81 All Out - A Cricket Podcast

In the latest episode we talk to author and journalist Nicholas Brookes about his recent book An Island's XI: The Story of Sri Lankan Cricket. We talk about Nicholas' journey in learning about different aspects of Sri Lankan cricket and touch upon some of the key themes in the book - the early 'whistle-stop tours', yearning for Test status, the massive victory against India in 1979, the aura of Satha, Opatha and the rebel tourists, Arjuna, Aravinda, Sanath, Murali - and the politics that has never been too far from the game in Sri Lanka. Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback, e-copy); Australia (hardback, paperback, e-copy); USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy); UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy); Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Talking Points: The class structure in Sri Lankan cricket and how school's cricket is so fundamental to cricket on the island Grace, Hobbs, Bradman, Sobers, Worrell - just some of the illustrious early visitors to Ceylon M Sathasivam - the charm of the cricketer, the mystique around the man, the tragedy of an accusation The 'rebels' who visited South Africa and the cloud that hung over the tourists The chaotic years leading up to the 1996 World Cup triumph Aravinda de Silva - everyman one minute, spectacular artist the next The evolution of Sanath Jayasuriya leading up to 1996 A conversation in Peshawar: when Saqlain spoke to Murali about his doosra The complexity of the Murali story - the politics, the cricket, and the man himself Participants: Nicholas Brookes (@brookeswites); Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee); Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Related: The story of De Saram and Satha: batting geniuses who went to jail - Nicholas Brookes - The Cricket Monthly; In Colombo, three is not a crowd - Nicholas Brookes and Benjamin Golby - The Cricket Monthly; A Murder in Ceylon: The Sathasivam Case - Prof Ravindra Fernando - Amazon; Growing up with Murali - Andrew Fidel Fernando - The Cricket Monthly; When Murali bared his soul - Vithushan Ehantharajah - The Cricket Monthly; War Minus the Shooting - Mike Marqusee - Amazon; The lost boys of Jaffna - Andrew Fidel Fernando - The Cricket Monthly

In the latest episode we talk to historian and author Duncan Stone about his recent book 'Different Class: The Untold Story of English Cricket'. The conversation delves into the nebulous 'Spirit of the Game' and how it is emblematic of the fetishization of English cricket - which has turned a people's game into a seemingly noble pursuit accessible mostly to a privileged class. You can order the book here. Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback, e-copy); Australia (hardback, paperback, e-copy); USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy); UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy); Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Talking Points: The Spirit of the Game and why English cricket is its own enemy The pivotal decision to take cricket off free-to-air television in 2005 What the Azeem Rafiq revelations teach us Outlawing of competitive cricket in the south of England for several years in the early 1900s Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee); Duncan Stone (@StoneDunk) Books discussed: Anyone But England - Mike Marqusee; Beyond A Boundary - CLR James; Willow Wand - Derek Birley; Rowland Bowen's history of cricket; Related: English cricket has always been a people's game, but that's not what the elitists will have you believe - Duncan Stone - ESPNcricinfo; The class and culture war at the heart of English cricket - David Hopps - ESPNcricinfo; ECB's South Asian Action Plan fell short - Duncan Stone - The Cricketer; Law (19.8) and Order - 81allout podcast discussing the 2019 World Cup final; The toxic side to the Australian way - 81allout podcast with Jarrod Kimber; Why is there stigma involved in running out a non-striker? Because it's all about power - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo; Spirit of Cricket & the Mankad - Pakistan Cricket Podcast; 

In the latest episode we discuss ways in which data is upending the way teams approach the sport - and also question why there is so much resistance to the idea that smart use of data helps everyone understand the game better. Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar (recently republished by 81allout): India (hardback) | India (paperback, e-copy); Australia (hardback, paperback, e-copy); USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy); USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy); Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy);  For the rest - please check your country-specific Amazon pages. Talking Points: The importance of data in the T20 era - with teams looking for more efficiencies and for ways to exploit match-ups The 'anti-data constituency' and why data is such a polarizing topic The false-opposition to data: and why observation and experience are data too The age-old cliche: 'Numbers don't tell the full story' The terminological baggage around terms like 'luck', 'fluke' and 'randomness' The difference between descriptive data and predictive data The lack of sufficient data in T20s - with so few games played every season The issue of player accountability - and the fear of data revealing hard truths Do TV channels have a moral responsibility to educate the public about data? What does the future of cricket data look like? Can one expect more systematic recording of judgement metrics? Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee); Himanish Ganjoo (@hganjoo_153); Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview); Ashoka (@ABVan) * Related: Pressure, clutch, choke: the language of cricketing discourse - 81allout podcast 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 On Analysis And Statistics in Cricket - Himanish Ganjoo - DeepPoint Substack Do match-ups work in T20? The data says yes - Himanish Ganjoo - ESPNcricinfo The rise of the analyst, coded signals and the DRS revolution - Sky Sports podcast with Nathan Leamon Cricket is having its Moneyball moment - Mike Jakeman - Wired UK

In the latest episode we discuss ideas of loyalty and fandom - with respect to both teams and individual athletes - and dissect various strands of 'belonging' to an imagined community. Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback, e-copy); Australia (hardback, paperback, e-copy); USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy); UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy); Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Talking Points: The schizophrenic nature of fandom in the franchise age Do you cheer for Kohli when he plays for India and wish for him to fail for RCB? The idea of imagined communities and the spread of nationalism Why does bandwagoning have a bad reputation? Supporting a team versus an individual - and how the first appears more noble The sacred space of fandom - watching as a community v watching alone The live experience v the TV experience - and the vast difference between them The loss of hope in 2000 - when Azhar and Cronje were embroiled in scandal Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee); Rohit Naimpally (https://rohitnaimpally.substack.com/); Deepauk Murugesan (@complicateur); Ashoka (@ABVan) * Related: That special whistle: the phenomeon called CSK - 81allout podcast The ins and outs of Fantasy Cricket - 81allout podcast Reviving War Minus the Shooting - 81allout podcast with Osman Samiuddin Imagined Communities - Benedict Anderson - Amazon Rules for Being a True Fan - Bill Simmons - ESPN Page 2 We cheer for clothes - Jerry Seinfeld - YouTube The remarkable rise of the Oakland Roots Is sporting fandom a set of rituals or a relationship - Ahmer Naqvi - ESPNcricinfo Confessions of a bandwagon fan - David Sax - The New Yorker The legacy of Michael Jordan in China - Andrew Gao - chinosity.com Will you watch the World Cup - Siddhartha Vaidyanathan - sidveeblogs

In the latest episode we discuss popular terms used to describe a cricketing contest - and why these are often lazy alternatives with no standard definition. Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback, e-copy); Australia (hardback, paperback, e-copy);  USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy); UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy); Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Talking Points: The category error in sports - when stories are used to describe contests The narrative around 'big moments' and how some phases are assumed to 'decide' contests The rampant discourse around 'pressure situations' The belief that some players are superior at the finish than at the start Jordan and Robert Horry - and the spread of the clutch narrative Australia v South Africa, Edgbaston, 1999: a narrative gold The future of cricket discourse - and ways to describe the entire contest  Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee); Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview); Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd); Ashoka (@ABVan) Related: The episode that really matters - 81allout podcast with Sidharth Monga What's the story, Morning Glory - 81allout podcast with Karthik Krishnaswamy What we talk about when we talk about cricket - 81allout podcast with Daniel Norcross Anatomy of a classic - Virender Sehwag on his 155 in Chennai - Interview by Chandrahas Choudhury and Nishant Arora - ESPNcricinfo Bias Case - Steve Tignor - Tennis World James Anderson and reverse-swing - Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara discuss - YouTube Against narratives - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview Why there is no such thing as a finisher in ODI cricket - Kartikeya Date - ESPNcricinfo Roger Federer opens up - Interview by David Remnick - New Yorker Paddy Upton's interview of Allan Donald - Apple podcasts 'I wanted to be there at the end. That was my drug' - Lance Klusener interview - The Cricket Monthly Rudi Webster - Think Like a Champion - Amazon.com

In the latest episode of the podcast we discuss a fundamental question that underpins a T20 contest: does batting have a place in T20? Are elite batters like Virat Kohli, Babar Azam and Steve Smith good fits in the T20 format - and what metrics  tell us how good a batter or hitter is. [podcast_subscribe id="1595"] Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback, e-copy) Australia (hardback, paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) For the rest - please check your country-specific Amazon pages. Talking Points: The intrinsic logic of T20 - a resource-heavy format with limited time Who is better? A batter who averages 50 and scores at a strike rate of 150 or one who averages 35 and also scores at a strike rate of 150? The evolution of T20 - from a game that resembled cricket to a different sport The problem with picking hitters from an ecosystem that encourages batting Ways to measure the excellence of a T20 batter/hitter Why a single in a T20 is vastly different from a single in an ODI Is there any value in picking an anchor in the top order? Can a team full of hitters find a way in bowler-friendly conditions? Chris Gayle v ABdV v Kohli v Babar v Buttler: who is the better T20 pick? The great T20 hitters - and a formula to rank them Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Ashoka (@ABVan) * Related: An essential point in T20 - Kartikeya Date - - A Cricketing View Kohli's T20 problem - Kartikeya Date - A Cricketing View Is a single in T20 the same as a dot ball in ODIs? - Kartikeya Date - ESPNcricinfo How do batters train for the demands of T20? - Tim Wigmore - The Cricket Monthly Who is T20s greatest player? - Cricviz

In the latest episode of the podcast we discuss the recent fourth-innings run-chases in Tests around the world. Since the start of 2021, there have been 58 instances of teams batting in the fourth innings - of which 27 have ended in victories. England, West Indies, India, and Pakistan have chased tall targets and we explore whether there has been a significant shift in how teams approach the run-chase. Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar (recently republished by 81allout)India (hardback) | India (paperback, e-copy)Australia (hardback, paperback, e-copy)USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy)UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy)Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Talking Points: The recent increase in teams achieving the target in the fourth-innings The high preparedness of bowlers before matches - and the predictable drop in intensity as Tests runs their course Rewind to the 2000s - when more teams chased targets The difficulty of bowling negative in this era - against batsmen with great range The T20 effect on Test chases A thumb-rule for guessing if a team has a chance in the chase - check run-rates India's historic chase at the Gabba in 2021 England's recent successes in chasing 250-plus targets Will teams start preparing pitches that ease out as the game progresses? Sehwag's blitz, Sachin's 136,  Gavaskar's pristine 90 - and other great chases Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee); Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview); Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd); Ashoka (@ABVan) * Fourth-innings chases - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview; Shafique's epic 160* leads Pakistan to fourth-innings glory - Fidel Fernando - ESPNcricinfo; The Bairoot show in Edgbaston classic - 81allout podcast; England post a record against India - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview; Dravid: 'We have started Test matches well but haven't been able to finish well' - ESPNcricinfo; Has it become easier to chase down stiff targets in Test cricket - S Rajesh ESPNcricinfo; Fly Lara Fly - Rahul Bhattacharya - The Cricket Monthly; Clive Lloyd and Bedi rewind to Port-of-Spain in 1976 - YouTube; Gordon Greenidge's 214* at Lord's in 1984 - YouTube; Nathan Astle's 222 of 168 balls - YouTube

In the latest episode of the podcast we chat with Hemant Buch, who is a broadcast consultant with over 25 years' experience as an executive producer, director, and producer. Hemant guides us through the responsibilities of a live TV broadcast director. He also talks about his recent assignment in Sri Lanka - where Australia and Pakistan played cricket series in a time of intense political and economic strife. Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar (recently republished by 81allout)India (hardback) | India (paperback, e-copy)Australia (hardback, paperback, e-copy)USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy)UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy)Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Talking Points: Hemant's journey into the world of journalism and broadcasting A TV director and producer - and how they need to complement each other Watching a match from 20 different angles and choosing the best view The challenges of directing a Test match versus shorter forms of the game The predominance of Indian and South African camerapersons in cricket The high calibre of camerawork during the recent two series in Sri Lanka The need to be nimble while using the ultra slomo camera Covering cricket in Sri Lanka amid economic and political turmoil The peaceful protests outside the ground at Galle Sri Lanka's cricketers speaking up about the economic plight of the people Witnessing packed houses in stadia as Sri Lankans grappled with daily crises Dasun Shanaka's stunning knock and Prabath Jayasuriya's stunning entry Participants: Hemant Buch (@hemantbuch); Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee); Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) * Related: Articles by Hemant Buch; Hemant Buch's photos; Hemant Buch interview on Couch Talk; ‘A TV producer needs to catch the pulse of where the game is going’ – Ajesh Ramachandran - 81allout; When Sri Lanka came to the cricket to fight for the country's future - Fidel Fernando - ESPNcricinfo; Australia's Sri Lanka tour more profound than wins and losses - Daniel Brettig - Sydney Morning Herald; 'A golden age for watching cricket in Sri Lanka' - Fidel Fernando - 81allout; Sport, history, race: the complexity of cricket in South Africa - podcast with Telford Vice and Firdose Moonda - 81allout

We talk to legendary Australian captain and batsman Allan Border about his experience of touring the subcontinent in the 1980s -  taking in the tied Test in 1986, the World Cup win in 1987, and the controversial tour of Pakistan in 1988. Joining Border is veteran journalist Mike Coward, whose classic book - Cricket Beyond the Bazaar - we recently republished via 81allout Publishing. Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar: India (hardback) | India (paperback, e-copy) Australia (hardback, paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) For the rest - please check your country-specific Amazon pages. Talking Points: The cultural shock in the subcontinent for Australians of Border's generation Coming to grips with the heat, the noise, and the way of life in India The pressure that Border was under in the lead-up to the tied Test Dean Jones' epic innings and the role Border had in it The final day of the tied Test - when players and umpires felt the heat Bob Simpson's contributions as manager of the team during the 1987 World Cup Defying the odds in Lahore as Steve Waugh silenced the capacity crowd Gatting c Dyer b Border 41 (and the moment when a World Cup final turned) How Mike Coward managed to be both empathetic towards the players and ruthlessly objective when reporting the crisis in Pakistan in 1988 The legacy of Frank Tarrant and the pioneering Australian tour of 1935 The institution of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy: its cache and its future Participants: Allan Border Mike Coward Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Related: Cricket Beyond the Bazaar: the revival of a classic book - 81allout A lifetime in cricket writing - 81allout podcast with Mike Coward The subcontinent beyond the cliches: revisiting a landmark cricket book - Dan Brettig and Russell Jackson discuss Cricket Beyond the Bazaar - 81allout podcast Embracing the East: Suresh Menon on Cricket Beyond the Bazaar - ESPNcricinfo Mike Coward's books  The Final Frontier: Mike Coward - The Greatest Season That Was podcast 'It long irked me that sports writing, in this country, has been devalued' - Mike Coward's speech at the ASC Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2015

We review the England-India Test at Edgbaston, which see-sawed till day four - before England defied the odds. Note: Readers in India can now buy Mike Marqusee's classic cricket book War Minus The Shooting on Flipkart and Amazon. Readers outside India, can buy the book on Amazon. Talking Points: A fitting end to a high quality series Bazball: a marketing gimmick or viable cricketing strategy? England making the most of their ODI strengths in Tests Bairstow's purplest patch Joe Root the invincible - a 360-degree master Rishabh Pant's command over the bowling Balls that refused to swing after the 30th over Did India misread the pitch when choosing Shardul over Ashwin? India's third-innings collapses - a trend over the last two years The future of England's attacking approach Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) Ashoka (@ABVan) Related: England post a record against India - Kartikeya Date - A Cricketing View  India's fourth-innings fumble: What has gone wrong? - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo In the zone - Kevin Pietersen and Mark Butcher on sporting nirvana - Sky Sports podcast Attack, attack, attack - Ben Jones - Cricviz‘ As a captain, you don’t delegate decisions that affect winning or losing’: Ian Chappell - 81allout podcast