Test Match Special - The 2025 TMS Hundred Awards

Episode Date: September 1, 2025

Henry Moeran is alongside Ashes winning bowler Steven Finn, World Cup winner Alex Hartley, and TMS commentator Alison Mitchell to award the unofficial 2025 TMS Hundred Awards.Which batter hit the best innings of the tournament? Who had the best bowling spell? What is the shot of the competition? And who took the best catch?

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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 C's and C's Apply. from BBC Radio 5 Live. Welcome to the 2025-100 awards. I am your host, Henry Moran. Your adjudication panel is the England Ashes winner Stephen Finn, England World Cup, win Alex Hartley.

And if there are a commentary World Cup, well, should be winning it, wouldn't she? Alison Mitchell. And so we're going to go through various categories between the four of us to try and work. work out what's been some of the highlights and best moments of the tournament. If you want to get in touch with your nominations and suggestions, all you need to do is TMS at bbc.co.uk on the email, WhatsApp [phone] or text from the UK

messages at your standard network rate. So what we're going to do first of all, and I've got some suggestions from the rest of our team too, but our first of award of the day is going to be the best innings of the tournament. Now at the Oval we may have seen it with Davina Perrin's fabulous hundred off 42 deliveries but Alex Hartley where do you stand on it? Devena Perrin's 42 off 42 hundred off 42 balls I had Jordan Cox's 86 off 29 balls as the innings of the tournament but it's quite quickly changed for me now and it's Davina Perrin today and why what made it so special? Well I think the fact she just got the first hundred

of the tournament. We've not seen a men's 100 this year or a women's 100 this year and the fact that she's come out 18 years old and taking the game on. I mean, we've spoken about it so much. But, you know, she just the way that she played today was just fantastic, took the game on and put, you know, the London spirit completely under pressure. They look frazzled and the fact that she's only 18 years old, 101 off 42 balls was pretty special. Stephen Finn, hard to argue with Alex's case there, isn't it, all things considered? But there are some noteworthy contributions not least here where we saw Jordan Cox hitting that quite fabulous 86 off 29 yeah that was a very very good innings it set the

game up for the oval invincibles but I would say that that was mighty impressive and the six hitting capabilities were mighty impressive but I'd say the better innings within a context of within the context of a game was probably Sam Curran and Jordan Cox's partnership here when they beat the the Trent Rockets in the group game where they turned the innings round. They scored 100 off about 25 balls. And yeah, the Trent Rocket scored the innings break. The innings break. The timeout, the strategic timeout. And from there, the Ovalinvincibles went ballistic. So you could have either or there, but I'm going to say Sam Curran's 54 from 24 in that innings because his strike was. was up over 220. But yeah, that was ridiculous batting to drag them over the line in that game. Yeah, I would agree with that.

I might chuck in a couple of other honorable mentions before we get Alison's suggestion as well. Phoebe Litchfield, 59 not out of 39, was a brilliant knock for the Northern Superchargers against the Birmingham Phoenix. And that showed a real, sorry, 59 not out of 28 balls. and that showed a real acceleration in run scoring and she played a couple of knocks like that actually

where she just managed to go through the gears at such an extraordinary rate of knots that you did wonder if had she had the time she would have gone on and got three figures but what about some of the other knocks? I love Joe Roots, 76 or 41 versus the Oval Invincibles at the Oval because it showed a completely different gear to Joe Root,

one that I've not seen before. Yeah, it was one where we were like is this really Joe Root batting out there and the way he came in and manipulated the field was the impressive thing for me with that knock. He came in and played the reverse ramp which got him going and then he was able to clip the ball off his legs,

drive the ball through the covers, hit over the top obviously play the ramp shots again it was a brilliant innings. Finney it's interesting seeing a tournament like this where players obviously there's a slightly different pressure to what you see in Test Match cricket and occasionally you'll see players unburdened in a way that

sees a completely different style of play. And we saw that from Root. He looked, ran out, looking really determined, but also sort of full of the joys. And he's played a couple of knocks like that. The two highest innings in the men's tournament, his 76 or 56 of 41 rather, and 64 not out of 41.

Two really brilliant knocks. Yeah, well, he loves playing cricket, doesn't it? I think he's someone who throughout his career has always maintained the ability to play with a smile on his face. And yeah, there's something quite unburdening about being the leading player in the world and the person in test cricket in particular that the country looks upon to score all the runs. There's probably something very liberating about coming into a franchise tournament and still being one of the bigger name players, but being

able to explore and play around with your game and not have as much of a spotlight on you individually. So it's no wonder that in those innings that he's got going, he's been masterful because he is that kind of player. Indeed. Another name that I might throw in there is Liam Livingston, hit a brilliant innings earlier on the tournament. It was one of the moments of the tournament for me. That 69 not out that he scored at Edgeburston

against the Invincibles and it came so quickly as well. It was 69 of 27 balls. Off the back of a bit of sledging as well. Yeah exactly. Tom Curran calling him a fat slob. Yeah, there's just a lot to it that I really enjoyed. There were sort of little narratives and things within the innings

that were good fun. And for me that was one of the knocks of the tournament. I think we can all share our agreement. Jordan Cox at the top of the parlor, but just ahead. So not quite at the top of the par. Davina Perrin, about 100. Second place. Yeah, you know what I mean.

Bowling spells, and we've seen some good ones in the tournament. Alex, have you been impressed with the bowling overall? Yeah, this year for me, it's been a tournament for the bowlers, to be completely honest. You know, especially in the men's comp. We've seen some low-scoring games, some pitches that have suited the bowlers. And to be completely honest, I can't even remember. what I said, Henry. You said, Alex, that your favourite bowling performance was Matt Henry and Sophia Garland. Ah, yes, it was. He bowled 20 balls for five runs and he was nipping the

ball both ways. It was an exceptional innings, you know, he bowled from both ends, but the way that he was getting the ball to talk and it was a surface that aided the bowlers, don't get me wrong, but yeah, it was a brilliant innings in the way that he managed to bowl his variations, but also just bowl quick and get the ball to move both ways. It was a lovely watch. Well, I think that's the thing, isn't it? You need to be so versatile as a bowler that sometimes, you know, we talk about it being a batter's game and it really does feel that way at times in the 100. It can be a batter's game, yeah, but you have to think on your feet. And the good bowlers do survive and come out on top. The innings or the performance that I was most impressed by was

Lauren Bell's performance against the Welsh fire. The last group game of the competition, And Brave scored 106 from their 100 balls, which is a low score. And it felt as though that the brave would have to bowl very, very well in order to defend that. And Lauren Bell bowled 20 balls and she got four for six. Well bowled. And bowled at the top and tail of the innings as well to open up and then close it out at the toughest times. So that was my bowling performance of the competition. Yeah, I think that is a fair enough assessment.

And certainly she's had an outstanding tournament, hasn't she? Leading wicket takers, well, Josh Tongues had a great tournament. You look at the ways performed for the originals. 14 wickets across six matches is pretty good going, Alex, isn't it? Yeah, and I was going to say he's not played all the games either, as he? So, yeah, no, he's bowled nicely. And, you know, I think Manchester originals have had that almost like we're just going to bowl rockets and see what happens.

And him and Sonny Baker have bowled nicely in partnerships. A few suggestions for Lauren Bell, by the way. Theon Wynne, BBC sport cricket writer, Daniel Norcross suggesting that as well. A suggestion from Artif Nawaz, and I like this one, Sonny Baker against the London spirit, took one for 21, but it was those first ten balls when up against David Warner, he tied him in knots. And that's where actually I take umbrage with the way that the most valuable player has decided in tournaments like this, because I think in the scenario and in the situation of games, bowling and going around a runner ball,

so undervalued or going at less than a runner ball in a high scoring game is so undervalued versus someone scoring 30 off 20 balls I think there needs to be a serious rethinking about the way that those rankings and awards are done because I don't think bowlers get fair justice in those for their performances I think there is something to be said for that Alex and sometimes bowling a good economical spell and putting pressure and one thing and another can be so important oh absolutely you've got two bowlers sat here that it's a batter's game obviously obviously we want more for the bowlers. And I completely agree with Finney. I think, you know, batters can go out and smack a few, but bowlers that have to think and, you know, bowl their variations and get on top of batters and capitalize on that. Yeah, I think a lot of the time are undervalued. Riley Meredith picked up four for nine against the originals at Cardiff, which was a pretty good effort. Let's be honest about that. And so that might get a little bit of a mention in there as well in the women's competition.

Well, we've mentioned Lauren Bell's effort with the ball, but some brilliant spells as well. Jess Johnson, four for 10 for the fire against the brave. Also, Tilly Cortine Coleman, four for 13. The bowl that turned 18 during the tournament. She's been impressive. I also thought Eva Gray has had a very good tournament. She picked up four for 19. And there have been some good bowling performances, but it is for me that Lauren Bell one.

Go on, Finney. Yeah, individual bowling performance. Yeah, and I think someone who we've not talked about, actually, who has had a good tournament with the ball in hand has been Mahika Gore. She hasn't taken the wickets that her partner, Lauren Filer, did at the other end, but she's been the most economical bowler to bowl 50 balls or more in the entire women's competition. So I think for the same reason that we were arguing that bowlers don't get enough MVP points, if you're opening the bowling and you're going at the cheapest economy rate,

out of all bowlers in the competition, then you deserve a shout-out. What about the best English player in the tournament, men's and women's across the competition? So one name from either the men's or the women's, but who for you, Alex, has stood out as a real exceptional candidate? I really struggled with this one, really struggled, especially when it comes to the women's competition. But with the men's competition, I just went Jordan Cox.

I think his consistency throughout this tournament and his ability to win games and I guess take the game on and also that confidence that he has about him, him. The fact that he feels like he can win a game from any situation he has done on plenty of occasions. So I've gone Jordan Cox for the best English player. 327 runs in an average of 65. Quite hard to argue against, Vin. Very, very difficult to argue against yeah. And he's impact on games as well, the partnerships that he's been in in tight games when the Ovalinvincibles have needed people to stand up and get over the line. I think he's been

he's been a huge part of that. I would give a shout out for. Sam Curran for his impact with both bat and balls. Same with Rayan Ahmed when you're talking about the overall English qualified players and the people who affect games the most across both innings. I think those two names have to be thrown into the mix as well. Yeah, it feels that way. I think you could make a case for Lauren Bell in terms of leading Wicked taker being up there.

That new certainly. Yeah, I think that's absolutely. I think she's been the one English player from the woman's side that's properly to put her hand up. I don't know she's been really good and consistent for a couple of years now but it just feels like her game's gone to another level and she's showcased that

on what is the next step to international cricket or the closest thing to international cricket and some of these games all have been more competitive or harder for Lauren Bell than when she was playing the West Indies at the start of the year. So, you know, it's, yeah, she's been absolutely fantastic. I think it's a good point you make that, Alex.

Actually, a lot of the time, the cricket that you see in the 100, Particularly in the women's competition is going to be higher standard than some international games, and certainly the men's competition as well. Yeah, certainly the women's, I would say, yeah. And it's such a funny thing, isn't it? You look at the top run scorer list. There's not many English names.

They're all Australia. The majority of the highest performance are performers are overseas players. And you hope that with time, with talents like Davina Perrin and other youngsters that are coming up through the ranks, we start to see a turn in the team. tired of that but it's certainly more noticeable in the women's game than the men's Nat Siverbrun has had another good tournament I mean we expect it almost it goes without saying doesn't it yeah she's took 256 runs an average of 148 hasn't bowled she bowled at all or not bold as much as maybe she would have done so she'd have had far more impact if she

was able to bowl more or at all but certainly she's up there a strike rate of 150 is always a leading light not a player that's to statistically has been the best, but I think one of the great stories of the tournament in the women's side is London Spirit's opener, Kira Chathley, who has been someone that came in for Heather Knight as a replacement, really had not pulled up any trees previously in her 100 career and played brilliantly at the top of the order for the London Spirit, scoring totaling the end of 243 runs. Did she? No, 220 runs, sorry, with the high score of 69, but it was that strike rate of 150, so she was getting. getting the innings off to a quick start. And it's sort of what the tournament is about, as we mentioned with Davina Perrin. You want someone to step up and play some sort of big role from outside the England set up.

Yeah, absolutely. And it just shows, I guess, being professional at the domestic level now, you're starting to see the rewards slowly, but surely, you know, these girls are coming out of school, out of union, stepping into a professional environment and you can see that the game is getting better and better. And, you know, we need batters in England.

need more batters coming through so it is good to see yeah and I think when you're looking at impacting games because you look at overall statistics in a tournament like this and sometimes people's numbers might not stand out 220 runs doesn't sound like a lot but in two of the eight games she pretty much won her team the game by by getting them off to a flyer really quickly and getting ahead of the game so in a quarter of the game she has had a significant impact which is something that needs to be nodded towards interestingly across the women's competition and maybe this a bit of a story about the dominance of Australians in the tournament but you look at that list of top run scorers in the women's side of things and we'll get on to overseas players in a moment

but Meg Lanning Phoebe Litchfield and top of the parley got three England names then it's Grace Harris and then you've got at least Perry Laura Walfa Charlie Knott so load a big string of Australian players in there in the men's competition the top 11 leading run scorers are all England players or English qualified players and then you have to go down as far as Kane Williamson with 204 runs before you get another three England names and David Warner and on we go

so it's an interesting I don't know an interesting little statistical factor yeah I think the kind of along the lines of what we've highlighted I still think it's very difficult to sit here and judge the women's game on numbers like that because the teams have only turned

the county teams and the new structure has only been in place this year, allowing more people the opportunity to make it a job and to really fully commit to becoming better cricketers. So I think it's unfair if we sit here and judge it with a blanket like that. And certainly we hope to see in the coming years an uptick and stories like Davina Perrin's and the way that she's affected a few of the games this year, in particular, the Eliminator at the Oval with that 100 that she scored, the longer that this tournament goes, the more performances we'll see like that, which will hopefully turn the tide. Overseas player then and lots of option suggestions. Where did you stand on it?

I should also say in terms of English players, some of the names that we mentioned have been the popular ones. Jordan Cox, Michael Vaughn, Carlos Brathwaite, Alex, you said that as well. Ali has suggested Jordan Cox other names in there. Rehan Ahmed is a potential one. Sam Curran, Daniel Norcross said he's had a good tournament as well. But what about overseas players who's, who's stood out for you? In the men's game, I think Rashid Khan has helped that he's played in the Ovalinvincibles team. But again, you look at those, you look at singular performances. He went around the park a couple of times, which can happen.

But in important games, he's put his hand up, taking important wickets. He's been handy with the bat as well at times. So probably from the men's perspective, Rashid Khan. Yeah, men's perspective, I've gone Donovan for Ferrara. I think he's been brilliant. His ability to hit sixes has just been so entertaining. I think one every six balls he hits a six or something ridiculous. Every time he comes to the crease, you just think, well, that's going for six.

Yeah, and he's just so good to watch. He's entertaining. He's what this competition is about. And I think from immense side of things, he's somebody that I'm like, all right, yeah, I want to watch you play cricket. You have to give David Warner a nod for the amount of quotes that he's, and airtime he's got the competition around the world as well indeed yeah he does a good job at that let's be perfectly honest but with the ball there have been some really good candidates

I think Rashid Khan's 12 wickets Riley Meredith's picked up 12 as well I think Chris Green's had a very good tournament in a struggling Welsh fireside he's taken 11 wickets across eight matches and bold some difficult overs as well at a reasonable economy rate Jason berendorf is another with the ball in terms of overseas signings for the, for the Oval Invincibles, who I think has been impressive. Allie Mitchell joins us. Allie, instinctively, the name when I say overseas player dominating the 100 this year. You say, well, I know, I'm not giving you a quick answer here, am I?

I was trying to broaden out a little bit. And I looked at Sophie Devine, lead wicket taker for the Southern Brave, helping them to march through to the final, winning all eight matches. She finished up with three match hero award. So she's had impact in a winning way. Yep. And then I'm going to give her marks for outstanding amateur dramatics as well, because I don't know whether you've seen much of Southern Brave social media feed,

but she could take to the stage and be an actress. Excellent. How is it to see her enjoying her cricket again? Obviously, she's come back off a break, a mental health break. She pulled out of a lot of international cricket. She's retiring from 50 over cricket at the end of the 50 over World Cup in October. But to see her back enjoying her cricket is good to see it. Yeah, I just think she's been a huge figure for the team over here in the 100.

Yeah, so there's a little bit of, I guess, a little bit of sentiment in that and that, you know, saw her win the T20 World Cup last year and just how much that meant after such an elongated sort of outstanding career and an international career in a team that always tries to punch above their way. Yeah. And finally she got that reward with the trophy and then coming over here to join the 100 and help the Southern Brave team dominate. Yeah. She really has had an impact to help them dominate with the ball. We've not seen as many batters dominate in the men's game from overseas. but certainly in the women's game, those overseas signings have been pretty dominant. You look at Meg Lanning, 287 runs. Her form did dip away towards the back end of the tournament.

But like Sophie Devine, she was playing with a smile on her face. Yeah, it's good to see. Really good to see, isn't it? You know, Meg Lanning doesn't play international cricket anymore. She's retired from Australia, but it still dominates world cricket. And any team that's got Meg Lanin in it is a better team. Yes. Yeah.

And so often, her perception of Meg Lanning, it's just such a serious player but actually seeing her relax and you know join us on player mics and have a bit of a laugh and you know what we're discussing golden retriever dogs at one point and coffee houses yeah but yeah just some of her glorious batting it makes you think how she would easily continue to play international cricket but for her own uh sake she decided to step away from that and then yeah the franchise world is all the richer for that yeah phoebe litchfield i think is a is a strong shout there's a few names uh that have been repeated in terms of our team's suggestions.

Carlos Brathaway, you Alex Hartley mentioned, Phoebe Litchell Litchell, Edarty from here. Okay, yeah, go on. That's an interesting one. I think it's a very strong case to argue for it. Yeah, I think she averages 45 with the bat. She's taken 14 wickets across the competition. Her team have made it through to the final,

and I think she's played a big part in that, and she's a big athletic presence in the field as well. You see her moving around, you think she's going to catch everything and stop everything so yeah she's been impressive for me and i probably would have her with sophia devine as um as the player of the tournament yeah okay yeah daniel norcross suggests that by the way for every does he we've had he actually just messaged me saying have you been still in my answers i can't see my my laptop must be entwined but that's a worry that is a really alarming prospect uh but it is worth saying that um unlike most people who just gave one answer

us for every single category. And they all have to play for Surrey? No, surprisingly not. Quite a lot too, actually. But it's an interesting one, isn't it, the overseas signing? Because what do you look for? Do you look for a player that plays you one or two match-winning innings or bowling spells or someone that provides real consistency and leadership?

I mean, you can look at it two ways. Yeah, you can. I think look at it of everything. I think when I've picked Phoebe Litchfield, it's not only her match-winning capability, but the way she entertains when she plays and the way she, you know, plays that reverse switch hit, the reverse sweep. And, you know, she's getting young girls picking up a bat going, I want to play that shot.

That's why I've sort of gone with her as well. I think that makes sense. And it is that, that X factor, isn't it? That fear factor that is great when someone walks out. The TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. Bring more gear, carry more passengers, face greater challenges. Welcome to the world of Defender, with seating up to eight ample cargo space

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Michael Vaughn said Rashid Khan, who had, actually, after a year where he's not had great figures. He actually had a very good hundred. Yeah, his story was quite interesting, wasn't it? Coming back after his surgery, injury, coming back into the game after a break and being very clear about, you know, I needed the time away to get back into the game. Oh, it's coming off again here. But he also got absolutely taken apart, didn't he? Who wasn't it with the bat at the other end?

I was watching that game. I was commentating it. Liam Livingston. Yes, took apart. Again, Birmingham Phoenix at Edgebustin. That's right. So, you know, not, not, you can't shine every single day, but he's shown quite a few of them. He has, indeed. Yeah. So that polling spell against the spirit at Lords was one particularly outstanding performance. So that brings us on to catch of the.

tournament there been some good ones there's been some excellent catches there's only one there is only one there is only one there is only one Phil Salt well there have been quite a lot of suggestions for Phil Salt I should say can't be anything else can it Carlos says that you do Alex is that if Fion the Will Jack's catch where he went one-handed left-handed right-handed reverse cup over his left shoulder that was my competition to Phil's okay Deandre Dotting is once a suggestion that she was leaping at flying at full stretch wasn't she Charlie Dean here was a very good but nothing nothing beats Phil Salt talk us through it Alex I don't even think I can I genuinely don't think I can for those I can imagine a salmon you know you know like a salmon pops up out the water yeah and then it's its tail like flips to give it that little couple of inches extra to

gasp the air before it then plunges down back into the water as Phil Salt took off his heels flicked and he seemed to gain a couple of of extra inches i wish we're actually videoing finney because he's sort of demonstrating this he threw out his hand and it stuck and then because they were losing so badly tried his hardest not to grin or smile you could see the corners of his mouth going like he was a cartoon that was a majestic recreation finney and i have to say i enjoyed it and obviously i hope i don't have to do it again will jacks also had to time his jump and he was also a jump and a leap but was it salmon like i would say I was so possibly it was dolphin like there was something yeah there was something of the ways a playful leap yeah rest that right arm up reverse cup grabbed it over his left shoulder

almost took it behind him something quite rhythmic isn't there about that it's like Ali's passionate about this one yeah I might give it to Ali just for the just for the strength of argument yeah it was that was a brilliant catch as well I mean there's been some absolute cracker. I can't remember... Oh hang on, I also had my Boucher, which was another sort of reverse cut kind of catch. Remember that one? That was to dismiss Tammy Beaumont as well. I thought she made that

look harder than it was. Oh, harsh judge. What about, we've done a lot of positives, what about a little bit of a negative turn on things? What's been the biggest disappointment of this year's tour? Easy. Easy. Well, fire as a whole, as a franchise. Because the women had a good couple of years. The men have been disappointing for the history of the tournament really it almost felt like when you looked at the men's signings this year you thought oh they could compete you know they've

done well Steve Smith Johnny Birstow's back Chris Green Riley Meredith and still something is missing from from Welsh fire and then the women have sort of followed suit this year and they've been bang average to watch you know they've they've not played good cricket they've there's been a few close games but it's almost like you turn up to one of those games and you go all right congratulations to the opposition you've already won before the game's already started yeah I was disappointed by the fact that we weren't able to have any Indian cricketers yep in this year none in the women's side came close to Deep Tshama featuring but then even she pulled

out in order to prepare for India for their series so that was a shame understandable why I'm never going to sort of criticize international commitments coming first but I just think yeah in terms of disappointment that was a shame that we didn't have that sparkle of of Indian players in the tour And we hope that that isn't going to be a sign of things to come as well as the WPL grows in value and everything else commercially and beyond. But of course, Indian male cricketers don't play any of franchise leagues apart from the IPL. And though, slightly confusingly, there is going to be a big influx of money from IPL owners. It doesn't necessarily follow that you'll get the India players following to play afterwards.

So we'll wait and see on that one. But I agree, I think that is a bit of a shame. And it did mean that there was a real dominance in terms of Australian names. 16 of the 24 overseas players were from Australia. So that tells its own story in the women's competition. Earlier, I was flagging that Ashwin is now going to be available for next year. So even if the BCCI rule is still in place that contracted Indian players, IPL players can't play in the 100,

Ashwin is going to be a free agent. And even if, when he was alluding to the fact that he doesn't think anyone would actually pick him, I think surely if he's the... only male Indian you know recently retired cricketer who's available and wanting to play and could do a job you think a team would just want to be the first in the hundred to have or has he retired because he wasn't going to get retained well that's probably coming to in terms of the eye face or is he retired because somebody here's promised him a gig who knows we'll find out we will find out but the marketing opportunity will be massive it will be

additional eyeballs on any team that's got an Indian player will be massive exactly certainly will what about you Finney the weather this last weekend has been a big disappointment yeah yeah a little bit but then yeah we've been so what's an English summer without covers coming on and off and on and off and off again a couple of other suggestions at Welsh fire get a fair few mentions Artif says that as does Fion specifically the women's side Michael Vaughn says the London spirit men's team I think That's fair enough with Justin Langer as coach some real big-name players in there as well. Kane Williamson's been he's been all right.

He's got his first 50 in the 100 and Jamie Smith's played some good innings. David Warner started well, but then rather fell away. But they've not been that impressive. No, they haven't. And well, it's been consistent throughout the history of the tournament, really, hasn't it? With the London Spirit men and underperformance, you would say that maybe when they're looking at recruiting, I think the Ovalinvincibles and the way that they go about setting their team up.

Team up is a blueprint for the men's game to have batters that just keep coming and coming and coming all the way down to number seven, number eight, and then wrist spin bowling as well are crucial elements to a good franchise team and the London spirit didn't have them. Yeah, and it's interesting listening to see how certain teams, for whatever reason, it's almost part of their makeup, they just seem to struggle and never seem to find the right formula, even if on paper, it all looks as though it should be going in the right direction.

Manchester Originals, says Carlos Brathaway. A little bit of a disappointment, perhaps. Well, with that line-up, you look at Butler, Salt, Klaus, and you look at the way that their batting line-up, as we say, the Ovalinvincipals, their batting line-up keeps coming. Yeah, maybe a touch disappointed not to make it to the latter stages, because on paper they look like a fairly good team as well. Yep, I think that's fair enough.

Daniel Norcross, with some specific names. Of course he does. Has he got that darkboard in his flat? Bunk, bunk. He has said... I bet none of them are from Surrey. You are correct. All right? Yeah, those are from the Birmingham Phoenix.

Actually, Georgia Vole, a lot talked about from her as an overseas signing for the Birmingham Phoenix. And the event didn't really do a huge amount, but that sometimes happens with younger players. And there'll be such expectation as well. Yeah, her first stint playing in the UK as well, it's completely different to playing in Australia, where she's played and grown up playing cricket. so you can sort of understand that, you know, it's not somewhere that's easy to play cricket, especially when you're on tired surfaces as well as we've had throughout the tournament. And I would also say she scored over 100 runs, and yet average of 13.87 isn't great, but it is more than Tammy Beaumont.

It's more than some quite big names. Amelia Kerr didn't quite do everything she should have done. Amy Jones had a poor tournament, the England player, and there'd been a number of. I'll tell you what is worrying. Go on. The fact that all, like, not all, but a lot of the England girls that are going over, over 50 over World Cup haven't done well in this hundred at all. No, it's an interesting one.

When you feel Charlotte Edwards wants her players to be dominating domestic cricket, that's got to include the hundred. Especially when Crossy's been dropped or Kate Cross has been dropped and she's been up there with the lead and wicket taker. Yeah. Mike Jocke and Haley Matthews with the bat hasn't been quite as good as... Does it just show how much the fire relied on her last year? Yeah, possibly. Yeah, perhaps that might be a fair point.

And Daniel's suggestion, yeah, George Revolves won the other name Jacob Bethel. I forgot who plays cricket. I feel for Jacob Bethel because he's barely picked up a battle summer it feels. It's been, it's been sort of interesting watching what has sometimes I felt has been quite gleeful celebrations when he's been dismissed. Have you felt that? What other, other players, other players.

Just as if some people, unless it's a little bit of sort of send-offs we've seen sort of now and again. Yep. But yeah, I just might be a perception from from watching from afar, but I have sort of felt that. Yeah, it's an interesting point. I can't say I've noticed it, but I don't think I was looking that closely. So I'm happy to accept it. But I hope he goes on to lead the team, you know, in those island matches very well.

But he will be coming in off not a great, you know, running the hundred. He took some took wickets, didn't he in the last, in the last. last outing having, you know, done very little with the bat, but he came back, took a few with the ball. But yeah, it's hope that hasn't sort of dented, you know, his confidence in any way, and that he turns up and, you know, he and he becomes the leader in the dressing room that clearly Brenda McCullum believes he is and has seen that in him. And the way he talks to groups is everything we hear that he has those leadership qualities. So I really hope that comes out and he has the respect of all his peers around him in that England room. Hugh Nightingale says,

The biggest disappointment is Jodie Grewcock being drafted by the Trent Rocket, his team, and then not really playing. Play the first couple of matches in the team. They lost those games, effectively out of the tournament before it started as well. So, yeah, there's another suggestion there. I might just throw in a sort of slightly more existential disappointment. And that is the, well, yeah, you know, the night closes in. The night closes in, and the rain falls.

At times, I still feel though we're into the fifth year, there are some that are desperate for the tournament to fail. Yeah, but they can get in the bin. If they want the tournament to fail, you only have to come and watch it. It's a success. I actually don't care about those people, because the tournament is a huge success,

especially for women's cricket, and you're always going to get haters. There are people that hate test cricket. It happens. It's a thing. I think we give these people too much airtime. Well, there are still people that don't love. 20 cricket as a format and I think the T20 Cup then became the blast and the BBL had launched and the IPL had launched and a decade in from when T20 cricket started in 2003

there were still people sort of talking about well T20 cricket you know it's it's here to stay like hang on it's what do you mean it's here to stay it has stayed it is here and it's into the future and this tournament is is now here and it is going into the future and it's not to dismiss some legitimate concerns about the impact on the wider domestic games which I do understand but I think that... It's also pumped a ton of money to all the other counties. Crucially it's going to be how that money is spent

because it's a one-off. You can't sell the family silver twice. Yeah, but there was one comment that frustrated me in particular and was a real disappointment of action that was when putting a picture up of 15,000 people at Lords for a women's domestic match

and some are replying well how much do they know about real domestic cricket and you think, well yeah, anyway, anyway, minor gripe. So what about just finally shot of the tournament and that could be somebody who plays a consistent shot

who has a bit of a trademark or it could be an individual moment well it's really hard to describe your shot of the tournament on air but mine was we've just seen Finney lean like a salad I'm going to stand up and do it

mine was Annabelle Sutherland against the Manchester original let me just pull my pants out right uncomfey Annabelle trousers you mean yeah trousers Sorry, the Northern, we go over with this, the Northern.

Or Australian. Annabelle Southern against DeAndre Dotting at Headingley the other day, just came down the pitch and just crunched her over the top with one hand and just watched the bat and just walked to the other end. It was so good and I was like, I would watch that over and over again. That was my favourite shot. Yeah, that's a lovely shout. Finney, my shot at the tournament is Harry Brooke scooping Tim Southie for six first ball.

as well. I'm going to have to go to my sorry, I'll go to my alternate. But the context within it is I know what it would have been like in the dressing room all summer because I spoke to Southie and he said he's been telling the players that he's just going to get them out all the time. He's like I'm going to blow your pad off. First ball in the hundred.

He actually ended up getting dropped. Exactly. And I know that people like Harry Brooke would have been saying back to him no, no pal. I'm going to be hitting you for six first ball and Harry Brooke did that. So for that for the dressing room camaraderie around it, all I pick that. Five needed to win. Superchargers, Graham Clark, smashing a six off the last ball of the match to beat Southern Brave. And it was his reaction afterwards, which I think was shock and elation. And that was pure gold. And I just love the fact that this tournament can give such a moment in the spotlight to, you know, one of those non-international plays, 32 years of age. And he has a moment like that. It was brilliant. Yeah, I agree with that. Uh, Brooks first ball ramp for six. And that is a, again, a, a, again, a, a, you know, a

Again, the suggestion, which is a popular one, that's from Daniel, and it's worth me mentioning because the only category is given us one option, so therefore he must be very certain about it. Fion says Phoebe Litchfield's reverse switch hit drive thing versus the Birmingham feeling. Drive thing. Yeah.

Michael Vaugh and Harry Brooke, yeah, Carlos Brathwaite says Phoebe Litchfield's switch hit straight drive. There's a lot of shot. I mean, I'd go there for Phoebe Litchfield's reverse hitting, because I think it's just been phenomenal fun. And, you know, we've seen some brilliant, brilliant ball striking about. I'm also going to chuck in the, I think it was 81 metres. Davina Perrin hit in the Eliminator game, a six over mid-wicket,

and then looking up to the box where the family and friends were celebrating, and she'd passed 50, and suddenly 100 felt like it could happen. As Alex crushes a can in the corner. Oh, it just happened. Okay, there you go. And so there we go. Some really lovely shouts there. So thank you to you guys for that.

He scored goals, lifted trophies and broken records along the way. There it is! It's a day to remember the Wayne Rooney! And now he's got a podcast. Welcome to The Wayne Rooney Show. Twice a week, Wayne Rooney, Kay Kerrude and me, Kelly Summers, break down the biggest stories in the Premier League and beyond. As much as you'd like to say it, loyalty in football now is no existence,

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