Test Match Special - No Balls: The WAshes await

Episode Date: January 6, 2025

Alex Hartley & Kate Cross look ahead to the Women’s Ashes which starts in Sydney which week. They discuss who the star performers might be, and what the mentality is inside the England camp after a dominant tour in South Africa. Plus, Alex has some WAshes predictions. Listen to every ball of the Women’s Ashes from Australia on BBC Sounds, or via the BBC Sport website or app. The first ODI starts at 11:30pm on Saturday 11th January.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. The Dakar Rally is the ultimate off-road challenge, perfect for the ultimate defender, the high-performance Defender Octa, 626 horsepower twin turbo V8 engine and intelligent 6D dynamics air suspension. Learn more at landrover.ca. This podcast is brought to you by Wise, the app for international people using money around the globe. With Wise, you can send, spend, and receive up to 40 currencies with only a few simple taps. Plus, Wise won't add hidden fees to your transfer. Whether you're buying souvenirs with pesos in Puerto Vallata or sending euros to a loved one in Paris, you know

you're getting a fair exchange rate with no extra markups. Be smart. Join the 15 million customers who choose Wise. Download the Wise app today or visit wise.com. T's and Cs and Cs apply. We use some naughty words from time to time. Sometimes, naughty words just slip out of our mouths. And Alex is always the culprit. Sugar. Anyway, if you don't like it, don't listen, but we beep them out. So your kids can listen.

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 Kempbaker. Kate Cross, an absolute seed. That is a beautiful cross. Ten out of ten shambles, it's got to be you. Happy New Year! Welcome back to No Balls, a Gringing podcast with me, Alex Hartley. As Cross, he just said, an absolute shambles and you, Kate Cross. I don't think, I mean, it's 2025, I'll.

We've been doing this podcast now for six years, just entering our sixth year of podcasting. and it took us nine minutes for you to work out how to work your microphone. Nine minutes. I still don't understand. And I still don't understand the fact that when I sit in my bedroom on the floor like a little gnome that it sounds better than when I sit in a kitchen.

Because you've not got the egg cups on you all and the dovet that we've got told to do in our first episode. Happy New Year, everyone. 2025. It's basically Easter. Happy Easter, everybody. Happy Easter. Pancake Day, by the way, is in March this year. What on earth is that about? I don't mind that because I'm around in March. You can have a pancake day wherever you are. You don't have to be in England for it. I know, but the likelihood of game pancakes in Pakistan is quite slim. Mate, you're the queen of Pakistan now. You can get whatever you want out there, can't you?

We did our attentions actually yesterday, and I mentioned, text one of the boys. saying never in doubt we were always retaining you and he's like why didn't you just tell me I was stressing I was like because I can't do that you'd be that coach that's so loose lip that everyone just text you like I'm a pick yep yep you are no sorry I had to let you go goodbye exactly so I couldn't say anything to him I was just like oh keep your fingers crossed thinking please don't go to another dame tell him you'll pick him if he gets your pancakes nice I'll give him that extra 10 grand if he gets me pancakes it's expensive oh that's an expensive pancake that aren't

Anyway, you're on the other side of the world I am You're upside down 12 minutes further into my jet lag So that's why I'm a bit eggy at you That it's taking you nine minutes To sort your microphone out It's a podcast going to be fun in it

I'm fine, I am fine Yeah, got to Australia I don't know what day it is I think it's Sunday Father's Day It's not Father's Day It's not Father's Day Don't panic. How is it? Is it sunny

Is it warm? Because it's f***ed down It's snowyer So hot, like too hot almost. Not, it can't be too hot. I need to patch my shorts. Yeah. Yeah.

I'm sure you would have done anyway, but yeah, it's the middle of summer here. It's, we're in Sydney, we're right on the harbour, like literally our hotel overlooks the bridge

and the Sydney Opera House, so it's been a great spot. You're in that hotel that my mum and dad once stayed in, aren't you? No. Different one.

Oh, is it? That overlooks the bridge and the, the opera house? Yeah, so what happens, Alie, is when you're in a city, like a big city, and there's quite a lot of hotels that might overlook the same landmark. You don't always have to stay in the one that your mum and dad stayed in that one time. Right.

Well, that story I was about to tell goes out the window then, so it doesn't matter. You tell it anyway, see if it makes the final cut. Right. Well, you're in the same hotels. I thought my mom and dad were in that one time, and we went to see them, didn't we? And we went up into their room and looked out the window and had the most incredible view, which is what I've seen on everyone's Instagram stories. So I thought, what a great view that is.

As we left that hotel, you said, it doesn't, I mean, it doesn't sound like something I would say. You liar. Do I say that? I must have been a younger, more sprightful version of myself to say something like that. It's 2025, let's start as we mean to go on and not talk about cricket. Yeah. Perfect.

Welcome to the award winnings podcast. No, we don't want to win those kind of awards. But you can vote for us. You can vote for us and please vote for us. Go to which one. The voting website. Wait, we know this. The podcast awards.

Sports Podcast Awards. Yes, Jack's nodding. Sportspodcastawards.com. We're in three categories. We just want to beat zero ducks given. So just vote for us. please do just take them down

are you well I'm well thank you I did leave the house yesterday to get this I'm treating myself to my new camera oh I saw this and I immediately was annoyed why

because you're just there's going to be more content more crap content yeah you're going to be in it no I'm not you are I've got consent to that sort of stuff haven't I?

No you're not operating Wait, under 18. I am. I definitely am. I'm looking forward to packing my vikes and leaving. You fly tomorrow and there's been a bit of snow, hasn't there? I've been watching the news to check Manchester Airport and it closed this morning but you're asleep so I can't tell you. Yeah, and then you woke up, I woke up, sorry.

And you said, how's the snow? And I looked out and it's actually, it's all right here. Like, it's not very deep, but there's, and then I open the curtain a lot more and there's quite a lot right i did wonder how everyone had had snow but you only you until the keys i didn't it's even snowed on my balcony and what i think i thought it was raining because the snow above me on all the other balconies is watering dripping down onto mine which i see so you fly tomorrow you get to australia on thursday the seventh who knows tuesday it's sunday now you fly tomorrow you get here Tuesday Tuesday night

And the washes start on Sunday. Saturday night for everyone in the UK, Sunday for everyone in Australia. How exciting. And because we're so terrible at time zones, someone taught me that I can put your time zone on my home screen. So now I know what time it is wherever you are. But you're now coming to Australia. I know because you just take an hour off.

It's 9-18 there now. Yeah. PM though. Yeah. So I know what time it is where Jack is now. Anyway, how have you been? Not too bad. Not too bad.

I've had one day of training. So we did our first day today because obviously first day, you're so jet-lagged. You can't really do much. People are just surviving. So yeah, we've got, it feels like a really short turnaround to start a washes series. It feels like the closest that we've ever landed

and then, you know, got stuck into it. So first ODI Sunday, warm-up game Thursday. A few training days in between. Jack's nodding his head again. I feel like Jack's really the glue holding this together. But yeah, there's just so much. There's just so much excitement with the washes, isn't there? There's just something different about it.

So I feel like today we all put our England kit back on. We lost to each other. It feels like a minute ago at Heathrow when we landed from South Africa. So good vibe in the group. Yeah, everyone's looking forward to getting going. And guess where you can listen to it? on the BBC on the BBC sounds

on the sport website and app and through your smart speaker just say play the washes say women's ashes don't say washes I don't think we've quite caught yet I don't think we got onto Google yet with it have we've gone on to the social media though

everyone calls it the washes now Surrey CC the Surrey oh Siri I don't want Siri no thank you okay sorry about that

not Siri Surrey. Yeah, Surrey. They used washes the other day, so hopefully mashers sticks as well. Mashes doesn't stick as much, but we need to, we've got 12 more months to work on that. Yeah. 11 months. Yeah.

Al, have you got anything on your sticky note? Because this episode's actually about, it's not meant to be about us catching up. It's meant to be about 2025. Not a thing. No. Okay, I've just got one thing, and I'm going to bring producer Jack in here. So, producer Jack, I'm just going to play you one song. And I just want you to tell me.

if you've heard it before, okay? Just going to pause the pod right there. PSA from producer Jack here. We can't play music on podcasts on the BBC. So I'm just going to tell you, Crossy played Justin Brown, somebody else's guy. There's all the context you need.

Okay, so I'm presuming every single person listening to this is going, yeah, of course we know that song. Probably one of the most famous songs in the world. Really recognisable, really powerful. me and Alex went out on New Year's Eve together went and had a meal at a restaurant near mine and we had some live music and the girl singing

played that song and Alex had a little bob along to it and then right at the end of it she went I've never heard that I haven't I still haven't well you have because you heard it on New Year's Eve yeah but I'd out on him singing is Shania Twain yeah that is Shania Twain yeah isn't it actually no that is Jocelyn Brown

with someone else's guy and you have heard it because if you were an X Factor kid or pop idol probably everyone sang that song it's like the song that you were sing Leonel Lewis probably nailed it back in 2001

whenever she was on it It was either that or the Amy Winehouse song that everybody sang in auditions as well Yeah I know Amy Winehouse I don't live under a rock Well forgive me I'm like me sat under my bed right now For this podcast

I don't live it Maybe for 2025 I'm going to do a list of songs or albums to listen to. 2025 is Alex Hartley's Year of Culture. Now, my strength in life is, that's, I'll vlog it. No. I actually, one of my strengths in life is every song from 1999 onwards

that's been in the top 40 until today, I know it. I don't know the lyrics. Every single song. I can vouch for that. That one, no clue. before 1999, I guess. But how have you never heard it? I don't know.

I just don't understand. Oh, that is a classic. I honestly think you might be the only person in the world that's never heard that song. I couldn't tell you what it's called. But you could now. Yeah, I just told you. I don't know if Crossie is saying

Leon and Lewis was singing it with another man or it's called someone else's man. Somebody else's guy is the song by Johnson Brown. Leona Lewis might have sung it on the X-Factor, but I'm saying it was like a popular song choice on those kind of shows. Well, Leona Lewis is not seeing anyone else that I'm aware of. I've just done a little bit of in-show research,

and there's multiple instances of different people singing it in X-Factor auditions. Yeah. Well, maybe I was out building tree houses. Anyway, I don't know. That was all I had to bring into 2025, and it was just how flabbergasted I was, really, that you'd never heard that song. I'm going into 2025 looking as stupid as ever.

No, not as stupid. Just, I sometimes think you might walk around with your eyes and ears shut. Do you know what? I'm going to go down to the Imperial Museum later. The Imperial War Museum. Get educated. Go there. Go get a weekly pass there.

I don't think I can't see. No one else's side. Oh, Grosier, so on my sticky note. Right. You're beating me. at the Steps Challenge. Yes. And you said if you beat me,

I really need to consider my health, right? And I have considered my health, which is why I've been out running and I've thought about it. You're a professional athlete, so I think I'm happy losing to you. For anyone that's, again, no context, anyone that doesn't follow us on social media,

I've got a new watch. Al's got the same. And she set me a Steps Challenge, a week challenge. And I just was like, well, if you lose to me, then you need to consider your life because at that moment in time I couldn't really walk all that well.

Anyway, there's two hours left and I'm 10,000 steps ahead of you and I'm really quite confident that I might win it. However, within the first day of you, within two hours of you setting this challenge, bearing in mind that this girl hasn't ran for approximately seven years, goes out and does a 45-minute run without stopping

just because she's been set a step challenge. I know, and I've run three times. I'm so proud of myself. but I've pushed you I was meant to run yesterday but I'd just had my bell talk so you're not going to do any exercise afterwards

so I couldn't run yesterday so I was going to run today snowing I can't run today can't I snowing No you'll slip over Bring more gear Carry more passengers Face greater challenges

Welcome to the world of Defender With seating up to eight ample cargo space and legendary off-road capability. It's built to make the most of every adventure. Learn more at landrover.ca. Let's move on. So producer Jack, in his normal, tries to get this podcast. What might be quite fun is you looking into your crystal ball

with a few funny predictions for the washes as well as the year. So, Alex, who will bowl the first no-ball of the ashes? You? Yeah, it is always me. I think North Sydney Oval would be about first of a ball for him. I'm going to pick you and an Aussie. I'm going to pick you and Darcy Brown. I feel like I can't say me because that is that match fixing.

I tell you what, Al, I want your predictions of the ashes. Let's do it that way. Nice. Okay. So you think I'm going to bowl the first ball of the washes and you think, oh, it could be Darcy Brown. I think you're going to fit, but. ball the first no ball of the ashes yeah you're not boring first ball who do you think is going to take the most wickets for England this year this

year but yeah we're looking up ahead to 2025 um okay this year I'm gonna go Sophie Eccleston who drops the first catch of the washes Alyssa Healy but she's at mid-off oh nice one okay who gets the first Duck of the Washes Alyssa Healy I've probably bowled it but it's a no ball Yeah

Who's going to score the most runs Alyssa, no Who's going to score the most runs In the Washes Yeah Oh yeah Washes first Washes

Okay, Maya Bouchier is going to score the most runs in the Washes and throughout the year it's going to be a Natsimabrum. Who's going to win player of the series for the Washes? Ash Gardner. Interesting. Who's going to win? Australia. I really didn't want to say that either because I really, do you know what?

I actually think England could win, but if I say England, then it means they're going to lose. Yeah, that's... It'll all be down to your prediction. So, right, just know that I think England, but I'm saying Australia. So for anyone that doesn't know, which I doubt is anyone that listens to this podcast,

but for our washes, we play three series. Well, we play an ODI series, a T20 series, and then we play a one-off test match, and they've all got points associated to them. For us to win the ashes, we need to win outright. So a draw means that Australia retain the ashes. So we need to get 10 points to win.

Is that correct? Yeah. Yeah. Because eight points is a draw, yeah. Eight's a draw, yeah. So over that, the course of that, the next three weeks we've got to get 10 points. And you think Australia are going to win. Right.

Okay, here's why, if I'm supporting Australia. It's so hard for Australia to lose that many games. Do you know what I mean? So, obviously, you win the test match like they did last time. And you can still afford to lose two games like they did last time. retain the ashes, still win the ashes. So England are going to have to win the test match and then Australia can only drop three games, basically.

But the test is last. The test is last. Do you know what? It's going to be, it's incredibly tough if you don't own the ashes to win them back. And I think the cricket boards have made it easier by making a test match less points, but I still think it's incredibly tough.

I'm not saying England won't because I think the way that you played in last summer proves that you can and actually you were so close of winning that test match anyway but I just think it is incredibly tough to do so and Australia have never lost an LDI series at home. Ever?

They lost one in like 1962. Oh wow, right, okay. It's so like we're so, so, so excited, obviously to be here and to be challenging for these ashes. But at the same time, It's such a challenge, isn't it? Like, everything you've just said there, like, effectively, we're underdogs.

But that's great. That's the best place to be as well. Yeah, of course, yeah. And they're just, they're just an annoying team, aren't they? Because they've just won everything for so long now. But they've started losing, which is exciting. Yeah, but you've also got to respect the narrative that they've created over the last 10 years or so with that team because they're such a strong team and they're so successful.

and actually like we talked so much about us exiting the World Cup but they exited the World Cup as well and sometimes that can almost rejuvenate a team I know what that feels like from our side of the dressing room but equally it could be the same for their side of the dressing room so the thing I always say about an Ashley series is I'm just desperate for it to be entertaining

because we're playing a test match at the MCG we've got a game at the SCG I think there's a T20 in Adelaide Oval as well like you want people to come and watch the games and support women's cricket and exciting cricket will do that. Yeah, of course, and it is guaranteed to be exciting. Both teams are probably the most equal they've been

for the last 15 years in terms of talent and potential and whatever you call it competition. So it's actually the first dashes where I've gone, this is going to be good. And obviously last year, England proved that they were as good as Australia, which we weren't expecting. So now you go into this and yes, you're underdogs

but people go, but look how good they did last year. Yeah. So it's going to be very exciting. It starts on Sunday and then about four minutes later it finishes because it's all over in three weeks. Mental.

A bit of a shame, actually. I don't agree with it, to be completely honest. I think the players deserve more respect when it comes to recovery and travel and prepping for the next game and things like that. But it's a schedule. You know, you can't do anything about it.

I think it must be something to do with the WPL starting in Feb because I don't know why it would be such a short schedule. But it's going to be... It's the only thing I can think. If you want to play your best 11 for every single ODI, you want time for not only you to recover, but let's just say Lauren Filer is in the best 11, right? She's young.

She needs a flight there, a recovery day, train day, a game. I just don't understand the travel and play. Yeah, it's crazy. So we play the first ODI on the 12th. Second ODI is in Melbourne on the 14th. So we travel on the 13th and then playing again immediately the next day. And I think I spoke about it on the podcast, but the Ireland series that we had,

we played three ODIs in five days and we had one game in between. We didn't move anywhere. We stayed in the same hotel and played at the same grounds. And that was the toughest that I found it in terms of backing it up with my body and mind. and like the fatigue of it so like we've spoken as a group about how difficult this is going to be and it is going to be thick and fast and you're going to have to park stuff and you're going have to like return up and start again almost I just think it's wrong but it is what it is and we're going to do it and actually do you know what if you win that first game you've then

got the momentum and I think if you it works both ways doesn't it even got that winning momentum or you've got the chance to turn it around a day later. So whatever happens, there are positives to it. But I just think you're going to be tired at the end of it. Oh, yeah. Well, I remember the end of the 2023 ashes. I was like, I mean, I went into that with a parasite, so I was not well prepared. But coming out of that, I was like, I slept for about three days straight.

I was just so mentally drained. I have a question for your crossy. Off the back of the World Cup, do you think there's more pressure on you on the squad for the washes or do you think it kind of there's enough pressure on it because it's the ashes it's standalone? I think there's always pressure on the washes because I think I would say the best two teams are going up against each other in every format. I think it's fair to say that we're the top two teams. Yeah, absolutely. So I feel like and it's an ashes like there's just it's just big men's or women's it's just big it means the world to us and again it's an other opportunity to play

test cricket. So I feel like I kind of spoke, we spoke about this a couple of, was it, just before the South Africa series about the pressure that, like, we've got to prove ourselves now because we've got booted out of the World Cup early. But I feel like we've proved that in South Africa. The team that got to the final, we like dominated them over there in their home, in their home series, which is always hard to do. It's always hard to go away and win.

So I do feel like it's different, but. the World Cup we had one bad game you have one bad game in the ashes you can still win it didn't even have one bad game you have one bad six overs yeah basically so I've got some stats to show how good England have been this summer

last summer we'll call it actually now most international women's wins in a year England top of the pile with 31 in 24 played 38 131 lost 6 Australia, I think I only won, 26, all losers. They must be rubbish. They must be rubbish.

They played eight less games, to be fair. They won 26, lost four. Australia come into the contest, having won 86% of their completed games in 2024, while England have won 84%. So these, you're so, so close in ability. Is that what you call it? In form as well, I think,

because a lot of that is confidence, isn't it? Like, we always talk about these series as confidence kind of series. And I think having just played that South Africa series, basically exactly the same, minus the ODIs and T20s being switched around. Like, we've just played a test match recently. So it's not like test match is going to be like, oh, God, we're not used to this format,

which we often feel like when we play that format. So it feels like we've had really good prep coming into it and got to have a really nice time at home over Christmas and kind of recalibrate and see family and friends and, you know, just relax for a little bit and then like come out here again and give it a good go. Right. What's the rest of the week look like before that first game? So we've got a couple of training days

and then warm up game Thursday, a couple of training days and then play North Sydney Oval Sunday. 10.30 start here. So that's a what time start in England, Alex? 11.30 p.m. Saturday night. Well done. on BBC sounds through your smart speaker

and a sport website and app watch share BBC Radio music radio podcast I could do that I've got a couple of emails

to finish oh have you now yay cheers for digging me a hole on that one guys much appreciate who should we go upstairs with

crossy it's just sent us two emails from jackwood at gmail.com Yeah, fact. Not my email address for anybody listening.

Who's going to take upstairs? Who was the guy that told Bummerer to stop shouting at the new Australian? Oh yeah, it's got to be him. It's called upstairs with Schofodoulah. First time for us with him. Yeah, he was told Jasper off, didn't he? Yeah, if you'd misbehaved, he'll point that finger at you. So, we've had an email from Ian Jewhurst.

Enjoyed listening to the festive podcast. I heard Kate galvanising support from your disciples to get behind the pursuit of a fourth best cricket podcast award during which it was mentioned a few times I think the word's getting out that the Zero Dugts podcast shouldn't win as Toby Tarant its main front man has a famous dad

and therefore doesn't need more success. Exactly. So was Dave Cross Cross? Does winning the 1980th up in front of 100,000 supporters at Wembley with an extra 20 plus million watching on domestic TV. He's done his research. Is this Chris Tarrant or Toby? Is Toby messaged then?

Well, I don't know if he has a burner account. Who knows? Who knows? I often forget your dad. What I think he's trying to get is, are you a Nepo baby, Kate Cross? What's a Nepo baby? Someone that's born into fame and success, basically.

Right. I often think. get your dad's famous. Like I genuinely, you just stay. He did retweet us to get votes though, so maybe I am just as bad as Toby. But that's not fair. Dad's got like no followers on Twitter. Chris Tarrant is Chris, Chris, Chris Talent, isn't it?

Do you know what I want to do? My 2025 goal is to get Chris Tarrant on this podcast, to get him to shout out to vote for us. Yeah, we can do that. No, that's made my 20-25 a lot harder, hasn't it? We need Chris Tarant. I think. I think it's somehow...

Is he on Cameio? Can we buy it? Camio. Yeah. I used to be on that. I used to get a five or a week. It was great. Yeah, crossy. Your dad's not famous in our eyes, though.

No, he's not. He's my dad. Dad's my dad. But Chris Tarant is Chris Tarant. Like, he says he wants to be a millionaire. That's different thing. Yeah, it's different, isn't it? Dad's only famous with the West Ham fans.

Like, Toby's famous because he went to school and he had the same last name and he went, yeah, that's my dad. Yeah. And then everyone went, here you go, Toby. Have a radio show. You got a famous dad. Yeah.

So people need to vote for us because we're good at podcasting, not because we've got famous dads. Your dad's Boris Johnson. My dad is Boris Johnson's dad. Oh, yeah, sorry. He's also that footballer and that darts player. He's a very first time.

We never know the name, so. Ian continues. You already have my vote, so good luck again this year. Yes. Thank you. On a slightly different topic, Alex, what do you think about strictly next year? Women's cricket is yet to be represented. Gophe and Ramps, both won in the era.

But during the modern era, your excellent radio colleagues, tough and the warn, and swan, I've all failed miserably. So I reckon this is a time for you to step up and show them how it's done. No. I can see my hips. I can see him shaking. No, I'm not going to go on strictly. I would. If I got asked, never been asked, probably never will.

Don't fancy a rumour to Jocelyn Brown then, though. I would rumber, but I'd be voted off for the first week because my hips are bad and I'd lose my best friend because Crossy has always said she wants to do strictly and that's her thing. I think I would quite happily now step aside and watch you Rumba Live on the telly to Jocelyn Brown. My hip, do lie. My hips are stiff.

She's not a good dancer, his RL. But you're there to get better. That's the point of it. It's a journey, Al. You don't want to be a good dancer on there immediately. There's a reason my dad's nickname's Disco, Dave. You can't dance either. Could you win by just doing the fingers?

Just popping them in the air of strictly. Yeah, I mean, you could give it. I don't think a strictly winner has ever done gum fingers on the ballroom floor, Al. So maybe that can be a first. I would do it. I would do it. But the one I really, really, really want to do is I'm going to get me out of here.

But the slight problem is you've got to be a celebrity. Got to be a slub. You told me the other day you're desperate to do race around the world, so I need to retire soon. Yeah, I do. There's so many things I want to do with you. Yeah. Right, cricket's getting in the way now, isn't it?

We've got a couple more emails than we're, Crosser, you're good to go to bed. Okay. So we've had this one from Abigail, who's age 13, play for the Hartfordshire under 13s team and it's my third year playing at hearts a bow right arm, leg, spin and back left-handed and really wants to become professional cricket one day

and find your stories and careers so inspiring. The pod has really kept me going, especially through the last season when I would be feeling down about my ability and struggling to even get out the car before matches. The positivity and fun as you show on the pod always make me laugh and the tough times remind me that I can get through this and it honestly feels like

I know you both so well because of it. Something that I found really hard last year was one game when I was playing for my school when there was a few girls and a few boys on my team but the opposing side we're all boys and when I went out to bat they all started talking about how there is a girl batting and it just made me feel like I wasn't good enough I listened to the pod every evening and I've now gone back and listened to all your pods on the BBC every time Kate plays asked my parents if we can go and watch as I'm so desperate to meet you both unfortunately they won't let me miss school to watch it down under oh boring my question

ahead of the washes, what is your least favourite ground to play at? I think we should give Abigail a bit of advice on playing against boys or yourself first. Yeah, I do. Let's answer the question about the ground first, because that'll be a quickie. Three, two, one. The Oval. Derbyshire. What?

Why do you hit the Oval? My favourite. Oh, your least favourite. Goodness me. Least favourite. favourite. Abigail, do you want to come and co-hosts his podcast with me? Least favourite is Derby.

That's why I said, 3, 2, 1. Right, if I don't know. Abigail, playing against the boys. Of course, there's a girl playing, like, well done that they noticed. They'd be a bit worried if they didn't. You know, good on them for being aware of the surroundings. But don't see yourself as a girl when you're playing cricket. See yourself as a cricketer.

And there's a reason you're there. You're good enough to be there. otherwise you wouldn't be there. So just embrace it and just be like, yeah, I am a girl and I'm good enough to be here. And guess what? I've just smacked you before. And sometimes you just got to get used to people say stuff about you, haven't you? It's not nice.

I'm guessing you still get slaged at international cricket, like not professional cricket. Yeah. Yeah, whatever standard you play, you get it. But I think that's the mental side of cricket, isn't it? It's like what you can block out. And sometimes people just say stuff to you to get in your head. So they might just be saying something to get you wicket or to get you to bowl a bad ball or something.

So block out the haters. I went out to bat in the big bash right. I've got three ducks in a row. Beth Moon is keeper. She's like, oh, here she is. I'm best buyer in the world. And I turned around and I was like, all right, moons.

That's a bit harsh at it. I said, you know, I'm, I know I'm bha. It's why I'm 11? Like, I'm going to get out. But she wanted a reaction and you just. It's a matter of when. And then she went, yeah, it was a bit harsh, actually, yeah, I'm really sorry. And I was like, it's fine.

Anyway, got out. I think I got one, got out. And she came up to me a dress room. She was like, I'm really sorry. I was like, it's fine, but come on. Like, that's a bit of a low blow. Oh, if you're going to sledge someone, at least own it. Don't go in the dress room afterwards and say sorry.

Well, I think I'm going to feel bad because obviously, obviously I'm rubbish. I'm at 11. Abigail, go and play cricket and enjoy it. It's there to be enjoyed. We've got one final email from a guy. who's either just got a very, a very, very related surname or just loves a podcast a lot. It seems like his name's called Sam Noble, born to be on this podcast. I'm going to share my screen with you on this one.

Al, I need you to talk us through what is going on here. Oh, wow. Best night, I'll talk you through it. Best night ever from Sam Noble. Alex is at the darts in a full Christmas track suit with a jug of what I'm guessing is orange juice are with some paddy power underpants over the top of the track suit next to a man dressed as a pig

Yeah I went to the darks on the 23rd of December And I got recognised way more than I was expected And I was obviously dressed like a numpty one podcast fan called Charlie went up to me and just gave me a sloppy kiss and said, love the pod and I ran off and then messaged me saying

really sorry, panicked this guy asked for a photo I was never expecting to see that again he's not even put any words it just says best night ever and then a photo like I really rate that just left it for us to interpret

I made his night that photo made his say hey he did right if you want to get in touch with us you can email us on no balls podcast at bbc.com.com. No ballspordcast to bdc.com.com. It's so good.

So good. They said it twice. Email in your pictures that you take of us in the wild. You know, no balls in the wild. I like it. Happy New Year, everyone. Goodbye. Merry Christmas.

Bye. all time. So, sir, has won the European Cup for Manchester United. So how did this apprentice toolmaker from Glasgow become one of the most iconic figures in sporting history? His strength of character, his determination, they're fighting in him. Ferguson was every department. He can be persuasive, he can be charming, he can be frightening.

Go down as the best. It's simple as it. I'm Kelly Cates, and this is Sporting Giants, Sir Alex Ferguson. I didn't want to feel. I couldn't feel. Listen on BBC Sounds. Thank you.