September 10, 2025 • 7 mins
Earlier today, the White Ferns named their 15 strong squad that will head over to India and Sri Lanka for the upcoming Women's ODI Cricket World Cup.
Amongst the group was veteran fast bowler Lea Tahuhu who has been selected for her fourth tournament.
D'Arcy caught up with Lea when the team was named to hear all about it.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from news talk z'ed be.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
It is eight minutes or two eight Let's for chet
now with Lea to Woho, who has been packed up
again to carry on with a White Fern's career. She
joins us, Now, Leah, how are you?
Speaker 3 (00:26):
I'm your thanks, Darcy, how are you going?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Very well? Congratulations on getting the nod for the upcoming
World Cups starts at the beginning of October. My miy,
what a journey you've been on in the last few years.
I heart back to twenty twenty two when you didn't
get your contract and well you're a little on the
cranky side and said no, no, I'm coming back into
the side again. And today back playing World Cups. How good.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah, it's a pretty nice feeling. I think anytime anytime
you get named in a World Cup squad is a
really special day. Incredibly incredibly grateful to be to be
named in that today. And yeah, it hasn't been without
its ups and downs, but in all hot to see
what professional athlete doesn't go through that, So yeah, I
don't know if I'll hear that much, you know, but
I certainly thought I had a bit more to give,
(01:13):
and yeah, look that decision I guess to keep playing
and keep trying to put my name forwarders paid off
being named in another ODO World Cup squad today?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
What number is this? Because I think Sophie and Susie
are chalking up number five? Your is this number four?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
For you? Leat? It is? It is number four yet,
so just one behind the two older girls, if we'll
call them that. But yeah, number four and just the
special really is being named in the first one.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So you've got like a month ahead of you over
in the sub Continent, you would have been prepping for
this mentally. I'm presuming you knew that you were going
to be very close to the team. What are your
expectations around what you're going to face, because you can't
go in as underdogs or dark horses anymore after what
happened in the TEA twenty World Cup, can you?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
No, you can't. I uess it'll be a somewhat of
a toil on our back, But I also I think
one day cricket is a completely different beast. And obviously
in the Subcontinent we've been doing a lot of heat
training and you know, a lot of physical preparation, knowing
you know, it's fifty overs of cricket, it's going to
be hard, it's going to be hot, and I think
with the format that we play in one day cricket,
(02:18):
you know that you have to beat every team to
be there or thereabouts at the end, so rounder no
allusions as to how hard that's going to be.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Isn't that a cool thing to do?
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Though?
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Was it twenty nineteen? I'm really reaching back now where
it was a round robin for the men. Everybody played
everybody else and they dropped straight into semi finals and
then the game of course we don't talk about. So
you get to play everybody ahead of a semi final matchup.
Isn't that like should be Leah?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Yeah, I think it's a great test. I think it's
a real true test of where you are, and it's
as a team. You know, you play seven games and
if you're standing there at the end and you get
another chance for a semi final and to try and
get into that final. And I think the format that
we've gone to in the women's game, it's been fantastic
over the last few years and I'm glad that we
get to play every team. I think you want to
test yourself against the best every opportunity. So what better
(03:08):
way to do that than in the ODI World Cup.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Yr third in World Cups behind Suzie Bates and then
Sophie Divine and just behind you though Maddie Green Mealy
Kerr attending their third. Now there's been talk before about
not enough of a program to bring the new players through.
That's very much stopping now, isn't it. You've got the
(03:31):
old hands to help. We've got a young lot of young,
very good players to take your positions. I mean, do
you treasure this role as leading this team to victory
as a senior player.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Yeah, We've got a great mix at the moment. Like
you say, we've got a few of us who are
hitting to a third, fourth or some cases for World Cup,
and then we've got a couple that are heading to
their first Odio one or hitting to the second. So
I think the balance that we've got at the moment
is great. And you know the way that the experienced
players are able to help bring those younger players through.
And we've got a few who haven't played in India,
(04:03):
so to get over there nice and early will be
fantastic to get some time on the ground sort of
get used to the conditions and yeah, personally I love
being able to help those young girls come through. I
think that's your role. I guess it's what you know,
people like Nicola Brown did for me when I first
came into the team, and to be able to impart
some knowledge, hopefully on those younger girls coming through, especially
(04:25):
in our pace attack will be It's a really exciting time.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Tell us about the debutantees a World Cup score. They're
being packed Florid Devonshire, from the central Hinesbury Elling, out
of the Auckland Hearts and from the sparks Pollie English
and Balla James. What do we know about them?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Yeah? I think a lot of them have been doing
their craft at domestic cricket for a while now. I
think Polly and Bella got a number of years of
domestic cricket behind them, so I think in terms of
World Cups or New Zealand experience they probably don't quite
have that, but cricket experience over all they do. Someone
like Breelling I think is extremely exciting. We haven't had
a left arm bowler for the White fans for a
(05:01):
long time, so to have a left arm pace. It's
a tall girl as well, so it comes from a
bit of a height and able to swing the ball.
So it'll be really exciting to see how she goes
over there given the opportunity, and exciting for Flora as well,
I think another left spinner. We know how much spin
could play a part over in the Subcontinent on some
of those wickets that we're heading to. So a really
(05:23):
balanced team and really exciting to see how everyone gets on.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Pretty tough on fran On, Lauren, on Molly, on Hannah
as well, who miss out because they've featured in the
recent home summer. Do you get around these players outside
of the team environment, you're all pretty close? How does
that operate?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yeah, I think it's tough. There's no he's go way
around that. There's hard decisions that have to be made.
You know, Ben and the selectors have got a tough
job at times, but we certainly get around each other.
We're a really close knit team, close knit squad to
be fair. You know, there's always some injuries that probably
rule people out at times, and look, I think it
(06:02):
comes down to the best balance that the selectors and
Ben and so thinker are going to be able to
help us win games over in those conditions you certainly, Yeah,
you feel for those girls. You take the time and
have conversations with them, chicken and that type of thing.
But yeah, it's the downside of being a professional athlete.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
You know, you're playing your opening match against Ossie the
same day as the black Caps are playing a match
at T twenty versus the Australians too. Talk about timing.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Yeah, it's not bad, is it. It would be good to
go from one lot of cricket into the next. People
can just keep the tally on or not.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Yeah, all night and you're looking down the barrel of
one hundred one day internationals that may very well surface
during this World Cup leaps hope. So and one last thing.
The prize money on the line is more than the
men's World Cup. It is ridiculous. Have you focused much
on the size of the pop because it's vast?
Speaker 3 (06:56):
No, yes, and no, I guess the yuse is the
YUS as you've seen it. It's obviously been all over
the media. You get some comments and some pieces from
people at times, but no, if that's not our focus.
Our focus is to go over there and win a
World Cup. The prize money that comes with that comes
with it, but it's certainly not a driving factor for us.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Gee's been a long time coming, hasn't it. Who would
have funke it all those years ago that you'd be
topping the men for prize money in a World Cup.
This is the way women's cricket is going. You must
be so proud to be at the forefront of that
and watch it come through the years too, the amount
of time you've been involved. Congratulations Leah, what a great
day for you all. And yeah, don't focus on the money,
(07:36):
it'll kill you.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Thanks TOS, appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from news talk z'ed be.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
It is eight minutes or two eight Let's for chet
now with Lea to Woho, who has been packed up
again to carry on with a White Fern's career. She
joins us, Now, Leah, how are you?
Speaker 3 (00:26):
I'm your thanks, Darcy, how are you going?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Very well? Congratulations on getting the nod for the upcoming
World Cups starts at the beginning of October. My miy,
what a journey you've been on in the last few years.
I heart back to twenty twenty two when you didn't
get your contract and well you're a little on the
cranky side and said no, no, I'm coming back into
the side again. And today back playing World Cups. How good.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah, it's a pretty nice feeling. I think anytime anytime
you get named in a World Cup squad is a
really special day. Incredibly incredibly grateful to be to be
named in that today. And yeah, it hasn't been without
its ups and downs, but in all hot to see
what professional athlete doesn't go through that, So yeah, I
don't know if I'll hear that much, you know, but
I certainly thought I had a bit more to give,
(01:13):
and yeah, look that decision I guess to keep playing
and keep trying to put my name forwarders paid off
being named in another ODO World Cup squad today?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
What number is this? Because I think Sophie and Susie
are chalking up number five? Your is this number four?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
For you? Leat? It is? It is number four yet,
so just one behind the two older girls, if we'll
call them that. But yeah, number four and just the
special really is being named in the first one.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So you've got like a month ahead of you over
in the sub Continent, you would have been prepping for
this mentally. I'm presuming you knew that you were going
to be very close to the team. What are your
expectations around what you're going to face, because you can't
go in as underdogs or dark horses anymore after what
happened in the TEA twenty World Cup, can you?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
No, you can't. I uess it'll be a somewhat of
a toil on our back, But I also I think
one day cricket is a completely different beast. And obviously
in the Subcontinent we've been doing a lot of heat
training and you know, a lot of physical preparation, knowing
you know, it's fifty overs of cricket, it's going to
be hard, it's going to be hot, and I think
with the format that we play in one day cricket,
(02:18):
you know that you have to beat every team to
be there or thereabouts at the end, so rounder no
allusions as to how hard that's going to be.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Isn't that a cool thing to do?
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Though?
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Was it twenty nineteen? I'm really reaching back now where
it was a round robin for the men. Everybody played
everybody else and they dropped straight into semi finals and
then the game of course we don't talk about. So
you get to play everybody ahead of a semi final matchup.
Isn't that like should be Leah?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Yeah, I think it's a great test. I think it's
a real true test of where you are, and it's
as a team. You know, you play seven games and
if you're standing there at the end and you get
another chance for a semi final and to try and
get into that final. And I think the format that
we've gone to in the women's game, it's been fantastic
over the last few years and I'm glad that we
get to play every team. I think you want to
test yourself against the best every opportunity. So what better
(03:08):
way to do that than in the ODI World Cup.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Yr third in World Cups behind Suzie Bates and then
Sophie Divine and just behind you though Maddie Green Mealy
Kerr attending their third. Now there's been talk before about
not enough of a program to bring the new players through.
That's very much stopping now, isn't it. You've got the
(03:31):
old hands to help. We've got a young lot of young,
very good players to take your positions. I mean, do
you treasure this role as leading this team to victory
as a senior player.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Yeah, We've got a great mix at the moment. Like
you say, we've got a few of us who are
hitting to a third, fourth or some cases for World Cup,
and then we've got a couple that are heading to
their first Odio one or hitting to the second. So
I think the balance that we've got at the moment
is great. And you know the way that the experienced
players are able to help bring those younger players through.
And we've got a few who haven't played in India,
(04:03):
so to get over there nice and early will be
fantastic to get some time on the ground sort of
get used to the conditions and yeah, personally I love
being able to help those young girls come through. I
think that's your role. I guess it's what you know,
people like Nicola Brown did for me when I first
came into the team, and to be able to impart
some knowledge, hopefully on those younger girls coming through, especially
(04:25):
in our pace attack will be It's a really exciting time.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Tell us about the debutantees a World Cup score. They're
being packed Florid Devonshire, from the central Hinesbury Elling, out
of the Auckland Hearts and from the sparks Pollie English
and Balla James. What do we know about them?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Yeah? I think a lot of them have been doing
their craft at domestic cricket for a while now. I
think Polly and Bella got a number of years of
domestic cricket behind them, so I think in terms of
World Cups or New Zealand experience they probably don't quite
have that, but cricket experience over all they do. Someone
like Breelling I think is extremely exciting. We haven't had
a left arm bowler for the White fans for a
(05:01):
long time, so to have a left arm pace. It's
a tall girl as well, so it comes from a
bit of a height and able to swing the ball.
So it'll be really exciting to see how she goes
over there given the opportunity, and exciting for Flora as well,
I think another left spinner. We know how much spin
could play a part over in the Subcontinent on some
of those wickets that we're heading to. So a really
(05:23):
balanced team and really exciting to see how everyone gets on.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Pretty tough on fran On, Lauren, on Molly, on Hannah
as well, who miss out because they've featured in the
recent home summer. Do you get around these players outside
of the team environment, you're all pretty close? How does
that operate?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yeah, I think it's tough. There's no he's go way
around that. There's hard decisions that have to be made.
You know, Ben and the selectors have got a tough
job at times, but we certainly get around each other.
We're a really close knit team, close knit squad to
be fair. You know, there's always some injuries that probably
rule people out at times, and look, I think it
(06:02):
comes down to the best balance that the selectors and
Ben and so thinker are going to be able to
help us win games over in those conditions you certainly, Yeah,
you feel for those girls. You take the time and
have conversations with them, chicken and that type of thing.
But yeah, it's the downside of being a professional athlete.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
You know, you're playing your opening match against Ossie the
same day as the black Caps are playing a match
at T twenty versus the Australians too. Talk about timing.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Yeah, it's not bad, is it. It would be good to
go from one lot of cricket into the next. People
can just keep the tally on or not.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Yeah, all night and you're looking down the barrel of
one hundred one day internationals that may very well surface
during this World Cup leaps hope. So and one last thing.
The prize money on the line is more than the
men's World Cup. It is ridiculous. Have you focused much
on the size of the pop because it's vast?
Speaker 3 (06:56):
No, yes, and no, I guess the yuse is the
YUS as you've seen it. It's obviously been all over
the media. You get some comments and some pieces from
people at times, but no, if that's not our focus.
Our focus is to go over there and win a
World Cup. The prize money that comes with that comes
with it, but it's certainly not a driving factor for us.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Gee's been a long time coming, hasn't it. Who would
have funke it all those years ago that you'd be
topping the men for prize money in a World Cup.
This is the way women's cricket is going. You must
be so proud to be at the forefront of that
and watch it come through the years too, the amount
of time you've been involved. Congratulations Leah, what a great
day for you all. And yeah, don't focus on the money,
(07:36):
it'll kill you.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Thanks TOS, appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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