

Tailenders
BBC Radio 5 Live
Greg James, Jimmy Anderson and Felix White take an alternative (and sometimes musical) look at cricket...
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 26, 2026 • 1h 9min
Findings and Learnings
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 Greg on his epic Comic Relief Cycling Challenge, what’s the minimum number of slides needed for a Powerpoint presentation and Mattchin most definitely does not rip off ‘Would I Lie To You?’.

Mar 20, 2026 • 44min
Mystery Guest Match Special
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 his epic Comic Relief Bike Ride, details of ‘County Day 2026’, faith healers and I’ve got 99 problems but Liam Livingstone ain’t one.

Mar 12, 2026 • 46min
Mark Wood, Issy Wong and Chas Fireball
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 during THAT Travis Head Innings.Plus Issy Wong joins us with the latest from the Hundred Auction and Mattchin introduces a new force in Cricket...Chas Fireball!

Mar 6, 2026 • 44min
Emergency Podcast: Semi-final thriller
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 extraordinary semi final that resulted in India making it to the Mens T20 World Cup Final where they will face New Zealand.Plus Mattchin goes deep into the data (sort of) to find out what makes New Zealand such a cricketing force.AND find out why Fe won’t listen to Jimi Hendrix...

Feb 28, 2026 • 49min
Team of the 21st Century
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 T20 World Cup without impressing - can they go all the way? Mattchin has a new ’stats based quiz’ and the art of the sports reporter.

Feb 20, 2026 • 52min
The Associates
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 Tailenders WhatsApp Group to explode on Wednesday night, ‘Correspondence of Uncertainty’ and who has Mattchin stolen his latest quiz format from?

Feb 13, 2026 • 38min
Rage to Riches
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 launched;
2002: CBBC starts broadcasting;
2018: BBC Sounds is unveiled….....and now, in 2026 - following on from this prestigious history of public service broadcasting - Mattchin introduces a Brand New Format which has ’never been tried before’ - his words! Plus why we’re loving the Mens T20 World Cup and your reviews.

Feb 9, 2026 • 50min
International Relations: Nepal and The Netherlands
After Nepal nearly cause one of the biggest shocks ever against England, The Tailenders assemble to review the start of the T20 World Cup, where the ‘minnows’ are causing a few problems for the more established teams.Plus Mattchin is back with an' International Relations Based Quiz’, Felix is on his travels, pronunciations and the hunt for Phon Buntheon continues.

Feb 2, 2026 • 57min
World Cup Dreams
Scotland and Lancashire’s Michael Jones joins us to tell us about how one minute he was doing pre-season training with Jimmy at Lancs, the next he’s in India for the World Cup.Plus Issy Wong is back with all the news from the WBBL and more Italian Cricket History.

Jan 23, 2026 • 37min
Little Yearns - The Second Innings
It’s time to open the phones lines again for our second innings of ‘Little Yearns’. We cover broken bats, linseed oil, farts, Covid caps, helmet hair, Win Viz, TV graphics, and why did Chris Woakes put Jimmy’s cap down his trousers?


