Maia Bouchier on Cricket, Climate & Sustainability
By Tanya Aldred
Bouchier celebrating her maiden test century, on debut. Photo credit: BBC
Maia Bouchier, England star and EcoAthletes Champion, is one the most powerful voices in cricket speaking out on climate change and calling for climate action and sustainability within the sport, and beyond. Recently she spoke to The Next Test’s co-founder, Tanya Aldred, about some of her personal experiences, her fears and her hopes for the future.
Maia Bouchier, five things I know…
I love Vinted…. My partner is also invested in sustainability and she introduced me to the platform. I’ve been able to get rid of so many clothes that I haven't used and bought some really affordable things! I don’t really spend money in main shops any more, I find myself looking at the clothes, feeling the material and thinking, I could get this cheaper and better on Vinted! There is so much greenwashing around, this is a win-win.
I’d like us to give our spare England kit and equipment to coaches in the UK…. I don't think they'll keep it in their rooms as a souvenir - they will want to use it for coaching, most likely at the grassroots level. I don’t even know what happens to all the bats we don’t use! It would be great to know how to properly recycle them.*
Bouchier signing autographs for excited Southern Brave fans. Photo credit: BBC
It takes a while to turn thoughts into actions…. but I think it’s a really important process. I didn’t really know how to talk to people about climate change, but now, being part of the EcoAthletes team, having spoken to Kathy Gibbs at the ECB, Donna Fraser at the PCA and Leigh Burns at Lacuna Sports, I'm able to speak openly with a like-minded community of people.
The heat is affecting us as cricketers now…. When we played against Scotland in Dubai in the 2024 T20 World Cup, [Bouchier made an unbeaten 62] it was the hardest conditions I’d ever played in. It was very hard to breathe - I had to breathe through my nose because it was so humid. I came off the field and I couldn’t stand up, I just had my hands on my knees trying to get my breath back. It was really intense, I needed water and sugar, my body felt so drained. It was quite scary. Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who I was batting with, said “I’ve never played in conditions like this in my whole career.”
Bouchier and Wyatt-Hodge celebrate their win in Sharjah. Photo credit: khaleejtimes.com
The ICC should have some regulations…. I get that it is difficult because it also depends on format. In a Test match you do have a lot of breaks, even though you are out there all day. But playing above, say, 45 degrees – that is just scary. It is physically and mentally dangerous. In the Scotland game, three of the Scottish girls had to go off the field. We started play at 2pm which was the hottest part of the day. It does worry me a little bit that we might have to play in even worse conditions in India later this year.
The Next Test are building a global movement of climate concerned cricketers, fans, clubs, and lovers of all kinds.
Interested in joining us? Click below to sign our pledge:
*There is work underway on recycling cricket gear at various projects co-ordinated by Professor Martin Charter of the University for the Creative Arts.
Also, check out www.grassboots.club, for a great way to redistribute unwanted kit, while raising money for your club!
