like, does Kate have a crush on you? She always posts things about you. Anyway, she might have a crush on me, but... It might do, maybe. Anyway, how are you? We're back. We're in the studio, we're in the UK. We're on the same time zone. I've honestly missed you. I was thinking last night, I was laying in bed thinking about you. Oh, God. Maybe Jean should be asking you who's got the crush on who? Oh, I'm going for an awakening in life. life, just joking, me and Harry, it's still together. Anyway, it's just taking a weird turn.

And I was thinking about you, and I was like, I actually, I've missed you, but it's only been two weeks. You said that to me, we just met up, and you said, it feels like I've not seen for ages, and I was like, it's been two weeks off. I know. It's because we spent a lot of time together before, just after Christmas. Yeah. Then we saw each other a lot in New Zealand.

Then we didn't. You went on holiday with Harry. I went on holiday with my mum. It rained. I was really hoping we'd be able to be able to be able to be. to merge our holidays as well would have been really good so Harry didn't get on my d'clock

and your mum didn't get on your d'clock. It didn't happen though because you were on the North Island I was on the South Island, you were in a camper van there was no way I was sharing a camper van with you and Harry Oh God, what was that?

There was a top bunk. Harry could have had it. Yeah, fair. But yeah, we're back and it's mad already. Yeah, it is. How are you? I'm good.

I'm good, I'm a bit jet-lagged. We was up at 4.30 this morning. Yeah, I thought you cracked it. Yeah, so I landed 24 hours before you. I messaged you this morning saying, how have you got on? And you said, yeah, I think I've done all right. Well, went to bed at 10.30, woke up at 6.30. You're up early.

I was like, well, yeah, Alka's, so I just did the same journey you've done. But you slept the whole way through the first night. So you were like, yay, you slept from 9 until 9. And I just thought that was it. You'd cracked it. Yeah. Jet lag's not a myth. Jet lag's not a myth

I was just up early because of the sun was out Oh yeah Jet lag is a myth I was just up early Yeah just Just a coincidence When I'm tired at 4pm

I just need an afternoon now You've had two coffees In the space of 20 minutes as well So you're going to go I'm actually like off my This actually could take a turn For the worst of podcast Good couldn't it

We could get cancelled Right let's get into the nitty Yeah we've got a lot to talk about Cricket So much is going on the cricket world. Is this on your sticky note? Have you actually got cricket written on your sticky note?

Well, should I have a look at my sticky note? I think so. Before we get into cricket. White wine, Savillon Blanc, Heineken Times 3, Vodka Coke. Someone's been on holiday. Hooker Falls, Wahiki Island. Kate Cross, 23, playing Mrs. World Record Cross.

Oh, we've got something on there, okay. Yes. I've got a world record out. World record. Is that one you want? I guess you want any world record but it was quite funny actually because that was the first ODI in Wellington

and Jonesy and Dino had put on an epic sixth wicket partnership that was a war record I think Dino become the quickest ever to 50 ODI wickets Jonesy broke some record as well and then Louis was like oh we've got one more he was like Kate Cross

most plays and misses I think it was in a spell No, it was ever. Yeah, but I think it was in the first spell. Yeah, I mean, you were getting the board's goal. So, yeah, it was obviously very funny, and it was, it's probably not the one that I've been chasing. But you've got it. I beat Catherine Brunt.

Do you remember when she wore four maidens in a row at Leicester against New Zealand? Both have happened against New Zealand, so maybe they need to work on it. Yeah, I've got a war record. Anything on yours? Yeah, I've got written down, golf in capital letters. see we're going to get daggers from the studio talk about cricket oh do you see the eyebrow raise um right we'll keep it really quick then um basically i just want to give you some because you said to me and it'll be on this podcast i don't know whether henry can find it but you said to me not that long

ago that golf content on instagram is the most boring content up there with coffees was it coffees yeah coffees is boring golf's boring um And I think what we've witnessed in the last two weeks is probably the biggest, quickest you turn from anyone in the history of loving golf. So I maintain this, and I'm going to fight my corner. You've put a post up? Yes.

You put it on your grid? Yeah. Not even a 24-hour disappearing story. You've gridded it. Yeah, but they were good pitchers, right? No, they weren't. You were in a tree. Right, good pitch, good golf content.

Right. Golf content's boring, Alex. I haven't put my swing on. Yeah, for good reason. For very good reason. We're going to play after this. Because that is boring. I don't want to watch anyone's swing,

but look at me, playing on the beach, basically. How beautiful is that? We need to go and get you some clothes because you can't keep wearing Moulton Sultan's kit and your dad's trousers. No, I can't, can I? I actually, for my last round of golf, had a pair of work joggers on

that I've worked during the 100 because they're like casual but smart. And my Moultan top, two clashing colours, both baggy, both awful to end in some golf clothes And yeah So you said to me

Let's go shopping today After the podcast So I was like yeah Sure no problem We've got Tammy's wedding on Saturday Which I thought we were going shopping for Turns out you wanted golf here And then we said where we're going to go

And I was like I don't think the clothes are all that good there And you're like no no I want clubs I'm so you can't just Go and buy clubs I can't Well you can't I think it's a bad idea So I've got some expenses left

But you need to save that Until your spring gets better And then you can get some proper clubs But surely a golf club's not like cricket bats. I know cricket bats, you get right and left-handed ones. Yeah, and men and women's ones. Yeah, but surely a golf club, it's got a head on it, it's got a shaft, it's got a handle.

It's the same as a cricket bat in it. No, because it's all the angles. Anyway, enough golf chat, we're going to get told off. But, yeah, Alex Hartley, quote, two weeks ago, three weeks ago, golf content is the most boring content ever, and then can't stop posting about golf now. I love it. Give a shit, everyone.

Pile into her. Pile into me. Yeah, okay, the other thing I've got written down, new cricket teams. Yes, we're back to counties, baby. Yes, so I'm going to let you take the floor with this one because it's been big news actually. So last night, it was announced that there's now late last night. Leaked.

Information was sent out that there are eight new county teams for the women. Yes. Yates. Go. Okay. Lancashire. Durham. Yep.

Nottingham, Warwickshire, Somerset, Essex, Yep. Hampshire. Hampshire. What's the one we mess in? Oval.

Surrey. Surrey. So, eight of those teams, they're basically like the regions are now, but the regions are going back to county. So there's still going to be eight hubs of county cricket. So they're the tier one. That's basically what the regions do now.

They'll all play against each other. They'll have the Rachel Hayho, the Charlotte Edwards Cup, they'll play against each other. They'll have academies and second teams and things like that with them. Tier two is all the other counties, so that includes Gloucester and Yorkshire for now, that also didn't get a Tier 1 team. So Glamorgan and Yorkshire are going to get added to the Tier 1 system by 2027.

Yes. So actually, they're not missing out for long. Two years. Not too bad. But also frustrating. for the players that are at Yorkshire going to have to go to Durham and then potentially go back to Yorkshire.

It'll be interesting to see what happens there, won't it? Like, will people move? Because I think that's been what's probably slowed women's cricket down in the last couple of years is that the money hasn't quite equaled people being able to move counties, so they've had to either stay at home,

stay with parents, stay with friends, etc. So I wonder whether this now is going to make people more inclined to move to that county, like you would see in the men's game. So every tier one team has to have a minimum of 15 professional players. Right. Tier two is then all the other counties. I have heard a little rumor that Yorkshire have booted off about it, though,

which rightly so. They've put in this bid. They want to get a team. And then tier three underneath it is like the minor counties in the men's game. It's funny you say that they've booted off, though, because obviously teams are going to be disappointed if they haven't now got a tier one team. So there's only Derbyshire and Lester who didn't apply?

No, Lester did. There's only two teams that didn't go for it. Worcester. Obviously going through a lot of trouble at the minute with the ground. They've got a swimming team now. Water polo they're playing. So those two teams didn't go for it and then there's going to be teams who are disappointed

if they haven't got tier one status now. but the whole point of the tender process and the bids from the counties is that the best eight bids should host a team so as disappointed as Yorkshire are going to be I would assume that Durham have given a better bid so therefore it's going to be better for women's cricket yeah and that would make sense

so if Lancashire hadn't have got a team and Cheshire did be a bit rogue but Lancashire would have to look at themselves and go where did we go wrong what was wrong with our tender process So it's Yorkshire will be frustrated they will be booting off

and I think it probably hurts them more that they're going to be added in 2027 because they're thinking okay eight teams fine going to 10 we'll get one back but we're going to lose all our players and we're going to have to start this whole process of the Northern Diamonds again.

I wonder if the Durham team will be called Northern Diamonds now wonder if they'll shift that up. No, they'll be called Durham. Oh yeah. Of course they will. It's a confusing process as well. we're explaining it.

But this is why it's gone back to normal because nobody knows who the Western Storm are. Nobody knows who the Northwest Thunder is. The Southern Vipers, who the fuck are they? So now, Yorkshire, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Nott, vice versa, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, all the others. Can't remember them. It's easier to say who you're associated with, affiliated with.

And obviously at Thunder, you'd think it would be quite a smooth process because we're very quite heavily linked with Lancashire as a cricket club as it is at the minute. But for Durham, who are starting up again, there's going to have to be job interviews and, I mean, technically I still think they're going to have to do that at Lancashire. Could they approach you and go,

fancy a gig at Durham? Yeah. Fancy a gig at Durham? No. Although buying a house up there would be a lot better, a lot easier. Honestly, you could get a mansion. Yeah.

Sell your dinky little flat. All right. For however much. All right. Someone's just bought a new car. Sorry Some of you Some of you

Yeah but I'm not the one Digging out someone else's flat Oh your flat's so nice I lived in it But I'm trying to say You could buy a five bedroom 17 bathroom gaff up there Yeah

So people might move I don't know I wonder what Danny Hazel's going to do Oh she lives in Durham Exactly So I reckon she might be at Durham Interesting So we've got

This is going to start Next summer isn't it So as of October, I think it all is going to get put into place so then the teams will start training from October in their counties. Do you reckon anyone I need a bowling coach? I did think, I wonder if this will drag you back into it. I've been dragged back into it.

Hmm. Hmm. I just interested myself there. I think that was a plea. If anyone's listening, Alex Hartley is looking to become a spin bowling coach at a region. Not Durham. So far away.

Yeah, but your money will go far. You can sell your dinky little flat. sold I'm excited for it genuinely excited for it I am and it's a lot of investment and I think it's going to give counties

the opportunity to get sponsorships investment you're not as reliant on the ECB it's going to be more from the counties and how much effort they're putting in and I think we're seeing at Thunder firsthand how much of a difference all that stuff's making

because I think Lancashire have been really pushing our investment etc because we went from like winning no games like four but what i will say is it keeps changing every four years there's been something different and i think if i wasn't heavily invested in women's cricket i would find it all so confusing and what they're doing now they've got to stick with and it's they are simplifying it and they cannot go back to complicating it so i'm all for it because when people ask me who i play for i've always said lancashire It's easier, isn't it? And we wear the red rose on our shirt

and the only time that we actually have the Thunder logo is when we... The Wedwows. The only time we have the Thunder logo is when we actually have kit on. That is going to change now. Our training kit is changing, but it's changed every single year.

So hopefully, like you said, this has simplified it. It might bring more fans into cricket because we've seen with the 100 that if you follow Manchester or Supercharges, whoever it is, you follow the men and the women generally. So hopefully that might bring some fans

into the women's game as well. Do you think we'll become Lancashire Lightning then as a women's team? I don't know. I reckon that would make sense. It would make sense, but I don't know. Because the bears are going to become the bears together. I wonder if like what they'll call the Charlotte Edwards Cup and the Rachel, the 50 over stuff and the T20 stuff.

Imagine if they take it off, hey-ho. Well, they shouldn't do really, should they? They've still got the Bob Willis trophy and that's the county champs trophy. So you'd think it would stay the same. I met a lovely lady yesterday on the plane back from New Zealand. And she used to play cricket. Like, she was like, what have you been in New Zealand for? Was it Catherine Brunt?

She went, you ever heard of, hey, hell, Flint? I were like, yeah. She was like, me too. I used to wicket keep. Oh. Well, cute, she was. So they were landing, they were going from Auckland to Dubai. And then from Dubai to Newcastle, shout out.

The guy was the spits of my uncle Alan who died about four weeks ago, so it's real weird. Oh, that is weird. And I kept looking at him going, Alan. Steven? Alan. Alan. Alan. Oh, Alan.

Anyway, yeah, that lovely lady shout out, big up you. Don't know your name, didn't ask, sorry. You are hyper. You need to really chill out. It's called coffee and caffeine. Anyway, I've got a present for you. Oh! Yay!

It's why I've had to bring this bag in and get searched at the door. Don't say I don't give you anything, Alex. Yes! Get in! Oh, yeah, sorry, I'm on a podcast. This is Alex's very own RCB shirt Turn it round, turn it round Turn it round, turn it round, turn it round, turn it round, turn it round, turn it round, turn it round, turn it round, turn it round, get it! This has been the best thing that's ever happened.

You need to put it on because RCB need your help, they need all the support they can get at the minute. All right, you're more on second. Right, for the purposes of the podcast, I'll give you a running commentary. She's putting her shirt on, still got the label on it. You've put it over the hoodie. Keep the label on, it keeps the price tag higher. Oh, it's bit tight. Because you've got an extra large hoodie on.

Oh. Yeah, perfect. Looks really good else. So this is my RCP shirt that Crossy's giving me. Stand up, give a poll. I cannot. Alex, you're one of those people that's wearing a cricket shirt on top of the hoodie. No!

Yeah, it won't you're an ick? I am. Oh, this is this year's shirt, isn't it? Oh, Crossy. Thank you. You've got me anything? Oh, no, you got me a fridge magnet. Oh, I have. Have you got it?

Yeah, you gave it me. Yeah, thank you. You're welcome. Just didn't bring it to the podcast. I bloody love this. I don't wear it like this all day. Od's on me not taking this off. Please don't. When we can go shopping.

More cricket. More cricket. Meg Lanny. Oh yeah, she's been on a podcast, didn't she? Yeah, and she's been on a podcast with Mark Howard and spoken about her struggles and why she retired. It's interesting, isn't it? Because when she announced her retirement,

it felt really, not random, but just out of nowhere. Just out of the blue. Obviously, she'd taken a break from cricket, from international cricket at that point. Or was it all cricket? All cricket. So she's having a break, and then she announces her international retirement. And I'm thinking she's 31.

She's got a lot to give. She's still an unbelievable player. She's clearly having some sort of struggle that means that she's taking herself away from international cricket, but has the avenue been X forward that she's, she could come back and then she retires. And for everybody in cricket, they sort of knew what was going on because we could see from afar.

And we're not even teammates with her or anywhere near her family and friends. But we could see from afar that something wasn't quite right, couldn't we? So she's basically come out and said that she's been struggling with her eating and over-exercising. It was more the over-exercising and under-eating than anything else. And I guess that's massive for her to talk about. Yeah, well, I always thought, if you don't give a reason why you're retiring and it's a bit of a unusual retirement, it's not like she's 38 and done, well, she has done everything. She's achieved everything. But you kind of were looking for a reason. Especially when she's then gone straight to the WPL and like carried on playing cricket and things like that. Yeah, so you know it's not cricket, there's obviously something about the international environment that she can't either cope with or can't give herself to anymore.

but it is a really big deal and I think there's so much that's probably not even been touched in women's sport in sport in general about food and appearance and everything like that that day to day that you're having to deal with because now you're more in the spotlight but I think from what I gathered

from what I read from the quotes from the podcast that she did with Howie were that she was trying to use running as a coping strategy and then it became she needed something for the coping strategy for running because she wasn't coping. She said she looks like, and she prides herself on looking like she's always got her stuff together

and nothing going under the surface, but she's been like, trust me, there is, and there has been for a while. So I just want to say, we probably won't hear this, Meg, but big up. Congrats for talking about it. It's not easy, it's hard. And without knowing, she's probably inspired a lot of, or helped, sorry, a lot of young girls with their struggles mentally, physically. Because it's all linked, isn't it? You know, you've run in your food, your periods as well. No one ever talks about that.

I found it really interesting that she spoke about her moods that she had and her ability to just concentrate and be around her teammates. And she said that she kind of, she shut everyone out. And obviously, I don't want to put any words into her mouth or anything. But like you said, it's all linked and that I think sometimes you don't know the impact of how food, diet, exercise, all that, the pressures of professional sport, how much it can all affect someone and especially when it's someone

who's as good as Meg Lanning is who does seem to have a shit together all the time who's led Australia so well for so long so yeah I think you're right I think she'll definitely have inspired a lot of people or just helped a lot of people who might be feeling the same way

they don't know why so yeah really really glad that she's managed to speak about it yeah she's obviously feeling better as well and it makes me wonder now she's spoken about it there'll be that like weight off her shoulders because there always is when you speak about something even though she'll

have spoken privately about it to family friends everyone else now she spoke about it publicly and she's be getting help I wonder if there's a way back for her internationally I did I was talking to might have been um Pairs or Wolfie at the at the WPL at least Perry and Georgia Wearing for anyone who doesn't know who they are oh friends and I was saying like do you think there's a chance that she could come back to international cricket because she was still dominating WPL. She's coming over to the 100. She's still top bracket picks everywhere that she goes. I think it's Meg Lanning. Yeah. It will be interesting but I wonder what like you don't make a

retirement announcement unless you're sure that you need to retire from that. Ben Stokes did. So do Mo and Ali. A few people have actually. Maybe it's becoming fashionable. I was sure. Yeah. Or was I? You're definitely not coming back to international cricket, mate. I'm coming back to tier three. Nine counties. You know what we need to talk about as well? The sheer amount of runs that are being scored in the Sri Lanka, South Africa series. Oh my God. What's going on? What is going on?

Chamari Atapatu, you are in the purple of purplest purple patches of your whole career. She's just got 190 red in a run chase chasing 300. The highest record run chase ever in the history of cricket for women. What is sad is she still. maintains in a press conference after us that retirement is on the horizon. Yeah, because she's going to start picking up loads of cash in all these franchises. Oh, I didn't think about that. That's probably it, isn't it?

It's got to be. It's got to be. But Laura Woolfart got 1.50 in the first innings? You're thinking, I'm probably winning player of the match with that score? You're thinking, getting 300 on the board. We're playing Sri Lanka. Whoa, weho. She might have to matter who comes in and goes...

Thank you next. They did it with 33 balls to spare. Actually mad. Mad. That must have been the flattest of flattest pictures. It looked it. And I only saw one clip of Chimari hitting a six, but it looked flat. Right.

Looked flat. Expert analysis over there. Yeah. And then flip to the opposite side of the world where Stindies are playing Pakistan today. And Haley Matthews has just scored 140 red. I saw a start, something like there's only been seven 150 plus scores. Yeah. In women's cricket.

and there's been three or four, three or four in the last 24 hours or something. I just saw one, so probably a hypercores, same, that big up hypercost. Something like 11 captains have scored 100 plus ever. And there's been three in 24 hours. Three and two games. So good. Speaking of big runs, Matthew Potts. Botsey.

Potter, we tried to get him on. He's busy he's travelling. The night goose. The night, he goes himself, the night goose. Night watcher. used on the commentary, how good was that? Why did they not let him get his 150, 148 ready was? I didn't see the score situation, I didn't see the match,

but I just saw that he'd gone in as night watching and got 1408. And then the game was over the Drew. Why did he not let him get 150? Well, everyone's probably really cold because it's been terrible, terrible weather here. Have you seen Dean Elgar playing county cricket? Oh, was that him with his hat on? Yeah.

hat on like snooed up to his eyes gloves it's the worst time to play but it's the best time to play because the season is here well we woke up this morning it was bright blue sky and i've just looked out the window and that ain't cricket weather are you all right not looking at yourself on the screen if you just managed to take yourself your eyes off yourself for a minute it's been you actually all the time yeah now it's me i think when one of us speaks they go up all right okay um yeah so i mean the season's around the corner like where's his winter gone I say the season's around the corner. Everything's being postponed, isn't it?

Because it's so wet. Yeah. Should we talk about the Cucaburra Ball? No. All right. Do we have to? How much cricket have we done? That's not for us.

We've talked too much cricket. Yeah, we'll leave the cricket to the cricket podcast. For anyone that came to No Bowls of Cricket podcast to listen to us rambling about anything that wasn't cricket, we're really sorry. Yeah. Really sorry. This has been highly, highly cricket focused today. But do you know what? It's good because.

the last episode we did, we were on the outfield with kids running around playing football around us. You got told off for having a beer and it felt like a chaotic episode. And I spilled it, didn't I? Yeah. That was bad. Right then, let's go upstairs.

Let's do the DRS for anybody that's new. Why are you joining us now if you knew? Yeah, honestly, I'd leave if that was you. I wouldn't bother. Go back to before we were on the BBC, we were funnier. Just letting know, Alex isn't always this energetic. Yeah, I am. Right.

Sometimes I've got depression. Explain, you're not okay today. People are going to see this, Al. Going out, we're in the visuals. So to explain, when we first started this podcast, we wanted to try and link it to cricket as much as possible. So we had these little sections, didn't we? And one of the sections was, if you ask questions,

which you do of the umpire, then you go upstairs and look at the DRS. So that's why we go upstairs every week. And it was Sue Redfern for a while because I got a little crush on Sue. So we go upstairs with Sue Redfern a lot. Wait, first one of the season, Al, who we're going upstairs with? I'll let you pick. Anna Harris.

I thought you'd crash then. I thought that would be it. The coffee had stopped. Just malfunctioned and stopped working. Right, Anna, let's go. The Dakar rally is the ultimate off-road challenge. Perfect for the ultimate defender. The high-performance defender, Octa, 626 horsepower twin-turbo V8 engine

and intelligent 6D dynamics air suspension. Learn more at Landrover.ca. Right, I'm going to start with one from Hetty. It says, hi, Kate and Alex, Alex and Kate. I'm a super keen, 13, nearly 14 year old cricketer and love bowling. I played in a mixed team

for Dunstall Cricket Club. Shout out of Dunstall Cricket Club. I'm also hoping to play for my school this year as well, which is Denstone College. Recently, I've been struggling with my run-up and was wondering if you had any tips on this and I've lost some of my confidence in batting,

worrying about the ball hitting me. I'm not feeling confident with it at all. Can you offer me any advice on how you built your confidence up to play professionally? I want to keep pushing myself and play to a high level like you guys. I absolutely love the pod and enjoy listening on my way to school on the bus. You guys are two of my greatest heroes and would love it if you read this.

I'm a scene bowler and look up to Izzy Wong and hope to play for the Phoenix someday. Sorry about that crossy. Thanks for inspiring me to be my best. Lots of love, Hetty. Right. Run in with your eyes closed and bowl when it feels natural. Not in a game. No.

That is coaching one of the kids. alone with Alex Hartley, shut your eyes and hope for the best. That's what I do with the bat. No, genuinely, as a seamer, run, get the stumps out the way as well. Or run backwards, actually, from the stumps. Is that right? Be clear, come on. I'm malfunctioning.

Okay, I'll go. Hetti, up until playing in the, probably test match at the back end of, when was it, the India series in November. December. I was struggling with my run-up. Rhythm. Is that what you were struggling with? I was struggling with my run-up. Was it not the rhythm of your run-up? No, it was my run-up.

But I guess it comes, a rhythm comes into it, but I was struggling with my run-up and I was bowling front-foot no balls. Were you struggling with your run-up? I was struggling with my run-up. So what I did was I ran in, shut my eyes, tripped over the stumps, broke my leg. No, Smitty didn't hit you for six. Come on, this little girl wants help. Sorry, sorry, Hetty.

Genuinely run with your eyes closed and bowl when it feels natural. So from the crease line, run backwards towards where you mark your run-up from, with your eyes closed. And when you feel like you need to bowl, bowl, open your eyes, see where you stood from, start from there, and then you'll be able to figure it out slowly and slowly. The other thing that I find when I'm struggling with my run-up, which I was struggling with my run-up a couple of months ago, was put an umpire in because you, this annoys me, but every time you're in the net, Everyone always say it's no bowl, no ball. But a lot of bowlers have the cue of the umpire.

So you'll see that there's like little marks on the ground for different bowlers to ask umpires to stand where they need them to stand. So when I've not got an umpire in, which is not often at training, I struggle with no balls. You jump from a different place. It's just, it's weird because you don't... It's like you bound. Yeah, and you don't think that it's a cue, but it is subconsciously.

So that's why you often don't bowl no balls in matches because you've always going to have an umpire there. So if it might help Hettie to have an umpiring, that then recreates more of the game situation. So that might help a little bit as well. In terms of batting... I've got a good one, right? It hurts.

Shoot your eyes. It hurts, right? When you get hit by the ball. Yep. But it hurts for like seven seconds most. You get hit in the ribs. It hurts its things. And then almost like a week later, you go,

I'm going to go back to cricket training. Forget about it. That's how I got past the short ball, knowing it wouldn't hurt for very long if it hits me. And also I feel like batting is just one of those things that if you do a lot of volume of it, you're going to get more confidence from, it's like catching.

Like if you're scared of the ball, the only thing that you can do is catch the ball or practice getting a ball hit at you. So I think you just need to maybe do a bit more volume, Hetty, and just try and get used to it. And you do it. It's just part and parcel of cricket. You're going to get hit.

You're going to hurt yourself. Sometimes you're going to, like, How many cricketers are broken fingers because of cricket balls? It just happens, though. I remember as a kid, it obviously wasn't the best at batting. And do you remember when I used to do one-to-one once a week so that I could try and get it in the England team,

in the academy? And Dan Atkinson was my one-to-one coach who she'd sling at me, like time and time again, and he'd pep me with a short ball. Then one day I was like, do you want a bowler? I was like, yeah, so this young lad comes in and I'm facing, and I'm ready to face the ball. And he fires one down, it hits me straight on the ass, right?

and I was like, that was quick, that hurts. So I picked the ball up, it's my eyes. How have you got a hit on the bum? I don't know. It sticks out a lot. I don't know. So I'm like, oh, that hurts, Dan. How old is he?

He's like, 13. I'll throw the ball back. Next one hits me like under the boob on the rib cage. And I was like, that sore, that really hurts. So I threw the ball back to Dan. I took my pads off away. I'm not facing him. And Dan went, yeah, he's 19.

I was like, 19. I'm probably bowling 95 miles an hour. I couldn't see it. Oh, no. But nothing from that day ever felt that quick again. Yeah, that's very true. I always think as well when you do a lot of your practicing indoors, it's always quicker in there.

So then you think when you get out into a game, it's not going to be that quick, especially in April. When you went back outdoors after going, when he got a ball buying underarm ball. Yeah, I do. Do you understand with Bowled on Underarms? I mean, it just hit the stumps. That was a bad time.

Yeah, that was. Right, we've got one here from Michael. It just says thank you. Well, the title. Thank you. That's the end of the email? Thank you. Dear Kate and Alex,

we hope that this email finds you both well. Over the course of last weekend, Tommy who's five and his brother William, who's 10, attended the county championship match at Headingley

between Yorkshire and Leicestershire. As Harry Brooke was coming back onto the field of play after tea, he handed Tommy his playing sweater. William was devastated as he just popped to the loo and missed the action. He describes it as his worst ever

toilet visit. This was completely unprompted and a genuinely wonderful thing for a cricketing superstar to do. for a very impressionable young Tommy. Tommy has slept with the sweater, grass and red ball stains prominent as he refuses to wash it every night since.

This interaction with Harry was in addition to the two boys also having a photo and a chat with Ray and Ahmed. At the same time, Kate had posted on Twitter that she required a joke for England's huddle for their final ODI with New Zealand. Tommy responded with a video message of his famous slash infamous

what is a cow's favourite football team joke? Answer? By and Mooh, Nick. Tommy and I never expected that his joke would make the cut however the following morning we awoke to a Twitter post with Kate telling Tommy's joke to the team

and his cricketing heroes thanking Tommy for his message the point of this email is to simply say thank you last year during the ashes at Headingley Alex stopped and spoke to Will and Tommy on the concourse. Will and I went to the women's T20 match at Durham against Sri Lanka and he was overwhelmed with the number of England players

who came over and signed his bat and had photos with him this weekend Tommy has interacted with Harry Brooke, Ray and Ahmed, Kate and indirectly the whole of the England women's cricket team. Although these acts of kindness for you guys is probably just something that you do naturally all the time and you probably don't think too much about them, the impact that these interactions have

on young aspiring and impressionable cricketers is unquantifiable. These are memories that will stay with my two boys forever. They are both very enthusiastic cricketers. Williams are wicketkeeper, batter and Tommy is a left arm wrist spinner. And these experiences will enhance their love for our beautiful game.

Kate, Tommy and William, wish you all the very best for the upcoming season and they're very pleased that you've re-signed for the superchargers this year. We look forward to seeing you at Headingley in an England and Supercharger's shirt. And Alex will continue to love listening to you on TMS and on commentary around the world as you continue to excel in your new profession. You are now very much part of our family soundtrack to our summer. Congratulations also on your amazing inaugural coaching stint with the Moultan Sultans. As a result of your involvement, the boys' PSL team is the Moulton.

Yes! And they use phrases such as, when are we next playing with Moulton Sultan being distilled. as the wee. Keep on being great. Thank you and go well. And that's from Michael, who's the dad, Tommy and William. What a family. Cute email. What a family. Harry Brooke, why are you giving your sweater away at this time of the year? Yeah, need that. It must have been too small for him. You're not giving that away first game, are you? In all seriousness, though, like it does just show you just take two minutes out your day and you are inspiring the next generation. It's interesting because I remember what an interaction I had with a cricketer

when I was how old would I have been in 2005? It's true abroad. 14, no, it wasn't. It was my favourite cricketer at the time. No, I'm not going to name him. And it was a bad one. So it was during the 2005 Ashes

playing at Old Trafford on that final day when it was just crazy and there was cues all the way outside on Talbot Road. This cricketer's on the boundary and I'm like, shout his name, shout his name. And he turns around. Can I have your jumper please? And are you different?

No. Oh. And I felt really embarrassed. Obviously, now as a player, I know you can't just give jumpers way. I get that. Harry Brooke can. Harry Brooke can. I think Harry Brooke can do it every once at the minute.

He's also in his purple patch, isn't he? But yeah, I've remembered that, but obviously all for the wrong reasons. So it's nice to hear that people are having good interactions with cricketers. Your dad gave me the best piece of advice ever or one of. Probably sure you've passed it on. to me as well. But it was something along the lines of, sign every autograph you can because one day they'll stop asking for it. Yeah, there'll be a day that no one asks you. So yeah, I remember, yeah, he said that to me actually and I've always tried to make an effort to sign things.

And it literally takes two minutes. My mum went mad at me in 2017 because I was last off the pitch, World Cup final. And she went, what have you been doing? I was like signing all the autographs and making sure that all the young girls and boys that were there, they had the opportunity to put the medal on, have a picture with it, and it was down, do you remember? And I was last off and everyone had that lovely photo of them walking up into the pavilion with all the families and friends, and I'd had no one there. Yeah, but you'll make, you'll have made so many people's days that day and they'll remember that moment. They might

not remember the scores or who was playing, but they'll remember that you signed something for them or you got to try the medal on or whatever it was. Do you remember Mary Priestner? Vaguely. Got round to her, she was at the far end, she just went, ha ha, you went for 50 at lords. And I went, you go for 50 in the World Cup final? I did not know. I went, I've got a medal. You did get a medal. And some cash. Right, should we stop there? There is one more about sharing beds. Yes, we need to touch on that because I feel like it's been a common theme, an ongoing theme. I slept so well last night, crossy, and Harry wasn't in the bed.

So we had a question, didn't we, a couple of weeks ago, about whether relationships are going to last longer if you have separate bedrooms. If you're married. I think mine might. Maybe. You've been in a camp of them for 10 days with him. Yeah, I nearly slept outside. Dear Alex and Kate, in alphabetical order, on the subject of sleeping in separate bedrooms, I can suggest that just having separate bathrooms, if you are lucky enough to have the option,

we've already got that, can go a long way to providing Kate with the space that she needs without going as far as sleeping in separate bedrooms. And if you are very lucky, separate dressing rooms too. Maybe Kate will find that having her own space for a space for a morning slash evening ablutions and dressing

may mean she is much more what are these words will an amenable amenable I'm just I don't know amenable it's right to sharing a king size bed

just the thought happily long term married with separate bathrooms and separate dressing rooms but just the one bed So what people need to do is move to Durham, buy the five bed, four bathroom, house so that you can all have a bathroom, all have a wardrobe room, and live happily ever after. Yeah, I saw one recently, so me and Harry have got a separate bathroom. I've booted him out of the bedroom, all his clothes are in the spare room. He's slowly but surely moving out, no, I'm joking.

I saw one the other day of trying different duvets. Okay. But I think that's a step too far. because right I hate him being there I love him being there but I struggle sharing a bed with him but if he was somewhere else

I'd hate that as well because I'd feel like I was sharing a flat with my best mate not my partner separate duvets is more washing you argue over the divay no I just get it oh right so he wants separate divas I'll invite him to live with me in the north-east he'd love that

He would. He actually did ask you out first. Are we told that? Yeah. I'm sure we have. Right. If you want to get in touch with those, you can email us on... No Bowls at BB... Oh, God. I'm not going to help you this week.

No balls podcast at bbc.co.uk. Noblespodcast at bbc.com.com. It's so good. They've said it twice. Bye, everyone. God, I'm going to have a big come down. Cross. wicked. Oh that's it. Boulder, bolder, 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, an absolute seed. That is a beautiful for cross.