England v New Zealand Test Series: how to listen live on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and Sky Sports

Match date: 17 June 2026

England v New Zealand in the Test series will be available to follow live in the UK across BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sport Online, BBC Sounds and Sky Sports Cricket, with BBC’s Test Match Special providing audio ball-by-ball coverage for listeners who want every wicket, review and session update. BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra is carrying live cricket commentary of the second Test day shown in the listings, while BBC Sounds is also set to stream the same coverage through the Test Match Special service.[1][2][7]

For radio and online audio, the BBC line-up is headlined by Jonathan Agnew, Simon Mann, Alison Mitchell and Daniel Norcross as main commentators, with Phil Tufnell, Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook and Jeremy Coney among the co-commentators. Stephan Shemilt is listed as pundit, while Andy Zaltzman provides the statistics and analytical angle on the broadcast.[2]

The BBC’s coverage continues its established Test Match Special format, and the corporation has said that all men’s and women’s international games are available live on 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds. It also confirmed that Jonathan Agnew leads the Test Match Special team after signing a new four-year deal with BBC Sport, underlining his status as one of the most recognisable voices in British cricket broadcasting.[3]

Agnew, a former England fast bowler, has been a central figure in BBC cricket coverage for years, while Mann and Mitchell are also familiar Test Match Special voices known for live match storytelling and analysis. Norcross is widely associated with BBC cricket commentary and feature presenting, and Tufnell and Vaughan bring recent playing experience and Ashes-era insight to the discussion. Cook, England’s former Test captain, adds elite batting perspective, and Coney gives the broadcast a New Zealand viewpoint that will be especially relevant in this series.[2][3]

On television, Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event are listed as the main channels, with Ian Ward as presenter and Michael Atherton and Simon Doull among the main commentators. Sky Sports has long been a key home for live Test cricket in the UK, and its presentation team typically combines current tactical discussion with high-level studio analysis for viewers across Britain and overseas cricket audiences.[6]

For viewers in Britain, Australia, India and South Africa, the practical takeaway is simple: if you want television coverage, use Sky Sports; if you want audio coverage, use BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra or the BBC Sounds app. The BBC programme listings confirm live ball-by-ball commentary for England v New Zealand on 17 June 2026, and the live radio schedule shows the coverage beginning at 10:25 on Sports Extra.[2][7]

That combination of seasoned broadcasters and former players gives the series strong appeal for cricket followers who want both atmosphere and expert reading of conditions, particularly in a Test match where session-by-session narrative matters. The BBC’s Test Match Special page and programme listings remain the clearest references for the live audio offering, while Sky Sports remains the visual destination for the full match experience.[2][7]

For more on the broader competition and official context, see the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Article generated: 17 June 2026, 11:10 GMT