The Analyst Inside Cricket

The second instalment of our special 5-part series looking back at the iconic and brutal Ashes contests of 1974/5, fifty years ago. This episode features the painful encounter in Perth when England's batters - supplemented by 41 year old Colin Cowdrey - were subjected to a barrage from Lillee and Thomson. For the complete series go to The Analyst Plus at patreon.com/theanalyst25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First episode of our regular question time sessions - answering listeners questions. This week's include - should Ben Stokes captain England if is not fit to bowl, where does Jasprit Bumrah raank in the all-time bowlers pantheon, what is the future for membership-structured counties and who is cricket's Scrooge and Santa. To be part of our cricket community with q and as and special podcast series like our 1974/5 Ashes dramatisation - go to patreon.com/theanalyst25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England's Test match year began with a bang (winning in Hyderabad) and ended with a whimper (losing to New Zealand by 423 runs). Our assessment of the final Test in Hamilton and where the England team are at now. For more exclusive content including our special series on the great 1974/5 Ashes 50 years ago, visit patreon.com/theanalyst25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After being suppressed for the first two Tests, New Zealand finally demonstrate their talent and quality on a day dominated by a classic Kane Williamson century. Sample some Kiwi music as a backdrop to a dominating performance by the home team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A New Zealand side invigorated by their last two wickets adding 75 put a rather lacklustre England side under the cosh to build a lead of 340 by the end of the second day in Hamilton. It was the result of what Michael Atherton called 'hooptedoodle cricket' (a word borrowed from Elmore Leonard to mean meaningless or skippable prose) in the morning. Special podcast series on the 1974/5 Ashes - 50 years ago - at patreon.com/theanalyst25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New Zealand's lower order manage to recover some respectability after England's persevering seamers induce a middle order collapse on the first day of the third Test in Hamilton. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann report. For their exclusive series on the brilliant 1974/5 Ashes go to patreon.com/theanalyst25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first episode of a special four-part series telling the story of the brutal 1974/5 Ashes Tests. Fifty years ago, England's unsuspecting batsmen were subjected to a barrage from Australian speedsters Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann narrate the harrowing details of the first Test in Brisbane with help from the participants David 'Bumble' Lloyd, Dennis Amiss and Ian Chappell assisted by Ian Botham and author David Tossell. For other episodes in this series go to patreon.com/Theanalyst25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A review of England's thumping victory over New Zealand in Wellington and Australia turning the tables on India in the second Test in Adelaide. Makes the World Test Championship table fascinating. For more content and special series like HeadHunters - our feature on the brutal 1974/5 Ashes go to patreon.com/Theanalyst25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England build up a huge lead over New Zealand in the second Test thanks to a hattrick from Gus Atkinson (in his 10th Test) and some precocious batting from Jacob Bethell (in his second) ably assisted by Ben Duckett and Joe Root (in his 151st.) The Simons report on that, the origin of the term hattrick and a strong second day by Australia in Adelaide Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Highly entertaining days cricket in Wellington (and Adelaide) featuring 26 wickets and over 500 runs (in two simultaneous Test matches) and one of the finest innings played by an Englishman in testing conditions - Harry Brooks brilliant 123. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann assess the day and there's also an extract from our new podcast series HeadHunters - full episode available at patreon.com/TheAnalyst25. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices