The Ashes

Emilio Gay, England and Durham batter, is our very special guest this week. From meeting his cricketing hero Dwayne Bravo when he was just a kid to making his England test debut this summer, Emilio reflects on his cricketing journey so far. Plus, he takes us into the dressing room during THAT extraordinary test match at Trent Bridge versus New Zealand when Ben Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket, explains how he deals with nerves and reveals his favourite cricketers. Also Mattchin is on hand with a ‘brand new format’ that helps us get to know Emilio 'even better'- including what is his ’special, niche talent’?

‘You’re Mark Wood bowling from the top end……..’  A look back at the career of one of our very favourite cricketers - Mark Wood, who this week announced his retirement from International Cricket. His best wickets, matches, spells and, of course, how he became a legend of Tailenders via Mattchin’s' Instagram Lockdown Quiz’ that went very wrong! Plus as the County season comes to an end Felix headed to the The Oval for one final time this summer and Mattchin returns with one of his classic quizzes, ‘County House’.

This week we’re joined by one of our favourite cricketers Kate Cross, who announced her retirement from the game earlier in the summer. She looks back at her playing highlights, how she got into the game, how women's cricket has changed and what’s next for her. Plus can she survive Mattchin’s latest Quiz ‘ Cross Examination - 24 minutes in Police Custody’ which is based around some of the more ‘unusual’ parts of her career?

In Correspondence of Uncertainty this week… throwing the Babar out with the Bathwater, Mistaken Maccabees, and the big question of Joe Root’s possibly shaven right arm. Listen to the end to hear the England captain’s right of reply. Plus Issy Wong gets a fifer whilst keeping on top of her lawn, and Mattchin’s quiz results in upheaval for both England and Gloucestershire.

For once the emergency isn’t an English one… Aatif Nawaz joins us as Pakistan send home nine of their touring party before the third and final test at Edgbaston. Flights have been booked for seven players and two coaches, including their head coach. Aatif is here to ask the big questions… Where’s the accountability? Who sacks the sackers? What about dinner with the King? Will Ghazi Ghori, gatecrasher of last week’s episode, now be keeping wicket? Plus Richard Thompson, Roy Hodgson, Sir John Major and ITV top brass all have the honour of meeting Mattchin.

A bonus episode featuring the greatest bowling partnership of all time - Stuart Broad and Sir Jimmy Anderson. Ahead of the unveiling of a portrait of the bowling greats, the Tailenders assembled in the Pavilion at Lord's to discuss the art of bowling, life after test match cricket, what next for the current England team and why they worked so well as a bowling partnership. Plus we get the lowdown on what it was like to paint the portrait from artist Jamie Routley.

In 2025 over 400 nightclubs and late night venues in the UK closed down but help is at hand in the form of the England men's cricket team who appear to be on a mission to keep these establishments open. Plus England v Pakistan review/preview, no northern Ashes men's test matches, the Mystery Chord and joy and pain for Bangladesh.

Jimmy’s not impressed with the solar eclipse and Sharky’s stuck 15 billion miles from Earth so let’s move on to cricket - next up for England is unpredictable/mercurial/enigmatic Pakistan. Will Pope, Lawrence and Cox seize on their chance to impress?

It’s goodbye Bazball, hello Flemball - but what can we expect from the Stephen Fleming era? Plus the Tailenders find themselves in a social media pile on, Dinosaur cricketers (literally), more cricketing confessions need absolving, perhaps the best ‘Garden Furniture Shoutout’ ever and an open invitation for Jeetan Patel to come on the pod.

‘Clickgate’ rocks the world of Village Cricket,  Greg is in trouble with the law, Mattchin invokes the ‘Spirit of Cricket' for his latest quiz and the pros and cons of Cricketing Songs.

We follow Harry Brook and Liam Plunkett in an attempt to switch codes and do a bit of baseball. We do so with no Greg and Jimmy, so it’s left to Felix and Mattchin to initiate Melanie Newman and Xavier Scruggs into the world of cricket. Mel and X are usually found hosting MLB Bases Covered Live with Felix, but this week they’ve been at Lord's to soak in England's ODI victory over India. They explain why Ben Duckett’s scoop is nasty, how Chris Woakes is an icon, and why the Czech Republic are baseball's ones to watch. Plus a Mattchin quiz featuring baseball legends Randy Sam, Alexis "Sombrero" del Fuente, and Hot Steve.

Tailenders tech chaos this week as Greg sneaks off from holiday to present live from a southern French location whose WiFi only allows 5 minute cameos. When he does freeze, Felix steps in like Dan Burn to cover his teammate. Issy Wong runs us through an emotionally draining weekend at Lord’s, featuring retirements for Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont, Sophia Ecclestone’s name on the Honours Boards, and ultimately a convincing India victory… and some kerfuffle over a Rubik’s Cube. There was also a men’s team announcement in the midst of it; Sir Jimmy Anderson reflects on the cherished early years of the Brendon McCullum era and the impact of the unloved ‘Bazball’ moniker.

Aside from spending time in the Wimbledon Royal Box, Greg and Jimmy have had equally glamorous weeks - Greg at the wedding of the century in New York, and Jimmy tending to his tomato plants. Revealing insights are shared into both. We've all had time to digest the captaincy news, so attention now turns to who should be the lead in 'Ben Stokes: The Musical' - Damian Lewis or Max from EastEnders? Issy Wong chats to Felix about the England Women's T20 final, the first ever Women’s test match at Lords, and the latest on her sticker book; while Mattchin asks Jimmy to dissect some more unpopular cricket opinions.

Following the shock announcement of Ben Stokes’ retirement from International Cricket, Greg, Jimmy and Felix try to make sense of a dramatic week at Trent Bridge. So many questions…..Why now? Who will be the new Captain? What next for Baz? Will Ben change his mind? Why are talking about legendary photographer Martin Parr and Archduke Franz Ferdinand? Plus the joy of watching New Zealand play and history made for Ireland.

Despite it being 200 degrees and Sharky insisting all fans and air con are turned off (it’s too noisy) the Tailenders assemble to review the Mens 2nd Test between England and New Zealand, heap praise on Matt Henry, marvel at Joe Root’s 14,000 runs and ask is it ok for Rock Stars to wear shorts? Plus some Stat Bombs from Andy Zaltzman, Mattchin’s mystery holiday meeting, and can the Tailenders community help Issy Wong finish her World Cup Sticker album?

The Tailenders assemble to discuss events on the pitch, off the pitch and the pitch itself following a dramatic 1st men’s Test between England and New Zealand at Lord’s. Plus who will get the nod for the 2nd Test at The Oval,  Mattchin and Issy preview the Women’s T20 World Cup that starts today and the joy of rain breaks.

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?