Joe Root lit up The Hundred this week for the Trent Rockets as he helped them secure their place in the play-offs. Meanwhile Oval Invincibles look set for a 3-peat on the men's side and Southern Brave have dominated the women's competition. Elsewhere, Cheteshwar Pujara hung up his spikes and will go down as a modern great and an Indian legend. Visit www.betterhelp.com/CRICKETPOD to get 10% off your first month – as heard on the podcast. Links to podcast audio: https://linktr.ee/thecricketpod Our website: thecricketpod.com Support the podcast: patreon.com/thecricketpod Buy merchandise: https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/stores/the-cricket-podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecricketpod Buy coffee: https://cricketcoffeeco.com/products/the-cricket-podcast-coffee Twitter and Instagram: @thecricketpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join us for an exciting look at England's cricket team as Jacob Bethell takes the reins as its youngest captain ever, particularly focused on The Hundred. We'll explore Bethell's leadership in this dynamic format and its impact on the squad's future. This episode also delves into The Hundred tournament looking at recent performances and what we've made of the tournament at the half-way stage. Visit www.betterhelp.com/CRICKETPOD to get 10% off your first month – as heard on the podcast. Links to podcast audio: https://linktr.ee/thecricketpod Our website: thecricketpod.com Support the podcast: patreon.com/thecricketpod Buy merchandise: https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/stores/the-cricket-podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecricketpod Buy coffee: https://cricketcoffeeco.com/products/the-cricket-podcast-coffee Twitter and Instagram: @thecricketpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We give our final thoughts on the thrilling Test series between England and India. Who was our player of the series, where does the series rank in terms of all time cricket moments and what does it mean for England's Ashes chances. And The Hundred is back. What do we make of the 2025 edition of the tournament? Visit ⁠www.betterhelp.com/CRICKETPOD⁠ to get 10% off your first month – as heard on the podcast. Links to podcast audio: ⁠https://linktr.ee/thecricketpod⁠ Our website: thecricketpod.com Support the podcast: patreon.com/thecricketpod Buy merchandise: ⁠https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/stores/the-cricket-podcast/⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/thecricketpod⁠ Buy coffee: ⁠https://cricketcoffeeco.com/products/the-cricket-podcast-coffee⁠ Twitter and Instagram: @thecricketpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the game in the balance on day 5, a herculean effort from Siraj meant India took the win at the Oval and tied the series 2-2. What was our reaction to this famous test match? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast recaps the exciting conclusion of the 5th Test between England and India at The Oval. England needed 374 runs to win and secure the series, facing a challenging task on the final day. The game was closely contested at the end of Day 4, with England needing 35 more runs to win, and India needing 4 more wickets for victory. England's pursuit of a record chase at The Oval was led by a century from Joe Root. He scored his 39th Test hundred off 137 balls before getting out with 37 runs left to score. Harry Brook also played a key role, hitting 111 off 98 balls, bringing England within 73 runs of their target. But India fought back and still have a chance. Visit www.betterhelp.com/CRICKETPOD to get 10% off your first month – as heard on the podcast. Links to podcast audio: https://linktr.ee/thecricketpod Our website: thecricketpod.com Support the podcast: patreon.com/thecricketpod Buy merchandise: https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/stores/the-cricket-podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecricketpod Buy coffee: https://cricketcoffeeco.com/products/the-cricket-podcast-coffee Twitter and Instagram: @thecricketpod Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6313687373840384 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After England scored a mammoth 669 to take a commanding lead and leave India 0-2 on Day 4, all thoughts turned to an England win. But a fantastic display from India's batters on a flat Old Trafford pitch saw India home to a comfortable draw. Some late shenanigans gave us something to talk about, however, as Jadeja and Sundar wound up weary England by turning down an early finish to reach their centuries. 1 test to go and the trophy remains up for grabs! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England were all over on Day 2 of the fourth Test between India and England in the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy Test series. India started the day in a good position but were unable to capitalise, as poor cricket and good play from England wrapped the innings up, despite a cameo from Rishabh Pant. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett then took the game away from India, scoring quickly and brutally as they ran the score up to almost 200. Visit www.betterhelp.com/CRICKETPOD to get 10% off your first month – as heard on the podcast. Links to podcast audio: https://linktr.ee/thecricketpod Our website: thecricketpod.com Support the podcast: patreon.com/thecricketpod Buy merchandise: https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/stores/the-cricket-podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecricketpod Buy coffee: https://cricketcoffeeco.com/products/the-cricket-podcast-coffee Twitter and Instagram: @thecricketpod Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6313687373840384 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

India came out slightly ahead on day 1 in Manchester, as their Test series v England continues. They will be upset, however, that they couldn't build a bigger advantage and will be seriously worried by the injury to Rishabh Pant. Visit www.betterhelp.com/CRICKETPOD to get 10% off your first month – as heard on the podcast. Links to podcast audio: https://linktr.ee/thecricketpod Our website: thecricketpod.com Support the podcast: patreon.com/thecricketpod Buy merchandise: https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/stores/the-cricket-podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecricketpod Buy coffee: https://cricketcoffeeco.com/products/the-cricket-podcast-coffee Twitter and Instagram: @thecricketpod Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6313687373840384 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can England win the fourth Test v India at Old Trafford and put an end to the series? After winning at Lord's England will have their tails up and have named a similar team to a take on India in Manchester. India, meanwhile, have an injury crisis and will be trying to work out which xi works best for them to keep the Test series alive! Visit www.betterhelp.com/CRICKETPOD to get 10% off your first month – as heard on the podcast. Links to podcast audio: https://linktr.ee/thecricketpod Our website: thecricketpod.com Support the podcast: patreon.com/thecricketpod Buy merchandise: https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/stores/the-cricket-podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecricketpod Buy coffee: https://cricketcoffeeco.com/products/the-cricket-podcast-coffee Twitter and Instagram: @thecricketpod Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6313687373840384 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After days of attritional cricket, needle, broken fingers and on-field massages, the 3rd test at Lord's reached a thrilling conclusion as Shoaib Bashir nabbed the last wicket to hand England a 22 run win. With England 2-1 up in the series, where was the game one, did India get it wrong, and what's next for both sides? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England are melting in the heat as India's heroes dominated day 4 at Lord's. Barring a miracle India will go 2-1 up after England failed spectacularly with the bat. Visit www.betterhelp.com/CRICKETPOD to get 10% off your first month – as heard on the podcast. Links to podcast audio: https://linktr.ee/thecricketpod Our website: thecricketpod.com Support the podcast: patreon.com/thecricketpod Buy merchandise: https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/stores/the-cricket-podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecricketpod Buy coffee: https://cricketcoffeeco.com/products/the-cricket-podcast-coffee Twitter and Instagram: @thecricketpod Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6313687373840384 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England suffered a crushing defeat against a Bumrahless India in the second Test of their series against India. India levelled the series thanks to glorious centuries from Shubman Gill and devestating bowling from Siraj and Akash Deep. What do we think of it all? Visit www.betterhelp.com/CRICKETPOD to get 10% off your first month – as heard on the podcast. Links to podcast audio: https://linktr.ee/thecricketpod Our website: thecricketpod.com Support the podcast: patreon.com/thecricketpod Buy merchandise: https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/stores/the-cricket-podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecricketpod Buy coffee: https://cricketcoffeeco.com/products/the-cricket-podcast-coffee Twitter and Instagram: @thecricketpod Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6313687373840384 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can India find a way to stop England's bazball antics. England have named an unchanged team and India will be waiting to see whether Bumrah is fit before naming theirs. Could Kuldeep Yadav be the answer? Visit www.betterhelp.com/CRICKETPOD to get 10% off your first month – as heard on the podcast. Links to podcast audio: https://linktr.ee/thecricketpod Our website: thecricketpod.com Support the podcast: patreon.com/thecricketpod Buy merchandise: https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/stores/the-cricket-podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecricketpod Buy coffee: https://cricketcoffeeco.com/products/the-cricket-podcast-coffee Twitter and Instagram: @thecricketpod Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6313687373840384 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England v India produced the drama we were all hoping for, by conjuring up one of the all time great Test matches to begin the series at Headingley. Bumrah laboured but Duckett and Crawley showed they had answers as England ticked off the runs. Shardul Thakur then nearly turned it for India by picking up Brook, but Root was still there and slowly him, Stokes and and Smith ticked off the runs. Visit www.betterhelp.com/CRICKETPOD to get 10% off your first month – as heard on the podcast. Links to podcast audio: https://linktr.ee/thecricketpod Our website: thecricketpod.com Support the podcast: patreon.com/thecricketpod Buy merchandise: https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/stores/the-cricket-podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecricketpod Buy coffee: https://cricketcoffeeco.com/products/the-cricket-podcast-coffee Twitter and Instagram: @thecricketpod Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6313687373840384 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul have seized control of the first Test between India and England. Their two centuries on day 4 have wrestled control of the match away from England and have helped India to a daunting score that even England will be worried about. Visit www.betterhelp.com/CRICKETPOD to get 10% off your first month – as heard on the podcast. Links to podcast audio: https://linktr.ee/thecricketpod Our website: thecricketpod.com Support the podcast: patreon.com/thecricketpod Buy merchandise: https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/stores/the-cricket-podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecricketpod Buy coffee: https://cricketcoffeeco.com/products/the-cricket-podcast-coffee Twitter and Instagram: @thecricketpod Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6313687373840384 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a topsy turvey Test match at Hedingley England have been battling with India. The batsman have dominated the first 3 days, but Jasprit Bumrah's magic has shone through with the ball. Harry Brook's marvelous 99 almost took the game away for England, but things are still up for grabs. Visit www.betterhelp.com/CRICKETPOD to get 10% off your first month – as heard on the podcast. Links to podcast audio: https://linktr.ee/thecricketpod Our website: thecricketpod.com Support the podcast: patreon.com/thecricketpod Buy merchandise: https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/stores/the-cricket-podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecricketpod Buy coffee: https://cricketcoffeeco.com/products/the-cricket-podcast-coffee Twitter and Instagram: @thecricketpod Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6313687373840384 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

South Africa are World Test Champions, as they overcame Australia at Lord's. Markram, Rabada and Bavuma were the three heroes for the Proteas, as they roared back from a first innings deficit to overcome Pat Cummins and the Australians. Then we turn our attention to India, who begin their Test series against England on Friday. The series is shaping up to be a cracker, with both teams showing a lot of strength. Will Bumrah be the difference, and will we see Jacob Bethell? Visit www.betterhelp.com/CRICKETPOD to get 10% off your first month – as heard on the podcast. Links to podcast audio: https://linktr.ee/thecricketpod Our website: thecricketpod.com Support the podcast: patreon.com/thecricketpod Buy merchandise: https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/stores/the-cricket-podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecricketpod Buy coffee: https://cricketcoffeeco.com/products/the-cricket-podcast-coffee Twitter and Instagram: @thecricketpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who will win the World Test Championship, which will be contested by Australia and South Africa this week at Lord's. Australia are the heavy favourites, but with bowlers like Jansen and Rabada you cannot write off the South Africans! We also provide our final thoughts on the 2025 IPL, revisiting our predicitons and seeing which of us made the best calls about the IPL. Visit www.betterhelp.com/CRICKETPOD to get 10% off your first month – as heard on the podcast. Links to podcast audio: https://linktr.ee/thecricketpod Our website: thecricketpod.com Support the podcast: patreon.com/thecricketpod Buy merchandise: https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/stores/the-cricket-podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecricketpod Buy coffee: https://cricketcoffeeco.com/products/the-cricket-podcast-coffee Twitter and Instagram: @thecricketpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2025 was finally the year that Virat Kohli brecame an IPL Champion. In the final Royal Challengers Bengaluru took on the Punjab Kings. RCB batted first and managed a decent, but not amazing score. In response the Punjab Kings started well, but the wickets fell, and Shreyas Iyer was among them. This set up the thing we'd all been waiting for, an IPL win for RCB and Virat Kohli. Visit www.betterhelp.com/CRICKETPOD to get 10% off your first month – as heard on the podcast. Links to podcast audio: https://linktr.ee/thecricketpod Our website: thecricketpod.com Support the podcast: patreon.com/thecricketpod Buy merchandise: https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/stores/the-cricket-podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecricketpod Buy coffee: https://cricketcoffeeco.com/products/the-cricket-podcast-coffee Twitter and Instagram: @thecricketpod Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6313687373840384 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We talk IPL Final, on this episode of The Cricket Podcast. Punjab Kings overcame the Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2, thanks to an all timer of an innings from Shreyas Iyer. Who will win in their face-off with Virat Kohli and RCB? Visit www.betterhelp.com/CRICKETPOD to get 10% off your first month – as heard on the podcast. Links to podcast audio: https://linktr.ee/thecricketpod Our website: thecricketpod.com Support the podcast: patreon.com/thecricketpod Buy merchandise: https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/stores/the-cricket-podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecricketpod Buy coffee: https://cricketcoffeeco.com/products/the-cricket-podcast-coffee Twitter and Instagram: @thecricketpod Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6313687373840384 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices