Amidst some darkness for the White Ferns in the World Cup, Frances Mackay has been a shining light with her mastery of the white ball. She tells Kristy Havill how a little instinct and luck have helped her catch some of the world's best batters unawares.
The legend of Frankie Mackay and her astonishing run-outs has made it onto the international cricket stage.
Her two run-outs off her own bowling for the White Ferns took the cricket world by storm in the ODI series against India last month. Now, Mackay has emphatically stamped her mark on this edition of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022.
Mackay’s talent and reputation as one of the best cricket brains in the country (male or female) has never been in doubt.
Consistently at or near the top of the run-scoring charts in domestic cricket, peeling off century after century (she currently has 13), and breaking all sorts of records with bat and with ball, it was only a matter of time before she truly flourished on the international stage.
There have been glimpses of her potential and brilliance since her ODI debut for New Zealand against Australia back in 2011, but these were often curtailed by injuries, or - for the middle part of her career – not getting selected.
But the last couple of years have seen the renaissance of Mackay’s international career, epitomised by her performances with the ball and in the field throughout this World Cup.
Now, the Christchurch librarian's name is being floated as an option in Twitter polls to determine who the best off-spin bowlers are in this tournament, her name up in lights with India’s Sneh Rana and West Indies’ Hayley Matthews just to name a couple.
But first – those run-outs.
When Harmanpreet Kaur hit the ball back to Mackay during the third ODI against India in Queenstown, Mackay - while gathering the ball - identified Kaur had wandered out of her crease and down the pitch. She then had the presence of mind to fire the ball back to Katey Martin behind the stumps, who duly whipped the bails off.
With India cruising along at 166/3 in the 28th over, no-one could quite believe their eyes at the bizarre dismissal, and the plaudits for Mackay were numerous.
The thing that made it even more impressive? Mackay did it again 16 overs later. This time scurrying across to the right of the pitch and diving to stop the ball before throwing to Martin again, running out Taniya Bhatia.
The White Ferns weren’t in disbelief this time at what happened – they were in raptures.
Mackay was up to her now-usual tricks again in her first appearance at this World Cup, in New Zealand’s second match against Bangladesh at University Oval in Dunedin.
After bowling a delivery to Fargana Hoque Pinky, who topscored for Bangladesh with 52, Mackay threw the stumps down directly after fielding the ball, not even needing the services of her trusty sidekick Martin.
It was victim number three to that mode of dismissal by Mackay in the space of a mere couple of weeks.
Two overs later, she was involved in another run-out dismissal - collecting Suzie Bates' throw and whipping off the bails to catch Salma Khatun short of the crease.
Those who hadn’t seen Mackay in action at domestic level before may have thought that first run-out was a fluke, but they were left without a doubt of her skill after the second and third.
She hasn’t been without help, always appreciating the assistance she gets from Martin at the other end.
“I always like to throw them as bounce throws, so it’s a nice comfortable height for Marty over the top of the stumps,” Mackay explains.
“There’s a bit of instinct and luck involved at my end, but Marty does a great job giving good communications. I hear that voice from down yonder at the other end and she gives me a good idea as to when it’s on.”
It also isn’t lost on Mackay how often it is happening, as she jokes: “I’ve started to get a little insulted by it all.”
“As much as it’s nice to pick up the run-outs, it’s a bit insulting when the opposition think they can run one to you when they hit it straight back to you.
“I’ve been laughing with the girls about it, and they say 'Long may it continue!’”
There have also been a number of instances this tournament where the bowler has got a fingertip to the ball before it ricochets onto the stumps and runs out the non-striker – including Mackay’s teammate Suzie Bates in the tournament opener against West Indies.
After effecting a backhanded run-out from extra cover against Australia, Mackay chuckles when it’s pointed out she hasn’t completed one of the infamous ‘tip on’ run-outs in the tournament yet - a feat she’s performed many times at domestic level.
"That is one I genuinely do practise - the ones that get hit back to you,” Mackay shares.
“I used to do it a little bit when I was younger, and I had a coach who demanded I stop doing it and told me it was ridiculous. So it might be a nice moment if I can pull one of those off for the White Ferns and see if they’re watching on.”
But it’s not just on the run-out front Mackay has been turning heads.
In five matches this tournament (she didn’t play in the opening match), Mackay has taken eight wickets at an economy rate of 4.3 runs per over. Given she has often bowled in the opening powerplay (with only two fielders on the boundary) or in the last 10 overs of an innings (known as the ‘death’ overs), makes the amount of runs she’s conceding even more impressive.
The leading wicket-takers in the tournament are only a couple of wickets ahead of her, many of whom have also played an extra match.
Her standout performance came last Sunday night under the lights of Eden Park, in front of a boisterous home crowd, where Mackay spun her team back into the contest with a brilliant 4-34 – her best career ODI bowling figures.
Given the circumstances, it’s a return she will remember for a long time to come. Mackay’s bowling at the death helped the White Ferns stay in the fight and give them a chance at victory.
While the result ultimately fell England’s way, it’s a day Mackay won’t forget in a hurry.
“To have a performance like that was really special,” Mackay says. “The way the crowd got involved, it’s amazing to think what it would've been like playing in front of a full house at Eden Park. The crowd was so vocal, it felt like they were right on your back the whole way through.
“When we got that ninth wicket with the run-out, looking around at everyone’s faces in the huddle, everyone believed we were going to do it.
“It felt like it was going to be that fairytale moment, to have another over to bowl sitting on four wickets and a chance to take a fifth; a chance to win the game and potentially sneak ourselves into the semifinals.
“It wasn’t to be, but it's still one of those moments I will cherish for a long time.”
Mackay, who works as a librarian at the Upper Riccarton library when she's not playing cricket, credits White Ferns coach Bob Carter with her international career resurgence. Mackay’s return to the side in 2019 coincided with Carter commencing his time at the helm.
“Bob’s big driving factor throughout the time I’ve been involved is that the person is the most important thing,” Mackay says.
“He really understands the person comes first and cricket comes second, and if you can be included and looked after and cared for, those are the people who play better cricket.
“He’s created a culture that is so positive. In all of the White Ferns teams I’ve been able to be a part of, this is the team that has the best culture. The way everyone looks after each other and cares for each other is something pretty special.”
For someone with Mackay’s deep well of knowledge and cricket nous, it could be a daunting task for a coach to enter into conversations about queries and suggestions about team tactics.
Rather than dampen her enthusiasm and wave away her enquiring mind, Mackay says Carter has embraced her innovativeness and tactical ability.
“He was very open around the fact I’m not the fastest athlete out there,” Mackay laughs.
“But he made it clear, ‘You’ve got other skills you can utilise, you read the game well, you know the game, you can have an impact and we trust you in what you’re doing’. That’s just so powerful as a player. He’s been brilliant and backed me to the hilt.
“When you’re a humble off-spinner trundling into the wind at the death overs and that’s what you’re surrounded with, of course you feel like you can go out there and be successful.”
While her stop-start international career hasn’t quite mirrored her glittering domestic record, it’s clear Mackay is now thriving in this White Ferns side.
It’s a progression family, friends, teammates and fans all around the world have known she was capable of the entire time, but it took the right environment for her to be appreciated and the licence to prosper.
After posing the now-widely publicised question to her White Ferns teammates during the second drinks break against South Africa in Hamilton - there really is nowhere else Mackay would rather be.
MEANWHILE IN THE CRICKET WORLD CUP:
New Zealand's chances of sneaking into the semifinals have been all but washed away.
What we now know for certain: Australia and South Africa are now guaranteed World Cup berths; Pakistan and Bangladesh are out.
Rain washed out Thursday's game between the Proteas and the West Indies, giving the Caribbean team one valuable point which could see them through to the top four.
England continued their late run to the semis with a nine-wicket win over Pakistan yesterday, bowlers Katherine Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone taking three wickets each to have Pakistan all out for 105 at Hagley Oval. The defending champions will now have to beat Bangladesh this weekend to ensure they're through to the knockout stages.
The White Ferns would need a miracle to finish ahead of England, India or the West Indies now - a win over Pakistan in Christchurch on Saturday won't be enough on its own, and their net run rate in this tournament may be too far gone to salvage.
The good news? A return to full crowds at New Zealand's outdoor stadiums mean the White Ferns could get a great send-off at Hagley Oval tomorrow.
* The White Ferns' last round robin match at CWC22, against Pakistan on Saturday, will be shown live from 10.30am on Sky Sport 2, with extended highlights on Prime.
