Insight and analysis from the Test Match Special team, including interviews with top players.
The BBC’s Chief Cricket Commentator Jonathan Agnew is alongside Chief Cricket Reporter Stephan Shemilt to look ahead to England’s first Test of the summer against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge.How will captain Ben Stokes approach the game after recovering from hamstring surgery in January? What is bowler Sam Cook thinking ahead of his debut? And Zimbabwe’s 6ft8 bowler Blessing Muzarabani tells Stephan about his journey to professional cricket.
21/05/2025 • 37:53
Alex Hartley & Kate Cross are back as a new era begins for England’s women with Charlotte Edwards as head coach and Nat Sciver-Brunt as captain.What was Alex’s experience leaving Pakistan following international tensions with India? What does Kate think of England’s new leadership team? And what’s the weirdest thing they’ve ever talked about during a match?Email us at: noballspodcast@bbc.co.uk
21/05/2025 • 39:07
Mark Chapman is joined by England fast bowler Mark Wood and former spinner Phil Tufnell to explore the future of English cricket. Head coach Brendon McCullum reveals his vision for the team’s new era, the evolution of Bazball, and why Harry Brook is key to the summer ahead. Plus, Charlotte Edwards on England Women’s approach and how the ECB is planning for the next generation.
19/05/2025 • 52:36
Henry Moeran is alongside Test Match Special’s Daniel Norcross to discuss Nat Sciver-Brunt and Charlotte Edwards leading England for the first time as the side host the West Indies.Henry speaks to the England captain ahead of next week’s T20 match against the West Indies. How have the last few weeks been for Sciver-Brunt? What kind of captain does she hope to be? And who would make the best (and worst) babysitter in the squad after she recently became a mother for the first time? Plus, they react to Edwards’ squad for the West Indies series after bowler Sophie Ecclestone was left out.Test Match Special has full ball-by-ball coverage of the West Indies’ tour of England, with 3 T20 matches and 3 ODIs starting on Wednesday 21st May at 6.15pm.
14/05/2025 • 36:18
Virat Kohli has walked away from Test cricket — so what does it mean for India and the future of the red-ball game? Mark Chapman is joined by Steven Finn, Deep Dasgupta, and Lawrence Booth to break down Kohli’s iconic career, his lasting legacy, and who could possibly fill his shoes. They also dive into the political tensions affecting the IPL and PSL — and what this shifting power balance means for global cricket.
12/05/2025 • 52:35
After Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket just a month away from India’s Test tour of England, Henry Moeran is joined by former IPL player Abhishek Jhunjhunwala and commentator Nikesh Rughani. They look back on Rohit’s Test career, find out a bit more about him, and ask who is likely to lead India in England.
08/05/2025 • 23:09
Henry Moeran is alongside Test Match Special’s Daniel Norcross & Nikesh Rughani to discuss how Jos Buttler has returned to form for Gujarat Titans in the IPL. Is he more confident now the pressure of the England captaincy isn’t there? How can his form help the Titans go for IPL glory? What’s been the response to Jacob Bethell’s 28-ball 50 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Plus, does MS Dhoni need to call it a day?BBC commentator Scott Read joins Henry & Daniel to discuss Lancashire’s start to the season which has seen them draw all four of their matches. Can the groundsmen and women do something to help the side out? Will Shoaib Bashir’s County Championship struggles bring questions around who will be England’s starting spinner? And will the injury misfortunes of Jordan Cox cost him his England selection?
06/05/2025 • 44:24
Henry Moeran is alongside BBC Sport Cricket writer Ffion Wynne at Lord’s as the ECB & the ICC launch the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup, as it’s announced that the venue will host the final of the tournament. After it was announced that Nat Sciver-Brunt would replace Heather Knight as England captain, what kind of captain would the all-rounder be? Charlotte Edwards looks forward to the partnership with Sciver-Brunt, and Lauren Bell & Sophia Dunkley share their excitement as England enter a new era. Plus, Red Rose and World Rugby Women’s Player of The Year 2024 Ellie Kildunne discusses the impact a home international tournament can have on boosting a sport’s profile.
01/05/2025 • 37:42
After 14 year old Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashed record after record en route to his 35-ball hundred, Henry Moeran is joined by former IPL batter Abhishek Jhunjhunwala and commentator Matt Floyd to find out more about the teenage superstar. We learn more about his back story, how he’s been managed, and how Rajasthan Royals – and Indian Cricket – can look after and nurture such a precocious talent.
29/04/2025 • 28:43
We bring you a special episode from Lords, where the TMS team had the honour of hosting the 2025 MCC Cowdrey Lecture. In this second part, Jonathan Agnew is joined by Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell and Ebony Rainford-Brent to discuss what the Spirit of Cricket means to them and their memories of TMS.There’s also chat around who will be England’s next white-ball captain, as well as a look ahead to a big year for both the England men’s and women’s teams.Make sure you’re subscribed to TMS wherever you listen to your podcasts, so you don’t miss any episodes over the summer.
07/04/2025 • 31:26
We bring you a special episode from Lords, where the TMS team had the honour of hosting the 2025 MCC Cowdrey Lecture. In this first part, Jonathan Agnew is joined by former England captain Michael Vaughan to discuss what the Spirit of Cricket means to them, reflecting on moments from their playing careers.They also talk about the changing landscape of the sport & Michael shares his ideas for how to further modernise County Cricket.Part 2 will be out soon. Make sure you’re subscribed to TMS wherever you listen to your podcasts, so you don’t miss any episodes over the summer.
04/04/2025 • 34:20
Mark Chapman is joined by Michael Vaughan, Jimmy Anderson and England men’s managing director Rob Key. They talk about where England’s men’s cricket is at the moment – what’s next? How will England look to change the picture across the board? And what will the process be to replace Jos Buttler as white-ball captain?
10/03/2025 • 52:04
After England crash out of the Champions Trophy, Henry Moeran and the TMS team ask just what’s going wrong at the moment. Across the men’s and women’s teams, England have lost 16 out of the 17 games they’ve played in 2025. Is it an attitude problem? An image problem? Captaincy? Or is there more to it than that? Henry is joined by World Cup winner Alex Hartley, and TMS colleagues Aatif Nawaz and Daniel Norcross
27/02/2025 • 54:00
Eleanor Oldroyd is joined by the BBC’s Sports Editor Dan Roan, Chief Cricket Reporter Stephan Shemilt & TMS commentator Daniel Norcross to analyse ‘The Hundred’ team sales. We’ll hear from ECB Director of Business Operations Vikram Banerjee, as well as Southern Brave & Sussex fast bowler Tymal Mills. We’ll also be answering some of the questions you sent in to the BBC Sport website.
06/02/2025 • 56:50
Alex Hartley & Kate Cross have a final catch-up before the Women’s Ashes get underway. Kate gives an injury update with the first game right around the corner, and they discuss why women should play more Test cricket.Vote for No Balls in the Sport Podcast Awards 2025 – we’re nominated for THREE categories, and it only takes a minute to vote:Best Cricket Podcast https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/best-cricket-podcast/Best Sports Comedy Podcast https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/best-sports-comedy-podcast/Diverse Voices Award https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/sports-diverse-voices-award/Listen to every ball of the Women’s Ashes from Australia on BBC Sounds, or via the BBC Sport website or app. The first ODI starts at 11:30pm on Saturday 11th January.
10/01/2025 • 39:07
Alex Hartley & Kate Cross look ahead to the Women’s Ashes which starts in Sydney which week. They discuss who the star performers might be, and what the mentality is inside the England camp after a dominant tour in South Africa. Plus, Alex has some WAshes predictions. Listen to every ball of the Women’s Ashes from Australia on BBC Sounds, or via the BBC Sport website or app. The first ODI starts at 11:30pm on Saturday 11th January.
06/01/2025 • 36:07
We review another absorbing Test as Australia won by six wickets at the SCG to take the series against India 3-1 and reclaim the Border Gavaskar series for the first time in over a decade.We get analysis from Alison Mitchell, former Australia coach Darren Lehmann and former Australia bowler Stuart Clark. Isa Guha speaks with player of the match Scott Boland plus captains Pat Cummins and Jasprit Bumrah and we also hear from Australian opener Usman Khawja.
05/01/2025 • 36:10
Henry Moeran is alongside the BBC’s chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew and TMS statistician Andy Zaltzman to look ahead to England’s Men’s 2025. With a home Test series against India and the Ashes down under at the end of the year, it could prove to be a pivotal year for Ben Stokes as captain.
01/01/2025 • 49:23
Henry Moeran is alongside commentator Dan Norcross & TMS statistician Andy Zaltzman pick their global cricketing awards for 2024 - the Full Tosscars. Which India bowler has had an incredible year? Which English batter(s) gets nominated for worst shot of the year? And which side goes home with the best win of the year?
26/12/2024 • 54:52
2024 is going to be a memorable year for Joe Root. He became England’s highest ever run scorer, and overtook Sir Alastair Cook’s Test century record for England too, but how did that feel and how did he get there?In his own words, along with England captain Ben Stokes and friend & longtime teammate Jimmy Anderson, he talks us through his incredible year, and how he came to be one of England’s greats.
23/12/2024 • 35:37
Alex Hartley and Kate Cross have a festive catch up after Kate’s return from South Africa.They discuss Kate’s back injury which meant she hardly played in South Africa and the road to recovery ahead of next month’s Ashes series in Australia. They also reflect on England’s success in all formats across the series which served as good preparation before heading down under.Plus, what do they both want for Christmas?
21/12/2024 • 34:33
It’s been 10 years since the death of former Australia player Phillip Hughes. The 25 year old passed away after being struck on the neck by a short ball during a Sheffield Shield match.It was a tragedy which sent shock waves across the cricketing world and the anniversary is being marked with commemorations throughout Australia.In a special tribute ABC commentator Andrew Moore speaks with Tom Cooper who was Hughes’s batting partner that fateful day, legendary fast bowler Glenn McGrath and former Australia coach Darren Lehmann who reveals Hughes was set to be told about an international recall the day he died.
06/12/2024 • 21:47
Alex Hartley & Kate Cross discuss England’s dominant displays in England’s T20 series win against South Africa Women, and how the tour is great preparation ahead of the Women’s Ashes next month. Plus, they ask you for your best cricketing look-alikes after Jacob Bethell was likened to… Pat Butcher.noballspodcast@bbc.co.ukListen to every game of England's tour of South Africa on BBC Sounds, with commentary of the first ODI in Kimberley at 11:45am on Wednesday 4th December.
03/12/2024 • 33:59
Alex Hartley & Kate Cross look ahead to England’s tour of South Africa with Kate in the ODI and Test squad. She discusses how she’s been preparing for the series having had six weeks away from cricket. They speak to a listener who has named their puppy after one of them, and have you named a pet after someone famous?noballspodcast@bbc.co.uk
22/11/2024 • 35:28
Alex Hartley & Kate Cross talk about how Kate’s preparation has gone as she gets ready to head to South Africa for England’s ODIs and Test. They discuss the tent which has been built at England’s High Performance Centre to help players acclimatise to pitch conditions around the world, as well as more of your stories on naming pets after sport stars. Plus, they play a game to get Kate ready for her trip.Listen to every game of England's tour of South Africa on BBC Sounds, with the first T20 starting at 12pm on Sunday 24th November.
22/11/2024 • 32:23
Jonathan Agnew speaks to former Pakistan captain Urooj Mumtaz.Now splitting her time between cricket commentary and dentistry, Mumtaz talks about the struggles of not being allowed to play cricket as a child, the opportunities for women in cricket now compared to when she was growing up, and how she'll be straight back to her dental practice once England's tour of Pakistan is over.
21/10/2024 • 33:28
Henry Moeran is joined by England bowler Tash Farrant and Daniel Norcross to look ahead to the Women's T20 World Cup Final between South Africa and New Zealand in Dubai.
19/10/2024 • 37:59
Kevin Howells is alongside Surrey correspondent Mark Church to speak to former Surrey Director of Cricket Alec Stewart.They discuss Stewart’s legacy as he moves into a new role with Surrey, as well as his thoughts on the long-term future of the County Championship and how Dan Worrall was his “best signing” at the club
12/10/2024 • 44:03
Jonathan Agnew and the TMS team share memories of the astonishing England tour to Pakistan in 2022.England won the first series they’d played in Pakistan in 17 years, becoming the first side to complete a 3 nil victory with some record breaking batting and outstanding bowling. Aggers is joined by Simon Mann, Andy Zaltzman, Aatif Nawaz and Alex Hartley plus we also hear reflections from Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
08/10/2024 • 34:14
It's finally here! Kate and Alex take on umpires Anna Harris and Sue Redfern in the first No Balls Players-Umpires golf day. But who will come out on top?Kate also tells us about second part of England's white-ball tour of Ireland and her feelings now her stint as captain has finished.
20/09/2024 • 37:32
