The Analyst Inside Cricket

A preview of the (Rothesay) County Championship title race, for 136 years the hardest-earned trophy in cricket. The season lasts 178 days at the end of which we will know if anyne can topple Nottinghamshire from their pedestal. Simon Hughes, who won 4 championship titles with Middlesex, is joined by Simon Mann and Surrey all-rounder and columnist CAMERON STEEL, to discuss: - the runners and riders, stinging April catches, the new substitute rule, whether Dom Sibley can oust Zak Crawley's from the England opening spot and some yound (and older) thrusters to follow. #cricket #england #countychampionship Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some brilliant slower balls from Lungi Ngidi helps lure Lucknow Super Giants to 141 all out in the IPL. Delhi Capitals revive from 26-4 to take an excellent win in our first live watchalong of the tournament. Simon Mann and Simon Hughes commentate on the last five overs and recap the first five matches of the competition, highlighting the early dominance of the batsmen, the remarkable 15 ball 50 of the 15 year old Vaibhav Suryavanchi and the bowlers finding some much needed help more recently. #ipl #cricket # Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 19th season of the Indian Premier League begins on March 28th with the new holders Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore beginning the defence of their title. Simon Hughes, Simon Mann and Deep Dasgupta air their thoughts on the likely winners and losers, the changes in personel, how the English players like Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell and Jofra Archer will fare and reveal why everything else in India stops while the IPL is on. It is truly the only show in town. #india #ipl #cricket #circus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the announcement that England head coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key will keep their jobs and promise to evolve, we ask will it make any difference? The heirarchy always talk about the 'learnings' but are the players able to put them into practice? Simon Hughes and Simon Mann are joined by former England opener Nick Compton to ask if England can ever properly compete with the best teams abroad, or is county cricket too self-absorbed and the coaches too self-preserving to raise standards to elite levels? The ad-free version of this podcast is here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Haseeb Hameed led Nottinghamshire to the county championship title last season with astute captaincy and a bucket load of runs. And at 29 he is in perfect shape to step back into the England side he last played for during Covid. While on a pre season tour in South Africa, Hameed talks to Simon Hughes and Simon Mann about how he has improved his game, the key to Notts success, his ambitions going forward and how he dreams of batting like a certain Master Blaster. To listen to this podcast ad-free and to get other cricket content straight to your device subscribe to The Cricverse on Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the week when some cricketers, notably spinners such as Adil Rashid, were bought for astronomical sums in The Hundred auction, Monty Panesar reflects on his first Test appearance exactly 20 years ago. It was in Nagpur in March 2006 where the man who became known as The Sikh of Tweak took his first test wicket - and it was of course none other than the great Sachin Tendulkar. Monty recounts that day, his emotional celebration which became his signature, how Tendulkar presented him with a signed match ball and the impact of that moment. He, Simon Hughes and Simon Mann consider how far the game - which was paying him barely £20,000 at the time - and its rewards have come since. This podcast is available ad-free on The Cricverse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

India dominated the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand from the fifth ball of the match which Sanju Samson pummelled for six. Seventeen more maximums resulted as the Indian batters sustained a full-scale assault. Sunil Gavaskar called it a massacre. Simon Hughes, Simon Mann and Deep Dasgupta analyse the match, especially Samson's unique style that eraned him the player of the tournament award. They also assess how any teams could have competed with India's batting expertise and ambition. We hear from Samson what it all means to him and from his coach who explains the special talent he always had. For an ad-free version of this podcast and more analysis on the T20 World Cup visit the Cricverse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In an extrarordinary sustained display of hitting England finally succumbed to india's superiority with bat and ball in the T20 World Cup semi final. In a match featuring 499 runs and a record 34 sixes india were just too strong for England, despite a brilliant hundred by Jacob Bethell. Simon Hughes, Simon Mann and Deep Dasgupta review the match and also celebrate New Zealand's exceptional performance against South Africa in the other semi. Sunday's final in Ahmedabad could be epic. For more on the T20 World cup visit The Cricverse on substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sanju Samson, a quiet and often forgotten star of Indian cricket, reminds everyone of his exceptional talents with a stunning 97 not out to seal India's place in the T20 World Cup semi final. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann review the way India over came West Indies and national expectation to win the match on the back of Samson's stunning innings. They discuss the prospects for the two semi finals, how England could surprise India in Mumbai, whether bowlers should just keep it simple and bowl at the stumps rather than use so many variations, and who will be champions on Sunday. For more on the T20 World Cup and our podcasts AD-FREE subscribe to us at the Cricverse on Substack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A brilliant runchase spearheaded by Will Jacks and supercharged by Rehan Ahmed pulled off an unlikely victory for England over New Zealand in Colombo. It gives England an impressive unbeaten record in the Super Eights and pits them as semi finalists against either India or West Indies. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann assess how England pulled off such an impressive victory on a tricky pitch and despite another failure for the opening pair of Jos Buttler and Phil Salt. The ingenuity of Harry Brook, the power of South Africa and India's huge threat are also discussed plus the sound of the New Zealand national anthem played at the wrong speed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A bowler dominated Sunday as the meaningful part of the T20 World Cup - the Super 8s - gets underway. Simon Hughes and former Indian batsman Deep Dasgupta assess how India allowed South Africa to make 187 after being 20-3 and then collapsed to 111 all out themselves. And in Pallekele, England stumbled to 146-9 with Jos Buttler again looking woefully indecisive, but then bowled Sri Lanka out for a paltry 95. This podcast is also available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheSimonhughes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the eve of the T20 World Cup Super Eights it has been revealed that Hundred franchises part-owned by Indian Premier League teams are being prevented from signing Pakistani players in the forthcoming Hundred auction. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann consider the ramifications of this for the ECB's campaign to improve diversity and inclusivity in the game. They are also joined by writer and commentator Peter della Penna to discuss the associate teams emergence in the T20 World Cup, an encouraging future for USA cricket, the likely semi finalists and when the world's leading T20 batsman, Abishek Sharma, will score his first run in the tournament. For more on the art of T20 batting, subscribe to The Cricverse on Substack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A pivotal moment in the T20 World Cup as India beat Pakistan for the umpteenth time at the halfway point in the tournament. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann ask if anyone can beat India in this format (in their own conditions) and evaluate who else will join them in the Super 8s. They also discuss what makes Ishan Kishan so dynamic, the unusual bowling (and effective) action of Pakistan's Usman Tariq and evaluate England's chances after their scrappy win over Scotland. And, later in the show, the emerging force of USA cricket. Will they make it to the next stage, and why have they been so slow to develop their cricket after a great start in the 19th century? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An incredible T20 World Cup match between South Africa and Afghanistan which goes to a second super-over is followed by England slumping to defeat at the hands of West indies excellent spinners. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann analyse where England lost it, how Afghanistan almost won it and how the commentators Dale Steyn and Kas Nadoo almost lost their voices. For more analysis on the T20 World Cup subscribe to our blog The Cricverse on Substack. (click the link) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the T20 World Cup England almost suffer the ignominy of losing to brave, plucky Nepal. Sam Curran holds his nerve to put out Nepal's fire and defend 10 off the last over. Also in this episode we analyse India's near miss with USA, discuss the dominance of left handers and reveal that the India v Pakistan match, which is now back on, means $250m to the world game. Also the brilliant teenager Viabhav Sooryavanshi is assessed (age and ability). Also read Simon Hughes's assessment on Substack at https://cricverse.substack.com/p/teenage-destroyer?r=lo2wd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a messy build up, the ICC T20 World cup begins this weekend in India and Sri Lanka. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann are joined by former Indian player Deep Dasgupta to assess the competition and ponder who can stop India from retaining their title. England certainly could on their day, so could South Africa who are still ruing how they lost the final to india in the Caribbean 18 months ago. They pick their best XIs from the assembled talent and whet the appetite for 28 days of intense white ball assaults. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England can finally toast a series victory this winter with a barnstorming batting performance in the final ODI in Sri Lanka. On the back of a 20th ODI century by Joe Root and a stylish 67 from Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook assaulted the wilting Sri Lankan attack as only he can with a quite remarkable 136 not out off 66 balls with nine sixes. It was a reminder of his exceptional talent which mostly went missing in the Ashes. It sets England up well for the T20 World Cup to follow, although, as Simon Hughes and Simon Mann discuss, the bowling is a worry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England's woeful winter continues with a defeat in the first odi in Sri Lanka, making it 8 losses and one solitary victory in all formats since they departed for New Zealand in October. Joe Root and Ben Duckett compiled an excellent partnership of 117, but the rest of the batting and much of the bowling left something to be desired. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann assess the match and also consider the impasse between Bangladesh and the Indian-dominated ICC over their participation in next month's T20 World Cup. This podcast is sponsored by Nord VPN. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/aic. Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The final episode of our specially produced series on the 2005 Ashes - when England finally regained the urn at the Oval after almost two decades without it. The epic series is still in the balance until the last day of this fifth and final Test, climaxing with the extraordinary maiden Test century by Kevin Pietersen. Features interviews with Michael Vaughan, Justin Langer, Freddie Flintoff, Adam Gilchrist, Simon Jones, Glenn McGrath and Andrew Strauss. The entire series can be watched on YouTube at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcx2boKeCuyO7Ghenjl06tUwOyeaT5vy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Continuing our recap of the epic 2005 Ashes, featuring the nerve-tingling Trent Bridge Test when England forced Australia to follow on for the first time for 20 years and then almost sacrificed themselves to the wizardly Warne. Features contributions from Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss, Simon Jones, Ashley Giles, Justin Langer and Glenn McGrath. Also viewable on YouTube - here's the full video playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcx2boKeCuyO7Ghenjl06tUwOyeaT5vy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The gripping third Test of the 2005 Ashes, the one when Simon Jones delivered one of the greatest inswingers of all time, the ground was full on the last day with 20,000 turned away, Ricky Ponting had to be dragged off after six hours of defiance and Australia celebrated a draw. Watch the whole series on YouTube at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcx2boKeCuyO7Ghenjl06tUwOyeaT5vy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Re-running our greatest Ashes audio and video series - this is the epic 2005 Edgbaston Test which eventually after a pulsating arm wrestle England won by two runs. Features interviews with many of the participants (including the late Shane Warne) and match action. Can also be watched on YouTube - full playlist here - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcx2boKeCuyO7Ghenjl06tUwOyeaT5vy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To fill the void of no Test matchs til June and perhaps rekindle your love of Test cricket we're replaying our audio and video series on the epic 2005 Ashes, hearing from many of the participants. . This episode features the (first) Lord's Test and a proper feisty duel between the teams although of course Australia had the final say. You can watch this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/GsfY3YLqONo Full playlist here - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcx2boKeCuyO7Ghenjl06tUwOyeaT5vy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With their five wicket defeat in Sydney, England's Ashes tour ended in abject failure. A failure of planning, of selection, of execution and often of basic cricketing skills, in contrast to the man of the series - Mitchell Starc - who was immense throughout. The series was a huge disappointment to all the committed England fans and infact to Australians too, eager for a serious and sustained contest. Simon Hughes, Simon Mann and Ricky Ponting analyse where it all went wrong and what is to be done about it. They also consider players off-field behaviour after more embarrassing stories in the press about late-night disorderliness. It has been a wretched tour from a playing point of view. It is to be hoped that the players learn from the original school of hard knocks and come back stronger and better. This podcast is sponsored by Nord VPN. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/aic Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jacob Bethell has been earmarked for great things on sparse evidence. At the SCG he demonstrated what all the fuss has been about with an innings of great composure, skill and class to record a memorable first century in both first class and Test cricket. He maturely held England's fragile innings together to give them a very faint chance of victory on the last day of the tour. Simon Hughes, Simon Mann and Justin Langer offer their appreciation of an exceptional performance that promises a stunning future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices