

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

Sep 12, 2024 • 1h 10min
In at the deep end - the psychology of test cricket
Simon Mann is alongside Alastair Cook, Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell & Russel Arnold to discuss the pressures of test cricket.From trying to settle in as a debutant to controlling the anxiety of a batter, they tell all as to what was needed to face the challenges at the highest level and where they found their strengths in tough moments. Opening up about issues facing Glenn McGrath, keeping calm when rain delays play, and being “allergic to fielding practice”.

Sep 11, 2024 • 33min
No Balls: Kate Cross's Barmy Army
Kate Cross and Alex Hartley are in Belfast after Kate secured her first series win as England captain. She tells us she is enjoying the responsibility of captaincy after taking six wickets in the opening match at the weekend. And we're joined by record-breaking batter Tammy Beaumont, after her latest ODI century.

Sep 7, 2024 • 36min
View from the Boundary - Tony Banks
Jonathan Agnew speaks to musician, and founding member of Genesis, Tony Banks in the TMS commentary box at The Oval.Tony discusses having Allan Lamb invite him to England's dressing room, his classical music work, and having to swap shirts with a stranger to gain access to the MCG.

Sep 3, 2024 • 32min
No Balls: Captaincy & Keyrings
Kate and Alex are back to reflect on Crossy being England captain for their upcoming tour to Ireland. We also respond to plenty of listener emails, and we find a new word that Alex can’t pronounce correctly.

Sep 1, 2024 • 28min
The price is right? The cost of Test Cricket
Jonathan is joined by The Guardian's Ali Martin, Wisden Editor & Daily Mail journalist Lawrence Booth, the BBC's Chief Cricket Writer Stephan Shemilt, and Rex Clementine from The Island newspaper over from Sri Lanka to discuss the money involved in watching test cricket. They discuss the price of tickets, as well as the context of England men's test schedule and how low attendances reflect on test cricket in general.

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.


