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BBC Radio 5 Live

Insight and analysis from the Test Match Special team, including interviews with top players.

Test Match Special

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?

No Balls: Christmas Special

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.

Joe’s route to success

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?

The 2024 TMS Awards

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.

Red ball rivalries & white ball worries

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.

Australia reclaim Border Gavaskar Trophy

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.

No Balls: The WAshes await

Kate’s played her first international of the summer against Pakistan, and she gives us behind-the-scenes insight following England’s unspectacular win at Derby.

Alex has news of her broken down car, while owls, snails and Pitbull all make an appearance.

And there’s loads of listener emails to answer as well.

No Balls – Owls, snails and the first ODI of the summer

Alex is heading to the men’s T20 World Cup and tells us all about where she’ll be heading in the coming weeks.

Kate gives us the lowdown on England’s ODI series win against Pakistan. And we find out how the England squad keep themselves entertained during rain delays.

No Balls: Alex’s American adventure and Kate’s Pakistan review

Alex Hartley is in America for the men's T20 World Cup and tells us all about going to India v Pakistan in New York.

Meanwhile, Kate explains why a teammate thinks of her as a Grandma and tells us about the ponytail, which caused more than a stir at the weekend.

No Balls: Ponytails, World Cups and Grandma Kate

John Lithgow, star of Third Rock from the Sun and The Crown, spends a memorable half hour with Jonathan Agnew at the Oval during a Test match against India in 2007.

#40from40: John Lithgow

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