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Test Match Special

BBC Radio 5 Live
England
Cricket
England Cricket Team
Australia
Ashes
Ashes Series
Ben Stokes
The Ashes
Australia Cricket Team
T20 World Cup
Test Cricket
Ashes Test Series
Joe Root
Pakistan
England Women's Cricket Team
India
Mitchell Starc
World Cup
Harry Brook
Lord's

The 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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes693Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CricketNewsSportsSports News

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Artwork for Test Match Special

Latest Episodes

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen is back on England duty, this time as a mentor, and tells Henry Moeran he's "absolutely loving" his time working with the side.

Simon Mann is alongside former England fast bowler Mark Wood in the week he announces his retirement from international cricket.

Wood discuss is favourite moments in an England shirt, including *that* Usman Khawaja dismissal in the 2023 Ashes.

Mark Wood tells Henry Moeran why now is the right time to make the decision, and talks about his memories in an England shirt.

Plus, Simon Mann is alongside former England opener, and teammate of Mark Wood, Dawid Malan, as well as BBC Sport journal... more

Mark Chapman is joined by cricket correspondent Stephan Shemilt, former England captain Sir Alastair Cook and former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior. We hear from England’s new Test head coach Stephen Fleming for the first time.

The former New Zeal... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Tom Banton
England cricketer who contributed a half-century in the chase
England National Cricket Team
Episode: Explosive England seal T20 series against Sri Lanka
Jon Harvey
Comedian, writer and performer behind Count Binface
Self / Count Binface persona
Episode: View from the Boundary - Count Binface aka Jon Harvey.
Ramiz Raja
Former Pakistan captain and commentator
Pakistan Cricket
Episode: Remarkable Razaullah raises Pakistan spirits on extraordinary day at Edgbaston
Marcus Trescothick
Former England captain and now coach
England cricket team
Episode: Remarkable Razaullah raises Pakistan spirits on extraordinary day at Edgbaston
Jofra Archer
England fast bowler, line to play his fifth Test
England cricket team
Episode: KP’s back, Jofra Archer and more Pakistan chaos
Saj Sadiq
Cricket journalist
Five Live Cricket
Episode: KP’s back, Jofra Archer and more Pakistan chaos
Colson Smith
Actor and director of cricket at Castleford Cricket Club
Castleford Cricket Club (Director of Cricket)
Episode: View from the Boundary - Colson Smith
Jamie Routley
Portrait Artist commissioned for the MCC Lord's Portrait Program
Portrait of Broad & Anderson at Lord's
Episode: Broad & Anderson immortalised in the Long Room at Lord's
Babar Azam
Pakistan captain, international cricketer
Pakistan National Team
Episode: Clinical England power to series win over Pakistan

Hosts

Henry Moran
Host of the podcast
Henry Moeran
Host of Test Match Special podcast, panel discussions

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 3.6k ratings
  • Good, but

    Been listening to it for years. I did stop for a bit when Colin left but back listening to it again know.

    Rick seems very enthusiastic about the show.

    Not sure why loud, silly music has to be played above contestant’s answers.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Me0011
    United Kingdom3 days ago
  • Hundred no

    Listened to one of the 100 reviews mostly overblown praise for me it was awful just getting worse - prob quality was actually up but for some reason was mostly boring - no proper critique really needed someone on who didn’t like it - enjoyed someone like Tim David being found out though in English conditions

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    GrTG23
    United Kingdom25 days ago
  • Great just great

    This pod is insane I listen to this every night before bed and I love it! I play cricket myself and I was at the hundred!🙂 great pod but the only thing I would change is more interview’s with England players especially JOFRA ARCHER!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hampshire boy442
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Absolute rubbish

    The amount of garbage they come out with these days is a disgrace.

    Back in the day, decent chat and, would you believe, commentary on what’s actually going on.

    Now you get some nobody taking garbage about anything other than actually commenting on the match.

    Even Tuffers just goes on and on about rubbish!

    Bring back Blowers…...

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Russboyo
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Grandad

    Ball by ball is great - ODI & T20 reviews etc., but do I really need a test match review of grandad Aggers whining and chuntering away? No. Time for a change.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Blackbirdash
    United Kingdom4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guest diversity is good, but some fans crave more on-field immediacy and fan-focused content.
Some listeners feel episodes can get heavy on administrative talk and long-form ruminations.
Overall high quality commentary with strong guest roster and insightful coaching/governance debates.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Summer of Acrimony England v Pakistan 1992
Q: What was the atmosphere like during the 1992 series in England?
The atmosphere was extremely hostile, with intense media scrutiny and strong on-field tensions that the guests describe as a defining feature of the tour.
KP’s back, Jofra Archer and more Pakistan chaos
Q: Would you consider changing the bowling attack for the upcoming Test, or stay with the same group?
Most speakers favored sticking with the same four to five bowlers given their current form, while acknowledging options to rotate if injuries or form dictate, with some talk of Sam Cooke or Olly Robinson as potential alternatives.
England in pole position for a series win
Q: Dan, well batted an on-off day with the lead you've got now though. You're in a strong position to win the match tomorrow. How did you manage your innings today?
Dan Lawrence describes aiming to be aggressive but also smart about which balls to attack, using footwork and shot selection to navigate a pitch that offered variable bounce, and acknowledging the importance of building a lead for England to capitalize on in the final day.
Pakistan crumble as England seamers assemble
Q: Azan, a difficult day for the team, but well batted, will it be challenging to even get a draw from here?
Azan acknowledged the challenging pitch and tight conditions, emphasized his focus and confidence, and suggested Pakistan would need to fight through a tough follow-on while hoping for better circumstances in the next day.
View from the Boundary: Jon Sopel
Q: How did you deal with the unpredictability and intensity of Donald Trump during press interactions?
Sopel describes staying respectful as a baseline while being clear and firm about truth and impartial reporting. He emphasizes the need to guard against being drawn into untruths, and to push back when the president or his team tries to redefine facts, aiming to maintain credibility and protect journalists' safety.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Test Match Special

What is Test Match Special about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This series offers sharp cricket reaction, in-depth analysis, and behind-the-scenes context from prominent voices within English cricket. Episodes frequently feature discussions on coaching changes, team strategy, franchise evolution, and the sport's shifting landscape, with guests spanning former players, administrators, and broadcasters. A recurring strength is blending on-field analysis with governance and long-term planning talk, making it useful for listeners who want both tactical insight and perspectives from within the game's ecosystem. The show often balances serious cricket discourse with light-hearted takes, entertainment, and cross-sport perspectives, making it engaging for a broad cricket audience while staying deeply informed ... more

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How many listeners does Test Match Special get?

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How many subscribers and views does Test Match Special have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Test Match Special has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Test Match Special?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Test Match Special:

1. Sky Sports Cricket Podcast
2. For The Love Of Cricket
3. Wisden Cricket Weekly
4. Stick to Cricket
5. The Analyst Inside Cricket

How many episodes of Test Match Special are there?

Test Match Special launched 20 years ago and published 693 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Test Match Special?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Test Match Special?

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What guests have appeared on Test Match Special?

Recent guests on Test Match Special include:

1. Tom Banton
2. Jon Harvey
3. Ramiz Raja
4. Marcus Trescothick
5. Jofra Archer
6. Saj Sadiq
7. Colson Smith
8. Jamie Routley

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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