The Analyst Inside Cricket

England take inexorable control of the fourth Test at Old Trafford thanks primarily to Joe Root's faultless 38th Test hundred. In the course of it he went past Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid and Ricky Ponting to become the second highest run scorer in the history of Test cricket. Only the incomparable Sachin Tendulkar has more (about 2500 more.) Simon Hughes and Deep Dasgupta assess the day and India's legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar gives his verdict on Root's monumental achievement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Helped by the unexpected contribution of the injured Rishabh Pant India make a battling 358 on the second day at Old Trafford. But after Ben Stokes takes his first 5 wicket haul for eight years, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley make a superb statement of their own with a 160 run opening partnership. Simon Hughes and Deep Dasgupta review a day which has left the match well poised with England 133 runs behidn with 8 wickets in hand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An attritional 83 overs on the first day of the Old Trafford Test as India progress to 264-4 but Rishabh Pant suffers a bad injury to his foot on 37 and may play no further part in the match. Ben Stokes was again the go to bowler for England and having now bowled more overs (119) than in any other previous Test series, he has the same number of Test wickets (226) as both Freddie Flintoff and Steve Harmison. Simon Hughes and former India player Deep Dasgupta assess the day's play and the state of the bat-dominated balls in this series. Apologies for the variable sound quality Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Twilight of the Gods: the first episode of our six -part series on the 2005 Ashes - often regarded as the greatest Test series of all time. Twenty years on Simon Hughes and Simon Mann relive the drama of those Tests with its participants including Michael Vaughan, Freddie Flintoff, Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer, Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Strauss and Simon Jones, interspersed with the memories of Shane Warne. This first episode recalls the build up to the series, why it was so momentous and how England were going to handle the all-conquering Aussies who had held the AShes urn for 16 years. The series is also viewable on The Analyst YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A truly melodramatic final day at Lord's featuring only 112 runs but six vital wickets to give England the narrowest of victories by 22 runs. It was on the very day six years ago when England tied the World Cup final and won the Super Over on a boundary count back, and two of England match-winners that 2019 day - Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer - were at the forefront of England's victory today. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann look back at a wonderful advert for Test cricket and the extraordinary defiance of the Indian lower order with the former Indian player Deep Dasgupta. To see and hear our special six part podcast series on the 2005 Ashes, subscribe to The Cricverse at https://open.substack.com/pub/cricverse/p/the-future-of-finger-spin?r=lo2wd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Defending a meagre 193 for victory, England's Durham pair Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes offer hope of a brilliant climax to an absorbing third Test with late wickets. India now require a further 135 runs to win, with serene opener KL Rahul looking secure and the mercurial Rishabh Pant due in next. It promises to be an exciting final day as the moribund pitch gradually deteriorates. Can Ben Stokes inspire England again on the sixth anniversary of his miraculous World Cup final performance at Lords in 2019? Simon Hughes and Simon Mann discuss an intriguing day and consider why England lost more batsmen bowled (12) than in any Test since the 1880s. India are marginal favourites to win on Betfair. Remember you must be 18+ to bet and please gamble responsibly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England and India finish on exactly the same score in their first innings at Lord's. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann discuss a day of attrition with the odd memorable highlight and a juicy confrontation between Shubman Gill and Zak Crawley at the end of the day as the England openers manage to make one Bumrah over last eight minutes before stumps were drawn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A day of attrition at Lord's, as England battle to 387 all out - despite Bumrah's five wickets - and hold india to 145-3. Jofra Archer bowled a sensational first over after on his Test match return after four years in rehab, and England dismissed the prolific Shubman Gill for only 16. On a fiercely hot day at Lord's 15 overs were left unbowled and Simon Hughes and Simon Mann discuss what can be done about the interminable delays and talk to the managing director of Dukes' balls, Dilip Jajodia, about why the teams keep changing the ball. This podcast is supported by Betfair. You must be over 18 to bet and please gamble responsibly. The second day was in aid of the Ruth Strauss Foundation. Click here to donate https://ruthstraussfoundation.com/get-involved/how-to-support/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Led by the indefatigable Joe Root England ground out a solid base on the first day of the 3rd Test at Lord's. On a slow pitch England elected to bat first and only allowed India four wickets in the day for 251 runs. There is more hard work tomorrow once Root has got the one run to record his 37th Test hundred. But Simon Hughes and Simon Mann are concerned by an apparent muscle twinge suffered by his fifth wicket partner Ben Stokes. This podcast is supported by Betfair. You must be 18 or over to bet and please gamble responsibly. https://betting.betfair.com/betfair-predicts/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Simon Hughes and Simon Mann review the 2nd Test at Edgbaston which ended in a thumping win for India. They assess how England will respond and who they will pick for Lord's starting on Thursday. Will the returning Jofra Archer significantly bolster their ailing attack and can they find a solution to the prolific Shubman Gill who has amassed 585 runs in the first two Tests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices