81 All Out - A Cricket 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