Test Match Special - No Balls: The Cricket Podcast - The Men's World Cup is underway!

Episode Date: October 14, 2023

Kate Cross and Alex Hartley talk through the start of the men's World Cup, with plenty of tales from Alex's travels around India. Plus, there's lots to explore in the email inbox!

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we tell the story of Anthony Curseo in full. I'm Johnny Marle. This is Sports Strangest Crimes. Listen 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 Oh that's Boulder! Boulder! Laving 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 from cross. Hello and welcome to No Balls, the cricket podcast, and we sound crisp, we sound clean, we sound sexy because we are sexy. But we've got new mics, crossy, with me, Alex Harley, in UK, Crass.

What a messy intro. Welcome back, everyone. Welcome back to Nobles, the Shambled podcast. And yes, we've invested in ourselves, haven't we? Yes. Yeats, yeas. We've got like these clip on mics, like the official clip on mics,

and we don't want to move now in case it ruffles. so we're sorry, Henry, if they sound terrible, but we think they're going to sound great. They shouldn't sound terrible because I went to get my drone fixed and I saw them and I went, crossy, I'll buy those, because we're both travelling a lot and those microphones, thank you to meet me see, but they're a pain in the arms.

Well, I'm not got one. I've gone since the West Indies, which is nearly 12 months ago, so it broke, and so I've been on the old phone with a sock on it for a while. Didn't think that sounded any better. Henry insists it does, though. But now here we are. You look like you're in a neck break. because you don't move in case it ruffles.

So do you. Right, let's just relax. I'm just going to just do a... Just stay quiet. I wonder if that rustled. We're just done a little dance move for you. Should we see if that rustled? How the devil are you?

I'm not well, but I am well, if you know what I mean? I've been unwell. Do you remember COVID? Yeah. It happened a while ago. It was quite a big thing, do you remember? Yeah, yeah. I've had it again.

But it does mean, you know, what it means, it means I've been social, I've been hanging out with people, and they've passed on the lurgy to me. So, yeah, I was in Prague this weekend with Hen, went on a little nice holiday, and had COVID the whole times, they basically slept. So other than that, I'm well, but I'm not well, if you know what I mean? Does that mean you've potentially given H2 fingers COVID for the 15th times? Well, we think they're patient zero, so we think they've just got a constant level of COVID. and um they they were fine they've been fine they're still fine now so maybe it might hit them in a few

days um how has your social life been we've got so much to catch up on because i think the last episode we did we rounded up the shalanka series yeah since then we've had party season party season's been and gone yeah we've finished the season you've gone off to india to the world cup i've had some downtime you've had a tiny bit of downtime not much Down time? Where was my down time? Remember you had that four hours in your flat and you repacked your bag? Yes. Yes. That was it, yeah.

So yeah, right, where do we start? Well, I'm all right too, thank you. Well, I've not got there yet. Don't jump the gun. You asked me a question, I'm going to answer it. How was my doubt? What did you ask me? How was your social life? How was it? Because I know you're not going to have it anymore.

It's off now, yeah. I'm hibernating again. Yeah, it was good. It was PCA, Lanks, end-of-season dinner, your final two cricketing award dinners. Like, you never have one of them again. Lanks forgot to mention you. That was good. Yeah, really, really glad I flew out late and got in at 4 a.m. for work that day, for Lank's to forget about the fact I retired. That was really sad, actually, wasn't it? A bad moment. Did he speak to someone about that? No, I'm not over it. I'm like, I don't. know what to do or what I can't do anything now it's done no you can't do anything but yeah not good really really not good but you did tell them you weren't going so I wonder if they just thought

they weren't going no I told them I was going I told them I was going you didn't have a seat you didn't know you were going oh I'm actually mad I got a nice send off at the PCA awards like a really really nice one that was good that was really good so thank you to the PCA that means the world lengths Oh God, not good How are you? I'm good, thank you I've had a bad day today Do you know like when you're on tour

And things are just unfamiliar And you can't brush your teeth in the tap water I swallowed the shower water I got stressed, it was cold I was in a room that I didn't like Things just not going well for me Bad day, didn't sleep well But you're in a better room now

and we're doing the pod and we know the pod always makes us feel good but we just can't move stay still and I came on a period which makes total sense there it is

there it is it often missed the answer isn't it yeah but we celebrate these things we do and also it did sound like you had a really crap room

so I'm glad you've got that sorted because I was in a room with no it had a boarded up window and the best bit was it said on the I've got a sign here it had this sign

on my old room it said windows are being clean today as part of our routine maintenance please use the sheer curtain to maintain your privacy the window was boarded up yeah it's really it actually is a bit of an insight of what travelling can sometimes look like

in India it can often you can not get the real really beautiful gorgeous use or you can sometimes just get a room that looks like someone's not lived in it for a long time yeah but now I'm in a gorgeous room I've just been out for the most amazing meal I've ever had in India nice

yeah unbelievable I ate a lot of meat because I've accidentally gone veggie on this trip because I'm trying to be careful eating a lot of dal and pinna and I'm going to the gym and I think my gut's getting bigger two steps forward and fall back yeah

yeah but no I'm I'm enjoying it you've been over there like a week now just a week Yeah, I think so I don't know what day is it It's either a work day or a day It's been amazing

I've seen some good cricket I've seen some bad cricket But we'll get into the cricket Yeah, let's talk about the World Cup in a bit I mean what an amazing experience you've got though Like you're literally going to be travelling The whole length and breadth of India Oh during a World Cup like mega

It's unbelievable And everywhere I've been is somewhere different And the grounds are amazing The only thing I'm really annoyed at Is I forgot my Chennai Super Kings top And I forgot my RCB top Why have you got a Chennai top? DJ Barlow.

DJ Rowell forgot. Yeah, for some reason DJ Bravo gave me his top. Shaney forgot them because what would you have done, got them signed by who? No, I just wanted to, right, what I want to do is go to the RCB cafe in my Glen Rockville RCB top and get a picture. Oh, so you can get some followers on Instagram? Yeah. Yeah. Nice.

Well, do you want me to bring them out for you? No, because I won't see you. My mum's coming out. My mum's coming out. Right. It's okay. Yes, I got to live with my mum for three weeks. She wants to do the Indian experience, so pray for me. Oh, we'll be fine. I look my mum.

You'll be fine. When does she get there? She's doing a yoga retreat in Punei for four or five days first and then coming on tour with us. So I'm actually really excited. I love that. Jules on tour. Yeah. By the time. she gets here, I'll have spent like four weeks with Dan and Henry. I'll be ready for three

weeks of different company. That's literally perfect. It's mad though. I'm a week into a six week trip. I've got five weeks later. Yeah, don't look at it that way though. You know, you don't look at the bigger picture. Just keep up one day to time now. I love it. We've got the best team. We are the A team. We are called team normally because Norcross, Moran and Hartley. Yep. Nice. And we think we're the best listen. abnormally normally team yeah

nice but no they've been really cute down was so cute when I came on my period at the ground the other day right and the toilets weren't great

he was like what you're craving and I was like I'm due on and he went and he like panicked like I really want some crisps he went and got me some crisps

oh that's cute probably to shut you up stop you morning anyway you it's talk quite you I'm coming out to India this weekend Yeah, baby

I'm not going to see you though Which is a bit of shame I know but you'll see Stephen Finn I see Finney I guess I'll see me in Agas Can I have a catch up He actually said to me the other day And I was like I'll cross his there

I was like you get a chance to see you He went Probably go off for dinner one night Yeah thanks mate I actually I've got to do some bowling when I'm out there So I'm going to ask him to come and mitt for me He's my girlfriend is there She's not going to be like no thank you

Yeah, Amber can come as well and video it. Yeah, perfect. Have you got anything on your sticky note before we fly into our emails because you've got thousands? Yeah, I have crossy. Right, well that's the first. So you go first. I've got loads. We'd a chance to dine. Yes, we did. That's on my sticky note as well.

And we won. We won. We can't cook for shit. And we cooked for one person, slash 350 people in the long room. But it was actually, we prepared one dish. And then everyone voted for us and we won. I couldn't believe it. Like, literally couldn't believe it. All I wanted to do is beat Michael Bourne.

And the fact, Vaughney, you came last, you'd be great pleasure. He was so up for it and he cooked so much as well. He was so smug. And then we've only gone and bloody will beat him. But my thing that I've written down about that, Well, I've got three things that happened actually right there. I think we've got the same thing written down. Yeah, I think we do.

So we were getting a bit of stick, weren't we, for being... So the previous two winners of Chance to Dine have been female. It was Eisha and Claire Connor the last two years. So everyone was kind of talking about we can't have another woman win and whatever. And you stood up, took the microphone out of Mark Nicholas's hand. I'd had a bit to drink. Well, I don't think the drink had anything to do with this because you just got your words so, so wrong,

but you said, in front of a packed longroom at Lords, this is rubbish, people should be judging us on our food, not on our sexuality. So instead of saying, judges for our thing not our sex use our gender for our food not for whether we're gay straight

by whatever so I think you're going to be wrong but equally it was hilarious we lost it did wouldn't we yeah so I like you did come out in the long room by mistake also that night

my dyslexia is really bad at the minute like really bad It is. But I'm a stupidity. But stupidity. That's your IQ, not your deflexia. Someone else happened that night though, because we're going flying. I paid for that the other day and it got the confirmation email.

We saw an auction prize and you said to me, shall we do it? And I was like, yeah, fuck it, why not? So we're going to Portsma to go fly fight a jet plane so the day against each other I'm going to read it out because I took a picture of it thinking but we're going to need to chat about this on the pod

because we might not come back from this all but what I thought it was isn't what it actually is it's a top gun air combat experience for two people and I thought we were basically going to fly with the red arrows turns out it's really not that So we're going to be in a high G-Force, T-67 firefly aircraft. And that'll mean something to someone. Like, it's a proper old aircraft.

So we have a safety briefing. And then after using to the incredibly fast T-67 firefly plane and the G-force, you will undertake tail-chasing and combat against each other. What a waste of money that is? Yeah, we probably won't do it. But anyway, we've been doing it. We've paid for it. Will, because your birthday, yeah, your birthday present is the trip.

Oh, is that, oh is that what that is? Yeah. Yeah, that's how I'm not sticking out as well, because I was wondering about that, because I just didn't know if the Royal Mail weren't working, not had a card, not had a birthday present, nothing's moved to road. Nope. I swear I got you a card. Nope.

Oh, I did tell you about your birthday present. But you, I told you that I'd take you to Portsmouth, and I meant, I didn't mean just drive. you I meant like we'll go and do the whole weekend we'll get a nice Airbnb. Right and then we'll both fall out of the sky and not make it back. Can't wait. You could drive us back. Speaking of driving, we spoke about this a lot on this pod, haven't we? But every time me and you are in a car together,

something happens, some near-death experience happens. It's like, I don't know if anyone are out there, you probably have. I've never watched it, but I've seen clips fit. It's every time we get in the car together, and we drive a lot, and we're very good drivers, I reckon. It's like final destination. So we obviously used to drive together a lot. We don't do it as much now. So it's quite special when we get in the car together, but it's normally a long road trip, isn't it?

We can fly back from Portsmouth now. But we're normally like travelling back from London or wherever. You were doing 75 in the outside lane driving us back from London. after a chance to dine. And there was just a road cone in the middle of the motorway. And you just plowed over it because there was a car in the left lane.

There was a central reservation to our right. There was nowhere for you to go. So you just plowed this road cone over and it went under the car and I've never seen anything like it. Well, I slammed on a little bit realized there was a car right up my ass. Obviously, car to left,

central reservation to the right. I dragged it for a little bit. under the car and I looked in the wing mirror and the car behind was like swerved out the way but yeah I hope there wasn't I think I did the right thing you did but I've never thought of going over road going but they obviously must be quite malleable because it just like whipped under the car yeah it did yeah after about 80 85 meters we dragged it for a little while you're exhaust probably still on the M1 somewhere I was I was very heavy on the break that day as well you were yeah you were getting

Well, you're just checking the work, so that's good. Yes. Yeah, that was, anyway, they were my three events that happened from Chance to Dine that were on my sticky note. Yeah, I've got another sticky note. We went to the PCA Awards. Yes, we did. And it was a great night, but you now have a new name

because you decided to spend a hell of a lot of cash and going to a Dorts event that you might not even be able to go to and you got called all night money bags cross but the best thing is you got declined yeah so again auction prizes at the minute all that's going on I think I'm having a midlife crisis but we're going as an England team but I was the one that stuck my hand up so you know split between 10 people it doesn't work out too bad

anyway hand goes up everyone was like going going gone sold to Kate Cross everyone was everyone was everyone looked at you like and then we were like da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da anyway it sounds wicked ten people darts on the 20th at the alley-pally Michelin-star meal

hospitality table right at the front going to be amazing when to pay car declined shoes off if you love Kate Cross shoes off if you love Kate Cross anyway take my 750 quid

I'll see you at the darts So, good news is we fly back from India on the 19th of December, Darts is on the 20th, we can all go. Fish, bash, bosh, it was worth it. See you at the Ali Pali, can't wait, that'll be so, so good. I'll be feeling when I've paid for it and I'm like, oh my God, I want a lot of money. Yeah, but it's going to be so good. I've always wanted to go to the darts. It always looks such a good night.

So anyway, we're going. Yeah, I can't wait. I actually might not be able to, so we'll see. Okay. We had a picture at the PCAs and in my drunken state, or our drunken state, we thought before it had Kim Kardashian in the picture of our bums. No, but I thought that we could rename this podcast, Keeping Up with Nobles. Yeah, nice. We'll probably get sued for that, though,

by people that have got a lot more money than us, so we could try for like a day or something. Yeah. It's a bit keeping up with Nobles for the next couple of months, isn't it? Because we're here there and everywhere. Yeah. So, yeah. Right, come on. We've done 20 minutes and we're not even done emails.

I'll talk about the World Cup. Right, I've got one more thing on my sticky note. Let's go. The winter duvet is on. Oh, for God's sake. Everyone is waiting for this moment and the winter duvet has gone on now. It's time. Is it that cold?

It's not been that cold, but you know what I'm like. Yeah, okay. You'd rather be swaying warm. Anyway, that's it for my sticky note. So they've been building for a little while, so good. I'm glad we've cleared them. Yeah, me too. Me too.

I can get rid of mine. Five Min's on the World Cup. Emails. Right. World Cup. Australia, they are in trouble, like major trouble. They might not qualify now. I heard on the radio today you need to win at least six games.

They've lost their first two. It's going to be an uphill battle from here. However, however, we did this in 2020. Yeah, suppose we did But they've lost real bad So their net rumour rate They're almost minus a point at the minute They have played the two toughest teams

I would say, bar England Yeah, they've had a tough run South Africa It's in their own hands Literally in their own hands England won one lost one But the one they won so convincing They're net rumours back to normal

Yeah It's honestly It's been a World Cup of really bad cricket But good cricket I've thought that. I've not thought, other than the Pakistan game the other day, I really don't think there's been a good game yet. And that's a shame really, but I guess with the way that the net run rate works, it's always going to be a bit like that, isn't it? Like, you're always going to be a bit safe with your chase if you know you're not going to win and try and get your run rate up, etc. Yeah, and I was trying to describe it to one of our colleagues today. And I said, I've never, like, 50 over cricket for me. brilliant. This World Cup is the pinnacle.

But I watched South Africa score 460 and it was boring. Yeah. It's all changed so much though, hasn't it? It's like, think about 2015 and how different the cricket being played then was and then England shifted the whiteball mindset. Now it feels like a lot of teams have caught up with that mindset

because they know to compete they have to play like that. And now it's just like 350's the norm. It's not exciting. Tell you what is a... exciting though so like England South Africa India are like

you bludgeoners they're like brutal right yeah and they just come in and they go hard get the job done leave Pakistan have really surprised me they're like calculated thoughtful sly but get the job done

but dexter asked yeah very dexter because the other day when they were chasing 360 deal. I'm like, there's no chance they're going to do it. I did it. So do you think they're your final four? Because I think they're my final four. My final four are Pakistan, India, England, South Africa. Yeah. They're my fault.

It still feels like really early days. Everyone's only really played two, maybe three games max at the minute. So it does feel early days. But I don't really see how the tournament's going to shift that much, if you know what I mean. Neither. Because you've got to win six, right? and then you see England let's say

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka you expect them to win Yeah They've lost to New Zealand And they've beaten Bangladesh already So they only need to win

They need to beat Australia Sri Lanka India South Africa They need to win two out of those You'd think Yeah

And they still qualify I mean you'd be disappointed if England didn't qualify they're one of the best teams in this tournament Yeah Do you know what I love about this England team Right I don't know if this will make sense to you But in 2019 it felt like every single player had a role And that team didn't really change much through that tournament

Barre injuries or wrestling bowlers whatever This feels so much more like Josh Butler's tactically going to win this Or if he wins it it's going to be because of his tactics And pitches and tosses and teams for specific grounds and I feel like anyone in that England squad can come in and do a job yeah yeah it doesn't feel like there's 11 players they're desperate to play as their best

team it feels like they're really like manipulative with how they get the balance of their team right yeah to win games like Moe and Ali sitting out the other day Reese Topley comes in and takes a for for I am worried that it's another win the toss win the game that's what you really don't want in tournament Australia that didn't happen for Australia, suppose. No, true. They absolutely... We're rubbing. So bad, weren't me? We said

I text you at half time. I was like, I think Australia we're going to lose again. You're like, not so easy chasing in this tournament. And then I went to the driver range, came back 76. It's like, oh wow. I was like, what is going on? Wow. Wowzers.

Right, let's do some emails because we've got loads. Everyone's been actually emailing in. What? Who would you like to go upstairs with Alex? Huh. Should we go upstairs with that guy that did the third umpire when Stoinus didn't have his hand on the back? It was James Kettlebra.

Richard, it was Richard Kettlebra. Right, let's go upstairs with Richard then. Have you ever heard the tale of the football player turned armoured car robber? It's the story so wild, it almost seems fake. No, no, no, no, what is here, emergency? Armed robbery. It's an implausible tale.

of drugs, greed and waterway escapes. It's like something out of a movie. A man steals a bag of money from an armored car here at this bank, but it's how he gets a way that has everybody talking. With unearthed documents and previously unreleased audio, we tell the story of Anthony Curcio in full. I'm Johnny Marle. This is sports, strangest crimes.

Listen on BBC Sounds. Hi, Alex and Kate. This is called Chance to Shine event. I was at your table on Thursday night. Thanks for taking a bit of time to speak to me about yourselves and women's cricket. I really enjoyed hearing about it and meeting you. Thought you were both terrific. Best of luck to you both and congrats on your win.

The scallops were the best by a mile. Thank you, Paul Brown. Paul, thank you. Hello, both. Between the 100 and the international matches being shown this summer on the BBC, it seems that there is far more live cricket on free-to-air TV this summer. Between that and increasingly packed crowds at the stadiums, what do you think is going to drive an increase in national interest in the game and people playing?

Maybe I'm optimistic, but I'm rather hoping cricket starts to skyrocket in popularity, as more and more people see it on the TV. This is from Alex in Norsebrot. P.S. I was at Hedley for my birthday for the Welsh Fire versus Superchargers, and it was absolutely brilliant getting to see you. both get wickets and hearing the crowd applaud, both teams, I didn't play. Did I play? Yes, I did. Which, where are?

Headingly. Headily, I did. That was my last ever game of cricket. So the question is, what? How do we make cricket better? Do you think that this is going to drive an increase in national interest for the game being on free to wear? I presume they're talking about women's cricket. But then actually, no cricket in general. I always think if you've got something available for people to see and it's free, great it's going to drive the interest isn't it yeah you'd like to think so you'd like

to think so I don't think it's the be-all and end all though because I actually think something being on free-to-air television doesn't necessarily mean that it's going to bring crowds in no but more and more people are going to see it aren't they I think what has driven it this summer has been the marketing campaigns I feel like I really boring myself by saying that but if you market something then and people go and watch it, so keep marketing it. Did you know Ali Mitchell has played on free-to-air TV more than Alice to Cook? Really?

Alice-Cucke never played a game of cricket on free-to-air TV. Ali Mitchell played one. That is such a rogue knee-stat that you've just managed to smuggle into that answer. How random? I know how good. I like it, though. Very good, very good. But yeah, I think money. Money is what makes the world go around.

Money is going to help women's sport. We've seen it with the football. Like, keep it going. I don't think it's not going to go backwards from now, is it? So you would think that everyone's going to try and drive it as much as they possibly come forwards. Yeah, agreed. Hey, hey, legends.

Hey. Legends always. Hey, never emailed before. But as soon as I found the podcast, I knew this was my chance to say, thank you for being such funny Northerners. I recently went to watch both Manchester Originals versus Superchargers and at both the beautiful Kate Cross

was nothing but welcoming and kind thank you so much for taking the time to have a photo with myself and my brother love you both so so much and cannot believe Alex has retired but also can't wait to listen to her on comes finally Kate when are you coming back to the OGs is that from my dad

that is not attached to name I don't know about the OGs it's all going to go back into the drag system isn't it so it's who knows um it sounds like they had a good day i i forgot what game it was now headingly another headingly one oh no is that manchester oh right that was a good day for no it was a bad day for us we lost that game so no wonder they had a good day oh geez won superchargers lost um but yeah honestly not really spoke to anyone about 100 next year so who knows is it nice for you know when you've not got to worry about that again.

I think I'm starting to miss. Oh God, she's back. She's coming out of time with it. I'm definitely not doing that. It's definitely not doing that. But do you know, like, I'm like looking at all my thoughts with me playing cricket.

I'm like, that's not me anymore. Well, yeah, but it was you. Do you know, like the banker of like Instagram post or the bank of Instagram post or the bank of Instagram post, she used to just be able to lob out. I can't put a picture of me playing for Welsh fire out anymore. No, but you can put a picture you're in Glenmaxill RCB shirt at

cafe, so that's good. Can't wait for that. Hashtag 50,000 likes. Hi, Alex and Kate. In your last podcast with Ebony, you mentioned a film that the ECB put out on the Ashy series. I couldn't find it anywhere. Was it a Sky exclusive? Love the pod and you guys, Best Clive. No, Clive. That was on the ECB website and it should be up there. It's about 30 minute film. Great fun. Go and watch it. You will cry. Hi, Alex and Kate, Kate and Alex. First time email a long-time listener. This is from Piper, age 12, almost.

She's probably 12 now. Yeah, it probably is. When was the seat? Probably 13. For the 4th September. Alex, you are my favourite player, closely followed by Kate. I was sad to hear about your retirement, but wish you well for your up and coming future. As well as loving playing and watching cricket, I am also a guide.

and for part of my aspirations badge I made a fact sheet all about you Alex and I did it because I think you are an amazing person and a real inspiration I love listening to Nobles it makes me laugh a lot I would love this email to be read out on the podcast it would make me so happy or even just a shout out well Piper

here's your email here's your shout out and your poster is brilliant and after this podcast I'm going to read every single word Do you know what's really fascinating about that all? Like gorgeous, gorgeous email from Piper who's 11, nearly 12, probably 12 now. That's the best you've read an email out and it was written by a child.

Yeah, so you was, wasn't it? It was the most succinct reading I've ever heard from you. So you're only allowed to read the ones from the under four themes. Okay, perfect. Thanks, Piper. I love you lots. Oh, that's very sweet.

Thank you for getting in touch. Hi Piper. Crossie just told me you're not called Piper, you're called Piper. So hopefully Henry puts this in the podcast, but thank you, Pippa. This one is subjected, the seed. Good afternoon, Alex and Kate, long-time listener and very old, sometimes cricketer. I'm way past my prime. Quick question. In the intro, you mention absolute seed along with a number of modern terms I don't understand.

I get what you're saying, but can't work out the meaning or derivation of the term. Could you explain it, please? Enjoy retirement from playing cricket Alex. Many thanks and keep up the good work, David. I think it's just a good ball. Like, it's a seed, it's a good ball. I don't know why it's called the seed. Should I Google it?

Yeah. Why is it called a seed in cricket? A seed is a competitor or team in a sport or other tournament who is given a preliminary rank on a wrong ones. That's tennis. Yeah. I think it, I don't know where it originated from. No, I don't know where it came from.

Do you know, who would know that? Henry? Dan Norcross. Dan Norcross would not that, yeah. Anyway, I don't know. It's just like saying another good, I think, I reckon probably people got bored of saying it was a good ball or a great ball. So they've found different ways like peach, seed, rip off. Yeah.

There's just, I think like people just use the imaginations, haven't they? Yeah. Like, when you go halopoeoeoe? or like you go hard you have some fun if anyone does know please get in touch though you can email us on noblespodcast at bbc.co.c.com.com. Noblespodcast at bbc.com.com. It's so good. Is it a chance? They trumped their emails to say it. Hi Alex and Kate, Kate and Alex. Longtime listener, first time emailer. I have to break my silence as my sister recently revealed she had a dream that involved Alex.

Oh yes, I love the dreams My sister in the dream was heading through Manchester Airport She was at the security screening and had to put her bag on the carousel And was being beckoned through the body scanner by none other than Alex Hartley Upon asking Alex what she was doing working at Manchester Airport Alex responded with well I've retired I've got to do something else as well as commentary So you're working at the airport now?

Cue all the good work, Emma. Imagine. You would catch flights to see me patting people down. I would just come through. You can't do that anymore and you can't just go through security and leave, but I can't imagine. You'd just feel like, right, go through. Very good.

Last one? Yeah. All right. This is called cricketing question. Dear Alex and Kate, firstly, I just want to say huge congratulations to Alex on a brilliant playing career and a massive thank you to you both for inspiring me to get back into cricket. Secondly, I have a cricketing question which I'd love to hear your thoughts on.

Do you think the England women's team would benefit from being given a new identity which separates them from the men's team? why hasn't this happened given the success of the football lionesses the netball roses and the rugby red roses teams if this was to happen what do you think you should be called will be interested to know your thoughts all the best mara p s alex i can definitely provide a loving home for any of your old kit which is clogging up your parents garage perfect i forgot about all that deal with that when you go now so yeah do you think that we should have like be called like the southern stars like Australia are but obviously not that because we're

no one calls them that they called Australia cricket team women's but they did they went through a phase didn't they've been called the southern stars we'd be played against the southern stars yeah no I honestly think like the whole thing with the hundred of teams being one team works so well and there's no reason why it can't work so well with it being

England men England women have a joint Instagram account like you build the women's following I just don't think you should be called the three lion misses. It all gets a bit confusing as well because I struggle with the white ferns, the black caps, the black ferns, that there's so many in New Zealand and I don't know who plays for what team anymore.

So I feel like, just call us England women's cricket team and then you know who you're going to watch. But the white ferns are the men and the women, aren't they? See, I don't know. I don't think they are, yeah. I don't think they are actually on reflection. The Black Ferns is the New Zealand women's national rugby team The White Ferns

New Zealand women's national cricket team So what are the men's New Zealand team called New Zealand men All whites are the New Zealand men's football team Oh honestly Rugby team are the all blacks See it's confusing it's too hard Mara no we're not doing it It's a flat out no

It's a big fat no from us Anyway we love you We're really glad we're back We'll be probably keeping you up today Every week now because I was at the World Cup I'm going to be at the World Cup We're going to try and find some guests And we've got cricket to talk about

You've done some sliding in I would say we'll try and get Owen Morgan on But you're replacing him Is he down in the same time as you though No we swapped flights And also remember we asked him And he said thank you but we'd rather not.

Oh, yeah, good. Really, honestly was. But I love the honesty. Morgs, love the honesty. Unlike Joel Root has still not texted me back. Oh, God, what a bloody, blue bomber he is. Yeah, I'm not even going to ask. We'll get someone on, though.

Yeah. Right, we're off. Good night. Good night. Good afternoon. See you in India. I won't see you in India. But at least we'll be on the same time.

Oh, same time's on. Email is on. Noblespodcast at BBC.com.com. Noblespodcast at BBC.com. It's so good. It's so good. They've said it twice. Just said it twice.

Twice. Twice. Twice. Twice. Twice. Twice. Twice. Bye.

Twice. Twice. Twice. Cross. I'm doing round the wicket. Oh, that's... Boulder. Lovering a ball alone, Litchfield.

I think it's the wobble ball. And it just nips back. It jag. back. It's the nipbacker. That is a beauty from Kate Cross. An absolute seed. That is a beautiful cross. Hi, Yaya Toreya for a brand new podcast from the BBC World Service, match of a day. Africa top 10. Join me and follow footballers, Gabriel Zakwani. Hello.

And Efan Okuku. Hi. As we choose our top 10 from the best. of Africa football. We're not here to play football but to argue about all things African football. That's match of the day.

Africa top 10. Find it wherever you get your BBC podcast.