This moment on Test Match Special after a commentator said they’d been ‘bareback riding’ is 29 seconds of pure joy

John Plunkett. Updated July 12th, 2024

You don’t have to be a cricket fan to enjoy this, in fact it’s got nothing to do with cricket at all (except that it was on the BBC’s Test Match Special, obviously).

It was the moment that commentator Alison Mitchell shared that she’d been ‘bareback riding’ and it wasn’t just fellow commentator, former England cricket Phil Tufnell, who totally lost it. By the looks of it, it was the entire box.

Here’s how the tale unravelled on Twitter.

Crying with laughter after @AlisonMitchell mentioned bareback riding in Barbados on @bbctms. @philtufnell couldn’t compose himself. #ENGvsWI #tms

— oink oink (@oinkwoofoink) July 11, 2024

I need this clip

— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) July 11, 2024

I’m waiting for someone to release the video like @isaguha and skull

— oink oink (@oinkwoofoink) July 11, 2024

And fortunately for us, and everyone else, the good people of TMS were only too happy to oblige.

pic.twitter.com/CLhfciN91l

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) July 11, 2024

And cricketer and podcaster @AlexHartley93 sent it wildly viral.

This is absolutely outstanding!!
Great radio and even better reaction from Tuffers! @AlisonMitchell @philtufnell @bbctms pic.twitter.com/n8P4dsFTPO

— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) July 11, 2024

And it got even better when @AlisonMitchell joined in.

This clip must have been edited because I swear the silence went on much longer – felt like an age before I could speak!

— Alison Mitchell (@AlisonMitchell) July 12, 2024

The silence tells its own story

— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) July 12, 2024

That little glance that Cook gives is perfect

— Ollie Rees (@Ollie_Rees) July 11, 2024

This is absolutely mega what with Aggers “fingering” of his brass instruments yesterday class

— Greg (@Huzi2k9) July 11, 2024

It was funny live on the radio. No audible laughter but the silence made it obvious everyone was corpsing. I'm surprised they got it back together so quickly.

— Matt Hayes (@matthewjhayesuk) July 11, 2024

It's lovely technique from Cook,weight perfectly balanced then moves elegantly off camera at just the right moment

— Shane Carder (@ShaneCarder4) July 11, 2024

Thanks for that, Alex.

It's not quite on the Jonners/Aggers scale, but seeing the pictures paints a whole new canvas from just hearing the muffled sniggering. Can also rely on TMS for entertainment.

— Yellabelly Rover (@YellabellyRover) July 11, 2024

Ah yes, a timeless classic!

Source @AlexHartley93