Even before she called time on her 21-year career, Katey Martin was a familiar voice on the airwaves, from her short commentary stints and her very vocal presence behind the stumps for New Zealand women. Since her retirement in 2022, though, Martin has established herself as a thoughtful analyst and technically proficient broadcaster who's also not afraid to cut loose. While in India to commentate on the IPL, she sat down to talk about her commentary style, reading the game, and what it's like to feature in a little slice of history from the commentary box.

It's fair to say that after a long and distinguished career, Katey Martin has taken to broadcast like a fish to water, and she's always loved talking cricket, whether behind the stumps or behind the microphone. Katey, is that right?
Probably not by choice behind the microphone. There's an ongoing joke that I've been a commentator for the last six years because in the world [Cup] events I used to get the stump microphone turned up so loud that it was pretty much my voice broadcast. The commentators say they used to have days off because I was talking so much behind the stumps. But yeah, what a privilege it is to get paid to talk about the sport I love. And I do talk!

It strikes me that there are players who just become broadcasters after playing and then there are those that are passionate about broadcast. Are you the latter?
I guess that's probably the way to put it. I'm passionate about the game and about being able to educate the viewer, entertain the viewer, and sort of do justice to the players out there. I'm a strong believer that our role as commentators is to add to what the players are doing.

The game is about what they [the players] are putting on, and the fans, and sort of saying, well, we've got the privilege as a commentary group to join you at home, so how do we make the experience a great one for you, but also educate you in terms of what's going on out in the middle, maybe on some technical aspects.

Our challenge is that you've got such an array of viewers. You've got people that are absolute cricket tragics versus people that are just tuning in for the first time, and it's [about] trying to meet every one of their needs. I love the challenge of being able to look at something and go, how do we relate to all of those types of viewers? When I first got into it, it was sort of working out what type of commentator I wanted to be.

I was a passionate player. I ride the game when I'm playing the game and also ride the game watching it and commentating. For me, it was all about, "How do I be relatable at home?"

I'm a Kiwi. We're generally down-to-earth people. I'm from Dunedin, so we're loyal as heck. We're typically humble people as well, and quite understated. For me, it was just trying to be relatable and genuine and [being] myself.

"My first commentary stint, I was on with Mel Jones and Julia Price, and I'd said 'wee' so many times, they ended up putting a little 'wee counter' in the corner"

The challenge that comes with that is, you get measured on your personality, in a way, when you're on commentary, whereas at cricket, you can get measured on runs and wickets and stumpings and dropped catches and whatnot. [In broadcast] it's a little bit of you that's being vulnerable.

So when you want to be that person on air, then you have that aspect of, "Gee, if this doesn't go very well, then…" [What if] I'm not actually that well-liked as a person? But that's what I've stuck to and hopefully it comes across like that on the coverage.

It takes time to find your voice, is what I've heard many commentators say, especially in your early years. When you get into a commentary box and you often share space with people who've done it for so many years, were you intimidated? How did you go about finding your voice when you started off?
It's a great question. I've been so privileged to be able to work with the absolute best right from the start. My first commentary stint was - we had a Covid series, New Zealand were playing Australia and I stayed on [in Australia] and Channel 7 asked, do you want to do the WBBL? It's the Covid, everyone's in a hub, it'll be just a couple of weeks in Sydney. I said, yeah, why not? I'm a yes person. No isn't part of my vocab, which can be a little bit of a problem at times.

And I thought, well, what a great experience. Obviously the challenge was still playing [cricket] and then being able to talk about your team-mates, your opposition that you've played against and will continue to play against.

When I walked into the commentary box, it was Mel Jones, Lisa Sthalekar, Julia Price, a few of the experienced guys as well, and just the way that they embraced me was so awesome.

So w-e-e is a term in New Zealand that we use [a lot], like "a great/wee/short kind of situation". And my first commentary stint, I was on with Mel Jones and Julia Price and I'd said "wee" so many times, they ended up putting a little "wee counter" in the corner. So after the first day, I [realised] I need to learn and understand words that I probably repeat.

But to be able to work with world-class commentators straight away and just learn [was great]. I love asking questions. It's always about how can you get better? And when you play sport, reflection is such a massive part. So after every commentary stint, I would always reflect: what did I feel in that moment? I'm probably the harshest critic of myself.

Play 03:30

Martin: 'Never thought I would get into commentary'

I remember there was a time where it was absolutely bucketing down and I was on the sideline and one of the other ladies went to the toilet, the presenter. So I'm sitting there thinking, "This is great. We're not going to get back on." And within a minute they said, "Oh, where's Erin [Holland, presenter]?" And I said, "Oh, she's just in the toilet." And they said, "We've got to get you on. The team's going back on. We need to know how many overs are left, who's bowling what." Well, I'm terrible with numbers and I [didn't] have any piece of paper to write down anything. And as you know, with the camera in front of you, you have to look down the barrel. And I hadn't written the numbers down. I'm dyslexic with numbers.

So the guy beside the camera was telling me there's four or three bowlers. I'm like, "Oh, yeah, welcome back." And the commentators up in the box were cracking up laughing, because down below [on the screen on TV], all the information was there, the viewer could see, but I didn't know. So I said, "Yeah, we're back on at 3.52 and two bowlers can bowl three, four bowlers can bowl two overs." I couldn't get the numbers and they were just mixing it up.

I could hear giggling in my ear, because I could obviously hear the feed from the guys [commentators] that were up top. And I'm trying to look at this [camera] guy and staring at him and staring at him. And it just became an absolute disaster. In my mind, I thought, "Oh my God, this is so embarrassing." I couldn't get the numbers out. So I just said, "Oh, it doesn't matter. People have to bowl however many overs." And I walk off and obviously I've been soaking. I'm a drenched rat by then because it was still sort of raining.

The next day I turn up and Mel Jones, she hands me these [cue] cards and she goes, "You might need these for next time." And I was like, oh no, have I done something wrong? I [didn't] know if she was telling me off or not telling me off, but that was Mel helping me out to say, "Hey, look, be better prepared next time. Here's some cards. I know it probably wasn't your fault." It was just that kindness that she brought. It was a little bit of humour as well. Now every time I go on tour, I always buy cards that are sitting in my bag, so I'm always prepared with notes.

"I remember in 2023, when I got the message to say they want you at the World Cup, I was like, 'Me? I've only been doing this for a year.' Like, why would I be going to a World Cup?"

And that's sort of my first experience, someone like Jonesy just taking me under her wing and it just shows how welcoming a lot of those people were in the environment.

I heard you for the first time in the 2023 men's ODI World Cup. Now we're talking working with the big boys of commentary. Was it different?
It's so bizarre, to be honest, because I look at it now and I never thought I'd ever get into commentary. It just kind of happened. I've got mic'd up as a player and I used to just have a bit of fun with the commentary. And I remember in 2023, when I [was told] they want me at the World Cup, I was like, "Me? I've only been doing this for a year." Like, why would I be going to a World Cup?

[But it] was so kind. Because the year before that, after New Zealand [women] got eliminated out of our home World Cup, the ICC said, can you come and do the semi-final? And I said, yeah, no worries. Like, what a cool moment! Obviously the challenge of [New Zealand] being eliminated out of a World Cup, emotionally it was challenging, but it was an awesome experience.

So that was where I was like, "Okay, is there an opportunity in the men's space?" I'd been doing Test matches at home. But when I got the [2023 Men's World Cup] email, I thought, "This is ridiculous!"

I actually had a Fiji holiday planned with my family [for] my sister's 40th, I'd put a little bit of money down for that. And I said [to the broadcast team], "When do you want me to come over?" And they said, "Oh, we actually need you to come a bit earlier. We've got some warm-up games." So the Fiji holiday went in the bin.

Just two games after New Zealand were knocked out of the 2022 Women's World Cup at home, Martin was called up to commentate on the semi-final © Getty Images

I remember my first game was a warm-up in Hyderabad. I turn up and there's Sunny G [Sunil Gavaskar]. I thought, "Oh, this is the greatest ever Test player for India. And I'm on commentary with him." And Sanjay Manjrekar was there. There were a few big Indian names. And I'm a cricket tragic, so I know these guys. I was never a big-name player. I was just a middling cricketer that had a good sense of humour on the microphone and sometimes could score a boundary. And as Alyssa Healy would say, my front pad got blown out more than Shane Watson and Aaron Finch combined at the end of their careers.

So I walked in - it was only two people on commentary at the time - and my first [commentary partner] was Sunny. And I thought, "Oh, my God, what am I meant to do here?" And I was on lead. I sat down and we were just chatting away about cricket. And he goes, "Katey, I've seen you've been up and down the order a little bit at the World Cup last year." I'm like, what? I was sitting there going, this is the greatest Indian Test batter, and he's asking me about my career. So he's taking the time to actually have a look and say, who is this Katey Martin? I wasn't a big New Zealand name or world name by any stretch. I was blown away. That was my first experience of the men's World Cup.

And we went on air and it was just like we were sitting at the back of the commentary room chatting about cricket. I'll never forget that moment of how comfortable he made me feel - not just him, but all of the guys that were in the commentary box. They automatically gave you respect. And I think the more you spoke about the game and the more you spoke behind the scenes, they understood that I could read the game.

I probably liked the technical aspect of it [more] and how you can break down a batter's technique and how you get them out in your plans, but they knew I just loved the game and I was passionate. And I've never told Sunny that actually, but that always sticks with me - that very first day in a men's World Cup.

When we got back to the hotel, he had about 55,000 people waiting for him and here's me just strolling off in the corner! So it was just seeing such a difference in terms of what you get in the commentary to the fandom that people have for a guy like that.

"For me, I'd love to be able to provide insight from a playing perspective, because that's how I first went into the commentary box. So when I prepare for games, I prepare as if I'm a player, which takes a lot of time and a lot of energy"

Now you're here for the IPL. And that also involves dealing with pretty much everybody who's at the top tier of male broadcasters in men's events. Has it been welcoming, or have there been moments of being made to feel uncomfortable, being made to perhaps add a little more validation because you're a women's cricketer in a male-dominated space?
Absolutely not. I've never had that. And what I will say is that I'm so fortunate I've followed in the footsteps of people that have gone before us, who maybe had experienced that. They've paved the way for females to come through now. Mel and I have so many conversations about this. I feel guilty that I'm in the position I'm in because so many others [weren't], especially female commentators.

And the guys have been so incredible to work with. Like I said, they're respectful of my opinion and they're respectful of what I can bring to the coverage. And they've never felt like I was a threat to them, even though I'm probably [more of] an expert, not necessarily a lead caller.

And so, you know, you're sort of having to put your expertise and colour, adding to what is happening out in the middle. Like, what are the tactics? While, you know, the lead [commentators] are a bit more [like] the conductor on what's happening.

But they've been so great. I mean, Ian Bishop and I, we just sit and talk about cricket. And they've always made me feel welcome. Not one ounce have I ever felt uncomfortable. I think that just shows the environment and the respect that we all have towards the game.

The technical side of the game is big for you. You've said you're a cricket tragic. Where does that passion and drive to get deep into technique etc, come from?
It's a good question. As a wicketkeeper, you're always sort of picking up cues of batters. So I could see if someone had a low back grip they would hit more to the leg side, or a closed [bat] face, or if they stepped across their front pad.

Play 02:44

Martin: 'As a commentator you also have a responsibility to players to not ignite a fire from the public'

So you got an idea about the strength and weakness of a player. And then, obviously, as a player, you do research on them. And I just felt like that was - when I watch games, what do I want to listen to? What would I prefer?

For me, I was like, well, I'd love to be able to provide insight from a playing perspective, because that's how I first went into the commentary box. So when I prepare for games, I prepare as if I'm a player, which takes a lot of time and energy. I'd go through the batter's strengths and weaknesses. Where are they really good? Where would you target in terms of that?

Then, like with the IPL, for example, coming in at the back end, I can see what sort of trend has happened for a particular player and whether they've made any adjustments. I just find it so interesting. And I think that adds [something] for the viewers as well, because you're providing them with an insight they might not have.

We might say [of] someone, they stay leg side of the ball because of these reasons. But if you can show them why they've done that, what [the] outcome is, it just adds a layer into the commentary. Then you've got the people understanding player stories.

So that's what I've sort of committed to, that I love about the game. And I think hopefully it's well received. Sometimes I try and find weird and wonderful things [to talk about], which takes a bit more time, but that's okay.

Not all players are able to articulate their understanding of the technical side of the game. They first get in and dip their feet into broadcasting, get comfortable with the entire thing before the technical side comes in. You've taken to it so easily. Was that just something that you were extremely confident about, your own reading of the game? It never was second-guessed?
Well, I second-guess myself all the time, but I think that's also a female thing. As I said earlier, I'm probably the harshest on myself.

"I'm passionate about the game and about being able to educate the viewer, entertain the viewer, and sort of do justice to the players out there. I'm a strong believer that our role as commentators is to add to the pitches, and what the players are doing"

I'm quite inquisitive, so I want to know how someone's trying to get that player out, because that's how I prepared as a player. And so if I can give that insight to a person, of why they've got this field set, what are they trying to bowl to that player, how are they trying to combat that, what changes have they made? I just like it out of my own interest, to be honest.

In my very first World Cup game [in 2022], I learned that Hawk-Eye was a thing, which now maybe the boys [other commentators] don't so much enjoy, but they're very receptive, which is great. It was England [women] playing South Africa [women], I think? It was a semi. And I said, why don't I just send through our plans against those players? And obviously I'm a batter, so I focus more on the batters. And they're like, oh yeah, no worries. I'd send it to Hawkeye and they'd go, well, here's three packages we can build on that.

And, honestly, not all of the packages go to air. It's a fine balance between doing too much and, you know, trying to put things in there when they're not ready. Like we had one the other day that I was desperate to get out, on a batting technique, but the timing wasn't right. And the player got out, which was a little selfish from them (laughs), but that doesn't matter.

But it's doing that work so that it's there and available. It doesn't always have to be me putting that Hawk-Eye on and talking to it. It's going, how can I help the Hawk-Eye guys add stuff to the coverage? What are the stories of the games that we can use the technology to tell? And there's so many different bits and pieces of technology that we can utilise.

At times we're told in the media to make sure that you're also talking to new fans and talking to mass audiences and don't make it too serious or too technical. But do you get into technical detail without worrying about whether everyone may get it, that it's still important to talk about?
I'm not sure what your thoughts are, but I think cricket is an "assumed" sport. I remember my very first Test match, I was on [commentary] with Brendon McCullum. Brendon and I actually grew up in Dunedin together and he was my accounting tutor - which was great because I failed accounting, so probably it's good I stuck with cricket!

Martin says her wicketkeeping nous translated into her technical expertise on air © FairBreak Global

And I just remember saying to him, "You know how mid-off and mid-on in Test matches are [sometimes] right beside the stumps and sometimes they're further apart?" And he goes, "Yeah, that's, like, it's always happened." I said, "But [ viewers] at home, they don't necessarily know why they're that close, compared to white-ball cricket [where they're] on the circle." [He said] "People know that." And I said, "No, I just think we assume that people know that."

So we assume [knowledge on the part of fans] when we say, "They stay leg side of the ball" or "They're tipping over." But why are they doing that? Why are they tipping over? What's the outcome if they stay leg side? What's the difference between you going sideways to create a faster stumping than [otherwise].

I don't know what your thinking is, but sometimes I think we assume so much as cricketers because it's just automatic to us that that's what we do.

And that's why we do that [go into technical detail]. The viewer at home, they might understand one part of it, but not the why. And our responsibility is educating, entertaining, and explaining that "why" aspect.

Let's talk a little bit more about just what preparation is like for Katey Martin, the commentator. Is it different for men's and women's events, or for a league versus international cricket? I've seen you have this notebook, and when you watch the game, you are writing down so much.
I need to get sponsored by a stationery company because I've got so many books! I've got five books actually sitting there, and tomorrow, the game that I've got is KKR. I've got notes in my book from last year about some of the batters, and then I've referred to those notes to see: have they changed something this year? But like I said earlier, I'm very specific and probably quite structured in the way I go about it.

I feel prepared, and like, I'm less panicked because it's just a mental thing for me to know, okay, I've got all the information. I know about that player, I know their strengths, their weaknesses, how they have been getting out, how they target.

I've pretty much got a page for every single player, and then I have a review the morning of the game. I'll always write down some of the key things that have happened, maybe some storylines for the next game, who that opposition is going to be, so when I turn up to the ground, I know exactly how I think these teams want to play against each other, what the nice match-ups are, and like, why does Mitchell Starc always get Travis Head out, that sort of situation. To understand those stories.

"I think the biggest challenge in the women's game is, I'm still commentating on players that I played with and when they're out of form, I don't criticise people. I just don't want to hear that"

And honestly, it takes a lot of time and I spend hours and hours watching videos, but it's just the way that I feel the most prepared, and it's different to others. What I do isn't right or wrong compared to what someone else does. It's what gets you in a position where you know so much, and you've got the information there as you need. And I love reading stories about players.

Ian Bishop, he's the encyclopedia of cricket, but I find it so cool [that he says] "That kid, he's just moved to a shop, a dairy that he was working at, lived in the back of the house. He'd go to training for eight hours a day, then go home and have to work in the dairy and earn money."

It's those types of stories that we don't know, and that viewers maybe don't know as well, and I think it's our responsibility as well, to share a little bit more background. So it's looking at that aspect as well, the softer side of the sport, and what it means to a 14-year-old kid to score a hundred in the IPL. Like, what does it actually mean?

Because he's got mum and dad at home, brothers, sisters, whatnot. [The parents have] given up a whole lot of their life for their child to be successful. It's making sure I'm prepared to know that stuff about the players because it just adds that little bit of softness on. So it's hours and hours and hours [of research], but it's great fun and also very tiring

It takes a lot of work, you put in the preparation, eventually it's four overs that you get to bowl, but that background you provide, it's a real pleasure to listen to. However, with success as a commentator, that too reasonably early in your broadcasting career - doing the big gigs, I'm sure it also comes with its share of - I can't find a better word for it - maybe a little bit of jealousy at times in and around the box. I wonder if you've sensed that your success has also made it a little harder at times, when it comes to environments with colleagues or in the big leagues?
Not outwardly that I would know, to be honest. You find your own path in commentary. Some people get stints and other people won't and vice versa. Someone will go on a tour that I don't get asked on and that is okay with me because I'm a big believer in wherever you're destined [for] that's where you'll go.

Play 02:01

Martin: 'I had tears down my face with the emotion of that moment'

I'm probably not going to be everyone's cup of tea because sometimes I can be absolutely silly - like when I'm with some of the guys, I can have a great laugh on air - but sometimes people don't want that. If you're slightly tired, you might be a little flatter in your voice than you need to be, or you're a little bit over-excited and that comes across, and sometimes viewers don't like that. And I'm so okay with that because, like I said earlier, you either like someone or you don't like someone. But I've been so well supported, and I know that historically sometimes the environments [weren't] like that, and maybe in different parts of the world it can be quite different as well, but I'm in a pretty fortunate position.

I think what I've picked up from you and my conversations with some of the female cricketers that we consider the pioneers - the Mel Joneses, Lisa Sthalekars and Isa Guhas, those who made it into male commentary boxes in the last five, six years, finally opened my eyes. That's how I got an impression of these challenges, but also that now it's a much better space, so you have people like those to thank. You brought that up early in our conversation too.
Mel and I have had those chats and the conversations…

And I'm sure her stories might be a little different.
Exactly, and for her it's going, what do you give back to the next person? So if another player… I remember Sophie Devine did some stuff in Australia and she messaged me and said, "Oh, can I have some advice?" Well, that was the worst [ask], because [after] 55 messages, I was like, "Is this enough?" (laughs) But that's our responsibility as females, and with the guys as well. If someone's new in there, how do you help them out just like I've [been]? And that, I feel, is my best way of giving back.

So just comparing women's to men's cricket now, do you find one easier than the other, one different to the other in any way, or is it pretty much the same as far as broadcasting goes?
It's definitely different. With the men, I love the fact they tinker so much with their techniques, so it helps me with my Hawk-Eye analysis. The game's a little bit different, in that sometimes guys can hit 140-150kph [balls] back over someone's head and that can be a little challenging to describe, because in the women's game, there's the nuances [like] it's a bit more technical, they're not the same pace, you have to do things slightly differently as a player.

"I learned that as a player, especially the back end where I was turned professional, you don't want to rely on the feedback on social media to determine who you are as a person and what your feelings are"

I think the biggest challenge in the women's game is, I'm still commentating on players that I played with and when they're out of form, I don't criticise people. I just don't want to hear that. At home if someone goes to town on someone for five minutes, for me that's awkward to listen to and I don't think people want to listen to someone getting bagged left, right and centre.

That's my own personal opinion, so that's not my style, but when your best mate's not scoring runs, you have to explain why, but what I would say on air is what I would say to that person, whether male or female, so probably the biggest thing is commentating on people you know.

We've seen this in the women's Ashes, with Alex Hartley, where it appears a number of the England players went so far as to not wanting to be interviewed by her. I wonder if that sets a precedent for the rest of the industry? Also, there's another complication when it comes to speaking about the fitness or the bodies of women in the women's game versus a man in the men's game.
Yeah, it's interesting because I think it's a space that you don't want to go down, around people's body shape. Freddie Flintoff's just come out about how someone mentioned his weight and he ended up getting bulimia. I've got experience of that within my family, so that's quite a sensitive area.

But working with Alex at that time for Channel 7 in Australia, she actually found that really challenging because she got supportive messages, she got abusive messages from people. These are players that she played against, and she has such a passion for England cricket, especially England Women, and she just wants that team to be better. I think fitness is such that then people start going down around looking at people and how they look, and that's not necessarily… sometimes the least fit people are the skinniest. I know it was definitely challenging for her to deal with that situation and walking out into the ground knowing that players are looking at you with that disdain in a way.

Generally the England squad were great with her, but that's something that you as a commentator have to be conscious of - the bigger picture - and it's also a responsibility to players, that you're not igniting a fire from the public.

Some of the messages you get when you're not performing very well - that is when I played, but now I know players get that as well as commentators - it is really hard to deal with. People sometimes think that we're pretty immune to all of that, but you get - I don't really go on social media in terms of reading stuff - private messages that you still see, and it does hit you in the heart a bit because you're like, "I'm trying so hard and I've done so much [for] her." It can be a real challenge for a person to deal with that stuff.

That's what friends are for: Martin says her New Zealand team-mates have been nothing but supportive of her commentary career © PA Photos/Getty Images

Social media is a big part of any broadcaster's, any public figure's career these days, and what you get on social media can influence you in so many ways, positive and negative. I wonder what sort of experiences you've had so far, as you've made pretty significant strides in a reasonably short span of time.
Yeah, generally speaking I've had some really lovely messages from people, and I try to respond and say thank you as much as I can, because they've gone out of their way to do that. But also, I don't mind - if it's not abusive - when people go, look, we didn't really like this or that. It's actually a way to learn as well because sometimes in this industry feedback is one thing you don't get. Sometimes [the way you get] feedback is not getting a gig. I'm always asking for feedback and you want honest feedback - we need you a bit more doing this or we want you a bit more doing that. That's great because it helps me learn and develop as a commentator and sometimes if someone doesn't quite like something, that also helps you.

It's just the mechanism of how abusive it is, versus constructive feedback [which I] I love. People are more than [welcome] to send me through whatever they like and that is the only way that I can get better as well, but I don't actively seek out anything, it's not a thing for me.

And I learned that as a player, especially the back end where I was turned professional, you don't want to rely on feedback on social media to determine who you are as a person and what your feelings are. It's the trusted people around you [that give good feedback].

I'm very lucky Dad used to commentate on rugby - he's a big rugby union man in Dunedin - and every time I rang him, it was always negative to start with and mum used to tell him off, because I'd say, "Is there anything positive, Dad?" But it was constructive feedback from Dad, and I know that I can talk to him and I've got other people that I'm very connected with to say, what's your thoughts on this, what do you think on that? I'm so lucky that people have backed me in this role, that they can give me the feedback that I need.

Who are the people that have been instrumental in your growth as a broadcaster, if you're comfortable telling us? I know you've said Mel Jones and I think Bish will squeeze in there too.
Yeah, Bish, absolutely.

"I remember my first game was a warm-up in Hyderabad. I turn up and there's Sunil Gavaskar. I thought, 'Oh, this is the greatest ever Test player for India. And I'm on commentary with him'"

Not just commentators, could be producers, TV people. I think we have one in common that you'll mention.
Yeah, well, Ajesh [Ramachandran, broadcast and content lead for the ICC] from the ICC who has put so much faith in me, and he gave me my first opportunity at a World Cup, the Women's World Cup. We had a laugh because the other day he said, "I was hoping that you'd get eliminated so you could do some commentary on your home World Cup", and I said "I'll remember that."

But yeah, he's shown faith to give me opportunities, and I've got no doubt that he's had some influence on me being here in India as well, and I'm so grateful. I was saying this yesterday, how important it is for you as a person to [say how] grateful I am for every opportunity that I've been given, and it's my responsibility as to what I do with that.

Alex Lewis in New Zealand, he was the executive producer in my very first gig for Spark Sport, and he was the person that I had a conversation with around what style of commentator I wanted to be. He's not working in that space now, but he was someone that had so much faith in me. Chris Jones at Channel 7, he gave me my very, very first opportunity at Channel 7, and he's sort of like a brother to me, because we're just that type of people that we get on so well. I talk to him a lot about commentary every year I get to go back to Australia. Having a Kiwi doing women's domestic and women's internationals in Australia is a massive thing and I definitely don't take that for granted.

I'll have to say Dad again - he's a guy that I know if I'm struggling a bit, I can turn to him and he can just give me a little bit.

Does Dad still do that, though? It's been a few years now but does he still watch and listen?
Oh, every game, yeah. Every time Mum watches, she always comments on what I'm wearing, so we've gone through that process of maybe not so much talking about that.

How did the equation or relationship evolve when Katey Martin went from friend and team-mate with the Susie Bateses, Sophie Devines and Amelia Kerrs to commentating on them, at times having to analyse a poor shot or form, when you bumped into them later?
I did an ESPNcricinfo interview actually and there was the narrative of "Sophie shouldn't bat in the middle order." I just think she's one of the most destructive players in the world and I was like, yeah, I think she could open the batting, like it's an option, but I understand why she's not. Then I said to her, "Are we all good?" But she's like, "I just get sick of everyone saying that," and I was like, "We're all good?" And she's like, "Yeah, yeah, yeah." That was a very Kiwi sentence and I'm so sorry (laughs).

But they understand, and both Suzie and Soph have done commentary as well, and Melie said, "Don't try and give away [too] much, like how I bowl my googly", because it got to the point I was like, "Melie, it's really interesting so I'm going to have to say it." So then I build Hawk-Eye on most series around where she releases it, how it is different, what you pick up in terms of her run-up, but yeah, they're very, very supportive, and that's what mates are for.

If you could redefine through your own experiences and from working at the highest level: what according to you are the hallmarks of good commentary?
As I said at the start, for us to be able to be in such a privileged position, to have to attach our voices to some historic moments - we've got Ravi [Shastri] when he does the toss, we've got Ian Smith, [calling] the "barest of margins" in 2019 [World Cup final]. Like, that stuff is history. Just the way that you can hear the joy in our voices when we're talking about the game - and I know that everybody that's in that commentary box is genuinely passionate about the game, about bringing across to the audience how much we love the game and how much we're trying to bring you along with us. [It's like] you're pretty much sitting beside us while we're talking about the game.

For me personally, I think that's what commentary is all about. I get to sit in the back and listen to the best commentators that have ever, ever donned a microphone per se, and just absorb and learn so much from them. And coming here to India and just seeing the fandom around the sport, it just brings a smile to my face. I look forward to it every time, like, right, what time's the car here, when can I get to the ground, when can I sit at the Hawk desk, when can I sit upstairs and talk about cricket with Ian Bishop, when can we get this going so we can bring a great coverage to the game?

You've added your own little touch to history, haven't you, New Zealand's winning moment of the women's T20 World Cup last year, "climbing their Everest". Did you have a few lines prepared just in case, or did you just make up everything on the spot?
It's a good question. There were six overs to go and I got a tap on the shoulder from Ajesh and he said - I was on the last stint and it was Pommie [Mbangwa], Nat [Natalie Germanos] and me, and New Zealand were obviously in a very good position. "If New Zealand win, I want you to call the moment." And I was like, I can't do it, I'm not ready, this is not my job, I've never done this before, I've got to do justice to that moment. This is huge in New Zealand cricket's history. He said you'll be fine.

"People want to be engaged by relatable people, so just give it a go, bring your best self across and no doubt that that will then cross over and people can hear that on air"

And Pommie and Nat were incredible, because [with] three overs to go, I literally just had tears down my face with the emotion of that moment, for my mates out in the middle, and the heartbreak that we've had as a nation for such a long period of time in World Cups. Pommie and Nat picked up the slack at times where I should have been talking - people won't realise this but I 100% know it - to build that moment up, and I just physically couldn't speak because of the emotion that I had seeing my mates literally have one hand on that trophy.

And when it happened, the Everest stuff, I had that written down. I had a couple of other bits and pieces written down just in case, so I knew that I wouldn't muck it up, but Everest is a nod to, obviously, history with us [Edmund Hilary] climbing Mount Everest. That was literally what I felt that would mean for that group of players and the country as well, and it just happened to come out. I'd said it as slow as anything, which was weird for me because I talk so fast, and I apologise about that, but when I get enthusiastic…

What is your one-point or two-point advice for young girls, or maybe current female players, who aspire to be broadcasters? What's the most important thing for them to keep in mind?
I think for me it's about the game and what's happening out there and to provide your personality. I think that's what people want to see - people want to be engaged by relatable people. I think we're shifting in that respect, so just give it a go, bring your best self across, and no doubt that that will then cross over and people can hear that on air and it's a great job.

It's not even a job, you know. This isn't even a job, we're literally talking about cricket. How fun is this?

Raunak Kapoor is deputy editor (video) and lead presenter for ESPNcricinfo. @RaunakRK

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