Test Match Special - No Balls: The Cricket Podcast - The one where Crossy remembered to press record

Episode Date: December 12, 2023

Kate Cross and Alex Hartley reflect on the T20s between England and India, and there's a look ahead to the Test match. There are also emails, games and non-existent spin classes.

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 10 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 10 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 I'm doing round a wicket Oh that's

Boulder! Boulder! Leaving a ball alone, Litchfield Think it's the wobble ball And it just nips back, it jags back It's the nipbacker That is a beauty from Kate Cross An absolute seed That is a beauty for the cross Hello, hello, I'll come back to now,

what's the creative podcast with a giggly Kate Cross and a giggly Alex Hartley. This is take two because dim wit on the other side of the Zoom didn't press record yesterday. I'm really sorry, in fact not guys, Alex, I'm really sorry. It's not often, it's my cock-up, but this really was my cock-up. If you saw her on Instagram yesterday, we did actually record. this episode we got 30 odd minutes in looked at my voice memo i'd only had 16 minutes of recording because i took a photo of you with a giant squishy smiley face emoji um so i'm really sorry but

here we are again and i think we're in a better mood so it might turn out okay yeah yesterday's we sort of waffled off for 45 minutes anyway so henry'll be glad we're starting again uh the first 10 minutes was dry wasn't it it was pretty dry so maybe it's a good thing nice to see you out of bed today because we were both in bed yesterday you are still in bed i am i'm not sure you went out of bed i don't know who the um the characters are in the harry mfield's sketch but it's you know that family that just always is in bed i feel like that's us when we do the podcast and we need to get out of that terrible habit because i don't think anyone else records their podcasts from their beds um that's what i were so unique

unique to the right word yeah how are you i'm good al i'm good it's test match week I'm good I'm happy there's some cricket on the horizon she's back baby she's back well she I hope so obviously not done selection yet and can't tell you even if I did know that's true you could tell me

but I could tell you there's 60,000 people listen yeah we do need to remember that don't we especially you mentioning just before we came on air on air on the Zoom you were like yeah someone spoke to me last night about the fact that I was talking about shitting ourselves

on the last podcast we just forget don't we? We forget, it's okay but yeah I'm good I'm very good thank you

have you I'm good I'm good I feel like we're both in a better so this might be a little bit better

yeah we didn't test our microphones oh no quick one give it a tap I think that's working cool

yeah um bloody out we're a shambles um you good you're good you well

yeah you're still good you asked for 14 seconds ago still good you and you look the same as you did yesterday but your hair looks less like you've been in the makeup chair the hair and makeup chair because it was curly and nice yesterday and today it looks like you've been asleep yeah well i actually glued it i did the uh got to be glued yesterday and glued it to my head and slipped it back so it's um actually rock it's rock hard it don't

me that reminds me actually in not last definitely not the emergency pod episode but the one before that, I tried to take a screenshot on my iPad of you looking like Draco Malfoy's dad, but for some reason the photo didn't turn out. So that's why it never went, not that anyone's asterisk, but just in case anyone's wondering where that photo is, it just never appeared. And you look a bit less like Draco Malfoy's dad now. Yeah, I don't, I don't feel very Dracom Malfoy's dad anymore. I don't know why.

But do not take a picture of me on your phone. No, not allowed. I'm not going to touch my phone until we get to the emails and then I'm going to check the voice recording every 12 seconds. Perfect. So talk to me, test match prep. What is test match prep? Test match prep has been a long time for me, Al, because obviously not in the T20 spot. So I've had the Red Ball for like five weeks now, which has been pretty cool, not done this before.

Because we're normally always in the multi-format series where you've kind of got one day as or T20s either side. So yeah, I've been bowling with the SG, not used one of those before. That's the ball from India. Best way I can describe it is that it's not as good as the Dukes. but it's not as bad as the Cuccabrough. Oh, so it's sort of a hybrid? Yeah, a bit of a middle ground. But I'm a bit concerned because we've been training, obviously.

We're in Mumbai. It's hot but not mad hot, but the humidity. Like, I had to take my entire training outfit off once I had bowled five overs today because I was dripping wet. Like, I don't know what I'm going to do. Do you remember the last time we were in India and I was 12? And I was running drinks out and everyone was like, bring a spare shirt so Heather Nat, Catherine, probably you, all swap their shirts on the field

and then the umpire's like, you can't be doing that. It's inappropriate. But we're sway. Yeah, honestly, it is a bit of a concern because obviously you want to keep the ball dry, especially in India, you want to try and get reversing eventually. We're playing 104 overs a day out, or maybe 102. Anyway, it's a lot of overs in the day because we're only playing four days. Oh, yeah. 100 overs a day is a lot anyway. It's a lot, yeah. Well, we played 90 in the same. summer in the ashes test match and that felt like a lot yeah someone asked me in the summer they were like also do they still play a hundred robes a day i was like yeah yeah yeah yeah we don't know

the rules we just learn it as we go um but anyway back to red ball prep it's been the first session that i've had with the whole group together so it's been really nice today i feel energized i feel like i've got a bit of my mojo back because i'm not gonna lie i did have a weekend in bed i was pretty tired this weekend um so yeah just nice to have cricket on the horizon basically so is everyone as fresh as you or is everyone a bit tired oh it's different isn't it they've just won a t20 series in india so they're kind of like loving that obviously last time they won a t20 series me and you were playing in it yeah that right let's just say it wasn't that long ago come on it was only six years ago.

It was 2018. Me and you posted a picture saying, can't wait to play more together, because it was our first game, I think, in England Colors together. She's counting on her fingers, it's five years. And we never played again after that.

Do you know what? We think we didn't play again after that, but I think in 2019 we played a game together in Sri Lanka, 50 other game. Yeah, you're right. You are right because I took a catch off your bowling. Remember? Yeah. Also, a very sweaty.

We were in Hanban Toto, weren't we? It was like the humidity of humidities. And I remember playing that series and getting a couple of wickets, whatever, you know. But it felt like a training day. Like there was nobody there. There was people watching from the main road. You couldn't get onto the field.

My mum was like, I couldn't even get in the ground. It just felt like we were playing a war-up game. Isn't it? Right. That is so mad to think that that was, what, four or five years ago. Yeah. And now I've just been and watched the girls play in front of 30-odd thousand

full Wankidi Stadium in India beating India in India like Oh wait up Like how good It's just It's shifted so quickly hasn't it

Not to say if we went to Han Bantu We'd get a full crowd there But No but it's just changed so much And it has Because like Selling out loads Back in my day

It was like Oh back in my day Back in my day You had to find out On your fax machine if there was any tickets available. We're getting sold in the paper if you're in a squad or not. On teletext.

But like selling out loads for the final was seen like as a big deal. Now you're just doing it all the time. I know. The atmosphere was unreal. So I didn't go to Sunday's game, but I went to Saturday and we batted second and it was quite obvious we were going to win.

And the crowd just kind of diminished and disappeared. But it sounded like Sunday was epic because India were going to win and they all stayed in and they're batted second so it looked pretty cool. Apparently when Heather got her 50 on Sunday the crowd cheered for a minute

and a half. What? How mad is that? What? They were like up and about like when one minute and a half. The funny thing that I noticed

when I went to the game whichever one it was Thursday or Sunday there was a band in and they were playing the song Bella chow Bella chow Bella chow So that's in everyone's head now So you might hear it on stunt mic over the week Yeah how did you find watching the T20s not being involved Do you know what it was nice

Because I got to sit in the president's box In a nice comfy chair Didn't have to think about someone at cow needing a drink It was actually pretty nice I properly could switch off and enjoy the cricket I bet you've not gone to watch a game of cricket or England. I bet you've not watched England women play cricket

saying as the World Cup final. I was going to say I bet it would be the World Cup final, yeah. And even still you had to be forced to come. Yeah, I did. My dad was like, you need to go. Your best might explain, you need to go. You're like, I don't want to go. I don't want to go.

Let's just reminding me of last week, well, the emergency pod that we did last week where we got so many lovely messages about you being a 10 out of 10. friend just because you were so so happy for me and I just spoke about having to be forced to go to the World Cup final to watch you play and also I was thinking about when you got announced as the PSL Moulton Sultan's assistant spin bowling coach and I laughed yeah this friendship works in so I describe our friendship we're not answered in deck anymore

where Sam Thompson and Pete Wicked oh are we I've not been watching I'm a slavs I don't really get this but go on and I'm like the big bundle of joy that's so, so happy, like, it's Crossy! And you're like, fuck off. So you're the one with ADHD and I'm the one with depression. Yeah. Basically. Oh wait, that's actually a real life. That is how it works. Talking about me being a 10 out of 10 belter. Yeah. Georgie Heath texts me and she said, I honestly think you sound more excited about Crossie and the WPL than you would be about yourself. I said, honestly, mate, I'm so, so, so buzzing for her. If it was me, I'd be dreading

it. Like, honestly, if it was me, I'd be like, oh no. Well, I did think, and I've joked about this, but, like, and you joked about it last week saying, I've bowled myself out the T-20s and the confidence isn't that high, but I was like, gosh, what if I actually have to play? I'm like, there's like 20,000 people watching me bowling the slot. Like, what am I going to do? Well, I watched, I watched, I saw some Rithy Mandaner's quote tweets about you complimenting a taccoe who is an in-swing bowler and he's like, cross twigs it the other way, I like, does she? No, I do, of course I do.

I'll, don't give me away. Got a test match. Speaking test match, how on earth do you prep the ball seem in a country that's known for spin? Which is so funny because we did this exact episode yesterday and you were so much more journalistic about that question. You're like, right, talk to me, test match prep, obviously loads of spinny wickets. Do you know what?

We had a really good meeting today before training, and Louis made a really valid point that he was like, you cannot come to India with any preconceptions. We don't know if that pitch is going to turn, if it's going to bounce, if it's going to carry. It might swing, it might seem. He said, until we get out there and assess the pitch, then we're not going to know. So with that in mind, I've just been bowling like I would bowl. I think that's the only thing you can do, isn't it? Yeah.

Obviously, well, the SG balls, they're funny actually. I think I cropped it out and the picture I put up on Instagram, but there's a picture of me smiling and I'm opening the ball. In fact, let me show you. Got me really careful. Can I go on my photos? Will that stop there? I don't know.

We'll find out. Do you remember Golden Balls, the TV show? Yeah, this is also a podcast. No, one can see it. You're going to put it out there as well. No, but I'm showing it to you. The balls come in those little things that you like split and share on golden balls. It's like a...

What? It's how the balls presented. Yeah, but I'll crop that bit off. So for people that can't listen, it's like a Pokemon ball and the new balls come in them. Gotta catch them all! So it's not like a box of... balls like the kookabra's come in a little box this is like a little well if you have seen

is it money is it money ball or golden balls what's it called please can you bring me one of those cases home because my stewart broad sign ball needs somewhere to live yes perfect right i'll grab one for you anyway you're right this is crap because it's podcast but if you can't imagine it it's like the split and steel ball off money ball whatever it's called golden balls um how bizarre anyway why was i talking about this the seams the seams are good so that so i'm hoping that there might be still be a little bit of this shambles let me just check I'm still recording yeah okay if it seems it spins and if it spins

it seems that's what we spoke like yesterday yeah we spoke a little bit about that it felt like it might have been a bit more in detail yesterday and I don't know if I can say stuff like this but statistics say that smitty struggles more when you come over the wicket to her but I found in the summer that coming around the wicket to left handers I felt more threatening because I felt like both edges were in play. Yeah. So not to say that I'm going to start around the wicket, but I will probably start

right the wicket. It's really. Did she listen? I doubt it. You'll come around the wicket, angle it in and it'll nip away, and that will be a third slip and it'll be an absolute beauty. Oh, I hope so. You, I don't know whether we're allowed to say this, so Henry might crop it out, but

everyone's been like tweeting saying how annoyed they are that these games haven't been covered by the BBC but it's not the BBC's fault as it is it's yeah I would like to point out the BBC are trying and trying

and trying to get the rights as in like I text them every day like we're still trying like they want the rights we want to cover it on the radio there's a complication at the other end it's not England

it's not the BBC it's elsewhere yeah So please stop texting us and DMing us asking why because it's nothing to do with us. We don't make those decisions. Honestly, people are asking me why the BBC aren't doing it. I'm like, mate, you got anything sticky though?

Got loads, Al. We need to fly through these. I had to rewrite them because I bloody deleted them all yesterday. I've got T20 Good Crowd. MLAM whilst we're on cricket. We forgot about... I forgot about it, really sad, gutted to over. Open the batting in India during a test match is like literally a dream, isn't it?

And the fact she's had to go home and she's having back surgery, I feel really sorry for her. Yeah, it is gutting, but in the long term, it's the best thing that will happen because it feels like... So I would be a bit worried having back surgery, but apparently it's a minor surgery. She'll be out for a few months. Hopefully she comes back better, stronger for it and doesn't have to keep having these moments of like, I don't know whether my back's going to go. and she's been in so much pain out like what causes it

because it's disc bulges isn't it and I was talking to my mum about it my mum went off and one guy it's lifting weights it's lifting heavy weights I was like I don't know if it could be let's stop lifting the old weights but then it's been to be good for you isn't it so she's got these two disc bulges

and they're pressing on the nerves in her back so when she gets back spasms it kind of triggers it and what happened this time is she managed to get the muscles under control and to stop contracting but then it was giving a sciatica so she was getting the shooting nerve pain down her leg so she was actually in agony for about three weeks and we're still trying to prep for a

test match bless her so yeah it's just awful isn't it especially when you've got to fly home on your own she couldn't even carry her own bags um have you got anything on your else sticking out yeah did you know crossy did you know i know I know for well not going to believe me because yesterday you didn't believe me so you're not going to believe me today Did you know Old Trafford hires two hawks before match day to scare away the pigeons? You told me this yesterday and I've never not believed anything more powerfully in my line. It's a thing. Whoever told you this?

I know who told you. It's lying to you. The rabbiard you're on. Liz told me and then Keaton backed it up and I believe them. Apparently the hawks come in like a couple of days before a game and scare away the pigeons. They sent Mark. No, it's not true. How many times have we trained at Old Trafford,

the day before a game, and there's been no hawks there? Yeah, because we don't look up. No one with that big glove on, getting the hawk to come and land on the glove on their arm. It doesn't happen. So one time they told me a story, right, of scaring away the pigeons, and one of the hawks was in training, and they're not meant to attack their pigeons.

They weren't to scent Mark. One of them, on the stairs to our dressing room, attacked a pigeon, feathers everywhere. I just don't believe it I really don't I think Keaton's having you on he's excellent at doing these kind of jokes and the only thing that makes me believe it

is that there aren't many pigeons at Old Trafford but I still am not having it Yeah because I was talking about the pigeons on my balcony and how all they do is poo and leave poo all of my furniture on my balcony and then they were like

you need a hawk oh speaking of which we've got a hawks I just don't believe it I don't believe that they pay that money every game to get a hawking. They do. I'm going to ask Liz.

I don't know who, they're all going to keep lying though because they know we're best friend. It's all right. Speaking of that trip that you went to Dubai, I got a little video sent to me last week and it was the pilot giving you a little shout out. Yeah, how embarrassing. How embarrassing.

So we're on the flight. I sat in 65 A&B. I've got my actual airplane headphones on, watching the telly. And Keaton has his air pods in watching his iPads. So he can't hear anything. And all he sees is me look at him and go, take your iPods out. Take your iPods out.

He takes his AirPods out. It's like, welcome on board. Welcome winner Alex Hartley. And he looked at me and went, I've not just had one of them, have I? I was like, yes. Yes, he have. It felt very, like, kid going to Disneyland for the first time vibes. It felt very like in between us.

It was like, it was like, we're, we're, business class hope you're enjoying economy down there oh yeah we don't want to make you fit we feel bad that we're in business so here's a little shout out we honestly so i've never had a shout from a pilot so it was pretty cool did you get to meet the pilot no i couldn't tell you what it looks like i know he's from yorkshire oh right okay yeah yeah um um your dad crossy your dad um yeah we've been sending a few rude messages. This is not how this was betrayed you yesterday. Come on.

There's some context into it. That's it. No, so I said, hello, Dave. How are you? Wish I was out there. How's Kate getting on? Okay, I think. I spoke to her on FaceTime earlier.

She was. And then he said, then he said, sorry I'll, press the wrong button. Story of my life. I went, you went too early. Can't happen. Dave. He said, I'll give our love to your woman, dad.

Oh, he's not picked up what you put down there at all, has he? Oh, gosh. He's got a form for that, you know, my dad, because they've got a new dog and the dog they've named Phoebe. She was called Vicky. I was like, the only thing I know about this dog is that we cannot call it Vicky. You cannot, cannot have a dog called Vicky. So nothing against the name Vicki, beautiful name. But anyway, they've renamed it Phoebe. Not for a dog.

They've renamed it Phoebe. And obviously I live with Phoebe Graham. So I messaged her saying, just let you know, we've called the new member of the cross family after you, Phoebe. And apparently my dad said to her, the dog is good looking and Phoebe's good looking so it works. Right.

So he's a phone dad. I do still think you should have called the dog help. So when your mom and dad are in the park, and they have to go, help. Help! Help! Come here! Good name, great name. Speaking of your dad and your puppy, he went to the post office last week.

And he wasn't sure if dogs were allowed in and obviously Phoebe, the puppy, not Graham, is too young to wait outside. And so he put it in his rucksack. He did. You did, and it's not even a, like, a dog-friendly rucksack. It's just a bog standard rucksack. It's even actually one of those deep ones that, like, it does it.

It's got, like, a drawstring at the top. It's just a deep bag. So this bored dog just been flown over from, not even flown, driven over from Romania, tiny, is then stuffed into a rucksack when my dad had to get some stamps. So she loved it, though. Oh, good. Oh, good. also this goes to show

I mean I've obviously told you that story like a week ago then we spoke about it yesterday and we laugh and then we're speaking about it today we're still laughing so we do genuinely find these things funny don't we yeah it's so funny right I've got a bone to pick with Jack Rule somewhere sticking out he tweeted the other day

do you know Jack Rule friend of thunder friend of the podcast Yeah yeah Rooley boy Rooley He's got an issue with commentators calling 6 his maximum and I don't understand why. I've not seen that.

I do see all of JetRul's tweets as well. A six is a maximum. Yeah, but I don't understand what the big issue is. So Jack, I need you to get in touch and clarify why is it such a big issue to call it a maximum. Yes, please, because it's clearly getting on and Crossy's nerves. But I don't know why. One more thing on my sticking out. Two more, actually.

Welcome to R.C.B. Oh, yeah. Welcome back to the Parasite Hotel, Crossy. Yeah, this is it. This is the setting, the area, the place where I picked up the parasite. Hopefully it doesn't happen again now. It'd be pretty unlucky, wouldn't I? It'd be really unlucky.

You could have that bug eye. That lasted a week and it did the world good for my rig. Yeah. Yeah, but speaking of rigs, you, little fither, you love going to spin classes. Because we used to go spin class in. Spin class in? To spin classes a lot. And we used to train together.

And you joined a new gym and you said they don't, they only have one spin class during the week. I know. Honestly, it's ridiculous. But you're going today, aren't you? You're going with Harry at like 12. You're going to the one spin class that's on in this gym every week.

I've got the calendar up for the gym classes, right? So 12.30 gym class, spin cycle tempo. Wednesday, 6.15 a.m. cycle tempo. Thursday. There isn't one. Friday, cycle power at 6.15 a.m. So, Saturday, oh, there's one at a Saturday at 10.50. So you told me there was only one during the week because it was the one that you would be awake for. That was what you actually meant.

Yeah. Yeah. Look, no one is going at 6.15 in the morning, especially me. Well, you're definitely not, but people who've got jobs and start like 8 o'clock or 9 o'clock will probably go to that one. that's they should do one in the evening is what my point is right but you didn't say that you said there's one in the week one the swing clouds there is there's one i can attend yeah one you can attend that i understand that yeah that's i've got something else i'm sticking out but i'll leave it for next week it's not important perfect let's do some emails who we're going upstairs with oh why do we go upstairs with okay No, you go.

I was just going to say the umpires who did the T20 series because I thought they had a very good series actually. Yeah, and I want to go upstairs with the one that didn't give Kempi out and it was in the middle of middle, when England were in the middle of a collapse. Yep, let's do that. My name's Joe Wilkinson and I'm doing a podcast because I love football, but why I love more is the idea of being friends with a professional footballer.

The footballer I'd like to be friends with is Patrick Banford. Hello, Patrick. Will you be my friend? That's yet to be decided. Okay, not what I was hoping. My Mates of Footballer is a BBC Sounds podcast with me, Patrick Boundford and Joe Wilkinson. If you weren't married, who would your ideal date be? Julia Roberts.

That was quick. If I was you, I'd have popped a pause in. Search for My Mates of Footballer on BBC Sounds. Right. It says a posh spud had three sons. As they got to the right age, the first. first came home saying he was in love with a royal jersey. Excellent, thought the poshs foot.

Some royal blood in the family. The second came home saying he was in love with a King Edward. Awesome, thought the poshs put again. We're going up in the world. The third came home saying he was in love with Alex Hartley. Oh no, said the poshs would. This cannot be. She's a commentator.

I didn't read that bunch of time before I got to the end. That was actually genius. That is very good. That's from Mike in Romania. Romania. That's where the dogs come from. That's where Phoebe's from. Should I just ask Mike to pop your dog over? Oh, that's funny. That's good. A commentator. For anyone that doesn't get it, commentator. It's clever.

That's like clarification. The best jokes are the ones you've got to explain. Hi, Alex and Crossy. Kay, I hope you manage to avoid the parasite. I've listened to almost all episodes of your podcast and I think you have never played never have I ever on this pod. So if you're interested, I have a cricket-related never-have-I-ever for you. All right, let's play. Never have I ever.

No, I'm joking. That will not make the cut. I knew we'd get their giggles today. Never have I ever Nick won and not walked off. How do I approve this? Because I've not got to drink and we're on a podcast. You've got to say it. I have done that.

I have done that as well because I have enough not given to me. Yeah, it's not our decision. It's not our decision. Never have I ever almost picked up a freak injury before an. important match I picked up a freaking injury but it wasn't before

well it was before an important match it was a semi-final of a World Cup but I'd not played a game so I was out of the frame that was when I trod on that sponge

oh yeah yeah I um I just told me on the cricket ball taking a high catch I didn't get a hand on it but on it

never have I ever oh I was just going to say I remember Lauren Winfield Hill getting her wrist broken in a match before the World Cup started, that was freak injury. But she played, she just got injected every game, didn't she? Never have I ever asked the captain to send me down the order?

Never. I have. Actually, I didn't ask the captain, I just did it. It was in the 100 first year playing for Manchester originals. I was 10, Hannah Jones was 11. And there was like 7,000 people like, Jones are you going next? Why I went, I don't want to get duck in front of all these people. How did I not know about this?

She was like, okay, and this as she went and I went and took her pads off. Oh right, good effort. This one from Amelia is a update email. Right. Amelia is 12. She started playing cricket two years ago and has been very fortunate to play for her club's Junie side as well as women's team and county. So she was telling us that she listens to the pod and she hopes to

meet us this summer. And she's got two questions for us. Oh, so this was the girl who asked you if doing the podcast with Shabnam, tip to you to retire, tip to your decision to retire. Yeah. Right. So she's got a little update for us. Hi, I actually met both Kate and Alex at the 100 final. Neither of you probably remember, but I showed Kate my sign that said go crossy and she signed it. I got my mini bat signed by both of you. This was truly one of the best days of my life. I was hugging my backpack all the way home on the tube. Hope there wasn't a dog in it. Both of you made by day so much better

and I truly couldn't have asked for anything better from Amelia. Oh, that's cute. I've got one from Lucy Hunter. Hey Kate and Alex, I can't begin to say thank you for everything you have done. You have been nothing short of an absolute inspiration for what you've both done with the cricket and inclusion. We have a number of mutual friends in the cricket world. I play high-level disability cricket after being diagnosed with autism.

age 20. I'm now 24 and thriving. You have helped with my understanding of pressure and high performance lifestyle. My life is an LBW. My toaster is on the side. I wipe my bread knife on my trousers. I don't like spuds and I have to walk over three drains. Nice. Like that girl. Me too. Me in a nutshell. Lucy, I'm glad we've helped you feel included. Yeah. I feel like we say this all the time but it's great isn't it? We're just having a chat, having a

giggle, playing a bit of Never Have I Ever and it keeps people happy. Exactly. Okay. This one says Feet and an apology. I was on Google looking at what year crossy played for the Perth scorches. A while later I was looking at hiking boots

and I swear to God a link came up for Wiki feet. Yes, you read that correctly. Wiki feet. And yes, I clicked the link. Pictures of crossy's feet came up surely one of the strangest big brother is watching you links what who's got pictures of my feet

there it's weird it's so weird so there is a website with people's feet on like famous people's feet on hi Kate and Alex recently started listening to your wonderfully entertaining podcast which keeps me

entertained on train journeys from home to uni Huddersfield to Cheltenham if you're wondering I'm a big horse fan racing wait I'm a big horse racing fan as well as a big cricket fan and I should tell you that a horse called

no balls would a big race in America on the 4th of November yeah baby can this be the official race horse of the podcast even though the horse is in America and this is a cricket podcast best of look with the pod which is amazing

Oliver yeah let's make that our official horse yeah No balls. It's missing one of the owls. No bells. No balls. No balls. No. No balls. Fine. No balls. Well, keep us updated how the horse is doing. No ball. No ball. No ball. Want it.

Do you do one more? Yeah. Okay. This is called Is it a Big Deal or not? Hi to you both. I hope you're both feeling well in mind and body. Are you feeling well in mind and body? Yeah, I am. I am, yep. Well, you actually have got severe doms, haven't you? Because you went to the gym last week. Yeah, I went to the gym last Wednesday.

It's now Tuesday. Still can't lift my arms. I'm interested in your thoughts on Laura Woolfart missing the first game of her first international series since being named captain to play a franchise final. I was a little shot, to be honest. She's probably getting paid more to play in the big bars than she has her country

yeah and sometimes you can't play in the franchise tournaments and not do the finals like sometimes it's in your contract isn't it so some teams allow it some teams don't really does depend on the governing body and the franchise but you know what I've seen there's a test match you've got something to say I'll come back to that

there's a test match against Australia and South Africa and February when the WPL might be on and I wonder what's going to happen there. Oh, interesting. They've not actually officially announced the WPL dates yet, though, so I wonder if it's going to get changed to fit around that test match. Surely not. Maybe, but you can't opt in and out of the WPL, like you're in it or you're out of it.

You can't miss finals or anything. Your contract doesn't allow it. Yeah, I know, but you can't just rearrange a test much. No, I think they'll move the WPL dates to... I don't think they're going to move the test match for the WPL. It would be bullsie, but... Yeah, I think the only problem is that she's captain, isn't it? Missing in...

Yeah. But women's cricket's in a really weird place right now. And like, some countries aren't earning much money to... And I know she's representing a country, but she will be getting paid more for these franchise competitions. Was she named captain after she went to the Big Bass? Yeah. Oh, so...

it's a tough one we got to go crossy yeah we do Merry Christmas Happy New Year and I'll see you on Monday oh my gosh I'm seeing you on Monday

and I'll have played a test match by then hopefully fingers crossed and you'll probably still be in bed but you might have gone to the 650s think class I might have done we'll podcast

we'll do an update and then we'll do one before Christmas and then we're going to the dots Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da Um, never have I ever gone so off-paste on a podcast Never have I ever forgotten to give the email address of the podcast No Bullspodcast at bbc.c.com.com. It's so good. It's so good.

They forgot about it. They said it twice. Love you, bye. Bye, having a year. Cross. I'm doing round the wicket. Oh, that's... Boulder, Boulder, leaving a ball alone, Litchfield.

Think it's the wobble ball, and it just nips back. It jags back. It's the nipbacker. That is a beauty from Kate Cross. An absolute seed. That is a beautiful for cross. Get inside the football in minds of Premier League icons with the Players Channel From the footballers football podcast with Mackell Antonio and Callan Wilson

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