The Analyst Inside Cricket

International cricket continues to produce remarkable results and England are on the wrong end of one again. Pakistan's last wicket pair of Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf somehow put together a record last wicket partnership of 88 to steal victory from the jaws of defeat in Lahore.

As England reflect on what went wrong, Simon Hughes and Simon Mann marvel at the miraculousness of Pakistan's win, consider what England could have done about it and recall other extraordinary last wicket stands.

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Simon Hughes visits Sixes Cricket - the cricket-themed installation at London Bridge - to face virtual versions of some of the great deliveries bowled by the likes of Mitchell Starc, Brett Lee, Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar.

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A record breaking 200 from Harry Brook - England's first ODI double hundred - was not enough to prevent Sri Lanka from pulling off an incredble 430-run chase on an extraordinary day for cricket when South Africa also beat Austraia by an innings in the second Test in Port Elizabeth. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann catch their breath and try to explain the inexplicable.

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England lose their first odi in Pakistan by 87 runs as they collapse from 177-4 to 215 all out. The defeat exposes England's dependence on Joe Root and Harry Brook - who both were dismissed by genuinely good balls - and the fragility of some of their newer players. England were a touch sloppy in the field and not all that smart at times in the runchase having been 91-0. There's a lot of work to do to make them genuine contenders for the next World Cup as Baz McCullum reflected in his post-match comments.

The Simons review the match and where England could improve and also discuss South Africa's brilliant fightback against Australia in Port Elizabeth led by the brave, indefatigable Temba Bavuma.

Also - when did football overtake cricket as the most popular sport in the world?

This podcast is brought to you by Claude.ai. Try Claude Cowork today - go to claude.ai/analyst

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Chris Woakes, double World Cup winner, and one of the only men on the Lord's honours board for batting (a Test hundred) and bowling (a five wicket haul) joins the podcast to talk about his life. 'Wiz' reveals how his nickname originated, the early 'hairdryer' spray he received from England coach Andy Flower, the sledging from the Australians on his Test debut,.

Also - what he really thinks of Bazball, sharing a hotel and a dressing room with Virat Kohli and the other Indian stars, the trials and tribulations of being a fast bowler and the agony and stress of dislocating his shoulder in his final Test. And which cricketer he would like to be for a day...

Chris's autobiography The Wizard is out this week.

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The announcement of new England central contracts was a wonderful payday for some of England's burgeoning young players and a warning to others who only received one year deals. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann consider the winners and losers and also review the tenacious performance of Australia's thirty-somethings as with resilience, perseverance and enduring skills they grind the life out of South Africa in the first Test Durban.

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In this episode, Australian cricket legend and coach Justin Langer shares insights on changing cricket techniques, leadership, mental strength, and his personal journey, including a powerful story about overcoming fears and the importance of fundamentals in sports and life.

He explains to Simon Hughes what it was like taking over the Australian team after the sandpapergate scandal and revisits the famous scene of him kicking over the dressing room waste bin during the 2019 Headingley Test. We also explore the difficulties of finding Test quality opening batsmen - worldwide - and preview the forthcoming Test series between South Africa and Australia starting on Friday.

This podcast is brought to you by Rothesay - your future in safe hands. For more information on Rothesay's support of Test cricket click here

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The forthcoming Test series between South Africa and Australia pits some of the world's finest fast bowlers against each other. But who is the most valuable fast bowler in the world? Simon Hughes and Simon Mann discuss this with data expert Ahyan Sikandar who has modelled different ways of evaluating fast bowlers - best 'per ball', best 'team' player and 'most 'valuable.' So who comes out top?!! And who, surprisingly, takes lots of wickets but seems to diminish the impact of his teammates?

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Covering the climax to the Rothesay County Championship, Simon Hughes pays a visit to Hove to watch Sussex's battle with holders Nottinghamshire. He also hears the energetic plans from Sussex’s new chairman Ed Warner to make the county the pride of the south coast again, assisted by some of the county’s finest ex-players like Matt Prior. Clearly they mean business.

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England's exciting young fast bowler Sonny Baker shares insights into his rapid rise in international cricket, his approach to bowling fast and swinging the ball, and his training and recovery routines. He explains how he adapts to conditions, his influences, and how his trusty Asthi bone broth keeps him in peak condition. He also reveals his highlights of the summer, why he's loving the older ball and how he practices his devastating yorker.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Sonny Baker's Summer Highlights

02:51 Journey from Debut to International Success

03:16 Influence of Mark Wood and Team Energy

05:40 Bowling at the Oval and Swing Techniques

07:45 Science of Swing and Ball Seaming

09:40 Personal Ball Selection and Tape Technique

12:53 Bowling at the Moment of Impact and Key Deliveries

14:48 Impact of Conditions and Strategy in Bowling

19:19 Body Care, Nutrition, and Recovery Routine

22:33 Use of Bone Broth and Nutrition Tips

26:40 Bowling Technique and Mental Preparation

30:17 Adapting Line and Length in Real Time

36:23 Death Bowling and Key Wickets

41:49 Bowling at Mitchell Marsh and Fast Bowling Skills

44:24 The Origin of the Yorker and Practice Tips

47:50 Future Plans, World Cup, and Franchise Tournaments

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