A second day of wildly fluctuating fortunes at Headingley. with Rishabh Pant the star turn. India, set for 600, capitulate for 471. England survive early alarms, build a strong second wicket partnership with Duckett and Pope the lose late wickets. The match is in the balance. The Simon's report on a riveting second day and forecast a compelling third one. This podcast is supported by Betfair. The odds on various outcomes can be found here - https://www.betfair.com/betting/cricket/test-matches/en...
Jun 21, 2025•37 min
Simon Hughes and Simon Mann review the first day's play from Headingley, dominated by India's batters after Ben Stokes put the tourists in. Yashasvi Jaiswal's expertise is admired, Shubman Gill's poise applauded, Rishabh Pant's audacity marvelled at. The England attack looked mostly impotent. It doesn't bode well, but the pitch promises lots of runs. This podcast is supported by Betfair. The odds on various outcomes can be found here - https://www.betfair.com/betting/cricket/test-matches/england...
Jun 20, 2025•31 min
The first part of the Analyst podcast recorded infront of a live audience at the Square Club, Bristol in aid of Syd Lawrence and his MND fund. Featuring Simon Hughes, Simon Mann and Vic Marks reliving some of their scariest experiences on the field (some involving Syd!) and in the commentary box. Includes a preview of the England v India Tests, our predictions, and stories from Vic's new book on England captains past and present. The Cricket Captains of England 1979-2025 by Vic Marks is publishe...
Jun 19, 2025•57 min
Live from Lord's, Simon Hughes and Simon Mann celebrate South Africa's historic victory in the World Test Championship final, analyse how they achieved it in a compelling match and against the odds, and assess what it means both for the Rainbow Nation itself and for the vanquished Australians. To be part of our live podcast on June 18 in Bristol visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-analyst-inside-cricket-podcast-live-tickets-1353264403259 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoice...
Jun 14, 2025•33 min
Simon Hughes and Simon Mann review the first day of the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord's - the Home of Cricket - when fourteen wickets fell for little more than 250 runs. Australia predictably have the upper hand against South Africa's makeshift batting line-up after being bundled out themselves for 212. . England's T20 series whitewash of the West Indies is also assessed. Final reminder if you want to attend our live 'Scary Moments' podcast on June 18th in Bristol in aid of Syd Lawre...
Jun 11, 2025•33 min
A deep dive into the mental side of cricket (and sport) with former Lancashire player Nathan Wood, son of Barry Wood, who has set up Cricket Mind to help players deal with the mental side of the game. We explore what stresses and strains modern players of all ages and abilities experience and how to establish coping mechanisms with Mindset Coaching. If you are someone who plays superbly in the nets but can't convert it into runs in the middle, or are desperate to take that first five-fer or suff...
Jun 05, 2025•49 min
England batter the West Indies bowlers at The Oval to complete an emphatic 3-0 series win, as England successfully reboot their one day approach. Meanwhile Virat Kohli helps Royal Challengers Bangalore to a first ever IPL triumph in Ahmedabad. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann discuss. Also a reminder of our live podcast evening on 18 June in aid of Syd Lawrence's MND fund. Tickets here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-analyst-inside-cricket-podcast-live-tickets-1353264403259?utm-campaign=social&a...
Jun 03, 2025•47 min
A crazy weekend with one player playing two top class cricket matches on two different continents in the space of 24 hours, while one English club side win a match by 424 runs in half an afternoon. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann report on the madness of cricket and look at a slightly more sane weekend of county cricket action. Our live podcast in aid of Syd Lawrence is in Bristol on June 18. Please join us - tickets here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-analyst-inside-cricket-podcast-live-tickets...
May 27, 2025•27 min
England polish off brave and plucky Zimbabwe by an innings. Shoaib Bashir took six wickets and benefitted from a good workout but the real stars of the show were Ben Stokes potent bowling after a long lay off and Harry Brook's incredible slip catch. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann report and assess the strength of the just-announced India squad for the main fare in a month's time. For the last few tickets for our live podcast show on June 18 visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-analyst-inside-cr...
May 24, 2025•36 min
Simon Mann and Simon Hughes report on the first day mismatch between England's eager batters and Zimbabwe's hapless bowlers as England's feast on a liberal diet of 'help-yourself' deliveries. For a match report read Derek Pringle at the Cricverse at https://open.substack.com/pub/cricverse/p/england-batters-fill-their-boots?r=lo2wd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true For tickets for our live podcast in Bristol on June 18 visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-an...
May 22, 2025•28 min
Following Ben Stokes declaration of an alcohol-free year so far, we discuss what is, and what is not, the best diet for a professional cricketer. Also why do Durham produce so many pace bowlers and other counties do not, which famous commentator prompted the old bouncer war between Middlesex and Leicester and who is the best overall cricketing package - Joe Root or Virat Kohli ? To join our live podcast evening in Bristol on June 18 with Vic Marks in aid of the Syd Lawrence MND cause, click on t...
May 22, 2025•46 min
Simon Hughes and Simon Mann consider England's newly announced odi and T20 squads, the first under new captain Harry Brook , and assess their chances of rejuvenating an ailing brand. In the second half of the show we hear from Roland Butcher - the first black cricketer to play for England - about his life , richly detailed in his newly published autobiography Breaking Barriers. For tickets for our live podcast show on June 18 in aid of Syd Lawrence , visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-anal...
May 13, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Virat Kohli today announced his immediate retirement from Test cricket. Simon Hughes and Indian commentator Deep Dasgupta discuss the significance of this decision - this is the man who is a global brand with over 300m social media followers - the amazing legacy Kohli has left behind and who will be the next Indian Test captain now that Rohit Sharma has also retired. Be part of our special live podcast show on June 18th in Bristol - details here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-analyst-insid...
May 12, 2025•27 min
Part 2 of our conversation with Jarrod Kimber, author of a new book The Art of Batting, counting down the fifty greatest Test batsmen of all time. Using scrupulous statistical analysis and exhaustive research, Kimber has identified some unexpected high rankers, and while Number 1 is no surprise, he has also eliminated some surprising stars for well explained reasons. Never before has such a meticulous evaluation of the greatest players been conducted and it makes for lots of excellent talking po...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 13 min
Simon Hughes and Simon Mann review the latest round of county championship matches which resulted in some nerve-tingling run chases. They also discuss England's squad for the Zimbabwe Test and hear from Australia's Jason Gillespie how Australia consistently win more cricket matches than any other country and why the idea of Sheffield Shield final would work for the County Championship. Details of our live podcast in Bristol on June 18th and tickets are here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-a...
May 07, 2025•43 min
Broadcaster, author and stats guru J arrod Kimber joins the podcast to talk about his new book The Art Of Batting - a deep dive into what makes a great Test match run-maker and using sophisticated metrics to identify the best batters of all time. In this first part, we examine the difference between 'batting' and runmaking, the five phases of batsmanship through the ages, how players - eg Lara, Richards, Bradman - were often shaped by their environment and which outstanding players didn't make t...
May 01, 2025•44 min
The 14 year old wunderkid Vaibhav Suryavanshi has just assaulted four international bowlers for a 35 ball hundred in the IPL: Its the second fastest IPL hundred of all time after Chris Gayle's 30 ball effort in 2013, and earned him the nickname Boss Baby. After trying to digest this astonishing performance, Simon Hughes and Simon Mann talk to Leicestershire's Ian Holland, the leading wicket-taker in Division 2, about being top of the table, who are the best all-rounders in the county game and wh...
Apr 28, 2025•48 min
Simon Hughes and Simon Mann are joined by Daily Telegraph cricket writer and author Tim Wigmore to discuss the backstory, the current state and the future prosperity of the Test format as examined in Tim's new book Test Cricket: A History. The conversation ranges from the origins of the Test match idea, with just three countries involved, how it expanded, chronicling key matches, turning points and characters, how the great 1970s West Indies and 1990s Australia were formed, and why Australia are...
Apr 24, 2025•56 min
Simon Hughes and Simon Mann review the action in the weekend's county championship matches, highlighting the disputed catch to give Essex victory over Worcestershire . The discussion focusses on whether DRS should be brought into county cricket, with now every match available on YouTube which celebrates its 20th anniversary this week. Also a debate about the points system in county cricket, Zak Crawley battles to a fifty and how our 10 to follow got on last weekend. For our regular cricket blog ...
Apr 22, 2025•49 min
Three gnarled veterans of the bowling brotherhood - Simon Hughes, Angus Fraser and Derek Pringle - jovially reflect on the hardship of the fast bowlers' lot, but are thankful for the craftsmanship that went in to their hand-made boots. They sent down more than 170,000 deliveries between them, putting at least six times their bodyweight through their knees and ankles every ball. Read Derek Pringle and Simon Hughes on The Cricverse and enter the competition for free tickets for the Lord's Test at ...
Apr 17, 2025•57 min
Melissa, Luke and Nikki discuss the immense signing of Ellyse Perry at Hampshire, the appointment of Charlotte Edwards as England Women’s Coach and the new ICC dedicated task force to support the Afghanistan Women’s Team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 16, 2025•27 min
The highlight of the second round of county championship matches was Warwickshire's dramatic one wicket win at Durham. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann focus on that, a brilliant first division win for Sussex, Hampshire's brave fightback against Surrey, Yorkshire's resounding win despite J ohnny Bairstow's controversial dismissal and the amazing IPL circus act that is MS Dhoni. To enter our competition for pair sof Lord's Test match tickets subscribe to The Cricverse at https://cricverse.substack.com...
Apr 15, 2025•56 min
A review of the IPL so far, with Simon Hughes and Indian commentator Deep Dasgupta reviewing how a superb KL Rahul innings in Bangalore usurped Virat Kohli' s RCB team and took Delhi Capitals to joint top of the table. They pick out other star performers in the tournament so far including Nicholas Pooran and Jofra Archer , and marvel at MS Dhoni's continued brilliance as he takes over the Chennai captaincy (again!) from the injured Ruturaj Gaekwad. To enter the draw for Lord's Test match tickets...
Apr 10, 2025•42 min
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 ...
Apr 07, 2025•42 min
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 po...
Apr 02, 2025•58 min
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.co...
Mar 27, 2025•52 min
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
Mar 21, 2025•44 min
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 you...
Mar 19, 2025•44 min
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...
Mar 13, 2025•31 min
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
Mar 12, 2025•31 min
