Test Match Special

Jonathan Agnew and Stephan Shemilt are in Perth where the men’s Ashes begins in just 5 days’ time. Ollie Pope joins us to talk about the pressure of cementing his number three slot and losing the vice captaincy to Harry Brook. Former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie discusses the loss of Josh Hazlewood and a possible Ashes debut for Brendan Doggett and Aggers shares memories of previous Perth visits including playing tennis with the England captain and being seconded to bowl at England players in the nets.

Jonathan Agnew and Stephan Shemilt round up all the Ashes tour news including details of England’s win against the Lions with Ollie Pope again in the runs, and we get an Australian view from ABC Radio reporter Mitch Turner plus England fast bowler Brydon Carse joins the podcast.

Ollie Pope scored a hundred in England’s warm-up game against the Lions at Lilac Hill. There were also runs for Ben Stokes, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, but Joe Root, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith missed out. Chief Cricket reporter Stephan Shemilt rounds up the action in Perth and is joined by cricket author and Times journalist Simon Wilde We also get reaction from Zak Crawley and hear from multiple Ashes winner Sarah Taylor who’s part of the Lions coaching set-up,

Chief Cricket reporter Stephan Shemilt reports from Lilac Hill on a mixed opening day of England’s Ashes tour. Ben Stokes picked up four wickets in his first competitive bowl since July, but there was an injury concern over Mark Wood. Stephan is joined by George Dobell from the Cricketer and we hear from England vice captain Harry Brook.

England captain Ben Stokes has been speaking to the TMS pod ahead of his side’s three-day game against an England Lions team on Thursday in Perth. He tells chief cricket reporter Stephan Shemilt how England will go "balls to the wall" in the match tomorrow after "has-beens" questioned their limited preparation in Australia. Steph is also joined by cricket journalist Rory Dollard and the pair discuss Josh Hazlewood being cleared to join Australia's squad for the first Test and captain Pat Cummins being out. The BBC will be providing 24/7 coverage of The Ashes, with full audio commentary on Test Match Special and 5 Live Breakfast at the Ashes, a live text service, a full highlights programme and the TMS Daily Ashes digest on iPlayer. Plus, the daily TMS podcast, extensive coverage across social media and a visualised Tailenders at the end of every Test.

Former England fast bowler David Larter was part of the England squad to head to the 1962/63 Ashes, the last time the team travelled down to Australia by boat. He speaks to the BBC’s Chief Cricket Reporter Stephan Shemilt about his memories of the journey, as well as being made to run round the boat to keep fit, stopping off in Colombo to play a warm-up match, and how he went from being talked about by the Australian press to featuring in a single Ashes Test.

Former England fast bowler Steven Finn, former Australian batter Simon Katich and Australian journalist Melinda Farrell join Mark Chapman to assess Australia's squad ahead of the Ashes. Is it this Australia side’s last dance? Who will open? And how strong is their bowling attack? Plus, the sledging has already started and can Joe Root put his struggles down under behind him. The BBC will be providing 24/7 coverage of The Ashes. Full audio commentary on Test Match Special and 5 Live Breakfast at the Ashes, a live text service, a full highlights programme and the TMS Daily Ashes digest on iPlayer. Plus, the daily TMS podcast, extensive coverage across social media and a visualised Tailenders at the end of every Test.

Kate Cross & Alex Hartley look back at the 2025 Women's World Cup which saw India win their first ever title. They discuss India’s incredible victories over Australia and South Africa, the unlikely hero in Shafali Verma, and why it feels like the beginning of the end of an era in women’s cricket.

The BBC’s Chief Cricket Reporter Stephan Shemilt speaks to Ryan Harris about his explosive Ashes career. From his own 'ball of the century' dismissing Sir Alastair Cook, being the perfect sidekick to Mitchell Johnson, his injury woes which limited the amount of Tests he played, and whether he'd ever have played for England with his dad being from Leicester.

Henry Moeran is alongside 2017 World Cup winner Alex Hartley, TMS regular Prakash Wakankar, commentator Daniel Norcross, and TMS statistician Phil Long in Navi Mumbai for reaction to India winning the 2025 Women’s World Cup. Hear the thoughts of India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Amanjot Kaur, and losing captain Laura Wolvaardt. Plus, journalists Firdose Moonda and Zenia D’cunha discuss the wider impact of just how big the World Cup has been in India.

Alison Mitchell looks back at how England won the first ever Women’s World Cup, with the tournament hosted in England. She speaks to cricket journalist and historian Raf Nicholson, plus we hear some archive interviews from England legend Rachael Heyhoe-Flint.

Alison Mitchell looks back at how Australia won their first two World Cups. She talks to Sharon Tredrea, who some call the fastest female to ever bowl, and cricket journalist and historian Raf Nicholson about how Australia won the 1982 World Cup in New Zealand. Plus, she talks to Diana Edulji who captained India when they hosted the 1978 tournament.

Henry Moeran is joined by Alex Hartley, Daniel Norcross and Ffion Wynne to look ahead to India's date with destiny against South Africa in Navi Mumbai.

Alison Mitchell is alongside former England captain Jane Powell and cricket journalist and historian Raf Nicholson to look back at the 1988 Women's World Cup, where tournament hosts Australia won the tournament for the third time. Powell captained England in the competition and recalls her memory of the final.

India beat holders Australia by 5 wickets in a thrilling World Cup semi-final. Analysis by Melissa Story, Nikesh Rughani, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala and Steven Finn plus reaction from player of the match Jemimah Rodrigues and captains Alyssa Healy and Harmanpreet Kaur.

Alison Mitchell is alongside cricket journalist and historian Raf Nicholson to look back at England’s second World Cup title, which they won on home soil in 1993.

Henry Moeran is alongside 2017 World Cup winner Alex Hartley and TMS commentator Daniel Norcross for analysis of England’s thumping defeat to South Africa in the semi-final of the Women’s World Cup. Hear reaction from England head coach Charlotte Edwards, captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and player of the match Laura Wolvaardt.

Henry Moeran is with Alex Hartley, Daniel Norcross and Ffion Wynne to look ahead to the ICC Women's World Cup semi-finals. Plus, we hear from England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.

The BBC’s Chief Cricket Reporter Stephan Shemilt speaks to Michael Vaughan about the 2002/03 Ashes in Australia, and how that prepared him for the infamous 2005 Ashes series. Vaughan talks about what was behind his incredible form down under in 02/03, learning from Australia legend Steve Waugh before becoming England captain, and some incredible stories away from pitch during the series.

Steven Finn, Jim Maxwell and Jack Leach join Mark Chapman to continue build-up to the Ashes series down under. How bad is Pat Cummins injury? Is Ollie Pope secure at three? Has Marnus Labuschagne played himself into the Australia side? Plus, why is it so hard to win down under and Alice Davidson-Richards on ICC Women's World Cup Semi-Finals.