Test Match Special - No Balls: The Cricket Podcast - Men's World Cup latest and Alex is a coach!

Episode Date: October 25, 2023

Kate Cross and Alex Hartley are on opposite sides of India taking in the Men's World Cup and have plenty of tales to tell. Plus, Alex talks through becoming a coach at the PSL.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. To embrace the impossible requires a vehicle that pushes what's possible. Defender 110 boasts a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms, a weighting depth of 900 millimeters and a roof load up to 300 kilograms. Learn more at landrover.ca. Match of the Day, Top Ten Podcasts. The Match of the Day Top Ten podcast is back, and this series could be. our most controversial and argumentative yet with bigger debates more unrulyness from this man

and unheard tales yes michael richards and alan shira are back with me for series nine of match of the day top ten on bbc sounds where if you've missed any episodes from previous series you'll find the rest of our box sets to listen to from series one up to series eight the match of the day top ten podcast listen only on bbc sounds 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 Balls a Cricket podcast with me Kate Cross, you Alex Hartley, and we are on the same time zone. And we're trying again, because we tried yesterday, failed. Who'd have thought the Wi-Fi in the Himalayas was a lot of dog shit? Yeah, that's a real surprise for us, isn't it?

And we even went, you went around to Henry's room and you're like, what do you want us to do? We thought we'd give it a go. We gave up after 53 seconds. How are you doing? I got told off last week from not asking, so I'm going to get it in early. Oh, yeah, you did. You didn't ask me, did you?

Because you were too bothered that, I didn't get your birthday present or card. Yeah. I'm still sad over myself about. I did get your present. I just, anyway, I'm just all over the place. Let's not go there again, I was just over it. I've just got myself over it. Don't say me back there.

Oh, I am. I had to set my alarm for this podcast, that's where I'm at. Yeah, yeah. Okay, have we got, um, maybe you'll ease into it we always kind of do with the pod we always feel better after it the first five minutes are never our best

so yeah look I'm loving loving being in India I'm loving seeing other places but the best thing happened today crossy I had a chicken Caesar wrap with no spice

no sauce just plain bland and English you messaged me the other day and you're like finally got the shit. And I was like, to be fair, for someone who's got IBS, going to India, week three, that is a great effort. Yeah, they lasted one hour and now I'm clubbed up again. What is wrong with me?

Perfect. Perfect. So you're enjoying yourself. I'm Al, you've been everywhere. It's hard to keep up. Literally everywhere. Right. So when I spent the other day an interview, where have you been? What have you been doing? So I thought I'd write it down. We started the World Cup in Almenabad. We went to Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Palampur. Darma Shalha, which is in the Himalayas. I'm now back in Delhi. I got back to Darren Sharla in two days' time.

They'll do Pune, Bangalore, Mumbai, Bosch. I mean, unbelievable. People are like queuing up to travel India. And you're just doing it whilst you're commentating on a bit of cricket and flying your drone around. That is so true. So true. I'm very, very lucky. And I've had a holiday day today, which I probably shouldn't have bit to, but we had a day off. And I thought, I'm going to sit by the pool. I'm going to get into bed at 4 o'clock having a nap. You're allowed days like that, Al. Like, if you had a normal job, you would have a weekend. So you're allowed to have a holiday day.

Very true. If I go do this podcast, I'm going to put some pants on, because I'm still in bed, and I'm going to go have a beer. Perfect. Holiday day. You're here, how are you? Have you caught a parasite? I'm in Parasite free. I think so, yeah. All touch would been going okay so far. But yeah, I went to Mumbai.

Really, really hard to breathe in Mumbai. Like, really hard to breathe in Mumbai. Now in Bangalore and never been to Bangalore. So I went out for a little explore yesterday and really enjoying it. I can't believe you went to my cafe before I went to my cafe. It's more of a bar than it is a cafe. Like I asked for a coffee and they were like, no, we don't do coffees. So for anyone that doesn't understand, we talk about the RCB cafe and bar,

which you are going to go and visit when you come to Bangalore. Am I? I'm going to be the first. What can you just show me? I'm going to explain a minute. I've just shown me a picture of a phone whilst we're talking about the RCB cafe. So you said it's hard to breathe in Mumbai. Yep.

This is the air quality for the day in Mumbai. So Mumbai's air quality is 115. You are now in Bangalore and it's 76. I'm in Delhi. It's 222. So higher is obviously worse. To put it into context, Southford's one. One. So I was doing some Googling because we'll talk about.

about the World Cup in a minute but the England game I've never seen people react to sports the way that the England and the South Africa teams did it like it looked brutal out there the conditions are really so so tough I mean I feel like this has been the tournament of cramp yeah yeah has a lot there's been a lot of cramp and crap but remember when like the first year of the hundred it was the tournament of the streakers well not the streakers but just people running on the pitch this is the tournament of the cramp anyway how having lots of fun, got a really cool crew, learning how to use the camera equipment, been flying the drones, been talking about their cricket.

You've been flying the drones as well. How much fun is it? Yeah, I have. I've just not put it on my Instagram story every time I've done it. How beautiful is it? Like, it's just you have to. Yeah, no, it is. It is incredible. So yeah, all good my end. Thanks for asking. Thanks for remembering to ask. I'll never forget about UK. No, just my birthday. It's about 32nd birthday that you just come. completely ignored, whilst I was with you for 18 hours of that day. Yeah, yeah, look, I didn't, I was very conscious of the fact that you should birthday had

me and with VBG, I've told you, we've done this, I can't go into it again. Let's not do it again. Have you got anything on the old sticking out? Yeah, I have. You'll be surprised, everyone listening will be surprised. I've got a few things. I'm ready, I'm listening, I'm here. Right, okay.

Meeting no balls, fans in Chennai. Wicked. So you sent me that picture, and I was like, I really do not know what she's showing me here. So I was just like, amazing, looks good. And then I zoomed in, and I saw the no balls picture. How amazing is that? So, like, I was like not even paying attention to the window, and I was sat at the back of the coverage box.

I was just flicking on my phone. And my Twitter was, like, going mad. And there was, like, people having a conversation. The first time ever, I decided to read it. And they were like, Alex isn't in the box. We're showing Henry pictures of Alex. Where's Alex? And I was just stood up.

I was there. So cool. Did you actually get to go and chat to them? No, because where we were in Chennai in the commentary box, you can't get outside without going right down to the bottom through the stems around the other side, basically. It's a pain of the off. So I just waved through the window. I was like, I love you. Yeah, I was going to say a lot of waving, a lot of thumbs up, a lot of thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Talking to a lender. So cool, though. Honestly, amazing. I've had a few people when I went to the May Dane. in Mumbai, a few people came up to me and they said they love the podcast and I was like, wow, that's like, it shocked

me in a really nice, lovely, gorgeous way. It's like, the power of the pod, we're gone global. Power of the pod. We're officially in India now. Power of the God. We just need to break America now. That's it. The USA, which we'll do next summer when

the World Cup's there, so the USA we're coming with you. Yeah, we'll be there. Speaking of which, on top of on my sticky notes, cricket are the Olympics. How good. Yeah, like, I think because we did Commonwealth last year, it kind of feels like less big news to me, but

it's obviously massive. I know it's massive news. I know, I know, I know, I know. It's the Olympics? I know. When is it? 2028? Yes. Four years. You still go to be playing now? Five years. Five years, yeah. Quick maths.

what will I be, 37, it feels unlikely. Yeah, but when you think of it, it's only actually it's four years. It's four summers, isn't it? So we'll call it four years, because this year's basically over. Four years isn't it sound a lot, so don't think of your age, think of the time. Yeah, and then when you think, like, I'm aiming for 2025 World Cup, so then that gets me another year and a bit closer to it. So you never know, dear, you just never know, but how cool would it be to, like, be an Olympian?

Would you get the tattoo? Yeah. That's the only reason I'd stay carrying on playing for it. Maybe on my foot, so no one is here. Oh my God, get it over your toes. All one and each. Yeah, I don't. Maybe that's something that people can suggest to me.

Like, where to get it. No, don't. No, don't. No, don't. Yeah, do. Bad idea. Bad idea. Would you get it? Would you get it in colour or black and white?

Oh, it's got to be colour, hasn't it? Oh my God, you could be one of the Olympics. Yeah, that'd be me. That'd be me. Anyway. Well, yeah, so we'll keep you update. Would you reckon we'll still be doing the pod in 2028?

Yeah, but we'll get paid double, I reckon, by then. You've had to set an alarm to do this one, so maybe not. Yeah, true. Might get cancelled after this one. I still can't be honest doing it four years later. You'll be 35. If I've not got a ring on my finger at 35 I'll propose to you

Thank you We did always say that We'll buy a nice big house With all my Olympic winning money And we'll get some dogs Yeah I'm going to jump in on the sticking out again Because I got something else

Alex Hartley Breaking News Not breaking news because it broke Not on the podcast has signed as the spinballing coach for the Moulton Sultan's in the PSL. Alex taught me through it. How has that happened? Right, okay. I am, yes, I am.

I am the assistant spin coach to the men in the Moulton, sultons in the PSL. I'm well excited, well excited, but also like, not where I thought retirement was going to take me, you know, Crossy? So let's just clarify a few things, because I must admit I'm getting asked a lot about it, actually. And the main question I'm getting asked is how and why. So I just want to know, do you have any coaching qualification badges? Yes, I do actually, because Lancashire texts for the other day, be like, do you need any coaching badges?

and I've got my level two okay it's a good start yes I have coaching badges and how I reckon I've just got a good agent I think you've got an excellent agent I actually think this is not something we should be laughing at

because it's an unbelievable opportunity it's so good I think I'm I find it funny because like you said this was not the road we ever anticipated that you'd go down and it's a quite a big deal Al like the Moulton sultan's in the PSL assistant bowling spin coach is a big deal I know which is why I can't get my head around which is why I'm having to laugh about it I can't admit for a start like I'm gonna have to

practice meeting or maybe I can just be one of those coaches that stands there be like put your top arm up a bit front arm oh my god just video you be the one with the video um but it's huge like absolutely massive literally literally I mean, I'm so proud of you, but you having responsibility for a cricket team worries me slightly. Yeah, and also I'm getting my experience in so that can be Welsh Fire assistant's been coached next summer and living Cardiff again, so winner-winner-win-chook in dinner. Well, you could literally do that now. I mean, you did retire to give yourself more time to commentate, so it's funny that you've gone back into cricket immediately. It's an opportunity that.

I cannot, cannot turn down. No, you couldn't. You actually couldn't. Can't wait seeing how that unfold. So you've got a little trip to Pakistan before Christmas, haven't you? Go meet all the team. Go meet in Hamid Rizwan. Yeah, I can't wait to tell her, Dill Rashid, not to bowl in the slot. It's actually the one thing you need to make sure there's real clarity on.

Just do not bowl in the slot. Yeah, and I think what I'll be like, look, mate, you were good today? just too many balls in the slot. You did not bowl straight, you were not great. I'm so excited to hear the stories of what happens at training. Yeah, me too. Well done. It is proper. It is proper. It's so good. And you never know. You might be England's spin bowling coach before we know it.

Exactly. And look, not where I thought retired life would take me, but an opportunity I can't sit down. what I'm really excited for, one that is so big for so many other reasons other than the fact it's me coaching and bring it on. When I revert to spin for the Olympics in 2028, you were our head coach, our spin bowling coach. You can teach me how not to bowl in the slot. Perfect. I'll even teach you how to get a few revs on it as well. Yeah.

Speaking of the molten sultons on my sticky note, I just sat at the back of the commentary box the other day, and every time I see this person, it gives me a bit of shocks. I don't know how to be around them because they're a legend. But Ross Taylor walks in, and I go, oh, hi, Ross. And he came over, shook my hands, I went, congratulations, coach. And I went, oh, my God.

Have you seen any of the Pakistan players yet? No. You need to do a Pakistan game and you can go meet them all. Do a meet and greet. Do a meet and greet. Like, hi, any of one, play. for my team I can't wait

I think I'm more excited than you are I'm really excited really really excited I'm giggling because it's like just not what I ever thought would happen yeah it is and for me it's the responsibility that's what scares me most about you when you have responsibility I'm going to be a good

mindset coach I know that for sure you'll every I've said this before and I'll keep saying this every single dress room you've been involved in you have brought something to that group that's always like, it's either like energy or like your attitude towards cricket always makes dressing rooms better and I've got no doubt that you'll bring that to the Moulton-Sultans.

And some revolutions on a cricket ball? Yes. Right, so back to sticky notes. The reason that we're here in India is because of the Cricket World Cup, 2023. Rees Topley has gone home and we were going to try and get an England player on this podcast but, and we're going to ask Rees,

gone home, he's injured, he's broke his finger so we've not got a guest because basically England are bottom at the table and we don't want to ask anyone. Yeah, it's not good is it? Afghanistan winning boosted England's chances of qualifying by 1% from 15% to 16%. So that's a little win.

A lot of the table. I'm following New Zealand, they're doing great they've been to see the Dalai Lama they've been to loads of tea leaf factories like they're having a good time, I'm having a good time you're following England how are they doing? You've seen them at training are they low? Are they okay?

I've been to one of their training sessions and honestly it was like everyone was absolutely smoking it in the nets and this was before the South Africa game and I was like it's on, they're back, they're in they look good and then they had their biggest defeat ever in ODI cricket. So training doesn't relate to match play is what I've learned over here.

But we did it in 2022. We lost our games. We had to win every single game to qualify for the semi-final and the final and we did it. And I believe England can do it. Okay. What's the morale like there? I'm not really in it. and like I'm seeing we're in the same hotel as the lads in Bangalore

so I'm seeing them but I'm not like how are you doing do you know what I mean it's not my place to be like that so the families are here the pool in the morning is like a crash there's like 15 kids all playing with each other it's really sweet so it's hard to say really but they seem fine but you know it's like you've been there when you're not winning there is more to life than cricket It feels like it's the end of the world

and they would have all felt crap on Saturday after that game because it was bad but life goes on and they've got another game of cricket to play on Thursday so they're not going to be sulking and moaning and whatever that's true how they'll be with you if you're at the same hotel is it all good is it quite nice

if I've had a copy with anyone you got them on the pod no no I'm not not dared ask anyone I say hi to them when I see them but just leaving them to it really I've been doing my own little training so I've been out and about

been to the gym's been bowling finding places to ball it's been good fun yeah so you're out there doing your test match prep as well well it's yeah it's back to bowling prep it's barely test match prep because I've got white

balls with me oh my gosh speaking of flew from Mumbai to Bangalore cricket balls I've brought six brand new spanking Cuccaborough cricket balls out here 70 quid ago whatever they are they're in my bag take them through security get stopped and the man's like

have you got food in your back so I said no no and he showed me the picture and it looks like I've got six oranges in the bottom of my bag so I was like no cricket balls he's like oh cricket so I was like yeah yeah

no they can't go through I was like what he said yeah no they can't go through you either need to put them in the bin or you need to check them in with your luggage so I was like well my luggage has gone through so how do I check them in

he's like you're going to have to do the whole process again you're going to have to go and check in check your cricket balls in. So I was really angry. Really angry. It was six in the morning. I was really angry. So I thought I might be able to just, you know, throw the England card down. Didn't work. Not interested. Did it not? Not. First time it's ever not worked actually in India, but not interested. So I had to go through the whole system again. I've got an hour till my flight. I've got gone back to check them in. And the woman says, you cannot check cricket balls in.

What? What? How does any? cricket team ever travel in India. They wanted to cricket balls. I don't know what happened. Anyway, I got them through. She realised that she'd made a mistake. It could get them through. But I was like, I'm never seeing this bag again.

There's no way this bag is going to make it on the flight. And here it is, I've bowled today. Got it. So I nearly got my cricket balls confiscated. Did you have to put your cricket balls just like in a plastic bag and check it in or something? No, I had to check my rucksack in. So then I was like carrying my iPad, my book, my purse,

everything in my hands. like an absolute tragic loser through the airport so you can imagine what I was like at 6 AM I was just viewing but yeah it all worked out fine in the end but little fact you cannot travel with cricket balls

in your hand luggage in India wow Henry's had similar he's checked his bags in everywhere he's the carry on bag got through absolutely fine gets a phone call when we land in Durham Sharla

your bag hasn't arrived and he said why he said there's a lighter in it he said well there's not a lighter in it don't smoke never have smoke there's definitely not a lighter in it and he said right okay we'll turn the lighter out and please can you send it tomorrow it's got our radio equipment in we really need it please could it be here by first thing tomorrow and morning

yep not a problem get sent his bag hasn't been stopped the whole time with being there so he's like really confused he's like maybe they just didn't put it on you know and sometimes the planes are too heavy yeah um anyway we're checking in today it's literally half five at the morning so and we're luckily at the airport where you scan the bag yourself because the airport's little yep so scan your bag yourself so you've got a lighter in your bag he's like oh my god i do not have a lighter and i'm giggling i'm i'm done i'm

but I see if I'm leaving him and then what it was it was a mosquito bite zapper oh so did they not confiscate that last time no because they couldn't find what the lighter

was because they didn't have a lighter well they are they're really like anal about some things and then just really not anal about other things so I just didn't think cricket balls would be an issue but we've completely gone off piece there Al because we were supposed to be talking about the cricket world cup

Oh yeah So on my sticky notes Under Cricket World Cup I've got Woody batting Yeah Yeah About the only positive Top scored

42 and I out of like 10 balls More of Woody batting please More of it Yeah I'm batting like that I love it He's had like a new lease alive With his batting hasn't he Yeah loving it

Yeah but yeah like you said Only positive really to come out of that So England You believe they can turn it round obviously it's difficult yeah it is going to be difficult and I'm guessing they need results to go their way as well as them winning all their games

their net run rate has really screwed them but they can afford to lose one more and still go through but then other results really need to go their way like they need more upsets and things like that so they need to win every game here I mean it's not out of the equation is it I think what's worried me the most about it is that they've just not looked at the races in a lot of the games.

It's not like they're losing close games. They're losing by big margins, which, to be fair, could be a positive because they've not really played good cricket yet. So if they start playing good cricket, those margins come down, they're going to start winning. It's my thought process. But it's just not how you anticipated this World Cup to go

in any kind of way, was it? It's just so far. No. You just wouldn't believe it. If you were saying halfway through, they'd be bottom at the table. no no it's like the bottom of the table the Netherlands are above them Bangladesh are above them Afghanistan have won two games yeah um the Netherlands are above them

um yeah so do you think they can win no I've put they're not that qualify for me right it's that's because I just don't believe I just don't believe I just don't believe that they're going to be India and Australia. They might. It's not, out the picture, don't get me wrong, they might but even if they win all five remaining

games, they still might not qualify. It's a very tough situation for them to be in. I really feel for them because it's just awful, isn't it? It's an awful place to be. I've got a question about this World Cup. How do you feel about Virat turning down runs to get his

hundred twice? No, his teammates selling down runs so he can get his 100 twice. How do you feel about that? Yeah. If it was somebody that was getting their first 100, international 100, I could probably go, you know what, we're the strongest team in the tournament. We're probably going to win all the group games. It doesn't matter about our net run rate.

I can forgive it. How many hundreds do they go? He's got loads. Does he need any more? Yeah, he's got a lot. He will want more. You're always going to want more, I think. I don't like it.

I'm going to put it out there. I think World Cup cricket, get your wins on the board, ASAP. And also the net run rate, you never know. Imagine if they go on and they do lose a couple of bogey games. Exactly. And they've taken three extra balls so that they can get out on 96. Yeah. Yeah.

Oh. Yeah. Anyway, to the talking point. No one's talking about it, though. And let's mention Afghanistan. Yes. Loved watching them yesterday, beat Pakistan for the first time ever. And they did a little lap of honour.

Loved it. Oh, it was so cute. I loved it. I loved it. The Jonathan Trot effect. Afghanistan feel like the team that if they could piece together their best cricket more often than not, could be like a world champion team. Yeah, yeah, they could.

I think we went for a beer with Trotty and Delhi a couple of weeks. ago and I think you I think he was saying then they've all got the talent it's just the consistency yeah but that is what happens with a team that is not as fortunate as like your Australia as you're India's your England's etc so the fact

that they have come into this tournament and done so well I think could propel them so so much now but I've loved watching them play like loved it me too it's been great hasn't it? Loved it maybe we should try and get Trotty on the podcast oh yeah we probably should

also we could probably ask Rhys now because it's not like you do oh I feel for him so much all those injuries and it was so innocuous so innocuous I didn't see it I was out snapping even if you saw it you wouldn't think he's broke his finger from it

it was like hit back to him as a bowler he's gone down to stop it with his left hand it's like gone through his hand gone to mid on broken his finger he's made of glass maybe he is so sad And do you know what?

Like, so many people break fingers and they're okay. I know. But it's his bowling index finger. So he had an injection and he came back on and bowled with a broken finger on that. Like, that's his release finger. Would that hurt? Yeah. Imagine trying to bowl with a broken finger.

Yeah, true. It hurts when you get a knock on it, doesn't it? It hurts when you like brush your tea for the broken finger. You got anything else? No, that's it. I want to go up. Stairs. Ready? Yeah. Okay.

Who did I go to watch stares with? Um, should just take all the ICC 2020 umpires up? It's a mouthful. Let's take them all up. BBC 5 Live. Hello, welcome to Cammy and Ben's proper football podcast. Absolutely thrilled to say we've been invited back

for third series alongside me. The legend is Christmas. Here you go. It's very sweet. I thought he was cheating. My captain had been sent off because a niseroid was fraining injury. All the boys were going, have you given up in number line? I went, yeah, yeah, yeah.

She's a couple of players went, did you sell it? We know. I've had so many nice comments about our podcast. It's incredible. Cammy and Ben's proper football podcast. Listen on BBC Sounds. Thank you and a question. Alex and Kate, I hope you well.

My name's Amelia and I'm 12. I started playing cricket two years ago and I've been very fortunate to play for my club's juni-side as well as women's team and my county. I listen to your podcast all the time and I enjoy it a lot. It helps me realise that getting out isn't something I need to cry about. I think the way you put your struggles and triumphs out into the public is incredible. Alex, did the podcast you did with Shabnam Ishmael tip your decision to retire?

I don't think. I think I made my decision way. before that. You knew, didn't you? You made your decision back in March, I think. I made my decision before we went through Deneva naked, really,

isn't I? Yeah, basically. Yeah, it's been a long time coming, but interesting question. Kate, every now and again, my bowling goes haywire, I'm a Seema. This affects my confidence

for the rest of the game. Do you have any tips on how to deal with that and make my bowling more consistent? Thanks for making me smile every time I listen to your podcast from Amelia. Amelia.

Oh. Go on, Crossie. Tell her how to be better. If you are losing consistency as a seam bowler, then it might be something technical, which I can't see because I've not seen a video of your bowl. So what I'm going to say is keep everything really simple. Think about straight lines, going towards the stumps, and try and get as much of your momentum going straight down the pitch as possible

because that will help your consistency. Sorry, I'm just going to write some notes for my coaching. I don't know about spinning it, though. Hi, Kate. I'm a spin bowler, and is that it? Good luck, though, Amelia. Good look. Good luck. Straight lines. Hi, both. I've been listening to your podcast for 1.5 years and have since listened to nearly every episode in the right order. The first one I listened to was the one with Harmon Precourt. I instantly fell in love with your pod and both of you.

I have a question for the two of you, and even Henry can answer if he likes. Since you both come to India for the Men's World Cup and have visited different places, I'd love to know your favourite food item and one favourite interaction you've had with a local. Love listening to the podcast and hope I can meet you sometime in Bangalore. I'll be there next week. You're there now. P.S. Alex, congratulations on your new role with the Moulcan. sultans sigh So

I've been quite careful with the food over here since last time I travelled to India I had No you have been A parasite So I've gone down the more western route Of food this trip

Yeah right You say you've been more careful Right you've had no curry which is what they cook Every single day and eat every single day which is the safest option to have. You had lobster ravioli. You've never even had lobster ravioli in England. I've never had it in my life and I've tried it in Mumbai.

I thought when you text me or told me you had lobster ravioli, I was like, are you mad? I've had butter chicken for the 15th day in a row. No, but I think my PTSD has come a little bit from, I feel like I got ill from curry, so I've then avoided the curry. But we did go to Leopolds, and I did have a big fat curry there, so delicious. My favourite answer for you as well, because you're not eating any. Dahl McCarney, I think that's how you say it.

I hope that's how you say it. Hi, Kate and Alex. I was the strange man who said, thank you for no-balls when Alex was talking on her phone near the press box at Hove before the T-20. Do you remember that? Yeah. I had many happy memories watching Sussex over the years and remember watching England play Australia in a women's test in 1987.

I've enjoyed listening to No Balls for a few years but it was always a pleasure to listen to a few episodes with my mum when I see her every August. I'm a teacher in Japan for the rest of the year. Right, that makes sense. She often emails me to tell me how much she enjoys listening to Alex on TMS. You often discuss dyslexia on the pod. Would it be possible for you to spend a bit more time discussing it one week?

It would be interesting to hear about Alex's expertise. experiences at school and in cricket, in a similar way to other countries, dyslexia, autism and other neurodiverse ways of learning are only just being understood in Japan. I've studied neurodiversity on the surface and have a better understanding of what the students can offer to the classroom in different ways. Many thanks for your pod and that's from Brent. Brent, it runs in the family for me, luckily. So we're 99% sure mum's got it, brother's got it, I've got it. At school you can get like, if you can't read a write, you can get like a keyboard and keypad to write on like a laptop, like an electronic device. So you could like type instead of right, depending on your

severity of your dyslexia, you can have extra time in exams and things like that. But when I was growing up, we saw my brother was the one. that really struggled. He had a tutor at home and things and I just sort of got on with it. It wasn't until later on in life that I was like, ah, I think I've got you've two got.

So have you ever been officially diagnosed with dyslexia? I did one of them like, I know you can do an online test for everything, but no, but definitely got it if that makes sense. Yeah. Do you, knowing what you know now, do you wish you'd been diagnosed so you could have got more help

at school. Yeah, 100% because I still like, like really struggle with, um, like processing words and writing and things like that and spelling. I can't spell for shit, can I? Like, so bad at spelling, so bad at pronouncing words. I was calling Daramshala, Daramashala for like three years in my life and didn't know. Well, when you, I asked you how you pronounce Kurtz's name from South Africa and you sent me the voice though, but then you sent me the voice though, but then you sent me obviously how your brain processes words like that because it was you just said see you see you as in like see you later and that was your way of telling me how to read a word yeah yeah and still if I'm spelling words now I use little alphabet and not ABCD I use abacada yeah

which is just mad but yeah I totally wish that I'd had more help at school because I might have made me enjoy school a little bit more because I hated it because I knew that I was to fail all my exams i knew that i wasn't going to do well do you think are you like are you surprised that no teacher picked up on it yeah yeah i am actually i laugh about it but in p e in the practice i got an a star but i failed the exam so bad i came out with a c i mean like but also that does go to show if you had more help then your grades might have been a little bit better as well no it's just oh how annoying but it's fine it's fun of that so for For anyone, young, old, whatever age, listening to this podcast who has dyslexia or thinks they might have dyslexia, do you have any advice for them?

Just get the help you need, but also it's just who you are and you can't do anything about it. And my, I know I'm quite different to a lot of people, just to laugh. And even when I'm on air and we're on the podcast and I say something, just laugh because it makes me who I am. And if anyone hasn't listened to it, go back to episodes. God knows which one it was and listen to Alex talk about the state in America called Lower

because that is my favourite dyslexic moment that's ever happened live on this podcast. What about when we were writing everyone's addresses for those mugs and I couldn't do it? Another one of your best moments here. Where was that? Argyll. You're like Argyll's not a place.

Orgyll? Someone's having us on a crossy. Argyll. So good advice, all, well done. Dear Kate and Alex, first of all, thanks for your excellent programme. Above all, you appreciate and understand the game of cricket and you always have good insights with humour and empathy. Also, I like your honesty. I saw your bowling in the 100th final, Kate, absolute quality.

As a northerner, I was disappointed that the Southern team won, but please for Anya Shubsol. You are a world-class bowler with nothing to prove. Alex, you two are a high-class player and you make a really good commentator. All the best, David. I'm convinced that we read that out last week. Do it again, but better. But better, just practicing.

You're just practicing because you're dyslexic, so. Alex's new job. Congrats to Alex on being appointed the spin coach for the Moulton Sultan's. Does this mean no more nobles with Kate, Roger? Roger! I ain't going anywhere. They have to set an alarm for this podcast, but I've really enjoyed it again. So, of course, everyone keeps paddles. that I'm not going to be commentating anymore.

Some people are probably cheering and having thrown parties. But no, I'm still going to be commentating. It's just this one-time thing that I've got going on right now, and we'll see what happens. I feel like we've giggled loads this week. Me too, and we've not had one like that for a while, have we? We've not had a proper giggler for ages, have we? No.

Hi, Kate and Alex. Long-time listener, first-time emailer. Yes. Excuse me. read that out again hi Alex and Kate did you just say hi Kate and Alex I'm sure you did because I've got it up as well oh go on right I'm here with you I'm holding your hand in case you need me go short time listener short time email I'm 11 I play for Richmond Cricket Club my family love listening to Alex commentary on TMS and we

all agree that she is easily one of the best in the business thank you zaki your girl we also love watching kate ball especially in the hundred when she's consistently being one of the best bowlers in the tournament as you'd probably expect i have lots of questions when did you both take your first five furs oh good question zaki uh i know mine go on then playing northumberland five for two I remember it well. Bould them out for 13. Remember that game really well. We travelled for four hours, didn't we?

And then we bought them out for 30 or something. No, 13, crossy. 13. Well, well, that? You probably got the other five, though. Probably, yeah. I think, I think my first one came, I don't know if it was for lengths or for Hayward,

but it was a junior game and I think I've got a seven for, but I've obviously, I don't remember it very well. So it obviously wasn't that special. What about your England fibre for? First one was against New Zealand in Lincoln. Might not have been Lincoln. Five to 24 I got. Don't know.

Not very good with the old memory. And Kate, what's your favourite bat that you've ever been given by New Balance? How often do they give your bats? Sorry if this is too many questions. Oh, never too many questions. My favourite bat is one that I used in the ashes this year at Bristol. is my number one and it's got tape

around the bottom of it so you know if it's, you always know if a batter's got a good bat that they're like if there's loads of tape on it. It's got yourself a batter? And a batter, yeah.

You always know. You always know. You always know as a batter. Um, and I didn't realize that it was last year's bat. I only realized because New Balance,

the guy that sponsors me, message me saying, why are you using last year's stickers? I was like, oh, I didn't realize I was. Sorry about that. Whoopsy. Yeah

I don't have that many I'll probably have like three every two years maybe Yeah I like using all the bats Sponsors Dream Yeah I'm great Finally thank you so much For being open and honest

You have helped every one of your listeners Including me through the dark times in our lives All the best, Zaki Oh Zaki As an 11 year old I hope you're not going through too many dark times But thank you very much for your email please keep emailing the questions in as well because we love them so you can email us on

no balls podcast at bbc.co.c.com.com. It's so good. They said it twice. They said it twice. Right, we'll see you later. Yeah, I reckon that's it. Two lots of 17 and a 10. Sorry, Henry. Sorry, Henry. Maybe we should have done it yesterday. We were just having a good time. It's always a good time. Very Christmas, everyone. See ya. Happy New Year. Someone turned the radio off the other day because I was talking about Christmas.

Oh dear. Bye. Cross. I'm doing round of wicket. Oh, that's... Boulder. Boulder. Leaving a ball alone. Litchfield. I think it's the wobble ball. And it just nips back. It jags back. It's the nipbacker. That is a beauty from Kate Cross.

An absolute seed. That is a beautiful cross. I'm Mark Chapman and this is Everton. Nothing will be the same. This is the story of what happened over one of the most difficult and controversial seasons in the club's history. If we go down, I don't think we'll even exist in five years' life. We've been inside the club talking to players, coaches and managers. I had nine and a half years at my previous club.

I've probably got one booking me. In four months here, I've probably got three. Everton, nothing will be the same. Listen now on BBC Sounds.