81 All Out - A Cricket Podcast

Our special guest this week is Nishant Arora who, over two decades, has worked in multiple capacities within cricket – as a TV journalist, a player agent, a media manager with the BCCI, and a digital producer with ICC. We speak to Nishant about his career that has spanned over two decades and delight in some of his anecdotes from behind the scenes.  Talking Points: Playing junior cricket with Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh Big-hitting Yuvraj losing SG balls at the world's most elevated cricket stadium Yuvraj scoring 358 in a match when the opponents scored 357 Harbhajan Singh's emotional day after taking India's first hat-trick in Kolkata The challenge for Nishant to separate his journalism and friendships The rare Dhoni interview in Islamabad Visiting Virender Sehwag's house and getting him to talk about his 155 in Chennai The challenges of interviewing Sourav Ganguly When Yuvraj's cancer was kept top secret The breakdown in the player-journalist relationship Why Ashish Nehra must be appointed the lawyer for bow Click here to support 81allout on Ko-Fi Participants: Nishant Arora (@NJA21) Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Related: The Test of my Life: From Cricket to Cancer and Back - Yuvraj Singh, Amazon.com Anatomy of a classic - Chandrahas Choudhury and Nishant Arora - ESPNcricinfo When Singh was king - Karthik Krishnaswamy - The Cricket Monthly Nehraji unfiltered - Breakfast with Champions - Gaurav Kapoor

We discuss the third Test between India and England in Chennai Talking Points: Where did this pitch stand in the Premadasa-Sabina scale? The importance of consistent bounce in the ICC evaluation system England's misreading of the pitch and the selection of one specialist spinner Don't India have enough of an all-round bowling strength to not rely on turners? Rohit Sharma's ability to adjust to all formats The technique of playing spin - and what made Root, Foakes, Rohit and Kohli stand out Ashwin's off-break that looks like a straighter one - thanks to the remarkable drift Axar Patel's surreal start to his Test career Axar's ability to adapt his game to the conditions Memories of the Mumbai Test in 2004 - when Murali Kartik won India a low-scoring thriller The high-quality umpiring in the Test - and the performative challenge for third umpires The Joe Root DRS reversal - and what it captured about umpires' call Click here to support 81allout on Ko-Fi Participants: Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka (@ABVan) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Related: The ICC's pitch evaluation system - Kartikeya Date Motera pitch could be a backhanded compliment to England - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo When Singh was king - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo Ashwin's two dismissals of Ollie Pope - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo England got themselves into a spin against Axar Patel - Nasser Hussain - The Daily Mail

Support 81allout: http://ko-fi.com/81allout Our special guest this week is Osman Samiuddin, a senior editor at ESPNcricinfo and author of The Unquiet Ones: A History of Pakistan Cricket. One of the finest contemporary cricket writers, Osman has had a ring-side view of the triumphs and disappointments of Pakistan cricket over the last two decades. His match reports, profiles, and long-form features contain both a depth of research and originality of style – as well as a sense of timelessness that make them both a work of journalism as well as a draft of history. Talking Points: Falling in love with Pakistan cricket in the 1990s The tumultuous years in Pakistan cricket: 2006 to 2010 Fazal Mahmood's crazy confidence Imran Khan's influence on fast bowling - the seminal spell in Sydney in 1977 Javed Miandad and the quest for Izzat Wasim Akram - the hero and a cricket writer's ideal Participants: Osman Samiuddin (@osmansamiuddin); Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Related: Pakistan's quicks get into the swing; Ode to a magazine; Basit Ali's 127 (79); West Indies win in Bridgetown in 1988; Pakistan in 1999: the allure, the magic, and the heartbreak; The Imran Khan's I've Known; The Haal of Pakistan; Miandad's last ODI hundred; Imran Khan's 10/77 in Headingley; Rahul Bhattachaya on Wasim Akram's ball to Rahul Dravid; Akram's hat-trick in Dhaka, 1999; Akram's 5/49 in Antigua, 2000; England v Pakistan, Lord's Test, 1992; Shoaib Akhtar 6/30, Wellington, 2003; Mohammad Asif's six-for in Sydney, 2010 Books: The Unquiet Ones: A History of Pakistan Cricket; Pundits from Pakistan; War Minus the Shooting; Not quite cricket; On Warne

Support 81allout: ko-fi.com/81allout We discuss the second Test between India and England in Chennai Talking Points: Was there anything at all wrong with the pitch? How Rohit Sharma tackled the tricky surface England's rotation policy - and would they have followed this during the Ashes? R Ashwin's glorious home Test in front of an adoring crowd Does Ashwin the bowler have the equivalent of 47 Test centuries? Ashwin's ability to do what he decides to do Ben Foakes' technique against spin on a turning track Rishabh Pant's improvement behind the stumps Kohli's skillful sequence – 74, 72, and 62 The Rahane review - and England subsequently being handed back their review The consistently good home umpiring during the Covid months Is Anderson the Karunanidhi of cricket? Or the Tom Brady of cricket? Participants: Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka (@ABVan) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Related: When Cook and Co. did the unthinkable - 81allout podcast on the 2012-13 India v England series The theatre of spin - Siddhartha Vaidyanathan Pitched language - Kartikeya Date The bias against spinning pitches - Jarrod Kimber Madrasapattinam - R Ashwin's Chepauk memories, YouTube video The Paaji effect - R Ashwin's chat with Bharat Arun, YouTube video Ashwin talks about his variations - Sky Sports Ben Foakes stands up to give keepers' union something to shout about - Andy Bull, The Guardian

Click here to support 81allout on Ko-Fi In this episode, we look back to England's tour to India in 2012-13. England had not won a series in India since 1984-85 and they began the tour as underdogs - especially after a heavy defeat in the first Test in Ahmedabad. The turnaround began in Mumbai – thanks to some splendid spin bowling followed by hundreds from Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen – and England went on to defy expectations in the final two Tests. Talking Points: England's tours to UAE and Sri Lanka before the India series Kevin Pietersen's "reintegration" into the side Monty Panesar not playing in the first Test in Ahmedabad Sehwag's hundred, Pujara's double-hundred The Cook-Prior rearguard in the second innings Panesar's ball to Tendulkar on day one in Mumbai Pujara's masterful innings against spin Pietersen brutal hitting and the shock in the stands Tendulkar's innings on day one in Kolkata James Anderson's spell of reverse-swing The Cook marathon – with support from Trott Jonathan Trott's lesson in patience The slow Nagpur pitch The consequences of the defeat for India – and the end of many journeys Participants: Karthik Krishnaswamy (@the_kk) Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka (@ABVan) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Related: The Wisden Almanack report for the series - ESPNcricinfo The balls of the century - Monty Panesar to Sachin Tendulkar - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo First step to redemption, India go 1-0 up - Karthik Krishnaswamy - Indian Express Cheteshwar Pujara: the worker ant - Siddhartha Vaidyanathan Dhoni's pitch flawed - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo Patient Tendulkar middles it this time - Karthik Krishnaswamy - Indian Express Quick wickets but no miracle this time - Karthik Krishnaswamy - Indian Express Post lunch, humble pie - Karthik Krishnaswamy - Indian Express Pads on, DRS isn't watching - Karthik Krishnaswamy - Indian Express Zaheer Khan. Left arm... over? - Karthik Krishnaswamy - Indian Express Be bold, be practical, do the right thing - Siddhartha Vaidyanathan

Dear Listener, This website began as a blog where Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) and I exchanged leisurely thoughts on Test cricket. When I suggested the name 81allout, Mahesh had said: “Can’t get a more symbolic name for a suicidal mission. Love it." Soon we branched out into podcasting, inviting others to exchange their cricketing stories and perspectives. From the outset, the plan for the podcast was to recreate the mood outside a tea-shop. We felt serious cricket outlets often take themselves too seriously while the irreverent observers don't take cricket seriously enough. We wanted to find a middle ground, and are thankful for your continued feedback. Over the last two-and-a-half years, this endeavour has run purely on passion. Now we are ready to take an upward step. We thought of approaching advertisers. We contemplated bringing on a sponsor. We considered various other options. But none of those ideas inspired as much confidence as you. You understand how much the game means to us. We hope you can support us each month to help us reach the next level. Click here to support 81allout on Ko-Fi Thank you in advance. And we look forward to you joining us in this journey. Regards, Siddhartha Vaidyanathan * Related: Blue Whale of a legbreak - 81allout archive Joy and Curse of YouTube - 81allout archive Ghostwriting for Imran, beach-cricket with Viv, working for Pataudi - 81allout podcast with Mudar Patherya 'Every generation needs its writers to tell its stories' - 81allout podcast with Sharda Ugra A golden age for watching Test cricket in Sri Lanka - 81allout podcast with Fidel Fernando Sri Lanka's victory against Pakistan at Galle - YouTube highlights

We preview the upcoming India v England Test series which comes on the back of an epic series win for India in Australia, and a very impressive win for England in Sri Lanka. While the teams prepare for fresh challenges in Chennai and Ahmedabad, they still have to contend with bio-bubbles, quarantines, injuries, and player rotation. Talking Points Context of the India-England rivalry over the years The difference between perception of England's performances in India vs their relatively impressive record Covid impact on the series - bubbles, scheduling, grounds, player fitness Unknowns around the pitches. Just two Tests in Chennai in the last decade. Revamped Motera. England's choice to rotate and rest players for a key series - what message does it convey and how could it affect the quality of their cricket? How much should one read into England's 2-0 win in Sri Lanka? How hard will it be for for India - both physically and mentally - to move on from such an epic series win in Australia? Ashwin's fitness concerns, and England largely finding a way to tackle him home and away How much would India miss Mohammad Shami and Ravindra Jadeja? Possible team combinations for both teams Would the standings in the World Test Championship have a say? Predictions Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Arj (@Cricvestigate) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Related: The Allrounders - 81allout podcast Chepauk's accidental curator - Nagraj Gollapudi - ESPNcricinfo How Joe Root's risk-free approach kickstarted the biggest year of his career - Tim Wigmore - The Telegraph Likeable England face formidable India - Sky Sports podcast

In this special episode of the 81allout podcast, we chat with journalist and author Bharat Sundaresan on his experiences of covering India's recent tour to Australia. Bharat is a cricket reporter at cricbuzz.com and is the author of The Dhoni Touch: Unravelling the Enigma that is MS Dhoni Talking points: Covering a Test series in COVID times Driving from one Australian state to the other, avoiding borders The uncertainty over the venues and itinerary Wearing masks in the press box A distracted press box as India collapsed for 36 in Adelaide The spate of injuries during the tour A relatively muted Boxing Day Ashwin's spell in Melbourne Ajinkya Rahane's captaincy Mohammad Siraj improving with every spell in Melbourne Siraj reporting poor crowd behavior Australia constantly threatening to break away... until India kept fighting back The net session when Pant talked to his bruised arm The Ravi Shastri effect on the youngster in the team Ashwin's innings in the battling draw in Sydney Vihari - the quiet achiever Covering the Brisbane Test from a radio studio in Sydney Australians convincing themselves of the Brisbane myth All the talk of the weather in Brisbane India putting themselves in a position to dictate terms on the final day The emotional charge to victory Participants: Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@Sidvee) * Related: The unlikely script of the Gabba heist - Bharat Sundaresan - cricbuzz.com Bruised but unbowed: India's mighty display of guts and gumption - Bharat Sundaresan - cricbuzz.com The summer of Siraj - Bharat Sundaresan - cricbuzz.com Washington Sundar: destiny's child - Bharat Sundaresan - cricbuzz.com Rahane's personality-defining day out - Bharat Sundaresan - cricbuzz.com Ashwin: The conscientious spin scientist - Bharat Sundaresan - cricbuzz.com List of Bharat Sundaresan's cricbuzz columns 

We discuss the final day of the fourth Test in Brisbane, where India did the improbable. Talking Points: Excuse me, what did we just see? India's greatest series win? Teams getting ambitious with fourth-innings chases The value - and strategic brilliance – of Pujara's innings Gill and Pant in their audacious element The Washington Sundar cameo Starc's off day and below par series Why isn't Lyon held to the same standard as other great spinners? How a great series lives on in the memory Participants: Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka (@ABVan) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Related: A tragicomedy called 36 all out – 81allout podcast The Melbourne bounceback – 81allout podcast The victorious draw in Sydney - 81allout podcast The Melbourne Miracle of 1981 – 81allout podcast EPIC - Kartikeya Date Bharat Arun interview - ESPNcricinfo Australia's fury dashed against India's butterfly effect - Gideon Haigh, The Australian Gill, Pujara, Pant showcase India's batting riches - Sidharth Monga, ESPNcricinfo * Lead image from here

We discuss the third Test in Sydney, where India held on for a valiant draw. Talking Points: When a draw was like a win Steve Smith resumes normal service The versatile Mr Jadeja Rohit and Gill - partners in promise India's decision to pick Pant despite his wicketkeeping problems Is one allowed to get run-out in Test cricket? Pant's sizzling 97 on day five Ashwin and Vihari and the show of defiance Can India find 11 fit men for Brisbane? Participants: Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka (@ABVan) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Related: A tragicomedy called 36 all out – 81allout podcast The Melbourne bounceback - 81allout podcast The Melbourne Miracle of 1981 – 81allout podcast The draw that meant so much more - Siddhartha Vaidyanathan, 81allout.com Pujara's triumph: cricket, lovely cricket - Kartikeya Date Bruised and abused, Indians make their own luck at the SCG - Sidharth Monga, ESPNcricinfo Rishabh Pant's keeping - Ben Jones, cricviz.com * Lead image from here.