Test Match Special - No Balls: The Cricket Podcast - live from the desert!

Episode Date: March 15, 2023

Kate Cross and Alex Hartley are in the Middle East for a pre-season training tour. All the gossip from the trip plus a special catch-up with Saqib Mahmood and Matt Parkinson.

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Sugar That's not a really bad thing on. And cross strikes in the first over. It's what England we're looking for. Hartley falls. Down the track comes scoring. This time she connects.

It's either six or out. It's six. Hello and welcome back to No. Bulls their cricket podcast with me Kate Cross and you Alex Hartley are in Dubai fun in the sun baby and that freaked me out because you I think you started talking before you press record or it's done it was quick oh I'm sorry guys well what I should have said was hello welcome to know all those a cookie podcast with me Kate Cross you Alex Hartley and we're in divide we are

sat in the sun we're at Sevens Sevens Cricket Ground Academy yeah probably got that Rajas and Royals Academy yeah we're in the net us and it's Got Rajasthan, if you were. Yeah, but this is cool. We've just currently, or we've just finished a T20 against the UA, and we're watching Lank's men play. Beautiful. What a day. How are you?

I'm well, thanks. I'm well, I feel like we've not really been together for a few weeks now, so this is a proper cat. Well, we have caught up on eye interest us, but it's catch up. Well, it is, but the only time we've actually managed to talk and sit down and get to know each other again. He's on the bus, really, because it's been so busy. Bus.

Bus. Yeah. Well, yeah, and the bus is cool. Yeah. It's got Ellie's Threlcold space on the side of it, and Tom Bailey's face, so I love that. Yeah. Are you well?

Yeah, I'm good. Yeah, yeah. It's nice to be back, Crossy. Nice to be back playing some cricket. We've had a weird winter, haven't we? Because you trained for a full month with Thunder. Then I went to a World Cup. You went to Said War Cup and commentate it.

Then we had holiday time. Now we're playing cricket again, and it feels like the seasons around the corner. Yeah, and it actually is. around the corner. So we're out here and we're just playing a few warm-up games. We've played one today, we play one tomorrow, one on Saturday and we go tomorrow by.

Going to India, that's gonna be a shock to a lot of people's system, I think, because not many girls have toured and then they're gonna go to India and it's chaos. Laura Jackson, I'm worried about Laura, because she likes structure. India's not all that structured, it's quite like, you go with the flow, things happen, you react,

You're fluid over there, right? Well, you're speaking from experience, passing, you've literally just come back from there. Tell everybody why you were there, because it's cool. Oh, I thought you were talking about my illness when I was actually fluid. Well, yeah, that is true. You were very fluid. Very fluid for 24 hours.

I've just been doing some commentary on the Whipple. Yes. Well, it's wondering whoop. It's not Whipple. Yeah, Wivel. Whipple. You know what? I was really, I really enjoyed it.

I thought the opening ceremony was unbelievable. Yeah. And it was a really good crowd that first night as well. And then the cricket has been, there's been a lot of 200 plus scores. They have been playing on small grounds and good pictures, but it's been a good spectacle for women's cricket, I think. Yeah. Has the boundary been too small? Yeah, in my opinion.

I don't think he should be much smaller than 65 metres in the way it's going now. Here's one for you, right? So grounds, I reckon we mostly can play on the bigger boundaries now. on the men's grounds, on the main grounds. So, like, at Old Trafford, our boundaries are pretty big. At Trent Bridge, you use the whole ground. I think that big grounds now, big stadiums, are built for women's cricket,

because men miss hit sixes, but women actually can't miss hit them. They have to crunch them. Yeah. And it's a good old debate, because you can't make the grounds any bigger, obviously. Yeah, I think it's a good point, actually. I think you should have a slightly bigger boundary in the women's game

because the big hitters should be able to hit sixes, and then you, like, you shouldn't miss hit a six. That's the game, yeah. So you shouldn't have to work hard for your runs. But also, there wasn't a lot of teams being scored in the whiffball, and I think, obviously, that's because you're on the 48 meter boundary on one side. So, yeah, so you can't, you literally cannot. Maybe I'm glad I didn't get picked up,

because that would have ruined my bowling for it. Well, it's funny because the bowlers were, like, cannon fodder for a lot of it, but then they're just, like, Tywin Harris comes on and takes a Pfeiffer. Marrizan Cap comes on and takes Fifer. Like, it was either, The batter's score of millions at a strike rate of 400 or he took five there. Have you decided who you're supporting yet? I like the Delhi Capitals.

I thought you might because they're winning as well. I know. I like the kit. I've had a pick on kit and I've picked on kit and I like their kit. Yeah. I like the Delhi Capitals too. You need to talk us through RCB. Yeah. The mentality, isn't it? I think it's an RCB thing, isn't it? It's a franchise thing. It's a franchise thing.

They've got a really good team on. paper and they've not won a game yet doesn't that just go to show how mad it all is because everyone thought they had an unbelievable auction but then when you put those players in a dressery room for whatever reason it's just not clicking I know it's mad mad they've got lovely kit as well well they do have nice kit I do like their kit don't like the UP Warriors kit all that they bright yellow yeah yeah yeah I don't go to watch I ends no both that's UP warrior's not doing that well either aren't they now they've had a few bad games few good games I feel like everyone's been a bit hit and me

bar the extremity of Delhi and Mumbai. Mumbai and then the other extremity of RCB. Yeah. So there's only two of the teenagers. So in Coutureat and you be have been alright. But I think, like, obviously we've wanted the WPL to kick off so long time now. And I think it met my expectation. Yeah, I think it met my expectation, but also the social media side of things

has gone above my expectation. That's so good, yeah. Like above and beyond. You've got all the franchises pumping out content every hour and they're treating the women exactly the same as they do as men. And I don't know why I didn't expect that, but I didn't. And it's been so good. No, it has been good.

And I think, obviously, we're going to see it expand and grow, but it was just like there was loads and loads and loads of kids in the crowd. It was great to see. Sold out of him getting us as well, haven't they? Yeah, and they did a thing where women and girls go free to the game. So I think we're going to go watch a game next week. We've got tickets from Monday, Tuesday. And I was thinking of just getting tickets for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday as well, because no, I know.

I think they're the finals as well, so why not? Yeah, why not? So I'm overdoing a bit of commentary, and you're one of the best safaris of your life. Oh, my God, honestly, crossy, like, unbelievable. Every day was so different. And there was a day where it was really cloudy, and we were like, where are all the animals? We were like, where is everyone? Like, where are all the elephants?

and they knew that a storm was coming. Really? Animal scents that, don't? That's like cows lie down when it's going to rain. Do you know why? Well, I do know why, but you're going to surprise a few people by actually telling them the correct reason. So because they know it's going to rain

and they want dry grass to eat later. Mad, that, isn't it? That is what cows fundamentally produce milk for us and meat, and they know when it's going to rain. Three great skills to have. They're necessary, but great. And I had a favourite animal. Now, it's not the elephant.

It's not the giraffe. It's not any of the big ones. The waterhog, crossy. The waterhugs, the pumbas. The pumbas. They are the funniest, funniest animal I've ever seen. They will go around like, moh. Why's funny?

Because that's what I bought you at Tester Z. You have the warthog. I did not. The Visian wot hog. Yeah, very good, very good. So you have a good time? Yeah, amazing time. Got back.

We were straight here, basically. And now the season is literally around the corner and after today I'm not sure if I'm excited just yet but I feel like I will be excited yeah I think there's also you've got to take a lot into consideration when you play pre-season tours

because it's a blow the cobwebler play today it felt like that as well it really felt rusty even like I've been playing cricket and I do you feel rusty it felt like it was very who fancies a ball have a go but we're going into 50 over cricket

which is going to be be a shock to the system. Well, yeah, it is. My feet, my dogs are barking. Yeah, already. And we've put 50 overs in the dirt tomorrow. Well, I hope we bat first. I do.

We'll have some fun, though. Of course we will. It was nice to play cricket again with you, because we actually left a game at Emiratesville Shepard last year, thinking this might have been the last bucket we ever played together. Changing my mindset. So, you know, last year?

I was like, this is my last year, and this is it. I'm done. At the end of the year, I'm not saying that anymore. No. I'm not. Pre-season up there. Yeah, exactly. Everyone's going to be like, all right, when's it coming?

Yeah. So this isn't my last season. I don't know. When will be? But I am just really enjoying my cricket. I don't want to give up either. Their job. Are you looking forward to the season, summer?

You've got a bloody good summer. We've got an unbelievable summer. We've got tent dinner post by Somerset yesterday or the day before, saying they've sold out there, ODI there. We're not far off selling out of the old. and lods and sub for the 20s and obviously we've got the five-dayer at Trent Bridge so that's just the ashes and Somerset they want us through the Noble's live down there and they have messaged me yesterday saying any news on it

so I need to reply saying we're keen we are throwing on in the Somerset area we think we might come down and do something so we don't know what it's going to look like crossy we've been nominated how we forgot about this and we've been nominated for two awards we've been nominated for the equality and diverse the podcast yeah and the best cricket podcast which we're not going to win because we don't know but please please please vote because it would just be really funny if we want in ladsen like wisdom you think you did seriously yeah we don't obviously thanks hemorrhs for making us that decent but like it matched it if we won oh honestly we should

win just because it would be funny and we've got great fans we've got great but you're all really really loyal really loyal um speaking of anaharis shall we nip upstairs? Yeah. Yes. Or do we bring in our guest? Shall we? Yeah, let's get him out of the way.

Right, okay, we'll bring him in. This is who we are. Welcome to the neighbourhood with Jade Adams. Is a seagull strong enough to break windows? Someone called Paury's now replied, Does it have a hammer? Michelle Vizages, rule breakers. And this whole sort of assumption that,

Have you got a man? No, actually I've got five. Oh, yes. And Lioness, My Journey to Glory by Beth Mead. Scoring that many goals in front of that many fans screaming my name was the biggest rush of blood I'll ever get in my career. Celebrating who we are.

Listen on BBC Sounds. Crossy, we've actually managed to get a guest and it's purely down to the fact that I grabbed him at lunch and said, do you fancy coming to talk for 10 minutes? He was like, no really. I was like, well, too late, you're coming on. Second Eve, welcome back, and you've got a little redbells on your chest. They were in Dubai. How good?

Amazing. One, being in the sun, it's so cold at home. But then again, being back in the way. Have you just come from Dubai and Bangladesh? Yeah, but it's so cold at home. I could have gone back to England from Bangladesh, but I thought I'd stay in Dubai, so I had a holiday for a week. So I've been, I'm literally the brownest I've ever been right now. That's the first thing I notice, actually, you are so tanned.

Yeah. So I was just pure Factor 50 right now I'm just trying to It's not I've not any more I feel like I've overdone it a little bit Well thanks for coming on We really appreciate it because it was just going to be us two Talking dribble which it often is

But you're going to make it a bit better for us I hope so We've just all said we're really flat You've come back from a big injury You've come back, you've made, you've come back to England And played how was it all The injury one was very very long I think it was 10 months between my games but I think just obviously you build your

training back up and everything and just when you first find out you're back in so first for me it was a line squad but sort of knew that that was a little bit of prep for hopefully the England squad then when you get picked it's just quite an overwhelming feeling actually because you've been out of the game so long you have doubts and all of these things which go through your mind but to actually get back in and and play like I did just sort of puts all those doubts to one side and that was the best thing about it when you get the news that you've got such a big injury like how does that mentally affect you like how did you like yeah how did it affect you oh it's it's looking back now that first week it was so hard to process i remember um you get told

and then it's obviously sometimes you don't want to talk about it but it's almost courtesy you have to tell people around you that you're obviously out for a while and and that includes certain teammates and one of the guys the way I told Livy was we were playing quality Judy and stresses I was like I didn't want to make a big deal out of it but you've almost got to start telling people and but when I remember where I find out I was in

Headingley that week and when I found that and it was more the fact that I'd had to scan a few weeks before it where mentally I was like I've done something to my back in but you get the results and it's like now it's all good when as far as saying it's the best back they've seen in the 25 year old fast

congratulations oh yeah it looked like that Probably said that. It took me later. Obviously, so then mentally I was prepared for the worst. So I think I would have handled it better, but then you get told it's fine and you crack on a little bit and then when you actually do find out it's not fine and you got it crack in your back, it was sort of zero to 100 really in terms of emotions because I was due to be in a test one in a couple of weeks after that.

And all of these things which you potentially miss out, there's a walk up later in the year, that's when in the first 24 hours, that's all you think about. and then it's just i try to distract myself as much as i could i remember the day was going to make the press i just i was in woodie's house had to turn the phone off put top boy all great show did you then start having the doubts that you'd never be the same as you was before or you just try not in the car or as hardly just put that in your head now i think um i think before you start bowling um there's definitely those thoughts there because you just don't know how it's going to react how going to be whether you're just going to keep getting them because there are some bowlers

who keep getting them. I think that's when obviously rehab isn't managed properly. So for me, I wanted to give it time to obviously heal properly and stuff. But then, yeah, it's when you have a bad session is when doubts start to creep in. And it's literally only one bad session. So luckily for me, I haven't had too many bad sessions in a role. But every now and again, when you have a bad session, it does creep in. And also, it's just when you're getting back in and you want to be where you were before. But there's just so much. much rustiness. There's so much rustiness and even competing at the top level is hard enough when you're in good form. Never mind being out of the game for 10 months and it's your third game

back. It must be incredible for you, confidence-wise though, that you've come straight back and into the lion squad and then into an England squad. And in a way it must be difficult because you've not had any Lancashire cricket to help prep. But in terms of confidence and what England must think of you and your talent and that must be great for it. Yeah, I think the thing I was most pleased about was the standard I was training at so you never want to get injured but I'm glad I got injured after playing test cricket as opposed to before because then you get you know you sort feel what test cricket is like you you experience it so then you try and maintain those standards and training so even when I was with the lions and I was coming

out from injury I wanted to make sure that my standards in the nets were higher than everyone else and I think that put me in good stead and the thing I was most pleased about was in the games how competitive I was I wasn't thinking about myself I was thinking about the game about the fields, tactics

and all of these things about how to get better as I think that's the bit which sometimes can take the longest especially like when you come when you start the season and you're back in doing a pre-season like this some of the guys

as much as it is physical I think it's the mental bit which is the mental shift The switch I come back to cricket yeah I was true of that today actually oh my God Did find a leg to find leg. Baldur I don't know.

Oh, we have to mention this because we've just done the intro and forgot, but Alex's got a little four for today. Yeah. Random applause around. I saw it's knocking the middle stump out. Thank you, thank you. I had knocking off stump out.

You're watching a bowl. Middle stump is the one ball I saw. I was doing a little lap as I got here. I actually bowled so around her legs, but actually she just played a god-off or cricket shot. The other one I saw? It might be, yeah. Try and sweep it was?

No, that was different one. There was two minutes. You're not a good one. I actually felt awful. today, could tell it's my first session back. But this is about Sakeeb. Yeah, sorry, Sack. So go on, Crossie.

Next question, Sack. Have we got any written down? Right, so we're both here in Dubai. Did you pre-season last year with length? No. No. This is my first pre-season in four, five years. So this is all our first pre-seasons with length.

So freaks all around for us. All virgins? All virgins of tour, yeah. I mean, it's great, isn't it? It's great for us as a female team to be able to come out here and train near you guys, chat to you guys. You've got a huge squad, 25 of you, I think, about it up of this. 23, wait?

Big squad. But yeah, it's amazing for us. But what's it like from the guys' perspective? In terms of what, having you guys around? Yeah. I think it's nice. I think it's, obviously, it's been quite a big thing on social media, and I think when it's out there, hopefully it has an effect on it.

Or do the counties, and it gets everyone else thinking, you know, a few years ago, this might not have been part of anyone. one's thinking whereas now that lengths are doing it other counties might take the same approach and I think that's what you want to get out of something like this you know outside of what we've got here but even here just obviously gives you guys the opportunity to come and experience this and train and get yourself ready for the season but then also you move on some more by don't yeah yeah because this is so hard like for the last 10 years or whatever but you do pre-season training as a female cricketer

and you go from batting indoors to play in your first game of the season and there's nothing in between so it is fantastic to actually get outside um saki you've got a very exciting summer ahead of you what are you most looking forward to what my most looking forward to if i'm being completely honest i just want to stay fit the whole summer i think if i stay fit and hopefully i'll perform things should take care of themselves so when you're out the game for that long just being back in around the dressing room and and playing again you just you're grateful for that. So for me, if I could just stay fit for the whole summer, obviously there'll be an eagles here and there, but yeah, nothing like last summer, please.

Angus Crock, we've all got our fingers got. It's been very serious, very crickety, yeah. She has some silly points. It's because you've both got shades on and can't see your eyes on. Sorry, how rude. Sorry, how rude. Take your sunglasses up, I see so rude. You just want to look into our beautiful eyes. It's better. It's tired eyes. Yeah. Oh, you have a late one, did you? Just tired. Yeah. not got any fun questions written down actually so we'll just go off the cuff um out of your lank's teammates who would your least like to be stuck in a lift with and wine daniel am that was easy didn't you have to think yeah he makes me sick oh oh it's just his mannerisms to be

fair i don't mind him listening to this because i told him this exact thing yesterday when he was stood around just the mannerisms like he's always got food around his mouth and yeah i can't i can't i can't Who you're most wanting to get stuck in a lift with them? Who's helping you get through a four hour in a lift? I'd say Luke Wood, reason being if the lights went off, his teeth, they're going dark, so they don't keep some light in the lift. He hasn't been there, they're too big, too bright, I don't. He's actually, he's got him smaller.

I know, he went out of all down. But the colour of them, they're so white, which I keep telling him, but if the lights are off, they're off, then he'll bring some light into the room. But also, he laughs at all my jokes. And I don't think I'm the funniest guy around, but you've got someone around who's laughing at all your jokes to try and stick with him.

Sackled Space when you just said that was like, I really got him there. I can see my eyes now. I was just trying to be, you know, humble and all that. You just shot my down. I actually think it's really important to have people around who laugh at your jokes. Like, 100%.

Yeah, someone who's an easy laugh, makes you feel great about yourself. Yeah, Hannah Jones in our cricket team, is great for that. She doesn't say anything she's a mute and just laughs it she's brilliant. I wish it would you do the same. Have you ever

had a really embarrassing moment on a cricket field like pants fell down already for my own. Jeez I'm my pants haven't fallen down on the cricket fields not there I know of. I need to think about it. The most embarrassing moment you'd have in life. It doesn't have to be

on a field. Let me think about it and we'll want that visit. Couldn't you tell us your best moment of your career so far and why? My best moulon. Got to be Barbara Zand twice or drop. Great time. Three time. Three times. Thrice. That series was obviously really good for me. I think because the start of that summer I thought I was obviously in the reckoning for the White Bull stuff,

but I was ended up as a reserve and then a reserve and then a reserve and I was... That was the COVID year, wasn't it, with a team all that. bit and so i was i was basically on standby for all the series and then i remember we getting a call or spores i didn't answer it it was seven in the morning something but i was i'm not answering this probably being told on a reserve again and then yeah she explained the all to me but that series was good because i hadn't had a proper chance and a run of games and all of a sudden i was able to have a full series play three games see how it goes and luckily went really well for me the day before the first game

was the first time we'd got together with the squad some of these guys I'd never met and we had our bowlers meeting on the Zoom and because I'd played in the PSL I was leading it but then when you're leading it there's also comes with the territory of a bit of pressure because you're like saying this is how you gotta get this guy out is how you get this guy out this is how you get this guy out but the plans I actually had luckily I nailed yeah it's like I said to Babu I said in the first game it's like forced to stump but like just back off because he gets it just gets stuck on the crease a little bit and I said it and I'll do the exact thing second ball and I was like oh my god but then going into

the second game I swear to you I didn't sleep the night before the game not purely because of him no not purely because of him I see what you did then but like I don't know about you guys but the most pressure I feel sometimes is after a good game because it's really as good as because I want to back it up I don't just want to have a one-off or whatever so I'd obviously had a really good game and got my other match so I wanted to back it up and I was like he's not going to nick off again he's going to learn from his mistake I was like he's world number one for a reason he's not going to nick off again I'm going to try to hit him on the pad and like when he first came in I tried to see what he was like on off someone and he looked right

and I fall and I hit him on the pad I mean I hate him on the pad and it was the best feeling ever but Like, you know what? You don't know as a bow nerve. And it's obviously quite serious to chat this book. When you have a plan in your head and sometimes only you know about it and when you nail it, there isn't a better feeling. Yeah.

I love it when in Tess Cricket when you do a rogue plan and a rogue field and it works until you get a wicket. And then like you get the point to the dressing room. Like you've worked something out with the following. I take it. See, you say the point and I was so gassed when I was in Sri Lanka right. So I've never had a catch in third circle for a right hundred in my career.

I've never had a catch in third circle. slip. So we worked this out with the analysts. But since I've come back from my injury, I've tried to work on things which give me a bit more balance and a bit, you know, a different trajectory. So we played in Sri Lanka, my second over, last ball of the over. I said to the captain, I was like, let's lose cover and put him in third slip. Like I was bowling nice. So I was like, put him into third slip. And he's like, no, no, no, no, leave it, leave it. And bear in mind, I've never had a catch of a third slip either. Last ball of the over, I was like, just put him in third slip. Just give it a big dog ball. It's like, put him in first slip. I'm calling the shots in.

so the captain was at second slip Tom Abel probably been the third slip that ball first time ever in my life I nicked the right hander off to third I was like that's why and a message everyone is like

you wouldn't believe what you're saying yeah but that's like it's one of those as a bowler nobody knows what's going on in your head but when you nail something it's the best feeling before we let you go

obviously it's a huge summer for English cricket is it something you're thinking about trying to get into that test team for the ashes or are you just going to go with the flow, see what happens? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about it. You know, you try and see how best you can enforce your way in. Obviously, that comes with performances, but it also comes with the type of performances you put in.

There's obviously a lot of good bowlers in England at the moment. There's a lot of competition. And everyone seems to be fit at the same time now, which makes it even... That's because everyone was unfit at the same. How old this makes it even harder. So you've obviously got guys with high, you have guys with the skill and guys with pace.

Now, obviously, don't have the high over Stuart Warden and O'I Robinson, but hopefully I can bring pace and skill and accuracy into that. And then that's trying to work it as a triangle. Keep nailing those three things. Hopefully I can tick more boxes. So, you know, that's my mindset. And hopefully I do get a chance at some point of this salon because it would be nice to play a national seat.

great to see you playing and actually... Yeah, but if not, we'll probably be commentating together anyway and say win, win for you, so all the base

just dropped there. I was thinking, I was thinking, but hopefully I'm in the T-20 Blast playing, so which we're going to have an unbelievable

team for, by the way. What length? Yeah. Before you go, have you thought of your embarrassing moment? Um, on the cricket field.

It could be here. Go on, look like it anywhere. My fit it used to be. We'll loosen the tone Turbly conditions. So on a cricket field, I had one, and I didn't quite know what to make of it. We can talk, we can work it out, love it all.

No, no, no, it's not what you're thinking. It's more of a, I just felt bad moment. Okay. It was a woman, I felt bad, but I didn't know how to process it. Playing Warwickshire a couple of years ago, the flattest, crappest wicket. It was actually, funny enough, I was in this test squad against Indian at Hedlingley, didn't play, so then the week after, I probably wasn't going to play, so I asked if I could be released, so I could play a four.

game just to get a game under my belt in a bit of form. Come back to Old Trafford and it's the flattest biggest as he goes on saying Stephen Croft's house is just on the podcast that's it was as you've said on the podcast Phil Sawyer, Stephen Croft

I didn't mean to do that I was trying to get your job to sorry I was so sorry Warwickshire crying pitch Warwickshire crap pitch and it was not the pitch you want when you're trying to enforce your way into a test squad but

Anyway, their second innings, I bowled a couple of balls to, I think about one ball to the left-hander, and I was still a little bit stiff, but I felt like I rushed him, so I still at the edge of my mark, and I called keg ball, loud. No. I called keg ball. Of my own bowling. And I knocked off stop out. Oh, yeah, that's up in the slip. And there is a clip of it, and I had people ask me, like, I literally just turn around, and I just start laughing, and I just don't know what to do. Because I also know the batter and I felt bad.

It was it? Rob Yates from Warwickshire. We did a lion's tow together. And I just, I didn't know how to do with it. But like, if somebody saw that now, they'd be like the most arrogant guy ever. But it's just one of them. Oh, well, we've got a little visitor.

Come on, then. It's a podcast. Go on, Saki. Thank you very much. You've been a legend. We'll let you go. Wait, just while he's here, we've got Matt Parkinson just joined the crew.

Can we have one word on his shoes, please? Oh my god Yeah there's a bit of a colour clash I didn't think that I didn't think the kit would be this burgundy so Just to everyone know they're bright orange I've been wrapped by new balance

I have to buy my boots now So these were these are 26 quid on Sports Direct Welcome to the pod Matt Parkinson I'm in We'll say goodbye to Sakib Yeah thank you Keith Thank you Keith that was wonderful Thanks Sakki

Right Parky has been trying to get on this podcast for ages And one day we will get you on properly as a proper guest but because you've just interrupted that interview with sake which was coming to an end anyway crossy's got one question and one question only for you well it's your most embarrassing moment on a cricket pitch um there's been quite a few i reckon my most embarrassing moment you two were both present actually and you were enjoying maybe a couple of drinks in the terrace not like us not like us at headingly in the

first year of hundred um oh i remember this yeah I've got no idea what this is. A ball came to me not very fast, like a catching chance, a short, fine leg. And I proceeded to, I don't even think I got a hand on it, and it went for four. I had to then go and go down to the stand to collect the ball after dropping it. You were at 45. Yeah, short fine, yeah, my usual. Your area.

Yeah, I'm normally good there as well. And I had to go down to the stand to get it. I was getting abused. and then got panned bowling they were the first team to get 200 and 100 game and I then proceeded to drop another catch at short final like that went that high I generally again nothing I think it went through my arms and then to make matters worse we were changing in the rugby stand so me and Stephen Finn who'd had equally a horrendous day

he bought 15 balls for 53 or something expensive figures in the hundred so we then had to go and get our kit from the stand and walk past the Western Terrace I've never felt more embarrassed ashamed just generally rubbish I think that first drop was the reason that Manchester had a touch about you set the tone that day

we were so up for it we were like yeah first gaming and whatever the call superchargers and when that went down it just went gradually worse I hope we dropped nine catches Yeah, it was. It was a bad day. Bad day at the office. But, actually, I'm going to let you finish on a high because I can't have you come on and finish on that.

You did take an absolute screamer in the 100, so go on, talk us through that one. Way 5 again? We were 45. Short third, actually, that time. Oh, it was a reverse. Yeah, reverse fee off of Rossington. He actually, there's some great footage of him after it.

He didn't, couldn't believe that I'd caught it, and I think I'm convinced him out of the words, he's normally... it was old scouting so that was it was actually the game after heading this I went in with so much confidence like I'm a gunfielder and then that went and it was awful

do you know what that footage of you taking that specky catch the best bit about it is Lucky Ferguson's fielding at point and he darts to the boundary because he doesn't think you're going to catch it yeah I think I'd have ran round the whole the whole boundary like

shearer scoring a goal yeah you do it is a big day. Thank you, Matt. Thanks for that. We'll get you on. Brief, brief chat. We'll look for the game. Yeah, go well. Ball Strait. Be great. And that concludes the Who's Who of Lancashire cricket, men's tour, and women's tour. And that is exactly why you should vote for us, because we're a shambles. You don't know what you're going to get. We've seen Stephen Croft's ass. Congratulations, Stephen.

Thank you for getting in touch with us, even though we didn't read an email that today, but you can get in touch with us on. no balls podcast at bbc.com.com. Nobles podcast at BDC.BBC.com. It's so good. They say... Please vote for us. One thing, vote for us, two things. Daney van Nierke has followed me back on socials now.

So we'll try and get her when we're in Mumbai. She has just announced her international retirement. So a lot to talk about and hopefully we're the ones she wants to talk to. I've got one thing I just need to say about the last pod we did, which was the World Cup Roundup. I've gotten a slide-in DM from someone saying how bitter I sounded about Australia being so good at cricket and winning everything and apparently it didn't come across very well.

And I just want to say I am bitter because... And I am disappointed. Because I want to win something and they're bloody good at cricket, so of course I'm bitter. And of course she's disappointed. One day it will be you, crossy. And you can point and celebrate like Parkinson did against Birmingham, Phoenix or whoever it was. And I'm going to call Kegball next time.

Yeah, back. Back. But thanks, Saki, what a gent he was. And congratulations to him on coming back from what has been a terrible injury. Yeah, it sounded tough, actually, did it? Bye, everybody. Bye, bye. And cross strikes in the first over.

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