This year TNT Sports hold the TV rights to the Ashes, meaning many will be turning to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra for cricket commentary, as the home of ball-by-ball coverage through Test Match Special. It’s the BBC’s dedicated digital-only sports station, built precisely for extended live coverage of major sporting events, including international cricket.
How to Listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
5 Sports Extra isn’t available on traditional analogue radio, so here’s where you can find it:
1. BBC Sounds
The easiest and most reliable place to listen.
- Download from the app store for iOS or on Google Play for Android devices
Open the BBC Sounds app on mobile or tablet.
Head to the Radio tab and choose BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Note: Due to licensing restrictions, 5 Sports Extra is not available for international streaming, however, some international users have reported success accessing BBC Sounds with a VPN.
2. Digital Radio (DAB)
If you’re in the UK and have a DAB radio, scroll or auto-scan to find BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. It uses transmitter 12B. Coverage may shift depending on bandwidth, especially during big tournament periods.
3. TV Platforms
You can also listen via your TV:
Freeview 706
Freesat 706
Sky (UK) 0131
Virgin Media (UK) 908 / (Ireland) 928
Search through the radio section of your channel guide.
Why Cricket Often Airs on 5 Sports Extra
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC’s core news and sport network. When major news breaks, cricket or other ongoing sports coverage may be moved across to 5 Sports Extra so 5 Live can switch to rolling news. This makes 5 Sports Extra a flexible extension of 5 Live, giving sports fans uninterrupted match coverage even when the main station needs to pivot.
What Sports BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra Covers
Alongside The Ashes and Test Match Special, the station broadcasts a huge range of live sport, including:
Test Match Special for all major cricket tours
Cricket World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy and T20 World Cup
County Championship, Royal London One-Day Cup, T20 Blast
Premier League and home nation football when matches overlap
Major League Baseball World Series (since 2004)
Wimbledon extra court commentary in week one
Tennis Grand Slams and major ATP/WTA tournaments
FIA Formula One World Championship radio coverage
NHL Stanley Cup Finals
And other major events carried by 5 Live
Extra Streams on BBC Sounds
On 16 May 2025, the BBC launched two new online-only streams:
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3
These appear exclusively on BBC Sounds and are designed to provide extra live sport when multiple major events are happening simultaneously. This means more choice for cricket fans when the summer schedule gets crowded.
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