Review, Revelations and Relief

Review, Revelations and Relief

Author: BBC Radio 5 Live January 9, 2026 Duration: 1:22:43

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?


There's a certain rhythm to cricket, a mix of long, patient spells and sudden, explosive moments. Tailenders from BBC Radio 5 Live captures that same unpredictable energy, but from a gloriously sideways angle. Hosted by radio presenter Greg James alongside England's record-breaking cricketer Jimmy Anderson and musician Felix White, this is a show that loves the game but isn't afraid to laugh with it. The conversation meanders like a good innings, covering everything from the nuances of swing bowling to the absurdities of life on tour, often punctuated by Felix's musical interludes. It feels less like a formal analysis program and more like eavesdropping on a conversation between three friends who happen to be obsessed with cricket, each bringing a wildly different perspective. You'll hear genuine insight from one of the sport's all-time greats, filtered through the enthusiastic curiosity of a fan and the creative chaos of an artist. This podcast celebrates the characters, the camaraderie, and the occasional sheer silliness that makes cricket so compelling, offering a refreshingly human and frequently hilarious take on the sport. It’s for anyone who appreciates the game, whether you understand the finer points of a googly or you just enjoy the sound of people having a genuinely good time talking about something they love.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Tailenders
Podcast Episodes
Subs, Sausage Rolls and Silly Mid Off [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:23
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, Liste…
1066 and All Out [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:40
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 Gloucestersh…
A Live Crisis (aka Good Headaches) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:53
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…
Findings and Learnings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:20
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 Gr…
Mystery Guest Match Special [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:36
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 h…
Mark Wood, Issy Wong and Chas Fireball [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:58
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 du…
Emergency Podcast: Semi-final thriller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:02
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 extraordi…
Team of the 21st Century [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:53
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…
The Associates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:19
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 Tailender…
Rage to Riches [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:59
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…