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[with Charmaine Mason]

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This is the third in a series of interviews CricInfo will conduct during the tournament build-up with the leading players from the participating nations.

One of the leading bowlers in world women's cricket today, Charmaine Mason heads into the 2000 edition of the World Cup just 13 dismissals short of breaking the all-time record for wicket-taking in women's One-Day Internationals.

In tandem with the fastest bowler currently in the women's game, Cathryn Fitzpatrick, Mason forms part of the most lethal opening attack on the international scene. With a remarkable strike rate of a wicket in less than every five overs bowled, comparisons with men's equivalents in Waqar Younis and Allan Donald wouldn't be far off the mark.

After making her international debut in 1992, serious injury problems meant she didn't make her second appearance until over five years later. However, Mason came back with a vengeance in 2000, destroying England in a four match series with 15 wickets at the measly cost of 6.6 runs apiece.

Career Record (up to and including 9 February 2000):

BATTING M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St Tests 3 0 - - - - - - - - One-Day Internationals 33 13 5 54 11* 6.75 - - 12 - World Cups 6 1 0 0 0 0.00 - - 1 -
BOWLING O M R W Ave Best 5w SR Econ Tests 95.1 31 200 7 28.57 4-40 - 81.5 2.10 One-Day Internationals 282 53 871 61 14.27 5-9 2 27.7 3.08 World Cups 48.3 12 116 9 12.88 2-13 - 32.3 2.39

CricInfo Australia's Editor John Polack caught up with Charmaine to chat with her about the forthcoming CricInfo Women's World Cup, to be held at Lincoln and Christchurch from 29 November to 23 December 2000.

Listen to Full Interview Audio

[Duration: 22 minutes 1 second]

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JP: As preparations continue for the CricInfo Women's World Cup 2000, we're delighted to say that Australian fast bowler Charmaine Mason has taken time out from a busy schedule to join us. Charmaine, in the countdown to November 29th, it's a tremendous privilege for CricInfo to have you with us. Thanks very much for sparing us some of your time.

CM: Not a problem, John. Anything to help the women's cricket cause.

JP: The one thing we wanted to begin by asking you is how your own individual preparations are coming along as we approach November? Are things pretty much on track?

CM: Things are going really well. For some time now, Sally Bailey (our fitness adviser) has written a programme for us all to follow; we've had a camp and we've got a camp actually on Friday, and our own individual states have started up their cricket. So we're pretty much in the full swing of things now.

JP: And how about the team as a whole, is everyone pretty much at that same level of fitness? Are certain individuals in the team maybe a little bit ahead of others, or are you all going along at a collective level, do you think?

CM: Being in our own states, I suppose it's a little bit hard to monitor. We probably don't get together as much as we'd like. But I think when you play at that level (and the girls all have for a while), they know what's required and what it takes to play the best they can. So I would imagine that everyone's following the programme pretty well and, when we come together, we should all be at the same level.

JP: Does the fact that you guys enter the tournament not only as defending champion but also naturally as an overwhelming favourite and with the incredible record of having only ever lost four matches in the entirety of World Cup history work in your favour do you think? Or is the sense of expectation that arises from that sort of status a bit of a burden to have to carry?

CM: There would be a slight expectation not only of ourselves but also I suppose from our countrymen, so to speak. But I can honestly say from my point of view, it's not like we're defending. To me, I never defend anything; I always try and win something.

JP: So it's just a new experience altogether?

CM: Yeah, and I think probably that's how we'll all approach it. We're not there to defend anything; we're there to win something. And, each time that we take the field, I know that we endeavour to get better and better and better and I think we'll have obviously high expectations of ourselves and we'll be going out there to win it not defend it.

JP: Actually in passing, there's potentially a pretty significant individual milestone just around the corner as well, only thirteen wickets away in fact - which is the opportunity for you to become the greatest ever wicket taker in One-Day International history. Does that occupy much of your thinking at all, or is that just a side-issue of being part of a team that's playing well?

CM: It doesn't enter my mind at all to tell you the truth. I'm not even sure I was aware of that; I knew I was up the top. You see it in the footy players you see on TV and other people. You know 'they have to get that hundredth goal' and they sort of slow up on things. I'm certainly not going to take that approach. I'm just going to take each game on its merits and if I get wickets, that's good. And if, at the end, I've passed it, well then fantastic. If I haven't, it's not going to be a disappointment to me at all.

JP: As a team, you guys haven't actually played an international since you met New Zealand in February this year in Melbourne. Can the fact that you haven't experienced that kind of international match practice for such a long period of time become a bit of a hindrance in the lead-up to a tournament like this?

CM: John, I think we're used to the lack of international competition. It's not just through finances but the fact that we're so far away from everybody. We do have a healthy competition with New Zealand, which is great. But we boast a very strong state competition and National League competition so sometimes, playing against ourselves is probably better than playing internationally. I mean it's not ideal but we're still getting very good practice against each other and we've got a few National League games before we go away and a camp and a few practice games so we'll certainly be racking up the games. It's not going to be a matter of going in there underdone; I think we should just hit peak when we get there I'd like to think.

JP: Then, when you actually get to New Zealand, you're faced with the prospect of taking part in as many as seven matches in the space of just nineteen days in the preliminary rounds; and then obviously if you go on from there, there's two more on top of that potentially in quick succession if you do happen to make it through to the Final. We were talking about fitness before. How central to a campaign like this does your own fitness regime become - I imagine it's absolutely crucial to be right at the peak to play that many games in such a short period?

CM: You couldn't be more right. It's critical even. As we touched on before, it comes down to your own preparation and making sure that you are actually following a programme. We have tremendous support staff in our fitness advisor, Sally Bailey, and our physio, Lisa Ross, who have increasingly each year got us fitter and fitter and fitter. Being at this level, you know what it takes; I think otherwise you'd just be letting yourself down and your team-mates. We pride ourselves on supporting each other so I don't think anybody's going to go in there underdone. And then it's just a matter of while you're away, maintaining and looking after your body and listening to your body; so it's a lot of recovery and stretching and just doing all the right things.

JP: And when has that process started for you? I mean, in terms of actually building up to a peak level of physical conditioning, when would you have actually started your preparation for the World Cup. As long ago as February, or before that, or some time since?

CM: After the last season, I had a month off. Myself, I've been in the gym since, I've done lots of running. I would like to say that I actually feel fitter at this point of time than I did for the whole of last season and I feel like I'm going to get stronger and better.

JP: So things are really looking absolutely perfect in that sense?

CM: That's not only from me wanting to contribute the best I can to the team. It's my own personal thing as well. I'm realistic in knowing what my body can take; age is becoming a factor; all these sort of things. So if I don't do the work, I won't be the best I can. That's the individual thing about listening to your body and what you know needs to be done.

JP: It's a second World Cup for you personally. You had a pretty consistent performance in 1997 when you captured wickets in all your games and ended with nine overall. What are the sort of memories you carry with you from that incredible tournament in India three years ago?

CM: Just being in India was an experience having never before ventured into a country such as India. I found it tragic in one breath yet beautiful in the other. It was a place that was just amazing. It really gives you a perspective on how comfortable a life you lead. Having been my first time in the World Cup sort of format was taxing but good and it's given me a taste of what to expect. The friendships we made; everyone was very close and we bonded quite well, very well in fact. Just winning and being a part of something like that. Cathryn Fitzpatrick was another bowler and her and I have been friends for about fourteen or fifteen years now, we went through the juniors together. You feel a sense of accomplishment there with your buddy.

JP: So being in a totally unique position and yet also being able to share it with your friends?

CM: Yeah, it was fantastic.

JP: I know in Australia, certainly, we received a lot of images of the final where, a lot of schoolchildren, for instance, rocked up and we saw the very unique sight of women's cricket going on in Calcutta, in front of a huge crowd. What sort of images remain in your own mind about that experience and what must have been an incredible game to play, that one?

CM: Yeah, it was. Actually, people say 'did you get nervous with the crowd?' and so on. But I can honestly say that, once you're out there, you notice the crowd obviously - it would be hard not to - but I think we were all so focused that when we were out there in the middle, they actually really faded into the background of what I was thinking. I was really focused on the centre and it's not until you had to lapse in and out of concentration that you would really notice it. I remember a funny little story though. The Sports Minister at the time commandeered about eighty buses to bring mostly women into the game. These hundreds of buses arrived and these women filled the stadium but the Minister forgot to book the buses to take them home ... so the streets of Calcutta were quite full there for a while hours after the game!

JP: Of course, in saying that this is your second World Cup as well, we probably shouldn't go too far past without at least mentioning more generally the remarkable career that you've had both with Victoria and Australia. You started at state level in your teens and I hope I'm not putting you under pressure by saying that you're about to enter your thirties now. You're carrying a mantle now as possibly the greatest fast bowler in the world, along with your friend Cathryn Fitzpatrick. In between, you've had to endure a lot of setbacks and overcome a lot of obstacles. Do you ever reflect much on the ups and downs you've experienced or are you a person who prefers to look far more to the future than the past?

CM: Probably the future. Especially when you try to help kids out with stuff and they throw statistics back - I am not one for statistics! I have no idea there. I only know about what's, for me, memories and being a part of something really special. I can honestly say that I'm just looking to the future at the moment (as you said, getting into my thirties), and having had a few niggly little injuries along the way that have just made me think about the longevity in the game which is why I work really hard to be the best I can. I manage those sort of things. I don't know. I think mentally I could go on for another ten years; I don't know if the body will hold up but I'll certainly give it a go. But yeah, probably the future is what I look at - I don't get caught up with what's happened in the past, I just always try and improve and be a better player.

JP: This is probably an unreasonable question in that sense, but you played one Test (your debut) in 1992 and then you didn't play at international level at all again for another five years and in fact, given the dearth of Test cricket in the women's game, you've only played the two Tests since. But in between those times, you had some serious trouble with injuries first with your back and then your hip. Was there any thought for you of actually giving up cricket altogether at any stage there between 1992 and 1997; that must have been an incredible five-year period really?

CM: Well what happened, John, was that after 1992 - when I got picked out of the blue, which was fantastic - I had stress fractures in my lower back which put me out for a year. So that was the 1993/94 season and then I worked my way back into the squad. And then got back in the team the year after. I think what got me back was having tasted it and experienced the national level; it was something that I liked and something that I wanted to experience again. So I worked really hard to fight my way back into that squad.

JP: OK, so it was much more of a spur than something that made you say 'Look, this is just too taxing on my body, I'm not going to do it any more'?

CM: No, no. A lot of bowlers in their youth unfortunately sustain those sorts of back injuries and I think it's a personal test of character whether you want to go on with it or not. Yeah, it probably went through the mind as to 'Why am I doing this? My back is killing me'. And then even after I fractured my hip in England in 1997, it was like trying to be on crutches for six months and all this sort of stuff and 'Why am I doing this?' again. But it comes back to the same thing - I do it because I love it. I love playing with my peers and my friends and I love the competition. And I love being able to represent my country. I am a very, very proud Australian. And I think that's what gets me through. Pride is a lot to do with it.

JP: Hopefully, one thing that this World Cup will do is represent another huge step forward in promoting and expanding the interest in women's cricket generally. As one of the world's top players, what's your own feeling right now about where women's cricket stands in the eyes of the general sporting public both in Australia and in the other major countries where it's played?

CM: I think like any sport, and particularly women's sport, if it's in your face - and when I say that, I mean on TV and in the papers - the public would probably generally pick up on it a little bit more. I think we suffer from a lack of exposure. I believe New Zealand are doing a very good job in promoting the World Cup, which is great.

JP: And they've also had the benefit too of amalgamation with their own men's cricket association obviously?

CM: Exactly right. We're still at the preliminary stages of that here in Australia. Hopefully, it won't be too far off in the future that we do amalgamate with the ACB. I think that will increase our profile significantly. But we have a very healthy and strong competition here in Australia; I think currently we have about 30,000 registered players and very healthy state/domestic competitions. People say 'how do you feel about not getting all this recognition and rah, rah, rah' but to tell you the truth, I'm over it and it's not really the reason I play. I don't know, I think the media has a lot to do with the profile of how it's portrayed. Until we can educate the media to give us a go ...

JP: Which is a huge task in itself obviously and very frustrating?

CM: It is a huge task yes, but we're certainly better off than when I first started playing. And I can see that there's going, hopefully, to be an even better future for the kids and the younger players coming through now. Possibly they could be on contracts and possibly play more international cricket. So I do see it getting better and better.

JP: In that sense though - and we've talked about the frustration and the trouble with media coverage there - do you tend to worry personally (especially given your own multi-talented sporting background which I think I'm right in saying has seen you even represent your state at soccer in fact) and how much do you worry about the earnings of both your male cricketing counterparts, and other sportswomen in a range of other sports? The fact that they're getting so much - does it worry you that young girls are going to be less inclined to come towards cricket than maybe golf or tennis or sports like that?

CM: Well, that is a good point. When you say golf or tennis, I think usually that is initiated by the parents because I'm not too sure that a ten year old knows exactly what they want to do there - that's really the parents pushing there. No, it doesn't worry me that other athletes get paid but I think it is a little bit ridiculous what they get paid at some sports. Even in America, you hear things like (Michael) Jordan 'earning' forty million dollars a year. I think that's just a little bit ridiculous. Obviously, our male cricketers don't earn that kind of money here ... well, not that I know of!

JP: I think we'd all know if they were on that much!

CM: I think we've really got to weigh it up. The fact that they play for ten months of the year, it's their sole income, it's quite taxing on their bodies and their families being away for so long. I don't think it's as glamorous as it sounds personally and, in comparison, we normally play only three or four games a year. I'm not saying that's ideal and I'm not saying that we should be happy with that but I think we've really got to look at the context and the comparisons before you can jump up and down and say 'ooh, hang on a sec'. Ideally, yes, I'd love to be able to make a living out of cricket and probably play more internationals and earn a living from it but that's just not feasible at the moment. It's just not an option so we've all got to work full-time and train and play when we can. As I say, it's not ideal but it's where we're at the moment. And I suppose, say, in times like this - especially around the Olympics - all the funding goes to Olympic sports. I tend to be more realistic about things than jump up and down and say 'why not us?'. Because if you really think about it, there's reasons why it's not us. But I think if we do amalgamate with the ACB, as I said, hopefully the kids that are coming through will reap a few more benefits than what I did.

JP: We might end on a slightly more positive note, perhaps. If, out of all the consequences of this World Cup, there were to be one thing that you'd be most happy to see occur - beside Australia defending its crown naturally - could you maybe nominate what that might be? It's a very hard question I know at short notice but is there one thing that perhaps stands out?

CM: Probably that my 'Nan' (grandmother) comes through 'chemo' (chemotherapy) really well. That's playing heavily on my mind and probably going to be a big inspiration for me during the World Cup.

JP: She's in Melbourne?

CM: She's in Sydney.

JP: And how much to you does your family mean by way of support? Obviously, you touched on it before that your family and friends have been a great inspiration in getting you through things but to what extent, if we can be so bold as to ask, do they play a role in your career?

CM: To tell you the truth, I think my Mum didn't know I even played for Australia for a few years after I did make it! No, Mum's been great and my brother's fantastic and he's very proud of what I've achieved. And my friends around me are very, very good. I suppose the good thing there is that a lot of my other friends have achieved Australian representation at their sport as well. So they know what it's about. But, yeah, I have a real soft spot for my Nan. She cuts all the clippings out; I don't keep any of that stuff, I never have. If I go and visit her, she brings it out. But yep, she's going through a rough patch at the moment so I will be dedicating everything to her I would say, and I'd really like to do it all for her.

JP: Look, on that note, we'll say thank you very much Charmaine for your time this morning. It's been absolutely tremendous to have you with us. We'll no doubt speak more to some of the Australian players and, hopefully, we might even get together with you again shortly before things start in November. But in the meantime, all the best and we hope everything goes well for you and your family in the lead-up to the World Cup and the best of luck.

CM: Thank you very much, thanks for having me.