The Telegraph Cricket Podcast · The Telegraph

England's Hyderabad heist with Bumble

·55 min·5 clips

Mike calls England's Hyderabad win their greatest ever, defying a 190-run deficit on a spinning pitch.

This episode of The Telegraph Cricket Podcast analyzes England's dramatic comeback victory over India in the first Test in Hyderabad. Hosts Ben Wright, Mike Atherton, and Phil Tufnell are joined by legendary commentator and former England coach David "Bumble" Lloyd. They dissect the key performances and tactical decisions that defined the match. England overcame a 190-run first-innings deficit, fueled by Ollie Pope's monumental 196, his first second-innings century. Debutant spinner Tom Hartley took 7 for 62 in the second innings to secure the win after a difficult first outing. The hosts examine Ben Stokes's captaincy, particularly his persistent backing of Hartley, and contrast it with what they viewed as subpar tactics from India's Rohit Sharma. The panel also touches on the West Indies' simultaneous Test victory in Australia. A central topic is England's aggressive use of the sweep and reverse sweep, which they believe flustered India's premier spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. The absence of Virat Kohli for the series and injuries to key Indian players like KL Rahul and Jadeja for the next Test are noted as significant factors. Phil Tufnell, a former spinner, explains in detail how the sweep shot disrupts a bowler's rhythm and field placements, making it a potent "release shot." Mike Atherton suggests India failed to adapt by not having left-arm spinner Axar Patel bowl around the wicket to Pope. David Lloyd highlights the unified mindset fostered by coach Brendon McCullum, where players only consider how to win, not how to survive. The hosts are intrigued by how India will counter England's approach in the next Test, with speculation they may bring in all-rounder Washington Sundar. A memorable anecdote from Lloyd recalls a team outing on John Paul Getty's yacht during a West Indies tour, featuring Mark Ramprakash sinking a jet ski. The tone is conversational, analytical, and celebratory, blending expert tactical insight with personal anecdotes from high-level cricket. The style is informed by the hosts' deep professional experience as a journalist, former captain, and former player. Cricket fans who enjoy deep tactical analysis of Test match cricket, especially regarding spin bowling and captaincy, will love this episode. Listeners seeking a broad, general sports discussion or those uninterested in cricket's technical details might want to skip it.

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