81 All Out

Can a bowler find a way to exploit a batter's anatomy and his movements? England did it to Bradman and Co. in the Bodyline series in 1932-33 but modern bowlers have tried a variation of this strategy too and turned in unforgettable spells. Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: The essence of Bodyline Wahab Riaz v Watson in Adelaide, 2015 The left-armer's unusual advantage when cramping the right-handers Mitchell Johnson's spell from hell at the Gabba in 2013 Why it is relatively easy for a batter to leave some short balls compared to others Tendulkar v red hot Australian pace in Ahmedabad in 2011 Allan Donald v Mike Atherton, Trent Bridge, 1998 The disadvantage of the back-and-across movement for right-hand batters Wasim Akram v Rahul Dravid, Chennai, 1999 Fearless: Mohinder Amarnath memoir - Amazon Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Prashant DP (@prashantdptweet) | Medium  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related Wahab Riaz spell v Watson - YouTube Mohammad Amir to Watson - YouTube Mitchell Johnson at the Gabba, 2013 - YouTube How the summer of Johnson changed cricket - ESPNcricinfo Allan Donald v Mike Atherton, Trent Bridge, 1998 - YouTube  Allan Donald fast bowling masterclass - YouTube Wasim Akram v Dravid, Chennai, 1999 - YouTube India. Pakistan. Chennai. 1999 - Siddhartha Vaidyanathan - ESPNcricinfo

We review the fifth Test between Australia and India in Sydney where Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a thrilling three-day win. Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: Australia's superior bowling depth wins the day The remarkable Mr Boland  India's muddled approach to this series: neither batting heavy nor bowling heavy Why didn't India trust their fast bowlers enough to play 4 each Test? The futility of picking two spinners in these conditions  Jasprit Bumrah's steep workload; Siraj's tireless spells Are Rohit and Kohli both in decline or is there a way back for them?  A series full of electric bowling Rishabh Pant's mad max half-century Prasidh Krishna's promise of steepling bounce The end of an era of magnificent India-Australia series Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh (@cornerd)  Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack| ESPNcricinfo * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related Australia Regain The Border-Gavaskar Trophy After A Decade - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview substack India's BGT report card - Sriram Veera - Indian Express Australia's bowlers batter India to keep home fires burning for World Championship tilt - Geoff Lemon - Guardian India dismantle England in lop-sided finale: India v England, 5th Test review - 81allout podcast archive

We review the fourth Test between Australia and India at Melbourne. Australia went 2-1 ahead after a special win. ⁠Support 81allout on Ko-Fi

We review the the third Test between Australia and India at Brisbane. Australia piled on 445 but rain helped India keep the series at 1-1.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: India's decision to persist with four bowlers an an allrounder The need for insurance in the lower order against Australia's attack Akash Deep's incisive spells with little reward India's multipronged. issues with their transition Rohit and Kohli: poor form or slowing reflexes. Or mostly bad luck? Pat Cummins: the master of seam and length Jasprit Bumrah's ability to create jeopardy at will R Ashwin's decision to retire midway through the series  Ashwin's astonishing strike rate and the legacy he leaves behind Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack| ESPNcricinfo * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related Ashwin :the great problem-solver who played cricket for cricket's sake - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo Ashwin retires - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview Substack The Encyclopedist - Gideon Haigh - Cricket et al. (subscription) How Ashwin remained a committed cricketer and a team man till his sudden and surprising exit - Sriram Veera - Indian Express

We review the the second Test between Australia and India at Adelaide. Australia drew level with a handsome 10-wicket win.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: Mitchell Starc: the pink ball master Australia's bowling depth to the fore in day-night Test India's selection hedges come back to bite them Is it time to go back to picking five specialist bowlers?  Travis Head: a right royal headache for India Australia thrive on a pitch with true bounce Has the Harshit Rana experiment run its course?  The Nitish Reddy puzzle: he is offering lower-order runs with the bat but little with the ball Ashwin's fine spell on a pitch that offered nothing for him Pat Cummins' deadly bouncers Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack| ESPNcricinfo * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Australia square the series - Kartikeya Date - Cricketing View substack Sanjay Manjrekar: Kohli has 'serious technical issue' that he can't find solution to - ESPNcricinfo Travis Head brings the South Australia feelgood factor to make India suffer - Geoff Lemon - Guardian Give it up for 2024: Test cricket has had few better years - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo 81allout podcast archives from the 2020-21 series: Preview | Adelaide | Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | Interview with journalist Bharat Sundaresan

We review the the first Test between Australia and India at Perth - a remarkable game where the ball dominated the bat... until it did not.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: The significance (and surprise) of India's 295-run victory at Perth The toss advantage, and how India made the most of it Watching a game live at Perth - and how different it was Is a Test match in Australia now like a destination wedding for Indians? Jasprit Bumrah's latest greatest spell The lengths from hell: what makes Bumrah so good Jaiswal's range of strokeplay Rishabh Pant's keeping and the wide area he opens up for the slips The Kohli industrial complex  Nitish's Reddy's impressive debut KL Rahul's technique against the moving ball Australia's top order problems  Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack| ESPNcricinfo * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: India beat Australia by 295 runs - Kartikeya Date - Cricketing View Substack Bumrah post-match press conference - YouTube Bumrah dominates Australia in the first test match, a breakdown - Jomboy Media - YouTube Australia's mission improbable: crack Jasprit Bumrah's genius in 10 days - Barney Ronay - Guardian To watch cricket at the ground or on TV? It's complicated - 81allout podcast 81allout podcast archives from the 2020-21 series: Preview | Adelaide | Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | Interview with journalist Bharat Sundaresan

We preview the upcoming five-Test series between Australia and India.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: The marketing of the India v Australia rivalry: and its evolution over the years The profusion of India-Australia cricket in the last 25 years - and the relative dearth in the 15 years prior The influence of Kerry Packer on modern cricket commentary The legends around the Australian teams from the past: rugged, macho, sleek, hyper-efficient The IPL effect: and how it is much harder to hype this current Australian team The importance of Jasprit Bumrah through the five Tests The potential XI for both sides for Perth: will India go with Reddy or Prasidh? Australia's own ageing problem - and how it could soon catch up with them A great chance for many young Indians to leave a mark on the series Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack| ESPNcricinfo * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: The day Kerry Packer tore apart Nine anchor Mark Nicholas - Fox Sports  Why Australia vs India is Test cricket's premier rivalry - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo 81allout podcast archives from the 2020-21 series: Preview | Adelaide | Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | Interview with journalist Bharat Sundaresan

We review the third Test between India and New Zealand in Mumbai where Ajaz Patel bowled New Zealand to an incredible win. Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: Is this the finest Test series win of all time? New Zealand overcome great odds in dream sequence The categories of outrage accompanying an Indian defeat The potency of left-arm spin in India Ajaz Patel's dream Test  New Zealand's bowlers strike gold on tricky pitch To attack or to defend: India's batting dilemma  Rohit Sharma's aggressive approach India's choice to not play four spinners in the final two Tests Ashwin v the sweeps: and what his length seems to suggest The intriguing possibilities ahead of the WTC final Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack| ESPNcricinfo Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Black Caps' unseen challenges on the way to whitewash of India - Andrew Voerman - Stuff.co.nz Why rank turners actually reduce India's home advantage - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo India swept away by Ajaz Patel - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview Substack A bad equilibrium - Harigovind S - Kohli and Kipling Substack  

We review the second Test between India and New Zealand in Pune where Mitchell Santner bowled New Zealand to their greatest series victory.  Support 81allout on Ko-fi Talking Points: New Zealand's finest hour: breaking India's 13 year home streak When India were dominated in typical Indian conditions  Mitchell Santner's golden Test India's batters caught between defense and attack India's spinners undone by a barrage of sweeps and reverse-sweeps Washington Sundar's terrific spells  Were India's spinners too quick for this pitch? The question of length: and the problem in front of Ashwin and Jadeja  Rohit Sharma's urge to attack - and how it could be getting him in trouble Jaiswal's blistering knock India's problem of a core group aging together Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack| ESPNcricinfo Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Santner Collects Thirteen, New Zealand Make History - Kartikeya Date - Cricketing View Substack Black Caps' greatest achievement fuelled by unlikely spin-bowling hero Mitchell Santner - Andrew Voerman - Stuff.co.nz Bittersweet moment for India, as one of cricket's great winning streaks ends - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo

We review the the first Test between India and New Zealand in Bangalore - a magnificent match that will be remembered for a long, long time. Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: Pitch-perfect conditions for New Zealand's bowlers The sub-air effect: how Bangalore's drainage system played its part India misreading the pitch and choosing three spinners The decision to bat first under cloudy skies Henry, O'Rourke and Southee: unplayable in the gloom Rachin Ravindra: a superstar in the making The astonishing Sarfaraz-Pant partnership Sarfaraz' unique handiwork Bumrah's spell on the final morning India's potential reaction to this defeat - and thoughts on the surface in Pune Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack| ESPNcricinfo Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Marvelous New Zealand win in Bangalore - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview Substack Batting magic in Bengaluru as India threaten something special - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo How Rachin Ravindra defanged the Indian spinners - Sandip G - Indian Express

We preview the upcoming three Test series between India and New Zealand - and also discuss England's win over Pakistan in the Test in Multan.  Talking Points: The India-New Zealand rivalry down the years New Zealand in transition - after the retirements of Boult and Wagner Rachin Ravindra's terrific 92 at Galle in the recent series v Sri Lanka New Zealand's reliance on part-timers to fill in some spin overs Should New Zealand play to their pace strength in Bangalore and Mumbai? The Pakistan-England Test and what it taught us about bowling in Test cricket The batting-centric nature of cricketing discourse and why that is problematic Would a team with a world-class bowling attack and 6 'average' batters win as much as a team with the same bowling attack and 6 great batters?  Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack| ESPNcricinfo Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Will O'Rourke's Canterbury Tales - Deivarayan Muthu - ESPNcricinfo A freakish ten-for and good old Indian dominance - 81allout review of the India v New Zealand series in 2021 Two seamers or three? The big Black Caps question ahead of India tests -Andrew Voerman - Stuff.co.nz Why Pakistan Aren't Winning, And Why Batting Is Irrelevant In Test Cricket - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview Substack

We review India's magnificent win over Bangladesh in the second Test in Kanpur. [podcast_subscribe id="1595"] Talking Points: India doing both the expected and unexpected at the same time India's great bowling attack and the art of picking 20 wickets Jasprit Bumrah - in a rarefied space of fast bowling Jadeja's speeds v Bangladesh's spinner's speeds India's batting assault Kanpur 2021 v Kanpur 2024 Kohli, Shastri and the decision to play five fast bowlers Jaiswal's remarkable start to his Test career Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack| ESPNcricinfo * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: The simple genius of Ravindra Jadeja - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview substack Rohit Sharma and the sixes that woke up a dead game - Alagappan Muthu - ESPNcricinfo A freakish ten-for and good old Indian dominance - 81allout review of the India v New Zealand series in 2021

We review India's 280-run win over Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai.  Talking Points: Bangladesh complete... then lose by 280 runs Bangladesh's impressive trio of pacers  The sessions that Bangladesh won - before the ball got older and runs flowed The sweep v drive ratio: and why Bangladesh chose to sweep much more India's spinners finding the right pace for the conditions  Mohammad Siraj's relentless second-innings spell  Mehidy and Shakib: too slow with the ball? Rishabh Pant's grand return to Test cricket Shubman Gill's purple patch in Tests Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack| ESPNcricinfo * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Ashwin, Jadeja, Bumrah, Siraj, Akash Deep Lead India Into The Black - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview substack Ashwin's double act of hundred and six-for secures 1-0 lead for India - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo Reminiscing special memories from my home test - R Ashwin - YouTube Why does India need a players' association? Ask a former cricketer - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo

We chat with ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent Mohammad Isam about Bangladesh's historic series win in Pakistan and their chances in the upcoming two-Test series in India. Talking Points: Bangladesh's dream-like comeback wins in the two Tests in Rawalpindi A bowling attack with tremendous variety - world-class spin and promising pace The arrival of Nahid Rana - and his ferocious spells in Pakistan The symbolism of Bangladesh's series win amidst the political climate in the country Mehidy Hasan Miraz - workhorse, counter-puncher, MVP Can Bangladesh's attack adapt to India's varied conditions? The challenge of a two-Test series without any warm-up games India's unsettled top six  How spin-friendly conditions could help Bangladesh narrow the gap  Participants: Mohammad Isam (@Isam) | ESPNcricinfo Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack| ESPNcricinfo * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Bangladesh's small wonders conjure a Rawalpindi miracle - Mohammad Isam - ESPNcricinfo Nahid Rana: a new express finds fame in Rawapindi - Mohammad Isam - ESPNcricinfo The quirks and challenges of covering Bangladesh cricket - 81allout podcast with Mohammad Isam on his book 'On the Tiger's Trail'  

In the latest episode we chat with Paras Mhambrey on his recent stint as the bowling coach of the Indian team. We discuss India's varied bowling attack and how he managed the transition from one set of fast bowlers to the next. Participants: Paras Mhambrey Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: ‘We have a cluster of fast bowlers who have got exposure in white-ball cricket and are not far away (from Test call-up)', says Paras Mhambrey - Indian Express Data driven: How Mhambrey's work is helping Shami & Co - Sanjjeev K Samyal - Hindustan Times ‘What a bowler thinks and what he actually does are different things' – Bharat Arun interview with 81allout The value of data analysis and how the Indian team embraced it - 81allout podcast with Himanish Ganjoo  'I cannot tell a bowler what to do or not do. I need to help them understand their own rhythm' - Bharat Arun interview - Karthik Krishnaswamy - The Cricket Monthly

In the latest episode we chat with Himanish Ganjoo on how data can assist cricket teams and what he learnt from his own stint as a data analyst with the Indian side. Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Himanish Ganjoo (@hganjoo_153) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Himanish Ganjoo's articles - ESPNricinfo | Substack Training the Hawkeye on Axar Patel: Angular, Anomalous - Substack Understanding T20 - 81allout podcast with Hassan Cheema Hitting v Batting: the choice that dictates the shape of a T20 contest - 81allout podcast Databall - Kartikeya Date - The Cricket Monthly

We chat with veteran journalist Clayton Murzello about the oldest living Indian captain: Nari Contractor. Clayton speaks about his interactions with Contractor and why we must remember the man for much more than that one day in Barbados: when he suffered a near fatal injury in a warm-up game.  Talking Points: A story full of destiny: from his birth till that fateful day in Barbados The stylish left-handed batter who couldn't make it to the Mumbai Ranji side How Contractor ended up playing first-class cricket for Gujarat The captain who first introduced team meetings and broke down barriers The day when the universe conspired against Contractor Frank Worrell's advice to Contractor before the Indians faced Charlie Griffith A remarkable story of recovery - and how cricket saved Contractor The visionary that roped in Frank Tyson to coach youngsters in Mumbai Participants: Clayton Murzello (@claytonmurzello) Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Contractor steps into the 90s - Clayton Murzello - Mid-Day Griffith's delivery hit my face at 90 degrees: Nari Contractor - Clayton Murzello - Mid-Day The amazing life of Mumbai-based former India captain Nari Contractor - Clayton Murzello - Mid-Day The bouncer that ended a career - Martin Williamson - ESPNcricinfo

We review the final of the T20 World Cup and end of India's wait for an ICC trophy. Talking Points: How trophy wins don't define India's legacy. The unfairness of labelling South Africa chokers. The peerless Bumrah. Virat Kohli's change of approach and his great swansong T20 innings in the final. Rohit, Pant and the fallacy of "shot selections". How India finally managed to construct a well balanced squad for the conditions. Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@⁠sidvee⁠) Ashoka (⁠@ABVan⁠) Mahesh (@cornerd) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: ⁠War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee⁠ ⁠Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward⁠ ⁠The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh ⁠ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: 'The Worm Turns for India's Greatest Generation"- Cricketingview.

We review the Super 8 phase of the T20 World Cup and touch upon Afghanistan's glorious triumph, India's sweet win against Australia, and the hopes for the semis and final. Talking Points: Afghanistan's historic wins over Australia and Bangladesh Gurbaz and Zadran - the rocks around Afghanistan's journey Playing their first official cricket match to 2004 to a semi-final in 2024 The political question around Afghanistan - and absence of public pressure Rohit Sharma's assault against Australia in St Lucia India and South Africa thriving with their Test-quality attacks The mystery of Kuldeep - and his indecipherable fastish spin Looking ahead to the semis and final Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka (@ABVan) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: ‘Cricket is the only source of happiness back home' - Ben Morse and Masoud Popalzai - CNN The World catches up with Australia - Gideon Haigh - Cricket et al. substack Perfect Imperfection for Imperfect Tournament? - Neil Manthorp - Manners-on-cricket substack Human rights question hangs over success story of Afghanistan's men - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo

We review the first two weeks of the T20 World Cup and chat about the heartwarming performances of USA and other Associate teams. Plus Pakistan's insistence on opening with Babar and Rizwan; Kohli's attempts to change; Pant's hitting training; and the infamous legbye that Bangladesh is furious about. Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka (@ABVan) Karthikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo  

Is there any other sport that allows recreational players to rub shoulders with superstars? Scott Oliver has traced down these delightful stories in a new book called Sticky Dogs and Stardust and we speak to Scott to understand his passion for this type of story and how these experiences can reveal so much about a cricketer and their love for the game.  Among the several superstars to have played in club cricket in England, the book tells the stories of all-time greats such as Adam Gilchrist, Malcolm Marshall, Viv Richards, Garry Sobers, Wasim Akram, and Shane Warne - and also reveals what these cricketers' presence meant for their amateur team-mates.  Support 81allout on Ko-fi * Sticky Dogs and Stardust by Scott Oliver is available to buy in hardback and ebook formats. You can get 10% off the standard price at ⁠thenightwatchman.net⁠ with coupon code 81ALLOUT. Hardback (£15.30 + shipping when you use 81ALLOUT): ⁠https://www.thenightwatchman.net/buy/sticky-dogs-and-stardust⁠ Ebook (£4.49 when you use 81ALLOUT): ⁠https://www.thenightwatchman.net/buy/sticky-dogs-and-stardust-ebook⁠  Talking Points: The allure of the big star playing the small game The thrill of seeing a youngster with the potential for greatness Seventeen-year old Adam Gilchrist finding himself in England The remarkable story of Viv Richards in his pomp at Rishton CC The sight of great fast bowlers like Marshall and Donald terrorizing amateurs The cult of Garry Sobers at Norton CC The cricketers who disappointed their clubs  The passing of an era - and how cricket's current economy doesn't allow for superstars to be part of an amateur setting  Participants: Scott Oliver (@reverse_sweeper) Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting - Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar - Mike Coward The Summer Game - Gideon Haigh --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Sticky Dogs and Stardust review - Martin Chandler - Cricketweb.net List of Scott Oliver's articles

The 2024 edition of the IPL has seen hitters step up to a new level - with 200-plus totals becoming routine and 200-plus chases being achieved too. Is this an inflection point for the format? And how should we be talking about the sport if this is the new normal?  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: Why has this IPL seen a sudden jump in totals? Has the impact-player rule played a significant role in raising totals? Have teams found more hitters to accomodate in the XIs? Jake Fraser-McGurk - the prototypical T20 hitter The effect of non-capped Indian players like Abhishek Sharma, Ashutosh Sharma  Why Dhoni bats so late in the game: the effect of platooning  What does it mean when you wish for a balance between bat and ball in T20s? Why higher scores suggest the hitters are more in control of their shot-making Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Ashoka (@ABVan) Karthikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Hitting v Batting: the choice that dictates the shape of a T20 contest - 81allout podcast What's the deal with T20 bowling? - 81allout podcast Jake Fraser-McGurk, the ideal T20 batter - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo How Do International Cricketers Do At The IPL? - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview

How much does bowling matter in T20s and how does one measure the potency of a bowler in this format? What are the measures of excellence for a T20 bowler?  Support 81allout on Ko-fi Talking Points: How does one describe a good T20 bowler? Is it possible to separate actions and outcomes for T20 bowling?  A format that offers the bowlers almost no leverage What is the role of bowlers in a contest designed to be between bat and bat? Does a great T20 bowler need any particular skills?  The value of bowlers with unconventional actions What Jasprit Bumrah does well in T20s Why T20 bowlers can't be viewed in the same way as Test or ODI bowlers Can we gauge bowling in T20s before hitting has reached its full potential? The future of T20 bowling - and why some rule changes can bring bowlers into the game The Harshal Patel problem for T20 bowlers Are teams being inefficient when paying huge sums for bowlers? Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Ashoka (@ABVan) Karthikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Hitting v Batting: the choice that dictates the shape of a T20 contest - 81allout podcast Bowling doesn't really matter in T20 - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview Ferociously fast and thrillingly direct: how Mayank went bang, bang, bang - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo 'If you go searching for wickets in T20, you're playing into the batsman's hand' - Samuel Badree interview by Nagraj Gollapudi - The Cricket Monthly ICC recommends ODI rule changes - Cricket Australia 

T20 started in the early 2000s but what if the format was invented 15 years earlier. Who were the players who would have excelled in the shorter format? We decided to pick a T20 side from the era before the IPL and debated how Aravinda de Silva and Brian Lara might have changed their game for T20s. And if players like Ricardo Powell and Adrian Kuiper would have had more illustrious careers than they did. Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: The evolution of ODIs and T20s - and how both took about 20 years ago mature Would players like Sunil Narine have been as big a star if not for T20s? The West Indian legacy in terms of accelerating the T20 evolution Which players from the past would have thrived in this format? Would you have heard much more of Alistair Brown and Michael Di Venuto had T20s been around earlier?  Would Aravinda de Silva have continued his Mad Max avatar in T20s? Ricardo Powell, Atul Bedade, Robin Singh - the superstars who could have been Players like Lance Klusener who rigorously practiced range-hitting  The value of a good googly bowler in T20s Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Ashoka (@ABVan) Deepauk Murugesan (@complicateur)  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related:  Ijaz Ahmed's 84-ball 139 v India in Lahore in 1997 - YouTube When Surrey smashed the 50-over World Record thanks to Alistair Brown's 268 - YouTube When Kapil Dev hit four sixes in a row to avoid the follow-on at Lord's - YouTube Atul Bedade's big day in Sharjah - YouTube

We review the fifth Test between India and England in Dharamshala – where India stamped their authority with a win by an innings and 64 runs. Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: A one-sided – and thoroughly expected – end to a Test series in India The Bazball delusion  England's inadequate bowling resources thoroughly exposed Kuldeep the genius - a wristspinner with both variety and control  R Ashwin caps off his 100th Test with signature spells The first morning - when Bumrah and Siraj made the ball talk The challenge against spin for Duckett, Pope, Stokes, and Bairstow  Did England Bazball enough or too much? And why it doesn't matter When Shubman Gill was at his fluent best The problem with England playing Anderson and hardly bowling him England not replacing the injured Leach and Rehan - and over-bowling Bashir Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Ashoka (@ABVan) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo page --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related:  IND Win By An Innings In Dharamsala, Finish Series 4-1 - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview On Ravichandran Ashwin - India's greatest matchwinner - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview  Just sit back and get ready to marvel at R Ashwin, for the 100th time - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo Joe Root on facing Ashwin and Lyon - Sky Cricket podcast - YouTube How India Bazballed England - Himanish Ganjoo - X (formerly Twitter)  

We review the fourth Test between India and England in Ranchi – where India sealed a series with a magnificent five-wicket win.  Support 81allout at Ko-Fi Talking Points: The third-innings bowling that capped another brilliant third-day fightback India's forced accelerated transition - with a team full of youngsters Dhruv Jurel's expert batting with the tail Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep - an undecipherable trio  Bazball sucking all the oxygen out of the England media Did England miss a trick by not bowling Anderson and Robinson enough? How England's statements often ran opposite to their actions Could England have done better in India if they shelved Bazball? Akash Deep's dream first spell Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Ashoka (@ABVan) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo page --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Ranchi win epitomises current era of India's Test team with promise for the next one - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo India Pull Off Sensational Heist Against Negative England In Ranchi - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview Substack Fog of post-truth Baz-chat obscures England's progress under Ben Stokes - Barney Ronay - Guardian England lose series in India - Sky Cricket Vodcast - YouTube  

We review the third Test between India and England in Rajkot – where a terrific all-round performance helped India go 2-1 up.  Support 81allout at Ko-Fi Talking Points: India's magnificent bowling on Day 3 How the flat pitches in this series are neutralizing Bazball India's spinners - turning the ball more with greater control Why England's batting tactics are actually a tribute to India's great bowling Why India are actually relentlessly attacking while England are highly defensive Why England should have played an extra seamer in all three Tests The problem for England's spinners in India - lack of control Sarfaraz Khan's old-school method of lofting spinners  Shubman Gill's tweak to his technique Ashwin's 500th, Jadeja's stupendous Test Mohammad Siraj - non-stop relentless  Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Ashoka (@ABVan) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo page --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Craft Kuldeep undoes Bazball - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo India win by 434 runs - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview Substack What next for Bazball after India crush England - Sky Cricket Vodcast - YouTube R Ashwin: the 5D chess master of modern cricket - Jarrod Kimber - YouTube

We review the second Test between India and England in Visakhapatnam – where Jasprit Bumrah powered India to a 106-run win.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: A celebration of Test cricket A series with echoes of the 2016-17 home series v Australia  Are England really playing Bazball? India's decision to play five bowlers even with an inexperienced batting line-up Does anyone think of drawing a Test match these days? Jasprit Bumrah: an artist operating on a different plane to the rest James Anderson's spell and the mystery around how little he bowls in India Did England pick one spinner too many? Yashasvi Jaiswal's crackling double-hundred Shubman Gill making the most of his luck to a fine Test hundred Do these pitches give India the best chance v England? Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Ashoka (@ABVan) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo page --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Jasprit Bumrah press conference after Day 2 - BCCI.tv Sky Cricket podcast with Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain - YouTube India Beat England By 106 runs- Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview Substack Jasprit Bumrah's spells in West Indies in 2019 - Antigua, Kingston - YouTube

We review the first Test between India and England in Hyderabad – where India lost a Test match at home after gaining a first-innings lead of 190.   Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: One of England's greatest wins Ollie Pope's freakish 196 India's approach to facing left-arm spin Why England choose to sweep and reverse-sweep India's spinners Bazball and the approach to risk-taking India's batters getting out to unforced errors after being set Jasprit Bumrah's astonishing range  Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Ashoka (@ABVan) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo page --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Sky Cricket podcast with Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain - Sky Sports How England cracked the risk-reward equation in Hyderabad - S Rajesh - ESPNcricinfo England begin their series in India with a win... Again - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview Substack Jasprit Bumrah interview with Ali Martin - Guardian Bharat Arun interview - 81allout podcast  

We rewind to England's tour to India in 2001-02 - when India won the three-Test series 1-0 and England leveled the six-match ODI series 3-3. England arrived in India on the back of terrific series wins in Sri Lanka and Pakistan - and despite a green bowling attack managed to gave India a scare in two Tests.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: The uncertainty around the tour because of the events around 9/11 India's eventful 2001 - epic wins, big defeats, and plenty of controversy  The similar (yet contrasting) narratives around the captaincy of Nasser Hussain and Sourav Ganguly  How England's raw bowling attack found a way to restrict India's batting line-up The legend of Ashley Giles bowling a negative line from over the wicket Tendulkar's peak - and the unrealistic high standards everyone set for him Craig White and Matthew Hoggard: coming of age on a tough tour The Bangalore Test that could have been played in Headingley The threat of Sehwag at No.7  Marcus Trescothick's dream run in the one-dayers When Flintoff took his shirt off Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) DP Prashant (@prashantdptweet) Ashoka (@ABVan) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Related: India v England, Ahmedabad Test highlights, 2001-02 - YouTube India v England, Bangalore Test highlights, 2001-02 - YouTube England divided by safety worries - Mike Selvey.- Guardian Playing with Fire - Nasser Hussain autobiography - Amazon Coming Back to Me - Marcus Trescothick autobiography - Amazon  

We review the two-Test series between South Africa and India - which ended 1-1 after a bowler-dominated shootout in Cape Town.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: India's missed opportunity to finally win a series in SA Why the Cape Town pitch backfired on South Africa India's lack of fast bowling depth - a sign of more struggles in future away series Mohammad Siraj's dream spell on the first morning in Cape Town  Dean Elgar's century: a tale of plays-and-misses and cashing in on poor bowling Aiden Markram's astonishing attack Where Rabada and Bumrah showed their class: figuring out the conditions Rohit Sharma's comments about the pitch - and potential double-standards Are these short Tests harming the format? Or are they ideal for entertainment?  Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Ashoka (@ABVan) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo page --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: India prove their golden age has plenty of kick left - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo  Mean Reversion - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview - Substack Newlands pitch the tip of WP's iceberg of problems - Telford Vice - Wordpress On the ICC pitch evaluation system - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview - Substack Crime and punishment: warnings, fines, bans and let-offs - Alok Prasanna Kumar - The Cricket Monthly 

We chat with Karthik Krishnaswamy and Kartikeya Date about the role of luck in cricket and how we can better describe the game by separating actions from outcomes.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: Luck v skill - and why the two are not opposed to each other The traditional method of describing cricket - by ascribing reasons for outcomes Why it is hard for fans to accept 'luck' as a major part of a sporting contest The luck component in different sports - and the 'optimal' luck cricket needs The brief phase in each ball when neither batter or bowler is in total control  India's loss to New Zealand in 2020 against an attack best suited for the conditions  England's strategy v spin in the 2019 World Cup compared to their strategy in the 2023 World Cup The model of the game that views contest without the layer of chauvinism  The post-facto analysis that accompanies most discussions around captaincy Participants: Karthik Krishnaswamy (@the_kk) | ESPNcricinfo page Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo page Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: What's luck got to do with it: a control review of the World Cup - Kartikeya Date - ESPNcricinfo  Virat Kohli's battle with himself - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo The Virat Kohli century that was a trip back in time - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo What we talk about when we talk about pressure - Podcast with Abhinav Mukund - 81allout What we talk about when we talk about cricket - Podcast with Daniel Norcross - 81allout Are some points in Tennis more important than others? - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview substack Luck and skill untangled: the science of success – Michael Mauboussin interview – Wired Why it's so much harder to predict winners in ice hockey than basketball – Vox – YouTube

We are thrilled to have novelist and cricket writer Rahul Bhattacharya to talk about his experiences from the World Cup. Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking points:  Cricket writing v cricket analysis - and how each is a specialised job Does the BCCI care for what is written about them in the press? The antipathy towards Indian and foreign fans throughout this World Cup The staggering amount of money people were willing to pay for tickets The experience of covering a match at Ahmedabad India v Pakistan - and how the discourse seems to be war minus the shooting Jasprit Bumrah - what can't he do? The electricity of India's fast bowling trio Maxwell's fantastical night Rohit Sharma - the dada batsman Virat Kohli's fitness - and his Djokovic-level fitness Australia's perfect game in the final Travis Head and his Gilchrist-like audacity The 'anyone but India' sentiment pervading much of the cricket world Participants: Rahul Bhattacharya Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka (@ABVan) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: What the World Cup means - Rahul Bhattacharya - Hindustan Times Many shades of the Indian cricket fan - Rahul Bhattacharya - Hindustan Times With a skip and a stutter, Bumrah conjures up another miracle - Rahul Bhattacharya - Hindustan Times  They turn up to watch India bowl - Rahul Bhattacharya - Hindustan Times Rahul Bhattacharya's Hindustan Times columns Pakistan fans a glaring absence at India Cricket World Cup clash - Rahul Bhattacharya - Al Jazeera Indian hype for Cricket World Cup will grow but fans come off second best - Rahul Bhattacharya - Guardian Shiv on the Shore - Rahul Bhattacharya profiles Shivnarine Chanderpaul - The Cricket Monthly  Pundits from Pakistan - Rahul Bhattacharya - Amazon Sly Company of People who care - Rahul Bhattacharya - Amazon  Buy War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee - Amazon Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward - Amazon

We review the World Cup final where Travis Head and Pat Cummins inspired a triumph for the ages. Support 81allout on Ko-Fi. Talking points:  Australia's remarkable achievement - and this triumph in comparison to their previous World Cup wins Rohit Sharma's approach at the start of the innings Virat Kohli and the ability to strike at six an over on any pitch The slowdown in the middle overs against fine Australian bowling Cummins, Hazlewood and their brilliant variations Shami opening the bowling instead of Siraj Bumrah's beauty to dismiss Steve Smith Travis Head's unforgettable assault Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Ashoka (@ABVan) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Great final caps Australia's greatest year - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview Watch out for Shami when he's running in like a horse - Bharat Arun - ESPNcricinfo Advance Australia, inevitably - Osman Samiuddin - ESPNcricinfo Krishnamachari Srikkanth's analysis of the final - YouTube Buy War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee - Amazon War Minus the Shooting - Revisiting the 1996 World Cup through a classic book - 81allout podcast Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward - Amazon

We review two weeks of the World Cup - and chat about Maxwell, Shami, Siraj, Omarzai, Williamson, Shreyas, and much more.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking points:  Maxwell's freakish 201* How well did Afghanistan bowl to Maxwell? The curious case of Australia's batting in this World Cup Are Afghanistan in the same phase that India were in the 1990s? India's bowling attack - the finest quintet for these conditions? Rohit and Kohli - taking chances v taking no chances Are India due a bad day? Or will they finish the World Cup unbeaten? New Zealand's NRR and the connection with how efficiently they are built South Africa's conundrum - Rabada or Shamsi?  Angelo Mathews and the moment the Nagin rivalry peaked Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Ashoka (@ABVan) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Buy War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee - Amazon War Minus the Shooting - Revisiting the 1996 World Cup through a classic book - 81allout podcast Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward - Amazon  

We review the India v England match in Lucknow - and chat about the other themes emerging in the World Cup.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking points:  The brutal simplicity of Mohammad Shami Jasprit Bumrah: the bowler with the joystick Rohit Sharma: the ultimate problem-solver England's awful batting slump Joe Root lbw Bumrah 0 Ben Stokes - reckless or calculated? Pakistan's problem with no big hitting and no quality spin New Zealand losing with respectability  The furore over umpire's call Bangladesh's forgettable World Cup campaign Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)  Ashoka (@ABVan) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: World Cup weekly review - Kartikeya Date - Cricktingview Substack This is Mohammad Shami's World Cup - Andrew Fidel Fernando - ESPNcricinfo Sky Sports Cricket podcast - Nasser Hussain and Eoin Morgan dissect England's loss - Spotify Wasay & Iffi - YouTube Buy War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee - Amazon War Minus the Shooting - Revisiting the 1996 World Cup through a classic book - 81allout podcast Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward - Amazon

We review the India v New Zealand match in Dharamshala - and chat about the other themes as the World Cup nears its halfway stage. We also pay our heartfelt tribute to one of India's greatest cricketers: Bishan Bedi.  ⁠Support 81allout on Ko-fi Talking points:  The poetry of Bishan Bedi - and what he meant to a generation of fans New Zealand running India close in Dharamshala  Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra trying to hit Kuleep out of the attack Jadeja's discomforting pace - and his ability to calibrate it so finely Rohit and Gill taking their chances against a quality opening spell Kohli's quest for a century - and the needless uproar around it Afghanistan and Netherlands showing their class Why aren't teams looking to limit the damage with NRR? Will Australia sneak into the semi-finals? Will England's batters finally fire? Who will go after India's bowlers? New Zealand try but fall short?  Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka (@ABVan) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: The Art of Bedi: Our conversation with Suresh Menon - ⁠81allout podcast Previous 81allout episodes on World Cups - 2011, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003 Buy War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee - Amazon War Minus the Shooting - Revisiting the 1996 World Cup through a classic book - 81allout podcast Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward - Amazon

We review the India v Pakistan match in Ahmedabad - and chat about the other themes developing in this World Cup. Support 81allout on Ko-fi Talking points:  India's enviable bowling attack for the conditions Jasprit Bumrah - the magician Kuldeep and Jadeja keeping Pakistan quiet Siraj and the cross-seam attack Rohit Sharma's evolution as an ODI batter Shreyas Iyer's approach to playing spin The joy of the Australian collapse New Zealand's deceptive dominance in the early stages of the World Cup Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka (@ABVan) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Related: India demonstrate their all round strength, hammer Pakistan - Cricketingview substack India's bowling unit: Gods of small things - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo 81allout preview of the 2023 World Cup Previous 81allout episodes on World Cups - 2011, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003 Buy War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee - Amazon War Minus the Shooting - Revisiting the 1996 World Cup through a classic book - 81allout podcast Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward - Amazon  

We review the India v Australia match in Chennai - a tense contest that India won by six wickets. Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking points:  India's threat with their seamers as well as spinners How this World Cup is rewarding Test-quality spinners Australia's lack of depth in the spin department Pat Cummins' problem at first-change The Kohli-Rahul partnership Bangladesh, South Africa, New Zealand, and India - the early favorites How is 2 for 3 different from 80 for 3 when chasing 200? Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka (@ABVan) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Related: KL Rahul's cut de grace - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo 81allout preview of the 2023 World Cup Previous 81allout episodes on World Cups - 2011, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003 Buy War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee - Amazon War Minus the Shooting - Revisiting the 1996 World Cup through a classic book - 81allout podcast Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward - Amazon

We preview the 2023 World Cup - the muted build-up, BCCI apathy, and how the conditions could play such a big role in how some teams progress. Could South Africa or New Zealand finally win the big prize? Can Pakistan overcome their spin-bowling drawbacks. Can Bangladesh make the semi-final? Or will India be too strong when playing at home?   [podcast_subscribe id="1595"] [kofi] Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka (@ABVan) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Related: Previous 81allout episodes on World Cups - 2011, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003 War Minus the Shooting - Revisiting the 1996 World Cup through a classic book - 81allout podcast

We rewind to the 2011 World Cup that was jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh - and talk about ODI cricket back then, the bowler-friendly nature of many games, the big upsets, the nail-biting finishes, and a cathartic moment for India - and a generation that had never knew what it meant to win a World Cup.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: The roundabout connection between the hosts of the 2011 World Cup and India taking part in the 2007 World T20 How India had turned into a feisty ODI side leading up to the World Cup The close ODI series in South Africa before the World Cup Sehwag and Kohli trouncing Bangladesh in the opening game The pulsating tie against England in Bangalore Australia's first loss in a World Cup since 1999 - against Pakistan Steyn leading South Africa to a thrilling win in Nagpur Sri Lanka thriving in their home conditions - throttling the opponents Sri Lanka's thumping of England in the quarter-final - and echoes of 1996 India's bowling attack - dealing in cutters, slower ones and knuckle-balls An unforgettable night at the Motera - when India overcame Australia The hype before Mohali - and the eventual anti-climax of India v Pakistan Mahela's silken grace in the final - an innings for the gods The riveting partnership between Gambhir and Kohli   Dhoni... finishes off in style Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) DP Prashant (@prashantdptweet) Ashoka (@ABVan) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Related: Previous 81allout episodes on World Cups - 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003 On Board Test, Trial, and Triumph: My Years in BCCI - Ratnakar Shetty - Amazon The Test of My Life: From Cricket to Cancer and Back - Yuvraj Singh - Amazon 'I wanted to hug him and hit him at the same time till he confirmed we'd won the World Cup' - India's players look back on their triumph - The Cricket Monthly  BJP's Control of Cricket in India - Sharda Ugra - Caravan Kevin O'Brien's record century against England - ICC - YouTube War Minus the Shooting - Revisiting the 1996 World Cup through a classic book - 81allout podcast

One of the themes in our episode on team selection was how the change in playing conditions of ODIs had made selection hard. We dialed in on how the change in Powerplay rules, along with the two new balls at both ends, has reshaped in the cricketing contest in ODIs and thereby reshaped the way teams are being selected. Support 81allout via Ko-Fi Talking Points: How profound has the impact of the ODI Powerplay rules been since 2015? Is there clear evidence that introduction of two new balls at both ends has skewed the contest more in batters' favour? Has the elimination of the middle overs stalemate resulted in a diminishing role for part-time bowlers? How relevant are the middle-order accumulators since the new Powerplay rules came into being? Are teams fielding deeper bowling attacks than they did in the past? Is there scope for touch players under the new order? How have different teams responded to the change in Powerplay rules over the years? Given the competitive nature of teams in this format, can there be an overwhelming favourite at this World Cup? Has the elimination of stalemate resulted in bowlers attacking more in the middle overs or are batters scoring more runs at a faster clip? Can both be true? Has the Powerplay rule change enhanced the parity between bat and ball. Or has it diminished it? Participants: Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo page Ashoka (@ABVan) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Related: Rule  changes in ODI cricket over the years - Lalith Kalidas and VS Aravind - Sportstar How to watch ODI cricket - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview How the ODI rule changes have affected run-scoring - S Rajesh - ESPNcricinfo What we talk about when we talk about selection - 81allout podcast

The crew chats about the idea of selecting a cricket team, and debates how one can have a meaningful conversation about an inherently unfair process. Should selectors be more transparent about the reasoning behind their choices? Is there a process by which we can judge a good selection? And how can anyone justify the selection of the Indian team when anything less than a victory in a global tournament (or marquee Test series) is deemed a failure?  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: How does one have a meaningful debate about selection?  Does the selection (or non-selection) of one player have a big impact on results?  Will it help us understand the process better if selectors explain the rationale for their choices? What was the cricketing logic behind Vijay Shankar's selection for the 2019 World Cup?  What are selectors looking for when they earmark a player as an India prospect? Is there anything that can be termed an 'outrageous selection' ? Does Sarfaraz Khan know why he is not being picked for India? Does it matter? Are selection debates essentially about 'who are the 11 players I like the most'? Pre 2011, should Yuvraj and Raina played more Tests than Badrinath and Rohit? The difference between Karn Sharma over Ashwin, Shardul over Ashwin, and Jadeja over Ashwin Is Shardul Thakur an extraordinary Test selection - or merely a lucky one? Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo page Ashoka (@ABVan) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Why selection in India is not illogical or capricious, contrary to popular opinion - Kartikeya Date - ESPNcricinfo What more can Sarfaraz Khan do to get selected for India? - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo R Ashwin opens up on WTC drop and on being ‘traumatised' in the past - Venkata Krishna B - Indian Express  ‘Batting is now less artistic, more power-based' – 81allout podcast with Amol Muzumdar Watching, studying, writing, talent-spotting: a life in cricket - 81allout podcast with Makarand Waingankar

We review the recently concluded five-Test series between England and Australia that ended 2-2 - with Australia retaining the Ashes. It was a series defined by England's 'Bazball' approach to batting - though that undersells how well Australia's batters resisted English bowling and how well Australia bowled in largely batting-friendly conditions. https://ko-fi.com/81allout Talking Points: A neutral view of the Ashes - and how it is hard to pick a team to support The limits of Bazball - and why England's recent success stems from their bowling depth  Australia's bowlers adjusting to the flat pitches and England's risk-taking Why did England not want to prepare seamer-friendly pitches at home and capitalise on their big strength? Stokes v Starc on the final morning at Lord's The cult of Bazball - and how it fits in well with the English cricket establishment's exceptionalism Mark Wood's pace and Nathan Lyon's absence The effect of Bazball on England's bowling attack Stuart Broad's cinematic goodbye  England's chances in the five-Test series in India next year Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo page Ashoka (@ABVan) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Why did Bazball fail to regain the Ashes - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview Substack Stokes and McCullum want to save Test cricket but we must look beyond Big Three - Jonathan Liew - Guardian England 'wanted to pick Wood' but settle for Tongue in all-seam attack - Matt Roller - ESPNcricinfo  Bazball: a cult of bruised masculinity where you win even if you lose - Barney Ronay - Guardian Mark Wood and the primal theatre of pure pace - Ben Gardner - Wisden

We review the second Test between West Indies and India at Port-of-Spain, which was rained off when India needed 8 wickets to wrap up the win. It meant India won their sixth series in West Indies and continued their dominance when touring the Caribbean.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: The problem with gauging the quality of a Test based on crowds and pitches Does Test cricket have to conform to a template? Mohammad Siraj's terrific spells West Indies' curious decision to field first on a benign pitch Virat Kohli's near-flawless hundred Ashwin and Jadeja tightening the screws on Day 3 Mukesh Kumar's debut - and India's transition over the next few years West Indies' improved batting performance  The challenge for India's bowlers in tougher conditions Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo page Ashoka (@ABVan) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Mohammad Siraj takes 5 for 60 - Windies Cricket - YouTube Fazeer Mohammed reviews the second Test - SportsMax TV - YouTube Let West Indian cricketers play in first-class cricket in India - Deep Dasgupta - ESPNcricinfo When India collapsed for 81 all out - Windies Cricket - YouTube How West Indies became a fast bowling paradise again - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo

We review the first Test between West Indies and India at Dominica - which saw a dominant Indian side complete a big win. The conditions were perfectly suited to India's spinners – and gave Ashwin the chance to show his range.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: A 'perfect storm' for West Indies on a pitch favouring spinners The media obsession with the 'death of Test cricket'  Ashwin's 12-wicket haul on his return to the side Ashwin and Jadeja's deadliness: control + variations + drift + turn Cornwall's economical action with few moving parts The challenge when facing Ashwin when he is bowling round the wicket The power of Jadeja's action - repeatability  Jaiswal's debut hundred - and why the India A system is so valuable Alick Athanaze's assurance against spin India's transition - and the case for Ishant and Saha Multi-format players and the future of Tests Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo page Ashoka (@ABVan) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Ashwin remains India's constant in the face of constant change - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo Ashwin's first innings spell - West Indies Cricket Board - YouTube Caribbean Cricket Podcast review of the Test - YouTube Bumrah and Co. lead the rout - 81allout review of India's Test series v West Indies in 2019

Where is cricket best enjoyed? Live at the stadium or on a screen many miles away? What do these experiences teach us and what really are we watching when we take in a game? The 81allout crew discuss.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: The challenges (and privilege required) to access a cricket ground The ordeal of watching a game in an Indian stadium The improved quality of television coverage that takes you close to the action The complications of a televised game that is carefully directed and packaged The distractions during a broadcast: advertisements, crowd shots, sponsor logos Experiencing the conditions at the ground and understanding flight and length The appreciation to be gained from watching the entire field of play The democratic nature of TV - and how it introduces the game to new fans The influence of commentary on one's interpretation of the game Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) Ashoka (@ABVan) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: ‘A TV producer needs to catch the pulse of where the game is going' – Ajesh Ramachandran - 81allout podcast ‘In some ways, a TV director plays God' – Hemant Buch - 81allout podcast What about the fans? BCCI could have avoided the Dharamsala mess - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo Why do spectators get a raw deal - Gideon Haigh - ESPNcricinfo Fly Lara Fly - Rahul Bhattacharya - The Cricket Monthly A handy rule to have in sports - Osman Samiuddin - The National

We speak to British playwright Maatin about his play Duck, which looks at the cricketing events of 2005 through the prism of a 15-year-old boy in a public school in London. You can buy tickets to the play here. What the play is about: It's the summer of 2005, and Ismail – ‘Smiley' to his friends – is about to become the youngest-ever player in his elite public school's First XI cricket team. He sets his sights on immortality – breaking the school batting record and getting his name into Wisden. But at the start of the season, new coach Mr. Eagles takes a particular dislike to him, threatening to derail Ismail's historic moment. Worse still, no one seems to get what he's going through. Set during England's famous Ashes victory and the events of 7/7, Ismail discovers that cricket might not be able to take care of everything as it once did. Talking Points: The impetus to write the play and how closely it resembles Maatin's childhood The challenges of being an outsider in the British public school system The memories of the 2005 Ashes when seen along with the 7/7 bombings Azim Rafiq's testimony and what it meant for minorities in English cricket The burden of needing to be a 'good immigrant' in England The obviously visible Muslims who have been integral to England's recent rise Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid: what wearing their faith on their sleeves has meant The backlash Moeen got when he wore an armband in support of Palestine The infamous 'Tebbit Test' that questioned people's loyalty to their country The complexities around fandom - and how it is hard to explain one's support How easy it is to fall in love with the game - and also fall out of love with it Participants: Maatin (@maatin) Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Watch Duck - details here. Anyone But England - Mike Marqusee  - Amazon ‘Cricket in England is held back by its own mythology' – interview with author Duncan Stone - 81allout podcast on 'A Different Class'  British Muslim experiences in English first-class cricket - Daniel Burdsey - International Review for the Sociology of Sport Moeen - Moeen Ali autobiography - Amazon It Isn't an Easy Time to Be a British Muslim. Cricket Helps - Moeen Ali profile - New York Times Stokistan - Scott Oliver on how Pakistani players have lit up the north Straffordshire leagues - The Cricket Monthly The rainbow beauty of Hashim Amla - Niren Tolsi - The Cricket Monthly

We review the World Test Championship final between Australia and India at The Oval - which ended with a 209-run win and the Test mace for Australia. It was India's second consecutive loss in the WTC final - and offered hints that a terrific side is likely past its peak.  Talking Points: Australia's greater depth in bowling Yet another missed opportunity for this Indian side to win a world title The height advantage - how the 'release points' could have made a difference The magnificent Mr Smith Did India misread the conditions on Day 1? Gill and Pujara leaving balls that hit the stumps Ashwin v Jadeja; Ashwin v Shardul; Ashwin v Umesh - the selection riddle Lyon's craft to get Jadeja and Rohit out Rahane's joyous return to Tests What next for this Indian bowling attack? The Rahul Dravid question Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Prashant DP (@prashantdptweet) | Prashant's cricket posts on Medium Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Kartikeya's Substack Ashoka (@ABVan) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: The story of the WTC final - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview Boland and Cummins unleash on India - Osman Samiuddin - ESPNcricinfo Beware, England: Steve Smith looks like a batting immortal again - Geoff Lemon - Guardian Ajinkya Rahane, India's quiet hero - Nagraj Gollapudi - ESPNcricinfo Ashwin's preparation list for the WTC final - Venkata Krishna - Indian Express

We chat with ESPNcricinfo assistant editor Karthik Krishnaswamy and freelance writer Saurabh Somani on making sense of cricket in these times of excess. With leagues mushrooming around the world, and multiple formats to track, can journalists be expected to have a holistic view of the game? Talking Points: The evolution of cricket - and pressures on journalists - over the last decade The near-impossible task of watching cricket across formats and geographies The difficulty of 'connecting the dots' from age-group to international cricket The need to change one's writing to suit the rhythm of the format Making peace with not watching most of the cricket that is being televised The lack of bandwidth to take in the big picture The future of one-dayers and how its extinction could have far-reaching effects A future where journalists will need to pick formats to cover Balancing the demands of the market with the demands of journalism The future of cricket coverage with advances in video and Artificial Intelligence Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Participants: Karthik Krishnaswamy (@the_kk) Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Karthik Krishnaswamy's articles on ESPNcricinfo 'Hard for journalists today to probe serious issues in cricket' - Pradeep Magazine  - 81allout podcast A Cop in Cricket - Neeraj Kumar - Amazon Will IPL franchise owners swallow international cricket whole? - Osman Samiuddin - ESPNcricinfo Is there too much cricket? - Cameron Pononsby - Wisden Cricket 2.0: Inside the T20 Revolution - Tim Wigmore and Freddie Wilde - Amazon Hitting against the Spin - Nathan Leamon and Ben Jones - Amazon IPL, basketball and the tamasha paradox - Siddhartha Vaidyanathan - sidveeblogs

Some cricketers we love at first sight; some, we take time to appreciate; others, we do not understand the fuss; and still others are quick to get under our skins. Often, we review our views over time - and often surprise ourselves by changing our opinions about cricketers.  Kapil Dev, Ishant Sharma, Ravi Shastri, Ian Chappell, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Azharuddin, and Steve Waugh - all formidable cricketers. All of whom we have changed our minds over at various stages. And all of whom we focus on in this episode - to understand the evolution of our fandom. Talking Points: What Kapil Dev chasing Hadlee's record meant for many young fans The staggering image of Kapil being a combination of Bumrah and Pant Ishant Sharma's arrival in Test cricket - and the 'trolling' years that followed Post-2016 Ishant - the most improved Indian cricketer this decade? The Ravi Shastri stereotypes - and how it is easy to be trapped by all of them The legendary forthrightness of Ian Chappell Rahul Dravid's purple patch - and why that record needs to be revisited Mohammad Azharuddin: a glorious rise, an inglorious fall Steve Waugh and the danger of hyping 'mental disintegration'  Sachin Tendulkar - the slow journey from hero to mortal Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Prashant DP (@prashantdptweet) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Ashoka (@ABVan) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Talking fandom: love, loyalty, and a sense of belonging - 81allout podcast That special whistle: the phenomenon called CSK - 81allout podcast Conversation with veteran journalist Pradeep Magazine - 81allout podcast Whatever happened to Ravi Shastri 1.0 - Sharda Ugra - ESPNcricinfo History's witness: The IPL final, as Ravi Shastri saw it - Siddhartha Vaidyanathan - Yahoo Cricket Ishant Sharma interview with Gaurav Kapoor - Breakfast with Champions - YouTube Ian Chappell on captaincy and much more - 81allout podcast The inscrutable craftsman - Rohit Brijnath - ESPNcricinfo Like father, like son - Siddhartha Vaidyanathan - ESPNcricinfo Out of my Comfort Zone - Steve Waugh autobiography - Amazon Captain courageous, like Tendulkar, vs Rihanna - Mukul Kesavan - NDTV