81 All Out - A Cricket Podcast

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 pitc...

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)...

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 ( @c...

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.  * Partici...

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 )

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 C...

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 )

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 )

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 H...

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 )

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: Earli...

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-s...

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 that ball 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:...

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...

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

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...

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 )

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 Sa...

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 )

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...

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 f...

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) Siddha...

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...

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...

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 i...