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
Mark Wood, Mattchin’s Match and More than 10 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:52
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…
On Annual Leave with Mark Butcher [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:56
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 Dona…
Emergency Podcast: WE DIDN’T THINK WE COULD LOVE CRICKET ANY MORE! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:30
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 player…
Mark Wood I Lie To You? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:21
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…
Ashes (The other ones) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:49
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 psych…
Emergency Podcast: Theatre and Needle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:03
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 quest…
Edgbaston and The Crucible [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:16
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…
Headingley delivers again [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:18
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 Cap…
We’re back with a VERY special guest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:23
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 th…
An update from G-Force [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23
An update from G-Force on a lovely day at Lord’s and some exclusive BBC Sounds content.