The Analyst Inside Cricket

An opening stand of 192 between Jacob Bethell and Ben Duckett was the foundation of England's 387-3 - the highest score ever made in Odin at Lords. It proved to much for India despite the efforts of Rohit Sharma who answered critics of his continued presence in the team (and possible retirement) with 138 and the evergreen Virat Kohli. Simon Hughes, Simon Mann and Deep Dasgupta review the match and the series and are impressed by the re-emergence of this England odi side. #england #cricket #india

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The death of arguably the greatest all-rounder who ever lived - Sir Garfield Sobers - was announced today. Simon Hughes pays tribute to an incredible player and a remarkable man with two men from Barbados who knew him well - former Middlesex and England batsman Roland Butcher and former Worcestershire and Middlesex fast bowler Ricky Ellcock. They all grew up inspited by Sobers and have vivid memories of first seeing him on a cricket field and then getting to know him in later life. Sobers was the King of West Indies cricket. He may have passed away but he will live on people's memories for ever. He is immortal.

Both Butcher and Ellcock have recently written fascinating books about their lives in cricket and growing up in Barbados when Sobers was still playing. Butcher's Breaking Barriers is here and Ellcock's Balls to Fly is here

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With runs and wickets, India's Axar Patel seizes victory for India at Edgbaston in the first of three odis to continue England's poor run in this format. But as important as the cricket was the fundraising for the Prostate charity. It was Blue for Bob day in memory of the great Bob Willis who tragically died of prostate cancer in 2019. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann review the match and remember the impact Bob had on and off the field with his brother Dave, one of the founders of the charity which has raised more than £2.5m in aid of prostate cancer research. To donate text ten, twenty or forty to 70843. #england #india #prostate #blueforbobday

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Brendan Mccullum has been sacked as England Test coach. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann discuss the decision and how he will cope having been removed from one job and retained in another (the white ball role.) One shambles is replaced by another. Plus the first ever women’s Test at Lords reviewed and an unusual new job for The Analyst #cricket #england #mccullum #womenstest

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142 years after the men played a Test match at Lord's, the women have finally got their chance. Glorious weather greeted this seminal moment in the game as England hosted women for a one-off women's Test. Simon Hughes was there to commemorate the occasion, conduct a brief tour of Lord's and reflect on the absurdity of the women having to wait over a century for their turn at the self-appointed Home of Cricket.

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The BBC's Simon Mann and former Indian player Deep Dasgupta describe with some astonishment England's 125 run thrashing of India in the 3rd T20. Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue blasted through India's top order - despite the teenager Sooryavashi whacking two of his first four balls for six - and reduced them to 51-5. After this they subsided meekly to be all out in 11.4 overs in reply to England's commanding 201, which was in-spite of a first over maiden from Arsdeep Singh. Archer was player of the match inflicting on India their biggest-ever T20 defeat. They can now only draw the series 2-2. #cricket #england #india #T20

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An instant review of the women's T20 World Cup final. Simon Hughes attends the match with his daughter Nancy - a former young England player herself who played alongside many of the current T20 team. They evaluate how far the women's game has come and how much England have improved since last year but how far they still have to go to match the superb Aussies.

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Simon Hughes and Simon Mann review England's chaotic defeat to New Zealand at Trent Bridge, resulting in England's first series loss at home since 2012. The old school New Zealand approach is celebrated. The retiring Ben Stokes declares support for his vice captain Harry Brook to take over and Matt Prior acclaims Stokes brilliant career but also suggests that he now leaves England in some disarray. #cricket #england #stokes #engvnz

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Ben Stokes, one of the greatest all-rounders the game has seen, announed his international retirement today. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann pay tribute to a remarkable cricketer, remember his highights, ask 'why now' and consider how England replace the irreplaceable. Oh, also, there's still a Test match going on whch New Zealand will probably go on to win and clinch the series. What will that mean for Bazball and the England heirarchy?

To read Simon Hughes' piece on Substack predicting this eventuality 2 weeks ago click this link #cricket #england #stokes

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A fluctuating day on a capricious pitch which in the end the New Zealanders are in control of. Nagging seam bowling and some prodigious movement earned them an 84 run lead which they boosted to 204 by the close. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann assess the passages of play dominated by New Zealander's bowlers and their keeper stood up to the stumps. tough match for England to win from here #cricket #england

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