Heather Knight and her alter ego

15 Sep 2025 · 52 min · 20 chapters

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In short

Heather Knight (England cricket captain) discusses her alter ego “Bag Shelly,” her hamstring injury rehab, and her return to play ahead of the Women’s Cricket World Cup in India; she also talks paddle tennis with Matt “Matching” Triscothic, her cat Mocha/Zeus, and learning guitar (aiming to play “Lucky Man” by the end of the World Cup).

Key claims

she chose not to have hamstring surgery to avoid missing the World Cup; she expects to be “right as rain” in a couple of weeks; Matching stalks/“loiters” on her estate and promises a K-Lenders t-shirt; her batting technique changed after the 2017 World Cup to hit harder on slow wickets.

Notable examples

the “spat on her shirt” Oasis anecdote; a controversial “ultra edge” dismissal in Southampton 2023; paddle tactics vs Matching (his aggressive serve, limited mobility).

Guests

Heather Knight (England all-time great, former captain); Greg James (host); Felix White; Izzy Wong; Matt “Matching” Triscothic (appears via discussion/quiz, in Norway); Tim (Izzy’s/Heather’s partner, club cricket).

Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.

Chapters

Tap a time to open that second in VO

Heather and Matching's Paddle Partnership

1:50 to 3:40

Heather Knight shares her relationship with Matching and their paddle games.

“Oh, the only the only reason I said that is because everyone was launching into great chat and I was like, save it.”

Playing Paddle and Injury Stories

3:40 to 6:13

Discussion about paddle games, injuries, and Heather's feelings about competition.

“But it's really mind-blowing to us that not only has he infiltrated the game and has become a cult cricket icon, he's actually friends with one of the all-time greats, Heather Knight, and also Jimmy Anderson.”

World Cup Excitement and Personal Updates

6:13 to 9:20

Heather discusses her upcoming World Cup participation and personal life updates.

“Well unbelievably he's in Norway What the f*** is he up to in Norway?”

Guitar Aspirations and Learning

9:20 to 12:35

Heather shares her plans to learn guitar and her favorite music.

“Can speak a bit more open and honestly probably be left diplomatic and then, yeah, bam, injured out for four months.”

Plectrum Usage and Fun Stories

12:35 to 14:00

Light-hearted banter about plectrums and their unique uses.

Guitar Goals and Challenges

14:00 to 18:05

Heather discusses her guitar learning goals and the simplicity of chords.

“Scratch Ratchin's nose as he's chasing you down the road.”

An Embarrassing Anecdote

18:05 to 19:30

A humorous story about an accidental spitting incident involving Heather.

“We could track for Journey of Nevernight and Lucky Man until she comes on and plays it for the first time.”

Playing with Heather Knight

19:30 to 22:22

Izzy Wong shares her experience training alongside Heather and the dynamics of the team.

“But look, I feel like for quite a lot of us who are on the younger side of that team, a lot of us watched Heather play quite a lot when we were younger.”

Matchin Live from Norway

23:28 to 28:00

Discussion about Matchin's trip to Norway and humorous interactions.

“Yeah, it's coffee and quite into the beers and the coffees and the little...”

Cricket Relationships

28:00 to 29:28

Exploration of the importance of partners understanding cricket in relationships.

“Well, he's done in the back at the moment.”
Show all 20 chapters

Club Cricket Experiences

29:28 to 30:54

Discussion about playing club cricket and sharing pointers with partners.

Professional Cricketer Struggles

30:54 to 33:16

Insights into the challenges and frustrations of being a professional cricketer.

“what's the worst bit about being a professional cricketer?”

Post-Match Reactions

33:16 to 34:36

Reflections on post-match interviews and the emotional toll of losing.

Cricketing Career Highlights

34:36 to 37:12

Discussion on career highs and the significance of the World Cup win.

“okay you shook your head I said it depends if she goes serious and she went like this okay Heather who was your favourite player growing up good this is more specific Do you want multiple choice for this as well, Greg?”

Upcoming World Cup Insights

37:12 to 42:03

Analysis of the upcoming World Cup and expectations for England's performance.

“No, it was giving losing post-match interviews.”

Facing Izzy Wong: Strategies and Experiences

42:04 to 44:12

Learn about the strategies and experiences of cricketers facing bowler Izzy Wong.

“So you're trying to pick up little cues around what she's going to do because she does keep you guessing.”

Weekend Plans and Floating Sauna

44:12 to 45:31

Discover the lighthearted conversation about weekend plans, including a unique floating sauna experience.

“Izzy it's been great having you back on yeah so what's going on tomorrow?”

Reflections on Friendship and Career

45:31 to 47:26

Explore the reflections on friendships in cricket and Heather Knight's career ahead of the World Cup.

“Because everyone else can hear you, can't they?”

Listener Shout-Outs and Go Wells

47:26 to 48:31

Join in as the hosts give shout-outs and well wishes to listeners and personal shout-outs.

Celebrating Life Events and Go Wells

48:31 to 53:36

Celebrate various life events and milestones as the hosts share go wells for listeners.

“wants to go well and a get well for her mate Butch.”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

0:00This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

0:30at Whole Foods Market. That refresh you've been putting off until the right deal came along? It's here. Wayfair's Black Friday in July sale is happening now so you can finally get the style you've been waiting for for less. Get up to 80 % off area rugs and up to 60 % off outdoor and bedroom furniture. Shop Wayfair's huge selection of styles and find the piece to fit your style, budget, and space. Plus, free shipping. Black Friday in July ends July 27th. Shop today at Wayfair.com. Way fair, every style, every home Hello and welcome to Tailenders Hello and thank you for having us on Tailenders Your loosely based, cricket based podcast Oh, it's a loosely based podcast Yeah, so do I change it now to loosely based Because I was going to say loosely based, loosely based, loosely cricket based Or is it just loosely based?

1:22I think Majin just called it a loosely based podcast Okay, welcome to your regular loosely based podcast This is G-Force, Greg James. We have Felix White. We have Izzy Wong and we have a very special guest. And I actually, I feel terrible because two minutes ago I just shouted at a World Cup Ashes winner, legend of the game, England captain, one of the all time greats. I'm so sorry, but welcome Heather Knight. Yeah, you told us. Hello. Oh, the only the only reason I said that is because everyone was launching into great chat and I was like, save it. We're not recording. And then Izzy Wong popped up and then Heather went, all right, kid.

2:03And there was this lovely interaction. So let's try and recreate that. Imagine Izzy's just popped up on the screen. Heather, go.

2:09Issy Wong:All right, kid. How are you? So original. Go back to my Lancaster in route. Lovely, authentic moment to start the podcast. Heather, it's so nice to get you on. Thanks for sparing some time. Welcome back to Tell Enns. How are you? Yeah, good. Thanks for having me on. I've just got a text from Matching, actually. I require a pen and paper for his quiz. Oh, he's not even here, is he? But he's not here. Where is he? Heather, that is quite good timing, actually, because while he's not here, we just want to get your side, because Matching has been boasting about his relationship, and it is a relationship with you, over maybe the last year or two where he said that he was, at first he was just spotting you because you live relatively close to each other and he's been telling us that you have, well, basically tells us you're now paddle partners and in his words, partners in crime.

3:02Issy Wong:Well, we actually compete against each other in paddle. We never played on the same team. Okay. But yeah, I do run into him quite a lot actually. Yeah. Maybe too much. It's almost like he's loitering. That's suspicious. this does not surprise us yeah this does not but you you brought this on yourself to a certain extent because you have you moved into his area i did that's matching's realm make it sound like the wire he's in a bigger house than me as well he's in the posh end of the estate oh is he great wow this is good information it's amazing it well look you so you're you're aware of the folklore around Matt Chintendorka.

3:40But it's really mind-blowing to us that not only has he infiltrated the game and has become a cult cricket icon, he's actually friends with one of the all-time greats, Heather Knight, and also Jimmy Anderson. That's so many of England cricket fans' dreams, really, to sort of be on paddle terms or pub terms with a cricketer. But what is he like to play paddle again? How's he like? He's got a very aggressive, enthusiastic serve. Whoa.

4:16Issy Wong:And he's got quite long hair, isn't he? So it always makes me laugh when he serves because his hair sort of like whooshes. Yeah, I can say. I think he leaves it long, actually, to try and put people off. He's not the most mobile. Yeah. So the tactics are to try and get him to move around the court quite a lot. He's not quite mobile. He's decent, to be fair. So you can give him the run around, basically? I try to, yeah. I played him singles a few times, and that was quite a good game, actually. Did you beat him? Yeah, obviously. What? Oh, yeah, sorry, I forgot. I think he's beat us a few times, actually.

4:52Issy Wong:He keeps bringing in these bandits. He keeps trying to find his best paddle partner, and they're always really good. Oh, because he brings John from Idols, isn't he? Isn't John from Idols? Yeah, he's brought John a few times. John's drummer from Idols John's pretty good actually what a four ball great it's an amazing life Matching leads isn't it it is Heather are you aware that he because I think Marcus Truscoffic is from a similar area you guys are so a number of years ago Matching would bump into I say bump into he'd seek out Marcus Truscoffic after games and offer him lifts back to Bristol from whatever game they're at which Marcus Truscoffic always kindly turned down and we haven't got to the bottom of on that where Marcus Skowicz feels like matching stalking him and just I guess my question to you I'm leading to is has he ever done that with you?

5:42Does he offer you lifts home? And do you feel comfortable with that exchange if so?

5:47Issy Wong:And would you sit in the front or the back? Great question Izzy thank you would you believe in the circle? He hasn't offered me any lifts actually but I've seen him I've been out jogging a few times and he's sort of the first time I saw him on the estate actually he's sort of like do jog here often which was interesting it was almost like it just was sort of waiting for me to come back for my jog so that was slightly strange but he never offered me a lift which is strange actually considering we play paddle against each other in my head he's like he's in a bin and it's like the bin's moving a little bit and every time you turn around the bin's in a different place just see eyes like cardboard box why is that hedge moving?

6:32Where is he by the way? Well unbelievably he's in Norway What the f*** is he up to in Norway? Is he? Why is he in Norway?

6:44Issy Wong:He also promised me a K-Lender's t-shirt I've got promised some stash by him but he hasn't delivered yet I think he might have sold it He has one of those brains He's very quick brained He'll say something and then it'll be out of his brain but he'll get round to it Izzy what's it like playing any other sport apart from cricket against Heather Knight. Great question. I don't think I've ever played another sport other than cricket against Heather Knight. Can we talk about the animal that you've just held up a loft over your head? He's not enjoying it. This is Mokka. Heather once famously told me she didn't want to see pictures of my cat.

7:20Issy Wong:She wanted to see me bowl. Mokka has been waiting for this moment to get his revenge on Heather Knight. Hi Mokka. Great to see you. Mokka's really not up for that. Mokka's not a fan of you. He's a fan of you. Like I was saying, it was great to see you too, Heather Knight. I've never actually played another sport with Heather Knight, I don't think. Or like a game, like cards or something, or like any sort of rain delay game or something. I just feel like you're unbelievably competitive, as you should be. I can't think of anything. I don't think we've played cards. Heather was above us mere mortals at the back of the bus during the 100.

7:52Issy Wong:She was at the front of the bus with the staff. We got dropped very quickly. The playing group was abandoned, cast away, and the staff group was. I had to keep my coaching boundaries. Yeah, go sit on the front with the teachers. Interesting. Just quickly, your cat is, I mean, look, we've joked about you with your coffee. You've named your cat after a coffee. Mocker, well, he was brown when we got him, and now he's just black. He's more of an Americano now, but he doesn't quite have the same nice, friendly sort of undertones to it. So, Mocker, yeah. He's gone. He's just been put on the naughty step for interfering, I think.

8:30Issy Wong:Poor guy. You've got two cats. Yeah, Zeus is very well behaved. He's probably just weeding himself in the corner or something. He's got Mocha and Zeus. Zeus, yeah. Mocha, like the kind of chocolatey coffee for babies, and Zeus, the god of the sky. Yeah, Zeus, like... Is Zeus the god in the long household? Yeah, he kind of sits where he wants. He's very cuddly at the moment. He's been sitting on the sofa a lot watching telly. He likes watching Aston Villa. I'm convinced he's a Villa fan whenever the Villa are on the telly he seems to be watching but he doesn't seem that bothered by Liverpool or Chelsea who Katie supports interesting yeah tough times yeah do you have any pets Heather?

9:10Issy Wong:I don't actually no just matching I do like pets contrary to what Wongi just said but no I'm a way too much I've been allergic to dog hair so get a bit of a snivel everyone's going to squeeze in some cricket chat before matching turns up what how's how's the hamstring how are you feeling it's good yeah good not far away now so still building up a little bit but a couple of weeks i should be right as rain so i'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel which is very nice it's been a long old couple of months i bet because just obviously after the bike not being captain you probably had that feeling of like liberation i'm just going to play and then getting a hamstring it must have been so or i'll feel for you that must be yeah it was like a week after i kind of got back together with the girls and Yeah, I felt like I was sort of getting used to life as not captain, having a bit more time on my hands, not as many meetings.

10:00Yeah.

10:01Issy Wong:Can speak a bit more open and honestly probably be left diplomatic and then, yeah, bam, injured out for four months. So, yeah, the time was pretty cruel actually. Obviously missing the end of summer, pretty much all of it. So that was pretty gutting. But, yeah, it's not fun being injured, not going to lie. A lot of time swimming, a lot of time in the gym. Getting away from matching. yeah no paddle we're matching for four months oh my god that's the real tragedy here yeah that is the tragedy yeah he's found new paddle friends in the meantime you're nearly there brilliant so world cup very soon so you must be you must be flying out right next few days right it starts tomorrow night right okay so it starts on the 30th of september it's in india and the squad is announced you're in the 15 player squad with phoe was talking about you not being captain but how are you how are you how are you feeling about it i guess you you would have liked to have had a little bit of match practice but you gotta just go for it i guess yeah i'm really excited like it almost feels a bit like a bonus to be here to be honest like it was always pretty tight with this injury i had the option to get surgery on the hamstring but decided not to because it probably would have put me out of the world cup so yeah i'm really excited like i'm looking forward to be back playing cricket and not just doing all the boring things that you have to doing none of the fun stuff that you have to do with rehab so yeah it's gonna be fun like India's such a cool place to play cricket as well it's madness absolute madness because they just love the game and yeah it's gonna be fun Izzy probably was maybe has told you I've also bought a guitar and oh yeah the next couple of months is gonna be my sort of trying to learn to play the guitar I've not been told this you've come to the right place with Fee though he's the best teacher you could ever have can you not quite can you not play guitar at all ever no i'm high enthusiasm and love of music but zero talent so i'm properly starting from scratch yeah isn't isn't your favorite record i read some of your favorite records is urban hymns by verve am i getting that right yeah i love that album yes my favorite album yeah is it you can maybe teach ever guitar no or or leave it to me not the world cup but um we uh we had some beginner lessons on the bus well could you could you go out as the guitar teacher i'm not sure the ecb ecb employ one of them at the moment but um i reckon i'd be quite high up on the um on the shortlist if they did if they if that was a luggage like you reckon i could fit you in there well i'm about 65 so if you've only got 15 kilograms worth of clothing and cricket equipment i could definitely only take one bat and then i'll take you in a bag one pair of spikes would be enough but is he in the bag with the guitar it's about right um yeah mocha and zeus yes mocha's quite heavy actually mocha's like seven kilos he's gonna eat into your locker gelato like tip of scales a bit there oh look actually did help me pick out a guitar though yeah we went to this really cool little shop in the jewelry quarter in birmingham it's called like the little guitar shop it's so cool in there it just doesn't it smell amazing it does and you were greeted like a returning hero oh really my local guitar shop wasn't it i took my guitar in there but when i got back from australia i opened the box the case and its neck it snapped so i took it in there and i said please go fix it for me and they were like yeah yeah sure and then fell in love with another guitar while i was there so and then i went back and bought that and then it's easily done it's sort of place you can just kind of keep going back to and keep finding a reason of oh i need a new I need a new plectrum I'll just go back to the guitar shop and see what they've got for me what's a plectrum?

13:29Issy Wong:what's a plectrum? like a little pick that's a plectrum Steve out for the minute I'm holding a triangular object which you pick the guitar with so you have it it's a plectrum that's a plectrum I'll start using that around people and I think I'm really musical just drop my plectrum just lit them everywhere and I've got a spare plectrum a plectrum is always in my pockets at all time because you never know when you need one emergency plectrum if you just shake me it's like an acorn tree loads of plectrums just what's what's the most random thing you've ever had to use a plectrum for oh what what a weirdly specific but good question is he i could imagine you know the flat screwdrivers i can imagine if you ever needed a flat screwdriver and you didn't have one a plectrum would be quite a nice yeah to pick locks yeah change the batteries in a remote probably?

14:22Quite nice. Scratch your nose.

14:24Issy Wong:Scratch your nose. Great one. Lovely. Scratch someone else's nose. Scratch Ratchin's nose as he's chasing you down the road. Scratch Ratchin's nose, yeah. You need a big plectrum. I'm going to need a big plectrum. Yeah, yeah. It's like trying to clean up the inside of a cathedral. Heather, what's in your guitar? Do you want to learn a specific song? Have you got something in mind? Like, let's say in six months' time, what would you like? What are your goals? Ooh. what about one of the songs from Urban Hymns oh yeah do you know what that's a great start I actually think you should definitely do that Heather because they're all they're all the most simple chords you can play and you don't have to move your fingers much so that's actually a great way to start okay great I've got about four chords at the moment what have you got E major and E minor yeah yeah does that count as two or one and a half no that's two The A.

15:18Yeah.

15:20Issy Wong:Nice. C. Yeah. Nice. And D, I think. I think you can already play Lucky Man. That's it, yeah. You might just need G. You've got the G. Oh, really? Is that like the old lady in Friends? The one up top. I'm sorry, what? Top, top and the bottom. The old lady in Friends? The old lady in Friends. You know when Phoebe's loads the chords? Oh, right, yeah. He does the hand position. Sorry, if you haven't seen a friend here, I sound like a mad woman. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, it is a bit like that. Just like the old lady. Yeah, yeah. So I reckon you could do Lucky Man by the end of the World Cup. Okay. That's your tail enders challenge.

15:58And then can you come back on after the World Cup to see what your progress is?

16:01Issy Wong:Okay. I think that'd be really fun. So you've got four chords? I'm going to have a form of anxiety already for playing the guitar in front of people. The four chords thing, I feel like Ed Sheeran says that that's all he knows and that he's done all right. Yeah. Well, that's the beautiful thing about a guitar, isn't it? if you know a simple amount of stuff it can take you anywhere I've also got an anecdote related to that little bit which I was supposed to tell the week after I saw Heather doing this but I actually bottled it because it doesn't reflect very well on me but I saw Heather and Isha at Oasis the first time I saw Oasis I think it was the first Oasis show at Wembley and I was very everyone was very very very ecstatic and emotional but I would it got heightened to me in a sort of cycle that way but i did see heather and isha very near to me and we were talking after the gig and i was a little bit i would say like flummox flummox i was just a little bit like scatty i was a kind of just all over the place and i was talking to him about something and you know when you're just talking a bit too fast a bit overexcited and i i can't even say this but i accidentally spat on her oh like on on her and do you know what in that split second i found out what it would be like to be playing for heather knight because you know how some people you know someone just like spat on you like i didn't it wasn't her face it was on her shirt but and you both choose to like not acknowledge that has just happened but you both know that's happened heather just very sternly for a split second just looked down at her shirt and then looked back at me and in the eyes as if to say I know what you've just done and we had to talk about it I think we did I was hauled into the team office I had to have a long chat with Heather about what I'd just done right so you got a fine 10 % you match fee yeah and then she put on my Instagram comments for next day just one simple emoji just a little splash of water

18:05no one else knew but you and no one knew but me it's brutal it's brutal these sports people they're so brutal we would we would just kind way but she was like i'm not letting it fly it was she was very nice about it yeah but it was a bit like i know you've just done that and you're not going to get away complete i'm going to let you off but i'm going to i'm not going to acknowledge that's

18:25Issy Wong:happened so you can have a think about it it's a wonder she's agreed to come on yeah i know well it's on zoom in person I'll bring an umbrella in a poncho yeah oh it's so embarrassing it's so embarrassing yeah can't get me on zoom don't be embarrassed Felix it happened thanks Heather I'll teach you lucky man or play lucky man with you as consolation yeah at some point thanks well we'd love to we'd love to get you back on to play it and maybe if we ever do a live show again in the next few months maybe you could come and play it live Oh, that's a good one. Come on. We could track for Journey of Nevernight and Lucky Man until she comes on and plays it for the first time.

19:06We can literally call it for one night only. For one night only. We can still do that. One night only. For one night only. Everyone else just leaves the stage.

19:19Issy Wong:It's just one night, only one night. It's just, yeah. Come on. I know, just the thought of it. um izzy can you talk to us about what it's like playing alongside and also sort of being around someone like heather knight when you're finding your way in the professional game like we know what would happen if you spat on her by accident but what was it like yeah what's it actually like to sort of train with listen to it's important to stay kind of out of spitting distance just to avoid those sort of accidents. But look, I feel like for quite a lot of us who are on the younger side of that team, a lot of us watched Heather play quite a lot when we were younger.

20:04Issy Wong:So I guess like going into it, you kind of have your thoughts, your feelings, your image of Heather. And for most of us, it's probably like lifting a World Cup at Lord's. That's what a lot of us had kind of watched growing up. And that had been probably one of the first moments where we were like, wow, like that's heather knight and that's that's pretty cool and then i think to go into the environment having had those kind of already outside impressions i guess especially when she was captain that kind of like that standard she kind of lives that and like i guess for those of us that are a little bit younger to have looked up to her and then come into that and she's looking awkwardly at the pitch that's never looked so interesting now um to like i guess live up to that image that we've had of her but still be when you spend more time around her still be like wow okay like look at all the stuff that she's doing like that's the kind of barrier that's the that's the line that that we want to be hitting so I think firstly that was quite cool to have been able to watch someone and then play with them that's really cool and then I feel like over the last probably six months or so I feel like Cheeky Heather's come out what do you call her what do you call her Cheeky Heather's got a name is she allowed is it PG I don't know you have to beat this out and i love to so i do have an old team game called bag shelly bag shelly bag shelly bag shelly so i was a bit of a prank bruh when i first came into the england team oh no way and yeah occasionally well shelly was out i was a bit of a bit of a bag like shelly got repressed a little bit whilst i was captain like you're england captain come on you can't be shelly so when i when i told the girls i was obviously not captain anymore i sort said beware bag shelly he might be back she's back oh well this this changes for one night only because it's for one night only a bag shelly performing lucky yeah yeah i mean that's i thought this has spiraled a lot we're by wiss sorry i'm already i'm already booking venues in my head on a stage.

22:17Shelly's up for it.

22:18Issy Wong:Shelly's up for it. Can you check with Shelly? If she's up for it. Yeah, I'll check with Shelly. She's up for it. That's so funny.

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23:28I really love this I mean do you know what I think the only thing that could make this chat better is to bring in Matchin Tandorka live from Norway why the are you in Norway work meeting followed by i thought it'd make a romantic weekend break of it and you took your podcasting equipment there's nothing you never know and what and this is have you shut have you made nadine go for a walk for half an hour yeah i have oh god well i thought i was no way i can't believe you've done that i was gonna say hey nice easy i really really appreciate that i was gonna

24:05Issy Wong:say no i've been waiting i've been waiting i've been like bursting i love that so much so um i love that me went well and then i'm gonna see the scream after this you know the painting oh yeah oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah okay that'll also be that's that would also be nadine's face when you told her that you were doing yeah well i did think that but then you you broke off from your holiday didn't you greg so i thought i'm not don't do as don't do what i do that's a terrible idea yeah I know that's no no no no do not follow do as I say also when I found out when I found out Heather's going to be on I thought I can't let Heather come on without me no fair enough yeah of course we love we love obviously love can I have one more follow up question for matching are you drunk no you see it's only I'm not always drunk no I know but you just I don't know I've just gone I've had about eight coffees this morning okay oh it's great I think Norway drink the most coffee in the world per capita.

25:03Oh, yeah. Yeah, it's coffee and quite into the beers and the coffees and the little... Have you had your roll mops yet? You had some nice fish and nice herring and stuff. I had some salmon last night and it's just very nice. It's very clean. Everything works. You know? Everything works. Everything's on time. Everything's just... It's clinical. I like it. Yeah. Heather would have had

25:25Issy Wong:a t-shirt by now if she was in Norway. Yeah. Where's the t-shirt matching. He was asking for it. I'm on it. It's fine. He lives really far away so it's hard to get it to me. Yeah, we've found out a lot about you actually. We've found out that you sort of roll around in little biffers waiting for Heather Knight to finish her jogs and then just pop out and go, all right mate, fancy seeing you here.

25:57Issy Wong:No denial. I do see Heather jogging around we play some paddle as well well we know that but you play against each other and you let us believe that she was your paddle partner as in like doubles we play against each other sometimes but usually it's been me and John from Idols against Heather and Tim I think you usually win don't you Heather quite often yeah sometimes yeah would have fought so Matching I believe has a game, is it based around Heather Knight? It is based around Heather Knight I came up with this last night That sounds romantic That sounds romantic for a couple of days Lucky word isn't she?

Read the full transcript

26:42Before, during or after dinner

26:47I got up early this morning and figured it all out I mean it's not a very complicated quiz and I know you're going to compare it to another type of quiz but welcome to a brand new original quiz that is no way similar to Mr and Mrs. Welcome to Rhythm of the Night, Heather Knight. Yeah, nice. Thank you for having us on Rhythm of the Night, Heather Knight. Where we learn about the life and times of Heather Knight and who knows her better? Her teammate, Izzy Wong or her partner, Tim? Oh! Oh, I like this. This is good. This is really good. He's in trouble. He loves doing this. Loves texting people's partners for information about them.

27:31Again. That's his calling card. I'm going to tell Katie to block him. Yeah, it's actually we got in touch with Tim, who is Heather's partner. I'm going to ask him a series of questions. Who will get more answers correct? Tim? Or is he wrong? Okay. Is that Heather? Is that okay?

27:49Issy Wong:I can't say no. No. No, no, should have checked that. How is Tim, by the way? Ask Matt. Oh, no, what do you ask? Ask Matt. How is Tim, Matt? He's good. He's very good cricket. I was going to ask this, Heather. Is it good having someone that's... Is he? He's decent, isn't he? Well, he's done in the back at the moment. He was actually bowling at me, my first face of bowlers. And in a back spasm. And he hasn't been able to move properly for two weeks. Oh, God, you two have had a nightmare. Well, I was going to ask this. We're ageing in a right household. This is a genuine question. is it some is it important for you in a relationship to have someone that knows the cricket world because some crickets i've chatted to mainly jimmy their their partner doesn't like cricket at all very supportive whereas tim obviously knows everything he knows a lot about the women's games doesn't he same for you is you've got partners in the cricket world is that a good thing to have i mean i wouldn't compare tim to a professional cricketer as katie I'm not sure what he's been telling you but it's useful that he enjoys cricket and he likes coming to watch he did tell me once after quite a heavy loss that it's just a game which probably was not the correct thing to say I imagine he's only ever said that once yeah he got the look that Felix got when he spat at me I know that look I know what you've just done he obviously plays a little bit of club cricket himself and during my rehab actually I've gone down to watch him a little bit more and found myself being sort of dragged behind the bar to pull pints and catching the winning the winning softball team as well which is quite fun so that's been quite nice to to sort of be around do you um club cricket again do you give him pointers after he's come off and sort of played a bad shot just a game it's only a game tim no we we try not to discuss that sort of thing do you give Katie great question no sometimes I ask for pointers because Casey's a very good fielder so often when I've dropped a catch I will either if she wasn't there send her the video or be like after a safe amount of time where I've felt sad about it be like what have I done wrong here and a lot of the time it's you were trying to catch it with your legs crossed or something like that but I would say we know when to talk to each other and when to just be like yeah should we stick the telly on yeah yeah yeah yeah i'm related to everything i think you've got more brummy do you reckon i mean you just went you dropped a catch really it really caught me off guard i didn't listen to the rest of what you're saying because i couldn't stop thinking about that magic catch amazing i reckon it's because all the times i've dropped a catch all the time i had a brummy coach you've dropped a catch the amount of times you've heard it yeah yeah that's so funny sorry about that make yourself conscious now anyway imagine should we do the bloody quiz okay do i need a pen and paper no heather needs a pen and paper i don't have a pen and paper you just defied your instruction okay heather i asked him what aspect of your job as a professional cricketer do you like least what's the worst bit about being a professional cricketer?

31:05I think I know the answer to this what would you say? I would say just from the start of this conversation what we've got a sense of the diplomacy required oh that's quite good

31:14Issy Wong:she don't need to be diplomatic anymore oh that's true, tells me what she really thinks now Izzy what would you say? it depends if she's gone, well like if you've gone serious it might be like spending long periods of time away from home and friends and family and stuff like that if it's unserious to have a multiple choice. It could be like... It could be like... No. No. Where would it be? Okay. Worst part of being a professional cricketer. Sorry, everyone. That was a terrible idea. I apologize. Team's answer was when your captain is telling players they weren't in the team. Is that the correct answer?

31:46Right. It's so specific. I just... Of all the things in the... It's like, you choose one thing and all the things that it could possibly be in the whole world. All right. The other question is more specific.

31:58Issy Wong:Worst part of being a professional cricketer has got to be getting given out I seem to remember Heather being given out reverse sweeping once and reviewing it thinking she'd loved it and then ultra I did love it yes ultra there we go ultra I remember what you're talking about Southampton which is 2023 so getting given out on a decision getting out on a decision you disagree with that's got to be the worst part of being a professional cricketer okay I think you should talk through that whole delivery and that whole wicket it please yeah why do you two so is he you you think she didn't well no no i had no opinion i was 60 yards away sat on the bench in a busy vest but yeah i was running out the drink so i've like run out the drink and it's been sent upstairs and there's like heather going i've sent upstairs because i've smashed it with my glove i've punched it and then ultra edge coming up and like the flatest line you've ever seen and then the kind of awkwardness of like well I mean it could be wrong but that's what it says yeah it was not happy chaffing I love how funny Izzy's finding this yeah she was tackling as I was walking off and then Izzy's walking off going I f***ing whacked that there was a lot of head shaking wasn't there and we were all there like this bursting of laughter yeah yeah probably did this is the first time in two and a half years I've been able to let it out oh wow that laughter's been canned up inside waiting for the right moment waiting for your stage that's the worst moment part of being a professional cricketer I reckon yeah can I change my answer to teammates laughing at you when you did hit the ball and they don't believe you oh sorry do you still think you hit it yeah yeah I did hit it Greg I'm convinced I thought we should move on because I'm sounding a bit ranting this does make it even funnier I understand why you're laughing Izzy Wong's still laughing by the way it's gone bright red you can't stop giggling at this Izzy's got that thing when you're at school and you know you need to stop laughing but you can't stop laughing now I did hit it actually what was the correct answer oh I forgot about this game oh sorry I did write so when I was captain it was the interviews after he'd lost the game oh okay so I went quite serious okay you shook your head I said it depends if she goes serious and she went like this okay Heather who was your favourite player growing up good this is more specific Do you want multiple choice for this as well, Greg?

34:52Well, it's not just... This podcast isn't for me. I was just thinking about the listeners playing along.

34:58Issy Wong:I think I'm going to go... Don't worry about them. I'm going to go for the obvious one. I'm going to go for the banker. I'm going to go Rachel Hare Herflin. Ooh. Hey. Oh, I'm not that old. Well. Well. Yeah, I was like, what? I'm going to tell you about six. Well, I'll tell you, Tim, man. Tim, man. Oh, Izzy, can't spit me laughing at me. Tim went for Michael Atherton. Oh, nice. No, that's not. Heather just pulled a face. Not disrespectful. Matching, you might get this one. Not disrespectful face, but just... Well, Matching might get it. Triscothic. Yeah, Triscothic. Yeah, it's Triscothic. Come on.

35:35That's a great one. Does that count as a half point?

35:37Issy Wong:Is that a half point? That feels like a half point. Why? Heather says no. No, absolutely not. Begging. It's either Rachel Hayhoe Flint or Marcus Triscothic. This is why I'm all disappointed. Izzy's having to do her own multiple choice. Hevy, you know when you set up, just going to throw a cricket question in here, you know when you set up and your back lift is quite high, where did you learn that from when you stood really tall and your back's like... Well, I actually changed my back lift after the 2017 World Cup, so I used to have my hands quite low, actually. But I found when I played on slow wicket, I wasn't hitting the ball through the infield as well as I wanted to, wanted to hit the ball a little bit harder so i actually changed my technique and went a bit more so higher a bit more rhythmical mainly with the goal of just trying to hit the ball a bit harder on slow wickets really so it gives you like hand speed through the ball essentially yeah if you just feel yeah and just like a bit more rhythm to yeah i don't know get your hands through the ball yeah yeah did it take a while to for that to become natural was that is that just did that quite quickly yeah it took quite a long time actually i remember it was about sort of two months two and a half months before we had nash's series overseas so it was like sort of unlearning yeah all those hours of your technique that you've had and then trying to implement like the new technique but yeah it worked out really well actually was it someone you watched like who had higher hands that you thought are like that might work for me or was it something you just played around with and it's just a conversation with our batting coach at the time another brummy Ali Maiden Warwickshire's finest Warwickshire's finest Wolverhampton and yeah we just chatted about it and like it was just an area that I felt like I could get better and just yeah agreed that hit lots of balls you always look really similar to Johnny Bearstay to me is that the way you both set up not physically not literally thanks Greg anyway well yeah he probably gets the ball a bit a bit further than me but yeah I'll take that yeah I don't think we got the answer to your first question sorry in all that.

37:37What was your actual answer? Michael Striscothic. Michael Striscothic? No, the first one.

37:42Issy Wong:No, it was giving losing post-match interviews. Yeah. Post-match interviews. Okay, final one. What moment in your career were you happiest? Well, yeah. It's quite an obvious one. Yeah. Well, it's one of two, isn't it? Wow. You can make your own multiple choices in your head, listeners. Oh, don't worry, they are. Was it A, B, or C? just fill in the gaps there okay is he one what do you reckon it's going to be can you look past winning a World Cup at Lords lifting a World Cup at Lords is that too obvious I thought I was straight down the middle of Rachel Hayhoe Flint last time I was a bit off there was it meeting Rachel Hayhoe Flint was it going to Rachel Hayhoe Flint's 18th birthday was it Was it in the ashes when you got given out LBW?

38:34You're like, don't worry, I've definitely gloved it, so it's fine. Well, Tim says, he says it should be losing to New Zealand in a meaningless ODI in Mount Manganui, because that's where you met Tim. Oh, that's lovely. But she'll probably lie and say it was the 2017 World Cup, because she's been dining out on that for years.

38:54Issy Wong:That's quite sweet from Tim, to be fair. It is the 2017 World Cup. Just to clarify, Tim, it isn't Manganui.

39:07but poor old Tim's put his back out as well he's in bed just going well imagine I was being unfair that was actually a very very good game high quality and I actually the game was bad but we've got some great stories out of it exactly and for that thank you really enjoyed it so come on then what's happening in the World Cup because obviously Australia are the team to beat, but India, in India, what are you feeling? Can England actually do this?

39:36Issy Wong:Yeah, definitely. I think we're probably going in and playing underdogs potentially, which isn't a bad place to be. And yeah, it's a World Cup, isn't it? If we play our best cricket, I feel like we can beat anyone. So I'm buzzing for it, actually. It's going to be really fun. It is going to be fun. Izzy, obviously, you know, as Izzy Wong, as the fan club, we want you out there. There's time, isn't there? there's time for you to go and do world cups and be regularly playing for england and stuff how are you feeling about it because obviously we're sort of dancing around it but we want to see you out there and surely you want to be out there thanks greg obviously i'd like to be out there and that's like that's one of them where it's like you get the call and it's like yeah unfortunately not this time and like it is really like i think disappointing is the right term because i wasn't expecting to go but there's still the kind of disappointment of that would have been really cool to represent England at World Cup would be so cool but like you say I've got hopefully a bit of time on my hands and I've had a really good summer and like I've actually just loved being out there and playing cricket and so I like I don't want like my kind of disappointment of not going to the World Cup to take away from like my happiness of how I've how much I've enjoyed this season because they're kind of two separate things yeah well it's been great watching you this summer because you have looked so happy like you've really been enjoying your cricket it's been amazing to see actually.

40:52Heather what do you make of Izzy and what does the future hold for her in your expert opinion?

40:57Issy Wong:I think I said to you during the 100s I think you're back to your best don't you and you just look like you're enjoying cricket and I remember captaining you like at the start of your career and I just loved captaining you because you were just a bundle of energy and you wanted to run in and make an impact in those big moments and that's quite rare in a player I think so yeah it was really cool actually to obviously be part of the coaching staff at 100 and kind of see you do your thing we were so bothered when we got you in the draft like you're such a such a steal and obviously a perfect fit for us at spirit and just to see you running and do what you do and i think the biggest change in the last couple of years have been like you've always had all the skills but you now you kind of know and sense when to use them which is is a really cool thing and yeah just seeing you kind of mature and come back from quite a tricky period probably fair to say the last couple of years is it's pretty cool i love those those kind of stories where people go through tough patches and then come back because it yeah it's almost the making of people as cricketers so yeah i'm pretty buzzing to see what our kids got in store in the next couple of years yeah come on is he Heather what's it like just quickly because i know you've probably got things to do you're training aren't you and everything and you've got a world cup to go and win but what is it can you talk us through what it's like facing izzy what does she do good question what's what are you looking out for with with a bowler like izzy well she's got a lot of tricks they trying to watch her hand quite closely because she's got sort of back of the hand, slow ball, she's got a knuckle ball, got a wobble ball, she's going to get away.

42:25Issy Wong:So you're trying to pick up little cues around what she's going to do because she does keep you guessing. Often uses a slow ball quite early as well. Not anymore. You've got to change your tack now, I'm afraid. So yeah, it's just trying to watch it closely and try and counteract the skills that she has, try and put her under pressure. I've always enjoyed facing Wongi because you know there's going to be a massive celly if you get out so you want to try and avoid the celly right they've got about 80 against us this season so she's okay did it quite well though and izzy how are you getting heather knight out i don't know if i've actually ever got heather knight out i got i got here for six over extra cover yeah i'll get i'll get reversing if she pulls her reverse out just so she can punch it off the stumps so now they're just to peel really loudly

43:14Issy Wong:you must have got me out I reckon you got me out I don't think I have I remember you hitting for me for a massive six into the stand at Derby over extra cover and I stood there and watched it and thought that's one of the nicest shots I've ever seen I don't think I've ever got you out I'll give you a big send off if I do look forward to it you're unlucky man call her s***bag Shelly s***bag Shelly why don't you why don't you play tomorrow why don't you play tomorrow get a runner not allowed mate the leash is still on get a runner you can get a runner I also got a plane to catch so yeah she's busy fair enough alright don't rub it in go into the world cup we know he's not going alright some of us have got a plane to catch yeah I've got a plane to catch mate sorry can't be around in Somerset that's my revenge the pitch looks like it's real spin friendly out there actually yeah go have a good one death of Stephen pitch tough place to bowl at Taunton well Heather thank you for your time Izzy it's been great having you back on yeah so what's going on tomorrow?

44:17Issy Wong:Warwickshire Somerset it's our last game of the season is Somerset still in the hunting? yes I think there's a slim chance they could qualify I think we're out of it so it's our last game of the season down at the Coopers Associates County Ground Matching have a great time on the rest of your romantic weekend in Norway thank you any other work that you're doing? later? No, going to a floating sauna tomorrow. So keep an eye out for that. A floating sauna? What's a floating sauna? Do you mean a boat? No, it's a sauna that floats down the lake and then you go in the sauna and then you jump in the lake once you want to cool off and you get back in the sauna.

44:58Kind of is a boat. Mate, send me photos of that. That sounds so good. That sounds amazing.

45:04Issy Wong:How many people fit in the sauna? I think there's 10, but I'm hoping it's just going to be us two. I tried to get it, but it should be 10 random Norwegians. We'll see. I can't wait to hear what the eight random Norwegians you're sharing a floating sauna with say is the nice highlight of her career.

45:25The thing is about sauna etiquette is, do you make conversation in a sauna? I don't like making chat. No. No. Because everyone else can hear you, can't they? It's weird. Yeah, yeah. I can't believe that you don't like making conversation in the sauna well we've actually all sat in a sauna together me, you, Greg and Jimmy and that was the weirdest experience of my whole life yeah well it's quite strange isn't it yeah I think we're not being on Zillip we just giggle anyway anyway that's my weekend oh that sounds really nice that's really nice should we do some some go wells and then get out of here get a hell of a yeah yeah because Matching's got a sauna to get to well you've got to go and see the scream first of all scream then play a sauna are you going to recreate it?

46:13yeah I feel like everyone does a photo next to the scream don't they I'll send that to you later please do Heather look feel free to go if you've got stuff to do but thanks so much for being on Tailenders and go well with the World Cup you're a legend and we're so excited that you're still playing and going out to the World Cup and you're hungry for it we'll be watching and cheering you on and don't forget in six months to end this live ****bag Shelley plays Lucky Man for the first time one night only

46:41Issy Wong:one night only is so good go well Heather can't wait cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers what a lovely moment that was by the way Izzy with her talking about you that was nice that was nice when I was I was talking about Heather yeah I know what I mean you tell her now she poxed what was it like what was it like at being best friends with Rachel A. Hayhoe Flint in the 1830s. I didn't think Rachel A. Flint was that far ago. She was very sweet about you. She is more recent history in my mind. No, she is. She is. She is. We're just being silly.

47:16But it was very nice to her. It's like cool to have someone like that talking that well about you. Anyway, thank you to Heather Knight and go well to the England team who are off to India for the World Cup. You're not going. Remember that? You're not on the plane. Heather Knight is. Not on the plane. thanks to everyone for the amazing feedback for um for last week's episode of tailenders which was the little yearns special we loved the little yearns we're definitely going to do another one of them soon and izzy we'd love you to be part of that next time because jimmy really came alive with some of those last week he he loves hearing when us mere mortals fantasize about bits of the game that he's sort of quite blasé about but it's really really fun so thanks keep those coming in please tailenders at bbc.co.uk and let's do the go wells and then leave you alone to get on with your lives weddings human being weddings human being ones Ben and Evie Jazz and Hugh and Izzy and Tim go well go well anniversaries human being anniversaries human being ones Dec and Suze Kate and Rhys and also no that's it that's the anniversary go well cheers Julie Cakes wants to go well and a get well for her mate Butch.

48:33She writes, Butch was playing for East Ardsley Cricket Club and was asked to help the opposition out as a substitute fielder. Whilst there was no needle, there did end up being some theatre. The operating theatre. Unfortunately, when running to take an awkward high catch, Butch collided with another fielder, resulting in a broken collarbone and a pelvis. And a broken ankle for the other guy. You should have seen the other guy. Actually, it was just an ankle, whereas I broke my pelvis and collarbone. On the bright side, Rich didn't have to live with the guilt of catching his mate out and his team went on to win the game.

49:07On the not-so-bright side, he spent his birthday in hospital. So a huge go well, get well to Butch. Go well, get well. Go well, Butch. Cheers. Engagements. Human being engagements, human being ones. Ryan and Holly.

49:20Issy Wong:Go well. One for love. Birthdays. Birthdays, human being birthdays, human being ones. And Remy, also a go-well for his brother Obi, not his birthday, just wanted to shout out, didn't want to get jealous. Jacob, and wonderful, lifelong tailender and friend of the show and also friend of ours from the World Cup final. She managed to sort out an extra ticket, I think for Sharky on the actual day and is just a mad tailender's listener, really amazing person. Claire Booth, we love you. Happy 40th birthday. The biggest go well ever for Claire Booth. Felix, can we have a chord that is appropriate for the brilliance that is Claire Booth?

50:06Oh, I like this one, mate. Go well. That's a good one. Cheers. Move well to Ricky, who has moved to Vietnam for a laugh. Should be a laugh. Cricket clubs. Human being cricket clubs, human being ones. Actonians fourths. Middlesex Over 60s, Seconds, Morriston Cricket Club, St Mary Church Old Boys Cricket Club, Portsmouth and Southsea Cricket Club, Portishead Cricket Club, Aston Rowant Cricket Club, Tilburg Regents, Stockport Trinity Under 9s and Under 11s, and Leicestershire for getting promoted to Division 1 for the first time in 22 years. That has gone well. Go well. Mark, plus 15 mates and family members are off to finals day at Edgbaston.

50:52Go well to you. Cheers Should be a good one Go on cheers We have new tailenders Including a Jasmine And a Felix A human being Baby A human being ones Emilia is off to Is it Geelong To play cricket in the winter That's Sydney

51:10Issy Wong:Is that near Sydney Near Sydney Or is it Geelong Yeah Geelong Geelong I don't know Or is it Geelong Geelong Geelong What is it Sharky Geelong I would say If I'm faded up yes you've faded up I've faded up but Geelong Geelong this podcast is a bit bloody Geelong if you ask me let's get on with it anyway go well Amelia that'll be a very exciting winter and you'll be out there for the ashes as well uh snip well googly news for Tomsy Hoops and Herrick Ram snip well that well it's a ram but that is a ram who's got snip a sheep got ya yes I like it very much like a sheep cheers um stop it doing tupping isn't it that's what they do with sheep that's the let's move on um garden furniture slash equipment edwin has emailed after many years of loyal service and world-class performances it brings me sadness to share that shednerine chander paul has been retired from garden furniture duty do not despair though i am also pleased to announce that he will be replaced in just a matter of weeks by a brand new signing to the garden, which is Tillakaratne Dillshed.

52:24Which is really nice. So thank you for all your go-wells. We have one more, which is Felix White related. And it is from Claire. And it says, Hi G-Force, Jimmy, Matching Shockey and Felix. I wanted to give the biggest shout out to Steve the Chili, who when he's not inappropriately interrupting Felix's book event for emotionally traumatic and beautifully written memoirs is a solicitor in real life and he recently helped me sell my flat so I can buy a house with my boyfriend for a laugh down in Kent. Please can you officially thank him for helping me hashtag sell well. Thanks for having me on the shout outs for Steve the house selling chilli.

53:03Go well Claire Love you Steve, go well P.S. Thanks for the 10 minute takeover request the other day for Hometown Glory the high contrast remix it made my day that's nice you're welcome thank you Matchin enjoy the scream and the sauna hopefully there's no screaming in the sauna because that might mean that you are naked and you weren't supposed to be Izzy Wong we love you see you very soon send our regards to your cats and to Katie and Felix White goodbye God bless love you goodbye to you go well cheers go well

53:36Issy Wong:cheers cheers

53:40Issy Wong:The Women's Football Weekly has found a new home in its very own feed. We've called it, unsurprisingly, BBC Women's Football Weekly. We'll continue to bring you the latest news, insights and analysis from across the women's game. They're throwing some big money around. I want to see how they line up, how everyone fits in. Episodes will be available every Tuesday as ever, alongside special, unfiltered player interviews from the biggest names in WSL and beyond. To make sure you never miss an episode, just search for BBC Women's Football Weekly and hit subscribe once you get there.

From the publisher

Our very special guest is a World Cup and Ashes winner, former England captain and a legend of the game: Heather Knight (plus her alter ego Shelley).

We discuss the upcoming World Cup, injuries, learning to play the guitar, Padel with Mattchin and what happened when Felix met her at a recent Oasis concert.

Plus a ’new’ quiz from Mattchin, who bizarrely is in Norway. And find out what Heather related story has Issy Wong in stitches.

Go Well.

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