Test Match Special
No Balls: Time for the Hundred, baby!
It's time for The Hundred! Alex Hartley and Kate Cross preview the tournament, which begins this week.
Kate tells us about her excitement at joining up again with the Northern Superchargers and Alex has a new role for this year's competition.
The pair look at who the key players for each side could be, and who the main contenders for the women and men's titles are.
And we're joined by New Zealand international Lauren Down following the white-ball series against England. Lauren gives a fascinating insight into returning to international cricket just months after having her first child.
- Duration:
- 40m
- Broadcast on:
- 23 Jul 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
What's up, y'all? Janice Torres here. And I'm Austin Hankowitz. We're the hosts of Mind the Business, Small Business Success Stories, a podcast presented by iHeartRadio's Ruby Studios, and Intuit QuickBooks. Join us as we speak with small business owners about the tools they use to turn their ideas into success. From finding that initial spark of entrepreneurship, to organizing payments and invoices, we've got you covered. So follow and listen to Mind the Business, Small Business Success Stories on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. (upbeat music) - BBC sounds, music, radio, podcasts. - Hi everyone, we've got to let you know that we do sometimes swear on this podcast. - But don't let that put you off because Henry beeps them out, but we might sometimes say (beeping) - Shish kebab, flip it, heck. (beeping) That's a swear word. (laughs) (upbeat music) - Cross, number one round of wicked. - Oh, that's it. - Hold it. Hold it, moving up all alone, Nick's field. - Think it's the wobble ball, and it just nips back. It jags back, it's the nip backer. - That is a beauty from Cake Cross, and absolute seed, that is a beauty from Cross. (upbeat music) - Hello, and welcome back to no balls of cricket podcast with me, Alex Hartley, and you, Cake Cross. - Hi, how are you? I'm good, how are you? - I'm good, Al, I'm good. We've not forgotten about the pod this week, which feels like a huge positive. - It does, one second, just for the quality of the audio, I need to turn the icon off, don't I? - Of course. - So I'll fill everyone in while you're doing that. You've been off Galavant in on a little weekend break. I've also been off Galavant in, but not as exotically as you. - Right, the last time we did a podcast, you were going on holiday that day. - Yeah, I had to rush off. - You went a few days later, tell me why. - So, I'm gonna fly out on Tuesday, Wednesday, Wednesday night, not well, Wednesday night. - Sound like your dad. - I had to fly out Wednesday night, canceled. On our way to the airport, I had to turn around. So we tried to get another flight for Thursday, couldn't get one 'cause everyone had booked on to the ones on Thursday. We got on Friday night, no problem. Man, I got to watch the footy Wednesday night, so it was a small bonus. Gets Friday night on our way to the airport, pulling to the car park, flight canceled, crap. So then we tried to get another flight Saturday morning from Manchester, they've all been booked up, so we had to get a taxi to Liverpool, 50-pound Uber to Liverpool, get there. We got on our flight when we got to the South France. But I got there Saturday night, I was meant to be there Wednesday night. - That is such a shame, such a shame, 'cause you only have these small windows to actually go away, recharge, make that cup full. And by the time you were actually going to Liverpool airport, you and your mum and dad were like, is it even worth it? - Turns out four days with your mum and dad's fine. Absolutely, a good amount of time, didn't need much more. It was really hot, felt like I got a bit of a tan, read some books, so I was fine. - You did text me saying, going on holiday with your parents is like having two small children? - I guess I babysitting, like how did these two people at one point look after themselves and three children fly in round the world, anyway? - I don't know. - They are your parents? - They are, they are. - Yep. - Been away, enjoyed it, happy now, full cup, ready, ready, raring to go in the 100. - Yes, and I'm also the same, I've gallivanted, so I had loads of messages, so I popped to Dubai for the weekends, I went for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and it was amazing, like I loved it, and everyone was like, it's a long way to go for the weekend, I was like, hang on a minute, I drove to Brighton last week and it took me six and a half hours, it's shorter, and it's like to Dubai. - Not quite as expensive though, sorry, as in Brighton, it's not as expensive. - Well yeah, true, but my cup is full and well rested, it's the 100 baby. We've started in the 100, are you well before you tell me off and asking you? - I'm really well, and my cup is also really full. - We actually, we had a little text exchange, didn't we, 'cause we listened to last week's episode, and actually, it was quite funny, but something quite big had happened to you, and we were like, how has this become a funny episode? But you're well. - I was thinking, if my ex-boyfriend listens to that, he's like, this is exactly why I broke up with that. Anyway, enough about that, that was a while ago, so, Crossy, it's the 100, you are now in Leeds. - I mean, Leeds drove over Sunday night, we had a little team social last night, and do you know what the team social was? Tell me you're up north, without telling me you're up north, we had a few beers, and a Sunday roast, with proper Yorkshire puddings. - Yes, I thought you were gonna say pie and peas, but that's close enough. - Yorkshire pudds. So yeah, I had our first day training today, we're the last team to start, so superchargers starting Friday at home, head in lead to Trent Rockets, but it kicks off today, when this podcast comes out. - I am in London now, I am so nervous, I'm so ready. I've got a big job this summer, doing the 100, and tomorrow, Crossy, I've got some big interviews, and I'm really excited. - Go on, who are you interviewing now? - Cat Burns. - Yeah, nice. - JLS. - Tell, right, tell her each say, I think that's how you say his name, that I was his friend on Facebook, when I was like 13, 14 years old. I added him thinking he's never gonna accept me, and he did, and I was buzzing about it. - Okay, I will, I will. I've gotta do it well, 'cause I've only got one shot, so I've gotta make it count. - Yeah, only one, or got one, yeah, nice, nice. Try and get as many of those in as possible. - I might never get this moment again. - You might not. - But no, it's the 100, and honestly, Crossy, it's the best month of the year, isn't it? Like, you look glowing, and I'm guessing it's 'cause you've been out of a coffee with Holly Armitage, you've seen your friends, you're mixing with the boys, you're just having a great time. - Yeah, and we're gonna get people who are listening to this going, and the 100's not real cricket, whatever. I'm not gonna change your opinion. All I'm gonna say to those people this year is look at the players. Look at the people that come into the stadiums, and look how happy all those people are, and look how much the players are enjoying it, because if you've got players that are enjoying a tournament, that's great. That should sell it, don't I mean? - I don't think I've ever really met anyone that hasn't enjoyed it either. - No, not at all, but some people have obviously maybe thought the format was a bit random, which it is, it's new, it's different. But the actual tournament itself is so good, and it is my favourite month of the summer, except when the was the ashes last year, 'cause that was pretty cool. - Last year, you're driving to Head and Lead, you're anxious, you're nervous, you're joining a new team, you've been picked up for the top bracket in the auction, and you're like, oh my God, how did you feel driving over today? - Well, I think I'd text it to you, but I was genuinely excited. I have packed, you would think I'm going on a round-the-world trip for seven months, the amount of stuff I've brought over. I had my suitcase, my golf clubs, a travel bag, my cricket kit, I can't forget that. And then I brought laundry, I bought four days worth of laundry that I'm just getting through now, and I was just too giddy, and I got it all wrong, but I was just buzzing, genuinely buzzing. - I am going to come over and ride it, I've got to watch it. - Yes, yes, come over. And you'll see Haney as well at Trampbridge, Trent Rocket, sorry. - Yes, can I have a sleepover? - Yeah, of course you can. - Good, I just need somewhere to stay. - Yeah, of course, we've got Saturday off as well, so that'll be great. Right, flip it then, this time last year, you're driving to Wales, you've got your kit packed, you go and play in what might be your last tournament of your career, you don't know that for sure yet, but you're pretty confident it's probably going to be. This year, you're not involved in a playing capacity. How you feeling? - Weird. - Really, really weird. - Have you got FOMO? - Yeah, yeah, I've got some. - I thought you would. - Have I got FOMO? - Yeah, I have got a FOMO, but I'm also really, really comfortable in the fact that I'm not playing, and I'm super excited for this opportunity that I've got with BBC, which you'll all find out on Thursday, it's not been announced, so I can't say what it is, but I'm really excited for that, but also when you're seeing all your mates together every day, having fun, going out for tea, the Welshfire Girls went to a concert on Saturday night, and I got a text being like, "You're invited, are you coming?" Which was really sweet, I was like, "Sorry, I'm in, I'm in the vibe." - Of course. - And like I said to Breezy, our head coach, I was like, "I'm gonna be around as much as I can, "if that's okay." He's like, "Yeah, but just don't be in the dressing room "all the time." I was like, "Obviously not, I know my boundaries." And it's only been a few days, so I don't know how I feel, but all I do know is I'm glad I'm not playing, I just miss my friends. - Well last year, I remember people who listened to this all remember that you worked really hard going into that, didn't you? You'd done a lot of psych work on how to prep for it, 'cause you'd yipped up basically. - And they've come back? - Yeah, well that's why. That's why you're happy in your skin that you've retired, I think. - Yeah, I tried to dare tell the story on the podcast that we can be bowling in the street. - You know you're bowling in the beach? - No, well I bowled in the street last week. It was like midnight, it was quite late, and I picked up this ball that I found, and I bowled and he got stuck in my hand, I was like, "Yep, I'm glad I retired." There it is, there it is. So yeah, you've got a different job this year, but that'll all come clear. Very exciting for you. I wish you luck before people know what it is. Oh there's a little bit of mystery this week, isn't there? - Yeah, I'm nervous, cross here. - You'll be great, you'll be great. First one will be the toughest year and you'll be great. Anyway, I'll give it away. Preview, the 100, it's back. Every ball counts. - It does, every ball does count. Right, winners last year were? Southern brave and the women? - And over the invincibility balls in the men. You've not seen any of the teams, obviously, but who's winning this year? - Women? - Yeah. - Someone asked me this the other day at the test match. I can't say this because it's not a, what's the right word? It sounds really arrogant, but I think on paper, the superchargers have got a really balanced team. When I say we're gonna win it, I think we've got a balanced team. Over the invincibility balls look a very strong team again, and so do Welsh fire. And they were the three finalists. So that, oh no, overwork last year, but it does feel a bit of a cop out to say that two of the teams that made it through to the semi and the final. But I do think there's not been enough movement to change it all up massively. - Yeah, I agree. I think fire and not rockets and superchargers. - But brave always, brave up there all the time 'cause they know her to win. However, they've lost their captain, Anya. She retired if you remember at the end of last year. So I think that's gonna be a big hole for them to fill because she won them a lot of games tactically. Who's captaining them by the way? - George Adams. - Oh yeah, good captain to be fair. But I've said this before, I've said it after the draft. If you can get a battle come over in form, or one of you domestic players fires for two weeks, the winning of the tournament, 'cause that's the kind of game the 100 is, like it's taken away from you that quickly. So get thrown at your batter's coaches. - There's been a lot of movement in the men's and the women's game in the build up to the 100. There always, always is, but we've had some, I guess some people drop out. Is that the right injuries and things like that? - The week before, actually, is the most chaotic week. Everyone thinks that the draft's the big week, but it's not because obviously a lot changes in three, four months, people get injured, people circumstances change and they can't come over whatever. But if you remember this time last year, the superchargers who's week leading into the tournament was actually probably what helped us get through to the final 'cause we signed Phoebe Lichfield. - Yep. - And she came over in form and was ridiculous. Do you know what, I heard a stop today. - To your? - About Phoebs last year. She averaged more as a right-hander when she battered right-handed for us, you know, when she just randomly switched over and went to being a right-hander. She averaged more as a right-hander than any of our right-handed batters in the top seven. (laughs) Why is that? - Of course she did. - 'Cause she's an absolute freak. - Absolute gun. Anyway, go on, you've got some. So you update everyone on what's going on. - Yeah, you're one of the only teams actually that haven't had any dropouts or anything or any replacements or anything like that. You are the 15 that you started with. - Yeah. - So we're gonna go with, we're gonna start with Birmingham Phoenix. Elsa Lister, she's broken her foot, she's out, she's being replaced by Emma Jones. - Mehika Gore, she's done her side, hasn't she? - Hmm, that injury. - She's been replaced by Beth and Ellis. Sophie Molinew is out for Manchester Originals replaced by Kim Garth. I don't know what Molinew's done. - She's broken a rib, so she was doing like, rainshitting or something and a ball just hit her in the rib and broke it. So that's actually a huge, a huge misfer Manchester, I think, because she's a good all-rounder. Obviously got to play with her in the WPL at RCB this winter. And she also brings a lot to a dressing room, so I do think that that's gonna be quite a big miss for them. - Yeah, London Spirit, Noel Grace Harris, being replaced by Dick DeSharma, but who is temporarily being replaced by Erin Burns. - Because the Asia Cup is currently going on, so all the Indian players, Shirlan can players, Bangladesh players, I don't think there are any of those involved, but they all missed the first two games, I believe, maybe three. - Yeah. Over in Vince Ball's Natasha Farron. - Oh. - She's done a hammy. - I just read her Instagram before we came on this podcast, and I've never, my heart has never gone out to anyone as much. - I know, honestly I've devastated for her, I genuinely devastated for her. - Yeah. But she's come through a lot worse, obviously she had this major back surgery. What was it, about 12 months ago now? And she's back bowling, back playing cricket, was scoring hundreds at the top of the order for fun at the start of the summer. I've no doubt she'll come back better for it, but we just, we're sending another lot of love because it's crap being injured. - Yeah. They've got Laura Harris, who is temporarily replacing Chamorri Atapatou, who is also at the Asia Cup. I knew Laura was at the Oval, because I was still in the Welsh Fire chat, and we've just been bantering throughout the year, and I was like, "Oh, I'm gonna come watch a game." And she replied being like, "Can it be when you play the Oval?" So it's like something to tell me, honey. - Oh, she gave it away. She, it was a good, a really good replacement player. I learned the other week that if you are named as a marquee player, so which is, I've been named as the marquee player for superchargers, if I was to get injured, touch what I don't. But if I was, then they can replace me with an overseas player, which is kind of pointless, but not. But you couldn't still only play three overseas players in one game, so if that happened, then obviously an overseas player would have to sit out. - Welsh Fire, Claire Nicholas is out, wish her all the best, but Beth Langston has been kicked up. - Buzz in, again, Lang is Jesus. She's had so, so, so many injuries. She came back and played for the Diamonds a couple of weeks ago and took a six for, and apparently she was absolutely inundated with people saying, "Well done," 'cause everyone's desperate for it to get back on the park and do well. - Literally, one of the, her and Faz are like the two people that you're just like, "Just please don't get injured." - Yeah, yeah, but I got, honestly, I don't know how these girls have got the mental strength to keep coming, 'cause they're not small injuries, they're like big rehab, really diligence, like tough, tough stuff to come back from, and they've done so many of them, so that's, I think that's why our heart goes out to them a little bit more, isn't it? But anyway, Beth's back, which is great news, and she's been good in this opportunity, so hopefully she can stay injury-free and do well. Not too well against charges, though. - Onto the men's, yeah. - So the brave, they've got Charlie not in replace of Mandana just while she's at the age cup. The men, there's been so much movement in the men's crossing. - Yeah, this is always happened, though. - Yeah, Northern Superchargers, Brian and Carson, Daniel Sam's out, Jason Roy and Mitchell Santa in, I love Mitchell Santa, I call him Santa, I don't know why. - Santa Claus, good signings, though, is because, well, Daniel Sam's obviously a good all-rounder, but Mitch Santa has got so much experience in franchise cricket round, well, to be fair, so are Sam's, but Jason Roy, as well, wasn't picked up initially, was obviously big news and now gets another opportunity. So, I think he's in America at the minute. He's at the Major League, so I think he joins us on Thursday, possibly. - Well, he's at the first game. London's spirit, they've had no injuries, but temporary replacements. Zach Crawley, Ollie Pope out, Jimmy Neesham, Matthew Taylor in. - So Zach Crawley and Ollie Pope obviously got a test match to play, so all the England players are unavailable for the first three or four games, obviously, depending how you fix just fall. So Ben Stokes, as well, for us. He's not available for the first couple of games. - Birmingham Phoenix, Will Smeade and Nuzzim Shaw out. Lewis Kimber and Tim Salvi in. - Do you know what's good, though, this year? Sorry to interrupt while you're on roll. It feels like the England men are more interested in it this year. - Josh Butler's injured. - Easy. - Josh Butler's out for the whole tournament and might not be fit in September. - Gosh, that's a big miss. - Yeah, good. That's actually huge. - That's massive. - Trent Rocket's Joe Root Test duty, Riley Meredith in. I quite like my Riley Meredith. - Yes. Do you would have played with him over at Hurricanes, wouldn't you? - Yeah. - I know about Hurricanes. - Yeah, nice. Welsh Fire, Shaheen Shire-Friedi out, pulled out to go and play in the Canadian League, didn't he? - Right. - Then didn't get his NLC. So he's out the 100 and Matt Henry's in, who is one of the greatest teamers in the world. - 10 out of 10, Balter. We need to get him on the podcast, actually. He was, so I met him on a night out that we went on in Leeds. We finished in Leeds last year, didn't we? And we all went out and generally, the two teams do have a mix in the bar. So I was talking about him, we never met him. But I said, oh, like, no, Lucky Ferguson 'cause Matt Locky in first year of the 100 at Manchester. So we sent him a little picture saying like, where are you, why have you not come out? 'Cause Locky was also at Welsh Fire at the time, wasn't he? - Yeah. - That was the picture that I by mistake posted to my Instagram story live, the big one. Go in, why are you not out? Question, mark, question, mark. And it was just me and Matt. (laughing) - Matt Henry. (laughing) - I forgot about that. - I have never found it so much in my life. - I was like, quick screenshot that for a late late late. - Get rid, get rid, get rid. Ugh, anxiety. - Southern Brave, no changes, no nothing again. Manchester Originals, Josh Tong, Fred Classen out, got him for Fred Classen. - Fred. Also met him in Manchester, didn't we? But that is Scott Curry and Tom Aspin Walling. Do you know what? Tom Aspin Wall is a talent. He made his blast debut for Lancashire this year and he also made his character Champs debut and has done very, very well. - It's called Aspin Wall, I thought it was Aspin Hall. - No, there's a W in there, Al. - Wow, will I never? - Back, he came, he's just come back from a big back injury as well. So another one, you just want them to do well. - And he's a lanks boy, so we like the lanks boys. - And then over in Vince the Balls, Gus Atkinson test duty. Harrison Ward, don't know who you are, but good luck. Spencer Johnson, replays for Mohamed and Mia. - Why Spencer Johnson out? - Temporarily. - ML, the Major League, who's the over there? - Must be. - So, right, that was a lot. We've given you a lot of information there. I hope you kept up. But it just goes to show, doesn't it, that again, the drafts, everyone raves and like brilliant, I've had a good draft, but it's the week before, that's the big one. - Also, like with the women's game, we're getting the superstars over, like Meg Lanning's, your Elise Perry, Phoebe Litchfield's, Jamari Attepattu, Smitty Mandana, because the money's great in the women's game, in the men's game, they're not actually getting the superstars anymore, 'cause the money's not quite as good as going over to the MLC or going to the IPL. So, I think with, obviously the private investment coming in, things over the next few years are gonna change even more. - I think as well, this year, we've got basically a lot of the Aussie stars, 'cause Megan Shoe, I don't think we mentioned her, but she's replaced someone over as well. But the big, big names are coming over this year. You've got your Meg Lanning, Elise Perry, basically everyone other than Healy is coming over. - Yeah. - And that is gonna, like the tournament, I thought was brilliant last year. It's gonna be so much better this year, 'cause you've got genuine match winners that are coming over now. - Yeah, now it'd be good. And if we could get the men's game up to the same as the women's, then there could be one, the second best league in the world. - Which is the best. - IPL. - Most lucrative, doesn't necessarily make it the best. - I like it. - We all love it. We all love the IPL, we know that. We've done our 20 minutes. We've got a great, great, brilliant interview for you all to listen to. - Take it away. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (bell ringing) - Even when we're on a budget, we still deserve nice things. Quince is a place to scoop up stunning high-end goods for 50 to 80% less in similar brands. They have buttery soft cashmere sweater starting at $50, luxurious Italian leather bags, and so much more. Plus, Quince only works with factories that use safe ethical and responsible manufacturing. Get the high-end goods you'll love without the high price tag, with Quince. Go to quince.com/style for free shipping and 365 day returns. - Hey, I hear you think podcasts are all about true crime, huh? Well-wise guy, the iHeartRadio app's got all kinds of podcasts. We got stuff you should know and stuff they don't want you to know. We got Bobby Bones, Big Boy and Lou Lader. We got SpongeBob, binge pants, and exotic erotic story time. We got doe boys, two dudes in the kitchen, green eggs and Dan. Hey, we got ElfQuest. We got podcasts for everything on the iHeartRadio app for free. If you don't download that, well, that's not just a true crime, my friend. That's criminal. - So, I'm very, very excited. We've been threatening to have another guest on for a little while, and all the way from New Zealand, we've got Lauren down. Lauren, thank you so, so much for taking the time out of your day to speak to us. - No worries at all, thanks for having me, guys. - When did you get back home? - We have been home for about two weeks now, so it's taken, I think, every bit of those two weeks to adjust back to the museum. I'm after taking a six-month-old to the other side of the world, so there have been some sleepless nights, so it's felt like a very long two weeks, to be honest. - Lauren, for anybody that doesn't know, you've got a six-month-old, you've played international cricket, you've come back into the fold. - Having time, I guess you've been home for two weeks now, first and foremost, before we get into you, how did you find the New Zealand series? - Yeah, it was really nice being back on tour for one. It was obviously for us as a team, quite a challenging series, and results definitely didn't go the way that we would have hoped. But I think having been away from the group and then coming back in after sort of 12 months, it's been really exciting to see sort of the growth within the group and personal and individual games and how much people have improved and how hard everyone's been working. And I guess it's a shame that that hasn't sort of transferred to the field yet, but I think we're making good improvements in small areas. And hopefully, as a group, if we keep working hard, those results are gonna start to transfer and we're gonna start seeing them during the games. - So we, I mean, we are a cricket podcast, I say that very loosely, we're not mad into the cricket, but we wanted to kind of champion your story as being one of the few women that has played cricket, how to kid and then come back into international cricket. Like, was it always the plan to do it that way? Or as this happened, it's something that you've adapted to, but how did it all go? - I guess for me, like I knew that I always wanted to be a mum, and I obviously wanted to still play cricket and be in a female athlete. It's hard, you know, you have to take quite a significant time out of the game. And when you do fall pregnant, you know, there are a lot of unknowns will like, one, will I be healthy enough to come back and play again? And two, will the baby be healthy enough to allow me to sort of do that? So when we made the decision to try for a family, I knew there was a possibility that I might not be able to come back to cricket, but being a mum is something that I've always sort of wanted to do, and I'm fortunate sitting here now that it's all sort of worked out. You know, my recovery has gone really well to allow me to get back to play, and then she's really healthy, she's happy, and a good little baby. So it's meant that I can get back and sort of carry on living out my dream as well, which is cool. - Can we just name it before we keep calling off she? - Ruby. - Ruby, right Ruby. - Yeah, how was the recovery and coming back to sport? Did you come back quicker than you thought? Was it harder than you thought? Was it easier than you thought? - It was a real roller coaster, to be honest. My sort of goal from the outset was to get back as quick as I could, but coming back from obviously giving birth, I've never done it before. So I didn't really know what, you know, the time frames were gonna be like, and sort of my first meeting I had back with being our head coach. They, he sort of said, oh, like maybe next summer, you can sort of like cruise back into things this winter, and I kind of sat there and I was like, oh, I really actually want to be considered for the England series, and I think that kind of took on by surprise a little bit, 'cause it was only, it was gonna be yeah, five, six months postpartum. So that was always sort of my goal, and I just had no idea whether that was gonna be realistic or not. So I was pretty relaxed in terms of how it all went, and if I was, I would put my hand up and be considered then great, and if not, I was equally, you know, as okay with that. But like I think back to the first time I ran post birth, and it was one of the most experienced of my life. Like I, I literally run 100 meters down the road, and I stood at the end of the road, and I was like, I'm never gonna play cricket again, like this is horrendous. Everything just felt so different. Like I felt heavy and, oh, it was just terrible. But like, yeah, thinking back to that now, I could come a long, long way, and it was hard, and it was challenging. But I'm glad I sort of persevered with it, and being able to tour, and then play my first game back was the reward at the end of it. - Mate, honestly, I've got so much respect for you, having a child and coming back, because I obviously retired in August, and I tried to run the other day, and I was like, you 100 meters down the road, I was like, no, I'm just gonna be fat and happy. (laughs) - So I heard that from Aaron Brindle, I don't know if you'll remember Aaron, but she had a baby and came back to England cricket, and she said that, I think it was probably more that you run out of time, or your time is very limited when you become a mum. So she learned how to get in the gym and get out of the gym in 30 minutes, and was able to do everything at like higher intensity and higher speed, but I don't know whether that was like the super mum power, or just I have no time, I have to get this done. So there's no like, funnying around, basically. - It certainly makes you wonder what you did with your life before you had a child, and what did I waste my time doing? 'Cause it is, it's so busy, and we've actually ended up like, kitting out a little home gym, set up out in the garage there. So when she sleeps, because it's just literally like a 30 minute catnap at the moment during the day, as soon as you put it down, it's like, right, the clock starts, quickly run out to the garage, try and get some training done, and then come back, ready for her to wake up, so it's a bit heated. - What's the difference between international cricket pre-baby and post-baby? - I think, again, it's the time, you know, so I remember thinking, we spent our first week in Leicester, when we came over and toured, and we were there like a train. - Sorry about that. (laughing) - We love Leicester on the podcast, to be fair, we do really enjoy Leicester, but we are sorry about that. - You're the girls who said, how did England girls get Queenstown, and then we ended up with Leicester? (laughing) - That's a great point. - That's a fair point. - A great point. But anyway, great training facilities, so we were there for a week, and get on the bus, go to training, and then I have a bad net or something, I'll be sitting on the bus thinking about my batting, and you're like, oh man, it doesn't go very well, and then you get home, and then you just switch into my mode, and from kind of that point to when you head to training the next day, I almost didn't even think about cricket, and so that was like a real change for me, in terms of, I think, in a good and a bad way, you haven't got time to dwell on it. I get home, and Ruby couldn't care less that I didn't hit the ball out of the middle. All she wants to do is just hang out with me and play in that sort of thing. So I think that, and a lot of people I've heard talk about sort of, it puts things in perspective. You're not, I guess life is bigger than cricket, and there's more to life than cricket, and so I found that really helpful, and I guess as well, I felt very lucky to have my family on tour with me. A lot of the time as cricketers were traveling away from them, so to have Ruby, and then my partner, Carl, on tour as well, I was kind of living out my dream, but also having them with me. So that was actually quite a nice thing as well. - Obviously, you're still trying to play in, well, you're playing international cricket. There's still so much pressure that comes with that. How do you navigate having a small baby who doesn't sleep through the night, who, if you've got a game the next day, I don't know how you deal with that, 'cause if I don't get my six, well, I say six hours, I'm not doing my nine hours, if I don't get my nine hours, I'm fuming. - I'm glad you asked, actually, because the nights before a game were the best nights ever, because we had a sort of rule that Carl and Ruby would go into the next door, a joining room, and they would sleep in there, and so I would get close to a four night sleep as you could with a baby. And so I always look forward to the night before, 'cause I just kind of got to bed and I was like, yes, like, I'm off duty for the next eight, nine hours, and so that was really helpful, and it helped obviously get a little bit more sleep, 'cause as you say, if you're waking up, you know, two or three times during the night and it's not ideal preparation, and ultimately I am over there to play cricket and do a job there, so I wanna make sure that I can still perform well. So that was always nice, but the sight of Carl the next morning after being on night duty for one. Honestly, you wouldn't believe it, like, to the point where I'm asking the support staff for like his Carl, okay? Like, I saw him at breakfast, I saw him at the morning, like, one night. I'd have told him there was about, I'd have told him there was six more games scheduled that he didn't know about. (laughs) - Yeah, not a bad shout, actually, in future I might have to do that and just have one night to play. - Like coming over, obviously, playing for New Zealand with Ruby, when you weren't selected for games, did it give you a little bit more perspective than thinking this is the end of the world? I'm obviously not playing what I'm on tour, but I've also got Ruby with me. - Yeah, 100% and obviously with it being my first tour back, I kind of, I didn't really have too many expectations on what that was sort of gonna look like. You know, I knew taking time out of the game, people, you know, get better and better, my spot might not be there when I get back type things. So just to get selected to go on tour and just to be there training with the group and knowing that, you know, I was getting better and better each day, was a really cool thing. And I think it was something I spoke to the coach is about a lot me being on tour versus me training at home. I'm gonna get up to speed and, you know, get my fitness back and strength and get that skills back a whole lot quicker being on tour, working with the coaches. And so whilst, you know, I didn't play a couple of games, it was just nice being there back with the group and feeling a part of it again almost. - Right, we're very, very conscious that your time is very precious now, Lauren. So we're not gonna keep you for much longer. But if you had any advice for any female athlete out there who's thinking about starting a family whilst still being in the middle of their career, what would it be? And don't say don't have kids. - No, I wouldn't advise to not have kids. I think like coming back from tour and reflecting on what it was like, I'm not sitting here thinking God, I don't want to do that again. You know, that was way too hard. I just, yeah, I actually got asked this question a little while ago and I made a really terrible answer. So hopefully a bit of this time. But I think my advice is just if it's something that you want to do, then just go for it. Like the woman, the female body is so incredible and capable of so much and that's something I've learned sort of over the last 12 months. It's incredible what your body can do. And if you've got two passions, one being like a career and then one obviously being trying to be a mum, then I just say 100% go for it. If you've got a supportive network around you, which I'm really fortunate to have. And I've got a supportive partner when he's able to take time off work and come and look after Ruby while I do my thing. And if we've got family at home, it obviously makes it a whole lot easier. And so I'm very grateful for that. But it definitely is possible and you can make it work. And I'm certainly glad sitting here now that, yeah, I'm able to say that I've got a daughter and she's healthy and I can look after her and I am still able to go out and play cricket and carry out my dream. So just go for it, you know. Nailed it. And a super woman all in one. I also think as well though, like it probably don't get spoken about enough. But I feel like there's just never a right time to have a kid as though. Like whatever you're in, whether it's sport, business, if you're high-end, if you've just got a standard job, it always feels like there's never a good time. So I think it does just go to show that you can do it and actually women are so good at being able to multitask. So get it done. Yeah, you just end up making it work. Like there'll be tough times and challenging times and sleepless nights. But in the end, for me, it's all been worth it. She's a cool little girl and I'm getting to play cricket. So I can't complain too much. So you know how you came back from having the baby? Does that get treated almost like an injury? Is that the physio's way of looking at it that is so individualized? Or is the way that you come back from having a baby and get back into training? It was similar to an injury, to be honest. You know, I had like a return to play sort of program, which you do with an injury. And it's obviously a little bit trickier because not many people within New Zealand cricket, apart from, you know, Amy and I, myself, have come back. And so it's a little bit, the blind lead and the blind in a way where I'm trying to help them up with a plan as to what I think is best for me. And they're trying to do the same as well. So I worked a lot with a strength and conditioning coach who had worked with a post-partum athlete previously. So he had a bit of experience around that. I worked with a pelvic floor physio in terms of making sure. Very important. And I've noticed batters are the ones that go away and have babies. And you don't see many fast bowlers coming back from having babies because you will wet yourself at the crease. No, you will. And pelvic floor is very important. And I would have immense respect for any fast bowlers that can come back after having a baby. - Maybe I'll try it. I'll be the first one. - It would be very impressive to see you charging in and hit the crease hard. - We might not be on. - Thank you so much. - Honestly, you're amazing. - Ruby, do you want to see her? - Yes, yes, yes, please. I actually met Ruby at some service station. So we, I was in New Zealand, both seem like stocks at the same service station. And she literally does get passed around. So when I got them in their Mollie Penforth had her and was like bouncing around and keeping her happy. And then I come out and Milly Curves got over. And it must be so good having a baby on tour. - I think it's like dogs. Dogs are like therapy. Like when you're, you know, sad you got pet a dog. And then actually babies are 10 times better. - But babies are quite a lot of maintenance are like. - Yeah, I know. - Can't have a therapy baby. - Well, they've got one. - Yeah. - Oh, hello. - Hello. - Hello, Ruby. - Hi. - Aren't little girls just the cutest? - It's adorable. - Is she going to be left arm over? What we thinking? - Yeah, going left arm spin and probably 10 back for those. - Yeah. - Elite. - Oh, she's adorable. - She's like, who are these English people on the phone? - What's going on? - Why do they... - Oh bless you. - Yeah, honestly, Lauren, thanks so much for your time because I appreciate you've not got much of it now, so. - Where is it all my pleasure? - I know. Is it fun? - She's laughing. She knows she's going to ruin some night's sleeps for you. That's what she's thinking. - Lauren will let you go. Thank you so much for joining us and thank you for telling your story. - All right, thanks so much, guys. - No worries. - Thanks, Lauren. (upbeat music) (drum roll) - Honestly, Crossy, I couldn't have a baby. - Well, I couldn't 'cause I'd be (beep) myself live on telly-all. - Yeah, you would. And also for me, it's like the sleep. Like, and if I don't sleep, it's through my choice. It's 'cause I'm out. - Do you think it's one of them that when you have a kid, you just have to, 'cause you have to do, you just get over it. Whereas like, when you've got nothing to do and you're like, oh, I didn't sleep well last night, I'm tired, I'll have a nap. Like, do you know what I mean? Like, 'cause you can't, you do, so. - But you can't just go gallivanting to Dubai for the weekend. - Well, you can't, you'd have to take a baby with you on a seven-hour flight. - Hassel. - Not cool, but honestly, I feel like I didn't give her enough credit there. I tried to, but it's so empowering that she's done what she's done, she's come back to international cricket. Her daughter's gonna have an unbelievable lifestyle flying around the world, watching her play. - I know. - And it's just, it does genuinely make you feel like, I mean, we know that women are the best anyway, but, like, how good are we? Well, how good, Lauren, really, not us. - I mean, you're also great, sweetie. - Anyway, she's really well done. - All the mums out there, all the mums, all the mums to be, all the past mums, whatever, you're all great. - Happy Mother's Day. - Father's Day's on Sunday. - Remember everyone, if you wanna get in touch with those, you can email us on. - No ballspodcast@bbc.co.uk. - No balls podcast@bbc.co.uk, it's so good. - It's so good that it's wise. - Enjoy the 100, go well, Al. - New job, hope you enjoy. - You enjoy the 100. I'm so excited to see you. - I'll see you on Friday. - We're all. - Bye. (upbeat music) - Cross, I'm doing round the wicket. - Ah, that's cold air. Cold air, leaving a fall alone, nitchfield. - Think it's the wobble ball and it just nips back. It jags back, it's the nip backer. That is a beauty from K across an absolute seed. - That is a beauty from Kross. - This is the story of one of the biggest football clubs in the world, Paris Saint-Germain, and how two teammates became bitter enemies. - They spent holidays together. - Cara and Aminata was friends. - That rocked the club to its foundations and left lives, careers and reputations in ruins. - They want to stop my career. - The way the police is talking about her, it's absolutely shocking. - Join me, Maisie Adam, for sports strangest crimes of French football scandal. - Betray all plots. We've gone beyond women's football in France. - Listen, on BBC Sounds. - Hey, I hear you think podcasts are all about true crime, huh? Well, wise guy, the iHeartRadio app's got all kinds of podcasts. We got stuff you should know and stuff they don't want you to know. 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