Shows / Close of Play
Close of Play
Close of Play is the cricket show that treats the game seriously, but never itself. Hosted by broadcaster Sanjay Murthy and former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, each episode mixes dodgy analysis, strong opinions, behind-the-scenes stories and the sort of cricket chat you'd hear after a long day at the ground. From England's latest selection headaches and Ashes talking points to county cricket, world cricket and the characters who make the game unforgettable, nothing is off limits. Expect…
Episodes
Close of PlayBroad & Jones Say Jimmy Deserved Better. Are They Right?
Does cricket owe its greats a better goodbye? Lancashire’s decision not to renew Jimmy Anderson’s contract divides Sanjay Murthy and Ashes winner Geraint…
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Who’s In Your Dream Beach Cricket Team?
Who makes your perfect beach cricket team? Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones plan their dream day, featuring Shane Warne, Freddie Flintoff, Tiger Woods and…
Close of PlayEngland Central Contracts: The Snubs & Surprises.
No room for Rew — but which brother? Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones debate England’s central contracts, from James Rew and Craig Overton missing out to Henry…
Close of PlayGeraint. Jones Loves Canterbury. But Does Canterbury Love Him?
Geraint Jones loves Canterbury. But they’ve taken his photo down. Not that he’s bitter… Jonesy picks his five favourite cricket grounds, sharing stories of…
Close of PlayEngland Take Big Step Towards Ashes Redemption
England completed a 3–0 whitewash over Pakistan—but the series created some new selection questions. Sanjay and Geraint name their winners and losers. Has…
Close of PlayFrom Barbados to England: The Roland Butcher Story
Roland Butcher did not want to leave Barbados for England. A chance encounter in a Stevenage park eventually put him on the path to Middlesex and history as…
Close of PlayJonty Rhodes: Cricket Can Change Lives
Jonty Rhodes believes Europe is cricket’s “last frontier” – but his new mission goes far beyond winning matches. The South Africa legend talks to Sanjay Murthy…
Close of PlayHave Australia Left Their Rebuild Too Late?
Have Australia left their rebuild too late? Australia’s Test side has an average age of 33, with several senior players approaching what could be their final…
Close of PlayENGLAND V PAKISTAN: IS THIS PAKISTAN'S BEST CHANCE SINCE 1996?
Pakistan are unpredictable. England are vulnerable. Who should be more worried? Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones preview the three-Test series, including: • Joe…
Close of PlayDO ENGLAND HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT TO DO WITH OLLIE POPE?
DESCRIPTION Do England have any idea what to do with Ollie Pope? He is back in the Test squad, but with Jordan Cox selected at No. 3 and Dan Lawrence at No. 6…
Close of PlayCAN FLEMING SAVE ENGLAND?
Stephen Fleming is England’s new Test coach and Joe Root is back as captain — but is this a masterstroke or a safe step backwards? We discuss whether Fleming…
Close of PlayCricket's Greatest Legacy? | England Beat India | Blast Finals Day | ICC Shake-Up
Can cricket change lives away from the field? This week on Close of Play, Sanjay Murthy sits down with Sir Clive Lloyd, Sir Viv Richards and Brian Lara to…
Close of PlayAnother England Reset? Australia Win Again, Listener Questions & Vitality Blast Finals Race
Australia are Women's T20 World Cup champions once again, but what does defeat mean for England? Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones debate whether England should…
Close of PlayEngland In Chaos: Stokes Quits, Bazball Breaks & Who Captains Next?
Ben Stokes has quit England cricket, and Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones pick through the fallout. They discuss the timing of Stokes’ decision, whether the…
Close of PlayBig Bash Privatisation, England's Defeat & The Future Of County Cricket | Close of Play
Cricket is changing fast. This week on Close of Play, Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones discuss the proposed privatisation of the Big Bash, the growing influence…
Close of PlayStokes, Leadership & England's Selection Gamble
Ben Stokes' nightclub incident has dominated the headlines, but what are the real consequences for England and their captain? Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones…
Close of PlayLord's Pitch Controversy, Cricket Testimonials & Women's T20 World Cup Predictions | Close of Play
In this edition of Close of Play, Sanjay Murthy and 2005 Ashes winner Geraint Jones tackle some of cricket's biggest talking points. The pair debate the…
Close of PlayDo Results Matter | Sooryavanshi - Best Ever?
YouTube description: This week on Close of Play, Sanjay Murthy and 2005 Ashes winner Geraint Jones bring together four cricket conversations in one full…
Close of PlayLife of a Cricket Coach | Inside the England Lions Setup
Spotify Title Life of a Cricket Coach | Inside the England Lions Setup What does a cricket coach actually do all day? This week on Close of Play, Geraint Jones…
Close of PlayEngland Squad Announced: Did They Really Listen To The Fans?
England have named their squad — but did they really listen to the fans after the Ashes? This week on Close of Play, Sanjay Murthy and 2005 Ashes winner…
Close of PlayThe Cricket Regret Of A Love Island Winner | Max Morley
What happens when the cricket dream suddenly changes direction? This week on Close of Play, Sanjay Murthy and Ashes winner Geraint Jones are joined by Max…
Close of PlayEngland Are Resting Gus Atkinson — Why?
Why are England resting Gus Atkinson after just one game? Sanjay and Ashes winner Geraint Jones debate the growing tension between rest and performance in the…
Close of PlayCook vs KP: Who’s Right About Bethell?
Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen disagree on Jacob Bethell — and it raises a bigger question for England: Should Bethell stay in the IPL or return to county…
Close of PlayWhat’s It Like To Run England Cricket? | Ashley Giles
What’s it really like to run England cricket? This week on Close of Play, Ashley Giles joins Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones for a rare inside look at one of…
Close of PlayIf Crawley Goes, Who’s Next for England?
England’s watchlist is under pressure. After another round of county cricket, we go back to the names we picked and ask: who has actually delivered? With…
Close of PlayJamie Smith: In or Out? | Our England XIs Revealed
We’ve picked our England XIs for the first Test — and after the opening round of the County Championship, the selection conversation is already shifting. In…
Close of PlayDoes County Cricket Still Matter for England?
Does county cricket still matter for England selection? We discuss whether England now pick on talent over performance, the role of county cricket in…
Close of PlayThe Summer That Brought Us Together
What was it really like inside the 2005 Ashes? In this episode, Geraint Jones takes us inside one of the greatest series in cricket history — from the Lord’s…
Close of PlayFrom Comedy to Commentary | Aatif Nawaz
BBC cricket commentator, Aatif Nawaz, tells us his story of growing up, how he started in comedy and how that led to his work on Test Match Special. Isa Guha…
Close of PlayCricket Equipment Is Still Too Expensive. No Wonder It Is Elitist!
Can parents afford for their children to play cricket?In this episode of Close of Play, we’re joined by former England cricketer Sajid Mahmood to unpack the…
Close of PlayWorst Final Ever? India's T20 World Cup Win & The Jay Shah Debate
India are T20 World Cup champions again — but did the final live up to the occasion? After a tournament packed with drama, the final ended in a dominant…
Close of PlayCan Harry Brook Guide England To The Final?
Harry Brook was under pressure after a turbulent Ashes and off-field noise — but now he’s led England into the T20 World Cup semi-finals with a match-defining…
Close of PlayIs Buttler's England Career Oveer?
Is Jos Buttler's batting form enough to keep his place, or are the gloves the only thing saving him? Former England keeper Geraint Jones argues that without…
Close of PlayWoeful Australia on Brink of World Cup Exit
Australia are on the brink of elimination at the T20 World Cup.In this episode of Close of Play, Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones break down:• Australia’s…
Close of PlayIs The T20WC A Tour Too Far For England?
Are England already under pressure at the T20 World Cup?After a defeat to West Indies and a nervy performance against Nepal, Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones…
Close of PlayIs This India's World Cup To Lose?
Can anyone stop India becoming the first team to win a home T20 World Cup?In this special T20 World Cup show, Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones break down every…
Close of PlayAnother T10 Collapses, England's PR Errors & Cricket's Power Game
This week on Close of Play, we examine another T10 tournament that fell apart before it even started, fresh corruption charges in international cricket, and…
Close of PlayCricket Governance. Power And Future Of The Game
Another busy week in world cricket — and plenty to argue about.In this episode of Close of Play, Sanjay Murthy and former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones…
Close of PlayIs Cricket Run By The Wrong People? Ep. 34
Cricket’s biggest problems don’t always start on the field.In the first episode of our new weekly magazine show, Sanjay Murthy and former England wicketkeeper…
Close of PlayEngland's 'Toxic Tour' Is Over. What's Next?
The Ashes are over. England lose the series 4–1 — and now it’s time to answer your questions.In this Close of Series Q&A, Sanjay Murthy and former England…
Close of PlayNow The Inquest. England Can't Hide Fom The Truth
The Ashes are over. England got smashed 4–1 — and now the inquest begins.After another defeat, the focus shifts away from individual moments and onto the…
Close of PlayA Star is Born. Bethell Changes England's Ashes Picture
England finally have something to smile about. On Day Four of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney, Jacob Bethell produced one of the moments of the series — a…
Close of PlayWhy England Keep Losing Control in Australia
England lost control again on Day Three in Sydney — and it wasn’t just with the ball. Despite moments of resistance, Australia piled on the pressure through…
Close of PlayEngland Get Schooled Again. Why Australia Stay in Control
England were taught another hard lesson on Day Two of the fifth Ashes Test. Despite moments of resistance, Australia once again controlled the tempo of the…
Close of PlayCash Over Cricket? Are Fans Being Cheated in the Ashes
Are fans being short-changed by modern Test cricket? On Day One of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney, more than 45 overs were lost despite clear skies —…
Close of PlayDoes Cricket Need the West Indies
Does the modern game of cricket still need the West Indies? Once the most feared force in world cricket, West Indies now sit on the margins of the Test game —…
Close of PlayEngland Finally Win. But Have They Learned Anything?
England have finally won a Test match in Australia — their first since 2011. But does this victory actually mean England have learned anything from this Ashes…
Close of PlayEngland Are Feeling the Pressure: Inside a Brutal Ashes Tour
England are under intense pressure — on the pitch, off the pitch, and under the microscope of an Ashes tour in Australia. In this Day One MCG analysis, Sanjay…
Close of PlayAshes Over in 10 Days. England Had No Answers.
The Ashes are gone — not after five Tests, but after 10 days. In this Day Five analysis, Sanjay Murthy and former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones break down…
Close of PlayWhat England Learned on Day Four – A Proper Test Match Response
For the first time this series, England showed signs of proper Test cricket thinking. Day four brought application, patience, and smarter decision-making —…
Close of PlayEngland Have No Plan. Aussies Show How To Play Test Cricket
England’s Ashes campaign is unravelling — and the problems are deeper than one bad Test. Sanjay Murthy and former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones break down…
Close of PlayThe Day BazBall Died
England were given an opportunity in Australia — and it vanished in brutal fashion. This episode breaks down why this Ashes series feels over, how Australia…
Close of PlayHave England Received An Early Christmas Gift?
Australia handed England early chances — but once again found a way to regain control. Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones break down the key moments from a…
Close of PlayDitch the Vibe. Bat Time. With Nick Compton
As the Ashes reach a defining Third Test, Close of Play asks whether England’s Bazball philosophy has hit its limits in Australia. Sanjay Murthy and Geraint…
Close of PlayITV's Mark Pougatch on Cricket, Roy Keane not liking The Hundred
ITV’s Mark Pougatch joins Sanjay Murthy for a wide-ranging conversation about cricket, football and broadcasting — from Test Match Special and Ashes Tours to…
Close of PlayJason Warne on Shane's Legacy
Sanjay Murthy sits down with Jason Warne for a powerful, honest and often funny conversation about life growing up with Shane Warne, the competitive battles…
Close of PlayFurious Stokes On The Warpath
England lose by eight wickets and fall 2–0 behind in the Ashes — but the headlines were dominated by rare honesty from Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, who…
Close of PlayAustralia Engage Brain. England Don't
On Close of Play, Sanjay Murthy and former England international Geraint Jones break down a bruising Day 3 in the second Ashes Test, where England’s tactics…
Close of PlayEngland Fluff Their Lines in Brisbane
On Close of Play, Sanjay Murthy and former England international Geraint Jones dissect a tough Day 2 for England in the second Ashes Test. Australia finish…
Close of PlayEngland Pick Jacks and A Tribute to The Judge
In this conversation, Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones discuss the recent changes in the England cricket team, particularly the selection of Will Jacks to…