

Test Match Special
BBC Radio 5 Live
The Test Match Special team bring you the very best reaction, insight & analysis of the Ashes Test series with daily episodes from down under.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 31, 2024 • 37min
View from the Boundary - Ben Willbond
Jonathan Agnew speaks to actor and screenwriter Ben Willbond.Known for his role in the BBC sitcom Ghosts, Ben discusses the success of the series, as well as his work on Horrible Histories and Ben having a visit from Geoffrey Boycott while he was at school.

Aug 30, 2024 • 36min
The first time Sri Lanka came to town
Simon Mann looks back to 1984, when Sri Lanka played their first ever test in England. At Lord's, England captain David Gower chose to bowl after winning the toss on a warm late summer's day, much to the delight of one of England's bowlers at the time - Jonathan Agnew. Sri Lankan batter Sidath Wettimuny gave Aggers, and the rest of England's bowlers, grief scoring 190 in his first innings on the way to leading the experienced side to draw. The three of them recall the first time Sri Lanka came to town for a test.

Aug 23, 2024 • 35min
View from the Boundary - Stuart Maconie
Jonathan Agnew talks to BBC 6Music presenter, writer & music journalist Stuart Maconie.They discuss Stuart starting to work in radio via NME, his experiences fell-walking, and the briefest of encounters Stuart had with Prince.

Aug 22, 2024 • 45min
Ask The Umpire - with John Holder
Former international umpire John Holder joins Jonathan Agnew and Vic Marks for answers to your cricketing predicaments.What if the ball hits a pigeon? How big does an animal have to be to stop play? And can a question 50 years in the making be answered?Plus, John has an announcement to make...

Aug 21, 2024 • 36min
Remembering Graham Thorpe
Jonathan Agnew looks back on Graham Thorpe's life with Alastair Cook, Phil Tufnell, and Thorpe's former captain Michael Vaughan.Thorpe’s former PE teacher Simon Sherborne, who gave him his first opportunity for representative cricket with Surrey, remembers meeting Graham as a promising 11 year old, and Mark Ramprakash discusses the life of his childhood friend.

Aug 19, 2024 • 35min
No Balls: Holidays and the Hundred finals
Kate and Alex are back to reflect on the Hundred and victories for Oval Invincibles' men and London Spirit's women. Spirit bowler Tara Norris joins the pod to reveal what went on in the dressing room during and after her side's victory in the final. Kate also tells us about her French holiday with some of the Hundred's leading names. And we have the story behind an embarrassing hotel encounter between Alex and an umpire.

Aug 8, 2024 • 30min
No Balls: Hundred success and presenting mishaps
Kate Cross and Alex Hartley return, and Kate is loving life as the Northern Superchargers enjoy a strong campaign in the Hundred. She tells us all about that and why teammate Annabel Sutherland could become one of the game's best players. Alex has tales, good and bad, from her presenting exploits. And we've got plenty of time for listeners' questions.

Aug 1, 2024 • 33min
No Balls: Strawberries, pigeons and The Hundred
Kate is in London as the Northern Superchargers continue their Hundred campaign. She tells us about their dramatic draw with Southern Brave and the competition so far.Alex is babysitting a pigeon and tells us about her new role, presenting the Hundred coverage.And we find out who's got the best-looking bowling action in the game.

Jul 29, 2024 • 33min
Brain surgeries, stress fractures and aviation: the Ricky Ellcock story
Simon Mann sits down with former England bowler Ricky Ellcock to take a look back at his extraordinary life.Ricky discusses the FOUR life-saving brain surgeries he went through, having to prematurely retire from cricket because of SIX stress fractures in his back, and switching is focus to aviation and becoming the first black captain of Virgin Atlantic.

Jul 27, 2024 • 36min
View from the Boundary - Samantha Bond
Jonathan Agnew talks to actor Samantha Bond from the TMS commentary box at Edgbaston.Known for her roles as Miss Moneypenny during the Piers Brosnan era of James Bond, Downton Abbey, and The Marlow Murder Club, Samantha talks about knowing Bob Willis (on Blue for Bob day at Edgbaston), her experiences of stage fright, and having to kiss Piers Brosnan for three hours during a shoot.


