Test Match Special - No Balls: The Cricket Podcast - it's Magic Mahika Gaur!

Episode Date: September 11, 2023

Kate Cross and Alex Hartley speak to 17-year-old fast bowler Mahika Gaur, just two weeks after her England debut. Plus, a run-down of what went wrong in the T20s vs Sri Lanka.

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BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. Hi, everyone. The BBC have told us that we've got to issue a warning. We swear too much. Henry does beep it out for us because he's a good man. It is actually so that your family can all listen. Your kids can listen. But we will say... Sugar.

That's not a really bad one. 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. That is a beauty from Cross. Hello, and welcome back to No Bulls, the Cricket Podcasts with me, Kate Cross,

and you Alex Hartley, you're looking a bit blurry today. Yeah, I have no signal, no Wi-Fi, all that jazz. So hopefully it worked. That's going to guarantee that we're a shambles today then. Perfect, perfect. Is your washing machine on? No, and I don't have my microphones, it's probably better quality. Probably, and Harry's not around to blame for putting the washing machine on, so all good.

And I turn the aircon off in the room, like, I've done everything. How are you? Yeah, I'm okay, thanks. When did we last do a pod? Before the T20 series, Crossy. No, it wasn't. We did one because I definitely spoke about being spanked everywhere. Before you lost the T20 series, Crossy.

Right, so it was before Derby. So we went to Derby and we lost at Derby. So, yeah, that wasn't really all that enjoyable, to be honest with you. But we've had your third year, so we can talk about that. That's a bit more upbeat. But yeah, I'm okay, thank you. I'm at that stage of the season where I'm definitely ready for a break, but I'm okay.

Yes. Does that make sense? Yes, that makes so much sense. Like, you've got two days of cricket left and you're done. And you're looking forward to being home, but you know you've got two days left. Yeah. I think I was saying to you the other day, like I've had eight days in my own bed since before the ashes started. And seven of those days were consecutive after the ashes finished.

So I've actually had like one night. Like, what, two visits back to my flat. so it's been you had to go back to the flat just to make sure the neighbour's all right though so you know I didn't actually I didn't do that

I went to pick up my England kit it was a very clean visit but I I'm just a bit fed up of hotel hopping now it wears off after a while there's a novelty to it isn't there

but then I'm ready definitely ready for like my own bed you're ready to you're ready to room hop in today stop it How are you? I'm good, thank you, I'm exactly like you. I've got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, seven days of work left

and then go to India. So, actually, my break's in December. We're not going to not mention it all. You're a 30-year-old. Did you have a good birthday? I thought you were going to like just get over it. No? No, do you know what?

Like, no, I didn't have a good birthday. Like, not only I'm a 30, which is fine, it happens, but it doesn't feel like I've turned 30 because it's the middle of the fucking cricket season, so I worked. But everyone at work was lovely, and I got cake and presents and everything,

which is nice. You know, a lot of people go to work on their birthdays out. Yeah, but a lot of people have 30th birthday parties, don't they? Yeah, but you're going to have one. I'm not. You are, I'm making it one. I'm making you one. Well, I don't know when that is.

It's on Saturday. Saturday. Do people know or is it just a you thing? Yeah, I'll text the group. I'll let everyone know. You were on telly on your birthday, though. You defaced the Colin McCart and Pillar on your birthday on telly. They all see is the best bits.

I took a big chunk out of Colin's ass to say a shotgun. Didn't get any of the cake. It all got eaten. That always happens on your birthday, doesn't it? It always disappears, I swear. Yeah, but no, it's been nice. It's been a week of attention, which you know I hate. Yeah, you hate that, don't you?

Did you get any nice prezies off any good friends or anything? I did, I did. I'm actually carrying the present that you got me around with me. Not that one. Don't show us that one. Just never know when you're going to need your plannell's gift card. So thank you. You're welcome.

I got bracelet from, no I didn't. I got a necklace from you, which is so nice, the ups and downs of life, which I still maintain your one and I have half of it. A ring from Harold A necklace from mum and dad So I got like keepsakes up which is so nice I'm not bothered about me We've got to get this done quickly crossy

Because we've got a guest And we need to talk about the fact You've lost your first ever series to Sri Lanka Okay sorry Not avoiding that at all You go How We're going to have different views on it

Because Well I think we'll have one very similar view in the best team won the T20 series. Yeah, yeah, but I think also, like, I'm going to see it from a journalistic point of view being, like, how embarrassing is that? Whereas you might see it as a different point of view. So I want to see your, I want to know how the mood is,

how it was received, what happened, blah, blah, blah. Yeah, obviously, I think we were all as disappointed as everyone who let us know about it on social media. the goal is never to lose series like whoever you're playing against I think there's obviously frustration from I read everything

and I think it's dumb of me to read everything but what frustrates me about what I read is that people wrote our narrative for us saying that we'd been complacent obviously no one no one in that journalistic world knows what we spoke about in our team meetings before it and I can guarantee there was no talk of...

He'd already won. Yeah, definitely. We spoke about how not to be complacent and how to see a different challenge. It was going to be a very different challenge to what the ashes threw up. And that is what it's been. It's been a lot of spin,

a lot of just a different type of cricket that we've not played well against and that's ultimately why we've lost. So I think that's what's frustrated me about the journalistic point of view is that like people have assumed that we've taken this lightly and we've obviously definitely haven't. I got asked on the BBC,

I had to do the BBC interview after the Derby match when we'd lost the series about do we regret resting players. Obviously it's not my decision if we rest players or not, but from my point of view, if players hadn't been rested in this series like Nat Siver and Sophia Duncle and people like that, then if they'd have broke down close, to a World Cup

everyone that's been saying we've been complacent would then have been frustrated that we hadn't rested players when the time could have allowed us to rest players so there's all like you said

there's going to be different views and opinions on everything we're disappointed as a group we didn't play good cricket at all I've got a real gripe with the media actually because you're saying that everyone's like

there's certain media outlets and people in particular that are saying that you've been complacent and like you're just throwing debuts around for giggles where actually there's one

debutant she's a superstar 17 and in the ODI's just gone there was three debutants but that was okay

yeah well it's okay because we won and they did well so it's like hang on if you're gonna so my thing is

if I have something to say about a team it's a valid thing I would never be like England have been

complacent because no one goes into a series It's like when we play, Thunder play Sunrises, for example, right? They lose every game. We're never complacent going into those games because anything can happen. Yeah.

But if you're going to be like, oh, they're resting players, it's not good enough. The big stars should be playing. Why is it they're not right to make three debuts? Yeah. And I get it. Like everyone's an England fan. Everyone wants England to do well. And when they don't do well, you're going to have negative things to say because that's sport.

and that is, that's how it works. It's performance driven from the outside. From the inside, what is so exciting about this group is that we sent a 17-year-old out to bat at number four, when she was batting, she was carded at six or seven on the sheet, going into the game, to go and take the game on at Hove, she goes and gets 20 off 10, and it's brilliant and it's exciting,

and you think, gosh, where could this team be in three or four years when these players have started or maybe continued developing at the rate that they're developing. So I think you've always got to imagine that the worst case scenario happens in a World Cup final and your best players get injured. You've got to have people on the bench that are ready to take on those roles

and playing those roles. And that is what these series allow you to do. It allows Nat Siverbrunt to have a restaurant bowling, let her body recover. We saw how much strain she put on herself in that test match, you know, fighting for that, fighting for us, bowling when her knee was strapped up and injected and all sorts.

So there's opportunity to be had in series like this But what has happened is we've still not played our best cricket with that team If we'd have come out and hammered Sri Lanka Then no one would be talking about this No And also what we do Sorry but what we do know is that England have had a problem against spin

For God knows how long It's in the ashes we really struggle to play Ash Gardner You've now got nine people bowling's been in one seamer It is going to be tough But I guess it's a learning isn't it And I know it's not good that you've lost to Sri Lanka, and I know it's made headlines, and I know it's for you guys to be there,

and like you said, you're reading it all. But what do we always, always say on this podcast? You learn more from the mistakes you make and the games you lose. Definitely, yeah. And then, again, I think the consistency of the reporting from what you said, like if you're going to say things when we lose, then you've got to praise us when we win.

and Heather got a question after the game at Durham where we've had our most comprehensive win since 2013 apparently saying could we have been more clinical with the bat? So like how is that consistent? We've just hammered the team that have beaten us in a T20 series. You know, we've started our ODI series really well with a really comprehensive win and then you get questions like that

and so it's always going to be frustrating and journalists are always going to look for a headline I know that, I understand that, but just try and be a bit more consistent, please. There's one certain journalist, there's a group of them that are doing my p-hitting during this series. Every scene bowler is the devil. And I just think it's really unfair. It's professional sport, isn't it?

It's what we sign up to. It's if you put yourself out there, you're vulnerable. And that's what we do, isn't it? So, smile your way through it. Smile your way through it and your tweets end up by everyone's group chat, just so you know it. With that in mind, shall we introduce one of the most up-and-coming fantastic debutants that we've had in the last two weeks? Yes, but before we do that, I want an answer from you. Oh, right, sorry.

I think, I know the answer, but she's a superstar in the making, right? And everyone loves her. Is she as good as everyone thinks she's going to be? Mahika? Yeah. Yeah. Because, and I can guarantee that, because I've never met anyone at her age

who is so curious about her sport and wanting to get better and not phased by who she's asking questions to if Stuart Broad was in front of her, she'd speak to him about how to be a better bowler and that for me shows that she's so willing to learn. She's not even learnt how to use her body yet. She's got so many limbs and she can't use them.

It's going to be so exciting when she actually gets the page from her limbs that she's meant to. I forgot to ask her about something at the T20 at Derby. Oh no, she fielded the ball like I did in India with one foot over the boundary rope, but she got away with it. Really? Yeah, she got away with it. I forgot.

So she picked on the ball. Don't mention it. Don't mention it. Don't knock her confidence. She picked up the ball with one foot either side and I'd... Oh, dear. Shall we introduce her? Go on them, Meika. Strictly fans, listen up, because your favourite podcast is back. Right, Joe, have we got the glitter? Check.

All the gossip? Oh, check. Well, then, I think we're ready to... Keep dancing. I'm Joe Sug. And I'm Kim Winston. Join us, as we'll be talking all the moves and grooves from all the couples. The verdicts from the judges.

Through to all the backstage heroes that make this show shine. So if you're super fans Get listening Strictly Come Dancing The Official Podcast Listen only on BBC Sounds Crossy It gives me a huge amount of pleasure

because finally Finally Not only have we got Magic Meeks trending on Twitter and now it's a thing But we've got 2 metre Mahika Live on the podcast Meeks welcome Thank you

Thank you for having guys I actually did not know that it was trending. Oh, neither did I. Yeah, it's a thing now. Magic Minks, you're trending on Twitter. Wow. You can finish live. Yeah, that's a great day.

That's it. You can retire. How are you? I'm good, thank you. I think, yeah, very excited to be here. On the pod? Yeah, just when I thought my week can get any better, you asked me to be on the pod.

Now, we've just asked you off air if you listen to the podcast. and you told us you've listened to one episode, and that was Danny. No, Danny. Oh, Darnay. Yeah. Oh, Darnay. Yeah, that was a good episode.

It was a good one. I have listened to more. I just, you've put me on the spot now. Meeks, how are you? Like, how's camping? Are you enjoying it? Like, I want to know everything about you right now. Yeah, I'm good.

Thank you. Yeah, I think I've told both of you about it, but, like, just really loving the environment here. I think for my first series, like the first series that I'm a part of, I think couldn't have asked for a better environment and better way to start it really. Is it true that John Lewis rang you to tell you that he was going to be in, that you were going to be in the squad, sorry, and you ignored his phone call because you were having breakfast? That is, that's been skewed a bit.

I was actually on my way to breakfast. I had a lion and there was like 20 minutes left for breakfast. And then he called me, and I was like, I can't pick it up right now. Like, I need to finish my breakfast or those, I'm going to mess it. So I ate my breakfast, literally, like, inhaled it, ran upstairs, and then I was like, I called him. But I literally was not expecting it to be about England. I thought it would be something to do with England, eh? And then, yeah, didn't say anything.

I was just like, oh, nice. Nice. What is it with the youngsters? Apparently, Bess Heath wasn't answering her phone either. Danny Hazel had to be like, best answer your phone. Yeah, I think Bess was telling me she was on the physio table and then they just told her and she was like, oh, nice. It is a thing though, isn't it? Like, if you don't have the number saved, would the Amazon save?

If you not got a number saved, I often avoid answering an unknown number or a number that I don't recognize. So I did get it. So I got the call, didn't pick it up. And then you sent a message, hi, it's John Lewis. And I was like, all right, probably shouldn't pick it up. Picked up straight away, yeah. But it was good. So what did he actually say?

I can't remember he was like said something about we're happy with how you've gone we want to bring you in for like the T-20 and ODIS series for Sri Lanka and then I was like was this for England not England eh and then he was like yeah

and then I was just like oh I literally did not know what to say I was speech so I was like oh that's great how excited how did you actually feel because obviously right you played the UAE which we'll go into in a bit anyway so but you've always wanted to play for England, I'm guessing.

Yeah. How did you feel, like, once it had all sunk in and you rang your parents, you were like, I'm going to play for England? Actually, when I rang my parents, they already knew. So it wasn't what I was expected. John Lewis had asked permission to see if you could ring Mejka to Karen. So I literally cool, though. I was like, oh, I've been selected for England.

My dad was like, yeah, we know. Oh. he could have pretended he didn't know and then he was like yeah he just called me half an hour ago I was like oh nice but yeah I was really happy like at first it was very shocking because like I said I didn't expect it at all but then when it sort of sunk in a bit

I was like I was very happy he didn't expect it to come so soon but then just excited and good that I knew like some people on the squad as well so it would have been better right let's take everyone back to how that moment happened because not everyone will know your story but you debuted for the UAE when you were 12 years old that is frightening 12 years old playing international cricket but then in 2020 you went to the Dubai Expo do you want to tell everyone the story of what happened yeah so it was 2021 I think 2021 like October something and we have

this masterclass thing with Keaton Jennings at Expo, like as part of the Lancashire thing. And then I couldn't go for that first because I had training with the UE squad, but then that got cancelled, ended up going there. And then I was just bowling in the nets and Warren Hague saw me and he started talking to me because he was just excited that I was a girl who was playing in a boys team. He didn't know that I had a British passport anything. And then like as we were talking, I told him I was born in Reading. And then he was like, he got really excited because he was like, oh, you can play for England.

I was like, yeah, yeah, like, that's my aim. I want to move back there, maybe for university. And then I think he got in touch with, like, my parents or something, like through the school. And then we came over in December to come look at some schools. But I got COVID at that time, so we couldn't do anything. I was meant to, like, train with you guys. I remember. Yeah, I remember them.

Did you? Oh, did I? Yeah. Oh, what did I say? You were like, oh, sorry to hear you've got COVID. I remember this. This will be on my phone somewhere. And then I was quarantining and night hought him for two weeks,

so didn't get to do much then. But I saw the school that I go to now, met the coach, and I was like, yeah, I want to move. And then it just happened from that. So you would have moved over for uni and then tried to get recognised in cricket in the UK. That was the aim. Yeah, I had no, like, the thought of coming here for college,

never cost me mind. It was always just... Why? I mean, for a 17-year-old to make that move, it's really a big deal. Yeah. Was it really scary? Yeah, it was for sure. But I think it got easier.

At first, when I came to the boarding score, I was, like, really nervous. And the first few weeks weren't that bad because I was going back in three weeks because I had the Asia Cup. But then when I came in, like, November, December, like, for that term, that was quite tough for me, because it was, like, winter, dark like it was all dark and then away from home i felt quite homesick as well but then it just it got easiest time went on how how's it been so obviously for any 17 year olds to go to boarding school is daunting and scary like you just said and you found it tough but your family's still

living Dubai so how hard have you actually found that because you're still a young pup growing getting stronger playing cricket she can't grow anymore can't grow well you can't Sorry, I'm done, I'm done. How have you, has it been to the whole time? Or did it take you a while to get used to it? Or did you get used to it straight away? I think it took a while. I think it was actually harder for my mom than me.

Because my sister had left for university the year before, and then I'd left as well. So then she was always like, why in you were playing to me? I'm like, Mom, I've got school. She'd always get really worried. but yeah I think it's gotten easier as it's gone on and it's good that we can video go every now and then but at school it's so busy that sometimes I just can't talk to them

it's very busy over there so so you've still got one year left of school yeah and then are you going to go to uni? Yeah I don't know if I'm going to go straight away though I might take a gap year. Gap year and play for England. Gapya. Gapiar, sorry about you.

Gapiar, she's going to go travelling. Yeah, around the world with England Yeah, she's going to go trouble You spend all that bloody money that you get now, you guys Literally, I nearly said that Because I presented Meeks with her T20 debut cap And I nearly said in my speech How, what an amazing time to come into England cricket

When we just had equal match fees So she can buy everyone sweets at the tuck shop at school now And then I thought, nah, let's keep it professional I mean, you almost presented me with my test cap as well Yeah, I made a mistake I started talking about a test debut and then I was like, oh, that might be seen but it's not today

when I'm not being touch matches today. So you've obviously made your T20 debut for the UAE at the age of 12, we spoke about that, and you've made your T20 debut and your ODI debut for England now. Which one has been your favourite and why? I mean they were both special for me.

T20 was at my first match for England so that was very special. That was really weird as well because it kept raining and it was, like, we came off and then I think I bought one ball and then we came off and then we went back on. You actually bowled in the power play and then we came back on and you were bowling at the death to finish you over. It was a really strange mentality shift, especially for someone on debut, especially as a 17-year-old. So it was quite a big deal. Yeah. And my first ball was a wide down the leg side.

But I was telling crossy that my first ball for you were he was a no ball. well-up foot hit the stumps. So I just like signing off international careers in lovely ways. That's why we've got you on the podcast, the no-ball. Podcast, it can happen. All right, little fun fact, for any quizzes out there, I bowled the first front-foot no-ball

of the WBBL and the 100. That is a flex. But I remember, like, often aboard that wide that went down. Like, so you came up to me, you're like, that's the worst that could happen. I was like, yeah, true, get it out the way. I've actually really liked standing mid on or mid-off for you because obviously done it to Thunder

played like been there when you played for Thunder and then I was just like, it's exactly the same but we're just in different kits and I can just chat to you about whatever's going on. On Saturday in Meeks' ODI debut I was like, what lesson would you be missing at school right now if you were in school? She was like, oh, don't even know, like biology was it?

At first I was going to say it's a Saturday but then I realized we have school on a Saturday So I was like, you know, biology. Biology. So, see, Crossy takes saying congrats on you call up to England. And you said the best thing is I'm missing two weeks of school. Yeah.

To be fair, no, she didn't say the best thing. She was like, thanks, Crossie can't wait. And another good thing. It wasn't the best thing. That's an addition. But yeah, like, I'm seeing messages from, like, my friends at school, were they like asking for homework and all of that stuff

and I'm like I'm so glad I'm not a part of that right now like so glad I'm not there and it's scary to think that this time next week I'll be back at school yeah but I won't be but your pockets will be slightly heavier meat not only because they're full of cash but they're also Chamari Atopati is still stuck in your pocket

yeah she's actually Chamari's here we've had to just hide it because she's been hanging out in Mejka's pocket all afternoon so you've played against her four times twice for England twice to the UAE and you got her out three times I think that's right

once for you one for the UAE three for England you got her out very time in your pocket yeah yeah

except for that one match so she hit me but she's hit me for the last four matches make so it's great that you're getting her out it's really great

for me that you're getting her out what right so wait right let's go back to before you've made you UAE debut. Why cricket? Like, how have you got into cricket? Oh, it was the IPO. Like, we went, I think we went in India. It was like 2012 or something. We went to watch Rajasan in Delhi. And then

saw that match, really liked it, came back to England. And then in the garden, I was just playing with my dad. And then he saw that I wasn't chucking the ball. I was, like, rolling my arm fully. And he was like, oh, maybe. Weird that you did that right-handed then, there's a demonstration. Because I couldn't, if I did it, I don't work. Yeah, you'd want that. So then he was like, oh, let's put in a club or something. And then I actually stopped when we moved to Dubai.

I played badminton. I was a proper badminton player. But every time we'd go for badminton, we'd cross the ICC Academy. And then I had my first badminton match, and I lost 213, 23, 213. So I was like, maybe badminton isn't for me. Let's just go to the ICC Academy and play. of cricket over then then stop badminton played cricket so how old are you at this point nine wow okay so you picked it up quite early yeah gosh you were only nine in 2012 that's so

scary that's so 2014 oh right okay so 2012 was on your first saw cricket yeah 2014 I was 9 that's 40 um how's it being because obviously you've grown up in Dubai playing cricket in Dubai and then you come over to England you now live here playing cricket from Dubai to England, what's been the hardest thing to get used to? The weather probably. Like, it's just so cold over here. But I actually, I actually really like it when it's cold because the last match we had in Durham, I was really looking forward to wearing my sweater because we finally got one that fits me and that's long sleeve. And then it was too hot so I couldn't wear it. So I was really hoping that would be a bit cold and

September as well, but it's not. And then you had a mishap with you. numbers in your sleeveless jumper. Yeah, no, so the first match I had to wear a non, I did a you, I didn't have a number. I did it a you in the second game. Didn't have anything on it because they printed my number wrong,

they printed it upside down, so 68, not 89. Oh gosh, welcome to England women's cricket. Oh, God. So wearing a jumper, you must find it swings a bit. more over here. Yeah, it does.

Bances more as well. And also when I played in Dubai, I was an out swing bowler. I just pushed it out and then after coming here, I realised I can swing it in. Wait, so you can swing it both ways? No, I just used to like push it because I'd come left arm over the wicket

and just push it out. I wouldn't see myself listening to swing bowler. And then after coming here, because it swings more, I was like, oh, it does swing. That's what? Maybe I need to go over the Dubai. Yeah, I don't know what you're like, you might be coming off, spinner. It might have been, yeah, might become a batter.

Yeah. So what's next week? So you've done the debuts, there's still one to get. But do you go back to school now? Do you go back to training? Do you go back to Thunder? What happens? That's a great question.

I don't know. I go back to school next week. But before that, there's the last Thunder game, which I actually just messaged New Year. asking if I could play and he said no so I could play that Meeks I'm actually going to watch that if you'd like to come and watch with me

no she's got school she wanted to play so she could get out of school on that Saturday she told me this last week but I'm going to see if I could like just stay there and be like oh it's been a very busy couple of weeks because I just stay in the hotel for one night and then maybe they'll put me on the balcony room and I could just sit on the balcony

you can sit with me and watch so the invite is there we've got hospitality so I'll come and join. Could I have all the lemonade? Yeah, might do that. But yeah, and then after that, go back to school, have a couple weeks off and then just train indoors again.

Oh, no, let's not mention the I word. So, Meeks, because obviously you're 17, you don't drive yet, am I right? No, but I've had quite a lot of lessons. Okay, how do you, because obviously school isn't in Manchester, How do you get to and from length training? Because, you know, everyone else just drives, but you're at school. How do you get to and from training? Yeah, so Hindy lives in Carlisle, which is a bit north of separate.

So he picks me up on the way, and then I drive with him in the winters. Like, we'd go together every Wednesday, and then I'd have to stay for the academy training. So we'd be there till 9, get back to school at like 11 p.m. So it would be a long day. And you've got to then drive back with Hindy to listen to his chat. We just talk about cricket the whole time. You love it. Of the whole experience, so from moving over to England,

what do you think, like, bar the obvious making New England debut, what's been the highlight, what's like exceeded your expectation of what it would be like? I think just, like, cricket's quite different, like the way it's played over here compared to back home in Dubai. what I like about playing over here is that you're encouraged to play with more freedom and like just try your best but like if you don't get it's fine and there's like not much pressure on me when I play so I think I like I prefer that over here and I just feel like I'm enjoying it a lot more over here I think yeah the people have also been great very welcoming

mating your hair else yeah Catherine silverbron got to give you yeah I can't Like, there's actually an interview with me when I made my debut, age 12. I'm going to try and find it because they're like, who's your favorite cricket and I said, Cuffinburne? Wow, I've presented you with your already, are you? Yeah. Her speech was amazing as well. It'll obviously go out on social media in the coming days, but it was just so good, wasn't it?

She spoke so well. Yeah. Oh, two legends gave me my cap. She's cute. I'll detect them then if you only want legends. And Meeks, how special was it to have your family over? Because I saw them on the TV. They were there when you made a debut.

Are they still here? No, they've gone, like my sister's still here, but my parents have both gone back now. But it was really special. Like, I'm so happy that they could come. And I think they got a bit of motion as well. At the end, and my dad actually gave a speech at the end in the dressing room. He did so well.

He spoke so, so so well. Yeah, so, yeah, they loved it. I think, like, it was a great day for them as well. they came for the second T20 and then went back. My mom was really disappointed that she couldn't be there at Durham, like for my ODII debut. She was actually flying that day. And she asked me if she should delay her tickets.

And I said, no, it's fine. And then when she found out, played quite well, she was like, oh, I should have just stayed? Oh, bless it. Played quite well. Got a player of the match makes. Yeah. Talk about that.

Meeks actually asked John Lewis before this series started whether she's likely to play because she needed to know if my and dad needed to fly over. Oh. Talk about balls. You're so cute. Hey, coach, am I going to make my name of you or what? It wouldn't have been like that.

I'd have been like, hey, Louis, I'm just wondering, is there any chance I'm going to play? Because my parents don't live here. It's not American. And I think I need to get them over. That's what I sound like. You don't sound like that. We all think you sound like the head spades voice.

Do I? Yeah. Yeah, like, hi, crossy, you can go to sleep now. So she's never said that to me just to come back. What are your aspirations moving forward, Meeks? Like, so he could go in 10 years time, you won't even be my age that I am now. We'll be dead, Al. Where are you what you're doing, what you dreams?

I think a year ago if you'd have asked me that would be to play for England because I didn't think it would come so soon. So I've thought about this and I think that it's just about like taking what comes, just enjoying it really. I've not really thought about what's going to happen 10 years down the line because random things are happening and it's all happening quite quickly. But I'm just trying to enjoy it and we'll see where it goes from there. That's such a good mentality to have, like me and I'll bang on about that all the time on this podcast. You obviously listen so you know, but just try and enjoy the ride. Like I think Louie's brilliant at that side of it. He's great at letting people have freedom, enjoy themselves,

especially when we travel abroad. Like he wants people to experience culture and stuff. So make sure you buy into that. I'd be my advice too. Yeah. I couldn't agree more because when I played for England, I thought I'd just play for 10 years. I didn't know if anything can happen.

Um, yeah, me. You know what? Obviously, her just, Meeks just talking about how quickly everything's happened. At the, I think it was like the day before the World Cup final in 2022, me and Hen wrote down what we thought our starting 11s would be for the 2025 World Cup. And obviously Meeks wasn't anywhere to be seen at that point. And now I'm thinking my team is not correct because you're not on it. Or you will be in it now.

But like that was, that's how quickly it's all changed in just a couple of years. These new talents are coming through so quickly now. Yeah. Meeks, you're a superstar. You've made your debuts. Literally could have been a prouder as a friend, as a teammate. You've been a brilliant guest on the podcast. You've always looked up to her, haven't you all? Always looked up to you, Meeks. Always. Since the day I met you, you've been so tall. that actually someone asked me the other day they're like the BBC have a like question for you because they're asking if they have your permission to call you to meet a meika and I was like that was our that was definitely yeah yeah makes thank you so much for coming on I think you're

our first teenager on the podcast you're definitely our first to meet a guest yeah no we've had Stephen Finn oh yeah no yeah good quite good caliber of people people to be up there with that. Yeah, I agree. I love it. Yeah. Wow. Honoured, thank you guys.

You're a superstar. Ball Street, be great. And I'll see you Saturday when we'll sit in the stands. Thank you. I'll see you Saturday. Do you see what I mean? She's just, she's just so, like, willing to want to learn that I don't make sense. You know what I mean?

She's so chilled. She's so chilled. She'll be on the next headspread. Face voice. And she's just a superstar. She actually is, isn't she? Like, what 17-year-old could be an interview like that? I'm sorry, but come on.

I know. And also, like, a bit stiff at the start, loosened up, ready to go, and she's only going to get better everything in life. And, Crossy, when I said, where do you want to be in 10 years? I realised she'd only be 27. I know. That is all worry, isn't it? Someone said to me the other day, I can't remember who it was.

Someone was like, Crossy, I'm officially getting old. I've been invited to a 30th birthday party and I was like it was Freya Kemp's been invited to Georgia Adams his 30th birthday party and she's like sad about it she's like I've got old friends I was like oh get in the bin

you're like oh honey wait till you have a wedding every other bloody weekend and a baby shower I've had a couple of divorce parties anyway Mahika what a superstar if you didn't love her before this interview then you're certainly going to have loved her after that

because she's just she just like you can't not like She's just so likable. And she's so good at cricket and she's so nice and I just love her so much. We got a huge telling off last week because we didn't keep it under 40 minutes so we're going to have to go.

Okay. Crossy, Bow straight, be great, just like Mahika. If not, run the drinks well. If you want to email as you can on. No Bowlspodcast at BBC.co.com. No ballspodcast at BBC.co.com. It's so good. They nearly forgot.

See you next week, everyone. Bye. 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. That is a beauty from Cross. Ever wondered what the world. world's wealthiest people did to get so ridiculously rich. Our podcast, Good Bad Billionaire, takes one billionaire at a time and explains exactly how they made their money. And then we decide if they are actually good, bad or just plain wealthy.

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