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Test Match Special

BBC

The Test Match Special team bring you the very best reaction, insight & analysis of the Ashes Test series with daily episodes from down under.

Location:

United Kingdom

Networks:

BBC

Description:

The Test Match Special team bring you the very best reaction, insight & analysis of the Ashes Test series with daily episodes from down under.

Language:

English


Episodes
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The Ashes: Wounded Stokes says no place for weak men.

12/7/2025
England finally show some fight, but Australia take two nil Ashes lead. There’s an astonishing interview with England captain Ben Stokes, we hear from coach Brendon McCullum and there’s reaction from Australia captain Steve Smith and player of the match Mitchell Starc. And there’s analysis by Jonathan Agnew, Glenn McGrath, Michael Vaughan, Phi Tufnell, Simon Mann and Andy Zaltzman,

Duration:00:54:21

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The Ashes: England on the brink in Brisbane

12/6/2025
All the reaction to a dominant day for Australia in Brisbane as England stare at a 2-0 series deficit. Coach Marcus Trescothick talks to the pod, and defends England’s approach and preparation.

Duration:00:31:53

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The Ashes: Wasteful England hand Australia the initiative at the Gabba

12/5/2025
Reaction to a second day in Brisbane that saw England miss out on putting heat on the hosts Michael Vaughan, Glenn McGrath and Jonathan Agnew join Simon Mann to discuss a frustrating day for England in Brisbane. Plus, we hear from Joe Root after this first Ashes century in Australia.

Duration:00:38:42

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The Ashes: Root scores first hundred in Australia.

12/4/2025
Simon Mann is joined by Jonathan Agnew, Glenn McGrath, Phil Tufnell and Andy Zaltzman to review an absorbing opening day at the Gabba where Joe Root was the star. We also hear from Zak Crawley who made 76 plus Australia’s wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

Duration:00:35:03

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Stokes speaks to TMS as Cummins could return

12/3/2025
Eleanor Oldroyd is alongside Jonathan Agnew and ABC’s Corbin Middlemas to look ahead to the second Ashes Test at the Gabba. They discuss England’s preparation on the eve of the day-night Test match, as well as the boost Australia could get by bringing back their captain Pat Cummins.

Duration:00:33:18

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Pope talks to TMS & Jacks in for Wood for Gabba Test

12/2/2025
England have made one change to their side for the second Test, and we hear from batter Ollie Pope. Plus, Michael Vaughan and Phil Tufnell bring their pre-Test predictions.

Duration:00:30:13

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Glenn McGrath: “if England go to Adelaide 2-0 down it's game over”

12/1/2025
Michael Vaughan, Glenn McGrath and Melinda Farrell join Mark Chapman to preview the second Test of the Ashes in Brisbane. Is this now or never for bazball? Can England adapt to the pink ball? How do both sides bowling attacks look? Could England turn to a spinner? Australia have had staggering pink ball success but their only day-night loss came at the Gabba. Plus, Mitchell Starc is just three wickets away from surpassing Wasim Akram as the most successful left-arm quick in the history of the game.

Duration:00:54:57

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Daily Ashes Quiz: Fastest scoring team

12/1/2025
Every weekday during the 2025-26 Ashes, comedian and statistician Andy Zaltzman poses new a cricketing conundrum. It won’t be easy though. You might want to take it away, share in your group chats and challenge your friends. Andy will reveal the answer the following day. Test Match Special has live commentary on BBC Sounds with a team including Jonathan Agnew, Simon Mann and Jim Maxwell. England's 2005 Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan, legendary Australia seamer Glenn McGrath and ex-England spinners Phil Tufnell and Alex Hartley will be part of the punditry team.

Duration:00:03:28

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TMS Top 10: Ashes Characters

12/1/2025
From Stuart Broad to Ben Stokes, Shane Warne to Steve Waugh, Freddie Flintoff to Ian Botham. Who is the ultimate Ashes character? Whose personalities have shone on the pitch in the most high pressure games? Isa Guha, Sir Alastair Cook, and Jonathan Agnew debate their top 10 Ashes characters from players across England and Australia.

Duration:00:38:04

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Joe Root: 'Ashes doesn't need pink-ball Test'

11/30/2025
Joe Root tells Stephan Shemilt that the Ashes doesn't need a pink-ball Test match. Australia's first Test centurion Travis Head responds by telling Stephan "Pink ball, white ball, red ball - who really cares?". As the pair differ on views ahead of the Test between England and Australia at The Gabba, Eleanor Oldroyd sits in a cafe just outside the iconic venue with Andy Zaltzman and Henry Moeran to look ahead to the second match of the Ashes. Plus, former Australia Test skipper Tim Paine discusses what the pink-ball offers under the lights in Brisbane.

Duration:00:46:14

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The Ashes: "Don't call us arrogant" say Stokes as England begin preparations in Brisbane

11/28/2025
Henry Moeran is joined by Stephan Shemilt and Vitushan Ehantharajah and we hear from England captain Ben Stokes, fresh from accusations of "arrogance" from Australian media.

Duration:00:37:36

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England’s 2010/11 Ashes win, according to Sir Alastair Cook

11/28/2025
Exactly 15 years on from Sir Alastair Cook’s 235 not-out at the Gabba, the BBC’s Chief Cricket Reporter Stephan Shemilt speaks to Cook about one of his best individual series for England, which saw England win the Ashes in Australia in 2010/11. They discuss Cook’s incredible batting throughout the series, including his 235 not-out at The Gabba, the moments he was speaking to Chris Tremlett before the bowler infamously got Mitchell Johnson for a duck, and his time out in the middle with Sir Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott.

Duration:00:44:39

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The Ashes: England right to stick to Plan A with batters' prep, says Alec Stewart

11/27/2025
We hear from former captain Alec Stewart who thinks England are right not to send batters for an additional warm-up match. Plus, Steven Finn reveals the experience of the Gabba.

Duration:00:55:30

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No Balls: Hartley heads down under!

11/26/2025
Kate Cross and Alex Hartley chat all things Ashes after England's dramatic two-day defeat in the first Ashes Test in Perth. They wonder whether England's batters should have gone to play in England's tour match in Canberra, plus Crossy remembers her time in Perth on England debut at the WACA.

Duration:00:30:10

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First Ashes Test Review

11/24/2025
Mark Chapman is joined by former England coach Paul Farbrace, former Australian opener Simon Katich and Durham coach Ryan Campbell to discuss the fallout from a remarkable first Ashes Test and England's pink-ball preparations ahead of the second test in Brisbane.

Duration:00:50:00

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The Ashes: Two days on and attention turns to Brisbane

11/24/2025
Henry Moeran is joined by Jonathan Agnew, Steven Finn and Stephan Shemilt to discuss how England are due to prepare for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane.

Duration:00:44:34

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The Ashes: England hammered in Perth.

11/22/2025
Reaction as England are beaten inside TWO days in first Ashes Test at Perth. Simon Mann is alongside former England captain Michael Vaughan, former Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath, and the BBC’s Chief Cricket Commentator Jonathan Agnew for reaction to England’s embarrassing defeat to Australia in the first Ashes Test at Perth. We also hear from England captain Ben Stokes, coach Brendon McCullum and Australia centurion Travis Head.

Duration:00:50:06

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The Ashes: England roar back on extraordinary opening day

11/21/2025
Reaction from a breathless first day of the first Ashes Test in Perth. Simon Mann is alongside former England captain Michael Vaughan, legendary Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath, and the BBC’s Chief Cricket Commentator Jonathan Agnew for reaction to an incredible first day of the 2025/26 Ashes. We also hear from Brydon Carse and the recovering Australia Test captain Pat Cummns – plus a stat attack from Andy Zaltzman.

Duration:00:38:55

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Ashes Eve - it's almost time

11/20/2025
The Men's Ashes are nearly upon us and the TMS preview features interviews with both Ben Stokes and Steve Smith, plus an exclusive chat with England Head Coach Brendon McCullum.

Duration:00:44:05

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England name their 12 for first Ashes Test

11/19/2025
Eleanor Oldroyd is out and about in Perth for reaction to England naming their twelve-man squad for the first Ashes Test. Former England captain Michael Vaughan has his say on where the first Test could be won, England fast bowler Gus Atkinson looks ahead to the first match of the series, and Chief Cricket Reporter Stephan Shemilt and TMS commentator Simon Mann dissect the twelve in England's squad. Plus, how could Australia line up after a hint from Australia bowler Mitchell Starc said he would bat at eight.

Duration:00:36:07