Advertise on podcast: Test Match Special

Mark Chapman, Alex Hartley, Steven Finn and, Matt Prior discuss how England’s Test team is shaping up for the summer, the spots up for grabs and, who is best placed to take them. Less than two months to go until England begin their Test summer against New Zealand at Lord’s, by that time it will be nearly five months since Ben Stokes’ side trudged off the SCG having lost the 5th Ashes Test, losing the series 4-1. Who should remain in the side? What are the main positions up for grabs? And is there someone who has done enough to make the step up? They also discuss the new rules around replacing players in the County Championship which has proved controversial so far. TIME CODES 00:00 Intro 06:15 How does selection work? 12:38 Opening batting partnership 16:35 Time for a new opening partnership? 24:37 James Rew and a positional dilemma 27:08 The cricket structure in England 30:31 Jacob Bethell and the Indian Premier League 34:34 Scores in the league 36:17 Favourites in the IPL 36:42 England’s pace bowlers 43:09 Spin bowlers 47:30 County Championship substitutes rule

We’re bringing you something different today which we think you’ll like - an episode from the BBC’s Formula 1 podcast, F1: Chequered Flag. With the Formula 1 season on an enforced break, the Chequered Flag team pay a visit to the home of Haas F1 with the team currently sitting fourth in the F1 constructors’ standings. So how are F1’s smallest team performing so well? Izzy Hammond and Harry Benjamin investigate. They visit the team’s HQ to speak with Team Principal Ayao Komatsu about their success. Plus, just how did Ollie Bearman escape from that huge accident in Japan unharmed and what are the team’s ambitions for the future? Izzy and Harry also answer your F1 hot takes. Could Gianpiero Lambiase become McLaren’s Team Principal in the future, following the announcement of his switch from Red Bull in 2028? And which driver is the most likely to be a reality TV star? F1 returns next for the Miami Grand Prix at the start of May, with live commentary across the 5 Live network and BBC Sounds. If you enjoy this episode of F1: Chequered Flag, find more by searching ‘F1’ on BBC Sounds, and make sure to subscribe to get the latest episode every week.

10 years ago former England batter James Taylor's life changed forever. Reflecting on being taken ill 10 years ago, he speaks to Kevin Howells about what he remembers from the day his doctor told him to not "wait for an ambulance, you haven't got enough time". He had just cemented himself in England's Test side and was forced to retire at the age of 26.

Two Ashes winning England captains, Michael Vaughan and Sir Alastair Cook, join Steve Crossman to discuss the art of captaincy in cricket. Leading England makes you one of the most recognisable faces in sport, it brings with it all manner of responsibility, scrutiny, joy and despair. But how do you manage different personalities in the dressing room? What marks someone out as a future England captain? What’s it like to be in the spotlight and face scrutiny? How do you cope when it comes to an end? Plus, Ben Stokes leadership and the likely challenges the current England captain will face in his fifth summer as skipper.

Strategic Timeout is available to WATCH, in full, on the BBC Sport Youtube channel and on BBC iPlayer. Amber Sandhu, Faraaz Noor and former England international Dawid Malan break down the biggest IPL 2026 talking points. From captaincy debates and pressure moments to high-scoring games and standout performances, the panel explore what’s shaping the tournament so far. With insight from Malan’s IPL experience, the episode dives into the role of captains in T20 cricket, the value of all-rounders in the modern game and whether experience is becoming more important than ever. Plus, the team discuss the Impact Player rule and a wider ball tampering controversy.

Mark Chapman, Alex Hartley, Raf Nicholson and Kirstie Gordon are joined by England Head Coach Charlotte Edwards to preview a big year for England's women. Is the domestic game hampering the International team? How important could a home tournament be for the game? Have England's fitness issues been addressed? What's it like being part of The Hundred Auction?

Amber Samdhu looks ahead to the IPL 2026 with The Traitor's (and cricketer) Faraaz Noor and former IPL star Abhishek Jhunjhunwala.

Mark Chapman, Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook and cricket correspondent Stephan Shemilt are joined by Managing Director of England Men's Cricket Rob Key, who explains England's review into their 4-1 Ashes defeat. The panel talk through mistakes made in Australia, both in the planning and during the series, and why there won't be wholesale changes as a result. TIME CODES 00:00 Intro 00:30 The review into English Cricket 02:00 Key management stay 06:00 Managing director Rob Key 08:00 What changes? 13:40 Lessons learnt from the Ashes 16:40 Style of play 22:30 What will look different this summer? 25:52 The connection with County Cricket 30:08 Have management been swayed by the coach? 33:14 Is the setup a clique or cult? 38:40 Opinions on the review 44:27 Should have everyone kept their jobs? 48:23 County Cricket

We report on a historic two days with the first major sporting auction taking place in the UK as teams were selected for the women’s and men’s Hundred competition. We hear from former New Zealand spinner Daniel Vetorri who’s coaching the newly named Sunrisers Leeds, World Cup winning bowler Anya Shrubsole who is part of the Southern Brave coaching set-up and Australian legend Meg Lanning who is leading another rebranded team the Manchester Superchargers. And there’s analysis by Stephan Shemilt, Aatif Nawaz and two former Hundred players Steven Finn and Alex Hartley.

As the dust settles on India’s back-to-back T20 World Cup victories, Henry Moeran is alongside Matt Henry and Prakash Wakankar to discuss everything we can take away from the tournament. How did India triumph? How can we assess England’s performance? Plus, who dropped the worst catch of the tournament

Henry Moeran is alongside former Ashes winner Steven Finn, former IPL star Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, and commentator Prakash Wakankar for all the reaction from Ahmedabad as India win the Men's T20 World Cup. Hear from player of the match Jasprit Bumrah, as well as Varun Chakravarthy, Abhishek Sharma. Plus, both captains - Suryakumar Yadav and Mitch Santner.

India won an incredible match in Mumbai by 7 runs to knock England out of the T20 World Cup and set up a date with New Zealand in the final on Sunday. Jacob Bethell scored a brilliant hundred, but England narrowly failed in what would have been a record run chase. We hear from England captain Harry Brook, coach Brendon McCullum, India captain Suryakumar Yadav and player of the match Sanju Samson Plus, there’s analysis from Henry Moeran, former England bowler Steven Finn and former IPL player Abhishek Jhunjhunwala. And with the Women’s T20 World Cup now fewer than 100 days away we hear from England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Henry Moeran is alongside Michael Vaughan and Prakash Wakankar at a Holi celebration to look ahead to England’s T20 World Cup semi-final against India in Mumbai. Plus, Sam Curran gives his thoughts ahead of the match at the Wankhede Stadium.

Kate Cross and Alex Hartley discuss everything we can take away from the Men's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. We look at discuss England's ability to 'solve problems' in an untypically 'crickety' conversation. Plus, Crossy talks us through the winter training programme at Lancashire after she signed a new one-year deal.

With the 2026 T20 World Cup being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka we look back at the first ICC World T20 to be held in Asia 14 years ago. The 2012 tournament took place In Sri Lanka with their team defeated in a extraordinary final by the West Indies who claimed their first title which was celebrated in iconic style. We look back at the event with Steven Finn who was the leading wicket taker for an England side who went into the competition as defending champions and TMS commentators Henry Moeran and Prakash Wakankar.