SONNY BAKER: ENTHUSIASM PERSONIFIED

SONNY BAKER: ENTHUSIASM PERSONIFIED

Author: Simon Hughes May 13, 2026 Duration: 40:37
On the day Sonny Baker is selected for the England Test squad, Simon Hughes interviews the new fast bowling hope at his home ground. He talks about the people who’ve influenced him including Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie and overcoming the disappointment of his two one day international appearances last year. Also how Bone Broth and a meat-based diet has got him faster and fitter and which star player he would love to be for a day. For more information on Asthi Bone Broth visit www.weareasthi.co.uk 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
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…
CRICKET'S EXTRAVAGANZA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:34
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…
DESPERATELY SEEKING RUTHLESSNESS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:23
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 'learnin…
HAMEED AT THE READY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:07
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 durin…
SPINNERS BONANZA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:32
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…