The Analyst Inside Cricket

After the revelations in Usman Khawaja's new book that "everybody knew" about Australia tampering with the ball in 2018, we discuss what this means for Australia's quartet of great bowlers. Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Starc and Nathan Lyon issued a joint statement at the height of the Sandpapergate scandal denying any knowledge of players ball-tampering and declaring "we pride ourselves on our honesty." Khawaja's book challenges this stance.

Simon Hughes and Simon Mann delves into the detail and also analyse the comments of David Warner (who was banned for a year after the controversy) in support of Khawaja's revelations.

Also in this episode, England's squad for the Test match tour of South Africa is announced and we analyse the winners and losers, notably the selection of the Notts spinner Liam Paterson-White.

This episode is in association with Claude ai. Try Claude Cowork today at Claude.ai/analyst

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A stunning 6-24 on ODI debut by Australia's Mahli Beardman consigned England to another early departure in Perth and briefly shunted Sandpapergate off Australia's back pages.

Simon Hughes and Matt Prior react to Pat Cummins defiant responses to Usman Khawaja's allegations and analyse a ropey England batting performance, albeit in awkward batting conditions against a sharp Australian attack.

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Former England opener Nick Compton joins the podcast to discuss South Africa's brilliant series win over Australia, spearheaded by Temba Bavuma, and the crisis affecting Australian batting. He and Simon Hughes explore the compromises modern batters have to overcome, the decline of traditional technique caused by the exposure to shorter formats, and the secrets of success.

Also in this episode an assessment of Emilio Gay's performance so far as an England opener, what he can expect when England tour South Africa next month and why Jimmy Anderson wants to carry on. Plus questions from members of the Worlds Best Cricket Club. Join us for more evenings and live events in aid of the Professional Cricketers Trust HERE

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A brilliant 6-16 by South Africa's Simon Harmer finished off Australia for 111 in Cape Town, sealing the series win and deposing Australia from top spot in the ICC World Test championship. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann analyse the final Test, debate where the match was won and lost and assess where this leaves Australia's ageing side now. They also applaud South Africa's impressive fightback after losing the first Test heavily, praise their impressive bowling attack and highlight the importance of their all-rounders the engine room of a side that England will be seriously challenged by next month.

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England manage to defend 386 to at last win an ODI in Lahore, admittedly after they have already been eliminated from the tri-series. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann assess where England are in their ODI evolution, as they head off for some more white ball matches in Australia.

Also we continue to discuss the clash of the titans in Cape Town where Australia are slowly but surely forcing South Africa into a corner. After three days SA lead by 40 with six wickets in hand on an increasingly unreliable pitch. But South Africa will fight to the death..

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A pulsating first day of the final Test in Cape Town as South Africa potentially squander a fantastic first session when they were 148-0. Australia's impotent first session was first rescued by Nathan Lyon and then letterly by the brilliant Mitchell Starc who took 4-2 to finish the SA innings off for 329.

Simon Hughes and Simon Mann reflect on a day of dramatic ebb and flow, also assess the state of England's one day side after they were put out of their misery by Sri Lanka beating Pakistan in Lahore. And they discuss Lancashire's treatment of Jimmy Anderson and why he's still seems keen to play on.

If you're interested in trying an AI that can tackle real work, try Claude Cowork today at claude.ai/analyst.

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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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