

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 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.

Jul 26, 2024 • 37min
Ask The Umpire - with John Holder
Former international umpire John Holder joins Jonathan Agnew and Vic Marks to rid you of your cricketing quandaries.A six or a dead ball? A no ball or a wicket? And can you clean a cricket ball with your beard?

Jul 21, 2024 • 32min
Clinton comes to the cricket!
Jonathan Agnew welcomes former Crystal Palace and Birmingham striker Clinton Morrison to the TMS commentary box.The 5Live football pundit discusses his friendship with former England bowler Alex Tudor, how he dealt with the pressure of developing through youth football, and the differences between captaining a cricket team to a football team. Plus, Clinton reveals the hard work that goes into being a pundit.

Jul 20, 2024 • 35min
View from the Boundary - Dr Adam Rutherford
Jonathan Agnew talks to Dr Adam Rutherford. The scientist, educator and author regularly appearing on television and radio, and along with Dr Hannah Fry hosts the hugely successful BBC Sounds podcast “The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry”.From the TMS commentary box at Trent Bridge they discuss Adam's style when playing cricket, the lack of scientific testing to fully understand how and why a cricket ball swings, and which TMS regular is Aggers loosely related to?

Jul 19, 2024 • 32min
Antigua Cricket Knights
Daniel Norcross gathers together four legendary West Indies players who have all been Knighted for their services to cricket and who all come from the same island.Antigua may be only 14 miles long and just 11 miles wide, with a population 550 times smaller than the UK – but it has produced an incredible number of great cricketers. Norcross has been speaking to Sir Andy Roberts, Sir Richie Richardson, Sir Curtly Ambrose and Sir Viv Richards.

Jul 13, 2024 • 35min
James Anderson: Gone well
Jonathan Agnew speaks to Michael Anderson, Jimmy’s father, to learn more about the legendary bowler away from the cricket pitch. They discuss him developing as a youngster at Lancashire, playing snooker, and when the family began to believe Jimmy could make it as a professional cricketer.Plus, Anderson’s Tailenders co-hosts Greg James, Felix White, and Matt Horan (Mattchin). They talk about the alternative side to Anderson, as well as the “fierce competitor” mode that he sometimes brings to a podcast recording. Also, Mattchin brings up the story of Jimmy’s alter ego ‘Timmy Banderson’.


