AN ASHES summer just would not be the same if it did not feature at some stage the wonderful, and occasionally slightly odd, world that is Test Match Special.
It was therefore an absolute pleasure to hear - and see - the show's two best-known current voices as England legend Geoff Boycott joined BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew at Newcastle City Hall last night.
Their talk-in - Boycott and Aggers - was a brilliant way of starting a big week for north east cricket with Durham's Riverside ground hosting the fourth Test against Australia from Friday.
The evening - which helped raise funds for the Benevolent Fund of the Professional Cricketers' Association - began with Aggers on stage on his own.
The former Leicestershire bowler ran through some housekeeping in his usual consummate style before he went on to tell an amusing anecdote about the time he managed to get his good friend Geoffrey out cheaply.
Shortly afterwards, Boycott was then introduced to a fantastic ovation, and the conversation proper soon started to wind its way through a variety of subjects.
Now, anyone who has had the fortune of listening to TMS during a rain delay will be aware how the team can make the vacant minutes and hours pass by in a flash - and it was just as good at City Hall.
As usual, Boycott was not slow in coming forwards and the Yorkshireman gave his honest opinion on a broad range of topics and personalities.
We found out that he does not have much time for the "useless" South African umpire Marais Erasmus, and that he thinks Kevin Pietersen - while being England's most exceptional batsman - can also be "a prat".
Of course, these views were predictable enough - but there were some genuine gems to be found from the Question and Answer section of the show.
Aggers confirmed that his late, fellow-commentator, Brian 'Johnners' Johnston - with whom he shared a separate incident in what has been voted as "the greatest sporting commentary of all time" - sadly never actually said the nevertheless immortal phrase: "The batsman's Holding, the bowler's Willey."
Meanwhile, Boycott revealed he regularly took a handkerchief out with him to the crease so that he could see "which way the wind was blowing".
The occasion even included a game of Boycott bingo, a Mastermind-style challenge in which Geoffrey declared his specialist subject to be himself, and a prize draw in which one lucky pair won tickets to the second day at Chester-le-Street.
Finally, the more-than-worthy appearance of cricket-loving impressionist Rory Bremner added an extra dimension to the second half.
But, of course, the main focus was on public schoolboy Aggers and, particularly, 72-year-old miner's son Boycott.
They are, indeed, an "odd couple", as Aggers freely admits - but they work together so brilliantly. Aggers regularly teases Boycott about his notoriously defensive batting style while Boycott usually responds by mocking Aggers' not-so-quick fast bowling.
The tit-for-that should go on for some time yet with Aggers revealing that their broadcasts reach over one million listeners online, in additional to those who tune in via the traditional medium on BBC Radio 4 LW and 5Live Sports Extra.
And so, with a loyal and growing fanbase, it is clear that this quintessentially English institution - with its Caribbean lilt - is here to stay. Long live TMS!
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