Test Match Special

Jonathan Agnew speaks to the ECB chair Richard Thompson in a wide-ranging interview at The Oval. They look at the future of Test cricket, what the investment in The Hundred franchises could mean for the sport in the UK, and how cricket will look at the next Olympics.

TMS listeners, we'd like to introduce you to the new series of Sport’s Strangest Crimes called 'Hansie Cronje: Fall From Grace.' As big Cricket fans, we want to give you the chance to listen to Episode 1 right here, right now and if you like it, search 'Sport’s Strangest Crimes' on BBC Sounds where you can listen to the rest of the series. In the mid-90s, Hansie Cronje was South Africa’s golden boy, the God-fearing captain backed by Nelson Mandela and worshipped by a nation. More than just a cricketer, he was a symbol of hope. But were the cracks there all along? In the first episode of Sport’s Strangest Crimes - Hansie Cronje: Fall From Grace, former England cricketer, Mark Butcher revisits the rise of a man who seemed too good to be true and maybe was. Teammates, journalists and friends paint a picture of a leader everyone trusted… until they didn’t. Because before you fall from grace, you’ve got to be on a pedestal.

Henry Moeran, Jonathan Agnew, Steven Finn and Deep Dasgupta analyse England and India’s thrilling series, which ended in a 2-2 draw after a tense climax at The Oval. Do the panel think it was the best Test series since the 2005 Ashes? And should England have won the deciding Test? They also discussion Chris Woakes’ extraordinary one-armed effort, coming out to bat at the end of England’s second innings. We also hear from Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum, Shubman Gill and Harry Brook on the series. And with the Ashes next up, there’s a look at the shape England are in ahead of the series this Winter against Australia.

Alex Hartley and Kate Cross look ahead to The Hundred starting, with Crossy entering her third year at Northern Superchargers. They react to the dramatic finale to England’s Test series against India at The Oval and Chris Woakes putting his body on the line for his side. Plus, Alex & Crossy go to see Oasis!

Jonathan Agnew presents reaction from India’s thrilling final day victory over England, as a pulsating series finishes in a 2-2 draw. He’s joined by Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook, and Deep Dasgupta to look back on where India won the Test, and where this series leaves each side. We hear from captains Ben Stokes and Shubman Gill, as well as Mohammed Siraj and Harry Brook. England’s next Test series will be the Ashes, and Australian opener David Warner gives his views on the series.

On an action-packed day at the Oval, Jonathan Agnew, Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook and Deep Dasgupta review the penultimate day’s events. We hear from Joe Root after centuries from him and Harry Brook helped bring England to within 35 runs of another unlikely victory. But late Indian wickets mean they need a maximum of four more to win – could we see Chris Woakes bat despite injuring his left shoulder? And the journalist panel of Stephan Shemilt, Will MacPherson and Nagraj Gollapudi review the series as whole.

Jonathan Agnew presents a look back at Day Three at the Oval, as Yashasvi Jaiswal’s century and the late wicket of Zak Crawley put India in a strong position to win the final Test. Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook and Deep Dasgupta assess the state of the game, and we hear from Jaiswal, as well as England’s Josh Tongue. There’s also a discussion on whether Harry Brook is a better option as stand-in captain than Ollie Pope. And we’re joined by actress Nina Wadia and chef, restauranteur and campaigner Asma Khan, who share their love of cricket.

Jonathan Agnew presents reaction to a day where 15 wickets fell, leaving the final Test between England and India finely poised at The Oval. Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook and Deep Dasgupta analyse an, at times, heated second day with yet more needle between the sides. Prasidh Krishna tells us why he tried to disrupt Joe Root in a heated exchange, and we also hear from England's batting coach Marcus Trescothick. And on a Day for Thorpey, friends and family of the late Graham Thorpe celebrate the former England batter's life.

Test Match Special reflects the tributes to Graham Thorpe at The Oval on Day Two of the final Test, on what would have been his 56th birthday. We hear from his former teammate Alec Stewart, Graham's wife Amanda and the chief executive of MIND, Sarah Hughes. If you are affected by the issues discussed in this podcast, please go to the BBC Action line.

Jonathan Agnew, Michael Vaughan and Deep Dasgupta reflect on a rain-interrupted first day at the Oval, with India closing on 204-6. They assess the impact Chris Woakes’ injury could have on the rest of the Test, after he damaged his shoulder diving to prevent a boundary. We also hear from Gus Atkinson, who took two wickets on his return to the side. And journalist Simon Wilde gives us the story of Gilbert Jessop, who still holds the record for the fastest Test century for England.

With the news England captain Ben Stokes will miss the series deciding Test against India at the Oval, Henry Moeran is joined by chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew and former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta to look at the impact Stokes’ absence could have. We hear from Stokes, who explains the injury and his team selection, with Jacob Bethell returning to the Test side and multiple changes to the bowling unit. And after the row between Gautam Gambhir and The Oval groundsman Lee Fortis, the panel look at the latest round of needle in this series.

Eleanor Oldroyd takes you behind-the-scenes in the making of the iconic collaboration between Test Match Special and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. This peak behind the curtain sheds light on how The 2005 Ashes: Settling the Score came to be, speaking to the Director of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Adam Szabo, who prefers not to remember the result of the 2005 series as an Australian. As well as Scotland under 16s cricketer and now conductor Mark Herron and cellist Steve Callow. Plus, TMS producer Tim Peach gives insight into which pieces of music made it into the documentary and why. The 2005 Ashes: Settling the Score is available on the Test Match Special feed on BBC Sounds right now.

Henry Moeran is joined by former England captain Michael Vaughan and former England spinner Phil Tufnell to discuss the fallout from a controversial end to the 4th Test between England and India at Old Trafford and look ahead to the 5th and final Test with England leading the series 2-1. The panel discuss flat pitches, England’s bowling attack and the fitness of captain Ben Stokes. The 5th Test begins on Thursday morning – coverage begins on Sports Extra with the Test Match Special team from 10:25.

With Joe Root now second on the all time Test run-scorers list, Jonathan Agnew, Sir Alastair Cook and Cheteshwar Pujara ask if he can pass Sachin Tendulkar's 15,921 runs.

Jonathan Agnew is joined by Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook, Prakash Wakankar and Andy Zaltzman to analyse the final day and reflect on India’s draw against England. We will hear from both captains Ben Stokes and Shubnam Gill. And we are joined by our journalist panel to discuss whether Bazball is maturing and whether events in this series make us more or less confident about England’s Ashes chances.

Jonathan Agnew is joined by Michael Vaughan and Sir Alastair Cook to discuss a Stokes century, Woakes wickets and stubborn Indian resistance. Plus, we hear from a Bollywood star.

Dame Sarah Storey tells Jonathan Agnew about her love of cricket and how she's continued to dominate Paralympic sport over the last three decades.

Jonathan Agnew is joined by Michael Vaughan and Sir Alastair Cook on the day that Joe Root moves to second on the lost of Test run scorers. It was also his 38th Test century. We hear from his teammate Ollie Pope who tells us if he thinks Root can make it to top spot and the team also discuss where it may have gone wrong for India’s bowlers.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the 2005 Ashes, Test Match Special has collaborated with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra to tell the story of the greatest series of all time. Through a specially curated playlist performed by the Philharmonic, TMS archive, and narration from legendary actor Charles Dance, we’re taken back to a time when the nation went cricket mad. Glenn McGrath treading on the ball, the thrilling finish at Edgbaston, thousands locked out at Old Trafford, Gary Pratt’s runout of Ricky Ponting, and that famous final day at the Oval are all remembered, as is the bus journey through London the day after. And there’s also space for the Philharmonic’s performance of BBC Cricket iconic theme music – Soul Limbo. Music performed: SCENESET: Sergei Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Montagues and Capulets LORD’S: Camille Pepin: Les Eaux Celestes for orchestra, movements 2 & 3 EDGBASTON: Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5, last movement INTERLUDE: John Adams: Tromba Lontana OLD TRAFFORD: Gustav Holst: The Planets, Uranus TRENT BRIDGE: John Adams: Short Ride in a Fast Machine SHANE WARNE INTERLUDE: Igor Stravinsky: Petrushka, The Shrovetide Fair, Dance of the Coachmen and Grooms OVAL: Hubert Parry, arr. Elgar: Jerusalem and Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony no. 3, 4th movement CELEBRATIONS/TRAFALGAR SQUARE: Georges Bizet: Carmen, prelude REFLECTIONS: Thomas Ades: Arcadiana, Movement 6, O Albion CREDITS: Soul Limbo, arr. Peter Willmott

Jonathan Agnew is joined by Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook and Prakash Wakankar to react to a strong day for England at Old Trafford. Plus, we hear from Zak Crawley.