81 All Out - A Cricket Podcast
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Talking cricket with Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
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Apr 13, 2021
Understanding T20: a conversation with Hassan Cheema
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Our special guest this week is Hassan Cheema, the strategy manager at Islamabad United – the Pakistan Super League champions in 2016 and 2018.
Hassan talks about the rapidly evolving T20 format and gives us a peek into what franchises are doing to stay ahead of the curve. Having observed some of the top T20 players first-hand, Hassan brings forth the complexities of the game and the challenges involved in managing a team.
Talking Points:
* How West Indies revolutionized the approach to T20s
* The overwhelming importance of the toss
* Measures used to judge a T20 batsman
* The flexible batting order and how best to use an anchor
* Unlearning the lessons from red ball cricket
* Retiring out batsmen and tactical drops
* What constitutes a good over in T20?
* Tactics v execution: the tightrope walk
* How one builds a player's trust and the need to go beyond cricket
* The unquantifiable value of some fielders
* The grammar of T20 and what TV can do better
Participants:
Hassan Cheema (@mediagag)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Related:
The flexible team - Tim Wigmore - ESPNcricinfo
How to watch a T20 game - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo
Cricket 2.0: Inside the T20 Revolution - Tim Wigmore and Freddie Wilde - Amazon.com
'If you go searching for wickets in T20, you're playing into the batsman's hand' - Samuel Badree interview - ESPNcricinfo
T20 openers are more conservative than they need to be - Kartikeya Date - ESPNcricinfo
Is a single in T20 the same as a dot ball in ODIs? - Kartikeya Date - ESPNcricinfo
Apr 4, 2021
'None of us knew anything about the Internet when Rediff began': interview with the journalist Prem Panicker
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Our special guest this week is Prem Panicker, a veteran journalist who has been writing on cricket for over 25 years. Prem was one of the founding journalists at Rediff.com and a pioneer with regard to online commentary and internet radio.
Talking Points:
* Falling in love with cricket in the late 1960s and '70s
* The granular detail with which one remembers games from one's childhood
* Listening to the radio and enacting the action based on the commentary
* The arrival of television to India and the magic it brought forth
* Entering the world of journalism
* The brave new world of the Internet - and the leap of faith it entailed
* Figuring out the internet while writing on cricket during the 1996 World Cup
* How Indian cricketers embraced the new reality of online coverage
* The BCCI's contradictory stance with respect to online portals like Rediff
* JY Lele and his famous quote that predicted India would lose 3-0 in Australia
* The match-fixing saga and falling out of love with cricket
* The lure of blogging and the flexibility it offered
* Twitter as a second-screen in the cricket viewing experience
Participants:
Prem Panicker (@prempanicker)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Related:
Prem Panicker's blog - Smoke Signals
Prem Panicker's column archive - Rediff.com
The Prem Panicker files - The Seen and the Unseen podcast with Amit Varma
Money in cricket - Prem Panicker and Gideon Haigh on The Seen and the Unseen podcast with Amit Varma
Prem Panicker interview from 2011 - Couch Talks
Lele unplugged - Faisal Shariff - Rediff.com
The day naivety, not football itself, died - Jonathan Wilson on Brazil's loss to Italy in 1982 - The Guardian
Radio Frequency - Srikanth Natarajan - 81allout.com
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Lead image from here.
Mar 23, 2021
'Batting is now less artistic, more power-based' – Amol Muzumdar
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In our latest episode we talk to Amol Muzumdar, a legend for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy and a bona fide domestic great. Muzumdar's illustrious career spanned two decades and he finished with 9,205 runs in the Ranji Trophy - which stands as the second-highest aggregate of all time.
Muzumdar scored 30 first-class hundreds and was the backbone of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy side through much of the 1990s and 2000s. He won seven Ranji Trophy championships with Mumbai and captained them to the title in 2006-07, when they rallied after a poor start and upstaged the rest of the competition.
Talking points:
* The importance of playing league cricket in England
* How helmets transformed batting techniques - and resulted in more players getting hit on the head
* Today's players preferring power-hitting techniques to an artistic approach
* The delicate balance with coaching - what to tell a player and when to pass on advice
* How players can be so vulnerable to advice, and change the techniques that have been working for them
* The case of Gautam Gambhir and Mayank Agarwal making tweaks to their batting technique
* The concern over lack of quality spinners in Indian domestic cricket – and its knock-on effect on batting techniques against spin
* How DRS has been a game-changer with regard to playing against spin
* Pujara's unique approach to spinners and why it works
Participants:
Amol Muzumdar (@amolmuzumdar11)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Related:
Amol Muzumdar's chat with R Ashwin - YouTube video
Amol Muzumdar interview - Sportsnasha.com - YouTube
Amol Muzumdar interview with Cyrus Broacha - Cyrus Says podcast
Ask Me Anything with Amol Muzumdar - NewsBytes - YouTube video
'When you step into the ground, it doesn't matter what team you are playing for' - Amol Muzumdar interview - ESPNcricinfo
Might they have played for India? - V Ramnarayan - ESPNcricinfo
Defence as the best form of defence - Sriram Veera on Sitanshu Kotak - ESPNcricinfo
Is the DRS a good thing? - Kartikeya Date - ESPNcricinfo
Are umpires giving more lbws now than they did before DRS? - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo
Cheteshwar Pujara interview - Subash Jayaraman - Couchtalks podcast
Abhinav Mukund interview - 81allout podcast
Mar 17, 2021
Revisiting the 1996 World Cup - through a classic cricket book
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In the latest episode we revisit War Minus the Shooting, Mike Marqusee's book on his journey through the subcontinent at the 1996 World Cup.
Talking Points:
* Marqusee's ability to "get" the subcontinent
* The "relaxed hedonism" of Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga
* Marqusee's love for Sri Lanka in the World Cup
* Kenya beating West Indies in one of the great cricket upsets
* The Cola wars and how surgically it is tackled in the book
* Marqusee's ability to understand crowds
* A prescient look at Imran Khan and his political career
Participants:
Sharda Ugra; Fidel Fernando (@afidelf); Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee); Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Related: War Minus the Cliches - Rob Steen's review; Why Cricket? - Mike Marqusee; Mike Marqusee's website with many of his writings; Madras Machinations - Benjamin Golby on Mike Marqusee's novel - The Cricket Monthly; The lion's fairlytale - Andrew Fidel Fernando - The Cricket Monthly; Those little gladiators - Ramachandra Guha - The Outlook; Mike Marqusee - An American Who Figured Out Cricket - Abhishek Mukherjee - cricketcountry.com; England cricket captain in retro mode - Mark Marqusee; 'You Little Beauty' - 81allout podcast on the 1996 World Cup
Books discussed: War Minus the Shooting - Mike Marqusee; Anyone But England - Mike Marqusee; Slow Turn - Mike Marqusee; Pundits From Pakistan - Rahul Bhattacharya; Beyond a Boundary - CLR James; Levels of the Game - John McPhee
Mar 8, 2021
A thumping finish: India v England, 4th Test review
We discuss the fourth Test between India and England in Ahmedabad.
Talking Points:
* India's terrific achievement across eight Tests
* A triumph of depth for the Indian team
* Axar's 27 wickets and his perfect debut series
* Why Ashwin's value to the side is double that of their best batsman
* Mohammad Siraj - the classic Indian fast bowler
* Rahane, Pujara and the problems of mortality
* Rohit Sharma's ability to tune his game as per the conditions and situation
* Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar and the value of time against pace
* Washington's possible future as a top-order batsman
* Looking ahead to the World Test Championship fina
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Participants:
Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Ashoka (@ABVan)
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Related:
A two-day shootout: India v England, 4th Test review - 81allout podcast
A tale of two series - Kartikeya Date
The full range of Rohit Sharma - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo
Munaf Patel: A fast bowler and the slow life - Sriram Veera - Indian Express
Ravi Shastri sees glimpses of himself in Washington Sundar - Outlook India
What Rishabh Pant did in the last two months, no one would do that in a lifetime: Ravi Shastri - NDTV.com
Mar 2, 2021
From the field to the press box to managing the media: a chat with Nishant Arora
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
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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
Feb 26, 2021
A two-day shoot-out: India v England, 3rd Test review
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
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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
Feb 21, 2021
An unquiet history: an interview with writer Osman Samiuddin
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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
Feb 17, 2021
Ashwin's triumph in Chepauk: India v England, 2nd Test review
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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
Feb 10, 2021
When Cook and Co. did the unthinkable - England in India 2012-13
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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
Feb 8, 2021
A note of thanks, a call for support
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 m…
Jan 31, 2021
Familiar rivals in unfamiliar territory: India v England series preview
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 a…
Jan 24, 2021
'Much much more than a cricket tour' - Interview with journalist Bharat Sundaresan
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 th…
Jan 19, 2021
The dreamiest win
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 - Gide…
Jan 12, 2021
The victorious draw in Sydney
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
Ri…
Dec 30, 2020
The Melbourne bounceback
We discuss India's memorable eight-wicket win in Melbourne and place it in context of some of the famous Indian victories in Australia.
Talking Points:
* Placing the victory in context
* Parallels with Melbourne '81
* Rahane's touch
* Ashwin's immaculate control
* Bumrah's skid and the ball to hoodwink Smith
* Gill v Shaw, Pant v Saha
* Siraj's debut
* Looking ahead to Sydney
Participants:
Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Ashoka (@ABVan)
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Related:
A tragicomedy called 36 all out - 81allout podcast
The Melbourne Miracle of 1981 - 81allout podcast
Ashwin, Bumrah bowl India to MCG victory - Kartikeya Date
Ravi Shastri: India's triumph one of the great comebacks in Test history - Sidharth Monga, ESPNcricinfo
'No spinner has done that to me in my career' - Steve Smith on R Ashwin
Tactical tweaks, delightful drift - Amit Gupta on R Ashwin, Scroll.in
Saini and Siraj better placed than their predecess…
Dec 20, 2020
A tragicomedy called 36 all out
We process India's 36 all out in the Adelaide Test. Was it a tragedy? Or a dark comedy? Is it even something that can be explained?
Talking Points:
* The visceral shock that accompanies a rapid collapse
* Pain, grief, and decades-long hurt
* How does the emotional reaction to 36 all out compare with 81all out?
* The deadly duo of Cummins and Hazlewood
* How cricketing narratives are so batsmen-focused
* The role of luck in every single cricketing event
* The great Indian heartbreaks from years past
* Chennai '99, Kolkata '99, Barbados '97
* The discourse that accompanies a batting collapse - and how it has changed over time
* The urge to find a scapegoat
Participants:
Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Ashoka (@ABVan)
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Related:
Australia's perfect storm catches India in the wrong place at the wrong time - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo
Collapso relapso - Tom Eaton - ESPNcricinfo archive
Outliers -…
Dec 14, 2020
Great rivalry, strange times: Australia Vs India Test series preview
We preview the upcoming Australia v India Test series, which has seen more headlines about bio-bubbles, quarantine, and player absences than the great rivalry between these two teams.
Talking Points:
Impact of Kohli's partial absence for both commerce and cricket.
How badly would India miss Ishant Sharma?
India's choice of third seamer. The permutations and combinations for both playing XIs in each Test.
Pattinson's workload and case for him to play at MCG.
Lyon's effectiveness against India.
Could this be the breakthrough series for Shubman Gill?
Eminence of Steve Smith.
A January Test at Gabba.
Saha vs Pant.
The never ending Shaun Marsh comebacks.
Quality of Bumrah-Shami.
Jaywant Lele's legendary prediction.
Participants:
Rav (@rav_man0)
Ananthasubramanian (@_chinmusic)
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Dec 8, 2020
The Melbourne miracle - India's tour of Australia 1980-81
In this episode, we look back to India’s tour of Australia in 1980-81.
India went into the Test series against a strong Australian team after playing merely one Test since the end of the home series against Pakistan in 1979-80. India suffered a thumping loss by an innings at Sydney, just about squeezed out a draw at Adelaide, and registered a miraculous win in Melbourne – overcoming a massive first-innings deficit, a near-forfeiture by their captain, and injuries to three of the four bowlers in their attack.
Talking Points:
Greg Chappell’s serene double hundred
Vengsarkar’s rough start to his Test career
Lillee playing against India for the first time
The allure of Pascoe’s pace and the charm of Kim Hughes
Sandeep Patil’s sparkling 174 at Adelaide
Gavaskar’s near-forfeiture and Wing Commander Durani’s timely intervention
Viswanath’s priceless hundred
Ghavri’s “rank long hop”
Doshi’s marathon spell in the first innings and bowling through pain in the…
Nov 16, 2020
The toxic side to the 'Australian Way': a chat with Jarrod Kimber
In this episode, we chat with journalist, blogger, author, podcaster, vlogger – or in short, the Mark Waugh of cricket coverage – Jarrod Kimber.
We focus on a piece Jarrod wrote last year titled 'The Ugly Australian: the evolution of a cricket species'. He talks about his formative experiences with sledging and hyper-aggression at the club level and how his views on behavior and moral codes have changed over time. No other team treats cricket as a team sport like Australia does, says Jarrod, but they also stretch the limits of what team-mates must do.
Talking Points:
* The island that is Australian cricket - with moral codes and 'good bloke, bad bloke' conventions that combine into the 'Australian Way'
* Club cricket in Australia in the 1980s and 1990s - when the game was sometimes a violent, contact sport
* The atmosphere at Australian cricket grounds in the pre-2000s
* The culture of Australian cricket that built up to Sandpapergate
* The two sides to Allan Border's…
Oct 28, 2020
The episode that really matters
In this episode of the 81allout podcast, we zero in on the cliche that makes an appearance in all sporting contests: the moments that mattered. We discuss how for fans some moments take on more significance than others, why writers need to guard against falling into narrative traps, and how the struggling media ecosystem is fertile ground for turning cricketing stories into those of heroism and villainy.
We also discuss how one approaches writing about selection, and predict what sportswriting might look like five or ten years down the line.
Participants:
Sidharth Monga, assistant editor, ESPNcricinfo
Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Related pieces:
Against narratives - Kartikeya Date
What's the story, Morning Glory - 81allout podcast
Rahul Tewatia and the romance of the struggle - Sidharth Monga
Who removed my spinner - Sidharth Monga
The mother of all myths - Tom Eaton, The Cricket Monthly
Why there is no such thing as a finisher in ODI c…
Sep 28, 2020
Sledges, brawls, and epic contests: the Tamil Nadu - Karnataka rivalry in the Ranji Trophy
We are thrilled to be joined by two former India cricketers - Hemang Badani and Vijay Bharadwaj.
Hemang and Vijay enjoyed stupendous domestic careers and took part in some of the most memorable Tamil Nadu - Karnataka contests in the Ranji Trophy. There was no shortage of banter and competition when we paired them up for this podcast.
Talking points:
* Their first memories of playing against their arch-rivals
* The day when Karthik Jeshwant told Vijay Bharadwaj about the importance of scoring against Tamil Nadu
* The Ranji final in 1996 - when Karnataka piled on a mammoth score (as Hemang watched from the stands)
* A match in RSI grounds in 2001 when matters got heated and the players nearly came to blows
* The never-ending batathon at Tirunelveli in 1998
* The constant threat of D Vasu in these contests
* Dodda Ganesh and David Johnson: never short of fire in the belly
* The Cauvery politics and how it affected the players
* How Karnataka players benefited from pla…
Sep 17, 2020
The iconic shot that captured the Madras tie
In this special episode of the 81allout podcast, we chat with the photographer Mala Mukerjee on her historic photo from the tied Test in Madras in 1986.
Ms Mukerjee watched the last day of that famous Test from the stands in Chepauk and, while anticipating a thrilling finish, clicked a number of photos that captured the dramatic finish. The most famous of those was the shot she clicked at the very end of the match.
Ms Mukerjee has gone on to become an internationally renowned photographer and has held several exhibitions around the world. Her many accolades and awards include honors from the Photographic Resource Centre in Boston, the Academy of Visual Media in New Delhi, and the Bangladesh Photographic Society.
You can view her work here.
Talking points:
Memories of the final day from Chepauk in 1986
The circumstances that helped her be at the right place at the right time
The tension enveloping the ground in the final overs
The challenges posed by the fading light
The final…
Aug 27, 2020
The Allrounders
The purple patch of Ben Stokes has provoked a lot of discussion about the greatest allrounders. We take a deep-dive to talk about the role of allrounders in Test cricket, the great allrounders over the years, and how to make sense of their immense contributions.
Our guests for the episode are Arj and Rav. They have recently started a cricket project called CricVestigate which aspires to uncover hidden cricket truths - past and present, and to provide alternative opinions and analysis.
Talking points:
What is a good definition for an allrounder?
The allrounder index created by CricVestigate to rank the allrounders
Batting allrounders vs Bowling allrounders
Great cricketer vs Great allrounder
The pitfalls of the allrounder obsession and its impact on team balance
Narrative fallacies around allrounders - mixing formats, aggregate career stats vs peak phase stats
Is it possible to nurture an allrounder?
Do the different skills of an allrounder necessarily add value to the team?…
Aug 17, 2020
Street cricket chronicles: TN - the land of idea batting, sodukku ball, and face bowling
Street cricket chronicles moves to Tamil Nadu and we were delighted to be joined by Tamil Nadu's promising wicketkeeper batsman Narayan Jagadeesan to talk about playing amateur cricket in his formative years in Coimbatore and the influence of tennis ball cricket on some of the TN legends. We also bring plenty of color from the street cricket culture in Chennai.
Jagadeesan opens up about his journey from Coimbatore to the Tamil Nadu Ranji side, playing alongside TN legends, being part of the CSK squad, and about working with Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni.
Talking points:
The hierarchy of balls: Rubber, Cork, Rubber-Cork, Tennis - Mercury > Cosco, Leather
First world problem of poor outfield in Coimbatore vs no field in Chennai
The legend who may or may not have taught L Balaji on how to grip a cricket ball
Boost-Bournvita bat, maavu bat, oil bat, oil sheet bat, modus operandi of seasoning the bats
Different dynamics of sodukku ball in Tennis ball vs Cricket ball
Transitioning from…
Aug 3, 2020
'2005 to 2007 was a special period for Bangladesh' - Shahriar Nafees unplugged
In our latest episode of the podcast we chat with former Bangladesh Test cricket Shahriar Nafees and ESPNcricinfo journalist Mohammad Isam.
Talking points:
* Street cricket in Dhaka
* Legends of tape-tennis cricket
* The value of age-group cricket in Bangladesh
* The period when cricket started to overshadow football in Bangladesh
* Memories of cricket from the 1990s
* The Fatullah Test against Australia in 2006
* A heady period for Bangladesh between 2005 and 2007
* The pressure of having to live up to expectations
Participants:
Shahriar Nafees
Mohammad Isam (@isam84)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Related:
Shahriar Nafees' YouTube channel
Unbelievable to have scored a T20 hundred - Shahriar Nafees interview
Nafees leads Bangladesh's brilliant charge - ESPNcricinfo report
When Mohammad Ashraful took on McGrath and Gillespie - ESPNcricinfo
That winning feeling - Rabeed Imam on Bangladesh's win over India in 2004 - ESPNcricinfo
Jul 21, 2020
When a tie was a victory for Border's battlers
In this special episode of the 81allout podcast, we chat with Michael Sexton on his latest book Border's Battlers, which provides a fascinating account of the iconic tied Test between India and Australia at Chepauk in September 1986. Michael has been a journalist, producer, and sportswriter for over three decades and been a part of ABC, BBC, and Channel Nine. He has written eight books and two of them on cricket - Chappell's Last Stand and Border's Battlers.
Talking points:
Contextualizing the state of Australian cricket and Border's captaincy coming into the Test series against India
Vaudeville reenactment of the last over of the tied Test by Greg Matthews
Dean Jones's magnificent double-century followed by an ambulance ride to the hospital
Getting the geographical specificity of Chennai and Chepauk right
Heroic efforts of Ray Bright and forever-on-the-field 13th man, Mike Veletta
Influence of Bob Simpson and the elephantine memory of Errol Alcott
Kapil Dev's b…
Jul 14, 2020
Street cricket chronicles: Deuce ball, Half out, and the great Olympian spirit of West Bengal
We started with Delhi, moved to Karnataka, and now head to West Bengal for our next edition of the street cricket chronicles.
Through this series we hope to bring out the cricket culture in different cities at the most amateur levels: whether it is on the streets, in the gullies and driveways and terraces, on beaches, or in the parks.
In this episode we chat with two guests who grew up in Kolkata and Asansol in the 1980s and 1990s.
Talking points:
Rubber, Deuce, Rubber-Deuce and Cambis balls
Influence of the long monsoon and early sunset on the street cricket dynamics
Seasonal switch between cricket and football
Genteel Kolkata and the not-so-genteel Asansol
Parents as match referees
Why Harbhajan Singh would have struggled in street cricket in West Bengal
Pocket money? What is that alien concept?
The contentious wide calls and the self-regulating rule
Bricks as stumps and real-time Hawkeye problems
Cricket as an individual sport and the near-universal chronology of battin…
Jul 1, 2020
From Mushtaq to Misbah: a journey like none other
Our special guest this week is Nadeem F Paracha, an historian, author, and cultural critic who writes a regular column for the Dawn newspaper.
NFP, as he is fondly known, has been a keen observer of Pakistan cricket for close to half a century. Drawing on his vast knowledge of history and culture, he brings a unique perspective when writing about the game. And he adds vital context with regard to the political and social conditions that have prevailed across the years.
Talking Points:
* Wasim Raja - a man ahead of his time
* Pakistan's historic win in Sydney in 1977
* Mushtaq Mohammad - a largely forgotten captain
* Zia-ul-Haq's love for television
* Javed Miandad's immortal six in Sharjah
* The 1987 World Cup - and Imran's retirement
* The ugly 1990s and the match-fixing scourge
* Inzamam and the Zia school of captaincy
* Misbah's ideology-free pragmatism
Participants:
Nadeem F Paracha (@nadeemfparacha); Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee); Mahesh Sethuraman (@co…
Jun 22, 2020
'I have found my love for the game in the last couple of years' - Abhinav Mukund interview
In our latest episode of the podcast we talk to Abhinav Mukund, who has played seven Tests for India and recently became only the second batsman from Tamil Nadu to cross 10,000 first-class runs.
Abhinav has not shied away from expressing his views on matters as important as mental health and colourism. In a wide-ranging chat, he opens up about matters both cricketing and non-cricketing and reveals a maturity that belies his years.
Talking points:
* Formative experiences around cricket
* The teenage prodigy Abhinav
* A triple-hundred at the age of 18
* The India call-up
* Tours to West Indies and England
* The dejection of being dropped
* Coming out of a funk
* The brief return to the national side
* Making peace with oneself
* The issue of mental health in cricket
* Why he came out strongly against colourism
* The dream of winning a Ranji Trophy for Tamil Nadu
* And much more...
Participants:
Abhinav Mukund (@mukundabhinav)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidv…
Jun 15, 2020
'I wanted my own language to have some of the game's glory' - Prof Surya Prakash Chaturvedi interview
Our special guest this week is Prof Surya Prakash Chaturvedi, a veteran cricket writer from Indore.
Prof Chaturvedi, a retired professor of English, chose to write about his passion in Hindi and went on to author 15 books on the game.
The 83-year-old Chaturvedi has had a chance to witness the great breadth of Indian cricket - starting with CK Nayudu and Mushtaq Ali all the way to the current generation.
Talking Points:
* The challenges of writing on cricket in Hindi
* The great Holkar team of the '40s and '50s
* The frightening presence of CK Nayudu
* Vijay Hazare - a study in courage
* Mushtaq Ali - a cricketer nonpareil
* Meeting a young Sunil Gavaskar
* The genius of Salim Durrani
* The decision to write in Hindi
* Coining new cricketing terms in Hindi
* Memories of a young Narendra Hirwani
* And much more...
Books by Prof Surya Prakash Chaturvedi:
Prof Chaturvedi's Wikipedia page - all available in National Book Trust
Prof Chaturvedi's Amazon page
Re…
Jun 3, 2020
Ghostwriting for Imran, beach-cricket with Viv, working for Pataudi - interview with Mudar Patherya
Our special guest this week is Mudar Patherya, a cricket writer for Sportsworld magazine through the 1980s - before he moved on to other interests.
Across five trips to Pakistan, visits to Sharjah, a tour to West Indies, and several assignments within India - Mudar made a name for himself as one of the finest writers on the game. The more we listened, the more we were convinced that he was the 'Forrest Gump of cricket' in the '80s.
Talking Points:
* Covering India's tour to Pakistan in 1982-83
* The fascination with Abdul Qadir
* Getting to know Imran Khan
* Javed Miandad's famous six in Sharjah
* The shock and disbelief in Lahore on that evening in 1987
* The World Cup final at Eden Gardens
* The fiery passion for cricket in a small corner of Calcutta
* Meeting (and shocking) a president of the MCC
* The genius of Mushtaq Ali
* The magnificent Mr Pataudi
* The craze for football in the Calcuta of the '70s and '80s
* When Sanjay Manjrekar was the Wall
* Sac…
May 26, 2020
The stories behind the stories - interview with journalist Clayton Murzello
Our special guest for our latest episode is Clayton Murzello, group sports editor of Mid-Day in Mumbai.
A few months ago, we had chatted with Clayton about his journey in cricket journalism and of the stories surrounding club cricket in Mumbai.
This time we chose to ask him about the stories behind the stories – and the challenges that a journalist often has to overcome in the process of doing a story.
Talking Points:
* The pros and cons of working for a tabloid
* The preparation and approach to a cricket tour
* The importance of reading
* Meeting a paralyzed Winston Davis in England
* His first big story for Mid-Day - about Mohsin Khan
* Interviewing Michael Holding in the Dhaka airport
* Tracking down the family of a cricketer who mysteriously disappeared
* Knocking on an Indian captain's hotel room door late at night
* The economics of the media today
* and much more...
Participants:
Clayton Murzello (@claytonmurzello)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)…
May 14, 2020
'It takes time to understand what makes you tick' - Aakash Chopra unplugged
In this episode, we chat with former India Test cricketer, columnist, author and commentator Aakash Chopra.
Aakash tells us about his initiation into the game – in the mid-1980s – and of learning the fundamentals from his legendary coach Tarak Sinha. He goes on to review his international stint and admits he hadn't fully understood his game until mid-way through his career.
Talking Points:
* Memories of Sonnet Cricket Club
* Thinking about the game from an early age
* The pressure he was under on his Ranji Trophy debut
* Cricket as a team game v cricket as an individual game
* Playing for the team v playing to one's strengths
* The gift (and curse) of Sachin Tendulkar
* Writing his first book Beyond the Blues
* The problem with being fully honest
* Writing for happiness
* Enjoying the game through the tough times
* Finding empathy during the course of criticism
* ... and much more
Participants:
Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@s…
May 4, 2020
Cricket as a novelty, an obsession, and as literature: interview with Samanth Subramanian
In this episode, we chat with journalist and author Samanth Subramanian.
Samanth, an accomplished author and internationally renowned journalist, is a long-time cricket fan who began his career as a sub-editor at Cricinfo. He rewinds to the time he fell in love with the game – in the mid-1990s – and gives us a terrific overview of his relationship with cricket over the years. As a fan, a full-time cricket journalist, an observer from a distance, as well as someone who dips into the game to take in its pleasures.
Participants:
Samanth Subramanian (@samanth_s, http://samanth.in)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Related: The Confidence Man; India's Lavish Farewell to Sachin Tendulkar; Unknown Cricketers; 'You little beauty' (81allout podcast); Fly Lara Fly; The Star We Don't Know; 'Every generation needs its writers to tell its stories' - Sharda Ugra; From Bedi to Kohli: a cricket writer's journey - Vijay Lokapally podcast; The things we remember, the things we forget - 81allo…
Apr 20, 2020
From Bangalore's parks to the Indian team: Vijay Bharadwaj unplugged
A big moment for us at 81allout as we have an international cricketer on our podcast for the first time.
Vijay Bharadwaj played 3 Tests and 10 ODIs for India in the turn of the millennium. His high-point was during the LG Cup in Nairobi in 1999-2000 where he was named the Man of the Series for his all-round performances. He was a giant for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy and played a vital role in their three Ranji Trophy triumphs in the 1990s.
In this episode, Vijay chats about his formative experiences of playing cricket on the street and in the parks, and remembers a number of characters who lit up the Bangalore cricket scene in the 1980s and 1990s.
Talking points:
The competitive nature of street cricket in the Bangalore of the 1980s
Graduating to the park
The deadly variations that spinners employed
A bowler who was a combination of Shoaib Akhtar and Muralitharan
The intensity of each net session
Pitch-catch out, beaten out, full-toss out
Copying Mohinder Amarnath
Dodda G…
Apr 7, 2020
'Every generation needs its writers to tell its stories' - interview with Sharda Ugra
In this special episode, we chat with veteran sports writer Sharda Ugra.
From interviewing star cricketers as a college student... to blazing a trail as a sports journalist in the early '90s... to writing on a variety of sports for The Hindu... to being the chief sports writer at India Today... to presently working as a senior editor at ESPNcricinfo... Sharda has been an inspiration for a number of sports writers around the world.
We chat with Sharda about her illustrious career – and are riveted by her range of experiences as well as her inexhaustible bank of anecdotes.
Talking Points:
* The magazines that hooked her on to sports
* The interviews she and her college buddies did with the stars of the 1980s
* Memories of Imran Khan
* Landing her first job
* Finding Sachin Tendulkar's number
* Covering sailing
* Watching Kenya's biggest cricketing moment
* The match-fixing shock
* The fall of Hansie Cronje
* The Azharuddin she interviewed
* Authoring a book…
Mar 30, 2020
Street cricket chronicles: tip-top, connection, and taking panga in Delhi
We are happy to kickstart a new series: street cricket chronicles.
Here we hope to bring out the cricket culture in different cities at the most amateur levels: whether it is on the streets, in the gullies and driveways and terraces, on beaches, or in the parks.
In this episode we chat with two guests who grew up in Delhi in the 1990s.
Talking points:
Tip-top and connections
Breaking windows, damaging cars
Spinning the Cosco cricket ball
Off-side only rules
Mimicking Mark Waugh, Lara, Aravinda et al.
Bet-matches for pizzas at Nirula's
Playing (and watching) cricket in the Delhi chill
Visiting the Kotla
Watching Sachin's 35th hundred
Participants:
Aftab Khanna (@aftabkhanna)
Prothit Sen
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Mar 22, 2020
Watching, studying, writing, talent-spotting: a life in cricket
In this special episode, we chat with veteran cricket journalist and author Makarand Waingankar.
Over the last five decades, Makarand has been witness to the changing tides in Indian cricket. He has written extensively about the game – from the maidans as well as the giant stadiums – and carries with him stories and anecdotes to last several lifetimes.
Apart from his work as a journalist, Makarand played a key role at the BCA-Mafatlal Academy in the early 1990s - which produced cricketers like Abey Kuruvilla, Salil Ankola, Paras Mhambrey and Sairaj Bahutule. A decade later, he would play a vital part in the setting up of the BCCI's Talent Resource Development Wing, which would go on to unearth talents like MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, Sreesanth and Piyush Chawla.
We chat with Makarand about the various hats he has worn over the years, and he provides us with a wonderful portrait of how cricket was when he started his journey and how vastly different things are now.…
Mar 16, 2020
The things we remember, the things we forget
The cricketing memory is a strange beast. Sometimes you recall exactly where you were and what you were doing when you watched a cricket match 33 years ago. Words from the next day's match report are stuck in your head. The photographs are etched in your memory. They transport you to a time and place far, far away.
Then you try and recall a game that took place ten days back. You watched every ball of it. You had a lot to say on Twitter when it was happening. You saw the highlights too. But seem to remember very little now. The scorecard is a blur. The match report... did you even bother to read it?
In our latest episode, we chat with two guests who fell in love with the game in the 1980s. They are cricket tragics who have lived in various parts of the world – and they tell us about their experiences of following the game in the pre-internet, pre-cable TV years and their passion for tracking scores and devouring match reports.
Each explores their own relationship with cricket…
Mar 4, 2020
Swinging to victory: New Zealand v India Test series review
We review New Zealand's 2-0 series win against India in the recently concluded series.
Talking Points:
How NZ winning Tests within three or four days is bad financial news for their board.
Were the pitches too green or green enough?
When extra pace perhaps worked against India's fast bowlers.
The swing masters - Boult and Southee
The dangers of Pujara's natural game in specific conditions
Pant's indecision
Jamieson, the all-round star
NZ open up the World Test Championship
Participants:
Michael Wagener (@mykuhl)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Related:
New Zealand's home advantage - Michael Wagener
How the Blackcaps became a powerhouse in their conditions - Michael Wagener
Shami needs a defensive trick up his sleeve - Karthik Krishnaswamy
A bowler for each batsman: how New Zealand plotted India's downfall - Karthik Krishnaswamy
New Zealand's finest brace for their biggest season - 81allout podcast with Michael Wagener
Feb 23, 2020
From Bedi to Kohli: a cricket writer's journey - interview with Vijay Lokapally
In this special episode, we chat with the deputy editor at The Hindu, Vijay Lokapally.
In his career spanning close to four decades, Vijay has had a ringside view of Indian cricket and written about the team and its performances from around the world. Long-time readers of The Hindu and Sportstar would have many fond memories from Vijay's reports and tour diaries, which he infuses with keen insights as well as his signature brand of humour.
We chat with Vijay about his illustrious career – from covering his first Test for a children's magazine, tracking Delhi's Ranji team in the '80s, and spotting a young Waqar Younis in the same game as Imran Khan did… to being present at so many historic moments in Indian cricket and establishing himself as one of the leading lights in the field.
Talking Points:
* His piece on Bishan Singh Bedi that got him his first break
* The characters in Delhi cricket in the 1980s
* His memories of Raman Lamba
* The world of cricket journalism in…
Feb 16, 2020
India's chance to assert their quality in Tests - series preview
We preview the upcoming 2-Test series between New Zealand – who have been formidable at home of late – and India – the No.1 team in Tests.
Talking Points
Is India v New Zealand a rivalry that needs more hype?
New Zealand's horror tour to Australia
Wagner the warrior
The trend of fielding first in Tests in New Zealand
India's happy headaches with regard to selection of openers
Should we read anything into Bumrah's ODI performance?
Participants:
Suhas Cadambi (@suhascadambi)
Ashoka Rao (@abvan)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Related:
New Zealand's finest brace for biggest season - 81allout podcast with Michael Wagener
Wagner pounds his beat to good effect - George Dobell
Rewind to India's tour to New Zealand in 1998-99 - 81allout podcast
Feb 9, 2020
A forgotten classic squeezed between a washout and a dud - India's tour of New Zealand, 1998-99
In this podcast, we look back at India's tour of New Zealand in 1998-99.
India had pulled off a thrilling Test series win at home against Australia earlier in the year, followed by some memorable wins in ODI tournaments, before the disheartening loss in the one-off Test in Zimbabwe in the lead up to the NZ series.
Talking Points: Simon Doull's spell from hell. Azhar's brilliant back to the walls century. The Nash-Vettori partnership that took the game away. Tendulkar's peak that produced a dazzling century. A Boxing day Test without a tradition. McMillan's short balls. Srinath's fifer, Prasad's batting, and Dravid's twin hundreds.
Dec 15, 2019
Travails of TN tragics
Being a Tamil Nadu fan in the Ranji Trophy is not a journey for the faint-hearted. We talk to two ardent followers of Tamil Nadu's fortunes and chart their journey through the losses, moments of ecstacy, and eternal hope. We talk about the classic TN heartbreaks over the years, favourite games, the vibrant league cricket in Chennai, the struggles of early TN cricketers, the recent success stories, rise of CSK and N Srinivasan, and we cap off the chat by picking an all time TN XI. Participants: K Balakumar (@kbalakumar) Dipak Ragav (@dipakragav) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Dec 9, 2019
New Zealand's finest brace for the biggest season - feat Michael Wagener
We talk to Michael Wagener about New Zealand's impressive Test results over the last 3 years and get a rundown of their strengths & weaknesses ahead of their series against Australia.
Talking points:
The pitches used for the England series
Is Tom Latham a bully?
The unYoutubable B J Watling
How Colin de Grandhommme found himself alongside the legendary Aubrey Faulkner
And the most fascinating bowler in the world - Neil Wagner
Participants:
Michael Wagener (@mykuhl)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Related:
Michael Wagener's super geeky cricket blog
And his Firstpost columns
From extreme to mainstream: How Neil Wagner has wanged his way to the top - Sidharth Monga in ESPNcricinfo.com
Black Caps make convincing case as New Zealand's best test side in history - Ian Anderson in stuff.co.nz
Nov 27, 2019
Pace, swing, cut, and craft: 11 masterful spells in India
We are living in a golden age of Indian fast bowling. Pitches, conditions, match situation - nothing seems to matter. India's bowling attack is ruthlessly targeting the opposition, and summoning magic deliveries at will.
What better time to talk about our favorite quick bowling performances in Indian conditions - from Malcolm Marshall's devastating spell in Kanpur in 1983-84 to Javagal Srinath's 13-wicket-haul in a losing cause to Jason Gillespie's lionhearted effort in Chennai in 2001 to Dale Steyn's spell-of-a-lifetime in Nagpur in 2010.
And let's not forget the splendid feats of swing bowling from the likes of Roger Binny, L Balaji and Tim Southee – sussing up Indian conditions and knocking out batsmen on largely benign surfaces.
Participants:
K Balakumar (@kbalakumar)
Vijay Arumugam (@vijayarumugam)
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Related:
When Marshall Law was declared in Kanpur - Clayton Murzello in Mid-Day
India v West Indies series r…
Nov 17, 2019
The pre-Test era: when Bangladesh fell in love with cricket
Between 1947 and 1971, only one Pakistani cricketer from the east of the country was picked in the Test team.
Then Bangladesh was born, and there were far more important matters to attend to than worrying about cricket.
But the passion survived in pockets and slowly, through schools and club cricket, the game made its way into the public consciousness.
By the early 1990s, several foreign stars were taking part in club cricket in Dhaka. And the Bangladesh national team gradually improved, before being granted Test status in 2000.
ESPNcricinfo's Mohammad Isam and BCB senior manager (media and communications) Rabeed Imam tell us how cricket survived through the '70s and '80s before finally dethroning football as the most popular sport in the late 1990s. They talk us through some of Bangladesh's famous wins and introduce us to cricketers who sustained the passion through the trying times.
Participants:
Mohammad Isam (@isam84)
Rabeed Imam (@rabeedi)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)…
Nov 11, 2019
A strike, a ban, and a mountain to climb: India v Bangladesh Test series preview
We preview the upcoming 2-Test series between India and Bangladesh – which will include the first ever day-night Test to be held in India.
Talking Points:
Bangladesh's tumultuous lead-up to the series
The Shakib Al Hasan shocker
Why would Bangladesh's greatest-ever cricket overlook something so fundamental?
How public sentiment fluctuated over the hectic few days between the players' strike and Shakib's ban
Mominul Haque's big challenge as captain
The novelty around the day-night Test, and how that could actually give Bangladesh a small opening in Kolkata
Will Taizul Islam and Mehidy Hasan fancy their chances against a batting order that is likely to go after them?
Participants:
Sakeb Subhan, sub-editor at Daily Star in Dhaka (@SakebTS)
Ashoka Rao (@abvan)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Related:
'What Shakib is going through is hard to explain in words' - Mohammad Ashraful interview
Bangladesh's steep learning curve against legspin - Mohammad Isam
Time for introspe…
Nov 3, 2019
Pakistan in 1999: the allure, the magic, and the heartbreak
It was a year when everything came together... until it fell spectacularly apart.
There was something magical about Pakistan in 1999... till they time they crumbled.
For a generation of Pakistan fans, the year 1999 meant much.
Shoaib Akhtar emerged as a force of nature.
Shahid Afridi provided a glimpse of his otherworldly powers.
Wasim Akram was poised to turn into leader of the stature of Imran Khan.
Saqlain Mushtaq spun a web around the world's best.
Saeed Anwar scaled new heights.
Abdul Razzaq was one of the most versatile cricketers around.
The team won two Tests in India. They claimed the Asian Test Championship. They won ODI tournaments for fun. They reached the World Cup final. And they had the team to challenge that great Australian side.
They were pounded in the World Cup final. They lost the Test series in Australia 3-0.
The team were never the same again. And for many fans, it spelt a loss of innocence.
Ahmer Naqvi (@karachikhatmal) and Hassan Cheema (@mediagag)…
Oct 28, 2019
Bench strength to the fore - India v SA series review
We review India's dominating win over South Africa in the recently concluded home series.
Talking Points:
The superlative performance of the Indian fast bowlers
South Africa's inability to retain control while bowling, and the fierce test their batsmen failed to pass
Rohit Sharma's stellar start as a Test opener
The inspired decision to opt for the specialist wicketkeeper
A bold call on Mayank Agarwal
Kohli's cruise mode
Participants:
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Related:
Saving the Test - Mike Jakeman
On the difficult of watching Kohli when he is cruising along - Karthik Krishnaswamy
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Lead image from BBC
Oct 7, 2019
Cricket in Mumbai: stories, legends, and folklore - interview with Clayton Murzello
We are thrilled to bring you the 50th episode of the 81allout podcast.
Our special guest for the occasion is Clayton Murzello, group sports editor of Mid-Day in Mumbai.
We chat with Clayton about his journey - from running a bookstore, managing a cricket club, and covering local sports... before turning into one of the most recognized names in the field of cricket journalism.
Talking Points:
* The charm of the Kanga League tournament in Mumbai
* The stories and legends around Dadar Union Sporting Club
* Tendulkar's arrival on the club and first-class scene
* Schools cricket in Mumbai and the unreasonable expectations it puts on young men
* The legacy of Sunil Gavaskar
* The heyday of corporate and university cricket
* 'Airport duty' and a big scoop
* How a quiz helped a Mumbai cricketer get his pension
* The great storyteller – Raj Singh Dungarpur
* The thrill of collecting cricket books and memorabilia
* Etc
Participants:
Participants:
Clayton Murzello (…
Sep 29, 2019
Series Preview – South Africa embark on Mission: (Almost) Impossible
We preview the upcoming 3-Test series between India and South Africa – where points count for the World Test Championship.
Talking Points:
A rivalry that often goes under the radar
South Africa's historically impressive record in Asia
An inexperienced batting line-up coming up against the world's best side
A chance for Markram, Bavuma and de Kock to step it up
The Rabada threat
The prospect of Maharaj and Muthusamy spinning India out
Bumrah's absence
Rohit's presence at the top of the order
Unlucky Umesh, unluckier Bhuvi
And can Kohli raise his game to Smithesque levels?
Participants:
Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN)
Ashoka Rao (@abvan)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Related:
Interview with South Africa's performance analyst Prasanna Raman - Rohit Sankar
India v West Indies series review - 81allout podcast
Deconstructing Rohit Sharma - Aakash Chopra
Maharaj hoping to learn from "best in the world" Herath - Andrew Fidel Fernando
Sep 22, 2019
No dazzle like the Azza dazzle - South Africa's tour of India, 1996-97
In the latest 81allout podcast we look back at South Africa’s tour of India in 1996-97.
India continued their winning run at home, pulling off a close win at Ahmedabad. South Africa came back with a dominating win in Calcutta. And India rounded off the series with a resounding victory in Kanpur.
We talk about the all-too-familiar orientalist attitudes of visiting teams of that era, the revolving-door of openers for India, the Test debuts of Laxman and Klusener, of Indian cricketers whose careers met an unlikely end in this series, Kumble’s perfect cover drive, Srinath’s breathtaking spells, and the singular thrill of watching Azhar counter-attack.
Participants:
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Aftab Khanna (@aftabkhanna)
Deepak Rao (@RaoDepk)
Sep 16, 2019
'A golden age for watching Test cricket in Sri Lanka’ - interview with Andrew Fidel Fernando
In our latest episode we chat with ESPNcricinfo's Sri Lanka correspondent – and one of the finest cricket writers in the world – Andrew Fidel Fernando.
Highlights:
* A brief review of the recent Sri Lanka v New Zealand Test series
* Three great Test innings in the last five years - by two Kusals and one Dinesh
* A streak of 26 straight Tests that have yielded results in Sri Lanka
* The soundtrack of Test cricket in Sri Lanka (as well as the sounds that are being missed)
* Fidel's favorite moments from Test cricket in Sri Lanka in this decade
* Is it time to rename Galle as the 'home of cricket'?
Participants:
Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Related pieces and podcasts:
'I try and give voice to the fans' emotions'- 81allout podcast with Andrew Fidel Fernando
Mendis' triumph over improbability
Kusal Perera bats with body, heart and soul in innings of a lifetime
Chandimal's anarchic mayhem lifts S…
Sep 11, 2019
From moustache to Mushtaq
In our latest episode we are pleased to put out a random podcast on random cricketing memories.
Highlights:
* When Gavaskar and Dravid sported moustaches
* When Nayan Mongia wore a yellow helmet
* When Phil Tufnell went after Richard Blakey
* When Tim Zoehrer showed his backside
* When Tony Greig and Harsha Bhogle used Pythogoras Theorem to explain cricketing matters
* When the sun stopped play in Chennai
* Etc
Participants:
K Balakumar (@kbalakumar)
Sriram Venkateswaran (@sriram140)
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Related:
The truth about Nayan Mongia- Rahul Bhattacharya
Zoehrer scotches sacking claims
Sehwag: the last Samurai- Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
Mark Waugh's six over Vettori in Perth- Youtube video
Ball from Mushtaq Ahmed goes between off and middle stump- Youtube video
Sep 9, 2019
Bumrah and Co lead the rout - West Indies v India series review
We review India's thumping win against West Indies in the recently concluded two-Test series.
Talking Points:
Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari bolstering the Indian middle order.
India's superlative bowling performance in the two Tests
Shannon Gabriel's under-par performance
Jasprit Bumrah's magic balls
The decision to pick Jadeja over Ashwin
The marvel that is Kemar Roach
Participants:
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Ashoka Rao (@abvan)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Related:
Jasprit Bumrah: India's golden goose- Subash Jayaraman
KL Rahul grapples with tweaked technique- Karthik Krishnaswamy
Hanuma Vihari: a chip off Dravid-Laxman block- Sandip G
Aug 28, 2019
What's the story, Morning Glory?
In this episode of the 81allout podcast, we dive headfirst into the banal talking points that dominate our sports related conversations, how they propagate, and the deleterious impact these narratives can have on the popular discourse.
We also discuss the need for data transparency and how to use the data into defensible, digestible narratives that truly inform avid viewers of the sport. Is this a niche or a basic need? Would love to hear what our listeners think!
Participants:
Karthik Krishnaswamy (@the_kk)
Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Related pieces:
Should you teach your kids to bat like Steve Smith- Hussain and Sangakkara discuss on Sky Sports
Pujara swears by his survival guide- by Karthik Krishnaswamy
Shiv on the shore- by Rahul Bhattacharya
Why there is no such thing as a finisher in ODI cricket- by Kartikeya Date
The mother of all myths- Tom Eaton on South Africa's choking narrative
Aug 22, 2019
'I was not one of the boys' – Vaneisa Baksh interview
In the latest episode of the 81allout podcast, we are delighted to be joined by Trinidad-based writer, editor, and historian Vaneisa Baksh.
We talk to Vaneisa about her experiences of writing about cricket in the Caribbean, the rampant sexism she had to battle early in her career, her research on the life and career of Sir Frank Worrell, and how West Indies have taken to T20s like a duck to water.
Also featuring: Vaneisa's ten-year fight to become a member of the Queens Park Cricket Club, and the enduring legacy of CLR James.
Participants:
Vaneisa Baksh
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Some of Vaneisa's pieces:
Christopher Henry Gayle. What can I say?
Inside sexism
Darren Sammy, WICB slayer?
West Indies' mentorship problem
Worrell becomes captain
Take one for the team
The shoulders of a captain
Aug 16, 2019
India vs West Indies 2019 - Test series preview
We preview the upcoming Test series on India's tour of West Indies which marks the debut for both teams in the newly conceptualized World Test Championship
Talking Points:
We meditate on the point and pointlessness of the World Test Championship. Talk (a lot) about the impact of Dukes ball on the dynamics of the series. Discuss India's dilemma of choosing between a 5th bowler and a 6th batsman. Can Ashwin get his mojo back as a batsman? Can the potent West Indies pace attack of Gabriel-Roach-Holder pounce on a vulnerable Indian batting line up? We also ponder over the possibility of West Indies playing Rahkeem Cornwall for both cricketing and non-cricketing reasons. And just how good is Jason Holder?
Participants:
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Ashoka Rao (@abvan)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Jul 30, 2019
A classic ’90s heartbreak – India’s tour of West Indies, 1996-97
In the latest 81allout podcast we look back at India's tour of West Indies in 1996-97. A mostly soporific series came to life for four days in Barbados, and handed the '90s generation of Indian cricket fans a heartbreak of such epic proportions that many have still not stopped thinking about it.
We talk about the lasting pain of cricket losses, the dramatic deterioration of the Barbados pitch, the no-ball (non) calls, the first hundred partnership between Dravid and Sachin in Tests, Sidhu's crawl to a double-hundred, the two unlikely all-time greats to rise from the shadows of Sachin and Lara, and the impact of this series loss on Sachin's captaincy legacy.
Also included: Karnataka domination of the Indian squad, Walsh's run out of Sachin, Chanderpaul bowling legspin from round the wicket, and spicy tidbits from R. Mohan's match reports.
Participants:
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Krishna Murali (@mkrishna23)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Jul 21, 2019
Law (19.8) and Order
In the latest edition of the 81allout podcast we discuss the application of Law 19.8 at the World Cup final at Lord's.
We go on to debate the distinction between cricket laws and societal laws; the idea of "spirit of cricket" and its relationship to the laws of the game; and the authority of umpires as more technology becomes part of decision making.
Participants:
Suhrith Parthasarathy (@suhrith)
Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview)
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
Jul 19, 2019
You win some, you tie some - World Cup final review II
We review the World Cup final from the English perspective: the impact of such a monumental game on cricket in England, the role of Free-to-Air TV, significance of Jofra Archer bowling the Super Over, and New Zealand's misfortune of not winning the trophy even though scores were level (twice).
Participants:
Daniel Norcross (@norcrosscricket)
Chris Smith (@chirsps01)
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
Jul 15, 2019
Are you kidding me? - World Cup final review I
We review England's tie against New Zealand at the World Cup final at Lord's. We review the tie in the Super over. We also review the bizarre rule that handed England the trophy. In short: we review one of the maddest games of one-day cricket.
Talking points: England's lucky breaks, Williamson's choice of Boult for the 50th over, and all the drama off the very last ball.
*
Participants:
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Jul 11, 2019
A two-day classic at Old Trafford: India v New Zealand review
We review New Zealand's win over India in the first World Cup semi-final at Old Trafford.
Talking points: Jadeja's blinder, Dhoni's elimination of risk, and New Zealand winning a game of inches.
*
Participants:
Mithun Subramanian (@smithun0)
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
Ashoka (@ABVan)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Jul 7, 2019
A review of teams that did not make the WC 2019 knockouts.
The league stage of the World Cup is done. A good time to take a look at the teams that fell short (including those who were oh so close).
Many thanks to Peter Della Penna, a cricket journalist at ESPN and ESPNcricinfo, for joining us. Peter has been covering cricket in the USA for various publications since 2009. He has also reported extensively on Associate cricket, in particular the ICC World Cricket League.
Participants
Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna)
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview)
Jul 7, 2019
Rohit the unstoppable: India v SL review
We review India's win over Sri Lanka in the World Cup match at Headingley.
Talking points: The Rohit juggernaut rolls on, Malinga bids adieu, and India's happy headaches for the semi-final
Participants:
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
Ashoka (@ABVan)
Max (@maxdavinci)
Jul 5, 2019
A home World Cup for India (in England) - the spectator experience
We speak to three fans who have attended games during the ongoing World Cup, and chat about their in-ground experiences.
Highlights: The lack of World Cup buzz in England, the easy accessibility to the stadiums, and the overwhelming support for India.
*
Participants:
Minal (@granger_gab)
Brinda (@itsbrinda)
Jaikanthan (@jaiunni)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Jul 3, 2019
Going down swinging: India v Bangladesh review
We review India's win over Bangladesh in the World Cup match at Edgbaston.
Talking points: Rohit continues to make most of his luck, Shakib continues to own the World Cup, and Pandya emerges as a genuine fifth bowler
Participants:
Mohammad Isam (@isam84)
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
*
Related:
Mohammad Isam - All fizz, no fuss
Mohammad Isam - Shakib Al Hasan's simplicity keeps Bangladesh's complex challenge alive
Previous 81allout podcast with Mohammad Isam - Bangladesh don't have the habit of chasing 300-plus scores
Jul 1, 2019
Crash, bang, wallop... stall: England v India review
We review England's win over India in the World Cup match at Edgbaston.
Talking points: Is Jason Roy the new Sehwag? Is Bairstow creating imagined enemies? And what was Dhoni trying at the end?
Participants:
Daniel Norcross (@norcrosscricket)
Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
*
(Lead pic from here)
Jun 27, 2019
India's bowlers keep raising their game
We review India's win over West Indies in the World Cup match at Old Trafford.
Talking points: India's batting problem that is yet to be a problem, West Indies' neither-here-nor-there approach to ODIs, and Mohammad Shami bowling Shai Hope with a ball straight from bowling heaven.
Participants:
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
Ashoka (@ABVan)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
*
Related:
Earlier 81allout podcast: Mid-tournament review
*
Jun 26, 2019
When it comes to Pakistan, it’s not a lie if you believe it
We review Pakistan's win over New Zealand in the World Cup match at Edgbaston.
Talking points: Pakistan doing Pakistan things, Shaheen Afridi bowling the spell of the tournament, Babar Azam playing an innings four years in the making, and Hafeez doing, well, Hafeez things.
Participants:
Hassan Cheema (@mediagag)
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
*
Related:
Hassan Cheema: In the mountains, old-school Pakistan lives on
Earlier 81allout podcast: When data stops working with Pakistan
*
(Lead pic from here)
Jun 26, 2019
England back to being good old England
We review Australia's win over England in the World Cup match at Lord's.
Talking points: England flirting with elimination, Australia hiding their fifth bowler and thatball from Mitchell Starc
Participants:
Peter Miller (@thecricketgeek)
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
*
Related:
Peter Miller and Dave Tickner: 28 Days' Data: England's Troubled Relationship With One-Day Cricket
Sriram Veera: Knock, knock, anybody home?
Jun 21, 2019
Bouncers, rain, and poor chasers - A mid-tournament review of WC 2019
We review the first half of the World Cup and discuss some of the main themes from the last three weeks.
Talking points: England making the tournament interesting; rain, rain and more rain; teams trying to bounce opponents out; too many captains deciding to field first; and the growing separation between the good teams and the also-ran.
Participants:
Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber)
Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview)
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
*
Related:
Australia's World Cup of gambles by Jarrod Kimber.
Bouncers to the fore as bowlers hunt wickets by Sidharth Monga.
Jun 17, 2019
The Old Trafford blowout: India v Pakistan review
We review India's win over Pakistan in the World Cup match at Old Trafford.
Talking points: Rohit's majestic hundred, Pakistan's strange tactics, and a most forgettable batting performance
Participants:
Ahmer Naqvi (@karachikhatmal)
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Ashoka (@ABVan)
*
Related: India v Pakistan in World Cups
Jun 11, 2019
The big one: India v Pakistan in World Cups
In the latest 81allout podcast we look back at the India-Pakistan rivalry in World Cups, from 1992 to 2015.
Highlights: Miandad v More in '92, Jadeja v Waqar in '96, cricket amid war in '99, Tendulkar's three shots in '03, the greatest anti-climax in '07, Mohammad Hafeez' brain-fade in '11 and Misbah's lone hand in '15
Participants:
Ahmer Naqvi (@karachikhatmal)
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
*
Related reading:
The Haal of Pakistan- Osman Samiuddin
It all began in South Africa- Rahul Bhattacharya
Pundits from Pakistan- Rahul Bhattacharya
Jun 9, 2019
Clinical India thrive in a sea of blue
We review India's win over Australia in the World Cup match at The Oval.
Talking points: India's clinical batting performance, David Warner's go-slow, and Kohli's gracious gesture.
Participants:
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Ashoka (@ABVan)
Jun 6, 2019
Powerhouse v Superculture: India v Australia in World Cups
In the latest 81allout podcast we look back at the India-Australia rivalry in World Cups, from 1983 to 2015.
We chart the rise of this rivalry from its modest beginnings and talk about how the commercial rise of Indian cricket coincided with Australia's purple patch.
Highlights: The Indian team's depth in 1983, Chepauk's cracking ODI debut, Jadeja's diving catch, the institutionalisation of the Sachin-Sachin chant, Azhar's decision to bowl at The Oval, Gillespie's slower ball, Ponting walking on water, the Motera trap, and Smith's never-ending golden summer.
Participants:
Vijay Arumugam (@vijayarumugam)
Aftab Khanna (@aftabkhanna)
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Jun 5, 2019
India bring their Test game to the World Cup
We review India's win over South Africa in the World Cup match at Southampton.
Talking points: Jasprit Bumrah's Test-match-style opening spell, KulCha's delightful drift, turn and dip, and Rohit Sharma's Nine-to-Five hundred
Participants:
Sriram Dayanand (@sdayanand)
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Jun 3, 2019
When data stops working with Pakistan
We review Pakistan's win against England in the World Cup match at Trent Bridge.
Talking points: The cosmic (as well as probabilistic) reasons for Pakistan's unpredictability, the reasons why Pakistan should not have won this match, and the end of England's glorious chasing streak at home
Participants:
Ahmer Naqvi (@karachikhatmal)
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Jun 2, 2019
Writer Series: Interview with Rob Smyth
In the latest episode of the 81allout podcast we are delighted to be joined by ace sports writer Rob Smyth, who has written for the Guardian, Wisden, ESPNcricinfo and a variety of other publications.
Rob is one of the most prolific over-by-over and minute-by-minute commentators, and has written multiple books on cricket – like The Spirit of Cricket and Gentleman and Sledgers– as well as on football.
He talks about his journey in sports journalism, the joys and challenges of live text-commentary, and the breed of cricketers he is drawn towards. He remembers England's woeful one-day adventures in the 1990s and 2000s, and puts the achievement of the current ODI team in perspective.
Also featuring: English fans' love-hate relationship with KP, Patrick Patterson's most violent spell, and England's "omnifiasco" in India in 1992-93.
Participants:
Rob Smyth
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Some of Rob’s pieces:
The scariest Test England ever player
The joy of Kevin Pietersen…
May 30, 2019
Favourites England just got favouriter
We review the opening match of the World Cup between England and South Africa at The Oval.
Talking points: England's scary batting depth, South Africa's tame run-chase, and the value that Joffra Archer brings to a bowling attack.
How does any team beat this England side? Can South Africa bounce back.
Participants:
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch)
Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
May 28, 2019
1999: The World Cup that was dropped
In the latest 81allout podcast we look back at the World Cup in 1999 when Australia came back from the dead to win the tournament.
We talk (a lot) about the most dramatic ODI match of all time, India's meltdown in the chase against Zimbabwe, Steve Waugh's brilliant century, the thrill of watching Shoaib Akhtar from the ground level, Warnie rising to the occasion just in time, Venkatesh Prasad's 5 wicket haul against Pakistan, Pakistan's pinch-blocking strategy, Dravid's glorious run, and Zulu.
Also included: Mark Waugh's serenity on the field, parochial plaint on Venkatraghavan missing out on the final, and Imran's wisdom.
Participants:
Krishna Murali (@mkrishna)
Suhrith Parthasarathy (@suhrith)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee),
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Vijay Arumugam (@vijayarumugam)
May 26, 2019
2003: The Bowlers' World Cup
In the latest 81allout podcast we look back at the 2003 World Cup where Australia put on a stellar show overcoming all the obstacles thrown at them to win back to back World Cups.
We talk about South Africa's tragicomic exit, the high voltage Ind-Pak match at Centurion, Windies going with 3 frontline bowlers, Nehra's spectacular spell against England, Kenya's dream run, Sachin's sublime batting in the tournament, Aravinda's still mighy wizardy, great bowling performances from a wide variety of bowlers – Andy Bichel to Collins Obuya. And the Ponting show.
Also included: Warnie being a good mama's boy, Why Nehra may sometimes be called Nehru, and Pedro Collins (not) taking a catch
Participants:
Sriram Dayanand (@sdayanand)
Karthik Krishnaswamy (@the_kk)
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Ashoka Rao (@abvan)
May 21, 2019
'You little beauty' – the 1996 World Cup
In the latest 81allout podcast we rewind to the World Cup in 1996 – when Sri Lanka refused to be beaten.
We remember Brian Lara's exquisite strokeplay, Aravinda de Silva's mastery, Tendulkar's magic with a sponsor-less bat, Jayasuriya reducing medium-pacers to offspinners, Paul Strang's wizardry and Ambrose getting stumps to fly.
Also included: Richie Richardson's sweep shot crashing into umpire BC Cooray's head, Mike Marqusee's seminal book 'War Minus the Shooting', and Sultan Zarawani walking out to bat in a hat and preparing to face Allan Donald.
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Participants:
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Karthik Krishnaswamy (@the_kk)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Aditya Shrikrishna (@gradwolf)
May 19, 2019
An Asian coup, an Australian heist – the 1987 World Cup
In the latest 81allout podcast we rewind to the World Cup in 1987 – when Australia pulled off a sensational triumph.
We talk about Allan Lamb taking on Courtney Walsh in Gujranwala, Gavaskar scorching a hundred, Dave Houghton blasting 142, Navjot "Sixer" Sidhu clattering the big ones, Gooch sweeping India out of the World Cup, Gatting reverse-sweeping to his doom, and a young Australian side enjoying a fairytale ride all the way to the summit.
Also included: The behind-the-scenes stories to bring the World Cup to the subcontinent, Australia v Pakistan in Lahore being the cricket equivalent of Italy v Brazil 1982, and Walsh going home with a special carpet.
Participants:
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee),
K Balakumar (@kbalakumar)
Vijay Arumugam (@vijayarumugam)
(Lead pic from here)
May 15, 2019
The World Cup that changed (almost) everything - the 1992 World Cup
In the latest 81allout podcast we rewind to one of the mostly fondly remembered World Cups – from 1992.
Why is this such a beloved tournament? Has there been a better collection of cricket jerseys at one event?
We talk about Mark Greatbatch's sixes, Martin Crowe's innovative tactics, Srikkanth's duck against New Zealand, Raju's premature celebration, David Boon's square cuts, that Jonty Rhodes run-out, Srinath's ball to Miandad...
Not to forget, the strange rain-rule. And those two balls from heaven.
Participants:
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee),
Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd)
Max (@maxdavinci)
Anantha (@anantha)
May 6, 2019
Writer Series: Interview with Mohammad Isam
In the latest episode of the 81allout podcast, we are delighted to be joined by ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent Mohammad Isam.
Isam opens up about the terrorist attack in Christchurch, and how it has offered him a new perspective towards cricket. We go on to talk about Bangladesh's squad for the World Cup. And their problem with chasing big totals.
Also featuring: Jersey-gate, the Imrul Kayes riddle and Rubel Hossain's Bradman-esque (bowling) average
Participants:
Mohammad Isam (@isam84),
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee),
Ashoka (@ABVan)
Some of Isam's pieces:
'There's a shooting here, please save us'
The story of the Dhaka Premier League
On the campaign trail with Mashrafe Mortaza
Mohammad Ashraful profile
Apr 26, 2019
Do we judge umpires on ridiculously high standards?
In the latest episode of the 81allout podcast we discuss recent controversies around umpiring and the seemingly gradual erosion of umpires' authority.
Was Dhoni justified in walking onto the field and arguing with the umpires? Is there data to prove that umpiring standards in this IPL has been worse than in previous editions?
We touch upon the effects of technology on assessing umpires, the role of commentators on shaping the narrative and how it is impossible to sometimes say whether an umpire got a decision right or wrong.
Participants:
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch),
Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview),
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee),
Max (@maxdavinci)
Apr 8, 2019
What’s the deal with T20 batting?
In the latest episode of the 81allout podcast, we are thrilled to be joined by podcaster and blogger Subash Jayaraman, as well as Kartikeya Date, a contributor for ESPNcricinfo, The Hindu and other publications.
We talk about Andre Russell's 13-ball 48 for Kolkata Knight Riders against Royal Challengers Bangalore, and debate whether it was an "astonishing" innings or one that should have come as no surprise. Have we even learnt how to judge a T20 innings? Do we have the grammar and metrics to judge a T20 performance without veering into hyperbole? Will the "quality" of bowling eventually cease to matter in a format so heavily skewed in favour of the bat. Questions, questions, questions....
Participants:
Subash Jayaraman (@cricketcouch),
Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview),
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee),
Max (@maxdavinci)
Apr 3, 2019
Writer Series: Interview with Andrew Fidel Fernando
In the latest episode of the 81allout podcast, we are delighted to be joined by ESPNcricinfo's Sri Lanka correspondent Andrew Fidel Fernando.
We talk about Fidel's experiences of covering Sri Lankan cricket and discuss the various aspects of putting together a piece on deadline. Fidel talks about what was going through his head when Kusal Perera was rewriting the history books in Durban, and the manner in which he 'joined the dots' after Sri Lanka's scarcely believable Test series win in Port Elizabeth.
Also featuring: Sandpaper-gate, Rangana Herath, Sri Lankan cricket administration, and much more...
Podcast participants: Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf), Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee), Ashoka (@ABVan)
Mar 21, 2019
IPL 2019 Preview (Part 2) – Can RCB shock the world?
In Part 2 of our fun preview we discuss:
Rajasthan Royals' lack of spin options,
Royal Challenger Bangalore's propensity for comedy,
Mumbai Indians' ability to win tournaments every alternative year, and
Sunrisers Hyderabad's terrific balance.
We're delighted to be joined by Arnab Ray (@greatbong) with his insights and humor.
Other podcast participants: @sidvee, @anantha and @maxdavinci
Mar 19, 2019
IPL 2019 Preview (Part 1) - Delhi's big chance?
The IPL is here! And in Part 1 of our fun preview we discuss:
Chennai Super Kings' chances to win another title with a team of golden oldies,
Delhi Capitals' chances of winning their first IPL with a new team name,
Kings XI Punjab's bizarre team combination, and
Kolkata Knight Riders' bowling riches (and worries)
We're delighted to be joined by Arnab Ray (@greatbong) with his insights and humour.
Other podcast participants: @sidvee), @anantha and @maxdavinci
Mar 5, 2019
What we talk about when we talk about cricket
In this episode of the 81allout podcast, we are delighted to be joined by BBC Test Match Special commentator Daniel Norcross and Kartikeya Date, an essayist for ESPNcricinfo and other publications.
We talk about the different ways in which we consume cricket and how our experiences have changed over time. What irks us the most when we watch the game? How easily are we drawn to cricketing arguments on Twitter? How do we react on hearing cliches on commentary? All this and much more come together in a lively discussion.
Podcast participants: Daniel Norcross (@norcrosscricket), Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview), Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee), Ashoka (@ABVan)
Feb 21, 2019
The 2018-2019 Ranji Season
In the second episode of the 81allout podcast, we chat with Saurabh Somani, Assistant Editor at ESPNcricinfo, on the recently concluded season of Ranji Trophy. We discuss the unprecedented scale of this year's Ranji Trophy, Vidarbha's impressive title defense, the controversial Karnataka-Saurashtra semifinal, and some fascinating stories that only a tournament of this magnitude can throw up.
Feb 17, 2019
Manuka Oval’s Test debut
In the first episode of the 81allout podcast, we talk to Vijay Arumugam, a cricket fan based in Sydney, and discuss the first-ever Test match at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. Vijay and a group of friends drove from Sydney to Canberra, and he shares some of their experiences from the recent Australia v Sri Lanka Test.
Podcast participants: Vijay Arumugam (@vijayarumugam), Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee), Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd )