A bowler dominated Sunday as the meaningful part of the T20 World Cup - the Super 8s - gets underway. Simon Hughes and former Indian batsman Deep Dasgupta assess how India allowed South Africa to make 187 after being 20-3 and then collapsed to 111 all out themselves. And in Pallekele, England stumbled to 146-9 with Jos Buttler again looking woefully indecisive, but then bowled Sri Lanka out for a paltry 95. This podcast is also available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheSimonhughes

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On the eve of the T20 World Cup Super Eights it has been revealed that Hundred franchises part-owned by Indian Premier League teams are being prevented from signing Pakistani players in the forthcoming Hundred auction. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann consider the ramifications of this for the ECB's campaign to improve diversity and inclusivity in the game. They are also joined by writer and commentator Peter della Penna to discuss the associate teams emergence in the T20 World Cup, an encouraging future for USA cricket, the likely semi finalists and when the world's leading T20 batsman, Abishek Sharma, will score his first run in the tournament. For more on the art of T20 batting, subscribe to The Cricverse on Substack.

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A pivotal moment in the T20 World Cup as India beat Pakistan for the umpteenth time at the halfway point in the tournament. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann ask if anyone can beat India in this format (in their own conditions) and evaluate who else will join them in the Super 8s. They also discuss what makes Ishan Kishan so dynamic, the unusual bowling (and effective) action of Pakistan's Usman Tariq and evaluate England's chances after their scrappy win over Scotland. And, later in the show, the emerging force of USA cricket. Will they make it to the next stage, and why have they been so slow to develop their cricket after a great start in the 19th century?

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An incredible T20 World Cup match between South Africa and Afghanistan which goes to a second super-over is followed by England slumping to defeat at the hands of West indies excellent spinners. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann analyse where England lost it, how Afghanistan almost won it and how the commentators Dale Steyn and Kas Nadoo almost lost their voices. For more analysis on the T20 World Cup subscribe to our blog The Cricverse on Substack. (click the link)

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In the T20 World Cup England almost suffer the ignominy of losing to brave, plucky Nepal. Sam Curran holds his nerve to put out Nepal's fire and defend 10 off the last over. Also in this episode we analyse India's near miss with USA, discuss the dominance of left handers and reveal that the India v Pakistan match, which is now back on, means $250m to the world game. Also the brilliant teenager Viabhav Sooryavanshi is assessed (age and ability). Also read Simon Hughes's assessment on Substack at https://cricverse.substack.com/p/teenage-destroyer?r=lo2wd

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After a messy build up, the ICC T20 World cup begins this weekend in India and Sri Lanka. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann are joined by former Indian player Deep Dasgupta to assess the competition and ponder who can stop India from retaining their title. England certainly could on their day, so could South Africa who are still ruing how they lost the final to india in the Caribbean 18 months ago. They pick their best XIs from the assembled talent and whet the appetite for 28 days of intense white ball assaults.

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England can finally toast a series victory this winter with a barnstorming batting performance in the final ODI in Sri Lanka. On the back of a 20th ODI century by Joe Root and a stylish 67 from Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook assaulted the wilting Sri Lankan attack as only he can with a quite remarkable 136 not out off 66 balls with nine sixes. It was a reminder of his exceptional talent which mostly went missing in the Ashes. It sets England up well for the T20 World Cup to follow, although, as Simon Hughes and Simon Mann discuss, the bowling is a worry.

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England's woeful winter continues with a defeat in the first odi in Sri Lanka, making it 8 losses and one solitary victory in all formats since they departed for New Zealand in October. Joe Root and Ben Duckett compiled an excellent partnership of 117, but the rest of the batting and much of the bowling left something to be desired. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann assess the match and also consider the impasse between Bangladesh and the Indian-dominated ICC over their participation in next month's T20 World Cup. This podcast is sponsored by Nord VPN. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/aic. Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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The final episode of our specially produced series on the 2005 Ashes - when England finally regained the urn at the Oval after almost two decades without it. The epic series is still in the balance until the last day of this fifth and final Test, climaxing with the extraordinary maiden Test century by Kevin Pietersen. Features interviews with Michael Vaughan, Justin Langer, Freddie Flintoff, Adam Gilchrist, Simon Jones, Glenn McGrath and Andrew Strauss. The entire series can be watched on YouTube at
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcx2boKeCuyO7Ghenjl06tUwOyeaT5vy

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Continuing our recap of the epic 2005 Ashes, featuring the nerve-tingling Trent Bridge Test when England forced Australia to follow on for the first time for 20 years and then almost sacrificed themselves to the wizardly Warne. Features contributions from Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss, Simon Jones, Ashley Giles, Justin Langer and Glenn McGrath. Also viewable on YouTube - here's the full video playlist
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcx2boKeCuyO7Ghenjl06tUwOyeaT5vy

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