BBC Radio 5 Live
Test Match Special
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.
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Episodes
No Balls: Alana King & I 27.08.2025 49:51
One of Australia’s finest ever leg-spinners, Alana King, joins Kate Cross & Alex Hartley following her lengthy stint in the UK with Lancashire Thunder and Trent Rockets in The Hundred. They discuss Alana’s heroes growing up, including Shane Warne & Kristen Beams, as well as choosing between tennis and cricket at a younger age and why she ended up in the back of a police car on the M6 on th...
No Balls: Crossy's World Cup squad reaction 22.08.2025 28:07
Alex Hartley & Kate Cross discuss Crossy's omission from England's World Cup squad for the tournament in India & Sri Lanka next month. Crossy talks about the tough call from head coach Charlotte Edwards, as well as how she's coming to terms with the decision and how she's processed it whilst being in the middle of The Hundred with the Northern Superchargers.
Introducing... Sonny Baker 20.08.2025 35:25
Manchester Originals and Hampshire fast bowler Sonny Baker is set for an England debut after being called up for the squads to face South Africa and Ireland in September by head coach Brendon McCullum. In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Baker discusses learning from Sir Jimmy Anderson at the Originals, his notebook full of analysis of batters he has bowled at, being a “fast-bowling nerd”, and...
No Balls: Ellyse Perry enters the chat 15.08.2025 45:26
Alex Hartley & Kate Cross are joined by legendary Australia allrounder Ellyse Perry. She discusses getting up-to-speed as captain of Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred, as well as her journey into cricket - which included the decision to stop playing football for Australia’s women's team. Plus, did she get sent a bill for breaking a car window during a WPL game?
Who makes your Ashes XI? 11.08.2025 19:33
Jonathan Agnew is alongside former England captains Michael Vaughan and Sir Alastair Cook, and Test Match Special statistician Andy Zaltzman to discuss who plays for England in the first Ashes Test down under in Perth. Does the top seven pick itself, which bowlers are picked, and which players currently not in England squad could make a late charge for selection?
No Balls: Headingley, happiness on-field & a Hartley head injury 09.08.2025 25:28
Kate Cross & Alex Hartley convene in a hotel room the morning after Kate’s winning start in The Hundred with the Northern Superchargers. Should there be substitutes in cricket, what would Alex call a pub if she opened one, and what loud bang what Crossy up in the middle of the night? How to get in touch: Email - noballspodcast@bbc.co.uk Text - 81111 WhatsApp - 0330 123 1826 Start your message...
No Balls: The Hundred, The Oval Test, and Oasis 05.08.2025 35:15
Alex Hartley and Kate Cross look ahead to The Hundred starting, with Crossy entering her third year at Northern Superchargers. They react to the dramatic finale to England’s Test series against India at The Oval and Chris Woakes putting his body on the line for his side. Plus, Alex & Crossy go to see Oasis!
Making a Masterpiece: Behind Settling the Score 30.07.2025 35:42
Eleanor Oldroyd takes you behind-the-scenes in the making of the iconic collaboration between Test Match Special and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. This peak behind the curtain sheds light on how The 2005 Ashes: Settling the Score came to be, speaking to the Director of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Adam Szabo, who prefers not to remember the result of the 2005 series as an Australian. As well a...
Catchin' Sachin: the Root to the record 28.07.2025 35:35
With Joe Root now second on the all time Test run-scorers list, Jonathan Agnew, Sir Alastair Cook and Cheteshwar Pujara ask if he can pass Sachin Tendulkar's 15,921 runs.
View from the Boundary: Dame Sarah Storey 26.07.2025 36:57
Dame Sarah Storey tells Jonathan Agnew about her love of cricket and how she's continued to dominate Paralympic sport over the last three decades.
No Balls: India legend Smriti Mandhana 24.07.2025 51:16
Alex Hartley and Kate Cross are joined by India legend Smriti Mandhana to discuss where her love of cricket began, captaining Royal Challengers Bangalore in the WPL and what Kate Cross is like as a teammate. Plus she answers some listener questions.
Mark Wood: Ask Me Anything 21.07.2025 31:56
Jonathan Agnew presents your questions to England bowler Mark Wood in the TMS commentary box at Lord’s. Who is his dream bowling partner? How do you mark your run up? And are the England bowlers in competition about who can bowl the fastest?
View from the Boundary: Mishal Husain 20.07.2025 36:51
Broadcaster and author Mishal Husain joins Jonathan Agnew for a View from the Boundary in the TMS commentary box at Lord’s. They discuss her experience interviewing Elon Musk, the partition of India in 1947, and the humbling nature of cricket.
Simon Jones: The 2005 Ashes and me 18.07.2025 27:15
Simon Jones remembers England’s 2005 Ashes glory, in what could be the most iconic and influential summer in English cricketing history. Watch How To Win The Ashes on BBC iPlayer right now. The documentary takes a deep dive into one of sport’s fiercest rivalries. Cricket legends from both sides of 2005’s bitter rivalry, including Simon Jones, Andrew Strauss, Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist, bring...
The rise of women's cricket in India with Mithali Raj 17.07.2025 31:05
Alison Mitchell speaks to former India women's captain Mithali Raj about how much women's cricket has evolved in India. Raj tells us about her journey into the sport, how the media coverage of women's cricket has changed and hosting the upcoming ODI World Cup. She also shares her thoughts on what needs to be done to ensure the women's game continues to thrive in India and the impact cricket could...
No Balls: India ODIs in sight as the Lord’s Test ends in village fashion 16.07.2025 39:21
Alex Hartley & Kate Cross gauge the mood in the England camp ahead of their ODI series against India. They look at the England team being in transition as Charlotte Edwards’ side look to bounce back from the T20 series defeat. Crossy discusses the increasing media scrutiny in the women’s game and they also react to THAT West Indies innings which saw them bowled out for 27 against Australia. Pl...
No Balls: The Grade Cricketer come to play 13.07.2025 43:33
Alex Hartley & Kate Cross are joined by Sam Perry and Ian Higgins, who you will know better as The Grade Cricketer. The globally known podcasters join Alex & Crossy to discuss the Women's Ashes, how the podcast came to be, and the differences between grade cricket in Australia and club cricket in England. Plus, do people actually know their names?
Joe Root - the World’s greatest catcher 11.07.2025 19:44
Stephan Shemilt speaks to Joe Root after he becomes the record catch-taker in Test cricket, surpassing Rahul Dravid’s 710 catches. He discusses his methods in the slip cordon, what’s mentally required to stay switched on for long periods, and what the slip cordon talk about during a long day out in the field.
View from the Boundary – Paul Sinha 08.07.2025 33:11
Jonathan Agnew takes a View from the Boundary with comedian and professional quizzer Paul Sinha. Best known as the “Sinnerman” from TV quiz programme “The Chase”, Sinha shares his love of cricket including memories of watching India win the 1983 World Cup Final and his own batting performances as a medical student.
Shubman Gill, The Prince 07.07.2025 32:27
We profile India’s new test captain Shubman Gill who could become one of cricket’s superstars. Simon Mann is joined by Cheteshwar Pujara, Deep DasGupta, Michael Vaughan, Prakash Wakankar and Andy Zaltzman. They ask if Gill could be the player to follow in the footsteps of Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.
The King of Spain and I – Ashley Giles 06.07.2025 34:53
Jonathan Agnew talks to former Warwickshire and England spinner Ashley Giles about his life and career. Giles has been an England player, coach, selector and managing director and has experienced highs and lows in all those roles. They talk the iconic 2005 Ashes series and some of the challenges he’s faced with his mental health.
TMS meets superfan Ravi 05.07.2025 34:05
Jonathan Agnew welcomes TMS superfan Ravi into the TMS commentary box. Ravi is visually impaired and plays as part of the Lord’s Taverners supers 1s competition. In two days across England’s Tests against India at Headingley and Edgbaston, Ravi meets Joe Root, Jofra Archer, Phil Tufnell and Ebony Rainford-Brent. Plus, his favourite player Yashasvi Jaiswal visits him.
No Balls: Incredible India, acai allergies & who would Alex take to Glasto? 01.07.2025 39:02
Alex Hartley & Kate Cross look back at Smriti Mandhana’s heroics as India beat England in the first T20 of the series at Trent Bridge. They also discuss their not-so straightforward day at Rock for Ruth and Alex rates which TMS commentators she would take to Glastonbury. Send us your questions: Email - noballspodcast@bbc.co.uk Instagram - noballstcp
View from the Boundary - Joanne Harris 26.06.2025 33:56
Author Joanne Harris speaks to Jonathan Agnew as she tells the story of her career at her first day at a Test match. She reveals some amazing details of the process of writing a novel and her life growing up in Yorkshire.
Jasprit Bumrah – the best of all time? 25.06.2025 34:06
Jonathan Agnew, Steven Finn, Cheteshwar Pujara and Sir Alastair Cook debate whether India's brilliant Jasprit Bumrah is the most complete fast-bowler in cricket history.
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