The Analyst Inside Cricket

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

Peter della Penna, journalist specializing in Associate Nations and USA cricket. He discusses IPL-linked Hundred teams barring Pakistani players and the clash with ECB inclusivity aims. He explores the rise of USA cricket, governance challenges, and how associate teams are shaking up the T20 World Cup. Predictions for likely semi finalists and thoughts on T20 batting form follow.