Tahlia McGrath: 'I can't get my head around liquid as a meal. Soup is not a meal'
The Australia allrounder spoke about her love of chocolate and chicken schnitty and being an unofficial ambassador for Vegemite earlier this year during the WPL
S Sudarshanan
25-Jun-2023
Vege-mates: Tahlia McGrath (right) and Megan Schutt are team bread-and-spread • BCCI
If you could just eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It would be chocolate, but that's not really a meal! (laughs)
It would be chocolate, but that's not really a meal! (laughs)
What's your go-to meal?
Just a really nice pasta dish. I am not too picky on what kind of pasta. That can be pretty universal in any country you go to.
Just a really nice pasta dish. I am not too picky on what kind of pasta. That can be pretty universal in any country you go to.
What's the least healthy thing we'd find in your fridge right now?
Chocolate. Everywhere I go, I have got a stash of chocolate.
Chocolate. Everywhere I go, I have got a stash of chocolate.
What's one food you had to give up to get fit for cricket? What has been the hardest food to give up?
There's been a few chats with the dietician on what I have to give up. Just snacking, really. I get bored, go to the pantry and get some food. So just being strict and not snacking has been the hardest.
There's been a few chats with the dietician on what I have to give up. Just snacking, really. I get bored, go to the pantry and get some food. So just being strict and not snacking has been the hardest.
Which cricketer you know is the best cook?
Maitlan Brown. I have roomed with her in a few under-age tournaments and camps. She is a very good cook. So, whenever I roomed with her, I was pretty happy because she used to do the cooking. She's got a veggie garden, she loves to post about cooking all the time, wood-fire-oven pizzas. She's a good one.
Maitlan Brown. I have roomed with her in a few under-age tournaments and camps. She is a very good cook. So, whenever I roomed with her, I was pretty happy because she used to do the cooking. She's got a veggie garden, she loves to post about cooking all the time, wood-fire-oven pizzas. She's a good one.
What is your favourite thing to cook, and what is the one thing you make best?
I am a very basic cook. Just meat and vegetables. Homemade pizzas go down pretty well. I enjoy doing all the prep work and then having somebody else doing the cooking. I'll do the cutting up and washing and all that.
I am a very basic cook. Just meat and vegetables. Homemade pizzas go down pretty well. I enjoy doing all the prep work and then having somebody else doing the cooking. I'll do the cutting up and washing and all that.
One food you've discovered on cricket tours and grown to love.
Probably the paneer curries that I have had in India. Got introduced to them the first time in India and love them.
Probably the paneer curries that I have had in India. Got introduced to them the first time in India and love them.
One food you miss when you're on tour.
I miss my chicken schnitzels back home.
I miss my chicken schnitzels back home.
Which cricketing venue serves the best food?
I am going to be pretty biased and say Adelaide Oval.
I am going to be pretty biased and say Adelaide Oval.
What's your go-to post-workout snack?
Chocolate milk. Protein!
Chocolate milk. Protein!
What is your comfort food? What does a cheat-day meal look like?
It changes a fair bit. I just love food. When people go to a restaurant and have the same thing over and ove… I like to change it up. So a cheat day could be a burger, could be a pizza.
It changes a fair bit. I just love food. When people go to a restaurant and have the same thing over and ove… I like to change it up. So a cheat day could be a burger, could be a pizza.
Are you a coffee fiend? And what is your go-to coffee style?
I love my coffee. I only started when I started playing cricket. It's a big cricket culture, especially in the Australian team. My go to is a latte and I have recently found out I am a bit of a coffee snob and that I have got pretty high standards around my coffee!
I love my coffee. I only started when I started playing cricket. It's a big cricket culture, especially in the Australian team. My go to is a latte and I have recently found out I am a bit of a coffee snob and that I have got pretty high standards around my coffee!
Have you tried chai in India?
I have tried a chai when I was there last December and absolutely loved it. So I might have to get some more of that.
I have tried a chai when I was there last December and absolutely loved it. So I might have to get some more of that.
What's one snack that always travels with you in your kit bag?
I always have a little jar of Vegemite with me. I take that down to breakfast whatever country I am in and try and make some of the locals try it. They'll hate it but I love my Vegemite.
I always have a little jar of Vegemite with me. I take that down to breakfast whatever country I am in and try and make some of the locals try it. They'll hate it but I love my Vegemite.
What's the one thing you'd recommend people visiting Adelaide try?
A custard tart, specifically from the brand Balfours, is the best thing ever. If you are in Adelaide, give it a go.
A custard tart, specifically from the brand Balfours, is the best thing ever. If you are in Adelaide, give it a go.
What does a meal look like on match days?
It depends on the match timings. When we are playing night games [in the WPL], I have a really big meal at about 3 o'clock. I have been having really big spaghetti Bolognese on game-day so that I get to 7:30 and I am not starving. That fills me up.
It depends on the match timings. When we are playing night games [in the WPL], I have a really big meal at about 3 o'clock. I have been having really big spaghetti Bolognese on game-day so that I get to 7:30 and I am not starving. That fills me up.
One food you despise and would absolutely not eat.
This one's caused controversy in teams that I play in, but I cannot stand soup. I can't get my head around liquid as a meal and my team-mates always pain me out about it, but I just can't do it. Soup is not a meal.
This one's caused controversy in teams that I play in, but I cannot stand soup. I can't get my head around liquid as a meal and my team-mates always pain me out about it, but I just can't do it. Soup is not a meal.
S Sudarshanan is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo