Test Match Special presenters are delighted to be hosting the 2025 MCC Cowdrey Lecture with Michael Vaughan and Jonathan Agnew opening the show. They’ll be joined by fellow commentators Ebony Rainford-Brent and Phil Tufnell for an evening of light-hearted cricket discussion and debate in their popular TMS style.
Taking place on Thursday 3 April 2025, the evening will welcome MCC Members and guests, members of the Cowdrey family, and prominent representatives from across the game.
Test Match Special began providing ball-by-ball coverage of England cricket matches in 1957 and has gone on to become one of cricket’s most prestigious institutions.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan scored 7,728 international runs for his country across all three formats. He led England to a famous Ashes series victory in 2005 before retiring from cricket in 2009 and joining TMS.
A tall fast bowler who played for England in the 1980s, Jonathan Agnew took up the role of BBC’s Cricket Correspondent in 1991, the same year he joined the TMS team and now enters his 34th year.
Ebony Rainford-Brent’s international career spanned 2001-2010. She was part of England’s World Cup and Ashes winning squads in 2009. Since retiring, Ebony founded the African-Caribbean Engagement programme which aims to encourage young people of African and Caribbean heritage to play cricket.
No stranger to Lord’s having spent the entirety of his 16-year domestic career with Middlesex, Phil Tufnell played 62 international matches for England, claiming 140 wickets with his left arm spin. Tufnell carved out a successful broadcasting career, appearing as a captain on A Question of Sport.
The MCC Cowdrey Lecture has become an annual highlight in the cricketing calendar. It was created in memory of Colin Cowdrey (later Lord Cowdrey), the former England captain who is credited with co-authoring the Spirit of Cricket.
MCC President, Lord King, said: “Test Match Special has become an institution for all cricket lovers, and I look forward to their team coming out of the Media Centre and into our live event. We will also be privileged to hear Michael Vaughan talk about the future of Test cricket.
“Michael, Ebony, Aggers and Tuffers, each with their own styles and personalities, are natural broadcasters, and represent the commentary style of Test Match Special. I have no doubt that they will combine to deliver a memorable evening at Lord’s.”
The stars of TMS jointly commented: “We were delighted to be asked to host the 2025 Cowdrey Lecture. When you look through the list of previous speakers, so many legends of cricket have delivered the Lecture, and we are honoured to be following in their footsteps for what we hope will be an entertaining evening of cricket conversation.”