Live cricket on the BBC

The TMS commentary team is led by Jonathan Agnew

The hotly-anticipated 2009 Ashes series against Australia begins in Cardiff on 8 July - and BBC Radio will be there every step of the way with ball-by-ball commentary on Test Match Special, extensive coverage on Five Live and plenty more on the BBC Sport website.

The TMS commentary team, led by BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew, brings a wealth of experience to the series.

Aggers will be joined for the first Test in Cardiff by TMS stalwarts Christopher Martin-Jenkins and Henry Blofeld, while Jim Maxwell from ABC radio in Australia joins us for the rest of the summer.

Expert summarisers include ex-England opener Geoff Boycott and TMS favourite Vic Marks - with the Australian viewpoint coming from former skipper Ian Chappell and ex-fast bowler Jason Gillespie, who played in Cardiff for Glamorgan last season and was part of the Aussie team defeated in 2005.

TMS will begin at the earlier time of 1025 BST on Wednesday to bring you the toss and the special opening ceremony from Cardiff.

HOW TO LISTEN TO TMS BBC Radio Four: Analogue radio on 198LW; Digital satellite channel 0143 BBC 5 live sports extra: Digital radio, Digital satellite channel 0144, Freeview channel 706, Cable TV channel 864 or 908 Online at bbc.co.uk/tms Via the Red Button

The five-match Test series is followed by a two Twenty20 internationals and a seven-match one-day international series which finishes on 20 September.

Also, don't miss the legendary TMS Podcast, featuring Jonathan Agnew and Geoff Boycott throughout the summer.

You can get in touch with the programme by e-mailing [e-mail] or texting 84040.

Meanwhile, BBC Radio 5 Live will have regular reports throughout the series - the station's Ashes coverage begins with a new programme, "Yes, it's the Ashes" presented by comedian and cricket fan Andy Zaltzman, on Saturday, 4 July at 1100 BST. Former England captain Alec Stewart then hosts an Ashes 606 from 1900, and Mark Pougatch presents a special Ashes preview show from Cardiff on Tuesday, 7 July at 1900.

Radio 1, Radio Wales and Radio Cymru will also be reporting live from the ground during the first Test.

BBC Radio will also keep you up-to-date with England's women as they compete in their own Ashes against the Aussies - with 5 Live Sports Extra featuring ball-by-ball commentary on the climax of the match on Monday, 13 July.

Before that, on Sunday, 5 July, there will be commentary on 5 Live Sports Extra and Radio 4 Long Wave from 1030 on the Friends Provident Trophy semi-finals.

The summarisers for the games - Sussex v Gloucestershire and Lancashire v Hampshire - include Chris Adams, Jack Russell, Stuart Law and Shaun Udal.

Meanwhile, Scotland's one-day international against Australia on 28 August will be covered live by BBC Two Scotland and BBC Radio Scotland.

In December 2008, BBC Sport agreed a new radio rights deal with the England & Wales Cricket Board, which means TMS will be on air up to and including 2013.

Most cricket broadcast via the BBC Sport website is available to UK users only, although Test Match Special is available worldwide via the website for England's home matches.

Times and coverage details subject to change

England's full fixtures

THE ASHES

Full series schedule

All England's matches will be live on TMS, on BBC Radio 4 LW, BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Red Button and the BBC Sport website.

First Test, Cardiff
8-12 July
Play starts at 1100 BST (TMS coverage begins at 1025 BST on day one, 1045 BST thereafter)

Second Test, Lord's
16-20 July
Play starts at 1100 BST (TMS coverage begins at 1045 BST)

Third Test, Edgbaston
30 July-3 August
Play starts at 1100 BST (TMS coverage begins at 1045 BST)

Fourth Test, Headingley
7-11 August
Play starts at 1100 BST (TMS coverage begins at 1045 BST)

Fifth Test, The Oval
20-24 August
Play starts at 1100 BST (TMS coverage begins at 1045 BST)

Scotland v Australia ODI
28 August
Play starts at 1045 BST (Coverage on BBC Two Scotland and BBC Radio Scotland)

First Twenty20 international, Old Trafford
30 August
Play starts at 1430 BST (TMS coverage times TBC)

Second Twenty20 international, Old Trafford (day/night)
1 September
Play starts at 1900 BST (TMS coverage times TBC)

First ODI, The Oval (day/night)
4 September
Play starts at 1300 BST (TMS coverage times TBC)

Second ODI, Lord's
6 September
Play starts at 1015 BST (TMS coverage times TBC)

Third ODI, Rose Bowl (day/night)
9 September
Play starts at 1430 BST (TMS coverage times TBC)

Fourth ODI, Lord's
12 September
Play starts at 1015 BST (TMS coverage times TBC)

Fifth ODI, Trent Bridge (day/night)
15 September
Play starts at 1430 BST (TMS coverage times TBC)

Sixth ODI, Trent Bridge (day/night)
17 September
Play starts at 1430 BST (TMS coverage times TBC)

Seventh ODI, Riverside
20 September
Play starts at 1015 BST (TMS coverage times TBC)

2009 COUNTY CRICKET SEASON

BBC Local Radio will broadcast ball-by-ball coverage online throughout the summer from every match involving:

Essex - BBC Essex
Middlesex - BBC London 94.9
Surrey - BBC London 94.9
Warwickshire - BBC WM Coventry & Warwickshire
Worcestershire - BBC Hereford & Worcester

The rest of the BBC Local Radio stations will broadcast commentary on selected one-day matches plus Twenty20 Cup, which will also be available online.

Derbyshire - BBC Radio Derby
Durham - BBC Radio Newcastle
Glamorgan - BBC Radio Wales
Gloucestershire - BBC Radio Gloucestershire
Hampshire - BBC Radio Solent
Kent - BBC Radio Kent
Lancashire - BBC Radio Lancashire
Leicestershire - BBC Radio Leicester
Northants - BBC Radio Northampton
Nottinghamshire - BBC Radio Nottingham
Somerset - BBC Somerset Sound
Sussex - BBC Southern Counties Radio
Yorkshire - BBC Radio Leeds

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