1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,467 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,987 --> 00:00:15,467 Speaker 2: Close to Home. The Wellington Blaze have gone two from 4 00:00:15,467 --> 00:00:17,587 Speaker 2: two at the start of their defense of the domestic 5 00:00:17,627 --> 00:00:20,667 Speaker 2: women's T twenty competition. They beat the Central Hines by 6 00:00:20,907 --> 00:00:23,987 Speaker 2: twenty five runs in Nelson yesterday, posting one hundred and 7 00:00:24,147 --> 00:00:27,187 Speaker 2: fourteen for eight before bowling CD out for eighty nine. 8 00:00:27,307 --> 00:00:30,267 Speaker 2: It would have been a fairly straightforward choice, I'm sure 9 00:00:30,587 --> 00:00:33,267 Speaker 2: for Player of the Match Wellington All rounded. Jess Kerr 10 00:00:33,667 --> 00:00:36,827 Speaker 2: made fifty nine or forty five balls in a game 11 00:00:36,867 --> 00:00:39,907 Speaker 2: where no other batter made twenty five, and then she 12 00:00:39,987 --> 00:00:41,227 Speaker 2: took three for fourteen with. 13 00:00:41,187 --> 00:00:44,627 Speaker 1: The ball, Wow. 14 00:00:43,907 --> 00:00:49,067 Speaker 2: And gone, Jess ker there was the swing that did armitage. 15 00:00:49,147 --> 00:00:52,627 Speaker 2: She came down the wicket. Couple of quiet overs here 16 00:00:52,987 --> 00:00:57,187 Speaker 2: or good swing straight on to the stumps. Jessicaz with us. 17 00:00:57,227 --> 00:01:00,227 Speaker 2: Congratulations on your performance and the win yesterday. Jess, can 18 00:01:00,267 --> 00:01:02,907 Speaker 2: we start with your batting? This was your second fifty 19 00:01:03,147 --> 00:01:06,787 Speaker 2: in two matches after your unbeaten sixty one against Northern 20 00:01:06,787 --> 00:01:09,867 Speaker 2: Districts on New Year's Day in Hamilton. Is you're batting 21 00:01:09,947 --> 00:01:11,827 Speaker 2: something you've been working pretty hard on? 22 00:01:12,587 --> 00:01:12,787 Speaker 1: Yeah? 23 00:01:12,787 --> 00:01:16,067 Speaker 3: It is I think obviously with a woman's game, you 24 00:01:16,107 --> 00:01:18,867 Speaker 3: see all around this sort of being the way to go, 25 00:01:18,987 --> 00:01:21,507 Speaker 3: especially in the international game. So it's something I've sort 26 00:01:21,547 --> 00:01:24,107 Speaker 3: of wanted to chip away at and I've sort of 27 00:01:24,227 --> 00:01:29,347 Speaker 3: believed i I can contribute, especially with Wellington. So yeah, 28 00:01:29,347 --> 00:01:32,067 Speaker 3: I've been working hard in the winter, and yeah, to 29 00:01:32,147 --> 00:01:34,547 Speaker 3: have an opportunity to bet a bit higher and spend 30 00:01:34,587 --> 00:01:36,027 Speaker 3: more time in the middle has been great. 31 00:01:36,347 --> 00:01:38,867 Speaker 2: So in terms of the work you're putting in, what 32 00:01:38,987 --> 00:01:41,307 Speaker 2: is it specifically that you're focusing on when it comes 33 00:01:41,347 --> 00:01:42,827 Speaker 2: to batting in the T twenty game. 34 00:01:44,267 --> 00:01:47,747 Speaker 3: I think I've always sort of naturally had the power 35 00:01:47,827 --> 00:01:51,067 Speaker 3: and ball striking abilities. I think it's for me just 36 00:01:51,227 --> 00:01:54,747 Speaker 3: the bits in between and being able to access a 37 00:01:54,787 --> 00:01:58,667 Speaker 3: few more areas lot across the wicket. I've always been 38 00:01:58,747 --> 00:02:00,547 Speaker 3: quite strong on the off side, so I've worked hard 39 00:02:00,587 --> 00:02:03,907 Speaker 3: to develop a sweet shot and just hitting hard straight 40 00:02:03,947 --> 00:02:08,347 Speaker 3: and sticking to my strengths. But have been things I've 41 00:02:08,467 --> 00:02:10,827 Speaker 3: kept working on and keeping that strike. 42 00:02:10,587 --> 00:02:12,787 Speaker 2: Great high and coming in a bit higher on the order, 43 00:02:12,827 --> 00:02:14,987 Speaker 2: coming in at number five. Is that something that you 44 00:02:15,427 --> 00:02:17,347 Speaker 2: were keen to do as well? I guess the high 45 00:02:17,427 --> 00:02:19,667 Speaker 2: you are, the more likely you are to spend time 46 00:02:19,707 --> 00:02:21,547 Speaker 2: in the middle. Is that something that you discussed with 47 00:02:21,587 --> 00:02:23,507 Speaker 2: the rest of the team and the coaching stuff. 48 00:02:24,747 --> 00:02:26,427 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I didn't get too much of a 49 00:02:26,547 --> 00:02:29,867 Speaker 3: sur just got told that, you know, merely as a 50 00:02:29,867 --> 00:02:33,467 Speaker 3: big supporter of mine, which is great and obviously t Twinette. 51 00:02:33,627 --> 00:02:36,827 Speaker 3: It's a short game, so to be able to have 52 00:02:37,227 --> 00:02:41,627 Speaker 3: more time to bet as many balls as awesome, and yeah, 53 00:02:41,667 --> 00:02:44,547 Speaker 3: it's just great to have those opportunities. And while you 54 00:02:44,627 --> 00:02:46,427 Speaker 3: hit so many balls in the nets, you can't really 55 00:02:46,867 --> 00:02:49,347 Speaker 3: replicate time in the middle and gain time. So to 56 00:02:49,347 --> 00:02:52,107 Speaker 3: be able to have this opportunity for Wellington is just 57 00:02:52,147 --> 00:02:53,707 Speaker 3: going to be some great learnings for me. 58 00:02:54,027 --> 00:02:56,547 Speaker 2: How much did you enjoy batting with your sister Melee 59 00:02:56,827 --> 00:02:59,547 Speaker 2: against Northern up in Hamilton on New Year's Day? You 60 00:02:59,667 --> 00:03:01,827 Speaker 2: came together three down for not many. Did you enjoy 61 00:03:02,147 --> 00:03:04,227 Speaker 2: the chance to bat for a long period with Mealy? 62 00:03:05,187 --> 00:03:07,907 Speaker 3: Oh? Yeah, it was pretty sure that she's obviously a 63 00:03:07,947 --> 00:03:10,427 Speaker 3: world class player and you know, there's never going to 64 00:03:10,427 --> 00:03:12,947 Speaker 3: be pressure if you're betting with her, so yeah, she 65 00:03:13,867 --> 00:03:16,547 Speaker 3: was awesome. That made my job a lot easier, that's 66 00:03:16,547 --> 00:03:19,787 Speaker 3: for sure, and yeah, hopefully we can do that again. 67 00:03:19,867 --> 00:03:21,907 Speaker 3: But She's probably one of my favorite people to bet 68 00:03:21,947 --> 00:03:23,747 Speaker 3: with and managed to do it for a long time, 69 00:03:23,907 --> 00:03:24,947 Speaker 3: so that was great. 70 00:03:24,827 --> 00:03:28,067 Speaker 2: Good stuff. So yesterday one fourteen doesn't seem like a 71 00:03:28,067 --> 00:03:31,107 Speaker 2: big total to defend, but you defended it reasonably comfortably 72 00:03:31,147 --> 00:03:34,347 Speaker 2: to win by twenty five runs in the Blaze, do 73 00:03:34,427 --> 00:03:37,587 Speaker 2: you kind of back yourselves to defend any total? 74 00:03:38,907 --> 00:03:41,267 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think we do. I think for a few 75 00:03:41,347 --> 00:03:43,947 Speaker 3: years now we've managed to win from a lot of 76 00:03:43,987 --> 00:03:47,427 Speaker 3: different scenarios and you just develop that belief and I 77 00:03:47,467 --> 00:03:51,307 Speaker 3: think our bowling attackers is something really special, especially with 78 00:03:51,347 --> 00:03:55,027 Speaker 3: the spinners. I mean, Sara Jete and Leave was fantastic yesterday, 79 00:03:55,227 --> 00:03:57,947 Speaker 3: and knowing you've got nearly curdible four overs in the 80 00:03:57,947 --> 00:04:01,827 Speaker 3: middle is just just an absolute weapon. So yeah, I 81 00:04:01,867 --> 00:04:05,187 Speaker 3: think we've had so many different scenarios we've been able 82 00:04:05,187 --> 00:04:07,867 Speaker 3: to win. So enough we don't get the runs you want. 83 00:04:07,947 --> 00:04:09,507 Speaker 3: We can fight hard with. 84 00:04:09,547 --> 00:04:12,427 Speaker 2: The ball and yourself with the ball, you've always been 85 00:04:12,427 --> 00:04:15,387 Speaker 2: able to swing it. But the delivery that bold Holly Amata, 86 00:04:15,467 --> 00:04:17,307 Speaker 2: she's a pretty handy player, must have felt pretty good. 87 00:04:18,307 --> 00:04:20,707 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely. I was a little bit disappointed with my 88 00:04:20,787 --> 00:04:24,787 Speaker 3: bo and performance in Hamilton, so I was quite determined 89 00:04:25,267 --> 00:04:28,667 Speaker 3: to come back and contribute with the ball as well, 90 00:04:28,707 --> 00:04:30,627 Speaker 3: but yeah, it was getting a bit of movement down 91 00:04:30,667 --> 00:04:34,347 Speaker 3: in Molson, so yeah, I was happy with that delivery, 92 00:04:35,587 --> 00:04:36,867 Speaker 3: more swing than I usually get. 93 00:04:36,987 --> 00:04:39,467 Speaker 2: No, it's a nice one. Alisee Perry has spent the 94 00:04:39,467 --> 00:04:42,147 Speaker 2: first couple of games with the Blaze. I didn't quite 95 00:04:42,187 --> 00:04:44,827 Speaker 2: work out for her with the bat. But how much 96 00:04:44,907 --> 00:04:47,627 Speaker 2: did you enjoy having such a world class player around 97 00:04:47,667 --> 00:04:47,987 Speaker 2: the group? 98 00:04:49,067 --> 00:04:52,587 Speaker 3: Oh, she's been fantastic. Her energy around the group has 99 00:04:52,627 --> 00:04:56,187 Speaker 3: been amazing and yeah, like you said, probably would have 100 00:04:56,267 --> 00:04:58,427 Speaker 3: liked to have scored a few more runs, but I 101 00:04:58,467 --> 00:05:00,787 Speaker 3: think just the learnings we've all had seeing the way 102 00:05:00,827 --> 00:05:05,587 Speaker 3: she trained that the great person she is is you know, 103 00:05:05,787 --> 00:05:08,147 Speaker 3: has can tributed so much to us as a team, 104 00:05:08,227 --> 00:05:10,667 Speaker 3: and she's talking about wanting to come back and the 105 00:05:10,747 --> 00:05:13,747 Speaker 3: years comes so hopefully schedules a line and we'll get 106 00:05:13,787 --> 00:05:16,187 Speaker 3: her back. But yeah, I'm sure she's a bit sick 107 00:05:16,187 --> 00:05:18,107 Speaker 3: of me, and nearly now she's been hanging like us 108 00:05:18,227 --> 00:05:21,187 Speaker 3: quite a bus and keeps her a roomy and whatnot, 109 00:05:21,227 --> 00:05:24,507 Speaker 3: so she's probably been humbled a bit, but she she 110 00:05:24,507 --> 00:05:26,987 Speaker 3: she absolutely loved it and always loved having her, so 111 00:05:27,707 --> 00:05:29,947 Speaker 3: it's pretty cool to have someone like her wanting to 112 00:05:29,987 --> 00:05:33,747 Speaker 3: play this tournament and hopefully going forward they can just 113 00:05:33,787 --> 00:05:37,987 Speaker 3: keep getting more internationals coming and and yeah better better in. 114 00:05:37,947 --> 00:05:40,187 Speaker 2: The comp Well, were you were you and meally sort 115 00:05:40,187 --> 00:05:42,027 Speaker 2: of the catalyst for this. Were you kind of chipping 116 00:05:42,027 --> 00:05:43,987 Speaker 2: a white herd during the you know, during your time 117 00:05:44,027 --> 00:05:45,947 Speaker 2: in Sydney? You know, hey, come over for a couple 118 00:05:45,987 --> 00:05:46,787 Speaker 2: of games. 119 00:05:47,387 --> 00:05:50,547 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it was the drawer against CD last year. 120 00:05:50,587 --> 00:05:53,067 Speaker 3: Actually she messaged me and said, I don't know what 121 00:05:53,187 --> 00:05:58,427 Speaker 3: was was more incredible that that that board that game, 122 00:05:58,587 --> 00:06:03,267 Speaker 3: or I think she noticed his flipped. So I sort 123 00:06:03,307 --> 00:06:06,547 Speaker 3: of said, surely you come and play for us one 124 00:06:06,867 --> 00:06:09,387 Speaker 3: and she actually said I would love to. And at 125 00:06:09,427 --> 00:06:11,267 Speaker 3: first I thought she might have been Joe King, but 126 00:06:11,827 --> 00:06:14,107 Speaker 3: she said she was serious, and from there I just 127 00:06:14,547 --> 00:06:16,707 Speaker 3: did a bit of hard yards and then merely was 128 00:06:16,787 --> 00:06:21,347 Speaker 3: obviously with the sixth she kept she kept hounding here 129 00:06:21,427 --> 00:06:23,987 Speaker 3: as well, and yeah, get a couple of games before 130 00:06:23,987 --> 00:06:26,987 Speaker 3: she starts the ashes. Hary that that sort of worked. 131 00:06:26,987 --> 00:06:28,667 Speaker 2: Well, hope there's more to come. Hope there's more to 132 00:06:28,667 --> 00:06:30,387 Speaker 2: come on the years ahead. Change of coach for you 133 00:06:30,427 --> 00:06:33,587 Speaker 2: as well. Lance Dry has moved into a Pathway's role 134 00:06:33,587 --> 00:06:37,307 Speaker 2: with Cricket Wellington, Johnny Bassett Graham has taken the reins 135 00:06:37,307 --> 00:06:39,587 Speaker 2: for the super smash. How was it having a different 136 00:06:39,667 --> 00:06:42,467 Speaker 2: voice around the group having had Lance and Luke Woodcock 137 00:06:42,507 --> 00:06:43,187 Speaker 2: there for so long. 138 00:06:44,467 --> 00:06:47,467 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, it's it's been. It's been fairly seamless and 139 00:06:47,947 --> 00:06:51,667 Speaker 3: Johnny and Joe has bought a great energy. I've had 140 00:06:51,667 --> 00:06:54,667 Speaker 3: a couple of sessions with me and he just quietly 141 00:06:54,707 --> 00:06:58,267 Speaker 3: goes about his business and stills confidence in each of 142 00:06:58,347 --> 00:07:01,227 Speaker 3: us and Joe's effects it and dozing to be here too, 143 00:07:01,427 --> 00:07:05,747 Speaker 3: so too keeping specialists, which is awesome for just McFadden 144 00:07:05,867 --> 00:07:09,507 Speaker 3: and but yeah, no, it's been really good and credit 145 00:07:09,547 --> 00:07:12,947 Speaker 3: to our girls for being ather adept and all that 146 00:07:13,027 --> 00:07:13,507 Speaker 3: as well. 147 00:07:13,907 --> 00:07:17,267 Speaker 2: And looking ahead this year obviously the supersmatch takes precedence 148 00:07:17,267 --> 00:07:20,147 Speaker 2: at the moment, but ever international matches in March at 149 00:07:20,187 --> 00:07:22,747 Speaker 2: Sri Lanka and Australia both here for white Ball Series, 150 00:07:22,827 --> 00:07:24,907 Speaker 2: then later in the year the fifty over World Cup. 151 00:07:25,027 --> 00:07:27,387 Speaker 2: How keen are you to be involved in more white 152 00:07:27,387 --> 00:07:30,707 Speaker 2: ferns cricket in twenty twenty five, Yeah, definitely. 153 00:07:30,747 --> 00:07:34,027 Speaker 3: I think I found it quite tough obviously still being 154 00:07:34,027 --> 00:07:37,587 Speaker 3: in the squad, but not necessarily in the eleven further 155 00:07:38,147 --> 00:07:41,867 Speaker 3: World Cup and the home series against Australia. So you know, 156 00:07:41,947 --> 00:07:44,267 Speaker 3: I'm always someone that's wanting to improve and get better, 157 00:07:44,347 --> 00:07:47,947 Speaker 3: and like I said before, that all round a spot 158 00:07:48,667 --> 00:07:51,267 Speaker 3: is sort of quite important now in the women's game. 159 00:07:51,427 --> 00:07:54,907 Speaker 3: So yeah, obviously bowling comes first, but if I can 160 00:07:54,947 --> 00:07:59,147 Speaker 3: just keep contributing and doing my job, hopefully I can 161 00:07:59,347 --> 00:08:01,267 Speaker 3: I can find a way into that squad and into 162 00:08:01,347 --> 00:08:04,827 Speaker 3: that team, and pretty special to be able to play 163 00:08:04,827 --> 00:08:08,907 Speaker 3: against Sri Lanka and obviously again and hopefully the World 164 00:08:08,947 --> 00:08:11,547 Speaker 3: Cup in India. I don't think you can get much 165 00:08:11,547 --> 00:08:14,147 Speaker 3: better than that, playing playing in a World Cup in India. 166 00:08:14,587 --> 00:08:16,427 Speaker 2: Well, it's going well for you so far, Jess, thanks 167 00:08:16,427 --> 00:08:18,707 Speaker 2: for taking the time. Congratulations on the first two matches 168 00:08:18,987 --> 00:08:20,427 Speaker 2: for the Blaze. I look forward to seeing how the 169 00:08:20,467 --> 00:08:21,587 Speaker 2: rest of the season plays out. 170 00:08:22,467 --> 00:08:23,107 Speaker 3: Thanks Jesson. 171 00:08:23,267 --> 00:08:25,987 Speaker 2: Thanks Jess. Jess cur there joining us from what I 172 00:08:26,027 --> 00:08:29,547 Speaker 2: presume she's at the basin watching the black Caps take 173 00:08:29,627 --> 00:08:30,707 Speaker 2: on shorl Anchor. 174 00:08:31,347 --> 00:08:34,547 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 175 00:08:34,627 --> 00:08:37,907 Speaker 1: to News Talks ed B weekends from midday, or follow 176 00:08:37,947 --> 00:08:39,587 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.