00:00Hi Lauren, important to start with a win and you're pretty much pitch perfect on Friday,
00:05but how important is it to back it up?
00:07Yeah, definitely. I think we couldn't have been happier with how Friday night went,
00:11especially with it being the opening game and yeah, it sets us in a good place.
00:15But yeah, you've got to go again, start from zero and yeah, bring the same energy as we had on
00:21Friday.
00:22When the games come thick and fast, how do you sort of celebrate these wins?
00:25Is it just done in the changing rooms or do you do something back at the team hotel?
00:29Yeah, we're really big with celebrating like individual successes and team successes
00:34and however the game goes, we always do that.
00:37So yeah, we have had a good chat, had a good debrief and reviewed it again when we got down
00:42to Southampton
00:42and then all focus on tomorrow night. Yeah, tomorrow night.
00:46How do you think your summer's gone so far, been pretty economical and chipping in with a few wickets as
00:51well?
00:51You must be delighted.
00:52Yeah, I feel really happy with where I'm at and my role in this team.
00:56I think, yeah, I'm obviously in it to take power play wickets and come back at the death.
01:01And yeah, I feel like I'm happy with where I'm at and how it's all going.
01:06Can you talk a little bit about your evolution as a fast bowler in the England team from, you know,
01:10coming in as a youngster and I suppose learning a bit on the job and getting to where you are
01:14now
01:15was one of the most, you know, reliable, regarded as one of the most reliable seamers?
01:18Yeah, absolutely. I think I obviously got my debut when Katja and Nanya retired and I had a lot to
01:24learn from that day to now
01:25and I've kind of done it on the international stage.
01:27But yeah, it's been incredible and I've had some senior players around me to really help me.
01:33And as I've grown through the years and I've had Heather and Nat as two incredible captains.
01:38So yeah, I guess I've just, I've just learned and playing international cricket is the best place for that
01:43because you get challenged against the best in the world and that's obviously when you learn quickest.
01:47So it's been, yeah, it's had its ups and downs, but yeah, I think it's been pretty cool.
01:51You say you must enjoy that role and, you know, being the tone setter at the top and trying to
01:57keep it tight at the back end as well.
01:58Yeah, I love it. I think it brings out the best to me having responsibility and having a really clear
02:04role within the team.
02:05And I love taking the first day over at the game and trying to set the team up and get
02:09us off to a flyer
02:10and then, yeah, coming back and having the responsibility at the death.
02:14Yeah, as I said, I think it definitely brings the best out of me.
02:17And just lastly, you've obviously been one of the poster girls for this tournament.
02:20I think you were in vogue, weren't you?
02:21Do you enjoy the extra attention or is it like a necessary way to get more eyeballs on the game
02:27for you?
02:27Yeah, it's been cool. I guess it is all part of the job now.
02:31It's something that's rapidly evolved over the last few years.
02:34And it's another way of getting eyeballs on the game and trying to inspire young girls
02:40and be those role models that maybe we didn't have so much growing up because there wasn't as much accessibility
02:45for it.
02:46So I think it's really important and I do really enjoy it because growing up, I didn't have that female
02:51role model.
02:52And so I'm really passionate about having that for younger girls and inspire them to take on cricket.
02:57So, yeah, I think it's been really cool and it's a great part of where women's cricket is going.
03:04Hi Lauren. When you're playing a team like Ireland, who you don't get to play very often,
03:08do you sort of more focus on sticking to your plans and knowing sort of like what you do will
03:15carry you through?
03:16Or do you have to focus a little bit more on a new opponent?
03:20Well, I think obviously, example, playing a team like Australia, I know exactly how to bowl.
03:25I've bowled at these players plenty of times.
03:27A team like Ireland, you do have to do a little bit of research on who they are and how
03:32they might line up.
03:33But ultimately, in the same way I prep for any team, I know my strengths, I know my plans.
03:37And a lot of the time, I don't feel too far off from what I do best and what my
03:43strengths are.
03:44Have you got to play much against Gabby Lewis and all of Prendercast in county cricket?
03:49And what do you make of the MS players?
03:51I've literally just done my prep for tomorrow.
03:54And I don't think I've played against many of them particularly often.
03:57But I played with Gabby Lewis a few years ago for the Southern Vipers.
04:01And then she joined the Southern Brave for a few games.
04:04So, yeah, she's a quality player.
04:06I mean, it goes without saying that she's obviously, they're obviously their best two batters and who, yeah,
04:11we'll really have to focus in on to try and not make an impact in the game.
04:17But, yeah, they're quality players and I look forward to playing against them.
04:19You mentioned just their playing here for the Southern Brave.
04:22What is it like playing here at Southampton and how does it bring the best out of you?
04:26Yeah, it's really special.
04:27I think the home crowd we get here and how much they love their cricket and love getting behind the
04:31team that they're supporting is amazing.
04:33And, obviously, I've grown up playing my professional cricket here.
04:36So, it's one of the best things about home World Cup is getting to play at your home ground where,
04:42I guess, you've made all your professional memories.
04:44So, yeah, I think it's going to be really special tomorrow.
04:46You obviously get decent turnouts all around the country when you travel around.
04:50But when it's a World Cup, obviously, this is your first home World Cup.
04:53How much more special does it make you and how much of a boost does it give you and an
04:57advantage it can give you?
04:59Yeah, it's incredible.
05:00I think, obviously, the crowd at Edgbaston on Friday night just summed it all up, really.
05:04They were so supportive, properly behind us.
05:06I think, yeah, it gives you that extra boost.
05:08It gives you extra nerves but also extra excitement and, yeah, pushes you.
05:12We experienced it in the ashes in 23 and after Friday night I'm pretty confident that we'll experience it throughout
05:18the next few weeks as well.
05:19Obviously, the tournament couldn't have got off to a better start, really, for you.
05:23So, is it about carrying on that momentum?
05:25And with the way how it ended for you in 2024, getting knocked out on that run rate,
05:30is that a conversation that you want to keep that up in case anything does fall apart at the end?
05:35No, that's not a conversation.
05:38The main thing is just playing a really good brand of cricket and winning matches.
05:43I think tomorrow night is a reset and we go again.
05:47We're really happy with how Friday night went.
05:49But, yeah, it's a new game of cricket and we'll just try and do everything we can to play a
05:54really good game of cricket
05:55and try and get another win.
05:58Hi, Lauren.
05:59Just continuing from Paul's question.
06:01So, is NRR a discussion in your squad?
06:05Because, obviously, with New Zealand West Indies, it's always tricky with the kind of format that we have.
06:10So, do you discuss about net run rates at all?
06:13No.
06:14Because you're at the top of it in both the groups with, like, plus four.
06:18Yeah, I would assume so because we had a big win.
06:21But, no, it's not something we focus on.
06:23Okay.
06:23And you played WPL this season.
06:26You have a lot of new Indian fans.
06:28Was that something that you saw in Edgebaston?
06:31Do you have, like, more and more people coming out?
06:34You spoke about how it's important for you to be, like, there for young girls.
06:38But has that also changed, playing WPL for Royal Challenges Bangalore?
06:43Yeah, for sure.
06:44I mean, obviously, they have a really passionate fan base over in Bangalore and over in England, which I have
06:50realized this summer.
06:52But, yeah, it's really cool.
06:53I guess any sort of fan base, any sort of fans, it makes me really proud.
06:57And it's nice to have the support.
06:59So, yeah, it's really cool.
07:01Lastly, so Freya did really well in the opener.
07:05And Ireland doesn't have a left-arm seamer.
07:07So, do you usually plan bases that?
07:10Because Sri Lanka also didn't have a left-arm seamer.
07:13So, do you have specific plans for Freya when you're playing against teams that don't really have left-arm seamers?
07:20Nope.
07:21Freya is just in our team because she's one of the best all-rounders in England.
07:25And she's an incredible asset to our bowling attack.
07:27And it is great to have that variety.
07:30But, yeah, Freya's plans, I think, Freya's plans, yeah.
07:35Okay, thank you.
07:35Cool.
07:37Any more?
07:39Okay, thank you very much.
07:40Perfect.
07:41All good.
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