When girls have fun

Alexandra Hartley and Kate Cross with Harmanpreet Kaur. Pic courtesy/Twitter

A little over a month ago, India's women's cricket team played their first Test match in seven years. The opposition was the formidable English side, packed with seasoned campaigners who were playing in familiar conditions. Back home, Indian audiences watched with keenness as the national side snatched a hard-fought draw in that lone Test. The ODIs and T20Is drew sufficient interest as well.

Many from both teams are currently playing in The Hundred, a cricket spectacle that's caught the imagination of the English public with packed stadiums and a festive vibe, a la IPL-style. Amidst this backdrop, we chanced upon an episode of No balls, a cricket-themed podcast hosted by English cricketers Alexandra Hartley and Kate Cross, one of the standout players for England in that series. "You were one of the most asked-for persons when we put the poll out," revealed Cross as she and Hartley welcomed their guest, Harmanpreet Kaur, Indian women's T2OI captain. What followed was 30 minutes of chuckles, lighthearted banter and views on a range of topics from Kaur's initiation into cricket to Britons' obsession with spuds and her envious collection of trainers. It was fun to hear Hartley chide Cross and Kaur for being identified as sisters due to their similar gait and on-field demeanour. After being in opposing sides, Kaur and Cross now play for Manchester Originals in The Hundred. It also came to light that the former is a huge Manchester United fan. Interestingly, there's a mural in Manchester that portrays her along with fellow Manchester Originals men's team cricketer Matt Parkinson.

A mural of Matt Parkinson and Harmanpreet Kaur in Manchester. Pic courtesy/Youtube

Talk veers to male players, and Glenn Maxwell came in for special mention. The trio recalled an interaction when the Aussie cricketer was in Lancashire, where they all exchanged tips about the game. Hartley and Cross also threw in a quiz about Kaur's stats; the all-rounder's conservative replies invited more laughter in the house. The bonhomie once again reflected how rivalries stay on the pitch, because off it, it's all about revelry and being a sport.

Log on to www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09pymyp