60 acast.com The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball en The Second New Ball cricket,second new ball,sports The Second New Ball A new podcast centered on Indian cricket. We're Sushain and Shivaditya, two sportswriters branching out into podcasting with this show out of a desire to mould our many fervent conversations about cricket and love of dialogue into something more coherent. We talk about the Indian national side, the IPL, the domestic game - anything that interests us about Indian cricket.


Although the show is oriented to and anchored by the Indian cricketing calendar, we don't hesitate to talk about the wider cricketing world. We mostly discuss current events and are looking forward to doing new varieties of episodes in the future. Hope you enjoy!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> A new podcast centered on Indian cricket. We're Sushain and Shivaditya, two sportswriters branching out into podcasting with this show out of a desire to mould our many fervent conversations about cricket and love of dialogue into something more coherent. We talk about the Indian national side, the IPL, the domestic game - anything that interests us about Indian cricket.


Although the show is oriented to and anchored by the Indian cricketing calendar, we don't hesitate to talk about the wider cricketing world. We mostly discuss current events and are looking forward to doing new varieties of episodes in the future. Hope you enjoy!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> false The Second New Ball thesecondnewball@gmail.com 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d the-second-new-ball episodic https://assets.pippa.io/shows/5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d/1600248001806-8667285b615ca00d9f0ebe7c8ebca7ae.jpeg https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast India in England 2022 - Post-tour review India in England 2022 - Post-tour review Fri, 22 Jul 2022 09:25:32 GMT 1:08:48 62da658f6c6435001280c75b false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-29 62da658f6c6435001280c75b 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-29 full 3 9 With India having clinched the recent ODI and T20 series against England and drawn the longest Test series in history, we return to take stock of the tour and assess where India stand before they are swiftly back in action against the West Indies. Our main focus is the white-ball games, beginning with Rishabh Pant's splendid hundred in the third ODI. We discuss whether Pant has any competition remaining for his place after a sterling display at Manchester, explore the structural importance of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja to a side preparing for 2023, and run down the main squad building tasks for India leading up to a home World Cup.


As for the T20s, we debate the opposing fortunes of Suryakumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer in addition to discussing which big hitters will be important to India's chances in Australia. We also chat about the squads for the games in the West Indies and predict how the unit will handle the Virat Kohli question as the World Cup inches closer. Lastly, we discuss a few points of interest from the fifth Test between India and England.


This time, our conversation on the episode takes a detour via an explanation of why Bhuvneshwar Kumar is like the Hungarian football team of the 1950s and how South Africa Women are unique among the top sides in the women's game.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> With India having clinched the recent ODI and T20 series against England and drawn the longest Test series in history, we return to take stock of the tour and assess where India stand before they are swiftly back in action against the West Indies. Our main focus is the white-ball games, beginning with Rishabh Pant's splendid hundred in the third ODI. We discuss whether Pant has any competition remaining for his place after a sterling display at Manchester, explore the structural importance of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja to a side preparing for 2023, and run down the main squad building tasks for India leading up to a home World Cup.


As for the T20s, we debate the opposing fortunes of Suryakumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer in addition to discussing which big hitters will be important to India's chances in Australia. We also chat about the squads for the games in the West Indies and predict how the unit will handle the Virat Kohli question as the World Cup inches closer. Lastly, we discuss a few points of interest from the fifth Test between India and England.


This time, our conversation on the episode takes a detour via an explanation of why Bhuvneshwar Kumar is like the Hungarian football team of the 1950s and how South Africa Women are unique among the top sides in the women's game.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> New Zealand in England 2022 - Catching up with Test cricket New Zealand in England 2022 - Catching up with Test cricket Wed, 15 Jun 2022 03:30:45 GMT 51:11 62a77d2a36f81b001262814a false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-28 62a77d2a36f81b001262814a 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-28 full 3 8 With the World Test Champions New Zealand back in action against England, we reconvene to discuss one of the year's biggest series in the longest format. This episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast covers England's victory in the first Test, running down the performances of Jack Leach, Ben Foakes, Ollie Pope, and the openers as the hosts begin a new era under coach Brendon McCullum.


As we ponder England's alternatives, we also debate the lacklustre performance of the visitors. Since becoming World Test Champions, New Zealand have lacked a cutting edge - they have failed to win a single series since beginning the defence of their title. We discuss what has gone wrong strategically and in terms of selection - the repeated omission of Neil Wagner being especially baffling - and the coagulation of the Kiwis' bowling attack into something altogether one-dimensional.

---------------------------

Podcast: The Adelaide reunion special - with Ali Martin | The Final Word - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5qYUdFrQAIuaeSg4Pj82f3


Podcast: England Daily - Lord's Day 4 | The Final Word - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3vtedN24aDzGyel3LjMlBb

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> With the World Test Champions New Zealand back in action against England, we reconvene to discuss one of the year's biggest series in the longest format. This episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast covers England's victory in the first Test, running down the performances of Jack Leach, Ben Foakes, Ollie Pope, and the openers as the hosts begin a new era under coach Brendon McCullum.


As we ponder England's alternatives, we also debate the lacklustre performance of the visitors. Since becoming World Test Champions, New Zealand have lacked a cutting edge - they have failed to win a single series since beginning the defence of their title. We discuss what has gone wrong strategically and in terms of selection - the repeated omission of Neil Wagner being especially baffling - and the coagulation of the Kiwis' bowling attack into something altogether one-dimensional.

---------------------------

Podcast: The Adelaide reunion special - with Ali Martin | The Final Word - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5qYUdFrQAIuaeSg4Pj82f3


Podcast: England Daily - Lord's Day 4 | The Final Word - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3vtedN24aDzGyel3LjMlBb

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[TSNB Shorts #3 - Debating India's potential T20 squad for the South Africa and West Indies series (Hindi)]]> Sat, 21 May 2022 13:24:22 GMT 28:04 6288dff9d02ba40013f699e0 false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-27 6288dff9d02ba40013f699e0 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-27 full 3 7 As IPL 2022 is in its final stages, we return to discuss which of the tournament's leading performers will ride their momentum to a place in the Indian T20 squad for the upcoming series against South Africa and the West Indies. We debate the existing flaws of the India in the shortest format and which players could provide solutions, squad depth, and even a new identity as the team gears up for two important series in a world cup year. With the conditions in Australia in mind, we ask - which of Arshdeep Singh and Khaleel Ahmed is the better left-arm seam option? Is a Kuldeep Yadav/Yuzvendra Chahal reunion on the cards? Can Dinesh Karthik make a return to the side? Is Abhishek Sharma the top-six all-rounder India are looking for? Is the time right for Umran Malik or should Avesh Khan be preferred? Ahead of the squad announcement, we deliberate all these questions and more.

------------------------------

Snehal Pradhan's tweet - https://twitter.com/SnehalPradhan/status/1523254883713187841

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> As IPL 2022 is in its final stages, we return to discuss which of the tournament's leading performers will ride their momentum to a place in the Indian T20 squad for the upcoming series against South Africa and the West Indies. We debate the existing flaws of the India in the shortest format and which players could provide solutions, squad depth, and even a new identity as the team gears up for two important series in a world cup year. With the conditions in Australia in mind, we ask - which of Arshdeep Singh and Khaleel Ahmed is the better left-arm seam option? Is a Kuldeep Yadav/Yuzvendra Chahal reunion on the cards? Can Dinesh Karthik make a return to the side? Is Abhishek Sharma the top-six all-rounder India are looking for? Is the time right for Umran Malik or should Avesh Khan be preferred? Ahead of the squad announcement, we deliberate all these questions and more.

------------------------------

Snehal Pradhan's tweet - https://twitter.com/SnehalPradhan/status/1523254883713187841

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[TSNB Shorts #2 - What's up with Virat Kohli?]]> Tue, 17 May 2022 02:22:08 GMT 23:37 62822f7ba9f40200134e8e7e false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-26 62822f7ba9f40200134e8e7e 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-26 full 3 6 On the return of Shorts, we discuss the recent struggles of Virat Kohli and the reactions prompted by his poor form in the 2022 IPL. With rest prescribed by seemingly all voices as a cure, we debate what it means for Kohli to take some time off from the game, the implications it might have for his career, and the future of the Indian Test and white-ball squads. With a T20 World Cup on the horizon and much international cricket to be played before that event, India now have a choice on their hands with respect to the former captain as they gear up to bring home the trophy.


In the same vein, we also attempt to explain how the absence of captaincy has put Kohli's career on a clock - vulnerable to the axe without the protective shield of captaincy. The other theme that has dominated the discussion around Kohli recently has been workload management, and we discuss how it might affect his short-term and long-term future in the Indian side.

----------------------------------

Time to pull the plug on Kohli's T20I career by Sriram Veera - https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/ipl/time-to-pull-the-plug-on-kohlis-t20i-career-7888875/


Take a break, Virat Kohli by R Kaushik - https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/take-a-break-virat-kohli-1102328.html

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> On the return of Shorts, we discuss the recent struggles of Virat Kohli and the reactions prompted by his poor form in the 2022 IPL. With rest prescribed by seemingly all voices as a cure, we debate what it means for Kohli to take some time off from the game, the implications it might have for his career, and the future of the Indian Test and white-ball squads. With a T20 World Cup on the horizon and much international cricket to be played before that event, India now have a choice on their hands with respect to the former captain as they gear up to bring home the trophy.


In the same vein, we also attempt to explain how the absence of captaincy has put Kohli's career on a clock - vulnerable to the axe without the protective shield of captaincy. The other theme that has dominated the discussion around Kohli recently has been workload management, and we discuss how it might affect his short-term and long-term future in the Indian side.

----------------------------------

Time to pull the plug on Kohli's T20I career by Sriram Veera - https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/ipl/time-to-pull-the-plug-on-kohlis-t20i-career-7888875/


Take a break, Virat Kohli by R Kaushik - https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/take-a-break-virat-kohli-1102328.html

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> IPL 2022 - Picking the most impressive player from each side at the half-way stage IPL 2022 - Picking the most impressive player from each side at the half-way stage Sat, 30 Apr 2022 03:27:09 GMT 2:02:44 626c247dd779030013d29826 false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-25 626c247dd779030013d29826 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-25 full 3 5 At the (just past) half-way stage of IPL 2022, we return for our mid-season review of the tournament. This time, we pick the player from each side who has most impressed us for a total of ten outstanding performers (plus numerous honourable mentions) in the season so far. With Gujarat and Lucknow enjoying impressive debut campaigns, and Mumbai and Chennai struggling at the bottom of the table, the standings have been turned on their head - and we discuss the performances of Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal, Dinesh Karthik and Umesh Yadav, Krunal Pandya and Arshdeep Singh in the context of a new world order in the IPL. Furthermore, as the unavoidable backdrop to this tournament, we discuss the possibility of India selection for the T20 World Cup for the IPL's most distinguished domestic performers and debate the possible changes to the Indian T20 side over the next eighteen months.


Also in the course of this freewheeling discussion, we talk about the limits of the current player retention system as the IPL expands, the ultimate legacy of Josh Hazlewood, the rising stock of Abhishek Sharma, and T Natarajan's finest first-class bowling performance.

---------------------------------

Joy Bhattacharjya's tweet - https://twitter.com/joybhattacharj/status/1518459973029662722

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> At the (just past) half-way stage of IPL 2022, we return for our mid-season review of the tournament. This time, we pick the player from each side who has most impressed us for a total of ten outstanding performers (plus numerous honourable mentions) in the season so far. With Gujarat and Lucknow enjoying impressive debut campaigns, and Mumbai and Chennai struggling at the bottom of the table, the standings have been turned on their head - and we discuss the performances of Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal, Dinesh Karthik and Umesh Yadav, Krunal Pandya and Arshdeep Singh in the context of a new world order in the IPL. Furthermore, as the unavoidable backdrop to this tournament, we discuss the possibility of India selection for the T20 World Cup for the IPL's most distinguished domestic performers and debate the possible changes to the Indian T20 side over the next eighteen months.


Also in the course of this freewheeling discussion, we talk about the limits of the current player retention system as the IPL expands, the ultimate legacy of Josh Hazlewood, the rising stock of Abhishek Sharma, and T Natarajan's finest first-class bowling performance.

---------------------------------

Joy Bhattacharjya's tweet - https://twitter.com/joybhattacharj/status/1518459973029662722

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> IPL 2022 - Reviewing the auction with Ishan Kacker (Part 2) IPL 2022 - Reviewing the auction with Ishan Kacker (Part 2) Thu, 24 Mar 2022 11:34:34 GMT 2:15:31 623c3fed85ecca0013b1e411 false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-24 623c3fed85ecca0013b1e411 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-24 full 3 4 Ishan's podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/3a1mCsQShLvyKH2qRFHGvq

---------------------------

For the first time on The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast, we welcome a guest on the show to catch up with the latest happenings in Indian cricket. This time, it's the auction for the 2022 IPL season and we are joined by Ishan Kacker of The Anxious Millennial Cowboy Show to discuss the purchases by the various franchises for the upcoming season. With the addition of two new teams to the party, it promises to be a bumper season and accordingly our post-auction review is split into two parts.


In Part 2, we discuss the performances of last season's winners Chennai, a Bangalore side after the reign of Virat Kohli, the most successful franchise Mumbai, 2021's sixth-placed team Punjab, and last season's second-bottom finishers Rajasthan. Debating bench strength, team combinations, and possible strategies for these five teams, we attempt to fashion likely playing XIs and tactics from the squads of these franchises. Can Punjab's strong showing in the auction translate into a playoff place? Are Mumbai the team to watch this season, given their box-office purchases at the auction? Have Rajasthan failed to build a balanced squad? And how can Chennai improve on a title-winning campaign?

N.B. Deliberating the latter question transformed The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast, briefly, into the Mitchell Santner fan club.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Ishan's podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/3a1mCsQShLvyKH2qRFHGvq

---------------------------

For the first time on The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast, we welcome a guest on the show to catch up with the latest happenings in Indian cricket. This time, it's the auction for the 2022 IPL season and we are joined by Ishan Kacker of The Anxious Millennial Cowboy Show to discuss the purchases by the various franchises for the upcoming season. With the addition of two new teams to the party, it promises to be a bumper season and accordingly our post-auction review is split into two parts.


In Part 2, we discuss the performances of last season's winners Chennai, a Bangalore side after the reign of Virat Kohli, the most successful franchise Mumbai, 2021's sixth-placed team Punjab, and last season's second-bottom finishers Rajasthan. Debating bench strength, team combinations, and possible strategies for these five teams, we attempt to fashion likely playing XIs and tactics from the squads of these franchises. Can Punjab's strong showing in the auction translate into a playoff place? Are Mumbai the team to watch this season, given their box-office purchases at the auction? Have Rajasthan failed to build a balanced squad? And how can Chennai improve on a title-winning campaign?

N.B. Deliberating the latter question transformed The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast, briefly, into the Mitchell Santner fan club.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[TSNB Shorts #1 - Experimental India at the Women's World Cup 2022]]> Sun, 20 Mar 2022 03:13:04 GMT 26:58 62362f3743725a001573532f false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-23 62362f3743725a001573532f 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-23 full 3 3 Welcome to the first ever episode of Shorts, a new format by us at The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast. Shorts is our attempt to try something different - bite-sized (well, certainly compared to our usual marathon shows) commentary about specific topics in cricket that catch our eye. For the debut episode, we discuss India's experimental team selections at the Women's World Cup, analysing their changes to personnel and the batting order as they attempt to qualify for the knockout stages. The results have been mixed so far and we debate whether it would have been worth it to stick with Shafali Verma instead of opening with Yastika Bhatia.


We also discuss the merits of India tearing up their existing plans just before the World Cup, the structural importance of the engine room of Pooja Vastrakar, Richa Ghosh, and Sneh Rana, the value of Harmanpreet Kaur's runs in this tournament, India's continued dependence on Smriti Mandhana, and a possibly exciting finish to the group stage with India's games against Bangladesh and South Africa.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Welcome to the first ever episode of Shorts, a new format by us at The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast. Shorts is our attempt to try something different - bite-sized (well, certainly compared to our usual marathon shows) commentary about specific topics in cricket that catch our eye. For the debut episode, we discuss India's experimental team selections at the Women's World Cup, analysing their changes to personnel and the batting order as they attempt to qualify for the knockout stages. The results have been mixed so far and we debate whether it would have been worth it to stick with Shafali Verma instead of opening with Yastika Bhatia.


We also discuss the merits of India tearing up their existing plans just before the World Cup, the structural importance of the engine room of Pooja Vastrakar, Richa Ghosh, and Sneh Rana, the value of Harmanpreet Kaur's runs in this tournament, India's continued dependence on Smriti Mandhana, and a possibly exciting finish to the group stage with India's games against Bangladesh and South Africa.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> IPL 2022 - Reviewing the auction with Ishan Kacker (Part 1) IPL 2022 - Reviewing the auction with Ishan Kacker (Part 1) Sun, 20 Feb 2022 19:55:30 GMT 2:06:07 62129cb2b391f0001340448c false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-22 62129cb2b391f0001340448c 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-22 full 3 2 Ishan's podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/3a1mCsQShLvyKH2qRFHGvq

---------------------------

For the first time on The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast, we welcome a guest on the show to catch up with the latest happenings in Indian cricket. This time, it's the auction for the 2022 IPL season and we are joined by Ishan Kacker of The Anxious Millennial Cowboy Show to discuss the purchases by the various franchises for the upcoming season. With the addition of two new teams to the party, it promises to be a bumper season and accordingly our post-auction review is split into two parts.


In Part 1, we discuss the performances of the two new teams, Lucknow and Gujarat, 2021's underachievers Hyderabad, the most recent table-toppers Delhi, and last season's fourth place team Kolkata. Debating bench strength, team combinations, and possible strategies for these five teams, we attempt to fashion likely playing XIs and tactics from the squads of these franchises. Can Delhi go all the way this time with their new side? How will Hyderabad cope without David Warner? Have Kolkata failed to take their chance to make a fresh start? And are Lucknow and Gujarat strong enough to have memorable debut season?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Ishan's podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/3a1mCsQShLvyKH2qRFHGvq

---------------------------

For the first time on The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast, we welcome a guest on the show to catch up with the latest happenings in Indian cricket. This time, it's the auction for the 2022 IPL season and we are joined by Ishan Kacker of The Anxious Millennial Cowboy Show to discuss the purchases by the various franchises for the upcoming season. With the addition of two new teams to the party, it promises to be a bumper season and accordingly our post-auction review is split into two parts.


In Part 1, we discuss the performances of the two new teams, Lucknow and Gujarat, 2021's underachievers Hyderabad, the most recent table-toppers Delhi, and last season's fourth place team Kolkata. Debating bench strength, team combinations, and possible strategies for these five teams, we attempt to fashion likely playing XIs and tactics from the squads of these franchises. Can Delhi go all the way this time with their new side? How will Hyderabad cope without David Warner? Have Kolkata failed to take their chance to make a fresh start? And are Lucknow and Gujarat strong enough to have memorable debut season?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[India in South Africa 2021-22 - Post-tour review, discussing squads for WI home games, plus India Women's World Cup squad and U19 World Cup stars]]> Wed, 02 Feb 2022 10:29:20 GMT 2:21:45 61fa5d01940a6300115a1f34 false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-21 61fa5d01940a6300115a1f34 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-21 full 3 1 Happy new year to all listeners and welcome to the third season of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast! As India return home empty-handed from South Africa - defeated by the Proteas in both the Test and the ODI series - we return to take stock of the tour and, with Virat Kohli relinquising the Test captaincy, discuss what lies ahead for Indian cricket with two World Cups in the near future. Rishabh Pant dominates the early part of our conversation, as we discuss whether his magnificent hundred at Cape Town and the potential ouster of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane from the Test side clears the way for Pant to claim the number five position - and perhaps even the captaincy.


With India set to play at home in the immediate future, we debate what a refreshed Indian side might look like and where the current injury absences - among them, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Shubman Gill - fit into a first-choice XI. Additionally, we discuss the DRS drama that erupted in the last Test and South Africa's wonderful performances that made them deserved winners - and have us excited for their upcoming assignments against New Zealand and England.


With the announcement of the white-ball squads for home games against the West Indies, we discuss the lessons for India from the ODI whitewash to South Africa and areas for improvement against the Windies as the countdown to the 2023 World Cup begins. Should Ravi Bishnoi be included in the XI straight away? Does Deepak Chahar warrant a long run in the ODI side? Which players can India expect to count on as quality depth going forward?


To wrap up this show, we discuss India Women's World Cup squad - and what the exclusion of Shikha Pandey, Punam Raut, and Jemimah Rodrigues means for the flagship event - and the rising stars of India's ongoing U19 World Cup campaign - and if any of them might be heading for a senior international debut soon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Happy new year to all listeners and welcome to the third season of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast! As India return home empty-handed from South Africa - defeated by the Proteas in both the Test and the ODI series - we return to take stock of the tour and, with Virat Kohli relinquising the Test captaincy, discuss what lies ahead for Indian cricket with two World Cups in the near future. Rishabh Pant dominates the early part of our conversation, as we discuss whether his magnificent hundred at Cape Town and the potential ouster of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane from the Test side clears the way for Pant to claim the number five position - and perhaps even the captaincy.


With India set to play at home in the immediate future, we debate what a refreshed Indian side might look like and where the current injury absences - among them, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Shubman Gill - fit into a first-choice XI. Additionally, we discuss the DRS drama that erupted in the last Test and South Africa's wonderful performances that made them deserved winners - and have us excited for their upcoming assignments against New Zealand and England.


With the announcement of the white-ball squads for home games against the West Indies, we discuss the lessons for India from the ODI whitewash to South Africa and areas for improvement against the Windies as the countdown to the 2023 World Cup begins. Should Ravi Bishnoi be included in the XI straight away? Does Deepak Chahar warrant a long run in the ODI side? Which players can India expect to count on as quality depth going forward?


To wrap up this show, we discuss India Women's World Cup squad - and what the exclusion of Shikha Pandey, Punam Raut, and Jemimah Rodrigues means for the flagship event - and the rising stars of India's ongoing U19 World Cup campaign - and if any of them might be heading for a senior international debut soon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> India Women in Australia 2021 - The belated review show, plus domestic cricket and WBBL India Women in Australia 2021 - The belated review show, plus domestic cricket and WBBL Wed, 29 Dec 2021 03:31:05 GMT 1:35:36 61cae58fec66cb0011ff1178 false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-2 61cae58fec66cb0011ff1178 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-2 full 2 10 In the final episode of the second season of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast, we discuss the India Women's tour of Australia in September-October - a thrilling multi-format series that might have important implications for the World Cup. We discuss the rapid integration into the Indian side of Yastika Bhatia and Richa Ghosh, outlining what their impressive displays in Australia mean for the balance of the side - the number 3 spot and the lower-middle order - and for their fellow contenders for those slots, Pooja Vastrakar and Taniya Bhatia.


Our conversation also touches on the Indian domestic season so far, highlighting some standout performers from the One Day Trophy and the Challenger Trophy including S Meghana and Simran Bahadur. With the players convened for a training camp ahead of the tour to New Zealand, could the stars of the domestic season make their way to the squad to take on the White Ferns - and perhaps even the World Cup squad?


Although India broke their ODI winning streak, Australia came out on top in the multi-format series, and we discuss some of the players who made that possible, particularly acknowledging Tahlia McGrath and Nicola Carey. This tour was just the start of the Australian season, however; we conclude with a chat about some of the players who caught our eye during the seventh edition of the WBBL.

--------------------------

S Meghana, Renuka Singh Thakur find place in India’s pre-New Zealand tour boot camp by Kalyani Mangale - https://www.womenscriczone.com/india-boot-camp-to-feature-s-meghana-renuka-singh-thakur


ESPNcricinfo's WBBL team of the tournament by Andrew McGlashan - https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/espncricinfo-s-wbbl-team-of-the-tournament-1290341


Highlights - India D v. India A, Senior Women's One Day Challenger Trophy final, 9 December 2021 - https://www.bcci.tv/videos/158633/senior-womens-cricket-challenger-trophy-2021-22-final-ind-d-v-ind-a-match-highlights


Highlights - India A v. India C, Senior Women's One Day Challenger Trophy, 9 December 2021 - https://www.bcci.tv/videos/158393/senior-womens-cricket-challenger-trophy-2021-22-ind-a-v-ind-c-match-highlights


Highlights - Melbourne Renegades v. Sydney Thunder, WBBL 07, 17 November 2021 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNgIdKp-HTo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> In the final episode of the second season of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast, we discuss the India Women's tour of Australia in September-October - a thrilling multi-format series that might have important implications for the World Cup. We discuss the rapid integration into the Indian side of Yastika Bhatia and Richa Ghosh, outlining what their impressive displays in Australia mean for the balance of the side - the number 3 spot and the lower-middle order - and for their fellow contenders for those slots, Pooja Vastrakar and Taniya Bhatia.


Our conversation also touches on the Indian domestic season so far, highlighting some standout performers from the One Day Trophy and the Challenger Trophy including S Meghana and Simran Bahadur. With the players convened for a training camp ahead of the tour to New Zealand, could the stars of the domestic season make their way to the squad to take on the White Ferns - and perhaps even the World Cup squad?


Although India broke their ODI winning streak, Australia came out on top in the multi-format series, and we discuss some of the players who made that possible, particularly acknowledging Tahlia McGrath and Nicola Carey. This tour was just the start of the Australian season, however; we conclude with a chat about some of the players who caught our eye during the seventh edition of the WBBL.

--------------------------

S Meghana, Renuka Singh Thakur find place in India’s pre-New Zealand tour boot camp by Kalyani Mangale - https://www.womenscriczone.com/india-boot-camp-to-feature-s-meghana-renuka-singh-thakur


ESPNcricinfo's WBBL team of the tournament by Andrew McGlashan - https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/espncricinfo-s-wbbl-team-of-the-tournament-1290341


Highlights - India D v. India A, Senior Women's One Day Challenger Trophy final, 9 December 2021 - https://www.bcci.tv/videos/158633/senior-womens-cricket-challenger-trophy-2021-22-final-ind-d-v-ind-a-match-highlights


Highlights - India A v. India C, Senior Women's One Day Challenger Trophy, 9 December 2021 - https://www.bcci.tv/videos/158393/senior-womens-cricket-challenger-trophy-2021-22-ind-a-v-ind-c-match-highlights


Highlights - Melbourne Renegades v. Sydney Thunder, WBBL 07, 17 November 2021 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNgIdKp-HTo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> India in South Africa 2021-22 - Discussing the Virat Kohli captaincy drama and the squad for the Test series India in South Africa 2021-22 - Discussing the Virat Kohli captaincy drama and the squad for the Test series Mon, 20 Dec 2021 03:01:07 GMT 1:39:09 61be48b66d6e7d001359c6aa false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-19 61be48b66d6e7d001359c6aa 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-19 full 2 9 With a major away assignment in South Africa set to begin in a few days, The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast returns to discuss the latest controversy in Indian cricket - the circumstances surrounding the removal of Virat Kohli as ODI captain. In this episode, we discuss the still-developing drama and the role of two individuals in particular at the heart of this story - the now-former skipper Kohli and board president Sourav Ganguly. Particular points of interest in our conversation are the parts these two major figures in Indian cricket are playing in this affair, the plan for the ODI side heading into the 2023 World Cup, and potential issues created by the appointment of Rohit Sharma as ODI and T20 captain.


We conclude the show by discussing how the Indian Test team might take shape for the 'final frontier' of South Africa in light of the recent injuries, and with a few observations on the Test series against New Zealand.

-------------------

Podcast: Game Time: Why replacing Kohli with Rohit Sharma was a bold but harsh move | Express Sports Podcast - https://indianexpress.com/audio/express-sports/game-time-why-replacing-kohli-with-rohit-sharma-was-a-bold-but-harsh-move/7667197/


Virat Kohli Saga: BCCI unlikely to take any hasty step with Test series round the corner - https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/virat-kohli-saga-bcci-unlikely-to-take-any-hasty-step-with-test-series-round-the-corner-7676321/


Video: Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma will have my absolute support: Virat Kohli - https://www.bcci.tv/videos/158808/rahul-dravid-and-rohit-sharma-will-have-my-absolute-support-virat-kohli


Podcast: 5 Indian Cricketers You've Never Heard of.... But Should! | Following On - https://play.acast.com/s/cricketweekpodcast/followingon-5indiancricketersyouveneverheardof....butshould-


Podcast: South African Cricketers You Don't Know...But Should! | Following On - https://play.acast.com/s/cricketweekpodcast/southafricancricketersyoudontknow...butshould-

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> With a major away assignment in South Africa set to begin in a few days, The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast returns to discuss the latest controversy in Indian cricket - the circumstances surrounding the removal of Virat Kohli as ODI captain. In this episode, we discuss the still-developing drama and the role of two individuals in particular at the heart of this story - the now-former skipper Kohli and board president Sourav Ganguly. Particular points of interest in our conversation are the parts these two major figures in Indian cricket are playing in this affair, the plan for the ODI side heading into the 2023 World Cup, and potential issues created by the appointment of Rohit Sharma as ODI and T20 captain.


We conclude the show by discussing how the Indian Test team might take shape for the 'final frontier' of South Africa in light of the recent injuries, and with a few observations on the Test series against New Zealand.

-------------------

Podcast: Game Time: Why replacing Kohli with Rohit Sharma was a bold but harsh move | Express Sports Podcast - https://indianexpress.com/audio/express-sports/game-time-why-replacing-kohli-with-rohit-sharma-was-a-bold-but-harsh-move/7667197/


Virat Kohli Saga: BCCI unlikely to take any hasty step with Test series round the corner - https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/virat-kohli-saga-bcci-unlikely-to-take-any-hasty-step-with-test-series-round-the-corner-7676321/


Video: Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma will have my absolute support: Virat Kohli - https://www.bcci.tv/videos/158808/rahul-dravid-and-rohit-sharma-will-have-my-absolute-support-virat-kohli


Podcast: 5 Indian Cricketers You've Never Heard of.... But Should! | Following On - https://play.acast.com/s/cricketweekpodcast/followingon-5indiancricketersyouveneverheardof....butshould-


Podcast: South African Cricketers You Don't Know...But Should! | Following On - https://play.acast.com/s/cricketweekpodcast/southafricancricketersyoudontknow...butshould-

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[New Zealand in India 2021 - Previewing the Test series and a chat about India's talent pool]]> Fri, 26 Nov 2021 03:54:37 GMT 1:18:13 619feddcc655d2001245a063 false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-18 619feddcc655d2001245a063 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-18 full 2 8 After five years, New Zealand are back in India - and The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast is back to assess their chances ahead of the two-Test series. Can the Black Caps bounce back from recent disappointments and register a win in the first game at Kanpur? We attempt to fashion an ideal playing XI from their squad, debating, in particular, the bowling attack. Can Kyle Jamieson sustain his brilliant early form in the longest format? All signs point to Ajaz Patel and Will Somerville, but surely neither of Tim Southee or Neil Wagner can be excluded? And can the batting core of Kane Williamson, Tom Latham, and Henry Nicholls replicate some of their past performances in spin-friendly conditions?


As for India, with the installation of a new head coach in Rahul Dravid, we build on this moment of transition in Indian cricket to talk about the talent pool and whether more opportunities for players in the domestic system are imminent. Shreyas Iyer seems set to make his Test debut, but can Sarfaraz Khan and Rinku Singh similarly shake up the established middle order in the months to come? Could Jayant Yadav make a return to Test cricket? And could the India A touring party, currently in South Africa, supply talent to the Indian Test team sooner rather than later?

---------------------------

Kanpur Test: Rahane, Pujara move into leadership roles as old bond with coach Dravid strengthens by Sandip G - https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/rahane-pujara-india-vs-new-zealand-kanpur-test-dravid-old-bond-leadership-roles-7639612/


Fresh-faced but India favourites against Kane’s men by Shantanu Srivastava - https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/freshfaced-but-india-favourites-against-kane-s-men-101637759862989.html


How to beat Virat Kohli-led Team India in India? by Aratrick Mondal - https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/how-to-beat-virat-kohli-led-team-india-in-india-101637742447894.html


Patel & Somerville to lead Test spin attack in India - https://www.nzc.nz/news-items/patel-and-somerville-to-lead-test-spin-attack-in-india


Williamson wary of the straighter delivery amidst spin preparation by Cricbuzz - https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/119964/williamson-wary-of-the-straighter-delivery-amidst-spin-preparation


How do New Zealand's spinners stack up for the India challenge? by Himanshu Agrawal - https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/india-vs-new-zealand-2021-how-do-new-zealands-spinners-stack-up-for-the-india-challenge-1290691


Highlights: Tamil Nadu v. Karnataka, 2021-22 SMAT final, 22 November 2021 - https://www.bcci.tv/videos/156737/syed-mushtaq-ali-trophy-2021-22-final-tamil-nadu-vs-karnataka-match-highlights

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> After five years, New Zealand are back in India - and The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast is back to assess their chances ahead of the two-Test series. Can the Black Caps bounce back from recent disappointments and register a win in the first game at Kanpur? We attempt to fashion an ideal playing XI from their squad, debating, in particular, the bowling attack. Can Kyle Jamieson sustain his brilliant early form in the longest format? All signs point to Ajaz Patel and Will Somerville, but surely neither of Tim Southee or Neil Wagner can be excluded? And can the batting core of Kane Williamson, Tom Latham, and Henry Nicholls replicate some of their past performances in spin-friendly conditions?


As for India, with the installation of a new head coach in Rahul Dravid, we build on this moment of transition in Indian cricket to talk about the talent pool and whether more opportunities for players in the domestic system are imminent. Shreyas Iyer seems set to make his Test debut, but can Sarfaraz Khan and Rinku Singh similarly shake up the established middle order in the months to come? Could Jayant Yadav make a return to Test cricket? And could the India A touring party, currently in South Africa, supply talent to the Indian Test team sooner rather than later?

---------------------------

Kanpur Test: Rahane, Pujara move into leadership roles as old bond with coach Dravid strengthens by Sandip G - https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/rahane-pujara-india-vs-new-zealand-kanpur-test-dravid-old-bond-leadership-roles-7639612/


Fresh-faced but India favourites against Kane’s men by Shantanu Srivastava - https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/freshfaced-but-india-favourites-against-kane-s-men-101637759862989.html


How to beat Virat Kohli-led Team India in India? by Aratrick Mondal - https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/how-to-beat-virat-kohli-led-team-india-in-india-101637742447894.html


Patel & Somerville to lead Test spin attack in India - https://www.nzc.nz/news-items/patel-and-somerville-to-lead-test-spin-attack-in-india


Williamson wary of the straighter delivery amidst spin preparation by Cricbuzz - https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/119964/williamson-wary-of-the-straighter-delivery-amidst-spin-preparation


How do New Zealand's spinners stack up for the India challenge? by Himanshu Agrawal - https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/india-vs-new-zealand-2021-how-do-new-zealands-spinners-stack-up-for-the-india-challenge-1290691


Highlights: Tamil Nadu v. Karnataka, 2021-22 SMAT final, 22 November 2021 - https://www.bcci.tv/videos/156737/syed-mushtaq-ali-trophy-2021-22-final-tamil-nadu-vs-karnataka-match-highlights

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[T20 World Cup 2021 - Mid-tournament review - Analysing India's horror start]]> Thu, 04 Nov 2021 12:16:32 GMT 1:16:37 6183b414336612001210ca6e true https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-17 6183b414336612001210ca6e 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-17 full 2 7 With the two groups of the Super 12 stage at the 2021 T20 World Cup taking shape, we return to discuss the action so far as we record the show in person for the very first time. After two defeats in their first two Super 12 games, India are on the brink of elimination. Requiring a miracle to qualify for the knockout stage, we discuss what went wrong for them in the games against Pakistan and New Zealand. Did Ishan Kishan's inclusion against the Black Caps cause more problems than it was trying to solve? Were the bowlers been mismanaged - the omission of Shardul Thakur, the misuse of Mohammed Shami - or have they not been given enough runs to play with by an underperforming batting lineup? Have India simply had a couple of bad days and bad luck with injuries or are the issues with the T20 side more deep-rooted? We attempt to answer these questions and more with the example of the Punjab domestic side and Abhishek Sharma.


Meanwhile, England and Pakistan have been the most impressive sides in this tournament, but we wonder if they might be peaking too early. It may be that a nasty surprise awaits them in the semi-finals, and we discuss why South Africa and New Zealand are the sides best equipped to spring it. After defeats in their opening games, both teams responded strongly. For New Zealand, Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi perpetrated an effective spin choke against India and with slower bowlers expected to dominate this tournament, the Kiwis can expect this duo to be their main weapons. South Africa took a couple of games to find their most effective team combination and we explain why Dwaine Pretorious and Aiden Markram were key for their transformation into the best version of themselves. With Afghanistan adding some impressive tactical variety to this tournament, the business end of the T20 World Cup promises to be exciting.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> With the two groups of the Super 12 stage at the 2021 T20 World Cup taking shape, we return to discuss the action so far as we record the show in person for the very first time. After two defeats in their first two Super 12 games, India are on the brink of elimination. Requiring a miracle to qualify for the knockout stage, we discuss what went wrong for them in the games against Pakistan and New Zealand. Did Ishan Kishan's inclusion against the Black Caps cause more problems than it was trying to solve? Were the bowlers been mismanaged - the omission of Shardul Thakur, the misuse of Mohammed Shami - or have they not been given enough runs to play with by an underperforming batting lineup? Have India simply had a couple of bad days and bad luck with injuries or are the issues with the T20 side more deep-rooted? We attempt to answer these questions and more with the example of the Punjab domestic side and Abhishek Sharma.


Meanwhile, England and Pakistan have been the most impressive sides in this tournament, but we wonder if they might be peaking too early. It may be that a nasty surprise awaits them in the semi-finals, and we discuss why South Africa and New Zealand are the sides best equipped to spring it. After defeats in their opening games, both teams responded strongly. For New Zealand, Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi perpetrated an effective spin choke against India and with slower bowlers expected to dominate this tournament, the Kiwis can expect this duo to be their main weapons. South Africa took a couple of games to find their most effective team combination and we explain why Dwaine Pretorious and Aiden Markram were key for their transformation into the best version of themselves. With Afghanistan adding some impressive tactical variety to this tournament, the business end of the T20 World Cup promises to be exciting.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[T20 World Cup 2021 - Virat Kohli steps down, discussing India's World Cup squad, plus final thoughts on England v. India]]> Mon, 20 Sep 2021 14:01:40 GMT 1:42:15 614881dc26aa98001ada6f30 false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-16 614881dc26aa98001ada6f30 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-16 full 2 6 After an eventful couple of weeks for Indian cricket, The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast returns to discuss all the latest headlines - starting with the news that Virat Kohli has decided to step down as India's T20 captain after the forthcoming T20 World Cup in the U.A.E. and Oman. Additionally, we discuss the involvement of MS Dhoni as mentor and wonder if Kohli's resignation as T20 captain, together with the departure of the coaching staff, might signal a new era for Indian cricket after the World Cup. We also debate who might fill the leadership vacuum: should India be safe and trust Rohit Sharma? Or invest in the future with Rishabh Pant? And could either of these two - and perhaps other contenders - find themselves in charge of the ODI and Test sides sooner than they think?


We also take this opportunity to talk about India's squad for the T20 World Cup, analysing the selections in light of Chairman of Selectors Chetan Sharma's explanations for the inclusion of various players, outlining their various roles, and debating the makeup of an ideal first XI.


Finally, we wrap up with some closing thoughts on a series that was denied closure - England v. India. With the Manchester Test cancelled at the last minute and the outcome of the series unclear (as of this recording), we discuss the abrupt end to the series and take a moment to acknowledge an encouraging return to international cricket for Haseeb Hameed.

-----------------------------------------------------

England's Haseeb Hameed: ‘Those difficult moments toughen you up’ by Emma John - https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/aug/31/england-opener-haseeb-hameed-difficult-moments-toughen-you-up


Kohli not picked as Rohit's opening partner; Rahul, Kishan make the cut by Cricbuzz - https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/118953/kohli-not-picked-as-rohits-opening-partner-rahul-kishan-make-the-cut


Four years after bitter fallout with Virat Kohli, Anil Kumble back on BCCI radar by Devendra Pandey - https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/anil-kumble-bcci-kohli-fallout-india-head-coach-radar-7516377/


Podcast: Season 10, Ep 20: The week of watching You Guys Are History, with Emma John | The Final Word (Adam's photo story from 12:28) - https://finalwordcricket.com/2021/09/08/season-10-ep-20-with-emma-john/


Adam Collins quote tweets Sachin Tendulkar - https://twitter.com/collinsadam/status/1434924108605804545


Cheteshwar Pujara's tweet - https://twitter.com/cheteshwar1/status/1434908794836840449

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> After an eventful couple of weeks for Indian cricket, The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast returns to discuss all the latest headlines - starting with the news that Virat Kohli has decided to step down as India's T20 captain after the forthcoming T20 World Cup in the U.A.E. and Oman. Additionally, we discuss the involvement of MS Dhoni as mentor and wonder if Kohli's resignation as T20 captain, together with the departure of the coaching staff, might signal a new era for Indian cricket after the World Cup. We also debate who might fill the leadership vacuum: should India be safe and trust Rohit Sharma? Or invest in the future with Rishabh Pant? And could either of these two - and perhaps other contenders - find themselves in charge of the ODI and Test sides sooner than they think?


We also take this opportunity to talk about India's squad for the T20 World Cup, analysing the selections in light of Chairman of Selectors Chetan Sharma's explanations for the inclusion of various players, outlining their various roles, and debating the makeup of an ideal first XI.


Finally, we wrap up with some closing thoughts on a series that was denied closure - England v. India. With the Manchester Test cancelled at the last minute and the outcome of the series unclear (as of this recording), we discuss the abrupt end to the series and take a moment to acknowledge an encouraging return to international cricket for Haseeb Hameed.

-----------------------------------------------------

England's Haseeb Hameed: ‘Those difficult moments toughen you up’ by Emma John - https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/aug/31/england-opener-haseeb-hameed-difficult-moments-toughen-you-up


Kohli not picked as Rohit's opening partner; Rahul, Kishan make the cut by Cricbuzz - https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/118953/kohli-not-picked-as-rohits-opening-partner-rahul-kishan-make-the-cut


Four years after bitter fallout with Virat Kohli, Anil Kumble back on BCCI radar by Devendra Pandey - https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/anil-kumble-bcci-kohli-fallout-india-head-coach-radar-7516377/


Podcast: Season 10, Ep 20: The week of watching You Guys Are History, with Emma John | The Final Word (Adam's photo story from 12:28) - https://finalwordcricket.com/2021/09/08/season-10-ep-20-with-emma-john/


Adam Collins quote tweets Sachin Tendulkar - https://twitter.com/collinsadam/status/1434924108605804545


Cheteshwar Pujara's tweet - https://twitter.com/cheteshwar1/status/1434908794836840449

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> India in England 2021 - Mid-series review India in England 2021 - Mid-series review Tue, 24 Aug 2021 11:18:42 GMT 1:44:50 6124a6286191bd001220a1ee true https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-15 6124a6286191bd001220a1ee 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-15 full 2 5 Two down, three to go. With India 1-0 up in the Test series against England, we return with another episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast to take stock of the action so far and forecast what lies ahead. Where rain forced a draw at Trent Bridge, a heroic rearguard action, an England implosion, and some fine bowling delivered a result at Lord's. We discuss a return to form for player-of-the-match KL Rahul - henceforth known as King Legend Rahul for all time - going over his technical adjustments and wondering if he has at last cracked the code to success in all formats. We chat about the final day drama, the controversy involving Jasprit Bumrah and Jimmy Anderson, and the vital rescue action by the duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.


However, it is the defeated hosts who occupy most of our attention in this episode. As England crashed to defeat seemingly from a position of strength, we debate whether they made the right decision at the toss, whether they chose the right team, and whom they can turn to as the saviour. Joe Root was brilliant, and Jonny Bairstow showed noticeable signs of improvement, but should Dan Lawrence have been dropped? Does Sam Curran deserve another game? And should Saqib Mahmood make his Test debut at Leeds?


We also take a trip around the counties, mulling over whether England's top-order woes can be addressed by some of the season's leading performers. Is Dawid Malan's 199 against Sussex reason enough for a second chance? Can the return of some familiar faces from the past reinvigorate the team? Or is this the best England can do?


Amidst it all, we supply some recommended reading about Issy Wong, share a wholesome story about cricket fandom in her family, wonder whether this is Nick Gubbins' time to shine, and share some more wholesome stories about the development of the batting techniques of Hanif Mohammad and Vinod Kambli.

----------------------------------------------

How did KL Rahul turn his Test batting around? by Sandip G - https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/kl-rahul-coach-samuel-jayaraj-test-batting-turnaround-7461199/


A Regression-Based Interrogation of England's Batting by Neil Dewart - https://www.heavybailstatistics.com/post/a-regression-based-interrogation-of-england-s-batting-options


Bumrah and Shami, endless mindgames, and England's great malfunction by Andrew Miller - https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/eng-vs-ind-2nd-test-lords-5th-day-jasprit-bumrah-and-mohammed-shami-and-england-s-great-malfunction-1273654


England beaten and bullied by a team moulded in Virat Kohli’s image by Jonathan Liew - https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2021/aug/16/england-beaten-bullied-by-team-moulded-in-virat-kohli-image


Podcast: Game Time: Were you surprised at India's win at Lord's? You shouldn't be. | Express Sports Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3BZu4AvrO40AfOOG1lcE78


Rachael Wong's tweet - https://twitter.com/mrswongsolihull/status/1428700580285927429


Can Issy Wong hit 80 clicks? by Valkerie Baynes - https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/can-issy-wong-hit-80-clicks-1219667


Meet Issy Wong - the tearaway teenager who could break the 80mph barrier in women's cricket by Nick Hoult - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/womens-sport/2020/09/24/meet-issy-wong-tearaway-teenager-could-break-80mph-barrier/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Two down, three to go. With India 1-0 up in the Test series against England, we return with another episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast to take stock of the action so far and forecast what lies ahead. Where rain forced a draw at Trent Bridge, a heroic rearguard action, an England implosion, and some fine bowling delivered a result at Lord's. We discuss a return to form for player-of-the-match KL Rahul - henceforth known as King Legend Rahul for all time - going over his technical adjustments and wondering if he has at last cracked the code to success in all formats. We chat about the final day drama, the controversy involving Jasprit Bumrah and Jimmy Anderson, and the vital rescue action by the duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.


However, it is the defeated hosts who occupy most of our attention in this episode. As England crashed to defeat seemingly from a position of strength, we debate whether they made the right decision at the toss, whether they chose the right team, and whom they can turn to as the saviour. Joe Root was brilliant, and Jonny Bairstow showed noticeable signs of improvement, but should Dan Lawrence have been dropped? Does Sam Curran deserve another game? And should Saqib Mahmood make his Test debut at Leeds?


We also take a trip around the counties, mulling over whether England's top-order woes can be addressed by some of the season's leading performers. Is Dawid Malan's 199 against Sussex reason enough for a second chance? Can the return of some familiar faces from the past reinvigorate the team? Or is this the best England can do?


Amidst it all, we supply some recommended reading about Issy Wong, share a wholesome story about cricket fandom in her family, wonder whether this is Nick Gubbins' time to shine, and share some more wholesome stories about the development of the batting techniques of Hanif Mohammad and Vinod Kambli.

----------------------------------------------

How did KL Rahul turn his Test batting around? by Sandip G - https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/kl-rahul-coach-samuel-jayaraj-test-batting-turnaround-7461199/


A Regression-Based Interrogation of England's Batting by Neil Dewart - https://www.heavybailstatistics.com/post/a-regression-based-interrogation-of-england-s-batting-options


Bumrah and Shami, endless mindgames, and England's great malfunction by Andrew Miller - https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/eng-vs-ind-2nd-test-lords-5th-day-jasprit-bumrah-and-mohammed-shami-and-england-s-great-malfunction-1273654


England beaten and bullied by a team moulded in Virat Kohli’s image by Jonathan Liew - https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2021/aug/16/england-beaten-bullied-by-team-moulded-in-virat-kohli-image


Podcast: Game Time: Were you surprised at India's win at Lord's? You shouldn't be. | Express Sports Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3BZu4AvrO40AfOOG1lcE78


Rachael Wong's tweet - https://twitter.com/mrswongsolihull/status/1428700580285927429


Can Issy Wong hit 80 clicks? by Valkerie Baynes - https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/can-issy-wong-hit-80-clicks-1219667


Meet Issy Wong - the tearaway teenager who could break the 80mph barrier in women's cricket by Nick Hoult - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/womens-sport/2020/09/24/meet-issy-wong-tearaway-teenager-could-break-80mph-barrier/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> India in England 2021 - Previewing the first two Tests India in England 2021 - Previewing the first two Tests Tue, 03 Aug 2021 06:34:39 GMT 2:14:31 610861ae5afe3a0012519ada false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-14 610861ae5afe3a0012519ada 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-14 full 2 4 As India gear up for five Tests in England, beginning with the first game at Trent Bridge on 4 August, we meet up for a freewheeling chat about the big series on this episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast. We begin by rounding up the team news for both sides, with India dealing with myriad injuries, Mayank Agarwal being the latest squad member ruled out of action (at time of recording). For England, Ben Stokes' absence is a huge blow and we kick off the show by highlighting the common challenge for the hosts and the tourists - team balance and combinations.


With the first part of the show dedicated to the questions facing India, we debate whether a show of faith or a radical change is needed for the beaten finalists of the World Test Championship. Will it be Hanuma Vihari, KL Rahul, or both? Does Ravindra Jadeja retain his place as the all-rounder? Will Mohammed Siraj begin as one of three seamers, or perhaps Shardul Thakur as one of four? Does the batting core remain unchanged or will India look to Rishabh Pant to shake things up? And will Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav find their way into the side, beginning with the third Test, upon finishing quarantine?


England, too, face selection dilemmas and questions of team balance that are not so easily resolved. Haseeb Hameed has enjoyed a return to form this summer, but is it too early to restore the opener to the Test side? Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson have the tools to trouble India, but does that mean no place for Sam Curran in the starting XI? We also discuss the fate of Jack Leach - unsure of his place in the side despite a succesful tour of India - and explore why England's commitment to a selection strategy has left the spinner in the lurch.

------------------------------------------------------

Highlights - Welsh Fire Women v. Southern Brave Women, 27 July 2021 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aLE8gA-bn8 (Sarah Taylor's legside catch from 8:00)


England's spin headache by Rob Johnston - https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/118409/englands-spin-headache


India have a tailender problem and it's not one they can solve easily by Karthik Krishnaswamy - https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/karthik-krishnaswamy-india-have-a-tailender-problem-and-its-not-one-they-can-solve-easily-1271069


India's search for balance comes a full circle in England by Kaushik Rangarajan - https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/118407/indias-search-for-balance-comes-a-full-circle-in-england


India vs England: England will beat India 2-1 in Test series, but if Virat Kohli scores big that could change, says English cricketer Peter Trego by Amit Kumar - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/india-in-england/india-vs-england-england-will-beat-india-2-1-in-test-series-but-if-virat-kohli-scores-big-that-could-change-says-english-cricketer-peter-trego/articleshow/84943577.cms


Joe Root on Ben Stokes: 'I just want my friend to be okay' by George Dobell - https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/england-vs-india-2021-joe-root-on-ben-stokes-i-just-want-my-friend-to-be-okay-1271821


Rahul frontrunner for opener's spot in Nottingham after Agarwal injury by Vijay Tagore - https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/118427/rahul-frontrunner-for-openers-spot-in-nottingham-after-agarwal-injury-india-england-1st-test


Are the India of 2021 better than the India of 2018? by Nagraj Gollapudi - https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/eng-vs-ind-test-series-preview-are-the-india-of-2021-better-than-the-india-of-2018-1271808

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> As India gear up for five Tests in England, beginning with the first game at Trent Bridge on 4 August, we meet up for a freewheeling chat about the big series on this episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast. We begin by rounding up the team news for both sides, with India dealing with myriad injuries, Mayank Agarwal being the latest squad member ruled out of action (at time of recording). For England, Ben Stokes' absence is a huge blow and we kick off the show by highlighting the common challenge for the hosts and the tourists - team balance and combinations.


With the first part of the show dedicated to the questions facing India, we debate whether a show of faith or a radical change is needed for the beaten finalists of the World Test Championship. Will it be Hanuma Vihari, KL Rahul, or both? Does Ravindra Jadeja retain his place as the all-rounder? Will Mohammed Siraj begin as one of three seamers, or perhaps Shardul Thakur as one of four? Does the batting core remain unchanged or will India look to Rishabh Pant to shake things up? And will Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav find their way into the side, beginning with the third Test, upon finishing quarantine?


England, too, face selection dilemmas and questions of team balance that are not so easily resolved. Haseeb Hameed has enjoyed a return to form this summer, but is it too early to restore the opener to the Test side? Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson have the tools to trouble India, but does that mean no place for Sam Curran in the starting XI? We also discuss the fate of Jack Leach - unsure of his place in the side despite a succesful tour of India - and explore why England's commitment to a selection strategy has left the spinner in the lurch.

------------------------------------------------------

Highlights - Welsh Fire Women v. Southern Brave Women, 27 July 2021 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aLE8gA-bn8 (Sarah Taylor's legside catch from 8:00)


England's spin headache by Rob Johnston - https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/118409/englands-spin-headache


India have a tailender problem and it's not one they can solve easily by Karthik Krishnaswamy - https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/karthik-krishnaswamy-india-have-a-tailender-problem-and-its-not-one-they-can-solve-easily-1271069


India's search for balance comes a full circle in England by Kaushik Rangarajan - https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/118407/indias-search-for-balance-comes-a-full-circle-in-england


India vs England: England will beat India 2-1 in Test series, but if Virat Kohli scores big that could change, says English cricketer Peter Trego by Amit Kumar - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/india-in-england/india-vs-england-england-will-beat-india-2-1-in-test-series-but-if-virat-kohli-scores-big-that-could-change-says-english-cricketer-peter-trego/articleshow/84943577.cms


Joe Root on Ben Stokes: 'I just want my friend to be okay' by George Dobell - https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/england-vs-india-2021-joe-root-on-ben-stokes-i-just-want-my-friend-to-be-okay-1271821


Rahul frontrunner for opener's spot in Nottingham after Agarwal injury by Vijay Tagore - https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/118427/rahul-frontrunner-for-openers-spot-in-nottingham-after-agarwal-injury-india-england-1st-test


Are the India of 2021 better than the India of 2018? by Nagraj Gollapudi - https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/eng-vs-ind-test-series-preview-are-the-india-of-2021-better-than-the-india-of-2018-1271808

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> World Test Championship Final 2021 - Reviewing India v. New Zealand, plus more India Women in England World Test Championship Final 2021 - Reviewing India v. New Zealand, plus more India Women in England Sun, 27 Jun 2021 10:35:31 GMT 2:16:23 60d8381d76b0ea001ac577f1 true https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-13 60d8381d76b0ea001ac577f1 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-13 full 2 3 With two action-packed Tests in the rear-view mirror and some exciting white-ball games to look forward to, it's no wonder the latest episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast is another blockbuster. We begin with the final of the World Test Championship 2019-21, running down the performance of runners-up India. With yet another ICC title having slipped through their fingers, we debate the batting woes of the core of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane. We discuss how the failings of the batting core go beyond the sum of their failings as individual players - there are wider technical and coaching issues at the heart of India's struggles in swinging conditions.


The showings of the two openers tell an interesting story of where this side has faltered and where the solutions to their problems may reside; the contrasting fortunes of Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma symbolise the crossroads at which India appear to be with the Test series against England fast approaching. We linger on the performance of Ravindra Jadeja, chatting about how the question of retaining or discarding him is key to the structure of the Test side. We conclude the first part of the show with some final reflections on the WTC and the legacy of this India side once it is dismantled.


In part two, we turn our attention to the hard-fought and entertaining Test between India Women and England Women and look ahead to the white-ball games between the two sides. At Bristol, India secured a draw having been close to defeat after following on but we wonder if the game represents a missed opportunity for England. Shafali Verma's show-stealing performance had us raving, and her inclusion in the one-day side can wait no longer. For both sides, the ODI series is a big opportunity to develop and finalise various team combinations against a tough opponent - there could well be an encore of the matchups in this series at next year's World Cup.


Both India and England have interesting selection questions on their hands. Will it be Sneh Rana or Pooja Vastrakar? Sarah Glenn or Mady Villiers? Will we see Poonam Yadav or Emily Arlott in this series? Finally, we talk about some numbers from ODIs since the last World Cup and tell you why we think England may have missed a chance to exploit a structural and tactical weakness in this Indian side (it involves Danni Wyatt).

-------------------------------------------------

What is Virat Kohli’s intent? Skipper’s cryptic remark can confuse the team by Sriram Veera - https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/what-is-virat-kohlis-intent-7374600/


India’s selection dilemmas: Rodrigues v/s Raut, spin-heavy or seam-heavy attack by Ananya Upendran - https://www.womenscriczone.com/india-tour-of-england-2021-odi-selection-dilemmas


Video: What's ailing Cheteshwar Pujara? by ESPNCricinfo - https://www.espncricinfo.com/video/what-s-ailing-cheteshwar-pujara-1267637


Video: Did too much front-foot play hurt India? Sanjay Manjrekar demonstrates by ESPNCricinfo - https://www.espncricinfo.com/video/did-too-much-front-foot-play-hurt-india-sanjay-manjrekar-demonstrates-ind-vs-nz-wtc-final-1267238


Video: Bristol draw no less than a win for India Women: Lisa Sthalekar by Cricbuzz - https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-videos/46867/bristol-draw-no-less-than-a-win-for-india-women-lisa-sthalekar

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> With two action-packed Tests in the rear-view mirror and some exciting white-ball games to look forward to, it's no wonder the latest episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast is another blockbuster. We begin with the final of the World Test Championship 2019-21, running down the performance of runners-up India. With yet another ICC title having slipped through their fingers, we debate the batting woes of the core of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane. We discuss how the failings of the batting core go beyond the sum of their failings as individual players - there are wider technical and coaching issues at the heart of India's struggles in swinging conditions.


The showings of the two openers tell an interesting story of where this side has faltered and where the solutions to their problems may reside; the contrasting fortunes of Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma symbolise the crossroads at which India appear to be with the Test series against England fast approaching. We linger on the performance of Ravindra Jadeja, chatting about how the question of retaining or discarding him is key to the structure of the Test side. We conclude the first part of the show with some final reflections on the WTC and the legacy of this India side once it is dismantled.


In part two, we turn our attention to the hard-fought and entertaining Test between India Women and England Women and look ahead to the white-ball games between the two sides. At Bristol, India secured a draw having been close to defeat after following on but we wonder if the game represents a missed opportunity for England. Shafali Verma's show-stealing performance had us raving, and her inclusion in the one-day side can wait no longer. For both sides, the ODI series is a big opportunity to develop and finalise various team combinations against a tough opponent - there could well be an encore of the matchups in this series at next year's World Cup.


Both India and England have interesting selection questions on their hands. Will it be Sneh Rana or Pooja Vastrakar? Sarah Glenn or Mady Villiers? Will we see Poonam Yadav or Emily Arlott in this series? Finally, we talk about some numbers from ODIs since the last World Cup and tell you why we think England may have missed a chance to exploit a structural and tactical weakness in this Indian side (it involves Danni Wyatt).

-------------------------------------------------

What is Virat Kohli’s intent? Skipper’s cryptic remark can confuse the team by Sriram Veera - https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/what-is-virat-kohlis-intent-7374600/


India’s selection dilemmas: Rodrigues v/s Raut, spin-heavy or seam-heavy attack by Ananya Upendran - https://www.womenscriczone.com/india-tour-of-england-2021-odi-selection-dilemmas


Video: What's ailing Cheteshwar Pujara? by ESPNCricinfo - https://www.espncricinfo.com/video/what-s-ailing-cheteshwar-pujara-1267637


Video: Did too much front-foot play hurt India? Sanjay Manjrekar demonstrates by ESPNCricinfo - https://www.espncricinfo.com/video/did-too-much-front-foot-play-hurt-india-sanjay-manjrekar-demonstrates-ind-vs-nz-wtc-final-1267238


Video: Bristol draw no less than a win for India Women: Lisa Sthalekar by Cricbuzz - https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-videos/46867/bristol-draw-no-less-than-a-win-for-india-women-lisa-sthalekar

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> World Test Championship Final 2021 - Previewing India v. New Zealand, plus India in Sri Lanka and India Women in England World Test Championship Final 2021 - Previewing India v. New Zealand, plus India in Sri Lanka and India Women in England Thu, 17 Jun 2021 10:50:12 GMT 1:53:29 60cb0ad3d87805001976778d false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-12 60cb0ad3d87805001976778d 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-12 full 2 2 After two months, we're finally back! The newest episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast begins with a look ahead to the final of the World Test Championship 2019-21, set to begin at Southampton on 18 June. We discuss selection questions and tactical concerns for India and New Zealand. WIll it be Ravichandran Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja? Does Mohammed Siraj deserve a place in the starting XI? Who should the Kiwis opt for, Colin de Grandhomme or Kyle Jamieson? Or perhaps neither, and Ajaz Patel is the way to go? And can Virat Kohli break his losing streak as captain by finally winning an ICC Trophy, or will Kane Williamson lead New Zealand to redemption from the 2019 World Cup final?


In the second segment, we briefly discuss India's squad selection for the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in July. We debate what this tour means for players like Rahul Chahar and Kuldeep Yadav, and whether India would have been better served by selecting some experienced hands from the domestic circuit.


In the show's final segment, we (belatedly) preview India Women's return to Test match action after seven years with a one-off fixture against England Women at Bristol. It's Test cricket now for the women, and in addition to being a historic occasion, this game will have important implications for Mithali Raj's side when they face the challenge of a pink-ball Test in Australia. For India, we debate the best spot for Shafali Verma in the batting line-up, the ideal bowling combination, and discuss a possible Test debut for Priya Punia (which, as it turns out, did not materialise). For the hosts, we weigh up their options in the seam-bowling department and the team balance and cap it off with the all-important question - will India make it three consecutive Test wins in England?


Along the way, we go through a previous ICC final involving India and New Zealand, bad short-leg fielders, and an early trailblazing innings by Virender Sehwag in England (correction: the innings came at Lord's)

-----------------------------------

India brace for litmus test against England on their Test comeback by Women's Criczone


India Women vs England Women - Test Preview ft. Lisa Sthalekar by Cricbuzz


New Zealand def. India by 4 wickets, ICC KnockOut final, Nairobi, 15 October 2000


Match scorecard featuring Virender Sehwag's 84 (96) v. England, 1st Test, Lord's, 25-29 July 2002

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> After two months, we're finally back! The newest episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast begins with a look ahead to the final of the World Test Championship 2019-21, set to begin at Southampton on 18 June. We discuss selection questions and tactical concerns for India and New Zealand. WIll it be Ravichandran Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja? Does Mohammed Siraj deserve a place in the starting XI? Who should the Kiwis opt for, Colin de Grandhomme or Kyle Jamieson? Or perhaps neither, and Ajaz Patel is the way to go? And can Virat Kohli break his losing streak as captain by finally winning an ICC Trophy, or will Kane Williamson lead New Zealand to redemption from the 2019 World Cup final?


In the second segment, we briefly discuss India's squad selection for the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in July. We debate what this tour means for players like Rahul Chahar and Kuldeep Yadav, and whether India would have been better served by selecting some experienced hands from the domestic circuit.


In the show's final segment, we (belatedly) preview India Women's return to Test match action after seven years with a one-off fixture against England Women at Bristol. It's Test cricket now for the women, and in addition to being a historic occasion, this game will have important implications for Mithali Raj's side when they face the challenge of a pink-ball Test in Australia. For India, we debate the best spot for Shafali Verma in the batting line-up, the ideal bowling combination, and discuss a possible Test debut for Priya Punia (which, as it turns out, did not materialise). For the hosts, we weigh up their options in the seam-bowling department and the team balance and cap it off with the all-important question - will India make it three consecutive Test wins in England?


Along the way, we go through a previous ICC final involving India and New Zealand, bad short-leg fielders, and an early trailblazing innings by Virender Sehwag in England (correction: the innings came at Lord's)

-----------------------------------

India brace for litmus test against England on their Test comeback by Women's Criczone


India Women vs England Women - Test Preview ft. Lisa Sthalekar by Cricbuzz


New Zealand def. India by 4 wickets, ICC KnockOut final, Nairobi, 15 October 2000


Match scorecard featuring Virender Sehwag's 84 (96) v. England, 1st Test, Lord's, 25-29 July 2002

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> IPL 2021 - Previewing the first fortnight, middle-order batters and leg spinners, return of the Moneyball XI IPL 2021 - Previewing the first fortnight, middle-order batters and leg spinners, return of the Moneyball XI Wed, 07 Apr 2021 15:10:39 GMT 2:02:51 606da68d81a0d47841689265 false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-11 606da68d81a0d47841689265 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-11 full 2 1 After our shortest break between episodes, The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast is back with our longest show till date - and you're in for a real treat! With the official conclusion of the Indian domestic cricket season following the Women's Senior One Day Trophy final on 4 April, we look ahead to the 2021 Indian Premier League in our second season premiere.


As teams and staff undergo their COVID tests and enter the bio-bubbles, we catch up with the latest news on that front. With the opening fortnight of games for all teams taking place in just two venues, Chennai and Mumbai, we discuss how those surfaces are likely to play and which teams stand to benefit from the pandemic-enforced change of scenery. In part one of this episode, we discuss the fate of a destabilised Delhi Capitals, the woes of a Punjab Kings side with an identity crisis, and - whisper it - the prospect of Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings being the early pacesetters in this tournament.


After debating how the above-mentioned four teams are coming along, we take a break from the team previews for our first feature. With an eye on the T20 World Cup, Shivaditya - in a spiritual extension of our shows during the recent white-ball games between India and England - runs down some contenders who could stake a late claim for a place in the Indian squad. Focusing on middle-order batters and leg-spinners, he discusses some old hands and new blood who could put themselves on the selectors' radar with a strong IPL.


Resuming the team previews, the Royal Challengers Bangalore are the subject of the most intense deliberation from amongst the remaining franchises. How do they plan to rectify the long-standing issues with death bowling? Might we see a transition to a three-pronged spin attack? Is the RCB middle-order the place where Glenn Maxwell will find IPL form again? We debate all this and more.


With the Mumbai Indians looking as settled and strong as ever, and both Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad retaining an unchanged core of players, we chat about some of the overseas talent from these sides looking to kick on and cement their place in their starting XIs. This segment features an engrossing discussion about Dinesh Karthik and what the future holds for him. The captain of a Tamil Nadu side recently crowned champions of the 2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, DK's performances in the shortest format have been stronger than ever in recent years, but is he surplus to requirements in the current Indian T20 side?


Finally, we bring the podcast full circle with a Moneyball XI for the 2021 IPL - as in 2020, Sushain's XI constructed out of players purchased in the auction for a price of 1 crore or under.

-----------------------------

Chetan Sakariya, the boy who made a 'rich man's sport' his own by Hemant Brar


C Hari Nishaanth's 92* (64) v. Jharkhand, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, 10 January 2021


Rajat Patidar's 96 (51) v. Goa, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, 11 January 2021


Jalaj Saxena's 3-34 v. Mumbai, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, 13 January 2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> After our shortest break between episodes, The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast is back with our longest show till date - and you're in for a real treat! With the official conclusion of the Indian domestic cricket season following the Women's Senior One Day Trophy final on 4 April, we look ahead to the 2021 Indian Premier League in our second season premiere.


As teams and staff undergo their COVID tests and enter the bio-bubbles, we catch up with the latest news on that front. With the opening fortnight of games for all teams taking place in just two venues, Chennai and Mumbai, we discuss how those surfaces are likely to play and which teams stand to benefit from the pandemic-enforced change of scenery. In part one of this episode, we discuss the fate of a destabilised Delhi Capitals, the woes of a Punjab Kings side with an identity crisis, and - whisper it - the prospect of Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings being the early pacesetters in this tournament.


After debating how the above-mentioned four teams are coming along, we take a break from the team previews for our first feature. With an eye on the T20 World Cup, Shivaditya - in a spiritual extension of our shows during the recent white-ball games between India and England - runs down some contenders who could stake a late claim for a place in the Indian squad. Focusing on middle-order batters and leg-spinners, he discusses some old hands and new blood who could put themselves on the selectors' radar with a strong IPL.


Resuming the team previews, the Royal Challengers Bangalore are the subject of the most intense deliberation from amongst the remaining franchises. How do they plan to rectify the long-standing issues with death bowling? Might we see a transition to a three-pronged spin attack? Is the RCB middle-order the place where Glenn Maxwell will find IPL form again? We debate all this and more.


With the Mumbai Indians looking as settled and strong as ever, and both Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad retaining an unchanged core of players, we chat about some of the overseas talent from these sides looking to kick on and cement their place in their starting XIs. This segment features an engrossing discussion about Dinesh Karthik and what the future holds for him. The captain of a Tamil Nadu side recently crowned champions of the 2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, DK's performances in the shortest format have been stronger than ever in recent years, but is he surplus to requirements in the current Indian T20 side?


Finally, we bring the podcast full circle with a Moneyball XI for the 2021 IPL - as in 2020, Sushain's XI constructed out of players purchased in the auction for a price of 1 crore or under.

-----------------------------

Chetan Sakariya, the boy who made a 'rich man's sport' his own by Hemant Brar


C Hari Nishaanth's 92* (64) v. Jharkhand, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, 10 January 2021


Rajat Patidar's 96 (51) v. Goa, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, 11 January 2021


Jalaj Saxena's 3-34 v. Mumbai, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, 13 January 2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> England in India 2021 - Reviewing the white-ball games, standout domestic performers, final thoughts on India Women v South Africa Women England in India 2021 - Reviewing the white-ball games, standout domestic performers, final thoughts on India Women v South Africa Women Tue, 30 Mar 2021 03:42:30 GMT 1:33:10 606234aa58f17841819e1e50 true https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-10 606234aa58f17841819e1e50 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-10 full 1 10 It's the season finale of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast! With most cricket for the 2020-21 season played out, we round off England's tour of India by discussing some major talking points from the T20I and ODI series. Beginning with Sam Curran's coming-of-age ODI innings, we move on to the lessons for India from the T20I and ODI rubbers, both claimed by the hosts to go along with their victory in the Test series.


Senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had some impressive showings as India's batting order in the shortest format had a productive shake-up against the tourists. India's preference for the extra batter has meant all of Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer got opportunities in the first XI and we debate how Iyer's unfortunate injury yet again throws the limited-overs middle order into chaos just as it was settling down - or does it?


The final piece of the batting puzzle involves perhaps the boldest call of all - and we tell you why KL Rahul's untimely loss of form might clear the path for one-man vanguard Ishan Kishan to revitalise India's batting. Among the bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shardul Thakur wowed us in particular, but spin remains a concern as we take stock of India's slow bowling options - with one particularly surprising name proposed as the solution to this dilemma - and suggest a radical shift in strategy altogether.


We go through some of the players who caught our eye in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2020-21 and wonder if we might see them in an India jersey sooner rather than later. To cap the show and the first season, we discuss the fallout from the defeat of India Women in both white-ball legs against South Africa Women. Despite 4-1 (ODI) and 2-1 (T20I) reverses, there are several lessons learned for India as the team for the World Cup is starting to take shape.


We discuss the x-factor of Shafali Verma - after her never-been-away performance in the T20Is, her inclusion in the ODI team can surely wait no longer. With several international players in action in the Women's Senior One Day Trophy, we deliberate what answers the tournament has thrown up to the seam bowling combination, the wicketkeeper dilemma, and the middle-order problem - for the latter of those, we wonder whether it's time to give in and show the bat signal to Veda Krishnamurthy after a long absence from the side.


We'll be back soon with the IPL preview episode. Until then, stay safe and thank you for listening to the first season of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> It's the season finale of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast! With most cricket for the 2020-21 season played out, we round off England's tour of India by discussing some major talking points from the T20I and ODI series. Beginning with Sam Curran's coming-of-age ODI innings, we move on to the lessons for India from the T20I and ODI rubbers, both claimed by the hosts to go along with their victory in the Test series.


Senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had some impressive showings as India's batting order in the shortest format had a productive shake-up against the tourists. India's preference for the extra batter has meant all of Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer got opportunities in the first XI and we debate how Iyer's unfortunate injury yet again throws the limited-overs middle order into chaos just as it was settling down - or does it?


The final piece of the batting puzzle involves perhaps the boldest call of all - and we tell you why KL Rahul's untimely loss of form might clear the path for one-man vanguard Ishan Kishan to revitalise India's batting. Among the bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shardul Thakur wowed us in particular, but spin remains a concern as we take stock of India's slow bowling options - with one particularly surprising name proposed as the solution to this dilemma - and suggest a radical shift in strategy altogether.


We go through some of the players who caught our eye in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2020-21 and wonder if we might see them in an India jersey sooner rather than later. To cap the show and the first season, we discuss the fallout from the defeat of India Women in both white-ball legs against South Africa Women. Despite 4-1 (ODI) and 2-1 (T20I) reverses, there are several lessons learned for India as the team for the World Cup is starting to take shape.


We discuss the x-factor of Shafali Verma - after her never-been-away performance in the T20Is, her inclusion in the ODI team can surely wait no longer. With several international players in action in the Women's Senior One Day Trophy, we deliberate what answers the tournament has thrown up to the seam bowling combination, the wicketkeeper dilemma, and the middle-order problem - for the latter of those, we wonder whether it's time to give in and show the bat signal to Veda Krishnamurthy after a long absence from the side.


We'll be back soon with the IPL preview episode. Until then, stay safe and thank you for listening to the first season of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> England in India 2021 - Test series review, previewing the T20I series, India Women v South Africa Women England in India 2021 - Test series review, previewing the T20I series, India Women v South Africa Women Thu, 11 Mar 2021 17:52:14 GMT 1:28:53 604a3dbf23c550028efec08c false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-9 604a3dbf23c550028efec08c 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-9 full 1 9 It feels like cricket again. With games coming thick and fast at all levels, Sushain and Shivaditya use a brief lull in the action to take stock on this latest episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast.


In the first part of the show, we cap our coverage of the India v. England Test series by rounding up some key takeaways for the two sides. Prior to the return series, India have a date with destiny - the World Test Championship final against New Zealand. We discuss how India are shaping up for that encounter, with particular focus on Washington Sundar and Axar Patel for the showdown at Southampton and for the England series thereafter.


As for England, we examine their shortcomings in team selection, management of players, and the rotation policy that compounded their technical struggles. Our spotlight is on Dom Bess as the most significant case of mismanagement magnifying struggles on the pitch - where does the young spinner go from here and is it time to try someone else in his place?


In part two, we preview the white ball leg of the tour, the T20I series our main focus with the World T20 fast approaching. We fervently debate India's ideal combination, with names like Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, and Rahul Tewatia staking serious claims to a place in the still-churning middle order. The multitude of bowling options present another selection dilemma as we debate the relative merits of Shardul Thakur and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar and Yuzvendra Chahal. With England's batting line-up quite settled, we wonder if, in fact, the bowling might be their undoing in the T20Is.


Finally, with India Women back in action against South Africa Women in Lucknow, we wrap up the show by discussing the first two ODIs with the series locked at 1-1 and fascinatingly poised. With India rotating some regulars with fresh faces in this series, we discuss what results these experiments have yielded for the side so far. Have India missed a trick by not including Shafali Verma? Where to include Deepti Sharma? What is the ideal ratio of seam and spin in the bowling attack? Additionally, we debate which pieces of the puzzle that is India's World Cup squad are already in place.

------------------------------------

Bobby Deol's retweet


Dom Bess bears the brunt of years of spin mismanagement by Yas Rana


India vs England: Varun Chakravarthy fails fitness test again, Natarajan at NCA with shoulder niggle


Smriti Mandhana's 80* (64) v. South Africa, 2nd ODI, 9 March 2021


South Africa's innings, featuring Laura Wolvaardt's 80 (110) v. India, 1st ODI, 7 March 2021 (starts from 6:23)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> It feels like cricket again. With games coming thick and fast at all levels, Sushain and Shivaditya use a brief lull in the action to take stock on this latest episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast.


In the first part of the show, we cap our coverage of the India v. England Test series by rounding up some key takeaways for the two sides. Prior to the return series, India have a date with destiny - the World Test Championship final against New Zealand. We discuss how India are shaping up for that encounter, with particular focus on Washington Sundar and Axar Patel for the showdown at Southampton and for the England series thereafter.


As for England, we examine their shortcomings in team selection, management of players, and the rotation policy that compounded their technical struggles. Our spotlight is on Dom Bess as the most significant case of mismanagement magnifying struggles on the pitch - where does the young spinner go from here and is it time to try someone else in his place?


In part two, we preview the white ball leg of the tour, the T20I series our main focus with the World T20 fast approaching. We fervently debate India's ideal combination, with names like Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, and Rahul Tewatia staking serious claims to a place in the still-churning middle order. The multitude of bowling options present another selection dilemma as we debate the relative merits of Shardul Thakur and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar and Yuzvendra Chahal. With England's batting line-up quite settled, we wonder if, in fact, the bowling might be their undoing in the T20Is.


Finally, with India Women back in action against South Africa Women in Lucknow, we wrap up the show by discussing the first two ODIs with the series locked at 1-1 and fascinatingly poised. With India rotating some regulars with fresh faces in this series, we discuss what results these experiments have yielded for the side so far. Have India missed a trick by not including Shafali Verma? Where to include Deepti Sharma? What is the ideal ratio of seam and spin in the bowling attack? Additionally, we debate which pieces of the puzzle that is India's World Cup squad are already in place.

------------------------------------

Bobby Deol's retweet


Dom Bess bears the brunt of years of spin mismanagement by Yas Rana


India vs England: Varun Chakravarthy fails fitness test again, Natarajan at NCA with shoulder niggle


Smriti Mandhana's 80* (64) v. South Africa, 2nd ODI, 9 March 2021


South Africa's innings, featuring Laura Wolvaardt's 80 (110) v. India, 1st ODI, 7 March 2021 (starts from 6:23)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> England in India 2021 - Mid-series review, and catching up with the cricketing world England in India 2021 - Mid-series review, and catching up with the cricketing world Fri, 19 Feb 2021 09:43:05 GMT 1:21:11 602ed4ead5fb7675108bdfdc true https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-8 602ed4ead5fb7675108bdfdc 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-8 full 1 8 Whitewash prediction failed successfully. Returning for a mid-series review, Sushain and Shivaditya look back on the India v England Tests at Chennai and look ahead to the Ahmedabad leg of the tour. After a poor showing in the first game, India responded with a clinical performance in the second Test to level the series. We discuss a much improved bowling display, with the relative showings of left-arm spinners Axar Patel and Shahbaz Nadeem at the heart of the debate as we go over what happened, what didn't, what could have been, and what never was.


With a day/night fixture imminent and everything still to play for, we debate whether five bowlers is a redundant selection policy under lights and where this leaves the recently-restored and perhaps-swiftly-deposed Kuldeep Yadav. With Umesh Yadav in contention for the pink ball Test, we discuss India's ideal bowling combination and which of Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj will watch the Ahmedabad game from the sidelines as the Vidarbha seamer returns - or should he?


England thwarted our predictions of a clean sweep for the hosts with an outstanding display in the first Test, but some of those old weaknesses flared up again as they succumbed to a crushing defeat, provoking numerous questions with the series on a knife edge. Is Rory Burns' place justifiably under threat? Should Jonny Bairstow come straight back in? Does Olly Stone's performance merit retention for the third Test? What is the ideal bowling combination for the day/night game? Does Chris Woakes get the nod over any of the incumbents? Should Jack Leach be rested? We go over these hotly debated questions and more.


In the second part of the show, we catch up with the wider cricketing world and some of the stuff that caught our eye since the last episode. Pakistan, South Africa, Bangladesh, and the West Indies were all in action, and we take the time to acknowledge two wicketkeepers, Mohammad Rizwan and Joshua Da Silva, who lost won the match and won our hearts.


Women's cricket has made a good start to 2021 with a successful series between South Africa and Pakistan earlier and a big one between New Zealand and England set to begin very soon. The same, however, cannot be said for India, whose preparations for the visit of South Africa next month have encountered difficulties, leaving the proposed tour in jeopardy - unless an alternative bubble can be arranged.


All teams are laser-focused on next year's World Cup and preparations are set to begin in earnest for the England and New Zealand camps on 23 February with the first ODI. For the hosts, who are missing Suzie Bates due to injury, we flag the role of Amelia Kerr in the side as the most pressing concern. For England, we identify three players to keep an eye out for - a wicketkeeper and two bowlers who, if you can believe it, might just have improved the world champions - and update you on why the visitors will be the world's most prepared team when they defend their crown next year.


In the midst of it all, we take you through off-balance stumpings featuring Matthew Wade and Dinesh Karthik and iconic singles featuring Makhaya Ntini and Harbhajan Singh.

-----------------------------------------

NZ tour really important in context of international women's cricket - Knight


South Africa women tour of India hits venue roadblock by Purnima Malhotra


Bengaluru emerges front-runner to host India-South Africa women's series after KCA's withdrawal


Women's domestic fixtures announced: Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy returns alongside new Regional T20 competition


"Never say Never" - Jalaj Saxena's tweet


Shikha Pandey's tweet


Mendra Dorjey Sahni's 'vaccine' tweet


DK stumps Michael Vaughan at Lord's


Wade stumps Ajinkya Rahane at Bengaluru

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Whitewash prediction failed successfully. Returning for a mid-series review, Sushain and Shivaditya look back on the India v England Tests at Chennai and look ahead to the Ahmedabad leg of the tour. After a poor showing in the first game, India responded with a clinical performance in the second Test to level the series. We discuss a much improved bowling display, with the relative showings of left-arm spinners Axar Patel and Shahbaz Nadeem at the heart of the debate as we go over what happened, what didn't, what could have been, and what never was.


With a day/night fixture imminent and everything still to play for, we debate whether five bowlers is a redundant selection policy under lights and where this leaves the recently-restored and perhaps-swiftly-deposed Kuldeep Yadav. With Umesh Yadav in contention for the pink ball Test, we discuss India's ideal bowling combination and which of Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj will watch the Ahmedabad game from the sidelines as the Vidarbha seamer returns - or should he?


England thwarted our predictions of a clean sweep for the hosts with an outstanding display in the first Test, but some of those old weaknesses flared up again as they succumbed to a crushing defeat, provoking numerous questions with the series on a knife edge. Is Rory Burns' place justifiably under threat? Should Jonny Bairstow come straight back in? Does Olly Stone's performance merit retention for the third Test? What is the ideal bowling combination for the day/night game? Does Chris Woakes get the nod over any of the incumbents? Should Jack Leach be rested? We go over these hotly debated questions and more.


In the second part of the show, we catch up with the wider cricketing world and some of the stuff that caught our eye since the last episode. Pakistan, South Africa, Bangladesh, and the West Indies were all in action, and we take the time to acknowledge two wicketkeepers, Mohammad Rizwan and Joshua Da Silva, who lost won the match and won our hearts.


Women's cricket has made a good start to 2021 with a successful series between South Africa and Pakistan earlier and a big one between New Zealand and England set to begin very soon. The same, however, cannot be said for India, whose preparations for the visit of South Africa next month have encountered difficulties, leaving the proposed tour in jeopardy - unless an alternative bubble can be arranged.


All teams are laser-focused on next year's World Cup and preparations are set to begin in earnest for the England and New Zealand camps on 23 February with the first ODI. For the hosts, who are missing Suzie Bates due to injury, we flag the role of Amelia Kerr in the side as the most pressing concern. For England, we identify three players to keep an eye out for - a wicketkeeper and two bowlers who, if you can believe it, might just have improved the world champions - and update you on why the visitors will be the world's most prepared team when they defend their crown next year.


In the midst of it all, we take you through off-balance stumpings featuring Matthew Wade and Dinesh Karthik and iconic singles featuring Makhaya Ntini and Harbhajan Singh.

-----------------------------------------

NZ tour really important in context of international women's cricket - Knight


South Africa women tour of India hits venue roadblock by Purnima Malhotra


Bengaluru emerges front-runner to host India-South Africa women's series after KCA's withdrawal


Women's domestic fixtures announced: Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy returns alongside new Regional T20 competition


"Never say Never" - Jalaj Saxena's tweet


Shikha Pandey's tweet


Mendra Dorjey Sahni's 'vaccine' tweet


DK stumps Michael Vaughan at Lord's


Wade stumps Ajinkya Rahane at Bengaluru

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> England in India 2021 - Pre-Test series preview England in India 2021 - Pre-Test series preview Thu, 04 Feb 2021 10:01:38 GMT 1:23:32 601ba0566bd3a05cc0f00349 false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-7 601ba0566bd3a05cc0f00349 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-7 full 1 7 To quote the far-sighted Jofra Archer - Test cricket now. In the latest episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast, Sushain and Shivaditya preview the India v. England Test series set to begin on 5 February. Owing to injuries and England's selection policy, the show mainly focuses on the first two Tests at Chennai as the visitors' squad will be greatly reshuffled after the second game.


Fresh off their win in Australia, India gear up for their first Test match action at home since 2019 with selection dilemmas of their own. Ravindra Jadeja's continued absence is a blow for the hosts, and with several bowlers staking a claim to a starting berth after strong showings Down Under, plus the return of Ishant Sharma from injury, we debate India's possible starting XI as the leadership attempts to sort out the chaos beneath a stable top order.


It is the tourists, however, who make for the most fervent discussion as our conversation takes a more freewheeling turn. Despite five consecutive wins away from home, England showed some worrying frailty in the series win in Sri Lanka. Bit by bit, we try to piece together England's strongest XI for the most difficult challenge in world cricket today, debating what each player brings to the team, appraising their role in the side, and touching on some tactical gambits England could attempt to bring the best out of their squad.


Jack Leach and Dom Bess, Rory Burns and Dom Sibley, Ollie Pope and Jimmy Anderson, Ben Stokes and most of all, Joe Root, are the players expected to play major roles for England as we talk about how they will face searching examinations by the spin of R Ashwin and Axar Patel, the might of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill at the top of the order, and the explosiveness of Rishabh Pant.


Throughout this conversation, we explore England's spin options and why some of them might be better off not crossing the white line at all, Sushain fails to grasp the obvious tongue-in-cheek nature of a comparison involving Mason Crane and Shane Warne, and how it might be time for Root to truly wow India - much like another distinguished Yorkshire cricketer almost exactly a hundred years ago.

--------------------------------------------------

Jofra Archer's Tweet


‘The hardest craft’: The perception and curse of being an England spinner by Vithushan Ehantharajah


England's young players are making the difference for them by Mark Nicholas


Jack Leach wants to 'cherish' every moment on first tour of India by George Dobell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> To quote the far-sighted Jofra Archer - Test cricket now. In the latest episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast, Sushain and Shivaditya preview the India v. England Test series set to begin on 5 February. Owing to injuries and England's selection policy, the show mainly focuses on the first two Tests at Chennai as the visitors' squad will be greatly reshuffled after the second game.


Fresh off their win in Australia, India gear up for their first Test match action at home since 2019 with selection dilemmas of their own. Ravindra Jadeja's continued absence is a blow for the hosts, and with several bowlers staking a claim to a starting berth after strong showings Down Under, plus the return of Ishant Sharma from injury, we debate India's possible starting XI as the leadership attempts to sort out the chaos beneath a stable top order.


It is the tourists, however, who make for the most fervent discussion as our conversation takes a more freewheeling turn. Despite five consecutive wins away from home, England showed some worrying frailty in the series win in Sri Lanka. Bit by bit, we try to piece together England's strongest XI for the most difficult challenge in world cricket today, debating what each player brings to the team, appraising their role in the side, and touching on some tactical gambits England could attempt to bring the best out of their squad.


Jack Leach and Dom Bess, Rory Burns and Dom Sibley, Ollie Pope and Jimmy Anderson, Ben Stokes and most of all, Joe Root, are the players expected to play major roles for England as we talk about how they will face searching examinations by the spin of R Ashwin and Axar Patel, the might of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill at the top of the order, and the explosiveness of Rishabh Pant.


Throughout this conversation, we explore England's spin options and why some of them might be better off not crossing the white line at all, Sushain fails to grasp the obvious tongue-in-cheek nature of a comparison involving Mason Crane and Shane Warne, and how it might be time for Root to truly wow India - much like another distinguished Yorkshire cricketer almost exactly a hundred years ago.

--------------------------------------------------

Jofra Archer's Tweet


‘The hardest craft’: The perception and curse of being an England spinner by Vithushan Ehantharajah


England's young players are making the difference for them by Mark Nicholas


Jack Leach wants to 'cherish' every moment on first tour of India by George Dobell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> India in Australia 2020-21 - Post-series review India in Australia 2020-21 - Post-series review Sat, 23 Jan 2021 08:34:29 GMT 1:16:25 600b11f384f8603e47399224 false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-6 600b11f384f8603e47399224 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-6 full 1 6 And breathe. Last Tuesday, the storming of Fortress Gabba clinched an incredible series win for India in Australia by a 2-1 margin, defying the predictions of both podcasters and even many fans. Today, Sushain and Shivaditya return with a new episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast to talk about India's successful defence of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in a free-flowing post-series review.


We discuss the significance of India's remarkable win, with particular focus on the Sydney and Brisbane Tests. The spate of injuries gave opportunities to India's next level of Test players, who played starring roles as a group of hungry and driven cricketers battled adversity to win a place in the history books. We go through the squad player by player, discussing in turn how the openers and lower-order batters, senior players and rising stars, seasoned A-level players and green horns fared in this toughest of examinations. The show's favourite Rishabh Pant occupies a prominent place in the conversation - we discuss the show of faith by the management promoting him up the order in the final two Tests that first threatened and then finally delivered the win.


With one eye on the upcoming home series against England, we debate what this influx of competition means for future starting XIs as the likes of Shubman Gill and Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur staked their claims for a place in the side ahead of Mayank Agarwal and Kuldeep Yadav - do the latter risk falling out of contention entirely?


We discuss the progression of the team as a whole, and the invaluable lessons the side has learned as they prepare to take on future challenges. India's much talked about bench strength was finally tested, and having passed the test, we debate whether the validation of the various talent pipelines and coaching structures in Indian cricket mean the national team should be held to a different standard than their peers, as were the great sides of the past.


As for Australia, they wilted in the face of a side with a superior will to win. We talk briefly about where they went wrong, both in terms of personnel and planning. Tim Paine's conduct has been hotly debated recently, but we argue that despite losing his cool on the field, tactically he may not be the one to blame for the home side's defeat. We discuss missed opportunities, shifts in momentum, and though India prevailed in the end, could the final two games have turned out differently?


We'll be back soon with a review of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and a preview of the Test series at home to England. Until then, be well.

------------------------------------------------------------

Bruised but unbowed: India's mighty display of guts and gumption by Bharat Sundaresan


India have created the greatest moment in their Test history by Sambit Bal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> And breathe. Last Tuesday, the storming of Fortress Gabba clinched an incredible series win for India in Australia by a 2-1 margin, defying the predictions of both podcasters and even many fans. Today, Sushain and Shivaditya return with a new episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast to talk about India's successful defence of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in a free-flowing post-series review.


We discuss the significance of India's remarkable win, with particular focus on the Sydney and Brisbane Tests. The spate of injuries gave opportunities to India's next level of Test players, who played starring roles as a group of hungry and driven cricketers battled adversity to win a place in the history books. We go through the squad player by player, discussing in turn how the openers and lower-order batters, senior players and rising stars, seasoned A-level players and green horns fared in this toughest of examinations. The show's favourite Rishabh Pant occupies a prominent place in the conversation - we discuss the show of faith by the management promoting him up the order in the final two Tests that first threatened and then finally delivered the win.


With one eye on the upcoming home series against England, we debate what this influx of competition means for future starting XIs as the likes of Shubman Gill and Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur staked their claims for a place in the side ahead of Mayank Agarwal and Kuldeep Yadav - do the latter risk falling out of contention entirely?


We discuss the progression of the team as a whole, and the invaluable lessons the side has learned as they prepare to take on future challenges. India's much talked about bench strength was finally tested, and having passed the test, we debate whether the validation of the various talent pipelines and coaching structures in Indian cricket mean the national team should be held to a different standard than their peers, as were the great sides of the past.


As for Australia, they wilted in the face of a side with a superior will to win. We talk briefly about where they went wrong, both in terms of personnel and planning. Tim Paine's conduct has been hotly debated recently, but we argue that despite losing his cool on the field, tactically he may not be the one to blame for the home side's defeat. We discuss missed opportunities, shifts in momentum, and though India prevailed in the end, could the final two games have turned out differently?


We'll be back soon with a review of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and a preview of the Test series at home to England. Until then, be well.

------------------------------------------------------------

Bruised but unbowed: India's mighty display of guts and gumption by Bharat Sundaresan


India have created the greatest moment in their Test history by Sambit Bal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[India in Australia 2020-21 - Mid-series review, other international cricket, 2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and catching up with women's cricket]]> Thu, 07 Jan 2021 13:14:25 GMT 1:29:37 5ff6ab294889e40c941be4a2 false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-5 5ff6ab294889e40c941be4a2 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-5 full 1 5 New year, new episode! It's 2021 and Sushain and Shivaditya welcome (and welcome back) listeners with a new instalment of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast. We begin with some final thoughts on the first two Tests between Australia and India. With the series locked at 1-1 and several walking wounded (or indeed, invalided home) in the Indian camp, we assess where the tourists go from here vis-a-vis team selection. Our chat dwells on India's red-ball bowling depth, discussing the opportunities the recent spate of injuries provides for a crop of exciting bowlers currently in the system - both seam and spin - as they look to establish themselves in the side.


For Australia, we debate the opening conundrum once again, this time focusing on which of Matthew Wade or Travis Head should be dropped for the return of David Warner. With Australia having bowled below their best at Melbourne, the podcasters are divided on the question of whether the hosts should consider a bowling replacement and how said inclusion might be accomodated..


Since our last show, New Zealand, the West Indies, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka have crossed the white line in the Test arena. We talk excitedly about the Kiwis' rich seam of fast-bowling talent (pun intended) in recent years and how their rising star Kyle Jamieson has forced himself to the front of that queue (while duly noting the return of Adam Milne in the BBL).


As for the other series clean sweep, it's the defeated side that caught our eye. Although South Africa marched to two comfortable wins, for a short while in the Boxing Day Test, Dhananjaya de Silva and Dinesh Chandimal had Sri Lanka cruising. It's the former player who dominates our discussion as we reflect on Sri Lanka's impressive performances in recent years and their flashes of brilliance even in defeat. We talk about how the displays of Kusal Perera (or, the Architect of The Greatest Innings in Test History) and his colleagues - although they did not reach the heights of the last tour to South Africa - have often made Sri Lanka a thrilling side to watch. The excitement, however, has come with its issues and we discuss Sri Lanka's struggles with inconsistency, a raw bowling attack, and the best use of their batting resources.


Domestic cricket in India returns with the 2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and we discuss the players who have made headlines in the run up to the beginning of the Indian domestic season on 10 January as well as the tastiest groups in the tournament. Our show ends with a more freewheeling chat about women's cricket and the big year on the horizon - 2022 is the year of both the Women's World Cup and the Commonwealth Games and we talk about the state of two major contenders for those prizes - Australia and India - in the final stretch. With the WBBL concluded not too long ago, our discussion revisits the exploits of two of its stars - Amelia Kerr and Laura Kimmince.


It's a bumper show for the new year, and we got there via Dilip Doshi, Ben Wheeler, the Pankaj Singh law, and that one T20I where Sri Lanka briefly threatened to chase India's monster score that, as it turns out, wasn't in Orissa (it was actually Indore).

-------------------------------------

Syed Mushtaq Ali squads complain of ‘food quality’ at posh team hotel by Devendra Pandey


Sarthak Ranjan Batting in Goa T20


Every six hit by Laura Kimmince WBBL 06

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> New year, new episode! It's 2021 and Sushain and Shivaditya welcome (and welcome back) listeners with a new instalment of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast. We begin with some final thoughts on the first two Tests between Australia and India. With the series locked at 1-1 and several walking wounded (or indeed, invalided home) in the Indian camp, we assess where the tourists go from here vis-a-vis team selection. Our chat dwells on India's red-ball bowling depth, discussing the opportunities the recent spate of injuries provides for a crop of exciting bowlers currently in the system - both seam and spin - as they look to establish themselves in the side.


For Australia, we debate the opening conundrum once again, this time focusing on which of Matthew Wade or Travis Head should be dropped for the return of David Warner. With Australia having bowled below their best at Melbourne, the podcasters are divided on the question of whether the hosts should consider a bowling replacement and how said inclusion might be accomodated..


Since our last show, New Zealand, the West Indies, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka have crossed the white line in the Test arena. We talk excitedly about the Kiwis' rich seam of fast-bowling talent (pun intended) in recent years and how their rising star Kyle Jamieson has forced himself to the front of that queue (while duly noting the return of Adam Milne in the BBL).


As for the other series clean sweep, it's the defeated side that caught our eye. Although South Africa marched to two comfortable wins, for a short while in the Boxing Day Test, Dhananjaya de Silva and Dinesh Chandimal had Sri Lanka cruising. It's the former player who dominates our discussion as we reflect on Sri Lanka's impressive performances in recent years and their flashes of brilliance even in defeat. We talk about how the displays of Kusal Perera (or, the Architect of The Greatest Innings in Test History) and his colleagues - although they did not reach the heights of the last tour to South Africa - have often made Sri Lanka a thrilling side to watch. The excitement, however, has come with its issues and we discuss Sri Lanka's struggles with inconsistency, a raw bowling attack, and the best use of their batting resources.


Domestic cricket in India returns with the 2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and we discuss the players who have made headlines in the run up to the beginning of the Indian domestic season on 10 January as well as the tastiest groups in the tournament. Our show ends with a more freewheeling chat about women's cricket and the big year on the horizon - 2022 is the year of both the Women's World Cup and the Commonwealth Games and we talk about the state of two major contenders for those prizes - Australia and India - in the final stretch. With the WBBL concluded not too long ago, our discussion revisits the exploits of two of its stars - Amelia Kerr and Laura Kimmince.


It's a bumper show for the new year, and we got there via Dilip Doshi, Ben Wheeler, the Pankaj Singh law, and that one T20I where Sri Lanka briefly threatened to chase India's monster score that, as it turns out, wasn't in Orissa (it was actually Indore).

-------------------------------------

Syed Mushtaq Ali squads complain of ‘food quality’ at posh team hotel by Devendra Pandey


Sarthak Ranjan Batting in Goa T20


Every six hit by Laura Kimmince WBBL 06

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]]> India in Australia 2020-21 - Red, White, and Pink - Reviewing the white ball games and previewing the Test series India in Australia 2020-21 - Red, White, and Pink - Reviewing the white ball games and previewing the Test series Sat, 12 Dec 2020 05:01:05 GMT 1:21:02 5fd3b0ae7ac9ff427412d403 false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-4 5fd3b0ae7ac9ff427412d403 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-4 full 1 4 In the fourth episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast, Sushain and Shivaditya begin by analysing the standout performances from the ODI and T20 series between Australia and India. We discuss the starring roles played by Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja with the bat, focusing in particular on the T20 series and the ways in which their performances signal a way forward for India's XI in the shortest format. Based on the lessons from this series, the two podcasters debate India's ideal T20 XI.


In light of the first tour game between Australia A and India A, and with a pink-ball tour game upcoming (as of recording), we preview the Test series, set to begin at Adelaide with a day/night Test on 17 December, with a series of questions. For India, the opening combination is the most hotly debated issue related to the Test team that takes the field in India's first pink-ball Test overseas. We also debate who should be India's third seamer, with Umesh Yadav the key figure in that discussion.


For Australia, the opening combination is a no less burning question as the podcasters discuss potential options for the hosts at the top of the order, picking our way through some of the leading performers in the Shield this season. We also discuss the middle-order batters and seamers challenging the incumbents for a place in the XI and who we would like to see given a shot.


We also discuss the T20 series between South Africa and England, and Sam Curran's continued maturity as an international cricketer. England are looking scary good right now, and we discuss their depth of talent and perfected strategy as key factors in that aura of invincibility.


This time, our digressions lead us into skillful wicketkeepers and English spinners, featuring James Foster, Ashley Giles, Richard Dawson, Shaun Udal and others.


We'll be back in the new year. Have a good one!



Umesh Yadav piece in HT

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> In the fourth episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast, Sushain and Shivaditya begin by analysing the standout performances from the ODI and T20 series between Australia and India. We discuss the starring roles played by Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja with the bat, focusing in particular on the T20 series and the ways in which their performances signal a way forward for India's XI in the shortest format. Based on the lessons from this series, the two podcasters debate India's ideal T20 XI.


In light of the first tour game between Australia A and India A, and with a pink-ball tour game upcoming (as of recording), we preview the Test series, set to begin at Adelaide with a day/night Test on 17 December, with a series of questions. For India, the opening combination is the most hotly debated issue related to the Test team that takes the field in India's first pink-ball Test overseas. We also debate who should be India's third seamer, with Umesh Yadav the key figure in that discussion.


For Australia, the opening combination is a no less burning question as the podcasters discuss potential options for the hosts at the top of the order, picking our way through some of the leading performers in the Shield this season. We also discuss the middle-order batters and seamers challenging the incumbents for a place in the XI and who we would like to see given a shot.


We also discuss the T20 series between South Africa and England, and Sam Curran's continued maturity as an international cricketer. England are looking scary good right now, and we discuss their depth of talent and perfected strategy as key factors in that aura of invincibility.


This time, our digressions lead us into skillful wicketkeepers and English spinners, featuring James Foster, Ashley Giles, Richard Dawson, Shaun Udal and others.


We'll be back in the new year. Have a good one!



Umesh Yadav piece in HT

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> India in Australia 2020-21 - A Freewheeling Chat About the Return of International Cricket India in Australia 2020-21 - A Freewheeling Chat About the Return of International Cricket Thu, 26 Nov 2020 14:59:20 GMT 1:27:46 5fbe9e6d71e6566b0d112046 true https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/episode-3 5fbe9e6d71e6566b0d112046 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d episode-3 full 1 3 The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast returns after a hiatus - and just in time for the return of international cricket. Battling an unexpected chill, Sushain and Shivaditya launch into a free-form discussion in this episode, beginning with some final thoughts on the 2020 IPL and its possible expansion to ten teams in the near future.


We then progress to some quick thoughts on South Africa v. England, talking about the players we're looking forward to seeing in action. The tourists are spoilt for choice, with a power-packed batting line-up - particularly at the top of the order - posing a selection dilemma. Despite a string of high-profile retirements in the last few years, boardroom issues, and a squad in transition, we're actually super eager to see where South Africa go from here, and excitedly forecast a time to shine for Quinton de Kock as captain, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, Temba Bavuma, and others.


We preview India's tour of Australia, due to begin soon, and examine how India could line up amidst a number of injuries in the white-ball and Test series. A likely starting XI culled from the current squad is discussed, and we propose the changes we would like to see going forward with a T20 World Cup on the horizon.


Our discussion also moves into Indian domestic cricket; Uttar Pradesh and Punjab are quietly putting together serious sides and we talk about the young talents shaping up to be the core of teams that are ready to challenge for honours. Finally, we stick our necks out and make predictions for India in Australia, 2020-21 - ODIs, T20Is, and Tests.


Amidst it all, we stan Rinku Singh and Jiwanjot Singh, and discuss marathon ducks featuring Eknath Solkar, Chandra, and the show's favourite Rishabh Pant.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast returns after a hiatus - and just in time for the return of international cricket. Battling an unexpected chill, Sushain and Shivaditya launch into a free-form discussion in this episode, beginning with some final thoughts on the 2020 IPL and its possible expansion to ten teams in the near future.


We then progress to some quick thoughts on South Africa v. England, talking about the players we're looking forward to seeing in action. The tourists are spoilt for choice, with a power-packed batting line-up - particularly at the top of the order - posing a selection dilemma. Despite a string of high-profile retirements in the last few years, boardroom issues, and a squad in transition, we're actually super eager to see where South Africa go from here, and excitedly forecast a time to shine for Quinton de Kock as captain, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, Temba Bavuma, and others.


We preview India's tour of Australia, due to begin soon, and examine how India could line up amidst a number of injuries in the white-ball and Test series. A likely starting XI culled from the current squad is discussed, and we propose the changes we would like to see going forward with a T20 World Cup on the horizon.


Our discussion also moves into Indian domestic cricket; Uttar Pradesh and Punjab are quietly putting together serious sides and we talk about the young talents shaping up to be the core of teams that are ready to challenge for honours. Finally, we stick our necks out and make predictions for India in Australia, 2020-21 - ODIs, T20Is, and Tests.


Amidst it all, we stan Rinku Singh and Jiwanjot Singh, and discuss marathon ducks featuring Eknath Solkar, Chandra, and the show's favourite Rishabh Pant.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> IPL 2020 - The First Fortnight - Fixture Roundup, Five Surprising Selections that Worked Out, Five Surprising Selections that Backfired, and more IPL 2020 - The First Fortnight - Fixture Roundup, Five Surprising Selections that Worked Out, Five Surprising Selections that Backfired, and more Wed, 30 Sep 2020 09:20:47 GMT 1:28:00 5f744df3fe6a496844833599 false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/ipl-2020-the-first-fortnight-fixture-roundup-five-surprising 5f744df3fe6a496844833599 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d ipl-2020-the-first-fortnight-fixture-roundup-five-surprising full 1 2 It's been a breathless first two weeks of IPL 2020 and Sushain and Shivaditya are back with the second episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast to look at the first fortnight of the Indian cricket carnival.The show begins with a roundup of the first nine games, the latest of which (at the time of recording) was the extraordinary encounter between the Rajasthan Royals and the Kings XI Punjab at Sharjah.


We go through the contrasting fortunes of various teams in their opening games of the tournament, asking where three-time winners the Chennai Super Kings went wrong and whether the penny has finally dropped for a side marked by withdrawals, injuries, and some curious selection choices. We also look at the Kings XI Punjab and the Royal Challengers Bangalore, two teams who seem to have the pieces in place but for whom the performances have not quite followed - and the question of whether RCB have got their selection right has our podcasters divided. The performances of the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Sunrisers Hyderabad are also discussed, with both teams locked in a quest to find the best team balance from their talented squads.


Our two features for the show deal with the surprising selection decisions by the teams so far in the tournament. Sushain explores which five selectoral gambles have paid off in the tournament so far, focusing on five players who have outperformed expectations. Meanwhile, Shivaditya offers five cases where selections backfired spectacularly, putting five teams under the microscope for their harebrained decisions. The show concludes on a lighter note, with the podders talking about Rishabh Pant and the entertainment value he brings to the game we love so much.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> It's been a breathless first two weeks of IPL 2020 and Sushain and Shivaditya are back with the second episode of The Second New Ball Cricket Podcast to look at the first fortnight of the Indian cricket carnival.The show begins with a roundup of the first nine games, the latest of which (at the time of recording) was the extraordinary encounter between the Rajasthan Royals and the Kings XI Punjab at Sharjah.


We go through the contrasting fortunes of various teams in their opening games of the tournament, asking where three-time winners the Chennai Super Kings went wrong and whether the penny has finally dropped for a side marked by withdrawals, injuries, and some curious selection choices. We also look at the Kings XI Punjab and the Royal Challengers Bangalore, two teams who seem to have the pieces in place but for whom the performances have not quite followed - and the question of whether RCB have got their selection right has our podcasters divided. The performances of the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Sunrisers Hyderabad are also discussed, with both teams locked in a quest to find the best team balance from their talented squads.


Our two features for the show deal with the surprising selection decisions by the teams so far in the tournament. Sushain explores which five selectoral gambles have paid off in the tournament so far, focusing on five players who have outperformed expectations. Meanwhile, Shivaditya offers five cases where selections backfired spectacularly, putting five teams under the microscope for their harebrained decisions. The show concludes on a lighter note, with the podders talking about Rishabh Pant and the entertainment value he brings to the game we love so much.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> IPL Preview - Five Players with a Point to Prove, Moneyball XI, and more IPL Preview - Five Players with a Point to Prove, Moneyball XI, and more Wed, 16 Sep 2020 09:36:10 GMT 1:03:12 5f61dc581c6916095d7426aa false https://shows.acast.com/the-second-new-ball/episodes/ipl-preview-five-players-with-a-point-to-prove-moneyball-xi- 5f61dc581c6916095d7426aa 5f61b8b81c6916095d74268d ipl-preview-five-players-with-a-point-to-prove-moneyball-xi- full 1 1 The 2020 Indian Premier League starts on 19 September in the UAE and Sushain and Shivaditya are here with a new podcast for the season! In the debut episode of The Second New Ball, we begin with the tastiest fixtures from the IPL's first fortnight and discuss which of the replacement players have caught our eye.


This is followed by a couple of intriguing features. The first of these is a rundown of five Indian players looking to make their mark on their return to big-time cricket and what it could mean for the Indian international side if they have a good tournament. The second feature is a Moneyball XI - a hypothetical team of IPL purchases at the last auction bought at a price of INR 1 crore or under. We discuss three players in particular worth keeping an eye out for, and where the Moneyball XI might finish in a real IPL tournament.


Throughout the show, we also discuss how the franchises stack up, what the most interesting combinations could be in the various playing XIs, and to cap it all, we make our predictions for who will finish in the playoff places at the end of the league phase. Enjoy the premier of The Second New Ball cricket podcast, listeners!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The 2020 Indian Premier League starts on 19 September in the UAE and Sushain and Shivaditya are here with a new podcast for the season! In the debut episode of The Second New Ball, we begin with the tastiest fixtures from the IPL's first fortnight and discuss which of the replacement players have caught our eye.


This is followed by a couple of intriguing features. The first of these is a rundown of five Indian players looking to make their mark on their return to big-time cricket and what it could mean for the Indian international side if they have a good tournament. The second feature is a Moneyball XI - a hypothetical team of IPL purchases at the last auction bought at a price of INR 1 crore or under. We discuss three players in particular worth keeping an eye out for, and where the Moneyball XI might finish in a real IPL tournament.


Throughout the show, we also discuss how the franchises stack up, what the most interesting combinations could be in the various playing XIs, and to cap it all, we make our predictions for who will finish in the playoff places at the end of the league phase. Enjoy the premier of The Second New Ball cricket podcast, listeners!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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