Oval Showstopper

Oval Showstopper

Author: Simon Hughes August 3, 2025 Duration: 32:43
An extraordinary day's cricket as this epic series headed to a climax, with an unexpected shower leaving England needing 35 to win the match and the series with four wickets in hand. Highlight of the day was Harry Brook's flamboyant hundred, an innings speckled with genius and audacity. he and Joe Root transformed the game with a nerveless and fluent 195 run partnership which totally knocked the stuffing out of India. Their dismissals let India back into the game. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann report on a breathtaking day as England sought the second highest run-chase in their history. This podcast is supported by Betfair. It is illegal to bet if you are under 18. Please gamble responsibly. 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
2005 ASHES - 1ST TEST LORD'S [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:30
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…
England Out Thought and Outplayed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:20
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 - Mitche…
The Special One Arrives [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:12
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…
Smith Grinds Down England [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:34
A debilitating and demoralising day for England in Sydney. Travis Head flays the bowling to record his 600th run in the series and then Steve Smith exploits tired bodies and minds to make his 37th Test hundred. Simon Hug…
England Aren't Learning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:08
Apart from a superb 41st Test century by Joe Root, another dispiriting day for England at the SCG as the batters didn't make the most of winning the toss and the bowlers couldn't sustain control. Simon Hughes and Simon M…
Clouded Thinking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:53
The first truly contested day in the Ashes is cruelly terminated by absurd weather rules in Sydney. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann report on an enterprising day by England dashed by ridiculous protocol and inflexible laws d…
England's Ben Expects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:01
Simon Hughes and Simon Mann preview the final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground and hear from Ben Stokes who is on a mission to finish a difficult tour on a high despite admitting being unable to read how the pitch…
SHOULD STOKES BAT No.3? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:09
Ashes Question Time: simon Hughes and Simon Mann field your comments and questions post the two-day MCG fiasco. Including - who should bat 3 for England, which should bowlers should play in Sydney now Gus Atkinson is als…
England Win a Test in Australia! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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…
Boxing Day Gifts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:35
Simon Hughes and Simon Mann review an extraordinary day's play at the MCG where the groundsman and the batsmen gifted the bowlers 20 wickets. A helpful Melbourne pitch was well exploited by both team's seam bowlers - esp…