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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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From The Ashes: David Larter

11/11/2025
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.

Duration:00:47:58

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How Australia shape up ahead of the Ashes

11/10/2025
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.

Duration:00:52:47

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No Balls: The World Cup debrief!

11/5/2025
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.

Duration:00:33:42

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From The Ashes: Ryan Harris

11/4/2025
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.

Duration:01:03:26

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Women’s World Cup: GLORY for India

11/2/2025
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.

Duration:00:46:05

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How England won the 1973 Women’s World Cup

11/2/2025
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.

Duration:00:27:35

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How Australia won the 1978 & 1982 Women’s World Cups

11/1/2025
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.

Duration:00:47:30

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Women's World Cup: The Final Preview

11/1/2025
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.

Duration:00:39:05

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How Australia won the 1988 Women’s World Cup

10/31/2025
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.

Duration:00:30:56

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Record breaking India shock Australia to reach Women’s World Cup Final

10/30/2025
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.

Duration:00:32:49

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How England won the 1993 Women’s World Cup

10/30/2025
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.

Duration:00:27:07

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Women’s World Cup: England head home hammered by South Africa

10/29/2025
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.

Duration:00:40:12

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Women's World Cup: England set for semi-final showdown with South Africa

10/28/2025
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.

Duration:00:42:42

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From The Ashes: Michael Vaughan

10/28/2025
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.

Duration:00:55:29

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Why is it so hard to win the Ashes in Australia?

10/27/2025
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.

Duration:00:49:44

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How Australia won the 1997 Women's World Cup

10/27/2025
Alison Mitchell looks back at the 1997 Women's World Cup, with Australia sealing their fourth title at the tournament held in India. New Zealand World Cup winner Debbie Hockley talks of her memories of the competiton, winning player of the match in the final despite being on the losing side in 1997.

Duration:00:31:30

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No Balls: The amazing Alyssa Healy

10/27/2025
Australia captain Alyssa Healy joins Kate Cross and Alex Hartley on the podcast. They discuss her Desert Island teammates, her sadness around the rain-affected World Cup fixtures, the smallest item she could hit a 6 with, and why she had to quit her job at KFC.

Duration:00:48:46

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Women’s World Cup: England finish on a high as Devine departs

10/26/2025
Henry Moeran is alongside 2017 World Cup winner Alex Hartley and TMS commentator Alex Hartley for reaction to England’s thumping victory over New Zealand in their last group stage game of the World Cup. Hear the thoughts of Heather Knight, who discusses Sophie Ecclestone’s injury fears, captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amy Jones, and retiring New Zealand captain Sophie Devine.

Duration:00:32:56

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How New Zealand won the 2000 Women's World Cup

10/25/2025
Alison Mitchell is alongside New Zealand World Cup winner Debbie Hockley to discuss her side's route to winning the 2000 Women's World Cup at home in 2000.

Duration:00:31:26

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How Australia won the 2005 Women's World Cup

10/24/2025
Alison Mitchell speaks to Australia's World Cup winning wicketkeeper Julia Price about her memories of winning the tournament in South Africa in 2005.

Duration:00:27:57