Charlie Dean and Tash Farrant on the summer of women’s cricket!

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25:54Nas:Charlie Dean, welcome to the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast. Where are you, Charlie, and how are you doing? I am currently just at the UTSA Bowl. I just watched the Somerset-Hampshire game. Yeah, I unfortunately didn't get to play, but yeah, it was a really good game. And Boucher just hit a brilliant 100, and then my Boucher, so yeah, it was a really good watch. Yeah, well, come on to why you're not playing. But mixed emotions there. your present side against your old side but two of your England teammates in form as you say Maya Boucher with a brilliant hundred and Freya Kemp in the runs as well that's a good sign with your England cap on not your Somerset cap yeah bit bittersweet um sort of coming to the ground where I sort of grew up playing my cricket and um yeah getting in the gym and and feeling um yeah a bit nostalgic about all the hard hard yards I did in there um and obviously all the staff and everything um but then yeah with the Somerset hat on uh you know it's different coming to a ground you know so well but um yeah it's not your home ground anymore but yeah it was a brilliant watch and yeah England hat on and brilliant to see Myra in the runs and and freshly into the ODI squad and um showing why so yeah it's brilliant and the hard yards for you continue how's the back it was what the lower three vertebrae or something I'm no I'm no medical expert as i'm sounding here but it was just a bit of stiffness that was then became a bit of an issue yeah i guess sort of over christmas i sort of i flagged a bit of stiffness and i didn't think anything of it really um and went for a scan and turned out to be a bit of a stress reaction yeah in that l3 and which was a bit of a shock really that's sort of not i thought a stress reaction would feel like um but yeah I guess just global workload bowling a lot trying to yeah trying to push myself and um maybe just overdid it slightly um so it's been a bit of a slow winter for me um and I've still on some some lower workloads um but I feel like in a really good place for my skills which is nice yeah how's it come out with batting and bowling you've had a couple of games how have you felt and more importantly how is the back yeah I've actually felt quite good I think it was probably a good space to be in I I'm I'm often someone who likes to bowl a lot I like to be in rhythm and I think that's probably very common for a spinner um so to sort of be restricted on my overs um it was quite uncomfortable but I think it's it sort of pushed me to be like really ready for games um I've hadn't had a lot of training overs at all to be able to play um so yeah sort of my first over in the week being straight into a game it was quite a challenge for me as someone who likes to prep and feel really confident going into things but I guess it's a different challenge sort of trusting in the stuff that I've done for the past four years I guess building on and yeah it's my back's felt really good so I guess I'm sort of with science and med doing the right kind of things to to be in a place where I can I can go out and perform and maybe a little frustrating at times not quite doing as much as I'd love to be doing but I think I know it's a long summer, it's a long year so getting things right now will put me in good stead.

29:09Nas:It is a long summer and it's also an incredible summer. You've got a World Cup, T20 World Cup, you've got a Lords Test match against India and if everything goes okay on Sunday, you're going to be going out as England cricket captain obviously because of the injury to Nat Siverbrunt and they're looking after her but that must feel pretty special when you got the call. You're now into the squad. we were managing your workload but we need you now and we need you to be captain as well yeah I mean it was I knew that Nat wasn't quite feeling 100 % so I thought I wasn't too sure which way they were going to go with it but um yeah I sort of got a call on on Sunday morning from Lottie and I and I thought okay yeah it's such an amazing opportunity to captain your country you know not many people get to do it so it feels like a massive honor and um it feels like really really good good timing for me I feel like I'm starting to bring a bit more confidence and assuredness about my own game so being able to lean and lean on people when needed but I feel like I'm probably in a space the best space that I have been to be able to captain the side so yeah it's really exciting obviously missing that is a huge detriment to our side you know she's such a key player that ball in the field and as a leader so that that's probably gonna be challenging as maybe a bit of a hole there, but there's lots of girls who are really ready to put on an England shirt.

30:36So it feels like an exciting opportunity, these ODIs, to really push forward with a bit of a new cycle after the World Cup, really looking forward into the future. And yeah, I guess having a bit of experience under my belt captaining will mean that if anything happens towards the World Cup, when Nat should be perfectly ready and raring to go. But yeah, should I be needed? Hopefully I have a bit of that experience under my belt. So yeah, it almost feels like it's tough because obviously we want Nat to be ready and playing. But it's a good a time as any for her to just have a bit of a rest and for the rest of us to step up, I guess.

31:18Nas:Should we be worried? How concerned? She's such a pivotal player for this England set-up. Obviously, leader as well. How bad is it? Is it just precautionary with Nat Silberman? yeah I think it is it feels like a very small grade injury so I think it's very much precautionary making sure that she's in the best place to really push on for that World Cup it would seem silly pushing it too early and doing something worse and when you know it feels like she's in a good place and she is so as you said pivotal for our team everything that she offers with the bat with the ball so So, yeah, it's very much just making sure that she's right for the World Cup and she should be good to go.

32:02Nas:You've only had a couple of games yourself, but you've been busy. I'm presuming you went on the boot camp with the army. I'm presuming Nat went as well. How did that all go? What was the point of that? Team building, what sort of things did you get up to? Yeah, it was really good, actually. A little physical at times. As a preface, Nat did not do any of the physical stuff. So she didn't get injured on that camp. But yeah, and there was a few of us who couldn't quite take part all the way because our medical staff really liked to look after us. But yeah, it was a really good camp, actually. It promoted a lot of brilliant conversations.

32:44I think we sort of identified that as a team, we need to grow in our leadership. And that camp was sort of a perfect timing before the World Cup as a sort of line under the sand. and really trying to push forward as a team. And yeah, as I said, it's promoted a lot of really good conversations for us. And yeah, it feels like we're sort of starting to build into something. It's such a huge summer. It's a brilliant opportunity for English cricket, English women's cricket. And we don't want to do any injustices. So we want to make sure we're in the right place. And I think to get together as a team and really lay things down, see where we want to get to and how we're going to do that, I think was really important for us.

33:28Nas:And a home 2020 World Cup as well. The last time a World Cup was here was obviously the success of 2017. You were there as a young kid watching on at Bristol. What are your memories of that World Cup? And who was your hero in that World Cup, watching on at Lourdes in that final and various parts of the country? yeah I the that World Cup was was really special for me I guess I think I was sort of a 16 year old girl um I managed to net bowl at Bristol at one point and I bowled at Tammy Beaumont and I thought she is so good um and I think that sort of ignited my like real want to to to be able to um I guess be on a team with her a bit later on is is pretty special and um you know watching Nat I think she got 50 in that final and and Anya with the ball bringing it home at Lourdes it was really special it felt like a moment for women's cricket that potentially we we hadn't had before and I guess being being in a team where where we were we're now playing with some of those girls who are in that final I know me Alice Capsie Izzy Wong I think I think we're all at the game and And I feel like that ignited something in us to really want to be able to play, you know, cricket for not only our country, but professionally.

34:53And to then be able to be in a team with Heather and Tammy and Amy and Danny and all the girls who are in that squad is it feels quite special. I remember sort of saying to them how important it was to us a few years ago. And I think it was a cool moment of sort of reflection that actually that was a moment that inspired a lot of girls to pick up a bat or really pursue things that they wanted to do. And I think this summer feels like a perfect chance for us to, I guess, you know, we've probably underperformed in the last few World Cups and Ashes. and as a team we we want to win um we we want to be successful and um if we could if we could have that same effect on on you know more girls more more boys anyone you know sort of watching then that would be you know it feels very important to us um and we want to we want to be that um and it's and it's hard it's hard to not put pressure on yourselves when you when you're in that situation but um it feels like it could be a really important moment in English cricket and

36:00Nas:we want to do it justice you said just there that you have underperformed recently as a team you've gone out at knockout stages or even before the last t20 world cup in dubai famously under the under the lights of dubai um i've got a few things here that were thrown at you and how have you improved and have you improved the first thing is fitness would you say you are now a fitter side and what are the levels of fitness and how are they tested um going into this world cup than maybe previous ones we're we're very like role specific with our fitness testing um we have 2ks a lot of the seamers end up doing the 2ks yo-yos which more battered than spinners do um yeah it's more of a sort of repeat sprint um how how long can you go whereas 2ks are a longer endurance run but i think what's important with fitness is it's not just about you know how long can you run for it's also important to be fast and athletic and um that's just a huge part of of fielding and I feel like we've really put a lot of time into that and and it's not like we we didn't do that before I think you know it's important to say we've we've always wanted to be fitter we've always wanted to be better I think maybe that ash is probably I guess when it when it's in the headlines you and you realize that maybe it's sticking out a bit that we need to push a bit a bit more on that and spend a bit more time on that not just our skills but I think as an international cricketer it can be hard to have a really massive fitness block um you know you go from game to game and you want to be fit and you're playing all year round and i guess this this year we've not had a lot of um so winter series so it's actually been a really brilliant time for us to to sort of have a big physical block and and push really hard on those bits um and i think it's just a huge confidence thing especially with building um where that was my Next on my list was fielding.

37:54Nas:Yeah. Where is the team with their fielding? Because that Dubai game, World Cup, you had to beat West Indies, the ring of fire, the lights, and you dropped a lot of chances. It cost you a game and it cost you qualification for the knockout stages. Where is this team with their fielding? I guess it's easy for me to sit here and tell you how good a fielding side we are in practice. Some of the things that the girls do is impeccable. impeccable i and i think i think what it is for us is is switching on on under pressure and in those in those games where you know things are on the line can you execute that when it when it really matters so having a having a few more fielding sessions where we're put under a bit more pressure um maybe fielding we've definitely fielded a lot more under lights um since since that world cup but i think it's easy it's so easy to make excuses with with building and and the big moments but like if if we're honest we just we need to be better and we are what's frustrating sometimes is it was we're so good in practice um and it's just that i think it's just that mental application and on on the day of a big game and um the more we play in those games the easier it's going to get you're the perfect walker you've you've talked about there about nailing your skills under pressure and that was next on my list i watched the england women's team and they will go around and they'll beat a lot of people below them on the rankings.

39:19Nas:And then they come to a massive game and the bar's been lifted and the pressure. And there is no tomorrow if you lose. South Africa, semifinals, various games around the world. How do you manage that situation that suddenly you're under pressure and it's a must-deliver, must-win game that you do deliver? Have you spoken about that, handling pressure? Yeah, massively. I think as a group, it can be quite individual how each each people get themselves into a space where you can perform under pressure. But being able to train, having these camps within ourselves, doing a bit more T20 specific work.

40:00We've had quite a few super overs that we've we're trying to emulate and bits like that, which maybe we might not have put as much attention onto previously. obviously um it's it's so hard to replicate that pressure uh we we know that and i'm playing county cricket introduces different kind of pressure but i think so what what lollies tried to do with these sort of t20 camps is is really push ourselves against the best in the country which which is that that group that probably that core group of of girls um you know are our best bowlers bowling at our best batters and and can we put each other under pressure and hopefully that replicates itself facing you know faster bowlers in Australia and South Africa and different types of players as well but also the I guess the subcontinent teams bring a different kind of challenge in terms of the spin bowling that they have and trying to be really specific in knowing what our game plans will be when we come up to that so it's less of a shock every time that that that comes um so yeah it's it's hard to replicate those pressures of a knockout game in front of a big crowd you know the lights are on it's not easy to replicate that but but trying to be as prepared individually and as a team you know knowing what the person next to you needs when when they're under the pump um that's something that that we're trying to really connect with um especially at this um army camp for example really knowing our teammates so that if someone is under pressure we can we can help them out or they can ask for help or they know what they need from you um so that so that you can be the best person for them in that moment but ultimately we need to be good at our skills right that's internal pressure what about

41:53Nas:coping now with external pressure and comment and punditry you know you've probably been growing up with keyboard warriors and social media pressure and some of the nonsense that's said, that's now flipped because it's become such a professional game that when you lose the Ashes 16-0, when you're knocked out of World Cups, various pundits will have their opinions and say things and you have to react to that as well. It's going to happen in a home World Cup. How ready are you for that? You may have bad days and you may cop a lot of stick but you're going to have to suck it up basically. Yeah, it's exactly that, isn't it?

42:31You know, we know that there's a narrative around our fielding and our fitness. But what's really important for us is to know that within our group and within our coaching staff, that we have a real belief that we're better than what some people might say. And I think it's keeping it really internal and knowing and sticking to what we know we need to do in order to perform. um it is it's hard to stay off social media and you you know you can say oh don't don't read it and all bits like that but reality is you know you're gonna want to sneak onto your phone and and and see what what people are saying but it's really important to um stay true to what you know is is important to you um at the end of the day I know that if I produce my best game that that I'll be in the best place and if if I don't do that then I need to be honest with myself and and why that is and what someone else says on on commentary you know is it is probably not going to help or hinder it's the people around me that whose opinions that I care most about of course I listen to you Nass though and and I enjoy I enjoy listening to your commentary

43:47Nas:that's the only bit of social media that wow that one line by the way Charles in response I'm now going to have to be nice to you. I looked at the stats. You are the leading wicket-taker for England since that night in Dubai, in this format, T20 format. How pleased are you with your growth? For all the talk of leadership and captaincy, you have to look after your individual skills. You strike me that someone that's always trying to improve as a bowler and also pressure moments as a batter. You seem to like and thrive on those moments as well. Where are you with your own game at the moment? Yeah, I think I didn't actually know that I was the leading wicket-taker, so thanks for telling me that yeah um thank you um yeah I I feel in a really confident space actually yeah I feel like if I if I'm on my best day that I know what I need to do and um T20 game starts to become a bit more simple the more players try and come at you and take you on um I try and take length away or bowl under the bat.

44:51I am someone who just wants to get better. I know that my stats against left-handers maybe aren't as good as most off-spinners, so that's been a real work on for me.

45:02Nas:I was looking at that last night, actually, and we spoke about this in Guwahati. We were doing something for the ICC, and you did know that it was an odd thing for an off-spinner to left-handers. That is your match-up. But in 50 over cricket, it hasn't quite worked. But in 20 over cricket, I was looking, your stats are pretty good against left-handers. And you've got good left-handers out. Mooney, twice, Litchfield, you know, there's a core of them. So there is a bit of a discrepancy there. What about with the batting? Like I say, you seem to thrive under pressure. You've delivered some crucial little roles and cameos down the order as well.

45:40yeah I think um with my batting I I I'd really love to be that big hit a power player um but I think I'm I'm very aware that that's not me so I sort of I feel like I've gotten to a place where I know my strengths and being able to go to them as much as possible whether that's using the pace or or running hard and um getting up and down or getting someone else on strike and I feel like when you have less options it's easier to go to those um so yeah i i enjoy batting in in situations in games i i'm probably not as good as in the nets but yeah i really i really enjoy batting when i when i get the chance to do it and it's something that i really want to keep pushing on with but yeah i i'd like to hope that in a crisis i could i could do an okay job and squads were

46:30Nas:announced obviously a couple of weeks ago and it was a great bit on social media charlotte ringing tilly courtine coleman and telling her she was in the world cup squad and her reaction was just priceless um what advice you're now a veteran at 25 what advice would you give young tilly who's now starting on the journey that you've been on for a while tilly i i don't think i can give tilly much advice she is a really switched on girl um she's she it feels like She's miles ahead of where I was at 20 in terms of knowing herself and a sense of confidence and also curiosity to learn. I guess I would say stay curious.

47:10Keep asking questions. Keep being willing to push yourself. But she's got a bright future ahead, that's for sure.

47:16Nas:And three left arm spinners and an ox spinner. Are your best bowlers just your best bowlers? And it doesn't matter if you play three of them or will you need to rotate or best for certain situations? I haven't seen that. Hey, I don't know. But I think it's, you know, your best spinners are your best spinners. I know Sarah Glenn has struggled a bit with a finger injury. So she sort of missed out on those grounds. But yeah, I guess Tilly sort of being a bit of an unknown coming into a World Cup almost plays into advantage for her as well. And then we've seen how good Lindsay Smith is with the new ball and towards the def.

47:57And Sophie Eppleston is still, you know, world's best with the ball. So I guess they all bring sort of different elements to the left arm spin. They're not just the same bowler, I guess. But it's exciting to have that sort of, I guess, difference in bowlers. Say you'd say two seam bowlers, but you wouldn't say that they're the same bowler. You know, Izzy Wong swings the ball away, has lovely knuckleballs and variations, and Belly does what she does at the top. But they're still very different bowlers' height and bounce and everything that they bring. So, yeah, I guess it doesn't really matter which way you spin the ball as long as you have control and you're a good option at the time.

48:42Nas:You're back at Hampshire today. You know Hampshire well. You know the Vipers well. and hence you know Charlotte Edwards well. If I asked you to sum up, not Charlotte Edwards the player, we know Charlotte Edwards the player, an all-time great. Charlotte Edwards the coach, how would you sum her up? I think Lottie is someone who strives to be the best. I think she's also someone that really evolves. I think that's a testament to the way she goes about things. She knows that the game changes and you have to keep up with it. so she's willing to evolve and adapt her style and I think that's what put her in such a fantastic position and she knows how to win games of cricket and that's sort of what she's trying to instil in us is smart cricketers and that's what we're all trying to be someone who can go into seven different situations and get to feel for exactly what they need to do and I think it's hard we're an England cricket team But especially this ODI team, we're still a young sort of batting line-up, a young bowling line-up.

49:50But there's only so long you can say that for. So we really need to learn quickly. And learning from the best is often a good way to go about it. So, yeah, that's Loi.

50:00Nas:And Sunday, let's get back to Sunday. Walking out at Durham, England captain, you know, ready for the toss. How proud will you be and how proud will family be? and will they be there to watch their daughter lead out England? Yeah, I think I'm still wrapping my head around it, to be honest. I guess it's good Lottie called me on Sunday, so I have a week to really let it sink in and then just get to the job at hand. I know my dad's making a trip up to Durham, so yeah, it'll be really special to have him there. And yeah, hopefully I can do all the prep and yeah, feel really ready for the moment so that I can enjoy it because not many people get to do it.

50:44So, yeah, it does feel a huge honour. And I'm really excited for the opportunity.

50:50Nas:Well, good luck, Charlie. Wrap that back up warm because it's going to be cold up at Chesla Street. Can't wait.

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