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.

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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

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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

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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 fifth Test between Australia and India in Sydney where Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a thrilling three-day win.

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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

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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 Regain The Border-Gavaskar Trophy After A Decade - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview substack
• India’s BGT report card - Sriram Veera - Indian Express
• Australia’s bowlers batter India to keep home fires burning for World Championship tilt - Geoff Lemon - Guardian
• India dismantle England in lop-sided finale: India v England, 5th Test review - 81allout podcast archive

We review the fourth Test between Australia and India at Melbourne. Australia went 2-1 ahead after a special win.

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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

*

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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 third Test between Australia and India at Brisbane. Australia piled on 445 but rain helped India keep the series at 1-1.

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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

*

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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 :the great problem-solver who played cricket for cricket's sake - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo
• Ashwin retires - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview Substack
• The Encyclopedist - Gideon Haigh - Cricket et al. (subscription)
• How Ashwin remained a committed cricketer and a team man till his sudden and surprising exit - Sriram Veera - Indian Express

We preview the upcoming five-Test series between Australia and India.

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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

*

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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 third Test between India and New Zealand in Mumbai where Ajaz Patel bowled New Zealand to an incredible win.

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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)

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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:

• Black Caps' unseen challenges on the way to whitewash of India - Andrew Voerman - Stuff.co.nz
• Why rank turners actually reduce India's home advantage - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo
• India swept away by Ajaz Patel - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview Substack
• A bad equilibrium - Harigovind S - Kohli and Kipling Substack