81 All Out - A Cricket Podcast

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

We review the fourth Test between Australia and India at Melbourne. Australia went 2-1 ahead after a special win. ⁠Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: A series where the first 40 overs is vastly different to the second 40 Why are India hesitant to play a fourth fast bowler? India's issue with four tailenders - and Australia's advantage in the lower order The Sam Konstas decision - and the hat tip to Bumrah Nathan Lyon's first-innings v second-innings effectiveness in Australia Jasprit Bumrah's mastery over the new and old ball Siraj and Akash Deep: impressive yet unlucky Rohit Sharma's struggles over his last 6 Tests Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack| ESPNcricinfo * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related Australia 2-1 Up As India's Hedge Fails - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview substack Sam Konstas makes debut to remember - Geoff Lemon - Guardian Rohit on Bumrah's bowling workloads: 'We've been very careful' - Alagappan Muthu - ESPNcricinfo Nitish Kumar Reddy’s father: ‘No one used to know my name outside my town, but now in Australia people are asking selfies’ - Sriram Veera - Indian Express

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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