The Rob Key Special

Jimmy assembled the team as he’s got something to tell the Tailenders listeners...

Issy Wong is back on the pod with news of her England team bonding weekend in the the lakes, the WIPL and a preview of the up coming white ball series with Pakistan which starts at Edgbaston on Saturday. Plus is there too much men's cricket in the summer? Can VAR learn from DRS? Also Mattchin has yet another new quiz - ‘Rear Review Mirror’ - and plans are afoot to ’supersize’ a village match.

While in India Jimmy turned down the chance to meet the Dalai Lama, but who would he get out of bed for? Find out in Mattchin’s new, listener generated quiz ‘Meet or No Meet’. Plus we discover another side to Felix, big hitting in the IPL, Jofra’s back for England and the joys of a day watching country cricket.

Writer, comedian, broadcaster, documentary maker, presenter and all round genius Sir Michael Palin joins Greg, Jimmy and Felix for a very special episode of Tailenders. In a wide-ranging interview he discussed his career with Monty Python, his legendary travelogues including his new series on Nigeria, his films and his love of cricket. Included are tales about George Harrison, Keith Miller, watching cricket around the world, his first job at the BBC and the perils of eating rotten camel meat. Plus, what happened when Jimmy was invited to meet the Dalai Lama.

On day one of the County Championship we were invited into the boardroom at Lord's to sit down with ECB Chair, Richard Thompson, the boss of English Cricket. Topics included cricket in state schools, TV deals, The Hundred, racism and cricket, the development of the women's wame and THAT presentation to Jimmy in India.

The County Championship is back so we headed to Lord's to celebrate everything that’s great about county cricket. This episode includes an explanation of how the competition works, the difference between Kookaburra and Dukes balls, hybrid pitches, the standard within the game and whether day one of the County Championship is like Xmas Eve, Xmas Day or New Year's Eve. Plus we’re joined by TMS Producer Adam Mountford.

Following in the footsteps of the likes of Brian Lara, Richie Benaud, Stephen Fry and Andrew Strauss, The Tailenders assembled at Lord's to deliver the 2024 Cowdrey Lecture. Greg, Jimmy and Felix were joined on stage by guests Stuart Broad, Isa Guha and Mark Nicholas.

We’re live(ish) from The Shardnado for The Hundred Draft with special guests Nasser Hussain, Charlotte Edwards, Grace Ballinger and Sam Billings. Plus Mattchin has created an easy to understand ’supermarket based’ guide to the draft and it’s inner workings.

Our Jimmy gets his 700th Test wicket - not that you’d know it from his typical, understated reaction -  but despite this we’re determined to celebrate this never to be repeated cricketing milestone, even if he’s not! He tells the story behind number 700 -  the wicket of Kuldeep Yadav, his on field ‘chat’ with Shubman Gill and how this England team can develop in the future.  Plus comedian, poet and writer Tim Key joins us from Dharamsala for a fans perspective of watching cricket in one of the most beautiful grounds in the world, Mattchin updates us on his new cricketing career and lots of random facts about 2003.

A full review of the Men's 4th Test between India and England and a look ahead to the final match in the series. Plus Mattchin revives one of his classic quizzes so we can ‘get to know’ some of the new faces in the England team and discover who is the biggest prankster, who has good fashion sense and who likes country and western music. Also tattoos, trilateral listening and tour stories from Felix.