England Win a Test in Australia!

England Win a Test in Australia!

Author: Simon Hughes December 27, 2025 Duration: 48:55
Simon Hughes and Simon Mann reflect on England's first Test victory in Australia since January 7th 2011. This was a remarkable and rather unsatisfactory Test which lasted barely a day and a half on an MCG pitch which had a bit too much help for the seam bowlers but on which no batter was prepared to be patient. An impressive opening stand between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett showed up some rather hapless Australian batting, and the youngster Jacob Bethell made a crucial 40 in a tricky runchase. At last 10,000 English fans have an England victory to celebrate though Cricket Australia will bemoan major revenue losses. This podcast is sponsored by Nord VPN - go to NORDVPN.COM/AIC for your special deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For anyone who feels the scorecard only tells half the story, The Analyst Inside Cricket offers the other half. Simon Hughes, known widely as The Analyst, teams up with the BBC's Simon Mann to pull back the curtain on the sport. This isn't just a recap of matches; it's a deep, engaging conversation that blends technical breakdown with the human narratives that define the game. You'll hear their firsthand experiences from around the world, alongside insights from the players, coaches, and personalities they've known for years. Each episode feels like sitting in on a candid chat between two experts who can explain the mechanics of a perfect seam position one moment and share a poignant, funny, or surprising anecdote from the dressing room the next. The podcast thrives on the details that get missed in the headlines-the tactical shifts, the personal journeys, and the off-field moments that truly shape cricket. If you're looking for rich context and stories that go beyond the boundary rope, this is where you'll find them.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Analyst Inside Cricket
Podcast Episodes
IPL CATCH-UP: STARS AND SHOCKERS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:22
The Indian Premier League is almost halfway through as Simon Hughes and Deep Dasgupta assess the successes and failures of the tournament so far. With 24 totals over 200, batsmen capable of hitting the ball more than 100…
SOMERSET'S TRIUMPH & QUESTION TIME [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:30
Thanks to Tom Abell's nerveless 100, Somerset get home against Hampshire to extend their lead at the top of the County Championship. The match featured impressive performances by England hopefuls James Rew and Sonny Bake…
SOMERSET FEEL HAMPSHIRE HEAT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:03
Hampshire’s Nick Gubbins, 70 not out overnight, joins the podcast to explain how Hampshire took control of the championship match against leaders Somerset. It was a day when Hampshire's impressive seam attack pressurized…
THE FUTURE OF MIDDLESEX [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:26
Middlesex, one of England's strongest and oldest counties, has been brought virtually to its knees financially and performance-wise over the last five years. It is the only county that doesn't own its ground. Simon Hughe…
SMALL CLUB BIG HEART [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:45
Simon Hughes spends the day at Hove watching Sussex overcome Warwickshire in a battle of Little and Large to become the only club in the country to have won both their opening championship games. A 140 run partnership be…
SALTY BUSINESS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:01
Sunday's big IPL clash between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, featiring some of the biggest names in Indian cricket - notably Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah was instead domin…
THE SMITH AND POPE SHOW [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:08
Jamie Smith adds a second authoritative hundred to his season's output in partnership with a rehabilitated Ollie Pope against a modest Leicester attack at the Oval. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann report on another Surrey ru…
RUN GLUT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:16
The first round of County Championship matches featured two totals over 500, five draws and a number of batsmen filling their early-season boots. Jamie Smith was one, promoted to number three by Surrey. What do we read i…
THE MOST COVETED PRIZE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:11
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 pe…
BOWLERS STRIKE BACK [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:24
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…