Stay ConnectedThe Test Match Special team bring you the very best cricket reaction, insight & analysis.
Plus the No Balls podcast with Kate Cross and Alex Hartley brings a fine balance of nonsense and cricket as they welcome some of the biggest names in the sport.
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Kate Cross and Alex Hartley have plenty to chat about including the Sciver-Brunt wedding, the cost of Lord's tickets and whether you thought the people on TV were watching back...
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has caused a stir by suggesting the County Championship is replaced by a red ball franchise competition. Kevin Howells gets reaction from the ECB managing director of County Cricket Neil Snowball. They also discuss whether the T20 Blast is getting the attention it deserves with the emphasis on the Hundred and what lessons are being learnt following the Azeem Rafiq racism revelations.
England bowler Kate Cross is in India taking part in the Women’s T20 challenge, hopefully a forerunner of the women’s IPL. She’s joined by World Cup winner Alex Hartley who’s been enjoying mixed fortunes back in the ranks for the Thunder side playing in the Charlotte Edwards Cup. They answer your questions, set a new challenge and find out who Alex mistook for Hugh Grant on a train and why Kate was perturbed by pictures of Radio 1 and Tailenders host Greg James in the bath!
Kevin Howells presents a tribute to Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds who has died in a car accident at the age of only 46. We hear from TMS commentator Jim Maxwell on his Australia playing career and recent work as a commentator. Plus we discuss his contribution to the English county game hearing from his captains at Gloucestershire, Kent and Lancashire, Jack Russell, David Fulton and Mark Chilton.
After a short break England bowler Kate Cross and World Cup winner Alex Hartley are back with tales from the start of their cricket season, tuk-tuk buying fathers and playing cricket with Ed Sheeran and Bear Grylls. Plus they answer your questions and hear about your LBWs, Little Bit Weirds.
Alison Mitchell and Ebony Rainford-Brent look at the accessibility of cricket, and what can be done to engage more with people from all backgrounds and whether we should be feeling optimistic, or pessimistic about the direction of travel.
We chat about the challenges of finances and what needs to be done to support younger players trying to fund their youth career.
Scotland international Abtaha Maqsood also joins the team to discuss cultural differences and how the game has changed since she started playing.
And Ian Martin, the ECB’s head of disability cricket, explains the launch of the ECB Disability Premier League.
Topics:
3:45 - Tom Brown, a researcher from Birmingham City University, on representation
14:30 - The ACE Programme
18:20 - Reporter Jamie Reid speaking to youngsters at an ACE session
21:00 - Troy Henry part of the ACE Programme
25:15 - Finances in cricket
30:30 - Abtaha Maqsood, leg spinner with Birmingham Phoenix
40:30 - Ian Martin, Head of Disability Cricket at the ECB
Jonathan Agnew is joined by former England spinners Phil Tufnell and Vic Marks to reflect on the resignation of Joe Root as England captain. We also hear from two men who know Root very well, Yorkshire’s interim director of cricket Darren Gough and former England captain Michael Vaughan.
England bowler Kate Cross and TMS commentator Alex Hartley are reunited in the UK a week after the World Cup final where England were defeated by Australia in a high scoring game. They reflect on the match and the tournament as a whole both on the field and in the commentary box. Plus an update on whether the “hunky umpire” is going to join the pod!
Kevin Howells is joined by two former England coaches, Paul Farbrace and Peter Moores, who are now involved back in the County game. They look ahead to the domestic season and ask if Championship cricket should be getting the criticism it is receiving because of the failures of the England Test team.
And Kevin is joined by fellow commentators Nikesh Rughani, Mark Church and Emily Windsor to find out which teams will be challenging this season in the men’s and women’s game.
Alison Mitchell is joined by 2017 World Cup winner Alex Hartley, Henry Moeran and Stephan Shemilt to review Australia’s 71 run World Cup Final victory over England.
Plus we get reaction from England captain Heather Knight, Australia’s captain Meg Lanning and the England head of women’s cricket Clare Connor.
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