Cricket conversations
One of the themes in our episode on team selection was how the change in playing conditions of ODIs had made selection hard. We dialed in on how the change in Powerplay rules, along with the two new balls at both ends, has reshaped in the cricketing contest in ODIs
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/UUZ3R3TQ6KHUKBZVJ3MC76UE2U.jpg "What we talk about when we talk about selection")
The crew chats about the idea of selecting a cricket team, and debates how one can have a meaningful conversation about an inherently unfair process. Should selectors be more transparent about the reasoning behind their choices? Is there a process by which we can judge a good selection? And how
 "Australia resist England bowling, Bazball: Ashes 2023 review")
We review the recently concluded five-Test series between England and Australia that ended 2-2 – with Australia retaining the Ashes. It was a series defined by England’s ‘Bazball’ approach to batting – though that undersells how well Australia’s batters resisted English bowling and how well Australia bowled in largely batting-friendly
We review the second Test between West Indies and India at Port-of-Spain, which was rained off when India needed 8 wickets to wrap up the win. It meant India won their sixth series in West Indies and continued their dominance when touring the Caribbean. Talking Points: The problem with gauging
We review the first Test between West Indies and India at Dominica – which saw a dominant Indian side complete a big win. The conditions were perfectly suited to India’s spinners – and gave Ashwin the chance to show his range. Talking Points: A ‘perfect storm’ for West Indies on
Where is cricket best enjoyed? Live at the stadium or on a screen many miles away? What do these experiences teach us and what really are we watching when we take in a game? The 81allout crew discuss. Talking Points: The challenges (and privilege required) to access a cricket ground
We speak to British playwright Maatin about his play Duck, which looks at the cricketing events of 2005 through the prism of a 15-year-old boy in a public school in London. Duck is running in Arcola Theatre from June 27 – July 15. You can buy tickets to the play
We review the World Test Championship final between Australia and India at The Oval – which ended with a 209-run win and the Test mace for Australia. It was India’s second consecutive loss in the WTC final – and offered hints that a terrific side is likely past its peak.
We chat with ESPNcricinfo assistant editor Karthik Krishnaswamy and freelance writer Saurabh Somani on making sense of cricket in these times of excess. With leagues mushrooming around the world, and multiple formats to track, can journalists be expected to have a holistic view of the game? Talking Points: The evolution
Some cricketers we love at first sight; some, we take time to appreciate; others, we do not understand the fuss; and still others are quick to get under our skins. Often, we review our views over time – and often surprise ourselves by changing our opinions about cricketers. Kapil Dev,
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