Well, hello and welcome to another episode of Fox Crickets podcast, The follow On. I'm absolutely delighted to be joined today by Australian cricket captain Alyssa Heay, ahead of what shapes as a fantastic month of cricket to come, the old enemy England, the Ashes all on the line in Sydney, matches in Earth and finishing off with what will be the historic day night match at the MCG, a Test match at the MCG. Thanks so much for joining us, Alssa, pleasure to have you on. Thanks having me, It's really quite something to look forward to. We'll touch on sort of what's happened the last couple of series against New Zealand and India, England coming out, but a couple of just quick things. I was at a press conference a couple of days ago and at the front of the MCG you were speaking that the Australian squat had just been announced, a really good mix of new and old and some exciting talent across all levels. But you were standing in front of a gigantic pink balloon. Can you tell me about that and what that symbolized and had you ever been in a gigantic, big pink balloon before.

Well, hello and welcome to another episode of Fox Crickets podcast, The follow On. I'm absolutely delighted to be joined today by Australian cricket captain Alyssa Heay, ahead of what shapes as a fantastic month of cricket to come, the old enemy England, the Ashes all on the line in Sydney, matches in Earth and finishing off with what will be the historic day night match at the MCG, a Test match at the MCG. Thanks so much for joining us, Alssa, pleasure to have you on. Thanks having me, It's really quite something to look forward to. We'll touch on sort of what's happened the last couple of series against New Zealand and India, England coming out, but a couple of just quick things. I was at a press conference a couple of days ago and at the front of the MCG you were speaking that the Australian squat had just been announced, a really good mix of new and old and some exciting talent across all levels. But you were standing in front of a gigantic pink balloon. Can you tell me about that and what that symbolized and had you ever been in a gigantic, big pink balloon before.

I can totally say I've never been in a giant pink hot air balloon before. I have been in a hot air balloon, however, and it was an amazing experience. But I guess to see a giant cricker ball promoting the Women's Ashes sitting outside here outside the MCG for everyone to see. Kerry O'Keefe actually has told me that the last two mornings at five point thirty they've been up in the air and he's been blown away by it. So it's pretty cool. It's obviously a really unique marketing ploy, but I think it's sort of done the trick to make sure that everybody knows that we're going to be here at the MCG at January thirty for an Ashes test match, so it's it's exciting.

I can totally say I've never been in a giant pink hot air balloon before. I have been in a hot air balloon, however, and it was an amazing experience. But I guess to see a giant cricker ball promoting the Women's Ashes sitting outside here outside the MCG for everyone to see. Kerry O'Keefe actually has told me that the last two mornings at five point thirty they've been up in the air and he's been blown away by it. So it's pretty cool. It's obviously a really unique marketing ploy, but I think it's sort of done the trick to make sure that everybody knows that we're going to be here at the MCG at January thirty for an Ashes test match, so it's it's exciting.

I was on a hot air balloon across the Atenent table land so far North Queensland. Magnificent. But I remember having a couple of ups and down said early morning bumpy ride. How did you handle it? Where was yours? And how did you handle that? I suppose that initial surge when you take off.

I was on a hot air balloon across the Atenent table land so far North Queensland. Magnificent. But I remember having a couple of ups and down said early morning bumpy ride. How did you handle it? Where was yours? And how did you handle that? I suppose that initial surge when you take off.

Yeah, I actually I can't even remember where that hot balloon experience was but for those that haven't been online, it is a surreal experience where you kind of just like take off and then all of a sudden you're just floating and you look down over the basket and it feels like you're just on top of like a balcony somewhere, Like there's not really a heap of noise, it's quiet, it's still it's a surreal experience. So I can highly recommend it to people. And if it's a giant cricket ball even better.

Yeah, I actually I can't even remember where that hot balloon experience was but for those that haven't been online, it is a surreal experience where you kind of just like take off and then all of a sudden you're just floating and you look down over the basket and it feels like you're just on top of like a balcony somewhere, Like there's not really a heap of noise, it's quiet, it's still it's a surreal experience. So I can highly recommend it to people. And if it's a giant cricket ball even better.

Now we see that and obviously the reason for the giant pick balloon is that it's the day night Test that the MCG that's never been happened before. Symbolized is an anniversary of ninety years since the first Australia England Women's Test series. It's nineteen forty nine was the last time a Test match was played at the MCG for the Australian women. So it's a really bigger I suppose, a big occasion. There's been amazing attendances through the boxing day Test. At the moment against India, we're expecting a really really good crowd again for that day night Test. I think it starts on the Thurst A and it goes all the way through to the some of the tail end of the Austrain open. But listening do you speak the other day you talked about how great an event city Melbun was. You played that amazing World Cup final here a few years ago. I was sitting in the stands in the eighty six and a half thousand people. It was just a fantastic mention.

Now we see that and obviously the reason for the giant pick balloon is that it's the day night Test that the MCG that's never been happened before. Symbolized is an anniversary of ninety years since the first Australia England Women's Test series. It's nineteen forty nine was the last time a Test match was played at the MCG for the Australian women. So it's a really bigger I suppose, a big occasion. There's been amazing attendances through the boxing day Test. At the moment against India, we're expecting a really really good crowd again for that day night Test. I think it starts on the Thurst A and it goes all the way through to the some of the tail end of the Austrain open. But listening do you speak the other day you talked about how great an event city Melbun was. You played that amazing World Cup final here a few years ago. I was sitting in the stands in the eighty six and a half thousand people. It was just a fantastic mention.

In twenty twenty, what.

In twenty twenty, what.

Is it that makes the MCG a special place for it and how much are you looking forward to that day night test? Yeah?

Is it that makes the MCG a special place for it and how much are you looking forward to that day night test? Yeah?

I think obviously the way that our Ashes series has set up, there's white ball games beforehand and it could eventuate it or come down to the test much to try and retain for us retaining the trophy, or for England to win the Ashes trophy off us. So that kind of adds a little extra excitement to it, a little extra spice as well. But I feel like at the MCG it sort of seems like, as much as I love Sydney, it just seems like the sporting mecca down here. I mean, it feels like when you're in town, all the roads seem to lead to the mcg you walk past the tennis center, you've got the footy codes just across the road. This whole precinct in general is where people come to watch sport, and I think the Melbourne fans in particular absolutely love their sport. They don't really care who's playing and what sport it is. They come here and they turn out in droves to watch, so we're kind of banking on that. Obviously, last time we were in England playing the Ashes series over there, the crowds are quite hostile. Obviously we're playing alongside the man at that stage as well, and it got even more spicy towards the back end. So for us, it's kind of a cool opportunity, as I was he sporting fans to come out and support our teams and kind of reassure them that they've got our back as well, knowing, you know, some of the things that the circumstances we're playing around the world. But yeah, Melbourne fans turn out. They turn up week after week at the footy ground here and hopefully we've seen this boxing day test, we've seen over two hundred and fifty thousand people already through the gates over four days, so for us, it's just a cool opportunity to play in front of through sporting fans and hopefully they enjoyed the event as well, because yes it's about the cricket, Yes it's about the ashes, but it's also an event in general, which is cool.

I think obviously the way that our Ashes series has set up, there's white ball games beforehand and it could eventuate it or come down to the test much to try and retain for us retaining the trophy, or for England to win the Ashes trophy off us. So that kind of adds a little extra excitement to it, a little extra spice as well. But I feel like at the MCG it sort of seems like, as much as I love Sydney, it just seems like the sporting mecca down here. I mean, it feels like when you're in town, all the roads seem to lead to the mcg you walk past the tennis center, you've got the footy codes just across the road. This whole precinct in general is where people come to watch sport, and I think the Melbourne fans in particular absolutely love their sport. They don't really care who's playing and what sport it is. They come here and they turn out in droves to watch, so we're kind of banking on that. Obviously, last time we were in England playing the Ashes series over there, the crowds are quite hostile. Obviously we're playing alongside the man at that stage as well, and it got even more spicy towards the back end. So for us, it's kind of a cool opportunity, as I was he sporting fans to come out and support our teams and kind of reassure them that they've got our back as well, knowing, you know, some of the things that the circumstances we're playing around the world. But yeah, Melbourne fans turn out. They turn up week after week at the footy ground here and hopefully we've seen this boxing day test, we've seen over two hundred and fifty thousand people already through the gates over four days, so for us, it's just a cool opportunity to play in front of through sporting fans and hopefully they enjoyed the event as well, because yes it's about the cricket, Yes it's about the ashes, but it's also an event in general, which is cool.

You touched on that in that conference when it's the team that what you love about coming down is you can play some golf courses as well. Now it's the tail end of the Australian Open, it's on the Saturday and Sunday. It's three years since Ashparti, who was a very keen cricketer as well and loves us for I'm sure should be tuning in from at Loungerom and Brisbane at the tail end for the Tests of the day night Test. But being able to get down here, fans can probably get along and watch them tennis lab at the tournament, get to a couple of great golf courses, go to the place some golf in the morning, get to the tests in the afternoon. There's also I think a really important match Afghanistan planning against a team of refugees without teams without borders at the Junction Oval as well, so it's a real celebration of women's cricket through those four or five days. But to the golf, what's your favorite course? Where have you mastered and what sort of had it sunken steep into your game? What course has proven too good for you? And where do you reckon you've had the upper hand.

You touched on that in that conference when it's the team that what you love about coming down is you can play some golf courses as well. Now it's the tail end of the Australian Open, it's on the Saturday and Sunday. It's three years since Ashparti, who was a very keen cricketer as well and loves us for I'm sure should be tuning in from at Loungerom and Brisbane at the tail end for the Tests of the day night Test. But being able to get down here, fans can probably get along and watch them tennis lab at the tournament, get to a couple of great golf courses, go to the place some golf in the morning, get to the tests in the afternoon. There's also I think a really important match Afghanistan planning against a team of refugees without teams without borders at the Junction Oval as well, so it's a real celebration of women's cricket through those four or five days. But to the golf, what's your favorite course? Where have you mastered and what sort of had it sunken steep into your game? What course has proven too good for you? And where do you reckon you've had the upper hand.

Well, it's funny you say that, because I feel like I should be running a tour company, because that's how I've been selling it at to run back in Sydney, come down and watch the last week of the Aussie Open, stay the week in between, play all the beautiful courses along the sand belt, or go even further further south and play down on the Peninsula and then come to the Test match. So Alica Hilly Tour Company will be up and running shortly, I think, after selling a few tickets that way. But I think you can't go past the stand belt that you have been lucky enough to play a heap of them. Peninsula Kingswood North Course is still by far the top of my list. Royal Melbourne I found really tough, probably influenced me to not enjoy it as much. But yeah, every time we come down we try and play PK as much as we possibly can, because we absolutely love it. The crew there as well. I love their cricket and love hosting us, which makes it even better. But that North Course is something really special down here in Melbourne.

Well, it's funny you say that, because I feel like I should be running a tour company, because that's how I've been selling it at to run back in Sydney, come down and watch the last week of the Aussie Open, stay the week in between, play all the beautiful courses along the sand belt, or go even further further south and play down on the Peninsula and then come to the Test match. So Alica Hilly Tour Company will be up and running shortly, I think, after selling a few tickets that way. But I think you can't go past the stand belt that you have been lucky enough to play a heap of them. Peninsula Kingswood North Course is still by far the top of my list. Royal Melbourne I found really tough, probably influenced me to not enjoy it as much. But yeah, every time we come down we try and play PK as much as we possibly can, because we absolutely love it. The crew there as well. I love their cricket and love hosting us, which makes it even better. But that North Course is something really special down here in Melbourne.

Just having had the fortune of I remember watching Tiger Woods and a couple of presidents Cups down here and the way he dissected Royal Melbourne. It just that it's almost like you're watching someone and say a day for picture. Hopefully, hopefully it's very valuable when you come to play here, but you know with the different the cracks or the scenes or what's actually moving on the moments outside the rough Royal moment has its own tricks like that as well, in terms of which way you have to approach the pins and the side of the fair way you need to go to. It's be a challenging game, a very technical game, yeah it is.

Just having had the fortune of I remember watching Tiger Woods and a couple of presidents Cups down here and the way he dissected Royal Melbourne. It just that it's almost like you're watching someone and say a day for picture. Hopefully, hopefully it's very valuable when you come to play here, but you know with the different the cracks or the scenes or what's actually moving on the moments outside the rough Royal moment has its own tricks like that as well, in terms of which way you have to approach the pins and the side of the fair way you need to go to. It's be a challenging game, a very technical game, yeah it is.

And I think I summed it up earlier as Funnily enough, I think every crehater is crazy and instead of enjoying our days off sitting by Paul or doing something fun with families, we choose to test ourselves on a golf course instead, And I think that just doubles down the fact that we are all a little bit mad up top and enjoy the competition outside of actually just playing cricket every other day. But yeah, Royal Melbourne's lovely and like you said, I came down for the President's Cup and watched the pros go about it and obviously playing the composite course, but having the opportunity then to play to play the course. After that, I was thinking about, you know, where they were landing it and where I was landing it, and how their balls were staying on the ground of mine. We're kissing off the back. So it's just a whole new challenge and something that I enjoy doing away from the game of cricket. It's just staying active, getting out in the sunshine and sort of testing yourself at another skill, which is fun.

And I think I summed it up earlier as Funnily enough, I think every crehater is crazy and instead of enjoying our days off sitting by Paul or doing something fun with families, we choose to test ourselves on a golf course instead, And I think that just doubles down the fact that we are all a little bit mad up top and enjoy the competition outside of actually just playing cricket every other day. But yeah, Royal Melbourne's lovely and like you said, I came down for the President's Cup and watched the pros go about it and obviously playing the composite course, but having the opportunity then to play to play the course. After that, I was thinking about, you know, where they were landing it and where I was landing it, and how their balls were staying on the ground of mine. We're kissing off the back. So it's just a whole new challenge and something that I enjoy doing away from the game of cricket. It's just staying active, getting out in the sunshine and sort of testing yourself at another skill, which is fun.

Who's at the upper hand your mitch on the golf course.

Who's at the upper hand your mitch on the golf course.

It's t for tat at the moment. Actually, I think this has been the closest year of the Steely Cup that we play through a trophy every year, and I think this has been the closest one and I don't think we'll get another game before the end of the year, which means I think my five points ahead might mean that I retained the cup, so I'm pretty happy about that, but actually very evenly matched combination. I think if he gets it together on the greens, he's hard to beat.

It's t for tat at the moment. Actually, I think this has been the closest year of the Steely Cup that we play through a trophy every year, and I think this has been the closest one and I don't think we'll get another game before the end of the year, which means I think my five points ahead might mean that I retained the cup, so I'm pretty happy about that, but actually very evenly matched combination. I think if he gets it together on the greens, he's hard to beat.

That's a superb So that's something we're celebrating absolutely at the end of the year. Now you've you've been in Melbourne, you've been part of the Fox Cricket commentary team over the last week. A couple of queries just about that. How hard is it to keep a straight face alongside Garry O'Keeffe.

That's a superb So that's something we're celebrating absolutely at the end of the year. Now you've you've been in Melbourne, you've been part of the Fox Cricket commentary team over the last week. A couple of queries just about that. How hard is it to keep a straight face alongside Garry O'Keeffe.

It's very hard, and I think you're just better off rolling with it and enjoying the laughter with him. I think once it hits sort of two o'clock in the day he's been sitting there watching all day, he goes even more loopy and he comes out with some unreal stuff. But I think his knowledge of the game, more so than anything else, is just something really admirable. And I find myself sitting there just listening to the amazing voices that Fox have got in the commentary box. I'm very lucky to be given some opportunities to learn and sort of get an opportunity to sit there and most importantly and watch and talk about the game itself, but to learn off some of the brains in that commentary box is something really cool. But yeah, Kerry is by far one in a million, and I hope, I hope he continues it right throughout the summer.

It's very hard, and I think you're just better off rolling with it and enjoying the laughter with him. I think once it hits sort of two o'clock in the day he's been sitting there watching all day, he goes even more loopy and he comes out with some unreal stuff. But I think his knowledge of the game, more so than anything else, is just something really admirable. And I find myself sitting there just listening to the amazing voices that Fox have got in the commentary box. I'm very lucky to be given some opportunities to learn and sort of get an opportunity to sit there and most importantly and watch and talk about the game itself, but to learn off some of the brains in that commentary box is something really cool. But yeah, Kerry is by far one in a million, and I hope, I hope he continues it right throughout the summer.

And just I had to check to Alan Board at the start of the summer and he talked about technology and the advances in technology and how much you know when he was captain in the Australian teams, you would make decisions based on some gut feel and you know or your prior knowledge of coming up against players and what you thought might work in terms of field placements. Even this year the phenomenal I suppose increase in terms of the technology available. You see the fox alo, when you see the different methods, even this week a couple of new sort of I suppose more detailed examinations of deliveries and how bold is like jasper formeran there's a fantastic feature at the moment. As a captain, as a broadcaster and also a cap how has that changed your I suppose your view of the game. Do you delve into the stats? Are you someone that really likes to delve in and get that information or having played I supposely first I think ODII and Frustrabers in twenty ten. You played a debut testing as England in twenty eleven. Are you someone that relies on your own instinct as much as a statistical thing or has it just changed a bit over the years.

And just I had to check to Alan Board at the start of the summer and he talked about technology and the advances in technology and how much you know when he was captain in the Australian teams, you would make decisions based on some gut feel and you know or your prior knowledge of coming up against players and what you thought might work in terms of field placements. Even this year the phenomenal I suppose increase in terms of the technology available. You see the fox alo, when you see the different methods, even this week a couple of new sort of I suppose more detailed examinations of deliveries and how bold is like jasper formeran there's a fantastic feature at the moment. As a captain, as a broadcaster and also a cap how has that changed your I suppose your view of the game. Do you delve into the stats? Are you someone that really likes to delve in and get that information or having played I supposely first I think ODII and Frustrabers in twenty ten. You played a debut testing as England in twenty eleven. Are you someone that relies on your own instinct as much as a statistical thing or has it just changed a bit over the years.

I think with so much cricket happening around the world, and so much war analysis and statistics available to individuals but also teams as well in every format, I think you'd be mad not to incorporate it in some way into your tactics or your planning. I think for me, having that level of detail available is always really cool, and you can really dive into matchups. You know who bowls best against a certain batterer, who we can sort of target potentially from a batting lineup. You know what our strengths are compared to the opposition, So I think you'd be bad, mad not to look at those and individually as well, look at you know where your worst maptop is as well, who's the biggest threat to you and how you can counter that. But I think there's still a huge element of gut feel out there on the field, especially in Test cricket. You can get a sense of exactly where the games at, how it's flowing, and what we need to do to change the tone of the game or the swing the momentum back in our favor. So there's still, I think, a really nice balance in that regard. But I definitely think you're crazy if you're not, you know, even just looking at those statistics and the analytics behind the game, because there are there are so many and they have been for a long period of time. But I think with the technology available now you can dive even deeper and work out some plans and some ways to target opposition players, which is important.

I think with so much cricket happening around the world, and so much war analysis and statistics available to individuals but also teams as well in every format, I think you'd be mad not to incorporate it in some way into your tactics or your planning. I think for me, having that level of detail available is always really cool, and you can really dive into matchups. You know who bowls best against a certain batterer, who we can sort of target potentially from a batting lineup. You know what our strengths are compared to the opposition, So I think you'd be bad, mad not to look at those and individually as well, look at you know where your worst maptop is as well, who's the biggest threat to you and how you can counter that. But I think there's still a huge element of gut feel out there on the field, especially in Test cricket. You can get a sense of exactly where the games at, how it's flowing, and what we need to do to change the tone of the game or the swing the momentum back in our favor. So there's still, I think, a really nice balance in that regard. But I definitely think you're crazy if you're not, you know, even just looking at those statistics and the analytics behind the game, because there are there are so many and they have been for a long period of time. But I think with the technology available now you can dive even deeper and work out some plans and some ways to target opposition players, which is important.

How did you handle not playing in that three test, sorry three three mad series inas India at the start of the month. Was it frustrating, was it difficult for you to sit there or was there an acceptance because it's been a really busy three months already for our top crickets with obviously the World Cup and then into the WBBL League which was sort of amazing sort of deeds, individual deeds and some great team performances through there, but into India, across the New Zealand and now back and preparing for the pinnacle of the summer and Ashes series. How did you handle firstly sidelines and what have you've done to get yourself right for the summer ahead.

How did you handle not playing in that three test, sorry three three mad series inas India at the start of the month. Was it frustrating, was it difficult for you to sit there or was there an acceptance because it's been a really busy three months already for our top crickets with obviously the World Cup and then into the WBBL League which was sort of amazing sort of deeds, individual deeds and some great team performances through there, but into India, across the New Zealand and now back and preparing for the pinnacle of the summer and Ashes series. How did you handle firstly sidelines and what have you've done to get yourself right for the summer ahead.

Yeah, I think traditionally I've not had to miss a lot of cricket throughout my career due to injuries. So it was a bit of a weird couple of months sort of watching that unfold. Obviously watching the semi final unfold in the World Cup, not being able to be out there with your mates trying to help in any way, shape or form. Not suggesting that I would have helped at any point, but just the fact that you feel like you're a little helpless. They kind of shifted in the India series. Obviously knew that that was going to be a really tough stretch to get back on the park for that series, and was just even New Zealand was a little bit of a stretch, so to be to get there and partake was cool. But yeah, I actually didn't mind watching in Brisbane. I think this whole summer has felt almost just like a changing of the guard. I mean, the WBBL just felt like not that it had passed us, but it was almost so much more about the young the young players on show and what they were doing, you know, the likes of Georgia Vole having an amazing season, febe Lydgefield captaining the Thunder, Annabelle Southerland captaining the Stars. It was almost like the next generation we're taking over. And as a as an older player and at the back end of my career, that was just an amazing thing to watch unfold and be a part of and kind of just accept that and enjoy it. So that was the same in the Indian series. I was almost like a proud auntie, just like watching the next gen go out there do their thing and do it better than what I what I could if I came back into the side. So yeah, thoroughly enjoyable and it just it just screams to me that the depth in Australian cricket we've we've got it. It's there. We just need to keep trying to get give opportunities to these young players to get out there and show what they can do and make sure that a strain and crickets strong for another ten years.

Yeah, I think traditionally I've not had to miss a lot of cricket throughout my career due to injuries. So it was a bit of a weird couple of months sort of watching that unfold. Obviously watching the semi final unfold in the World Cup, not being able to be out there with your mates trying to help in any way, shape or form. Not suggesting that I would have helped at any point, but just the fact that you feel like you're a little helpless. They kind of shifted in the India series. Obviously knew that that was going to be a really tough stretch to get back on the park for that series, and was just even New Zealand was a little bit of a stretch, so to be to get there and partake was cool. But yeah, I actually didn't mind watching in Brisbane. I think this whole summer has felt almost just like a changing of the guard. I mean, the WBBL just felt like not that it had passed us, but it was almost so much more about the young the young players on show and what they were doing, you know, the likes of Georgia Vole having an amazing season, febe Lydgefield captaining the Thunder, Annabelle Southerland captaining the Stars. It was almost like the next generation we're taking over. And as a as an older player and at the back end of my career, that was just an amazing thing to watch unfold and be a part of and kind of just accept that and enjoy it. So that was the same in the Indian series. I was almost like a proud auntie, just like watching the next gen go out there do their thing and do it better than what I what I could if I came back into the side. So yeah, thoroughly enjoyable and it just it just screams to me that the depth in Australian cricket we've we've got it. It's there. We just need to keep trying to get give opportunities to these young players to get out there and show what they can do and make sure that a strain and crickets strong for another ten years.

Well, we saw Sam Conscious debut here with great distinction towards Georgia Bowl in those matches in Queensland, and she didn't play in New Zealand because you were back. But I had a chuckle the other day when you said, these young people are keeping you on your toes. You've got to perform as a captain to make sure you keep your spoke. But someone like the Georgia what is she? What is she brought to the team and does she have her is Sam concious and next Georgia ball or from people? Isn't that the way you say them? What does she do?

Well, we saw Sam Conscious debut here with great distinction towards Georgia Bowl in those matches in Queensland, and she didn't play in New Zealand because you were back. But I had a chuckle the other day when you said, these young people are keeping you on your toes. You've got to perform as a captain to make sure you keep your spoke. But someone like the Georgia what is she? What is she brought to the team and does she have her is Sam concious and next Georgia ball or from people? Isn't that the way you say them? What does she do?

Very different people? I will start I will start off that. But she just brings some real stability and consistency, it feels. And that's exactly why the WBBL is such an amazing breeding ground for our young players, is that we've picked her on the back of some form in the WBBL. She was comfortable with the way she was hitting the ball, the way she could contribute, and you get her into the site and you hope that we've got an accepting culture within our group that will encourage her to just be Georgia vol when she goes out there and players, we're not asking her to be anybody else. So, yeah, that's been really exciting to see. She's obviously been on the radar for a long period of time and we knew one day that she would play for Australia. It was just a matter of, you know, when we felt Ada was opportunity, but also when she was ready and to be able to pick her off the back of form I think was not only great for us but great for her to have that confidence.

Very different people? I will start I will start off that. But she just brings some real stability and consistency, it feels. And that's exactly why the WBBL is such an amazing breeding ground for our young players, is that we've picked her on the back of some form in the WBBL. She was comfortable with the way she was hitting the ball, the way she could contribute, and you get her into the site and you hope that we've got an accepting culture within our group that will encourage her to just be Georgia vol when she goes out there and players, we're not asking her to be anybody else. So, yeah, that's been really exciting to see. She's obviously been on the radar for a long period of time and we knew one day that she would play for Australia. It was just a matter of, you know, when we felt Ada was opportunity, but also when she was ready and to be able to pick her off the back of form I think was not only great for us but great for her to have that confidence.

Coming in in New Zealand, we sign a bell suddenly do make a couple of extraordinary performances with the bat. What does she bring it? And also you talk about a couple of the newcomers, she's not so much a newcomer, but well Number feeding for example, who's been playing great cricket. It's almost like a beautiful balance of champion cricketers and the next generation coming through it. You've got to it seems like you've got a really nice mix at the moment.

Coming in in New Zealand, we sign a bell suddenly do make a couple of extraordinary performances with the bat. What does she bring it? And also you talk about a couple of the newcomers, she's not so much a newcomer, but well Number feeding for example, who's been playing great cricket. It's almost like a beautiful balance of champion cricketers and the next generation coming through it. You've got to it seems like you've got a really nice mix at the moment.

Yeah, we do. And that's kind of our role as senior players within the group is the nurture that a little bit. And I think I guess the benefit of having experience at the international level for as long as a couple of us have, it's the ability to talk through problems and help them problem solve in what they're going through. You know, early in their careers. But with regards to Belsie, I think, well, no, unbelievable talent. It's been touted for a while. I think at least Perry maybe said that about ten years ago that you know, Annabelle Sutherland was going to be the next big thing, and we've already seen it. I think she's got the same amount of international centuries at twenty three as the great Elise Perry will go down as one of the greatest two have ever played the game. So that's scary. But also I think the maturity on such a young on a young head and the commitment to wanting to get better every day and be, you know, the best player in the world, I think is really admirable. And like I said, it's just for us to be able to create that culture for them to come in feel comfortable first and foremost, but then know that they're they're valued and that they can contribute. And Belzy just continues to push her case to keep batting up the order, keep bowling as many os as what she can, and I think balancing that for her moving forward will be important. But she's in a great place and hopefully we can maintain that throughout the summer.

Yeah, we do. And that's kind of our role as senior players within the group is the nurture that a little bit. And I think I guess the benefit of having experience at the international level for as long as a couple of us have, it's the ability to talk through problems and help them problem solve in what they're going through. You know, early in their careers. But with regards to Belsie, I think, well, no, unbelievable talent. It's been touted for a while. I think at least Perry maybe said that about ten years ago that you know, Annabelle Sutherland was going to be the next big thing, and we've already seen it. I think she's got the same amount of international centuries at twenty three as the great Elise Perry will go down as one of the greatest two have ever played the game. So that's scary. But also I think the maturity on such a young on a young head and the commitment to wanting to get better every day and be, you know, the best player in the world, I think is really admirable. And like I said, it's just for us to be able to create that culture for them to come in feel comfortable first and foremost, but then know that they're they're valued and that they can contribute. And Belzy just continues to push her case to keep batting up the order, keep bowling as many os as what she can, and I think balancing that for her moving forward will be important. But she's in a great place and hopefully we can maintain that throughout the summer.

The challenge to come. England went to South Africa, performed well of play the test. You had that great test. It's back to twenty twenty three, which is almost you know, we can almost say two years, but you know, quite it feels like quite a while ago that that test happened. What have you seen from them? What sort of threat? And I suppose the other part of the question is I spoke to Mel Jones on this podcast, a former Australian cricketer, a Fox Cricket broadcaster as well, about the Australia India versus Australia and the Ashes and in the means you see, you know, it seems very much almost similar. But Mel was absolutely adamant that the Ashes is still the number one in the women's hope. She can see things changing in terms of Australia in your in terms of growing and growing and growing, but it's clearly still the plinnical look the cricket for yourself and the team, Yeah.

The challenge to come. England went to South Africa, performed well of play the test. You had that great test. It's back to twenty twenty three, which is almost you know, we can almost say two years, but you know, quite it feels like quite a while ago that that test happened. What have you seen from them? What sort of threat? And I suppose the other part of the question is I spoke to Mel Jones on this podcast, a former Australian cricketer, a Fox Cricket broadcaster as well, about the Australia India versus Australia and the Ashes and in the means you see, you know, it seems very much almost similar. But Mel was absolutely adamant that the Ashes is still the number one in the women's hope. She can see things changing in terms of Australia in your in terms of growing and growing and growing, but it's clearly still the plinnical look the cricket for yourself and the team, Yeah.

It is and I think it's probably got a special place in our heart in that, you know, it was the only opportunity we got to play test cricket. So now we're getting more and more opportunities, but the Ashes still holds that place in our heart to go, yes, this is still this is where we want to be and this is what we want to We want to win more than anything else. But yeah, with regards to the England team, obviously they've had a really busy schedule as well, which you know, I think gives them some confidence coming into this series. And I think the real threat in my eyes for them is, you know, their inconsistency and their consistency. I think you know what you're going to get from the heather Nights, the Natsuma, Bronts, Sophie Ecleston's, you know they're going to be, you know, world class match winners, but it's sort of it's the players around them at the moment that are really exciting, really damaging and sort of play inconsistent roles at times but can take the game away from you at any point. And I think that's really dangerous in the white ball formats, and we know we're going to have to be on from that first game January twelve to get on top and then hopefully swing the momentum in our favor early. But they're a really exciting young cricket team with some with some old stages, sort of like we've got that have been consistent in the international game for a long period of time. And so I think I mentioned it last time we played over in England. I think it rings true this summer as well. Is it it's almost the young players that are going to win the Ashes series for either side because you know what you're going to get from the consistent players within both sides.

It is and I think it's probably got a special place in our heart in that, you know, it was the only opportunity we got to play test cricket. So now we're getting more and more opportunities, but the Ashes still holds that place in our heart to go, yes, this is still this is where we want to be and this is what we want to We want to win more than anything else. But yeah, with regards to the England team, obviously they've had a really busy schedule as well, which you know, I think gives them some confidence coming into this series. And I think the real threat in my eyes for them is, you know, their inconsistency and their consistency. I think you know what you're going to get from the heather Nights, the Natsuma, Bronts, Sophie Ecleston's, you know they're going to be, you know, world class match winners, but it's sort of it's the players around them at the moment that are really exciting, really damaging and sort of play inconsistent roles at times but can take the game away from you at any point. And I think that's really dangerous in the white ball formats, and we know we're going to have to be on from that first game January twelve to get on top and then hopefully swing the momentum in our favor early. But they're a really exciting young cricket team with some with some old stages, sort of like we've got that have been consistent in the international game for a long period of time. And so I think I mentioned it last time we played over in England. I think it rings true this summer as well. Is it it's almost the young players that are going to win the Ashes series for either side because you know what you're going to get from the consistent players within both sides.

It starts with we've got nod I series January twelve. It starts there's three matches that week that we've got a T twenty series and correct me if I'm wrong, but just T twenty series and other three matches into that pink ball Testim I think we've got great entertainment Thursday night and the Fronday night g Flip, Sam and Magic did again, So there should be lots of fans. But you talked about the formats being able to play white ball cricket leading into a pinball test. It's important in terms of I suppose finding form, finding your feet, feeling comfortable and getting good rhythm.

It starts with we've got nod I series January twelve. It starts there's three matches that week that we've got a T twenty series and correct me if I'm wrong, but just T twenty series and other three matches into that pink ball Testim I think we've got great entertainment Thursday night and the Fronday night g Flip, Sam and Magic did again, So there should be lots of fans. But you talked about the formats being able to play white ball cricket leading into a pinball test. It's important in terms of I suppose finding form, finding your feet, feeling comfortable and getting good rhythm.

Yeah, I think I mentioned that I didn't mind the Test match being at the end of this series in particular because you know, I think you get the two company formats out of the way first, and I say, compy, it's just because we play more of the white ball game than what we do the test match. So last time we played the series, we had the Test match first and I think, you know, we got the four points in that one. We put a lot of time and effort into, you know, playing the Duke's ball and trying to get the results to go our way in that game. That we sort of just assumed we'd be right in the white ball format because we were really good at it. But I think over the last of the twelve to eighteen months we've worked really hard on our white ball game and the style of cricket we want to play in both ODI and the T twenty formats. So to be able to put that on show first, hopefully put England on the back foot nice and early in those two is separately, and get some points on the board heading into that Test match. I think it'll make the pig ball Test even more exciting and hopefully it comes down to that and we get a result at the MCG one way or the other. I think that's what both sides want to see. But the white ball formatce is what we play a lot of and obviously with the sorry A One Day World Cup in October next year, it's going to be a good opportunity for both sides to go yep, this is these are those things we want to put in players heading into that and.

Yeah, I think I mentioned that I didn't mind the Test match being at the end of this series in particular because you know, I think you get the two company formats out of the way first, and I say, compy, it's just because we play more of the white ball game than what we do the test match. So last time we played the series, we had the Test match first and I think, you know, we got the four points in that one. We put a lot of time and effort into, you know, playing the Duke's ball and trying to get the results to go our way in that game. That we sort of just assumed we'd be right in the white ball format because we were really good at it. But I think over the last of the twelve to eighteen months we've worked really hard on our white ball game and the style of cricket we want to play in both ODI and the T twenty formats. So to be able to put that on show first, hopefully put England on the back foot nice and early in those two is separately, and get some points on the board heading into that Test match. I think it'll make the pig ball Test even more exciting and hopefully it comes down to that and we get a result at the MCG one way or the other. I think that's what both sides want to see. But the white ball formatce is what we play a lot of and obviously with the sorry A One Day World Cup in October next year, it's going to be a good opportunity for both sides to go yep, this is these are those things we want to put in players heading into that and.

This is who went down. You can watch every ball live on Fox Cricket through the summer of the Ashes. And more importantly though, you should be trying to get along to the MCG and trying to get along to the Major since Sydney and Hobart and and Adelaide, I think Brisbane as well, just make sure you get there. Great initiatives on site. Crick in Australia put in a lot of investment. The Victorian government is really invested in the pink ball test. But most importantly I think probably the players and the chance to win the Biggie Green could be a couple that'll be putting their hands up. How special is it to when you get that chance where the baggy green and what can you see when we look when we walk out to the MCG pinkball historic match. It would be a pretty special moment in your career.

This is who went down. You can watch every ball live on Fox Cricket through the summer of the Ashes. And more importantly though, you should be trying to get along to the MCG and trying to get along to the Major since Sydney and Hobart and and Adelaide, I think Brisbane as well, just make sure you get there. Great initiatives on site. Crick in Australia put in a lot of investment. The Victorian government is really invested in the pink ball test. But most importantly I think probably the players and the chance to win the Biggie Green could be a couple that'll be putting their hands up. How special is it to when you get that chance where the baggy green and what can you see when we look when we walk out to the MCG pinkball historic match. It would be a pretty special moment in your career.

I'm sure yeah, it will be, and I think I just reflect on you know, Mitch and I have both been playing international cricket the same amount of time, and our two baggy greens sit next to one another in the house and it's got ninety three Test matches under it and mine's got nine, so we just kind of reflect on it almost feels like the Test match cricket for us is even more special because it has has been a bit of a rarity throughout my career so far. So yeah, it is really special. And the atmosphere here at the MCG is obviously second to none, and having the opportunity to play pink ball here as well under lights, it's going to be an amazing opportunity for the eleven, not just the eleven, but probably the whole squad and the support stuff and everybody that comes along to watch as well. They're the amazing event that's going to take place. So yeah, we're really excited for that. Obviously six games of white ball credit leading into that, but I think there is one eye on that for everyone in the squad to put their hand up and say, yep, I want to play in that. I want to be a part of that, and hopefully we get a pit and strong eleven players out on the park that can take twenty weekitts and Winter Test match.

I'm sure yeah, it will be, and I think I just reflect on you know, Mitch and I have both been playing international cricket the same amount of time, and our two baggy greens sit next to one another in the house and it's got ninety three Test matches under it and mine's got nine, so we just kind of reflect on it almost feels like the Test match cricket for us is even more special because it has has been a bit of a rarity throughout my career so far. So yeah, it is really special. And the atmosphere here at the MCG is obviously second to none, and having the opportunity to play pink ball here as well under lights, it's going to be an amazing opportunity for the eleven, not just the eleven, but probably the whole squad and the support stuff and everybody that comes along to watch as well. They're the amazing event that's going to take place. So yeah, we're really excited for that. Obviously six games of white ball credit leading into that, but I think there is one eye on that for everyone in the squad to put their hand up and say, yep, I want to play in that. I want to be a part of that, and hopefully we get a pit and strong eleven players out on the park that can take twenty weekitts and Winter Test match.

Look, thank you so much for your time listen. It's a really busy period. I know you've got a lot of matches going to ED and you've probably got another broadcast in coming up as well, but it's been a real thrill to have you on the follow on podcast. I'm Courtney Welsh, but Lisa Australian captain. Good luck for the summer. Let's hope the Ausies can and pull it through against England.

Look, thank you so much for your time listen. It's a really busy period. I know you've got a lot of matches going to ED and you've probably got another broadcast in coming up as well, but it's been a real thrill to have you on the follow on podcast. I'm Courtney Welsh, but Lisa Australian captain. Good luck for the summer. Let's hope the Ausies can and pull it through against England.

Thank you very much for having me

Thank you very much for having me