

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

Oct 16, 2025 • 22min
How Australia won the 2022 Women's World Cup
Henry Moeran is alongside 2017 England World Cup winner Alex Hartley and BBC Sport cricket writer Ffion Wynne to look back at the 2022 Women's World Cup. They look at Australia's journey to beating England in the final and what other shocks happened during the tournament which took place as the world was still tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Oct 15, 2025 • 48min
Women’s World Cup: Review of the tournament at the halfway stage
Daniel Norcross is joined by World Cup winner Alex Hartley and Sri Lanka cricket journalist Estelle Vasudevan to reflect on the ups and downs of the World Cup so far. They debate Australia’s heroics, England’s spin bowling, India’s frailties and how Bangladesh have been the surprise package of the competition.

Oct 13, 2025 • 48min
No Balls: A truly DEVINE episode
Kate Cross & Alex Hartley speak to New Zealand's legendary captain Sophie Devine as she plays in her last ODI World Cup before retirement. They discuss the timing of her decision to announce that she was retiring from the 50 over format, what she'll do next, and the state she's leaving the White Ferns ODI squad in. Plus, as is No Balls tradition, she tells Crossy & Al what animal she can catch.Alex and Kate also discuss England's strong start to the World Cup, after they made it 3 wins from 3 beating Sri Lanka.

Oct 11, 2025 • 27min
Women’s World Cup: England make it three from three against Sri Lanka
Daniel Norcross is joined by World Cup winners Alex Hartley and Lisa Sthalekar to look back on England's 89-run win over Sri Lanka. Plus, we hear from centurion Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Oct 6, 2025 • 32min
No Balls: Victory for England & a World Cup Q&A
Kate Cross and Alex Hartley discuss England's World Cup win over South Africa and Alex's first week in Guwahati for Test Match Special. Plus, they answer your World Cup-related questions!

Sep 30, 2025 • 37min
No Balls: Alex arrives in India with World Cup fever!
Kate Cross & Alex Hartley actually talk cricket as they look ahead to the 2025 Women’s World Cup.They discuss Alex’s not-so-smooth journey to India, why this World Cup could be the closest ever, and why Australia are still Alex’s pick to win the competition. Plus, how Emma Lamb’s “frightening” form can help England on their way to challenge for the title.Also, Crossy challenges Alex in ‘How well does Hartley remember her World Cup win?’

Sep 23, 2025 • 39min
No Balls: A trio of trophies & Crossy's England future...
Alex Hartley is alongside Kate Cross to discuss Crossy's England future as she announces that her England contract hasn't been renewed. They also talk about Crossy's domestic dominance as she wins her THIRD trophy of the season as Lancashire win the One Day Cup.

Sep 20, 2025 • 39min
What is it like to enter the Australian Ashes cauldron?
Alison Mitchell is alongside former England Ashes batter Dawid Malan and England World Cup winner Ebony Rainford-Brent to discuss the pressure England players are put under when playing in the Ashes down under.What do Australia do on the pitch to press England, how can England’s less-experienced players cope, and what did Dawid find intimidating during his time batting for England in Australia? Dawid tells all about the media waiting for players as they come off the plane and being grilled by his batting heroes who would interview him after a game.

Sep 16, 2025 • 34min
No Balls: Crossy’s back to County Cricket after The Hundred
Kate Cross & Alex Hartley discuss the trials and tribulations of playing cricket towards the end of the season. They have their say on the awful abuse umpire Sue Redfern received after the T20 Blast Finals Day. Plus, Alex tells Crossy what a ‘productive day’ looks like in the Hartley household.

Sep 14, 2025 • 27min
Baztalks
England coach Brendon McCullum joins Daniel Norcross, Chief cricket reporter Stephan Shemilt and former England bowler Steven Finn to review the international summer and look ahead to the winter – including the much anticipated Ashes.


