The Analyst Inside Cricket

Simon Hughes and Simon Wilde of the Sunday Times review the first day of the Adelaide Test when both teams gifted presents of runs and wickets to each other. There was also controversy when Alex Carey was given not out by umpire and DRS but admitted afterwards that he did get an edge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Simon Hughes and Simon Mann preview the 3rd Test in Adelaide which is of course make or break for England. After England's break in Noosa, Brendon McCullum speaks and declares that England will keep the same top seven, and also explains more about what he meant by England overtraining before the Brisbane Test. He is clear though that if they play much smarter cricket than they did in Brisbane they...

Graeme Swann was one of the stars of England's triumphant Ashes campaign of 2010/11. In this interview he recounts how England prepared for that series - with a graphic account of the infamous boot camp in Germany - the difficult start to the series in the Gabba, how they recovered and then went on to produce almost the perfect performance at the Adelaide Oval where England play next. Graeme Swann...

Was Stokes right to suggest that some of his players are mentally weak? Should there be major changes if England lose the Ashes? Should they be going to Noosa for a 'mid-series break' or be practising in the nets? Do they need a psychologist or a shrink? Your Ashes questions answered with Simon Hughes and Simon Mann Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Determined batting by Ben Stokes and Will Jacks at least took this 2nd Test into the final session of the 4th day at the Gabba. But from the moment England dropped five catches to allow Australia to make over 500 the barbequing of the English torso on the Brisbane coals was underway. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann hear from a sombre Ben Stokes and an ecstatic Adam Gilchrist in reviewing the match. Au...

England laboured to dismiss Australia's last four wickets in the heat of the Brisbane day and then collapsed to the Australia's willing seamers as darkness fell. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann are joined by Matt Hayden to analyse a dispiriting yet predictable third day at the Gabba which leaves England's Ashes hopes hanging by a thread. #ashes #england #australia Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

England lose the plot with the ball and in the field on the second day at the Gabba, gifting Australia the initiative with poor bowling and dropped catches. But this Australian side are not as ruthless as some of their predecessors and at times handed the initiative back. But, as Simon Hughes, Simon Mann and Steven Finn report, Australia still have a sizeable advantage. Can they convert it? Learn...

Joe Root has finally got the monkey of his back with an irrepressible hundred at the Gabba, his first in Australia and his 40th overall. It was the centrepiece of a compelling first day in Brisbane which England looked like squandering at several points, but was saved by Root's dedication and skill and an unexpected unbroken last wicket stand between him and Jofra Archer. Simon Hughes and Simon Ma...

The cricket world has been stunned with the sudden death of the brilliant Hampshire and England batsman Robin Smith at the age of 62. Smith, known as The Judge for his wig-like hairstyle, possessed the most ferocious cut shot in the game and was fearless against fast bowling during a highly successful England career. This belied inner self-doubts and an almost apologetic nature that was at the hea...

Simon Hughes and Simon Mann preview the second Ashes Test at the Gabba which England must win to have any chance of regaining the Ashes. This is a day-night pink ball test and they discuss the difficulties that presents, the way teams approach it and the changes in personel. There are rumours that Pat Cummins might return as captain. But whatever happens, England will make sure, if they arrive by...

Simon Hughes an Simon Mann consider the state of the England team ahead of the second Ashes Test. And Simon Hughes then joins in a local radio show in Denmark, Western Australia to hear what the real Okkers think of the Poms. (Apologies for the slightly low sound levels on the second half.) #ashes #england #australia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An in-depth interview with Simon Jones, one of the stars of England's 2005 Ashes triumph but who sadly never played for England again. He talks about his upbringing as the son of an England bowler, idolizing other great fast bowlers, the devastation of rupturing knee ligaments on his Ashes debut, the exhilaration of the 2005 Ashes success and the victory parade, the exasperation of constant injury...

An interview with Lord Botham, great all-rounder, hero of the Ashes and scourge of Australia, to commemorate his 70th birthday. He talks with Simon Hughes about his lifelong association with the Ashes, why he loves Australians, and loves to beat them even more, and how to save Test cricket. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Still trying to comprehend not only what happened on the 2nd day of the first Ashes Test in Perth, but also how quickly it all unfolded, Simon Hughes and Simon Mann try to rationalise how the balance of power shifted so dramatically. Plus - fans reactions, what England should do next and a special birthday. STOP PRESS - BETHELL, POTTS AND TONGUE TO PLAY IN PINK BALL WARM-UP MATCH #ashes #cricket #...

A remarkable hundred by Travis Head - one of the greatest innings ever played in an Ashes Test - savaged England's hopes and seized Australia an unlikely win in the first Test in Perth. Head's century, the second fastest in Ashes history - shot Australia to victory inside two days leaving England, leading by 100 just after lunch with nine wickets in hand, totally shellshocked. Simon Hughes and Sim...

Nineteen wickets fall on the first da of the Ashes in Perth, and England, have been tamely bowled out for 172 seem likely now to take a decent lead. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann praise the skill of the fast bowlers on both sides while bemoaning the lack of application of the batsmen on a bouncy pitch with some lateral movement. England's bowlers certainly relished the lift and help in the pitch and...

The huge build up to the 2025/6 Ashes is almost over. The talk is nearly done. Time to walk the walk. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann survey the stage at the Perth stadium and assess where the balance of power is now, and where it might be in six weeks time. Ben Stokes explains the philosophies behind his and the team's preparation and how he has emphasised to them that this is England's chance to mak...

The climax to the greatest Test series of all time - the Oval Test of 2005. England, who hadn't held the Ashes for 18 years, went into this final Test 2-1 up, knowing that if the Australians managed to sneak a victory they would retain the Ashes urn again. The last Test to be broadcast live on terrestrial TV in the UK (on Channel 4) it was regarded as the biggest sporting event in Britain since th...

The Trent Bridge Test of 2005 was the first time England had taken a significant lead in the Ashes for 18 years. It was only achieved in a tense finale in fading light by two players - Ashley Giles and Matthew Hoggard - not renowned for their batting. They managed to collect the final 13 runs for victory with Shane Warne wreaking havoc, only two nervous batters left in the pavilion and the nation...

The dramatic tale of the third Ashes Test of 2005, told through the players eyes - featuring Michael Vaughan, Freddie Flintoff, Andrew Strauss, Simon Jones, Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist. A gripping, tense encounter which built to such a climax that the Old Trafford ground was full by 9am on the fifth day with 20,000 people locked out. And despite England's brilliant efforts with...

Ashley Giles is the guest on this podcast. One of the heroes of the 2005 Ashes looks back on his exploits in that series during which a partnership with Kevin Pietersen at the Oval earned him the nickname 'George' - simpler than King of Spain which he was also ironically known as. Giles also reflects on darker times when he was England's director of cricket, looks ahead to this Ashes series and pi...

The story of the most gripping Ashes Test ever played, the Edgbaston white-knuckle ride of 2005, which went literally to the wire, England eventually winning it by two runs. It featured so much drama - Glenn McGrath slipping on a ball before play, Ricky Ponting putting England in, England walloping 407 in a day, Freddie Flintoff hitting 10 sixes in the match and producing one of the greatest overs...

Classic retelling of the epic drama of the 2005 Ashes - the greatest Test cricket series ever. This is the wildly fluctuating first Test at Lord's. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann marvel at the explosive first hour when England's fast bowlers struck down the Aussies intimidatory batting. The relentless Glenn McGrath struck back to reduce England to 21-5 from which they never properly recovered. This e...

The first episode of our six -part series on the 2005 Ashes - often regarded as the greatest Test series of all time. Twenty years on Simon Hughes and Simon Mann relive the drama of those Tests with its participants including Michael Vaughan, Freddie Flintoff, Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer, Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Strauss and Simon Jones, interspersed with the memories of Shane Warne. This first epi...

Ten days to go to the 2025/6 Ashes and Simon Hughes and Simon Mann monitor the war of words in the Australian press and on podcasts as the pressure builds from the Fourth Estate. The whingeing Poms and 'undercooked' sledges are out in force and the video cuts of Joe Root's dismissals Down Under posted in full. The players themselves are sensibly rising above the noise off stage. The Ashes series i...