Tailenders

BBC Radio 5 Live

4.9 (91)
CRICKET
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Greg James, Jimmy Anderson and Felix White take an alternative (and sometimes musical) look at cricket...

3D AGO

Review, Revelations and Relief

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?

1h 23m
12/29/2025

Everything is a bit too late

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?

48 min
12/22/2025

Things I never want to hear 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.

1h 6m
12/09/2025

Therapy

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?

55 min
12/03/2025

So you’re saying there’s a chance?

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.

34 min
11/26/2025

Doom and gloom / Hope and happiness

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?

1h 1m
11/15/2025

The Definitive Ashes Preview

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.

37 min
11/10/2025

We can’t do Technology

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.

42 min

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Greg James

Host
Felix White

Host
Jimmy Anderson

Host

4.9

out of 5

91 Ratings

Non-stop laughs

05/17/2023

ThatGuyMike1989

Loosely cricket-based, fully based on having a good time and laughter. What could be better you ask? Well, throw England’s greatest ever bowler, and my favorite cricketer, into the mix. Go well from Colorado-based American with an English father! If it weren’t for him, I would’ve never even heard about cricket.
You’ve gone soft!

07/07/2023

Positively Underwelmed

Well you sure threw Jimmy and the rest of the England team under the bus when interviewing Mel! You suggested that the Lords incident was to be discussed and as soon as Mel gave her opinion you agreed and moved on no discussion about how the Aussies will win at any cost! No push back at all! I have listened to this podcast from the beginning now I withdraw my support and will listen no more!
Exceptional Value

01/15/2022

Caspivs

One of the best cricket podcasts going, guaranteed to tickle your funny bone whilst touching on the pertinent (and impertinent) news in the world of Cricket. Keep 'em coming, lads!
Too mean-spirited at times

08/04/2022

therojay

I used to listen to this podcasts at times, but the podders - especially Greg James - sometimes allow the edgy banter to veer into mean-spiritedness. In one recent podcast, James read a touching email from a listener who is working two jobs after losing his main job during the pandemic, and how he impulsively decided to watch an amateur cricket match for 15 minutes to lift his spirits. Shortly after reading the email, however, James mocked the reader with a sarcastic and dismissive remark - it was so needlessly rude that even one of the other podders (I believe it was Jimmy) reacted with a shocked chuckle. That started to turn me off the podcast, and the extended discussion in the next podcast that glorified heavy booze drinking has put me off it for good. Go well, indeed.