Test Match Special No Balls: Snow Balls the Christmas Podcast
Dec 25, 2025
Kate Cross and Alex Hartley spread festive cheer while reflecting on England's disappointing Ashes series. They dive into the differences between Christmas in England and Australia, sharing holiday plans and family visits. The duo critiques England’s preparation and selection missteps, lamenting the pressures of heavy defeats. They also enjoy a fun quiz guessing cricketing elves, identifying legends like Glenn McGrath and Matthew Hayden. The hosts wrap up with Christmas wishes, leaving listeners with a taste of both sport and seasonal spirit.
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Hosts Share Christmas Routines
- Kate Cross and Alex Hartley banter about Christmas hats and seasonal moods while setting a lighthearted tone for the episode.
- They contrast English and Australian Christmas experiences and tease festive plans with friends and family.
Four-Item Gift Formula
- Use a simple gift formula: give something they want, need, to wear, and to read.
- Alex suggests this as an easy, practical approach for holiday shopping dilemmas.
Preparation Likely Undermined Performance
- England's Ashes loss is framed partly as a preparation failure rather than player talent alone.
- Both hosts debate whether limited warm-up matches harmed England's early performance in Australia.