Tailenders

Find out what happened on arguably the most surreal day in the history of Tailenders.  A game of Cricket on the Mall with Prince William, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Brian Lara, Sourav Ganguly, Ajinkya Rahane and a full compliment of Tailenders. Who was bowled first ball, who was smashing it everywhere, what was Fe chatting to Prince William about when they were stood in the slips together and is the heir to the throne any good at cricket? Also Harry Brook and Joe Root discuss the busy winter schedule coming up and working with new coach Stephen Fleming, plus Prince William has a very important message concerning Sir Jimmy!

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?

At time of recording Bangladesh are giving Australia a tough time in Darwin. Roushan Alam explains why the country’s test team is on the up, but its fans will continue to prepare for the worst.

And Mattchin’s been exploring the Tailenders vaults for a new words-based quiz.

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.