Published by BBC Radio 5 Live
The Test Match Special team bring you the very best cricket reaction, insight & analysis. Plus the No Balls podcast with Kate Cross and Alex Hartley brings a fine balance of nonsense and cricket as they welcome some of the biggest names in the sport.
Listen on Apple PodcastsEngland's new captain Joe Root speaks to Henry Moeran about being England Test captain once again. England's director of men's cricket Rob Key speaks to Henry Moeran just twenty-four hours after appointing Stephen Fleming as Test coach and Joe Root as captain. Former England Test batter Dawid Malan and 2017 World Cup winner Alex Hartley discuss Key's interview and ask whether England have wasted their Test summer so far. Plus, hear from Chris Jordan who played under Fleming at both Southern Brave in the Hundred and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL and former New Zealand team mate and coaching contemporary Shane Bond.
Henry Moeran speaks to former England captain Michael Vaughan, BBC chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew, and former New Zealand wicket keeper Katey Martin to discuss Stephen Fleming being appointed England's new Test head coach and Joe Root returning to captain the side.
Daniel Norcross is alongside Ashes-winning bowler Steven Finn and former England Test opener Michael Carberry to discuss the prospect of Stephen Fleming becoming the next England Test head coach. Finny & Carbs wonder what he needs to fix with England, and Jamie Overton, who played under Fleming at Chennai Super Kings, tells Daniel Norcross about playing under him.
Aatif Nawaz is behind-the-scenes as the BBC TV team descends on Trent Bridge for Trent Rockets against London Spirit, but he's asking them - should Joe Root be the next Test captain? Hear from Ashes-winning bowler Steven Finn, former India batter Ajinkya Rahane, world cup winner Ebony Rainford-Brent, former #1 T20 batter Dawid Malan, and former India international Deep Dasgupta. Plus, Rahane speaks to Amber Sandhu about his time working for the BBC.
2026 is the National Year of Reading and to mark the event the TMS team debate which is the best cricket book of all time? From the iconic “Beyond a Boundary” by CLR James to Harry Thompson’s “Penguins Stopped play”. From Duncan Hamilton’s biography of Harold Larwood to the groundbreaking autobiography of Marcus Trescothick “Coming Back to me”. Daniel Norcross is joined by award winning writer Simon Wilde, journalist and vociferous reader Jim Wallace and author and broadcaster Annie Chave who is also a judge for the Cricket Writers' Club Book of the Year. We also hear from Andy Zaltzman, Michael Vaughan, Jonathan Agnew, Jeremy Coney, and Simon Mann on their favourite cricket books The 2026 National Year of Reading is the biggest campaign in a generation designed to help more people to discover or rediscover the joy of reading with the theme to “Go all in” on passions and interests.
Henry Moeran is at The Oval during The Hundred opener between MI London and SunRisers Leeds chatting to the Test Match Special team their thoughts on Bazball whilst not on TV. Hear from Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell, Ebony Rainford-Brent, Carlos Brathwaite, Katey Martin, Steven Finn, and even Tymal Mills whilst he's having his makeup done before going on air!
Henry Moeran is joined by former England spinner Phil Tufnell, London Spirit bowler Tymal Mills and Durham coach Ryan Campbell as England continue the hunt for a new head coach and captain, a month before the next Test Series against Pakistan. Whilst the search goes on for the new Test head coach after Brendon McCullum’s sacking last Sunday, McCullum has remained as England’s white-ball coach and has led England to a 2-1 ODI series win against India since his sacking. The panel discuss what England need from their test head coach and who the leading contenders are. The 2026 edition of The Hundred is set to get underway with significant changes from previous years. The panel are joined by Vikram Banerjee, managing director of The Hundred to go through the new changes and what it means for the tournament. Chair of Glamorgan Mark Rhydderch-Roberts and co-owner of Welsh Fire Sanjay Govil also join the podcast to discuss the business element of the tournament. TIME CODES: 00:00 Intro 01:00 England’s hunt for a head coach 10:00 Should it be a short-term appointment? 13:45 The search for a captain 20:40 Runners and riders for the coach position 29:20 Ben Stokes and Durham 32:45 A new era for The Hundred and managing director Vikram Banerjee 42:00 Is The Hundred different? 45:46 Mark Rhydderch-Roberts and co-owner of Welsh Fire Sanjay Govil 49:00 The business behind a team 53:34 Tymal and Tuffers ahead of the tournament
Simon Mann is joined by Sir Alastair Cook, the BBC chief commentator Jonathan Agnew and former India wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta to look back at England's ODI series win over India. We hear from captains Harry Brook and Shubman Gill as well as Ben Duckett who made the highest men's ODI individual score at the Home of Cricket in striking 141 off 135 balls as England won by 27 runs. And during the interval at Lord's, Jonathan spoke with both Sir Clive Lloyd and Brian Lara as the pair paid tribute to the great Sir Garfield Sobers who passed away at the age of 89.
Alison Mitchell is joined at Lord’s by World Cup winning Rugby player Sarah Bern. The tighthead prop was part of the Red Roses team that triumphed at Twickenham last summer.
Simon Mann is joined by former England spinner Vic Marks and former India wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta to look back on England's four wicket win over India at Sophia Gardens to level the ODI series at 1-1 with the deciding match to come on Sunday at Lord's. We hear from both captains as well as Joe Root who finished unbeaten on 99. We also hear from Formula 1 driver Arvid Lindblad who spoke with Elly Oldroyd and shared his passion for cricket, family and what it's like being in such a high octane environment.
Simon Mann is joined by former India wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta and former England spinner Vic Marks to look back at England's six wicket defeat to India in the first One Day International at Edgbaston. They hear from Harry Brook and Shubman Gill as well as discussing the decision to drop Brendon McCullum as the coach of the Test side. And today was the last Blue for Bob day after five years raising money and awareness for the Bob Willis fund. Jonathan Agnew spoke to Bob’s wife Lauren Clark & his great friend Sir Ian Botham.
Alison Mitchell is alongside England World Cup winners Alex Hartley and Katherine Sciver-Brunt, and Indian commentator & journalist Annesha Ghosh for reaction to England's Test loss to India at Lord's. Hear from captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, head coach Charlotte Edwards, retiring England legends Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont, and one of India's star bowlers Snee Rana. Plus, BBC cricket correspondent Stephan Shemilt speaks to Brendon McCullum for the first time since he was sacked as the Men's Test head coach.
Isa Guha speaks to England's record-appearance-holder Heather Knight as she retires from international cricket. Alison Mitchell speaks Isa, as well as former team-mates Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Alex Hartley about her legacy as an England great, the impact she's had on, and off, the field, and where her nickname 'Trev' comes from.
Eleanor Oldroyd is alongside Jonathan Agnew, Steven Finn, and Stephan Shemilt for reaction to Brendon McCullum losing his job as England Men's red-ball head coach. They discuss how we got here, and who could take over? Plus, Alison Mitchell speaks to ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould.
Simon Mann is alongside former England batter Michael Carberry and former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta for reaction to England’s 4-0 thrashing of India in the five match T20 series. Hear from Jos Buttler who scored 131 for England, as well as England captain Harry Brook who hit an unbeaten 95. Plus, India captain Shreyas Iyer reflects on a tough series for the tourists. Also, Alison Mitchell is alongside 2017 World Cup winner Alex Hartley and Indian cricket journalist Annesha Ghosh, and TMS statistician Phil Long to discuss the second day of the four-day Test between England and India at Lord’s. Amy Jones gives her reaction to a long day for England, despite the wicketkeeper hitting a half-century. India bowler Sneh Rana looks back on a great day for her side.
Alison Mitchell is alongside 2017 World Cup winner Alex Hartley, Indian cricket journalist Annesha Ghosh, and Ashes-winning bowler Steven Finn for reaction to an historic day at Lord’s where Sophie Ecclestone became England’s leading wicket-taker as the stadium hosts its first ever Test match. Hear from Ecclestone, as well as Smriti Mandhana who scored 83 for India on the first day of the Test. Plus, Alison speaks to some of England’s past greats.
England beat World Champions India by 125 runs at Trent Bridge to go two up in the T20 series. It’s India’s heaviest T20 defeat. England made 201/5 and then bowled out India for only 76. Simon Mann is joined by former England bowler Steven Finn and ex India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta. Plus, Henry Moeran speaks with the two captains Harry Brook and Shreyas Iyer. The 4th T20 is on Thursday with commentary on 5 Sports Extra from 5.15pm.
Alison Mitchell is alongside 2017 World Cup winner Alex Hartley, former New Zealand wicketkeeper Katey Martin, and Australian commentator Geoff Lemon for reaction to Australia’s seventh world title, beating England in a full-house at Lord’s. Also, hear from England head coach Charlotte Edwards, Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield and Beth Mooney.
Nat Sciver-Brunt chats to Henry Moeran looking ahead to the World Cup Final against Australia. Plus, the thoughts of 2017 World Cup winner Alex Hartley and BBC Sport's Matt Henry.
Head inside the England camp during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. England World Cup winner Ebony Rainford-Brent speaks to batter Sophia Dunkley and wicketkeeper Amy Jones about featuring in Vogue magazine, as well as their funniest cricketing moment and which England legend was once Jones’ landlady? You can WATCH this episode in full on BBC iPlayer just by searching 'Test Match Special'.
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Observed July 30, 2026.
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