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"As a long-haired bowler myself" ft. Ellie Threlkeld
0 Playsin 6 hours
For the milestone fifth episode, Tom and Jamie chat to Lancashire's first trophy-winning captain in 10 years, Ellie Threlkeld, about T20 county cup success, Rainford's rise, jet-setting IPL stars and bowlers wearing caps.
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Transcript
Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:00:41
Tom Evans
Hello, hello, hello, and welcome to episode five of the Last Hour Cricket Podcast, a podcast about cricket in Merseyside and beyond. My name's Tom Evans from Merseyside Cricket Online. Joining me as always is my co-host, Jamie Bowman. How are you doing, Jamie? Are you well?
00:00:57
Jamie Bowman
Yeah, google all good. Thank you.
00:00:59
Tom Evans
I reckon most podcasts, by number, don't make it to five episodes. i reckon I reckon a lot of but ah lot of podcasts would have would have fizzled out by now.
00:01:06
Jamie Bowman
bit like my batting.
00:01:10
Jamie Bowman
Yeah, we're we're we're going strong, aren't we? Double figures to next.
00:01:14
Tom Evans
Definitely. Yeah, yeah, we're halfway there. I think we could truly be considered podcasters by then. ah ah Delighted to welcome our guest for this episode, who is the first current professional cricketer we've had on the show and the first Lancashire captain in 10 years to lift a trophy since Stephen Croft did it after winning the Vitality Blast in 2015. It is, of course, Ellie Threlkeld, captain of Lancashire Women. How are you, Ellie?
00:01:42
Ellie
Yeah, good, thank you. How are you guys?
00:01:44
Jamie Bowman
Thank you.
00:01:44
Tom Evans
Very well, thank you. um Congratulations on the T20 County Cup um success. Must be must be delighted.
00:01:52
Ellie
Yeah, thank you. It was a very special day. um yes Something you dream of as a kid and stuff. and um Probably something a long time in the making, to
Lancashire Women's T20 Success
00:02:01
Ellie
be honest. I feel like it's been a lot of hard work over the last few years.
00:02:02
Tom Evans
you.
00:02:05
Ellie
and A lot of the groundwork probably put in by Paul Shaw or Alex Hartley in in year one when we became professional. and and then Ever since then, obviously things have improved year on year.
00:02:15
Tom Evans
yeah
00:02:16
Ellie
We've improved year on year. and it's so It's nice to finally be getting some reward for all that hard work, really.
00:02:21
Tom Evans
Excellent. Good stuff. and There'll be plenty of more chance to to to bask in the glory of that um later on.
Local Cricket Highlights
00:02:27
Tom Evans
um Just to start with sort of some some more local cricket news, I guess, since we since we last um since we last podcasted.
00:02:31
Ellie
Thank you.
00:02:35
Tom Evans
um Obviously, a few more weeks have gone by of the... ah the early stages of the Liverpool competition season. um I think it's safe to say that Ormskirk are looking like the team to beat again in the Premier Division. they are They are on top. They're unbeaten.
00:02:50
Tom Evans
um Five wins and one draw from their first six games. um They have had a couple of bad days in the Cups, um including on Sunday when Northern knocked them out with the... ah knocked them out with Ray Digman,
00:03:00
Jamie Bowman
it Rainford in third?
00:03:01
Tom Evans
That's good. Rainford are in second, in fact.
00:03:05
Jamie Bowman
Oh, well, there you go. not not How do you feel about that, Ellie? Yeah.
00:03:09
Ellie
Yeah, pretty good. I know my but my brother's buzzing anyway. So ah yeah, lads going well.
00:03:15
Tom Evans
Every time i I speak to John Dotters, he's sort of saying, um you know, surely we can't improve on fourth place. Then after last season, it was surely we can't improve on third place. So you never know that they that that they keep improving and they keep... ah They keep upsetting a few teams and getting a few few um surprise results, but they've got some excellent cricketers there, haven't they?
00:03:36
Ellie
Yeah, they have, yeah. um and yeah like They've been going really well and and and I know they're a great set lads who enjoy the cricket as well, so it's nice to see them have some success.
00:03:45
Jamie Bowman
What do you think has been the secret of the the success the last few years, Ellie?
00:03:46
Tom Evans
Good stuff.
00:03:50
Jamie Bowman
Because they've really sort of pushed on and sort of not not just sort of stabilised themselves in the Premier League, but like, as you say, becoming, you know, a top three, top four club.
00:04:01
Ellie
yeah i think um You just mentioned John Dotters there. he's He's a massive part of the team, a great leader. and Often like squeezes with spin in the middle. um Bowling stump to stump makes it quite hard to score. and Obviously, I think the signing of Jason Loggin as well has been huge for the club. I think he's he scored a lot of runs. and and Every time I've watched him bat, he looks a brilliant player. so and yeah and From what my brother says, a bit of inside knowledge. It seems like everyone's got a bit of a role in the team as well. and Everyone's really clear on that and and everyone's contributing as well. so and
00:04:32
Ellie
yeah That's what Will reckons anyway.
00:04:35
Tom Evans
Good stuff. Jason Loggin got ah century on Saturday as Rainford quite comfortably beat Birkenhead Park. Birkenhead Park got their revenge the the following day in the Digman quarterfinals. But um another good good day for Rainford. I i was at Bootle where Rainhill, under former Durham seamer Jamie Harrison, picked up their first win of the season. um It was sort of a bit of a seesaw game. um Rainhill started very well, then Boutles, even Creek.
00:05:06
Tom Evans
I'm never sure if I'm pronouncing his surname correctly, but their South African Creek or Creek got a century, which was ah you know excellent marshalling the tail. um And then a sporting declaration and a ah good run chase by Rainhill. So it was a ah good day out at the cricket. We've been blessed with some really nice weather and some some really good games so far. How was your weekend, Jamie?
00:05:28
Jamie Bowman
Yeah, not bad. I had a trip to Ormskirk playing for the fourth team, Sefton Park fourth team against Hightown, Hightown's third team.
00:05:34
Ellie
Oh.
00:05:38
Jamie Bowman
Hightown have got a third team back in the comp on a Saturday for the first time in a long time. So it was nice to catch up with a few of them again. And yeah, a decent game.
00:05:49
Jamie Bowman
we we We came second, but it was yeah it was good good fun and got a couple of wickets. So yeah, was pleased with that.
00:05:57
Tom Evans
It's not about whether you win or lose, it's whether you get any wickets. That's right.
00:06:02
Jamie Bowman
The result's gone. I can't remember it now. But chat yeah, ah what else has caught your eye around the comp, Tom?
00:06:05
Tom Evans
Exactly.
00:06:09
Jamie Bowman
i was i was I was thinking Sutton are doing well, aren't they?
00:06:14
Tom Evans
Sutton in Division 1 for the first time, they're they're going excellent, yeah. um think they're fourth. They're very much in the the chasing pack there as the table sort of stats to starts to take shape. um They were quite sort of... I think um Joe Notter, the captain, was quite sort of ambitious and quite... He seemed quite confident before the season. They haven't really... um He recruited very much in terms of the the first team, but I think he was he was fairly happy with where they were and that they had the players who could compete at that level.
00:06:45
Tom Evans
um It's good to see a team, obviously a few years ago, coming up from the Southport and District League, um establishing themselves in the comp, first in Division 2, then in Division 1. I think it bodes well for what's going to happen over the next 12 months when the when the Southport League sort of becomes becomes part of the comp.
00:07:03
Tom Evans
You know, it's to show that those teams can compete with the with the more established ones. It's good to see. Springview, another one, they're running now at the top.
00:07:09
Jamie Bowman
Yeah, I... Yeah.
00:07:13
Tom Evans
um they They also made the step up from the Southport League not too long ago, um and their first promotion to Division 1. um Last season was a bit of a shaky one, but the the the previous two seasons, they were...
00:07:26
Tom Evans
right up in amongst the promotion positions for a lot of the season. And it looks like they're going to be up there again.
00:07:32
Jamie Bowman
um I promised my mate Barry... who plays for Parkfield, Liscard, I'd give them a mention because they had a good win as well against Prescott and Odyssey and they're going quite well in Division 2 after being sort of perennial strugglers down the bottom there, comfortably in the top half and he feels they're going to do good things this season as well. So I promised I'd mention them.
00:07:53
Jamie Bowman
So there go, Barry.
00:07:55
Tom Evans
Hi, Barry. um
England Cricket Season Overview
00:07:59
Tom Evans
Good stuff. um Moving ah along a little bit to so of ah the the wider cricketing world, I guess. um Obviously, since we were last since were last here, the the Test match and One Day International summer has started for England, I think fairly comfortably for both the men's and women's sides so far. Certainly,
00:08:19
Tom Evans
England's Test match against Zimbabwe was never really... It was never going to be really competitive, was it? And I think that was but kind of bore out in the way play it played. um The women have won there.
00:08:31
Tom Evans
one-day international series quite comfortably against West Indies, and ah the men have done the same. was really good game the other night, I thought, in Cardiff. um You know, the West Indies got a few runs and put England under a bit of pressure, and it was good to see that um sort of a ah new emerging ODI side under Harry he Brook can ah can put together a decent run chase.
00:08:52
Tom Evans
Did you see...
00:08:52
Jamie Bowman
Yeah, definitely. I thought it was a fantastic game, actually, as you say. I mean, ah West Indies really stepped up after disappointing first ODI. And yeah yeah, it was a really good competitive game and unbelievable innings from Joe Root as well.
00:09:10
Tom Evans
Absolutely, yeah. i'm Joe, I think it almost seems strange to say that he's ah surprised people, given what he's already achieved in his career. But i'm I think it's fairly clear that he's always had the talent to play that kind of innings. I can't off the top of my head remember an innings he's played like that in ah in a big ODI chase before.
00:09:32
Tom Evans
um Did you get to see much of the game um on Sunday, Ellie? know you were... You were on blast duty earlier in the day, weren't you? But did you get to catch much of the England game later on?
00:09:42
Ellie
i didn't, unfortunately, no. We were watching a bit of the Lanks-Mens game. So, and yeah.
00:09:48
Tom Evans
course, yeah.
00:09:50
Ellie
Saw the scorecard, though.
00:09:50
Tom Evans
No, but... Yeah, yeah, no, it was very impressive. It was quite fraught for a while, but Root was ah was sensational. m He and Adil Rashid must never be allowed to retire. I think that's the that's the takeaway. Yeah.
00:10:04
Jamie Bowman
I think at one point I was in and out all day and I had the radio on and they said the wind viz was 10% something for England. Yeah. ten percent or something for england
00:10:15
Tom Evans
Yeah, yeah.
00:10:15
Jamie Bowman
So it's an incredible turnaround, really, when you when you think about it. I mean, it was, as you say, it was was one of those just match-winning knocks from Root. I mean, an incredible k knock, really, because the bowling was good as well. You know, he faced some good deliveries.
00:10:30
Jamie Bowman
Got a bit lucky with a couple of LBWs, didn't he? But from then on, yeah, just just unstoppable, really.
00:10:33
Tom Evans
Mm-hmm.
00:10:37
Tom Evans
Yeah, excellent stuff. um Moving on to Lancashire now, um and of course, Lancashire Women this is the place to start because it's the first trophy ever in the
Ellie Threlkeld on Lancashire Women's Journey
00:10:48
Tom Evans
women's side's history, isn't it?
00:10:51
Ellie
yeah
00:10:52
Tom Evans
Ellie?
00:10:52
Ellie
um yeah like Yeah, very special day.
00:10:54
Tom Evans
Coming to you first on this, obviously. like Yeah.
00:10:59
Ellie
id Like I said before, I feel like it's been sort of what we've been working towards over the last few years. really i feel like When you start any season, you're looking for silverware. But like over the last couple of years, it's been about how do we be better than last year?
00:11:11
Ellie
How do we compete?
00:11:11
Jamie Bowman
Thank you.
00:11:12
Ellie
and Actually, this year, and we've had a really good start to the year. We're playing some really good cricket. and um To bring home a trophy was obviously... a huge success and a huge reward for for all of that hard work over the last few years really. So I couldn't be more proud of the girls and and everyone who's been part of that journey really and it was nice to share that sort of day and that moment with quite a few of the girls. I started playing age group cricket with at Lancashire, the likes of Emma Lamb, Sophie Eccleston, ah Kate Cross.
00:11:38
Ellie
Obviously didn't play age group with Kate Cross, she's a little bit older than I am. um But yeah, I came right through the sort of and system with them and then yeah, it was a really special day.
00:11:49
Tom Evans
Good stuff. Probably an obvious answer, but career highlight so far for you?
00:11:53
Ellie
Yeah, think it definitely is, yeah. um Like you say, like I've never never worn won anything really. we we won the um We won the double back when it was county cricket, but was pretty young then and probably like too young to realise how good winning with your mates is. um and yeah Like I said, i think like especially being captain, I think it was a real proud moment for me. and Yeah, a special day and one I'll remember for a long time.
00:12:21
Jamie Bowman
What did you think of the the tournament itself, Ali? Because it was quite an interesting kind of innovation, wasn't it? You got to play, you know, sides you wouldn't normally play and it it seemed to work quite successfully.
00:12:32
Ellie
Yeah, we we all loved it. like I think it caught on calling it the FA Cup and it it did sort of have that like feel about it it. felt like, obviously, playing teams and in Tier 2 and like teams you've never played before. and um Actually, like it it shows like you just take nothing for granted in cricket. like like Those teams were good sides. and i'm yeah it was like it was It was nice to play different different teams, go to different grounds.
00:12:57
Ellie
and um yeah It was a great experience and I feel like it will grow year on year as well.
00:12:59
Tom Evans
Thank you.
00:13:04
Ellie
so For a pilot year, was brilliant to be a part of and I guess cool to make a bit of history by bringing the first trophy home.
00:13:11
Jamie Bowman
was that was it Was it obvious that there's a some good talent out there then? Because um and um I imagine it must be easy to sort of live in a bit of a women's pro kind of bubble and not notice what's going on underneath. But that that that's there's some good good players out there, are there?
00:13:27
Ellie
Yeah, definitely. i think as well it probably shows like um like the i think that the growth of the women's game over the last few years and actually like becoming professional shows like how much a professional programme can increase talent so quickly. So I guess like you you play against these teams and none of them are really professional and you see how talented they are. like It's actually quite frightening how good they could be when when they do become professional. So and yeah, like they they were they were really good sides, really good players. um
00:13:58
Ellie
And yeah, it'll be exciting in the next few years as as the the game keeps growing really.
00:14:02
Jamie Bowman
The scheduling was quite interesting as well, wasn't it? You kind of get get a tournament all done and dusted by the end of May. It's quite good, isn't it? Yeah, suppose, you you know, we we often talk about scheduling as being pretty mixed up in the in the in the men's game, certainly, but it kind of worked quite well, didn't it?
00:14:10
Tom Evans
Thank you.
00:14:20
Jamie Bowman
And you obviously you've got the advantage of having some of your your England players as well.
00:14:25
Ellie
Yeah, it was a weird one really. It felt a little bit like the end of the season. um
00:14:30
Jamie Bowman
Yeah.
00:14:30
Ellie
It was strange. but And I think as well, like we set out with a goal at the start of this year to actually compete and win three trophies. And it felt like obviously the celebrations were brilliant. And it was like, like you said, it was a real career highlight of mine, but it was...
00:14:44
Ellie
Also then we had to turn it round in two days' time and and win our first Blast game. and Unfortunately we didn't get over the line in that game, but it was one of the best games of domestic cricket I've ever been involved in. and The standard of that Blast tournament is going up year on year. I think a massive jump from last year, like the standard feels a lot better this year. and and That's going to really test us, that competition. and and As much as winning a trophy was brilliant, like I said, it was it was a quick turnaround in two days' time to to focus on the next one and it was almost nil-nil again. Then and you you've got to start again and get your heads into gear and regroup. and
00:15:17
Ellie
Although it gives you momentum, it gives you confidence. um We only had to win two games, I think, to get to that finals day and the blast's a very different story. so I guess it was trying to keep as level-headed as possible and and start again, really. so and yeah
00:15:32
Tom Evans
We're good to bounce back with a win and the in the second game in the Blast on Sunday, of course.
00:15:38
Ellie
yeah Yeah, definitely. It was good to get our first win on the board. um Cricket's a weird game, in it? We played an unbelievable game of cricket on the Saturday in and didn't get over the line and did so many things right. And then on Sunday, we'd probably all admit we were pretty average and won a game the cricket. So it just shows you um how the sport can be quite humbling, I guess. But um no, I guess it's a sign of a good team when you when you when you lose, when you when you don't play well. So... um yeah I'm pretty buzzing to get over the line, but actually if we play how we played in that game on the Saturday for for the rest of the comp, I'd imagine we'll win a lot more games than we lose. So, um yeah, squad's in a good place and um got bounce back again for it for Wednesday.
00:16:19
Tom Evans
Do you feel like it's a team that's really coming together under your leadership? i think Is it is it yeah your third year as captain now? Full-time captain?
00:16:25
Ellie
Yeah, I think it's year three, yeah. Might even be four.
00:16:28
Tom Evans
I know they keep changing the name of the team, which can't help, but but the the personnel state has stayed much the same, whether it's whether it's um Thunder or Lancashire.
00:16:30
Ellie
Oh, yeah.
00:16:39
Tom Evans
It's very much your team now, isn't it? Do you feel like they're growing together?
00:16:43
Ellie
Yeah, definitely. I feel like... I don't feel like it's my team. I feel like like everyone's got like ah a role and a part to play. And it's so so like pleasing to see how everyone's contributing. And it feels like we are a real strong unit. We've got... like brilliant cohesion everyone gets on and it's really enjoyable to to get up and go to work every day really and and play cricket with your mates so and yeah I feel like we've got got a real strong squad and and a brilliant set of coaching staff and I think that's really important I feel like
00:17:15
Ellie
Talent aside, like the people in the dressing room are ah a what make what make it better, what makes success better and what make the tough times easier. so um That's really important to me and that's something I've tried to create as as ah as a captain. and like to think I've had a bit of an influence on that, but it's just there's a lot of people involved in that. and then yeah like I feel like the squad's in a really good place and I'm starting to see some success now, which is brilliant. Hopefully and that FA Cup win was the start of a successful year for us.
00:17:44
Tom Evans
In terms of the the individuals, obviously,
Influences and Team Development
00:17:47
Tom Evans
must be delighted to have had the services of ah the number one white ball bowler in the world. um but Obviously, Sophie Eccleston wasn't selected for England, which was their loss and very much your gain, wasn't it? She was she was outstanding in in the tournament.
00:18:02
Ellie
Yeah, absolutely. i mean When you get told getting the number one bowler in the world for for any competition as a captain, you you're pretty buzzing. um And yeah, look, Sophie can change games, win your games, just on her own really, that she's that good. So, um yeah, delighted to have her with us. and um yeah she She proved how good she is in a number of them games, and um especially in that final.
00:18:25
Ellie
and She was incredible. so it's It's been really great to have her around. um and yes She's continuing to be around for a few of these Blast games as well, which is really exciting. Alana King is joining us soon as well. so As a captain, to have them in your team, to have eight overs of high very high quality spin, it's it's really exciting.
00:18:45
Jamie Bowman
Have firm ah Emma and Emma Lamb and Sophie of day um and and Kate, have they talked about the New England set up much? you know Have you heard? Because obviously, you know big changes there.
00:18:56
Jamie Bowman
New coach and she's already sort of brought in some new players and recalled some people like Emma herself. um ge what What have you heard you know the kind of about about the there? people happy?
00:19:12
Ellie
yeah i've I've not heard a bad word said, to be honest. I think everyone's and spoke really positively about it. and Charlotte Edwards' record as a player and a coach speaks for itself, really. and so I think she was ah a great appointment.
00:19:25
Ellie
um Someone I've worked with a bit in the past and she's been brilliant. so um yeah I think everyone's delighted with it with her appointment. and i mean They've started pretty well, haven't they? and Yeah, I hope hope she she's really successful in the job.
00:19:38
Ellie
I think she's she's going to do a brilliant job. I think what's noticeable as well is how she's picking domestic players on form, which I think is really encouraging for for young domestic players to who've got that goal to play international cricket to realise that actually if they do well in domestic cricket, that's that's the the way in.
00:19:52
Tom Evans
well
00:19:56
Ellie
um And it gives everyone that sort of, yeah, that chance to to like show off, do well and get picked for England. So I think that's that's a real positive thing. um
00:20:05
Jamie Bowman
Yeah, yeah, because it it felt like a bit of a closed shop at times, didn't it? You know, England's women's line-up. But as you say, she she seems to be really kind of going out there and watching watching the teams and picking players who are doing well.
00:20:20
Ellie
Yeah, definitely. And I think like the standard of the domestic game really grown as well, which I think helps. Because actually, if players are performing at domestic level now, they're probably ready. Whereas like two, three years ago, like was that the case? i'm I'm not sure. So I guess that's that's a point as well where where the game's grown. And and like it's not that light stupid to compare domestic to international cricket anymore. like it like That gap's not as big now. So I think you can take domestic performances as, oh, that player's ready now. so and Yeah, I guess if players keep banging the door down, scoring runs, taking wickets, then and that chance to play international cricket is on the cards, which is what what you want as a domestic player, really.
00:21:01
Tom Evans
So any of the Lancashire team who are sort of on the um the fringes of the the England set-up, do you think it might but might be a maybe be getting a call-up based on their performances so far this year?
00:21:01
Jamie Bowman
Definitely.
00:21:13
Ellie
um ah It's hard to say, really. I feel like what I've been most pleased with in our team is how everybody's contributed. um I guess, like, from a batting point of view, Eve Jones and Emma Lam at the top have been exceptional and they've they've scored runs in like pretty much every game we've played and and they've set the game up so well and that's been a huge part of us, winning a lot of those 50-over games at the beginning of the year.
00:21:36
Ellie
um And, yeah, like... like There are a few girls who have done really well, but like you say that the talent and the the pool of players across the country is growing and growing and there a lot of players doing well. so it's It's a real tough team to get into.
00:21:50
Ellie
um so yeah I don't really know the answer to that question, but um I feel like quite a lot of our girls are going well. and and I guess the doors never close for anyone really, which is now the exciting thing.
00:22:01
Tom Evans
And like you say, you're looking ah look to compete on all fronts and keep fighting for the one-day trophy and for the for the blast as well. i'm Obviously, so sitting second in the league table for the one-day trophy going into the break. um Obviously, things are going pretty well on all fronts so far, aren't they?
00:22:19
Ellie
Yeah, they are. I feel like we're playing some brilliant cricket and um playing in really smart cricket as well, which I think is probably the difference from from the last couple of years. and so of those Those key moments in games we potentially lost last year, we're finding a way to get through those and win those now. um Probably matured a little bit as a group in terms of our cricket and I think that's really, really helped.
00:22:41
Ellie
and yeah We're in a really good place in that 50 over comp. We wanted to carry on playing, to be honest. We were we were flying, but and nice to come up come into this break now with being in second place and knowing when we return we're in a really good spot. and and yeah we Like I said before, we set out at the beginning of every year to to win all the trophies on offer, but but this year it really feels like playing some good cricket. and Yeah, that is the goal, but we'll we'll try and take it game by game and um keep trying to play some some good cricket like we are doing and hopefully hopefully we'll have a really successful year.
00:23:12
Jamie Bowman
ah
00:23:12
Tom Evans
Who's next up for you?
00:23:14
Ellie
We play Hampshire on Wednesday at Old Trafford, so it's a big game.
00:23:20
Tom Evans
Yeah, good stuff. Are you enjoying the double headers? Do you think that's a good good innovation for the Blast this year?
00:23:26
Ellie
Yeah, definitely. I think it's a great model. I think obviously you've seen the success of it with 100. And I feel like for us, like it brings more people in. um It creates that sort of one one club, two teams mentality.
00:23:39
Ellie
and And yeah, like we we sort of the the the boys came and watched us and we stayed and watched a bit their game. And it just like has that, like I said, like two teams, one one club feel. and And that's what you want as players. You want to try and support each other. And I feel like we've got that really doing that really well at Lancashire, which is great and brings more fans in, and feels more professional. And and yeah, I think as a fan as well, you get two games in one day. It's it's a dream, really. So yeah, I think the model's great.
00:24:10
Jamie Bowman
ah know um I know you don't like picking out individuals, but I was at the Blackpool game and obviously Sophie Morris got a five for and did the it was a joy to interview her after the game. You know, she was so happy.
00:24:22
Jamie Bowman
she's She's really coming along good, isn't she?
00:24:25
Ellie
Yeah, Sos, one of my little favourites.
00:24:26
Tom Evans
No.
00:24:28
Ellie
She's a belter. Honestly, like wants to be thrown the ball at any situation. Just always wants the ball. She'll be stood behind me a short third or 45, being like, ''El, El, when am I on?'' and I just love that as a captain. like you You want someone to to want to take those big moments on. and um For Sos, a young player, like she's really, really doing so well for us. like She bowls tough overs, she bowls in key moments.
00:24:52
Ellie
and and I think as well, like to to have her and Sophie Eccleston in the same team, she's probably probably learnt a lot these last few weeks.
00:24:59
Ellie
and i'm I know Sophie's really good with helping youngsters out like that.
00:24:59
Tom Evans
Thank
00:25:03
Tom Evans
you.
00:25:04
Ellie
and um yeah It's probably been a bit of a dream for her to play in the same team as Eccleston. and and yeah They've both been going really well. and I'd like to think all three of them, when Kingy comes, will be in our team and well will lead our spin attack. and That'll be really, really exciting to to know as a captain I've got 12 overs, a real quality spin.
00:25:21
Ellie
so
00:25:21
Jamie Bowman
Yeah, ah so that's a formidable attack. that like You're right. Yeah, yeah. Excellent.
Cricket Stories and Player Transitions
00:25:28
Tom Evans
Good stuff. um Yeah, anything else ah anything else from around the cricketing world that you wanted to wanted to mention, Jamie?
00:25:35
Jamie Bowman
Well, I wanted to take it. I know it's a little bit outside Merseyside, but I wanted to take us to Wigan. It's about there.
00:25:42
Tom Evans
Well, it's not outside the Liverpool competition, is it? Of course.
00:25:45
Jamie Bowman
But tell us, I mean, there's a great story from there about their pro, isn't there, this weekend?
00:25:45
Tom Evans
There's a...
00:25:51
Tom Evans
Yeah, Ashutosh Sharma, who um has been playing for the the Delhi Capitals in the IPL. um Obviously, they got eliminated before the before the playoff stages. And ah apart from what I've heard, i've I've not got the full story on this yet, but from what I've heard, he yeah he wanted some Red Bull cricket to sort of get him game more attuned to so the Red Bull game um and he wanted a deal in England for the summer. um Wigan happened to need a replacement pro after their Indian batter, Shubham Kajira, had to go home. um
00:26:31
Tom Evans
And they the the got him in. He arrived at 7.30am on Saturday in the country. um A few hours later, was hitting 100, more than a run of ball at Formby. It'll be interesting to see what he can do when he's had a full night's sleep.
00:26:47
Jamie Bowman
Have you ever had a turnaround like that, Ellie?
00:26:49
Tom Evans
So,
00:26:50
Jamie Bowman
Get off a plane and play a few hours later?
00:26:53
Ellie
and No, i haven't. um Yeah, that's an incredible story, actually. It's a great effort.
00:26:59
Jamie Bowman
But ah it's interesting, Tom, isn't it? some of these Some of the pros you've come this season seem to have really hit the ground running, actually, haven't they?
00:27:07
Tom Evans
Yeah, definitely. i was at um The game i was at on Saturday, Rainhill's Kelly Doesman, who's actually been here a few years, and I think has sort of gone to the radar a little bit because you know it's not a team that have been making making waves near the top of the comp, but he has been steadily, I think, one of the most impressive overseas professionals in the league.
00:27:29
Tom Evans
um as yeah know He's a left-arm spinner and all-rounder. He took five foot and got 50 on Saturday. Match-winning performance from him. um Obviously, Crete getting 100 for Bootle. I was at Ormskirk the previous week where Tom Brown, they're half English, half Aussie.
00:27:49
Tom Evans
he plays He plays a lot of cricket in Australia, but he's he's he's actually registered as a... as an English player. um He made 100, his first ton for the club. um Yeah, I think... haven't got the numbers on this, but feels like fewer clubs are simply going down the route of just getting in a subcontinental left-arm spinner.
00:28:11
Tom Evans
and chucking them the ball and ah ah sink thinking, this guy will bowl 20 overs from one end and take a five for every week.
00:28:12
Jamie Bowman
Definitely, yeah.
00:28:19
Tom Evans
And I think few teams are sort of thinking a bit more outside the box. And ah it's good to see it get bit more variety because it can get um can get repetitive writing the match reports apart from anything else.
00:28:29
Jamie Bowman
Yeah. And of course, obviously you want to develop, you know, your own left arm spinners, you know, like, you know, like Dottas, people like that, you know, ah there's some good young spinners around and they should be given the opportunity as well to bowl those 20 overs.
00:28:37
Tom Evans
you.
00:28:43
Jamie Bowman
Hmm.
00:28:44
Tom Evans
I mean, the flip side of that is that if you're a left-hand spinner yourself looking to come through it and you're playing alongside a professional, then that's that's great for your game as well. you know you you know You're not missing out on anything for having a pro at your club. you know It's sort of the two sides of the but the pro argument, isn't it? um They bowl a lot of overs, but also it's the work they do off the pitch that's often just as important as well.
00:29:07
Jamie Bowman
that an ipo you know an IPL player can can can jet over here at a moment's notice and wants to play in the comp. it seat It's great, isn't it, Ellie? I mean, we were attracting these international cricketers to the Liverpool comp.
00:29:22
Ellie
Yeah, absolutely. It probably just shows sort of how good the standard is, really. um Which is great, isn't it? I feel like my brother mentioned the other day about like and when they played Ormskirk, Tommy Hartley played and Will was like, it's absolutely mental that a couple of lads were like, mental that he played a Test match against India and like now he's playing against me on a Saturday.
00:29:42
Jamie Bowman
Yeah, it is.
00:29:43
Ellie
Which is the beauty of cricket, isn't it?
00:29:43
Jamie Bowman
It is.
00:29:45
Ellie
like That would never happen in in any of the sport, really. But that's...
00:29:48
Jamie Bowman
No, it's extraordinary, isn't it, when you think about it?
00:29:48
Ellie
so
00:29:50
Jamie Bowman
Yeah, I mean, imagine that happening in football. Yeah, it's just a hard child to believe, isn't it? But yeah, there he is. Brilliant.
00:29:58
Tom Evans
Excellent. Good stuff.
Dressing Room 101: Cricket Pet Peeves
00:29:59
Tom Evans
i think it's about time to put our guests um under the spotlight and ask for her contributions to Dressing Room 101, which is our regular feature in which Jamie and myself run the rule over our guests' submissions for there their little cricketing irritations, their cricketing bugbears.
00:30:20
Tom Evans
What have you got for us, Ali?
00:30:21
Jamie Bowman
Who was it who bought a list? That was impressive,
00:30:25
Tom Evans
I
00:30:25
Tom Evans
un
00:30:31
Tom Evans
That's fine.
00:30:34
Ellie
he said, like, keeping in a short-sleeved shirt. Like, that is a...
00:30:37
Jamie Bowman
Yeah.
00:30:38
Tom Evans
Well, he was sort of, I don't know, he he was sort of saying that keepers should be allowed to keep in a short-sleeved shirt because, the big well, take it up with him.
00:30:45
Ellie
What?
00:30:48
Tom Evans
he he is is Because of Northern's sponsorship, because Northern's sponsorship have changed, when he is keeping, he now has to wear the jumper. He doesn't have a long-sleeved shirt with the proper sponsor on.
00:31:00
Tom Evans
And he was saying he's too hot. So I think it was but it was difficult to get to the bottom of it, but I think his argument was that if there wasn't this taboo about keepers in short-sleeved shirts, which yeah I think you're quite rightly outraged by.
00:31:07
Jamie Bowman
Thank you.
00:31:13
Ellie
um Okay, yeah, so I've got two. and First one, crippers can't wear a short sleeve shirt.
00:31:16
Tom Evans
on.
00:31:17
Ellie
That is illegal. And my second one but but
00:31:24
Tom Evans
Correct, that's in, yep.
00:31:25
Ellie
um my second one is people bowling in a cap. And I feel like that happens quite a lot in women's cricket. And I feel like it's very village.
00:31:34
Tom Evans
Right. Okay. Where do you stand on that, Jamie? yeah a bowl in your cup?
00:31:40
Jamie Bowman
No, no, I don't. No, I don't. Now, you do see it, though, don't you? And you're showing my age now. People always go, oh, it's Jeff Boycott, because Jeff Boycott used do it, didn't he? He used to bowl him as cat.
00:31:53
Jamie Bowman
um But, yeah, it did definitely seems to have creeped in in the women's game. I always assumed that was something to do with long hair. Was it? Yeah.
00:32:00
Ellie
Yeah, to be fair, it might be, um but I still feel it's not an excuse. I feel like it's very and not it's a very Aussie thing to do and
00:32:07
Jamie Bowman
Yeah.
00:32:08
Ellie
I really hope Kingy doesn't do it, otherwise I'm going to to tell her it's village. Yeah. ah
00:32:13
Tom Evans
What are we, a bunch of Australians?
00:32:15
Ellie
yeah
00:32:18
Jamie Bowman
I mean, as as a long-haired bowler myself, yeah I should probably be tempted.
00:32:18
Ellie
yeah
00:32:23
Jamie Bowman
But no, it's something I've never done. And I agree with you, to be honest. I think it is a bit village. this There's something about the ceremony of handing the umpire your cap, too, which I like. it sort of It means you're ready for action, isn't it?
00:32:39
Jamie Bowman
you you have you know You have a brief word with the umpire, give him your cap and then you're set for bowling. So, yeah, I'm with you on that. It is a bit village.
00:32:48
Tom Evans
There's also the ceremony of after you've gone for a few, the umpire sort of handing you your cap and you sleep sheepishly taking your cap back from the umpire and shaking your head and going back to find life to ponder your life choices.
00:32:58
Jamie Bowman
Yeah. Trotting off to fine leg, yeah. Yeah.
00:33:03
Tom Evans
um And I know it's it's mostly an aesthetic thing, Ellie, but as a wicketkeeper, is it off-putting as well? When there's a cap bobbing up and down on the way to the crease at the other end?
00:33:13
Ellie
I'm not sure I've ever kept to anyone who's done it. Otherwise, I'd have probably told them to take it off.
00:33:19
Tom Evans
Yeah, not not twice anyway. yeah
00:33:22
Ellie
um But yeah, it probably would be a quite off-putting, yeah.
00:33:25
Jamie Bowman
I mean, I actually play, I get the mick taken out of me because I play in a felt, old-fashioned felt cap. I don't wear a baseball cap. i wear ah I wear a felt cap, which is quite old-fashioned, isn't it? and So there you go. i think I think they should come back more than baseball caps.
00:33:44
Tom Evans
ah i the one The one exception, ah I think Chris Gale pulled this off the West Indies.
00:33:51
Ellie
I've definitely
00:33:52
Tom Evans
Bowling in cap and sunglasses.
00:33:56
Ellie
seen him bat in sunglasses as well. Which I'm not sure about.
00:33:58
Tom Evans
Yeah, yeah.
00:34:01
Jamie Bowman
and a lot jewellery i imagine
00:34:01
Tom Evans
ah Yeah, again, I think...
00:34:03
Ellie
Chris Gale can get away with it, but...
00:34:06
Tom Evans
But do you think just because Chris Gale can pull something off, it doesn't mean that Mia Mortals should attempt it, I think.
00:34:11
Jamie Bowman
this it's legal all right
00:34:14
Tom Evans
Yeah. I think I've accidentally bowled in my cap before now, but just for one ball. And yeah, it it just doesn't feel right either. You know, you know you your arm does go up quite close to your head.
00:34:26
Tom Evans
And like, if there's something that, I don't know, it's yeah, I think it's pretty universal thing that
00:34:32
Jamie Bowman
i ah I also like it. I'll tell you what, something else I like about caps is when the umpire has to wear two or three caps on his head. I find that quite aesthetically pleasing.
Cricket Trivia: Stump the Hosts
00:34:46
Ellie
I quite enjoyed that in comfort when you couldn't give your cap to the umpire and hat stacking became a thing.
00:34:46
Tom Evans
Do you remember in the...
00:34:46
Jamie Bowman
You know, when... Yeah.
00:34:51
Ellie
Mid on mid off and have like five hats on the head is brilliant.
00:34:54
Jamie Bowman
Yeah, yes.
00:34:54
Tom Evans
Yeah, yeah. I was going say that, yeah.
00:34:57
Jamie Bowman
Yeah, I mean, so...
00:34:57
Tom Evans
think it was Moeen Alley, who was the England one One Day side's designated hat wearer.
00:34:58
Jamie Bowman
so
00:35:02
Ellie
yeah
00:35:02
Tom Evans
They'd just be prowling the covers with a stack of hats on.
00:35:04
Jamie Bowman
Yeah, yeah i think I think anything that encourages someone to wear four caps is good, isn't it? You know, any sport where you can do that. So, yeah, I'm i'm um i'm with you. bowler should take off their cap. Yeah, I'm with you on that.
00:35:18
Tom Evans
no argument
00:35:18
Jamie Bowman
What do you reckon, Tom?
00:35:20
Tom Evans
No arguments for me.
00:35:25
Tom Evans
So I'll let you argue with Tyler McGladdy about wicketkeepers in short sleeves and weather whether it should be allowed or not, but you're...
00:35:33
Ellie
I actually hope you can listen to this.
00:35:36
Tom Evans
ah thought I assume you will. I assume everyone everyone will. um And I'm not choosing to look at the figures that might tell me otherwise.
00:35:45
Tom Evans
Our second second regular feature is s Stump the Hosts, where our guests try to do just that with a piece of piece of cricketing t trivia that um myself and Jamie will embarrass ourselves trying to answer.
00:35:57
Tom Evans
What have you got for us?
00:36:00
Ellie
Well, I was Googling stuff before because I'm not very good at the old cricket knowledge. and Stuck with the theme of women's cricket. um In ODI cricket, who has scored the most runs for England women?
00:36:18
Ellie
Of all time.
00:36:19
Tom Evans
Roll time.
00:36:22
Tom Evans
Now...
00:36:25
Jamie Bowman
i mean you go back to a legend like rachel hayhoe flint i don't know but like i don't know how long we're going back she played for a long time and yeah
00:36:32
Tom Evans
and i don't know how I don't know how many ODIs women would have played in those days, whether it compared to, you know, the nine or ten or summer that they play these days.
00:36:45
Jamie Bowman
and someone like claire connor as well or
00:36:48
Tom Evans
So between the areas, yeah.
00:36:49
Jamie Bowman
Oh, dear.
00:36:51
Jamie Bowman
And Charlotte Edwards as well.
00:36:52
Tom Evans
Or Charlotte, yeah
00:36:54
Jamie Bowman
Sarah Taylor.
00:36:54
Tom Evans
yeah.
00:36:55
Jamie Bowman
Yeah. Go on. No.
00:36:56
Tom Evans
If we're thinking of a modern player, would you think of, would you think of Tammy Beaumont? Would you think of Nat Silverbund or Heather Knight?
00:37:03
Jamie Bowman
yeah
00:37:06
Ellie
You me to give you a clue? You've named the top three already.
00:37:11
Tom Evans
You've named the top three.
00:37:12
Jamie Bowman
ah
00:37:13
Tom Evans
Excellent. Well, that that concludes the quiz. That concludes the second.
00:37:17
Jamie Bowman
Hey, that's not bad, Tom. That's not bad.
00:37:20
Ellie
That's not bad. So, Charlotte Edwards first place, Tammy Beaumont in second place, Sarah Taylor in third place.
00:37:20
Tom Evans
Yeah, because...
00:37:27
Jamie Bowman
Whoa.
00:37:28
Tom Evans
Excellent.
00:37:29
Ellie
Great work, guys.
00:37:30
Tom Evans
Good stuff. I mean, what we did was basically name as many batters as we could think of.
00:37:32
Jamie Bowman
That's... Yeah. That was a bit like Question of Sport when they just do list them all, don't they, and then in the in the quick try round.
00:37:41
Tom Evans
yeah yeah and there's always one team member who's answering a question from five minutes ago still
00:37:42
Jamie Bowman
But...
00:37:46
Jamie Bowman
Who was who is number one again? Sorry, Ellie.
00:37:49
Ellie
Charlotte Edwards.
00:37:50
Jamie Bowman
She was Charlotte Edwards. Yeah, well, there you go. i mean, didn't didn't she make her England debut when she was like 14 or something?
00:37:59
Ellie
I'm not sure, but I remember Kay Cross saying that Charlotte Edwards gave her her cap as a player, followed up by saying she could give me my cap and could also be the one who sacks me.
00:38:06
Jamie Bowman
Hmm.
00:38:12
Ellie
and
00:38:13
Jamie Bowman
Yeah. ah
00:38:15
Ellie
Which is pretty funny, but and yeah. if
00:38:19
Jamie Bowman
I mean, it doesn't seem that long ago she was still playing, actually, does it? You know,
00:38:24
Jamie Bowman
You said you'd had dealings with her before, Eddie. Is that through coaching, is it, or...?
00:38:29
Ellie
Yeah, um when I went to Australia with England, a she and she coached on that tour. um And yeah, I really enjoyed working with her. She was brilliant. And obviously, like through the years, I played a lot of domestic cricket against Southern Vipers. And um she was obviously their head coach as well. So know her relatively well and um know a lot of players who've played like with and for her as well. And I've only heard good things. So, yeah.
00:38:53
Ellie
yeah
00:38:54
Jamie Bowman
and Fantastic, fantastic. Well,
00:38:58
Jamie Bowman
You mentioned Tammy Beaumont there. She's a player I love watching. I think she's fantastic and she's great fun to interview as well. you What's she like as ah as a character, Ellie?
00:39:08
Ellie
yeah I've got a lot of time for Tammy. I remember and like a few times like being called up to to play for inter-squad games with the first team and and keep wicketing them. and and She was always someone who made me feel so welcome.
00:39:22
Ellie
and um i As a youngster, was only pretty young then, and she was brilliant with me.
00:39:25
Tom Evans
Thank you.
00:39:26
Ellie
and and but You remember things like that as a player. She was great. so and yeah i don't I wouldn't say I know her too well, but like she's she's always been really good in in the dealings I've had with her. and played a lot of cricket against her, which is more annoying because she's so good and she's one of them who always gets rough.
00:39:41
Jamie Bowman
She did a, did you see that? Did you see the shot she played the other day when she jumped about four?
00:39:46
Ellie
Yeah.
00:39:46
Jamie Bowman
I know she's not, she's not very tall anyway, but she jumped about four foot in the air and kind of click, you know, uppercut it over the slips.
00:39:51
Ellie
Yeah.
00:39:54
Jamie Bowman
It was fantastic.
00:39:56
Ellie
Yeah, she's
00:39:56
Jamie Bowman
Great shot.
00:39:58
Tom Evans
And she's the last the last England batter to make a double century against Australia as well.
00:40:04
Ellie
bad
00:40:04
Jamie Bowman
both men and women's.
00:40:07
Tom Evans
Yeah.
00:40:07
Jamie Bowman
Wow. There you go.
00:40:08
Ellie
Yeah, please and be in behind.
00:40:09
Jamie Bowman
Talking events, we we should talk about Lancashire men's, shouldn't we?
00:40:11
Ellie
so
00:40:12
Jamie Bowman
At some point, Tom.
00:40:14
Tom Evans
Well, I mean, last time we we did this, they they they were clearly listening because Keaton Jennings resigned before we even published the podcast.
Lancashire Men's Cricket Analysis
00:40:23
Tom Evans
After our last... After our last chat about Lankage's men's side. But i think um i thought think the writing was on the wall for Dale Bankenstein. I think it's fairly safe to say it wasn't um popular among the members or the supporters. I think he'd run out of one out of time in the role. And it'll be interesting to see what Stephen Croft can do.
00:40:47
Tom Evans
um Whether he's...
00:40:48
Jamie Bowman
you You did an interesting piece about you know his qualities, didn't you, Stephen Croft?
00:40:53
Tom Evans
I spoke to Ryan Norris, who's the captain at Lytham, who was hoping to have Stephen k Croft for 16 games this summer. He's had him for three. And and that's that's his lot, basically.
00:41:05
Tom Evans
So he was a bit kind of disappointed about that, but delighted for on a personal level, obviously. like um Yeah, he's in the... yeah you see he's in the In the role now, whether it'll just be for the the blast period of the summer, whether they'll get someone in for the someone else in for the next round of county championship fixtures, who knows?
00:41:24
Jamie Bowman
You talked, Telly, about, you know, obviously the doubleheaders and how it creates the atmosphere of one club. What's it been like this season? Has it been ah all doom and gloom? it does that does that Obviously, when you're doing well, you don't want that to rub off on you, do you? It's kind of you've been flying the Lancashire flag really this year.
00:41:44
Ellie
Yeah, um obviously the men have had a ah tough start um and I guess like that county champs block, like we don't really see a lot of them. It tends to be when they're away, we play at Old Trafford and vice versa really.
00:41:57
Ellie
and i've got no sort of I don't know what was was going on and in the dressing room and and what was what the vibe was like, i didn't really see anybody. and
00:42:06
Jamie Bowman
Mm-hmm.
00:42:07
Ellie
And then since the start of the blast, the mood's been great. they've obviously won three from three and they' they're absolutely flying. And um yeah, really pleased for Crofty as well. He's a great bloke and sort symbolises everything about Lancashire really, doesn't he? So um hopefully, yeah, it's at the start of a bit of turnaround really. and And yeah, like hopefully they carry on doing well and yeah, they've been great the last couple of weeks. So hopefully success continues.
00:42:31
Jamie Bowman
It was great to see them bring in that new bowler yesterday as well. ja James, Jimmy, is it? Jimmy Anderson?
00:42:37
Tom Evans
well
00:42:38
Jamie Bowman
It was great to see him get his best ever figures in T20, which is extraordinary, isn't it?
00:42:38
Tom Evans
but Promising young lad, yeah.
00:42:47
Jamie Bowman
It was his first T20 game, I think, for 11 years. And his first and his best ever figures in T20. So an extraordinary... yeah ah And it was a great game, wasn't it, as well? Did you did you stick around and watch it you mentioned, Ellie?
00:43:02
Ellie
Yeah, we watched um bit of the first half and then we watched the rest on the on the live stream on the bus back, and which kept us entertained on the way back from Durham. So, um yeah, great to sort of see them get over the line again.
00:43:13
Ellie
And um yeah, it was a bit of a tricky game at times. Like, pitch was a bit tricky as well. So, and made a good game cricket and please really pleased to get over the line in the end.
00:43:19
Jamie Bowman
Hmm.
00:43:22
Tom Evans
Thank you.
00:43:22
Ellie
And yeah, nice to see Jimmy back playing.
00:43:25
Tom Evans
Well,
Conclusion and Wrap-up
00:43:25
Tom Evans
I think um i think that about that about wraps it up. It only remains to say thank you very much to Ellie Threlkeld and congratulations again on um the trophy. Thank you for coming on.
00:43:35
Ellie
Thanks for having me, guys.
00:43:37
Tom Evans
you again, Jamie. Thank you all for listening. please do please do share and ah you know like and rate and do what you can to spread the word. We hope to be back again soon with another another great guest and another episode of The Last Hour. So thank you very much.
00:43:53
Tom Evans
Bye-bye.
00:43:55
Jamie Bowman
Bye.