The Analyst Inside Cricket

England are expected to announce Joe Root as the new Test captain. Although he is likely to do a better job than second time around, it also underlines the lack of alternatives. Simon Hughes and Simon Mann explore the list of successful England captains with two former England players - Matt Prior and Mark Ramprakash . They discuss what were the attributes of some of England's best Test match skippers and what assets you need now - in addition to a good team - to prevail in the modern game. This is the first of two podcasts on England's leadership crisis. Part 2 on choosing a Test match coach is released tomorrow. #cricket #testmatch #england
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Being a county cricketer is a privilege enjoyed by the very few but it's a life that comes with a lot of pain as well as pleasure. The recently retired Surrey player Cameron Steel discusses with Simon Hughes the highs and the lows, the pressures, the strange characters, the messiest teammates, the best dressing rooms and the worst lunches, and the motorway service stations to avoid.
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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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