Katey Martin's playing career is done but her commentary career is just starting to take off.
The former White Ferns and Otago wicketkeeper-batter retired from the game following the women’s World Cup last year.
Before she hung up the gloves she had already made a start behind the mic and the work has kept coming.
It is pretty much a fulltime role at the moment, although she still does the odd bit of consultancy work here and there.
The latest highlight included a stint at the men’s World Cup in India.
"I was already contracted to Channel 7, so we negotiated [three weeks] and my last game was the New Zealand-India game in Dharamshala which was a pretty special day and probably one of the better games to finish up on," Martin said.
"I was very welcomed in the commentary box and they made it a very enjoyable experience."
Martin is a regular behind the mic in the women’s Big Bash and her voice is familiar on this side of the Tasman as well.
But there is nothing neutral about Martin and she does not try to hide the fact her emotions fluctuate with the fortunes of "her" teams.
"I still love the game. I still ride every single delivery, especially for the teams I played for.
"I don’t think I’ll ever lose that. But it is good to see the game from a different perspective.
"Things happen that you need to critique. For me, players are humans and they make errors and that is just the way it goes.
"It is about trying to explain why they may have made an error and whatnot, so I try to be positive around the game."
There is a lot more involved in commentary than rocking up to the game. Martin spends the lead-in period researching players she might not be as familiar with and preparing analysis pieces.
She has also spent most of the past three months away from home, which has its challenges.
But the rewards are enormous as well.
"I’ve worked with so many amazing people. Having the opportunity to work with Ian Smith and talk about wicketkeeping on air was pretty cool."
She has a soft spot for Ian Bishop as well. The former West Indies pace bowler is a very different character to Martin.
"We are polar opposite people. He does not talk much and I talk lots. But he has helped me so much in the commentary box and is someone I’ve learned a lot from."
Martin also adores working with Australian commentator Mel Jones and has a good rapport with former Black Caps player and assistant coach Craig McMillan.
"I’m a big fan of cricket and I love watching the game, so when I’m talking about that game it is just about providing those insights people might not necessarily know.
"There are harder aspects to it but I get to stay involved in cricket and I’m really privileged to be able to do what I do and I don’t take talking on the mic lightly."
Martin will be in the commentary box when the White Ferns host Pakistan on Sunday. She has been named in the TVNZ commentary lineup of McMillan, Rebecca Rolls, Frankie Mackay, Grant Elliott, Mark Richardson and Scott Stevenson, who will lead the coverage.
