Tailenders

Is the IPL, the biggest franchise tournament in World Cricket, becoming boring, predictable, too batter friendly and in need of a shakeup?Plus a lookahead to the 1st Mens Test between England and New Zealand at Lord’s - can England bounce back from their Ashes defeat?The return of ‘General Cricketing Sadness’, A.I. Slop, a very ‘high concept’ quiz from Mattchin and why ‘Untenable’ might be word of the summer.

Jonty Rhodes, one of our favourite cricketers ever and arguably the best fielder the game has ever seen, is our very special guest this week. A whole generation of cricket fans, including us, grew up watching Jonty do things on a cricket field that had never been seen before - extraordinary catches, diving stops and ridiculous run outs - a proper pioneer. In a wide ranging interview we cover his career highlights, the players he now admires, the art of fielding, THAT 1999 World Cup Semi Final, investing in franchise cricket, coaching in the IPL and crucially which character in ’The Lion King’ does he most resemble? Plus Mattchin is back with a ‘Jonty Rhodes’ inspired quiz.

The King of Spain, Ashley Giles, is our special guest on this week’s Tailenders. Inevitably we travel back to the 2005 Ashes series - the greatest series of all time -  but also reflections on the highs and lows of professional sport, the genius of Richie Benaud, bowling to Brian Lara, the Art of Spin and the challenges of running Worcs CCC.  Plus Mattchin has a new feature ‘Village People’ as he seeks to discover the underbelly of Village Cricket.

We get Jimmy’s ‘hot take’ on the Men’s Test Squad Announcement and the appointment of Marcus North as National Selector. Plus more Charisma Substitutes, Mattchin has a new challenge and has Tailenders' first Sponsorship deal collapsed in controversy before it even got going?

Our very own Issy Wong has been selected for the England T20 World Cup Squad - but what was it like waiting for THAT call? Plus what happened when the T20 Squad went on an Army Bootcamp, Jimmy kicks off about the Substitute rule in County Cricket, tech issues (has Jimmy been hacked by The Russians?), billage cricket sponsorship, Felix has a radical idea to improve post match interviews, and we have LOTS of homework for the Tailenders listeners.,

Fast bowler Tymal Mills is our special guest on this week’s show and is the subject of one of Mattchin’s most bizarre quizzical concepts in the history of Tailenders - and that’s saying something. Plus who should get the nod for England, playing with legends, the ups and downs of franchise cricket and what’s it like to get 6 wickets in 6 balls….we chat to the bowler who did just that and broke the ‘cricketing internet’.

Jimmy can’t stop taking wickets, Fe and Mattchin have had an ‘Indie Cricket Day Out' at Bristol and Greg bumped into a cricketing legend at Lord’s - but who was it? Plus ‘Mattchin Time’, Restaurant recommendations, Listener ‘Alternative XIs’, Health tips from Justin Rose, Correspondence of Uncertainty and what has driven a wedge in Greg and Felix’s friendship?

The County Championship is back and we’re loving it! Jimmy’s in the wickets and, despite it being absolutely freezing, there was a full #tailendersoftheworlduniteandtakeover at Lords for Day 1 of Middlesex v Gloucestershire. Plus random Chocolate Bars, Playfair annuals, Scoring etiquette, GCSE results and a History Lesson from Mattchin.

So due to a scheduling clash things went a bit awry on this week’s recording - but then Greg had a ‘stupid idea’.Cue: #Tailendersoftheworlduniteandtakeover in ‘live’ action. Plus: Happy A-IPL Fools Day; which cricketers are cats and which are dogs?; a sort of County Cricket preview; and why might Daniel Radcliffe open the batting for Lancs?

A review of a review. This week we’re joined by Vithushan Ehantharajah, associate editor at ESPNcricinfo to try and make sense of the Review into the Mens Ashes Series - which England lost 4-1. Plus how cricket helped Greg on his epic Comic Relief Cycling Challenge, what’s the minimum number of slides needed for a Powerpoint presentation and Mattchin most definitely does not rip off ‘Would I Lie To You?’.

Who are you talking to in the Mystery Guest Match Special? Could it be Virat Kohli or could it be Daryl Mitchell? Please play along at home with Mattchin’s new and original (sort of) quiz.Plus Fe joins Greg for part of his epic Comic Relief Bike Ride, details of ‘County Day 2026’, faith healers and I’ve got 99 problems but Liam Livingstone ain’t one.

Mark Wood, one of our favourite cricketers in the world, is back on Tailenders with an update on his injury and what he’s been up to while recuperating, his plans for the future and what it was like to be on the pitch during THAT Travis Head Innings.Plus Issy Wong joins us with the latest from the Hundred Auction and Mattchin introduces a new force in Cricket...Chas Fireball!

What a match in Mumbai! England nearly pulled off a 'cricketing miracle' in a game that saw almost 500 runs scored.The Tailenders assemble - complete with Issy Wong and her Network Of Spies - to look back at an extraordinary semi final that resulted in India making it to the Mens T20 World Cup Final where they will face New Zealand.Plus Mattchin goes deep into the data (sort of) to find out what makes New Zealand such a cricketing force.AND find out why Fe won’t listen to Jimi Hendrix...

So who makes our England Mens Team of the 21st Century? Is it Stokes or Flintoff as the all-rounder? Who gets the nod as ‘keeper? What about openers? Is there room for Stuart Broad? Plus England keep winning at the Men's T20 World Cup without impressing - can they go all the way? Mattchin has a new ’stats based quiz’ and the art of the sports reporter.

We’ve been loving the performances of the so called ‘Associates’ at the Men’s T20 World Cup, so this week we’re joined by ICC commentator Andrew Leonard to chat all things Associate Cricket.Plus what caused the Tailenders WhatsApp Group to explode on Wednesday night, ‘Correspondence of Uncertainty’ and who has Mattchin stolen his latest quiz format from?

1922: The BBC was formed; 1936: The BBC launches TV service from Alexandra Palace; 1967: Radio 1 hits the airwaves; 1979: The BBC starts 24 hour Radio broadcasts; 1983: BBC Breakfast TV begins; 1994: BBC Radio 5 Live is launched; 2002: CBBC starts broadcasting; 2018: BBC Sounds is unveiled….....and now, in 2026 - following on from this prestigious history of public service broadcasting - Mattchin introduces a Brand New Format which has ’never been tried before’ - his words! Plus why we’re loving the Mens T20 World Cup and your reviews.

After Nepal nearly cause one of the biggest shocks ever against England, The Tailenders assemble to review the start of the T20 World Cup, where the ‘minnows’ are causing a few problems for the more established teams.Plus Mattchin is back with an' International Relations Based Quiz’, Felix is on his travels, pronunciations and the hunt for Phon Buntheon continues.

Scotland and Lancashire’s Michael Jones joins us to tell us about how one minute he was doing pre-season training with Jimmy at Lancs, the next he’s in India for the World Cup.Plus Issy Wong is back with all the news from the WBBL and more Italian Cricket History.

It’s time to open the phones lines again for our second innings of ‘Little Yearns’. We cover broken bats, linseed oil, farts, Covid caps, helmet hair, Win Viz, TV graphics, and why did Chris Woakes put Jimmy’s cap down his trousers?

So after the doom and gloom of The Ashes it’s time to banish the January Blues and look to the future. And to help us forget about what happened in Australia we’re joined by one of our favourite players on the planet - Wayne Madsen.Mattchin has a brand new original quiz which is so good it could go on BBC TV at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, plus names for Jimmy’s bar, and a bit more guitar.

No more sleepless nights, no more doom scrolling and no more ‘it’s the hope that kills you’, The Ashes are over and like the England team The Tailenders are limping to the end of the series.Felix is ill and can only join us ‘down the line’ from his Doctors, so the ex England wicketkeeper Matt Prior is our 12th Man. While Mattchin, to the dismay of the footballing world, has done his hamstring and is on crutches, yet despite this he manages one more round of his classic ‘Am I lying or am I Nathan Lyon?’.We review the series, look to the future of English cricket and try to work out what the hell happened in Australia over the winter. Plus we have an 'exclusive'…albeit from 2007 and would Jimmy fancy being the England coach?

After 5468 days England’s men have won a Test Match in Australia!Felix jumps into the hot seat and England and Lancs bowler Kate Cross is our special guest as we try and work out what the hell happened at the MCG over two ridiculous days of Test Cricket. Plus Wicketkeepers as drummers,Mattchin predicts the future of Test cricket, names for Jimmy’s bar, why 2026 will be ’The Year of the Big Nose’ and will Felix never watch cricket ever again?

The good news is that England battled hard and took the 3rd Ashes Test into a fifth and final day in Adelaide. The bad news is they lost and Australia have retained The Ashes. The Tailenders assemble to try and work out what’s gone wrong Down Under.Plus a brand new Xmas Quiz from Mattchin, cooking tips from Jimmy and find out why Felix might never watch cricket ever again.

Come in, sit down, let’s talk about it together.We know it’s bad, we know England need a ‘cricketing miracle’, we know we’re all tired after staying up all night. We’re angry, frustrated and disappointed - but the Tailenders are here for you.Plus Mattchin has had three weeks to overprepare for a quiz which features a very special guest - Nathan Lyon (sort of) and we preview the 3rd Test in Adelaide... or is it Melbourne?

On the eve of the second men's Ashes Test at The Gabba - a venue England have not win at since 1986 - we assess the tourists' chances, the potential impact of Will Jacks of all trades and why Mitchell Starc is so potent with the pink ball.Plus remembering the great Robin Smith.

OK, so the 1st Mens Ashes Test did not go well. However it’s not over, there are still four Test matches to go, so time for some optimism.The Tailenders assemble to review the events in Perth and look ahead to the 2nd Test in Brisbane.Plus we meet Alex, an Aussie who flew from Germany to Perth to watch Day 3 of The Test, what is an ‘acceptable’ way to get out, Mattchin has some facts about The Gabba, and who are Jimmy’s favourite Aussies?

Tailenders News Alert: This podcast is available in audio AND vision - head to the BBC iPlayer to watch.The Ashes are nearly here and it’s time to officially get excited. Jimmy gives us the lowdown on the challenge England’s men will face in Australia and looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the Aussies.Plus need some ‘Ashes conversation starters’? Don’t panic, Mattchin is here with some Perth related facts - some of which might actually be true- to make sure all Tailenders are fully prepped for the biggest show in cricket.

After several weeks of delay Mattchin at last gets to debut his much hyped new quiz ’Send it up for Review’, complete with original music.Plus G Force gets to experience G Force, more Underrated Ashes Players and can someone call the I.T department please. From emails to Printers the Tailenders are having tech troubles.

Former England fast bowler Steve Finn is our special guest as he shares the high and lows of his Ashes career, including being part of the last England team to win in Australia and why his best spell was overlooked due to Stuart Broad. Plus Arise Sir Jimmy! It’s the first episode of Tailenders presented by a knight of the realm and we get the inside story of Jimmy’s trip to Windsor Castle - including which random footballer was at the afterparty?

Ashes fever is gripping the Nation (sort of) and everyone is doing their Ashes XIs, so we thought we’d jump on that bandwagon with our own.Plus Jimmy is getting ready to get knighted - but is King Charles a leg spinner or a seamer?Mattchin has another history lesson, more on the mysterious Phon Buntheon and can anyone stop Australia winning the Women’s World Cup?

Mattchin organises a surprise delivery that causes chaos - and injury - amongst the Tailenders.Plus 1990s adverts, more on Phon Buntheon, The Women’s World Cup, Contracts, Listener Feedback, ‘Little Yearns’ and what links Bob Dylan to scoring?

Our very special guest this week is Saracens, England and Lions legend Jamie George who talks about sharing a room at school with Sam Billings, how Cricket helps his line out throws, watching Kent and Essex, Rugby ‘Little Yearns’ and The Ashes.Plus Jimmy looks back at the International career of Chris Woakes and the mystery of Phon Bunthean.

The squad for the men’s Ashes has been announced and we’re getting very excited as Jimmy gives his reaction to the players who will head to Australia in November and battle for the urn. Plus memories of Dickie Bird, and Mattchin invites everyone ‘listening at home’ to come and network at his ‘Connection Convention’.

Mattchin has a new history-based feature that is most definitely not ‘something he just Googled and told us’.Plus another innings of ’The Anderson/Tendulkar Interview’, what’s better ’The Blast’ or ’The Hundred’ and did you witness a unique piece of cricketing history?

Our very special guest is a World Cup and Ashes winner, former England captain and a legend of the game: Heather Knight (plus her alter ego Shelley).We discuss the upcoming World Cup, injuries, learning to play the guitar, Padel with Mattchin and what happened when Felix met her at a recent Oasis concert.Plus a ’new’ quiz from Mattchin, who bizarrely is in Norway. And find out what Heather related story has Issy Wong in stitches.Go Well.

The phone lines are open for our first ‘Little Yearns Special’ - those small, inconsequential things we’d love to do if we were International Cricketers. Topics covered include Ceefax, media duties, fines, sweaty kit, small waves and warm up routines. Plus Mattchin makes an unexpected and unmissable appearance on National Radio.

World Cup and IPL Winner Liam Livingstone, someone Greg has rated for many years, is our special guest. Some amazing insights about playing with Virat Kohli, England, The Hundred, winning The IPL, captaincy and ‘alignment sticks’. Plus a brand new quiz ’Set in Stone. Livingstone’.

Jimmy’s back with more rounds of ‘Mark Wood I Lie to You?’, Mattchin’s beach cricket match, turning it up to a Hundred, loads of listeners ‘Little Yearns’, a cricket history lesson and your ‘Correspondence of Uncertainty’. Go Well.

Former England and Surrey batter Mark Butcher joins us to talk about the extraordinary story he has been investigating in his new BBC Sounds series ‘Hansie Cronje:Fall from Grace’. Plus, what’s it like to face Allan Donald and Courtney Walsh, Oasis, Falling Over and we have a name for our new (ish) feature.

Tailenders 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.

Live(ish) from The Richie Benaud commentary box at The Foster's Oval, an emergency podcast after one of the greatest Test matches ever which nearly cost Greg his marriage, left Felix explaining cricket to Baseball players and ruined a game of ‘Call of Duty’ for Jimmy.

Breaking News: The tables have been turned as Jimmy has a quiz for Mattchin and the rest of the Tailenders featuring England fast bowler Mark Wood. Plus a full review of the Men's 4th Test between England and India, Issy has been having a Blast in The Blast, what makes Ben Stokes so good, Joe Root and whale music and more listener suggestions for the ‘Professional Cricketing Bucket List’.

Welcome to a brand new Cricket Podcast ’The Anderson Tendulkar Trophy Podcast presented by Jimmy Anderson and Mattchin Tendulkar’ (Thank you for having me on the… etc etc), where Mattchin takes a deep dive into the psyche of Jimmy Anderson. Plus, Issy Wong is back with all the news from the England Women’s camp, 'Mundane things we’d like to do if we were Professional Cricketers' (working title), Felix tries to explain cricket nuances to Americans, a scorebook update and your ‘Go Wells’.

The Tailenders assemble to review an amazing 3rd Men's Test at Lord's between England and India. Plus, how Jimmy inspired Joe Root’s century, Roger Federer, lots of homework for the Tailenders listeners, an unusual question from Mattchin, moving day, slow over rates, dining with Allan Lamb and what should Jimmy do with the bat he scored his highest ever Test score with?

A full review of the 2nd Men's Test between England and India as the visitors square the series 1-1. Plus, should England play Jofra Archer in the 3rd Test? Jimmy's travel woes, The County Grind and having a blast in the Blast. Plus we’re live (ish) from The Crucible Theatre with snooker, GCS and a special Yorkshire edition of ‘Meet or No Meet'.

1981, 2019 and now 2025 - Headingley delivers another classic Test Match. Plus, ‘How do you bowl at Rishabh Pant?’, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Felix takes a ‘temperature check’ on Test Cricket in Europe, Jimmy the Captain, Kookaburra balls and Jofra is back! We’re also joined by journalist and author Dean Wilson to look back on the life of the late, great David ’Syd’ Lawrence.

The Tailenders are back and we’re joined by the one and only Kagiso Rabada. The legendary bowler, who helped South Africa claim the World Test Championship at Lord's at the weekend, gives us the inside story as to how they beat the Aussies, what the celebrations were iike, how he sat in ‘Jimmy’s place’ and what inspired him to get into cricket, plus he makes Jimmy feel 'a hundred years old’.Also Mattchin returns with a brand new quiz format ’The Wheel of Catch-Up’, Jimmy talks Knighthoods and Wickets and there’s the small matter of the Mens Test series between England and India.

An update from G-Force on a lovely day at Lord’s and some exclusive BBC Sounds content.

The Hundred Draft, breaking news from Greg and Fe, some homework for Jimmy and Mark Wood news. Plus new laws, another trip to The Tat Modern, Jack Russell Stories, Thunderbirds and a surprise appearance from a former England captain.

A preview of the most pointless thing we’ve ever ignored, Mattchin’s Greatest Ever Quiz, Jimmy has a special present for Greg and we don our monocles and top hats as we head once again to ’The Tat Modern’. Plus what next for England’s ODI side, The Hundred draft and Indie News.