

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

Dec 21, 2024 • 35min
No Balls: Christmas Special
Alex Hartley and Kate Cross have a festive catch up after Kate’s return from South Africa.They discuss Kate’s back injury which meant she hardly played in South Africa and the road to recovery ahead of next month’s Ashes series in Australia. They also reflect on England’s success in all formats across the series which served as good preparation before heading down under.Plus, what do they both want for Christmas?

Dec 6, 2024 • 22min
Phillip Hughes - 10 years on
It’s been 10 years since the death of former Australia player Phillip Hughes. The 25 year old passed away after being struck on the neck by a short ball during a Sheffield Shield match.It was a tragedy which sent shock waves across the cricketing world and the anniversary is being marked with commemorations throughout Australia.In a special tribute ABC commentator Andrew Moore speaks with Tom Cooper who was Hughes’s batting partner that fateful day, legendary fast bowler Glenn McGrath and former Australia coach Darren Lehmann who reveals Hughes was set to be told about an international recall the day he died.

Dec 3, 2024 • 34min
No Balls: Kate on tour!
Alex Hartley & Kate Cross discuss England’s dominant displays in England’s T20 series win against South Africa Women, and how the tour is great preparation ahead of the Women’s Ashes next month. Plus, they ask you for your best cricketing look-alikes after Jacob Bethell was likened to… Pat Butcher.noballspodcast@bbc.co.ukListen to every game of England's tour of South Africa on BBC Sounds, with commentary of the first ODI in Kimberley at 11:45am on Wednesday 4th December.

Nov 22, 2024 • 35min
No Balls: Kates & Dogs
Alex Hartley & Kate Cross look ahead to England’s tour of South Africa with Kate in the ODI and Test squad. She discusses how she’s been preparing for the series having had six weeks away from cricket. They speak to a listener who has named their puppy after one of them, and have you named a pet after someone famous?noballspodcast@bbc.co.uk

Nov 22, 2024 • 32min
No Balls: South Africa awaits
Alex Hartley & Kate Cross talk about how Kate’s preparation has gone as she gets ready to head to South Africa for England’s ODIs and Test. They discuss the tent which has been built at England’s High Performance Centre to help players acclimatise to pitch conditions around the world, as well as more of your stories on naming pets after sport stars. Plus, they play a game to get Kate ready for her trip.Listen to every game of England's tour of South Africa on BBC Sounds, with the first T20 starting at 12pm on Sunday 24th November.

Oct 21, 2024 • 33min
Urooj Mumtaz: from bowlers to molars
Jonathan Agnew speaks to former Pakistan captain Urooj Mumtaz.Now splitting her time between cricket commentary and dentistry, Mumtaz talks about the struggles of not being allowed to play cricket as a child, the opportunities for women in cricket now compared to when she was growing up, and how she'll be straight back to her dental practice once England's tour of Pakistan is over.

Oct 19, 2024 • 38min
South Africa or New Zealand - who'll win the Women's T20 World Cup?
Henry Moeran is joined by England bowler Tash Farrant and Daniel Norcross to look ahead to the Women's T20 World Cup Final between South Africa and New Zealand in Dubai.

Oct 12, 2024 • 44min
Alec Stewart looks back on success with Surrey
Kevin Howells is alongside Surrey correspondent Mark Church to speak to former Surrey Director of Cricket Alec Stewart.They discuss Stewart’s legacy as he moves into a new role with Surrey, as well as his thoughts on the long-term future of the County Championship and how
Dan Worrall was his “best signing” at the club

Oct 8, 2024 • 34min
England’s historic 2022 win in Pakistan
Jonathan Agnew and the TMS team share memories of the astonishing England tour to Pakistan in 2022.England won the first series they’d played in Pakistan in 17 years, becoming the first side to complete a 3 nil victory with some record breaking batting and outstanding bowling. Aggers is joined by Simon Mann, Andy Zaltzman, Aatif Nawaz and Alex Hartley plus we also hear reflections from Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.

Sep 20, 2024 • 38min
No Balls: The Golf Day
It's finally here! Kate and Alex take on umpires Anna Harris and Sue Redfern in the first No Balls Players-Umpires golf day. But who will come out on top?Kate also tells us about second part of England's white-ball tour of Ireland and her feelings now her stint as captain has finished.


