The Analyst Inside Cricket

The first round of County Championship matches were either comprehensive victories or pulsating draws. Somerset were the unluckiest, being kept at bay for 200 overs by a determined Worcestershire in their second innings to hang on nine down for 87 deliveries. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann review four days of action blessed by glorious weather, report on their ten players to follow and react to the confirmation of Harry Brook as England's white ball captain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Somerset captain LEWIS GREGORY joins the podcast to explain how SOMERSET hope to find a way past Surrey's County Championship dominance, and describes Somerset's unique DNA. Also Simon Hughes and Simon Mann pick their ten county players to follow. To win Lord's Test match tickets subscribe (free) to THE CRICVERSE at https://open.substack.com/pub/cricverse/p/the-year-of-the-cat?r=lo2wd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tim Bostock, Durham's influential CEO, tells Simon Hughes and Simon Mann of his ambition to boost the County Championship's image by creating more jeopardy, introducing play-offs and making the championship the envy of the cricket world. Also what to do with the Hundred windfall and how Durham cricket can establish a booming sporting ecosystem in partnership with their premier league women's footballers. To win Lord's Test match tickets subscribe free to THE CRICVERSE at https://open.substack.com/pub/cricverse/p/competition-watch-england-v-india?r=lo2wd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A preview of the richest, craziest, noisiest and longest cricket show on earth - the IPL 2025. Simon Hughes, Simon Mann and Indian commentator Deep Dasgupta discuss the intricacies of the tournament, marvel at MS Dhoni's longevity, ask whether this could finally be RCB/Virat Kohli's year and assess the likely fortunes of the ten English players involved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is a 13 year old (possible) debutant in the IPL (Vaibhav Suryavanshi). A 20 year old Ashes debutant, leg spinner Mason Crane, reflects on handling the pressure when young and how powerful Shane Warne's influence on him still is. We reflect on pre-season training in March, mad playing colleagues and the rumoured Saudi Arabian T20 league. For more insightful cricket content subscribe to The Cricverse blog at https://cricverse.substack.com/p/because-youre-worth-it?r=lo2wd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Second part of the interview with the giant former England fast bowler Chris Tremlett on how he got to be this big and yet how, without Shane Warne's considerable influence as his county captain he would never have been part of an Ashes winning team. For more on Test cricket and the Ashes go to The Cricverse blog at https://cricverse.substack.com/p/get-in-the-pink-a1e?r=lo2wd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Tremlett, the tallest fast bowler to play for England in Tests, recounts the tale of England's 2010/11 Ashes success, its meticulous planning and execution despite a very inauspicious start when he inadvertently put England's spearhead, Jimmy Anderson, temporarily out of action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

India's four-pronged spin attack proves too restrictive to New Zealand's determined cricketers to give India their second ICC trophy in the last 8 months. Simon Mann and Simon Hughes review the match and assess where this Indian team rank in the white ball world hall of fame. For more cricket analysis and opinion subsribe to The Cricverse on Substack - https://open.substack.com/pub/cricverse/p/dubai-the-unlikely-cricketing-hub?r=lo2wd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The two Champions Trophy semi finals were relatively comfortable victories for India and New Zealand, pitting the world's most populous nation against one whose population would fit into an Indian suburb. The Simons review the two semis, examine how much of an advantage it is to be playing all your matches in Dubai, and explain how the UAE has become such an important cricketing venue. For more on this go to The Cricverse blog on Substack - https://cricverse.substack.com/p/dubai-the-unlikely-cricketing-hub?r=lo2wd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Simon Hughes and Simon Mann review England's hapless performance against South Africa in the Champions Trophy, giving them nil points in the competition. England's wekaneses explored and explained, future captains debated and some future changes to white ball cricket revealed. Have your say on our ideas at The Cricverse - https://open.substack.com/pub/cricverse/p/avoiding-the-pitfalls?r=lo2wd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England lose a nailbiter to Afghanistan and are out of the Champions Trophy. That's six successive defeats in 50 over cricket. Time must be up for Jos Buttler as captain and several other players in this format. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann chew over the entrails and ask what's next in the competition and wonder how far Afghanistan can go. For more cricket content supplied direct to your email join our community at The Cricverse at https://cricverse.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Simon Hughes and Simon Mann review England's defeat to Australia in their opening Champions Trophy game in Lahore which was administered by Josh Inglis who was born in Leeds. They also preview Sunday's blockbuster match between india and Pakistan. For ad-free advance episodes of this podcast visit patreon.com/analyst25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The former Hampshire and England batter Michael Carberry, the last black British player to represent England, joins the podcast to talk about his coaching work with the previously-neglected London Schools association, reflects on the challenges of facing Mitchell Johnson in the infamous 2013/14 Ashes and questions whether Bazball will work Down Under. For the complete interview and other exclusive content join the Analyst Plus at patreon.com/theanalyst25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Simon Hughes and Simon Mann preview the Champions Trophy which begins on Wednesday. All teams are assessed but the overwhelming view is that India have a huge advantage because of their depth and the fact that they are playing all their matches in Dubai. For advance, ad-free podcasts and special series join The Analyst Plus at patreon.com/theanalyst25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An update on The Hundred franchise sales and what it means for the domestic game, analysis of England's white-ball woes and an interesting admission from a man who many believe should be in England's one day squad, Liam Dawson. For the full Dawson interview and other exclusive, ad-free content join The Analyst Pus at patreon.com/theanalyst25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Simon Hughes and Simon Mann admire the continued dominance of India at home in white ball formats as they seize the ODi series 2-0 having trounced England 4-1 in the T20s. A look at what England need to do to compete and more on the shareout of the money from the Hundred franchise sales. To join our Analyst Plus community including our special series on the 1974/5 Ashes, visit patreon.com/theanalyst25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the investment of £365m (so far) in five Hundred franchises which will be shared equally amongst counties, it is a seismic moment for the domestic game. But how should the money be used? Simon Hughes and Simon Mann delve into the detail and also analyse England's T20 disasters against India. For more on the way to future-proof county cricket visit The Cricverse at https://cricverse.substack.com/p/sale-of-the-century?r=lo2wd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a very special episode Nikki Chaudhuri and Melissa Story speak to Afghan women’s cricketers Firooza Amiri, Nahida Sapan, and Benafsha Hashimi. They share their cricketing stories from Afghanistan to Australia, how they discovered their love of cricket and what it’s been like adjusting to their new lives down under. We also hear about what action they would like to see from the ICC and how the global cricket community can help them live their dreams. From Firooza cover driving like Virat Kohli, Benafsha loving to face bouncers, and Nahida’s heartfelt message of hope to women and girls in Afghanistan - these three women’s positivity and enthusiasm is not one to miss. Thank you to Firooza, Nahida and Benafsha again for their time and if you’d like to support the Afghanistan women’s cricket team, please see the link to donate here: https://www.lords.org/refugeefund Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nikki Chauduri is joined by Simon Hughes for a post mortem on England's disastrous Ashes campaign which ended with a humbling innings defeat and a 16-0 overall score. The Australians once again exposed the chasm in ability between the two teams, with some brilliant bowling on the third day, led by the superb leg spinner Alana King. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Simon Hughes and Simon Mann complete the special podcast series looking back at the epic 1974/5 Ashes by assessing its seismic impact on cricket. It heralded the most ferocious period of fast bowling the game has seen, and the inevitable introduction of proper head protection. Now, half a century on, it has led to a generation of super-adventurous, fearless batters and a doubly entertaining game. For the complete HEADHUNTERS boxset visit https://www.patreon.com/collection/1258828 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices