HotSpot - A Cricket Podcast By Chetan Narula & Deep Dasgupta

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents IPL 2021: HotSpot Special Edition, powered by Earshot.in, featuring cricket journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross.The inevitable has happened and IPL 2021 has come to a grinding halt, thanks to as many as ten positive cases across four teams. The season has been suspended indefinitely and players are now enroute home. So, what happens to the IPL 2021 now? Is it a priority in a jam packed year? When can it be hosted again and where can it be played, more importantly? What will be the likely impact on the international calendar?And what are the last happy memories of IPL 2021... atleast for the time being? Tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents IPL 2021: HotSpot Special Edition, powered by Earshot.in, featuring cricket journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross.In this episode, we tackle the burning question: Should the IPL 2021 continue to be played? Given the tragedy unfolding in India, should the IPL continue? Why should it continue if so? Is it really a distraction for the millions staying at home? If the IPL stops, why should it stop? What is the viewpoint from outside India about this tournament going on even as the pandemic rages in India's hospitals? Are the BCCI and its IPL teams tone deaf? Can they do more and how should they do more? Our panelists try to tackle these difficult questions. Tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents IPL 2021: HotSpot Special Edition, powered by Earshot.in, featuring cricket journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross.In the second part of week two review, the duo talk about high flying Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings' resurgent form, and what is ailing Mumbai Indians? Can they regain their status as the strongest team in the competition in change of venues?Also, Delhi Capitals... are they the real deal this season around?

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents IPL 2021: HotSpot Special Edition, powered by Earshot.in, featuring cricket journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. In the second week of IPL 2021, four teams are on equal points in the lower half of the table. Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals have made a poor start to the season. Which team is going to struggle from here onwards? Also, Royal Challengers Bangalore notch up their fourth consecutive win. Are they finally looking good for an IPL title?

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents IPL 2021: HotSpot Special Edition, powered by Earshot.in, featuring cricket journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals make winning start to week two. But how badly have Rajasthan Royals been hit with Ben Stokes' injury? Who is their back-up? How badly will they suffer? Also, Mumbai Indians playing five games in Chennai, along with Sunrisers Hyderabad. Is this going to impact the race for the knockouts' spots? Last but not the least, Liam Livingstone flies home. How serious is bio-bubble fatigue?! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents IPL 2021: HotSpot Special Edition, powered by Earshot.in, featuring cricket journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. They look back at week one of the 2021 IPL. How have Royal Challengers Bangalore managed to win all three games, where does that leave Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, what's gone wrong for Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the lowly end of the table. Also, a review of Matches 10 and 11 on Sunday, as RCB and DC rang out winners. The key question... is Shikhar Dhawan back in T20 World Cup contention?

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents IPL 2021: HotSpot Special Edition, powered by Earshot.in, featuring cricket journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. Match 6 saw Royal Challengers Bangalore beating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 6 runs. SRH crashed in much the same way as Kolkata Knight Riders did. Virat Kohli's captaincy was on point in the tight chase, which has refueled the captaincy debate in the Indian cricket circles, or atleast on social media. What does he need to do to make sure RCB lift the trophy this year? And more... tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents IPL 2021: HotSpot Special Edition featuring cricket journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. A jailbreak for Mumbai Indians as they beat Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 5 of IPL 2021. Brilliant captaincy from both Rohit Sharma and Eoin Morgan, a game of chess even, but KKR blinking in the end. Also talking about Sanju Samson and his magical hundred, plus what he needs to do to break into the Indian team again. Tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents IPL 2021: HotSpot Special Edition featuring cricket journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. In the first game of IPL 2021, RCB beat Mumbai Indians by 2 wickets. Plenty to talk about with Harshal Patel's death bowling, Mumbai India's rusty start once again, RCB's batting line-up, Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers... tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. India won the 5th T20I and won the series 3-2. Virat Kohli opened the batting and with Rohit Sharma, blew away England. He is going to open in the IPL too and potentially the T20 World Cup. What are the takeaways for India from this series? Where did England go wrong, despite looking so good? Also, a short preview of the three-match ODI series starting March 23 in Pune. Tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. India beat England in the 4th T20I to pull level at 2-2 in the series. Surya Kumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer provided the fireworks, and then Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur came up trumps with the ball. Can England fight back to win the series or will it be India in the decided? Tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. England turned the tables on India in the third T20I and won by 8 wickets to take a 2-1 series' lead. Jos Buttler countered Virat Kohli's brilliant half-century, which came a bit late for India's liking. What is India doing wrong? Why is England looking so good in this format? Is the toss becoming too important in this series? Tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. A blistering debut from Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli's return to form and Shardul Thakur's slow off-cutters meant India won the second T20I by 7 wickets. The series is now at 1-1. For all the talking points from the second T20I and a look ahead to the third one... tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. A clinical performance from England as they thumped India by 8 wickets in Ahmedabad. A shocking performance from India, dubious team selection and general tardiness meant they weren't in the running at all as England eased home. What went wrong for the Men in Blue? Tune in. 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. White ball action takes over and we are on the road to the 2021 T20 World Cup as India and England clash in the five-match T20I series in Ahmedabad. Do England start favourties this time? Does India know its best playing XI? Will KL Rahul open? Will Rishabh Pant keep wickets? Will Hardik Pandya bowl? What about England's playing XI? Tune in to find out! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. India beat England by an innings and 25 runs to wrap up the series 3-1. They stormed into the World Test Championship Final vs New Zealand. Tune in for our series' review. 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. An audacious hundred from Rishabh Pant pegs back England who were buoyed by James Anderson and Ben Stokes bowling sensational spells. What an entertaining day of Test cricket... everything this sport is about... tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. England bowled out for 205 runs on day one of the fourth Test. What has gone wrong? Some mental scars, couple bad shots and some fantastic bowling put India in the driver's seat. Tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. India take a 2-1 lead into the 4th Test at Ahmedabad and there's lot on stake here. First of all, there's the matter of the World Test Championship Final. Then, there is the series at stake, something England are also aware of. They can still draw the series even if they don't make it to the WTC final. How will the pitch behave? What will be the playing XIs? It is the last Test of the Indian season... tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. India have taken a 2-1 series' lead with a 10-wicket win in the third Test at Ahmedabad. England are out of the World Test Championship. But the pitch is dominating the entire discussion as the Test match ended in less than 2 days. Where do you stand on it? Tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. 13 wickets fell on day one of the pink ball Test in Ahmedabad... England crashed to 112 all out. Axar Patel picked up 6-38. India finished at 99-3. The match is poised tantalisingly... with a few debatable calls from the third umpire thrown in. Tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross. Third Test is upon us... new stadium at Ahmedabad, pink ball, lights, day-night action... so many variables... English team changes, India's team changes, who has the momentum... and the World Test Championship on the line... tune in! 

Sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula is joined by former Indian cricketer & broadcaster Deep Dasgupta as they decode the 2021 IPL Auctions. Chris Morris, Glenn Maxwell, Kyle Jamieson... were the big buys good enough? What about RCB's strategy? Did CSK fill up their open spots to challenge again? Small auction, big buys, bench strength... and more... tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross.  India's massive win, England's rotation policy, World Test Championship, and pink ball Test in Ahmedabad.... lots more... tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross.  Ashwin's hundred and double feat, what next for Ashwin-Jadeja, Virat Kohli's knock, Ben Foakes and THAT umpire's call... tune in!

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross.  India lead by 249 runs after England were bowled out for 134 on day 2 in Chennai. R Ashwin picked up his 29th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, but most of the global discussion (or debate) around this match has been about the pitch. Is it a good or bad pitch? Are you team Warne or team Vaughan? Tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross.  Rohit Sharma's hundred, Ajinkya Rahane's comeback, Virat Kohli's dismissal, Olly Stone and Moeen Ali, plus lots more... tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross.  England take a 1-0 lead into the second Test, also at Chennai. Can India bounce back? England have rested James Anderson, Jofra Archer is injured and out, Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali return, while Jos Buttler goes home. India will bring in Axar Patel but should they also play Hardik Pandya? The pitch is expected to turn from day one. What of Kuldeep Yadav?  And fans return to the ground at Chennai... after almost a year... what impact will that have on this Test? Tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross.  England took a 1-0 lead with a stunning 227 run win over India in the first Test. Some superb bowling from Jack Leach, magic from James Anderson, where did India go wrong, what does it mean for the World Test Championship and more.... tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross.  On day 4, England set a target of 420 for India. But why oh why, didn't they declare is the question that everyone is asking? Also, the other question.... can they get 9 wickets on day 5? Can India get those 381 runs? What an intriguing final day lies ahead... tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross.  India finished day 3 of 1st Test in Chennai at 257-6. England still lead by 321 runs after their first innings finished at 578 runs. Dom Bess picked up 4-55 and Jofra Archer took 2-52 in an impressive bowling display.  What a magnificent counter attack from Rishabh Pant and the stoic defense of Cheteshwar Pujara. Where is this game heading? Tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross.  England finished day 2 of 1st Test against India at 555-8. Joe Root scored a fifth double hundred, a record in his 100th Test match. Ben Stokes attacked the Indian spinners on a docile pitch. But is it really that bad a pitch? All that and more. Tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily: India vs England edition featuring sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula with BBC TMS commentator Daniel Norcross.  England finished day 1 of 1st Test vs India at 263-3. The hosts talk about Joe Root's superb 20th Test hundred, Rory Burns' stupid shot, Daniel Lawrence's poor luck, the flat Chennai track and what next for Kuldeep Yadav? Tune in! 

HotSpot The Cricket Podcast presents HotSpot Daily.  During the India-England 2021 series, sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula will be joined every day post-match by BBC Test Match Special commentator Daniel Norcross. They will navigate the day's play and bring out their own spin on how the series is moving ahead. Tune in! 

Third season of HotSpot The Cricket Podcast starts with a bang as India take on Engand in a four-Test series at home.  Sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula is joined by former Indian cricketer & broadcaster Deep Dasgupta as well as by Wisden editor Lawrence Booth as they talk all things India versus England.  The return of Virat Kohli, Joe Root's 100th Test, Ben Stokes, R Ashwin, absence of Ravindra Jadeja, India's batting versus English spin bowling, Jofra Archer and more... as they unravel the India-England Test series' preview.  Tune in! 

Team India is back!  India tours Australia again in 2020 and there is so much to talk about at the start of this mega tour... with three ODIs ahead of three T20Is and then leading up to the four Tests.  Sports journalist & broadcaster Chetan Narula is in conversation with former Indian cricketer and broadcaster Deep Dasgupta about Rohit Sharma's absence, Team India's new colours, what it feels to wear a new jersey, Virat Kohli's impact as captain, living in the bio bubble and how India's bowling attack will shape up.  Cricbuzz's international reporter Bharat Sundaresan joins us then to talk about Team India's preparations and how he risked his life to watch the Men in Blue at practice... surely one of the craziest cricket stories you have heard.  Tune in!  Follow our panelists on Twitter: @chetannarula, @deepdasgupta7 & @beastieboy07

Mumbai Indians are five time champions. How did they do it so easily?  In IPL 2020's final weekly review #7, sports journalist/broadcaster Chetan Narula and Cricbuzz's roving international cricket journalist Bharat Sundaresan discuss the tournament's fascinating end and how it played out.  Is Mumbai Indians the best T20 side ever? Are they the most dominant IPL team ever?  They also talk about Delhi Capitals' season, how Sunrisers Hyderabad fell short and the progression shown by Royal Challengers Bangalore, among other IPL-related topics.  Plus, Bharat gives the latest lowdown as Team India arrives in Australia for the 2020 tour Down Under.  Tune in!  Follow our panelists on Twitter: @chetannarula and @beastieboy07

IPL KnockOuts Time!!  In IPL 2020 weekly review #6, sports journalist/broadcaster Chetan Narula and Cricbuzz's roving international cricket journalist Bharat Sundaresan discuss the knockouts stage of the tournament. Which team will take it home? Can anyone stop Mumbai Indians? Could this finally be Royal Challenger Bangalore's year?  They also take a look at the four teams that have gone home, and what possibly different they could do next season.  Plus, a bit on Women's T20 Challenger 2020. Tune in!  Follow our panelists on Twitter: @chetannarula and @beastieboy07

IPL 2020 qualification race heats up with five teams in contention to finish at 16 points at the time of recording!  In IPL 2020 weekly review #5, sports journalist/broadcaster Chetan Narula and Cricbuzz's roving international cricket journalist Bharat Sundaresan discuss the biggest talking points from the fortnight of the competition in the UAE.  Also, they look at India's impending return to international cricket with the 2020 tour of Australia. The duo talk about the Indian team's itinerary as well as discuss the names announced for the three-format squads. Not to mention, the ones who missed out.  It's a mega episode. Tune in!  Follow our panelists on Twitter: @chetannarula and @beastieboy07

AB de Villiers. Where should he bat? Where should the best batsman in any team bat? Overseas captains in the IPL? Good strategy or bad?  In IPL 2020 weekly review #4, sports journalist/broadcaster Chetan Narula and Cricbuzz's roving international cricket journalist Bharat Sundaresan discuss the biggest talking points from the fourth week of the competition in the UAE.  They talk about RCB's ploy to use AB de Villiers lower down the order, and why it was the wrong move. They discuss KKR's captaincy change, and why Eoin Morgan should have led from the start of this IPL season. They also talk about the point's table and make some predictions as the 2020 IPL moves firmly into the second half of the season.  Tune in!  Follow our panelists on Twitter: @chetannarula and @beastieboy07 (https://audioboom.com/posts/7703616-ipl-2020-weekly-review-3-s2e11/edit)

In IPL 2020 weekly review #3, sports journalist/broadcaster Chetan Narula and Cricbuzz's roving international cricket journalist Bharat Sundaresan discuss the biggest talking points from the third week of the competition in the UAE.  They talk about how the teams are placed at almost the halfway stage of this 2020 IPL, players like Kartik Tyagi and Surya Kumar Yadav who are making their wares, and whether R Ashwin should have done another mankad, this time to Aaron Finch.  Tune in!  Follow our panelists on Twitter: @chetannarula and @beastieboy07

The Greatest Week in IPL History -- In IPL 2020 weekly review, sports journalist/broadcaster Chetan Narula and Cricbuzz's roving international cricket journalist Bharat Sundaresan discuss the biggest talking points from the second week of the competition in the UAE, an action-packed six days unlike ever seen before. They talk about Rahul Tewatia, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, KL Rahul, Shivam Mavi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Navdeep Saini, and a host of other young Indian cricketers making their mark in the 2020 IPL.  And by the way, HotSpot is now ONE year old... this is the Happy Birthday episode!  Tune in!  Follow our panelists on Twitter: @chetannarula and @beastieboy07

In IPL 2020 weekly review, sports journalist/broadcaster Chetan Narula and Cricbuzz's roving international cricket journalist Bharat Sundaresan discuss the biggest talking points from the first six action-packed days in the UAE.  They talk about happy waistlines, Sanju Samson, power hitting, MS Dhoni, CSK, Shami's bowling rhythm and so much more in this IPL special podcast.  Tune in!  Follow our panelists on Twitter: @chetannarula and @beastieboy07

Aakashvani meets HotSpot... as finally, the wait is over. After five months' delay, the Indian Premier League is back. The 2020 IPL gets underway on September 19 in the UAE, with matches to be held across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. The IPL final is on November 10.  Sports journalist and broadcaster Chetan Narula brings this IPL preview episode of HotSpot: The Cricket Podcast with former Indian cricketers Aakash Chopra and Deep Dasgupta joining in from their bio-bubbles in UAE to talk about all things regarding the 2020 IPL.  Tune in!  Follow our panelists on Twitter: @chetannarula, @DeepDasgupta7 and @cricketaakash. 

Indian cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues talks about women's cricket in 2020 on the latest episode of HotSpot.  Joining our hosts Chetan Narula (sports journalist & broadcaster) and former Indian cricketer (& broadcaster) Deep Dasgupta on this very special episode, Jemimah Rodrigues sheds light on her journey from a child prodigy to becoming an international cricketer for India, all before turning 20.  Rodrigues also talks about:  - Indian women's team, what keeps the team together, hopes and aspirations.  - Cricket in covid times and how women's cricket has been hit by multiple postponements.  - Moving the 2021 ODI Women's World Cup to 2022.  - Debate over shorter boundaries and pitches, lighter balls and bats.  And, much more!  Tune in!  Our panelists are on Twitter: @chetannarula, @DeepDasgupta7 and @JemiRodrigues Picture courtesy - Jemimah Rodrigues 

This isn't your regular HotSpot episode... it is 90 minutes of pure MS Dhoni nostalgia. Goodbye MS Dhoni... the inevitable has finally happened. The legendary cricketer has bid farewell to international cricket and walked away into the sunset, in the most Dhoni-esque style.  In the latest episode of HotSpot, our panelists Chetan Narula (sports journalist/broadcaster), Deep Dasgupta (former Indian cricketer) and Cricbuzz's Bharat Sundaresan talk all things Dhoni, from the start of his career to the very end, from what they have seen of the legend in the past 16 years.  Tune in!  Picture courtesy: BCCI. 

In the latest episode of HotSpot, our panelists traverse the globe, talking about cricket in England, to potential cricket in the UAE, and to the upcoming Australian summer of cricket.  The Australian's cricket reporter (and beer enthusiast) Peter Lalor joins sports journalist/broadcaster Chetan Narula and former Indian cricketer Deep Dasgupta as they discuss everything from England-West Indies, Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer, 2020 IPL, bio bubbles, ICC T20 World Cup and the upcoming Indian tour of Australia later in the year.  In this episode:  -- Postponement of ICC 2020 T20 World Cup  -- Who will host the 2021 T20 World Cup?  -- Jofra Archer's bubble escapade -- 2020 Indian Premier League -- Creating bio bubbles in UAE for IPL  -- India's proposed tour of Australia Also,  -- A look back at England vs West Indies  -- Stuart Broad's 500th Test wicket  And... beer!  Tune in!  Follow our panelists on Twitter: @chetannarula, @DeepDasgupta7 and @plalor Picture courtesy: AFP

Cricket has changed, just like everything else in the world in this Covid era. And the impact is seen both on and off the field.  Live cricket director Hemant Buch, former Indian cricketer Deep Dasgupta and sports journalist/broadcaster Chetan Narula discuss the impact of Covid on cricket broadcasting in this latest episode of HotSpot, The Cricket Podcast.  In this episode:  -- how cricket broadcasting changed during first England-West Indies Test. -- Impact of Covid on cricket economics, IPL and international cricket broadcast rights.  -- Will digital broadcast consumption take over televised cricket consumption?  -- Is good old-fashioned radio commentary still relevant in this digital mobile age?  -- A brief discussion on the first England-West Indies Test and look ahead to the second Test at Manchester.  Tune in!  Follow our panelists on Twitter: @chetannarula, @DeepDasgupta7 and @hemantbuch  Picture: Chetan Narula. 

ESPNCricinfo's acclaimed reporter George Dobell joins sports journalist and broadcaster Chetan Narula, and former Indian cricketer Deep Dasgupta, in this latest episode of the cricket podcast, HotSpot.  The trio take a look at the only topic that matters - live international cricket returns on July 8 with the first Test between England and West Indies at Southampton.  George Dobell gives a lowdown on how badly the English and Wales Cricket Board were hit by the Covid-19 crisis and how the West Indies' tour of England came about to save the day.  Also, on this episode of the HotSpot podcast: -- Dobell talks about what loss of cricket means for the English summer.  -- Preparations (or lack of) for both England and West Indies.  -- Ben Stokes for England's captaincy? Should Joe Root make way and play as batsman alone?  -- Lack of saliva, but sweat allowed to shine the ball. Deep Dasgupta wonders if sanitizer can be used on the ball.  -- Battle of two pace attacks? Can West Indies shock England?  And, much more... tune in!  Season 2, Episode 3 - England vs West Indies Test series preview: International Cricket Returns! Follow our panelists on Twitter: @chetannarula, @DeepDasgupta7 and @GeorgeDobell1 Picture courtesy: Getty.