81 All Out

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 b

We review the fifth Test between Australia and India in Sydney where Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a thrilling three-day win. Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: Australia's superior bowling depth wins the day The remarkable Mr Boland  India's muddled approach to this series: neither batting heavy nor bowling heavy Why didn't India trust their fast bowlers enough to play 4 each Test? The futility of picking two spinners in these conditions  Jasprit Bumrah's steep workload; Siraj's tireless spells Are Rohit and Kohli both in decline or is there a way back for them?  A series full of electric bowling Rishabh Pant's mad max half-century Prasidh Krishna's promise of steepling bounce The end of an era of magnificent India-Australia series Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh (@cornerd)  Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack| 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  -----------------

We review the the third Test between Australia and India at Brisbane. Australia piled on 445 but rain helped India keep the series at 1-1.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: India's decision to persist with four bowlers an an allrounder The need for insurance in the lower order against Australia's attack Akash Deep's incisive spells with little reward India's multipronged. issues with their transition Rohit and Kohli: poor form or slowing reflexes. Or mostly bad luck? Pat Cummins: the master of seam and length Jasprit Bumrah's ability to create jeopardy at will R Ashwin's decision to retire midway through the series  Ashwin's astonishing strike rate and the legacy he leaves behind 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

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 Cri

We review the the first Test between Australia and India at Perth - a remarkable game where the ball dominated the bat... until it did not.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi Talking Points: The significance (and surprise) of India's 295-run victory at Perth The toss advantage, and how India made the most of it Watching a game live at Perth - and how different it was Is a Test match in Australia now like a destination wedding for Indians? Jasprit Bumrah's latest greatest spell The lengths from hell: what makes Bumrah so good Jaiswal's range of strokeplay Rishabh Pant's keeping and the wide area he opens up for the slips The Kohli industrial complex Nitish's Reddy's impressive debut KL Rahul's technique against the moving ball Australia's top order problems  Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack| ESPNcricinfo * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bu

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 * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 dilemma  Rohit Sharma's aggressive approach India's choice to not play four spinners in the final two Tests Ashwin v the sweeps: and what his length seems to suggest The intriguing possibilities ahead of the WTC final Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack| ESPNcricinfo Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqus

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

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 the making The astonishing Sarfaraz-Pant partnership Sarfaraz' unique handiwork Bumrah's spell on the final morning India's potential reaction to this defeat - and thoughts on the surface in Pune 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 Beyo

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) * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 start to his Test career 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 simple genius of Ravindra Jadeja - K

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  --------------------------------------------------------------------

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 country Mehidy Hasan Miraz - workhorse, counter-puncher, MVP Can Bangladesh's attack adapt to India's varied conditions? The challenge of a two-Test series without any warm-up games India's unsettled top six  How spin-friendly conditions could help Bangladesh narrow the gap  Participants: Mohammad Isam (@Isam) | ESPNcricinfo Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack| 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

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 Coward The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Himanish Ganjoo's articles - ESPNricinfo | Substack Training the Hawkeye on Axar Patel: Angular, Anomalous - Substack Understanding T20 - 81allout podcast with Hassan Cheema Hitting v Batting: the choice that dictates the shape of a T20 contest - 81allout podcast Databall - Kartikeya Date - The Cricket Monthly

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) ---------------------------------------------------

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 (@⁠sidvee⁠) Ashoka (⁠@ABVan⁠) Mahesh (@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: 'The Worm Turns for India's Greatest Generation"- Cricketingview.

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

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 freely but the games have been close Pakistan's RizBar problem  The importance of a T20 batter having a wide range of strokes Rishabh Pant's trained hitting - and how he embraces risk at all times Bangladesh's close defeat to South Africa - and the lbw  Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka (@ABVan) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by