Talking fandom: love, loyalty, and a sense of belonging

Talking fandom: love, loyalty, and a sense of belongingTalking fandom: love, loyalty, and a sense of belonging

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In the latest episode we discuss ideas of loyalty and fandom – with respect to both teams and individual athletes – and dissect various strands of ‘belonging’ to an imagined community. Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback, e-copy) Australia (hardback, paperback, e-copy)


Hitting v Batting: the choice that dictates the shape of a T20 contest

Hitting v Batting: the choice that dictates the shape of a T20 contestHitting v Batting: the choice that dictates the shape of a T20 contest

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In the latest episode of the podcast we discuss a fundamental question that underpins a T20 contest: does batting have a place in T20? Are elite batters like Virat Kohli, Babar Azam and Steve Smith good fits in the T20 format – and what metrics tell us how good a


A special win to round off a special year: Centurion Test review

A special win to round off a special year: Centurion Test reviewA special win to round off a special year: Centurion Test review

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We review the first Test between South Africa and India – which India won by 113 runs. This was only South Africa’s third defeat in Centurion across 27 Tests. Note: Readers in India can now buy Mike Marqusee’s classic cricket book War Minus The Shooting at the Atta Galatta bookstore


K-drama lead up to mouthwatering contest: South Africa v India, series preview

K-drama lead up to mouthwatering contest: South Africa v India, series previewK-drama lead up to mouthwatering contest: South Africa v India, series preview

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We preview the three-Test series between South Africa and India – a golden chance for the Indian team to win their first Test series there. Note: Readers in India can now buy Mike Marqusee’s classic cricket book War Minus The Shooting at the Atta Galatta bookstore in Bangalore. They are


A freakish ten-for and a good old Indian dominance: India v NZ series review

A freakish ten-for and good old Indian dominance: India v NZ reviewA freakish ten-for and good old Indian dominance: India v NZ review

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We review the recent two-Test series between India and New Zealand – which India won 1-0. Talking Points: Is India v New Zealand a major rivalry? Or a filler between marquee series? New Zealand’s decision to pick Will Sommerville for both Tests India’s immense depth – winning comfortably despite so


‘A match that you watch from the stadium is a sacred thing’: an interview with the historian Mukul Kesavan

‘A match that you watch from the stadium is a sacred thing’: an interview with the historian Mukul Kesavan‘A match that you watch from the stadium is a sacred thing’: an interview with the historian Mukul Kesavan

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In this episode, we chat with author, essayist, and perceptive cricket columnist Mukul Kesavan. Besotted with cricket for over five decades – and viewing it through the lens of politics, sociology, and history – Mukul talks about his magnetic attraction to the game and its many pleasures. Talking Points: An Anglophone