Hello and welcome to Stumped your intercontinental hits of news features and debate from the quirky
world of cricket. I'm Alison Mitchell in the Northamptonshire village of Wollaston,
and because it's springtime, there are lambs in the field. It's Easter week and so the
supermarket shelves are emptying of chocolate eggs I will certainly need to do
an Easter egg hunt for the children in the family. And speaking of families,
the England cricket family is bidding a fond and happy retirement to one of its stalwarts,
Anya Shrubsole, the England fast bowler has announced her international retirement, famously, helping
England to win the World Cup Final at Lord's in 2017 with her six wickets. Congratulations to
Anya Shrubsole on what has been a stellar and certainly a long and fruitful career.
Hi, I am Matt Clinch from Melbourne, Australia, filling in for the big chair of Jim Maxwell.
With the federal elections being called in Australia for May 21st,
so all sorts of pop quizzes about what the interest rates are, what the unemployment rate is,
but there was no surprise when Andrew Mcdonald was named as Australia's 8th men's cricket head
coach. He is four and a half hours away from the MCG, grew up in Wodonga. He brings the calmness
and consistency that the Australian team will hope to steer them through a challenging twelve months.
Really on top of the world anyway, but good luck to Mcdonald. Matt,
wonderful to have your company here on stumped, I'm Charu Sharma for All India Radio.
After gallivanting for many weeks around the country, I'm glad to be back home in Bangalore,
where the heat is sometimes taken care of by our April, rather famous April showers,
on of which we had yesterday. The good news of course is that after seven months of rest and
prepare my shoulder seems to be OK, so I played my first round of golf yesterday. I'm sure the
next months will follow... But of course, in India it's all about the IPL juggernaut, which rolls on.
Charu good to have you in and to have you in good health as well. And Matt welcome to Stumped, your
Stumped debut. We are very pleased to have you. We do have a special guest this week. She is the
game's great sensation of the moment. She rewrote the record books in the ICC Women's World Cup
Final. Just a couple of weekends ago, producing one of the Great ODI innings of all time to beat
England and lift the trophy. You not only won player of the match, but player of the tournament
for scoring the most runs ever in an ODI World Cup with 509 and she now sits
top of the ICC Women's ODI Player rankings. It is Australia wicketkeeper bat Alyssa Healy,
Alyssa welcome to Stumped. Where do we find you at the moment, back home in Sydney?
Thanks for having and yes, I m back home in Sydney, so enjoying some sort of normal life,
which has been unheard of for the last two years. So, it's been, it's been nice.
So, what does normal look like, right now for you?
Chores, I was outside garning the outdoor area and with all the rain
we've had in Sydney and that's a bit unnormal and going to the pub,
I think for the first time in about two years without a mask, which was quite bizarre, but
it's just the normal things that people probably take for granted every day.
What has the last couple of weeks been likely because you've played
in a World Cup winning innings before. Think of the MCG in 2020. But what has this innings, done?
I'm not sure it doesn't really change me or my life too much. Which is
probably a good thing as I suppose that's what it's supposed to be. It is my job after all and I,
I guess I can just tick the box and so that I did a good job, but I guess for me,
I guess what the World Cup did as a whole from a holistic point of view. I mean, I spent an extra
five or six days in New Zealand after the World Cup. We went down to Queenstown and had a little
mini-break before coming back to reality here and I think so many people wanted to stop and talk
about it and watch the World Cup, they watched the final series and I thought that was amazing. I'd
never experienced that in New Zealand before to see them really get behind the Women's World Cup
was something really special and we obviously saw it here in Australia in 2020 with our T20
World Cup, but just what these World Cups are doing for women's cricket in these different
countries is so amazing. So it was, that was kind of probably the only difference that I've noticed.
You know, your innings was absolutely stunning. Did you feel
good from the get-go, is it just one of those everything clicked?
Yeah. This is going to sound a little bit silly, but it never felt special at any point, which
I mean, probably is a good thing. That I never really... it never really clicked in my mind, what
was happening. I was a little bit worried about going out there, facing the first 10, I mean,
I thought that their bowling attack that won the toss, they wanted to bowl, I thought they'd come
out firing and I needed to get three wickets in the first 10 and I was going to be one of them.
So I was a little bit worried about heading out there, facing the new ball knowing their
attacking Brunt and Shrubsole, but I guess once we got through that little tricky period, then
it was sort of put the foot down and consolidate and from there it just seemed to keep going and I
wasn't pretty sure from about 110. I was trying to get myself out and I couldn't, so it's just
one of those days where everything seemed to come off. So I was pretty lucky in the end.
You've worked hard on your leg side game in recent years. Did you feel that was an area
of your game where you could make a real difference?
Yeah. It's a funny one because I felt like when I was growing up playing cricket,
I was just so legside dominant and all I ever did was flick to the leg side or play pool shot,
especially anything outside my stump. I didn't really know what a cut shot was so
for me, that was such an air of strength, but I guess I sort of flipped that when I got to that
international level and realise that there is a lot more gaps on the offside, and I started to
play there a lot more, but it was it was actually in 2017, I have spoken a bit about it, playing
England in that round game. I came out to bat and we needed a T20 chase I guess at the back end
and Danny Haynes came round the wicket and had the legs, they were up to backward square up and
45 in the ring and I didn't have an answer for that at that point in time and I remember walking
away from that World Cup being so disappointed in myself that I was dictated to by a bowler
and I didn't like it. It was a bit of a kick to the egos, so for me it was ok, how can I access
that part of the ground and how can I open up all these different areas that I'd never
really thought of. I was always taught to hit back down the ground, but the game's changed so
rapidly that I need access behind me, is more of the leg side more comfortably. So that's
an area that I brought into my game and it's paid dividends at the moment. Not just scoring heavily,
but I guess being able to manipulate the field is where it's had its biggest advantage.
At the very start of your career, you would've been referred to as
Ian Healy's niece, to say now he gets referred to as Alyssa Healy's uncle?
I still get Mitchell Starc's wife a bit, so that's alright.
He's Alyssa Healy's husband.
I did that one to myself, so that's on me. Yeah, I guess it has, it flipped,
yeah, quite dramatically and I got a really nice message from uncle Ian after the
final. I had a few expletives in it about how much they love that and how much they watched it. So
I guess, to see that side of it too and how much he is, he's loving the women's game,
in particular, has been a really nice shift. So, yeah. Look, I'll take that flip.
Alyssa, there's very little doubt that Australia are far ahead of every other nation in Women's
cricket. Do you feel that the gap can actually narrow or with the kind of cricket Australia's
been playing, it's going to increase and Australia can get better than they already are?
Yeah, I think definitely the gap can close. I mean, it's taken a lot of hard work,
for us to get where we are. And to play as good cricket as what we are. And we're always looking
to improve where we seemed to be searching for this perfect, perfect game that we can never quite
achieve even though I feel like we do quite regularly. But, so I think we can get even
better than what we are, but I definitely think that the gap can close. I think
teams are playing some really good cricket and I think playing, playing a lot,
lot better cricket, then potentially what they're afforded if that makes sense. I mean,
you look at someone like South Africa who had an unbelievable World Cup, who played some really
good cricket. Beat a lot of really good sides and I don't necessarily think they're as well
supported as we are, so the fact that they're able to do that is something really special. And
I just think with proper investment and looking at our pathway system in particular.
And how we're able to produce some really great cricketers who are ready to go on the
international level. I think you can see the game move forward for a lot of other nations
and see it really competitive and I think this World Cup was the closest I have ever
been a part of, so I think the gap isn't as far as what everybody seems to suggest.
And that after winning just about every match in the World Cup, but yeah
I mean, we didn't want to make it too tight, so we played some good cricket. But genuinely,
I've never really watched or being really heavily invested in a World Cup outside of
our games and play it from our point of view, but I watched almost every game of that World
Cup and absolutely loved it. And I loved the passion, the enthusiasm, that all the other
teams played with and I just thought it was an amazing spectacle and I just so hope that
other organisations out there, seeing what their women's teams are doing and saying "you know what,
we want to invest in this, and keep growing a sport in our country because it really works."
Alyssa about the IPL, I mean, I know you've got the WBBL but
the IPL for the men at least is the big daddy now. Maybe the women's IPL could be
the big mummy. The big one for women, do you think it's going to... I mean,
within the women's cricket circles do you think we are close now, to a women's IPL?
I don't know the ins and outs of it from what I've read it seems to be on the cards for next year,
but I think it's naturally the next step. I mean, India especially in the women's
game is such an untapped market. I mean, you look at that Indian side at the moment and
I'd be terrified to think how good they're going to be in 10 years' time. If they get
the opportunity to experience a little cricket in different places and that includes in a
domestic set-up, having other international players come in and play in a women's IPL
is only going to strengthen the Indian game, so thankfully I'll be retired by then they can come
in and win everything they want, now I won't mind so much, but I think it's just a really exciting
thing. And it's not about the money. It's not. It's never. It's never anything to do with that.
It's simply the opportunity for young girls to get a taste of technically international cricket,
I mean, you come to the WBBL and you're playing against some of the best international players
in the world. And what that's done to our domestic players is, yeah, is amazing. And I say the same
opportunity and in a women's IPL situation that these young Indian superstars, get the opportunity
to play alongside some of the best players in the world and learn from them and learn how to
win and learn how to play the game and it's only going to do wonders for Indian cricket,
so hopefully that's the next step. I mean, there's lots of talk of what little
leagues popping up around the world which is an amazing opportunity for a lot of us to hopefully
get the opportunity to go and play. But the Indian one would be really cool to be a part of.
You've got to hang on till the first edition of the women's IPL and set standards.
Women's cricket has had a blank canvas to arrange the year if you like, and the men's schedule
is so crammed is the women's game sort of getting it right, do they need to have half an eye on, it
seems crazy to talk about overboarding, when all we have ever wanted is more women cricket but is
that a note of caution around, burnout versus how much players are paid and the professional aspect?
Yeah, it's going to take a little bit of balance, I think to work it all out. I mean, yeah,
we've always been screaming for more cricket and I think we have been screaming for more
international cricket. So, all of a sudden, if you're throwing domestic leagues in there,
you're taking away from the international game and you're probably giving players, the opportunity
to go and earn more money somewhere else in the world which is not really what we want to achieve.
But at the same time, the opportunities are amazing, so you'd be silly not to take that up.
There's going to have to be some sort of balancing act to make it work and whether or not, you know,
it's the next tier of the international players at start playing the domestic cricket and
the players that really pride themselves on the international game and representing their country
will always do just that and the domestic leagues will have to miss out, but I mean,
at the moment, there's windows for the WBBL, The Hundred, I think, potentially, the women's IPL,
there might be a little window there where there's not much international cricket to allow players
the opportunity to do just that. But I guess once the international schedule starts getting
a little bit more crammed than it's going to make it more challenging, but I don't know the answer
to that. I don't sit on a scheduling committee so good luck to them if they're going to do that.
Maybe you will one day.
We're just talking of that balance between, you know, home and cricket. Just give us a sense of
as to what home life looks like for you now that you are back, as you have got the two dogs, you've
got golf, you've got Mitch of course. So what does home life look like? What is your normal?
I love that you've put that in the natural order, dogs, golf, Mitch.
I hope he's not listening.
He can definitely hear it, it's actually our wedding anniversary tomorrow so I might be...
Congratulations. Thank you
Yeah, for me at home it's switching off from cricket, especially this next six weeks. We
don't have any cricket and for a little bit of time. So being able to switch off is really
important. And you just hit the nail on the head, there is a lot of golf that being played, there's
a lot of dog walking, giving them attention. And there's lot of stuff to do around the house, which
we're on tour for a lot of the year. So, some of that stuff gets left to when we're at home. So,
it's a very normal life, which I think like I said earlier,
I think people take for granted sometimes, but it's something that we crave when we're
on tour and for most of the year. So, you won't see us doing anything too exciting.
I mean and you two are essentially a celebrity couple mentioned Mitch of course,
Mitchell Starc Australian fast bowler for those listening. He might not be familiar,
but you're noticeably don't live your lives on Instagram as much as you might see some cricketers
or other spheres of life is that a conscious effort to maintain the sense of private life?
Ah not so much I don't think it's a conscious effort. I guess we just
don't do it so much, probably don't give everyone as much of an inside as what they love, but we just
sort of sometimes, especially when I go home, I tend to just switch my phone off a little bit and
leave it there and enjoy the moment for what it is, instead of pulling your camera out and
taken a photo, so it's not a conscious effort to remain private. You'll still see us out and about.
We're often down at the local pub of an evening, having a drink. So, enough and no
conscious effort, but yeah, I think there's some things that can remain unseen for everybody else.
I'm a little curious Alyssa, not perhaps at one 150km/h but
does Mitch ever ball to you in the backyard or somewhere?
I don't know, I mean 150 absolutely!
You know what's funny about that, I get asked that question quite a lot and my
off common response is: would you willingly go down the other end of that net and face him?
No.
Exactly! And everybody else says no, and then I get the but you're a professional cricketer,
and I say I still don't want to get on and do it. So no way. No way. We've actually, Ash,
who is my buddy and coach was one of, at our wedding party, one of Mitch's best mates. And
he, when Mitch is at home and wants to go hit balls, we often go down there, and we've
been banned from training together because we're too competitive and we keep trying to
hit on every single delivery, so we're not allowed to train together anymore.
Alyssa it has been an absolute pleasure and a privilege to have you on the show
today. Thank you so much, enjoy the dogs, the golf and fit Mitch in a bit somewhere, won't you.
I'll try. I'll see if I can. Thank you very much for having me.
Congratulations on the World Cup and thanks for being on stumped.
Thank you.
Well, that's all we've got time for on Stumped this week on All India Radio. So,
a huge thanks once again to our special guest Alyssa Healy. And thanks to Charu
Sharma and Matt Clinch, it's been great to have you with us this week. Don't forget,
if you're listening or watching you can follow us throughout the week on Twitter we're @BBCWSport,
use the hashtag #BBCStumped and you can watch us on Youtube as well go to the BBC
World Service's Youtube channel. That's it for now. See you next week. Bye-bye.