India ride on an awesome foursome: England v India, Lord’s Test review

India ride on an awesome foursome: England v India, Lord’s Test reviewIndia ride on an awesome foursome: England v India, Lord’s Test review

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We review the second Test of the England v India series – with the focus on the dramatic final day. Talking Points The remarkable turnaround on the final day of the Lord’s Test How narratives around player behavior are often a TV creation Enhanced TV coverage offering us a perfect


A whole lot of unknowns: England v India series preview

A whole lot of unknowns: England v India series previewA whole lot of unknowns: England v India series preview

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We preview the upcoming England v India Test series – that has had one of the most lukewarm build-ups in a time of Covid, The Olympics, and The Hundred. It’s a time of bio-bubbles, quarantines, injuries, mental health and player rotation. And hopefully some memorable cricket too. Talking Points The


‘None of us knew anything about the internet when Rediff began’: interview with the journalist Prem Panicker

‘None of us knew anything about the Internet when Rediff began’: interview with the journalist Prem Panicker‘None of us knew anything about the Internet when Rediff began’: interview with the journalist Prem Panicker

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Our special guest this week is Prem Panicker, a veteran journalist who has been writing on cricket for over 25 years. Prem was one of the founding journalists at Rediff.com and a pioneer with regard to online commentary and internet radio. Talking Points: Falling in love with cricket in the


A thumping finish: India v England, 4th Test review

A thumping finish: India v England, 4th Test reviewA thumping finish: India v England, 4th Test review

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We discuss the fourth Test between India and England in Ahmedabad. Talking Points: India’s terrific achievement across eight Tests A triumph of depth for the Indian team Axar’s 27 wickets and his perfect debut series Why Ashwin’s value to the side is double that of their best batsman Mohammad Siraj


A two-day shootout: India v England, 3rd Test review

A two-day shootout: India v England, 3rd Test reviewA two-day shootout: India v England, 3rd Test review

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We discuss the third Test between India and England in Ahmedabad. Talking Points: Where did this pitch stand in the Premadasa-Sabina scale? The importance of consistent bounce in the ICC evaluation system England’s misreading of the pitch and the selection of one specialist spinner Don’t India have enough of an


Ashwin’s triumph in Chepauk: India v England, 2nd Test review

Ashwin’s triumph in Chepauk: India v England, 2nd Test reviewAshwin’s triumph in Chepauk: India v England, 2nd Test review

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We discuss the second Test between India and England in Chennai Talking Points: Was there anything wrong with the pitch? How Rohit Sharma tackled the tricky surface England’s rotation policy – and would they have followed this during the Ashes? R Ashwin’s glorious home Test in front of an adoring


It takes all sorts

The theatre of spinThe theatre of spin

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By Siddhartha Vaidyanathan I grew up at a time when India won (nearly) every Test at home and lost (nearly) every Test abroad. The phrases that punctuated newspaper reports back then: ‘designer pitches’, ‘underprepared pitches’ and ‘doctored pitches’. The players were ‘tigers at home, lambs abroad’, prospering on tracks they