Australia's first lady of massage

Just as Lauder successfully balances extreme niceness with suffering no fools, so the Australians manage to point out her ground-breaking role without tokenism. It is easier said than done. Any discussion on the woman-in-a-man's-world theme is easily reduced to earnest slogans, but Lauder handles it without drama.

"I've had that stigma my whole life. When I'm introduced to someone I usually say I'm a businessperson, to avoid all those connotations. Once people see what you do, they drop all that. Physio is different to massage in that it involves a lot more studying. Massage is more about superficial muscle complaints.

"Sports massage, which is becoming as much a specialist field as sports physio, is a deeper form of massage, more remedial. It can help long-term injuries although you don't have to be injured to benefit." This is Lauder's first tour with the Australians, and it is the first time they have brought a massage specialist in addition to a physio.

Lauder has worked with the South Australia cricket team and travelled widely with Athletics Australia.

"I'm the only woman over here with the Aussie set-up, but of course all the wives and girlfriends are around which makes it easier," explained Lauder.

"The guys are good fun. I've never felt out of things. I went to the Wimbledon final with them when they were all invited by Pat Rafter.

"They've always made me feel part of the team and been respectful of my profession. I go to all the team meetings, and it's awesome what they go through mentally to prepare for a game.

"When I first arrived on this tour, in mid-June, the players needed two hours of massage because they were so tired and stiff all over, whereas now it's down to 45 minutes. It contributes to their muscular wellbeing, reduces the chance of injury, and helps them relax mentally."

Her work pattern varies. The day before the Lord's Test she performed six massages, then on the opening day did everyone else by turns during the Australian innings, repeating the process with any batsman who was at the crease for a long time. She also did the bowlers after each session of the England innings.

"I work with the guys in the main dressing room, so there's a lot of banter flying around during the massage, mostly jealous stuff from the guys who want to be on the massage table instead.

"Only Steve Waugh sometimes doesn't like to talk. I guess he has a lot on his mind."

Lauder flies home in a month to her partner Brett Swain, a bowler with the South Australian cricket team. "He has moments of intense jealousy because I'm spending all my time with all these men and not him. But he's proud of me."

He has every reason to be.