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...

We review the third Test between India and New Zealand in Mumbai where Ajaz Patel bowled New Zealand to an incredible win. Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: Is this the finest Test series win of all time? New Zealand overcome great odds in dream sequence The categories of outrage accompanying an Indian defeat The potency of left-arm spin in India Ajaz Patel's dream Test  New Zealand's bowlers strike gold on tricky pitch To attack or to defend: India's batting...

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...

We review the first Test between India and New Zealand in Bangalore - a magnificent match that will be remembered for a long, long time. Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: Pitch-perfect conditions for New Zealand's bowlers The sub-air effect: how Bangalore's drainage system played its part India misreading the pitch and choosing three spinners The decision to bat first under cloudy skies Henry, O'Rourke and Southee: unplayable in the gloom Rachin Ravindra: a superstar in...

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? ...

We review India's magnificent win over Bangladesh in the second Test in Kanpur. [podcast_subscribe id="1595"] Talking Points: India doing both the expected and unexpected at the same time India's great bowling attack and the art of picking 20 wickets Jasprit Bumrah - in a rarefied space of fast bowling Jadeja's speeds v Bangladesh's spinner's speeds India's batting assault Kanpur 2021 v Kanpur 2024 Kohli, Shastri and the decision to play five fast bowlers Jaiswal's remarkable...

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? ...

We chat with ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent Mohammad Isam about Bangladesh's historic series win in Pakistan and their chances in the upcoming two-Test series in India. Talking Points: Bangladesh's dream-like comeback wins in the two Tests in Rawalpindi A bowling attack with tremendous variety - world-class spin and promising pace The arrival of Nahid Rana - and his ferocious spells in Pakistan The symbolism of Bangladesh's series win amidst the political climate in the...

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...

In the latest episode we chat with Himanish Ganjoo on how data can assist cricket teams and what he learnt from his own stint as a data analyst with the Indian side. Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Himanish Ganjoo (@hganjoo_153) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike...

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...

We review the final of the T20 World Cup and end of India's wait for an ICC trophy. Talking Points: How trophy wins don't define India's legacy. The unfairness of labelling South Africa chokers. The peerless Bumrah. Virat Kohli's change of approach and his great swansong T20 innings in the final. Rohit, Pant and the fallacy of "shot selections". How India finally managed to construct a well balanced squad for the conditions. Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan...

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...

We review the first two weeks of the T20 World Cup and chat about the heartwarming performances of USA and other Associate teams. Plus Pakistan's insistence on opening with Babar and Rizwan; Kohli's attempts to change; Pant's hitting training; and the umpiring decision that Bangladesh are furious about. Talking Points: Why a 20-team World Cup seems so much more inclusive   Why USA beating Pakistan is not as shocking as it may have been 10 years ago Many teams have struggled to score...

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...

The 2024 edition of the IPL has seen hitters step up to a new level - with 200-plus totals becoming routine and 200-plus chases being achieved too. Is this an inflection point for the format? And how should we be talking about the sport if this is the new normal?  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: Why has this IPL seen a sudden jump in totals? Has the impact-player rule played a significant role in raising totals? Have teams found more hitters to accomodate in the XIs? Jake...

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...

T20 started in the early 2000s but what if the format was invented 15 years earlier. Who were the players who would have excelled in the shorter format? We decided to pick a T20 side from the era before the IPL and debated how Aravinda de Silva and Brian Lara might have changed their game for T20s. And if players like Ricardo Powell and Adrian Kuiper would have had more illustrious careers than they did. Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: The evolution of ODIs and T20s - and how...

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...

We review the fourth Test between India and England in Ranchi – where India sealed a series with a magnificent five-wicket win.  Support 81allout at Ko-Fi Talking Points: The third-innings bowling that capped another brilliant third-day fightback India's forced accelerated transition - with a team full of youngsters Dhruv Jurel's expert batting with the tail Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep - an undecipherable trio  Bazball sucking all the oxygen out of the England media Did England miss...

We review the third Test between India and England in Rajkot – where a terrific all-round performance helped India go 2-1 up.  Support 81allout at Ko-Fi Talking Points: India's magnificent bowling on Day 3 How the flat pitches in this series are neutralizing Bazball India's spinners - turning the ball more with greater control Why England's batting tactics are actually a tribute to India's great bowling Why India are actually relentlessly attacking while England are highly...

We review the second Test between India and England in Visakhapatnam – where Jasprit Bumrah powered India to a 106-run win.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: A celebration of Test cricket A series with echoes of the 2016-17 home series v Australia  Are England really playing Bazball? India's decision to play five bowlers even with an inexperienced batting line-up Does anyone think of drawing a Test match these days? Jasprit Bumrah: an artist operating on a different plane...

We review the first Test between India and England in Hyderabad – where India lost a Test match at home after gaining a first-innings lead of 190.   Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: One of England's greatest wins Ollie Pope's freakish 196 India's approach to facing left-arm spin Why England choose to sweep and reverse-sweep India's spinners Bazball and the approach to risk-taking India's batters getting out to unforced errors after being set Jasprit Bumrah's...

We rewind to England's tour to India in 2001-02 - when India won the three-Test series 1-0 and England leveled the six-match ODI series 3-3. England arrived in India on the back of terrific series wins in Sri Lanka and Pakistan - and despite a green bowling attack managed to gave India a scare in two Tests.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: The uncertainty around the tour because of the events around 9/11 India's eventful 2001 - epic wins, big defeats, and plenty of...