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Pope, Hartley, and a remarkable win: India v England, 1st Test review

January 30, 2024·1 hr 17 min·5 clips

England pulled off a stunning 28-run win in Hyderabad after conceding a 190-run first innings lead to India.

This episode of the 81 All Out podcast analyzes England's 28-run victory over India in the first Test at Hyderabad. Host Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is joined by regulars Mahesh, Ashoka, and Kartikeya to dissect this remarkable result. The panel examines how England overcame a 190-run first-innings deficit with an inexperienced bowling attack in Indian conditions. The hosts highlight Ollie Pope's second-innings 196, which Ben Stokes called the best innings by an England batter in the subcontinent. They discuss England's selection gamble to field two left-arm spinners, Tom Hartley and Jack Leach, despite Hartley's expensive start. Mahesh notes England's clear tactical plan, even when their bowling initially seemed ineffective on a slow-turning pitch. Kartikeya points out that Indian spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have traditionally been less potent on such slow surfaces. The absence of Indian players like Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, and Rishabh Pant is mentioned as a factor, though not the primary reason for the loss. England's batting displayed multiple gears, with Ben Stokes and Ben Foakes showing patience alongside Pope's aggression. Tom Hartley's seven-wicket match haul, particularly his controlled second-innings spell, is cited as a key performance. The panel references a statistic that Pope survived over 75 false shots in his innings, an extreme rarity in Test centuries over the past 12 years. A significant discussion centers on the strategic use of the sweep and reverse-sweep by England's batters to disrupt the Indian spinners' lengths. The hosts debate whether this represents a fundamental shift in Test batting, with teams now cultivating attacking shots to force results on sporting pitches. They contrast this with more traditional, attritional methods of play. One host expresses skepticism that India's defeat was due to a lack of sweeping, arguing their batters are skilled in conventional methods. The concept of "Bazball" is analyzed, with a note that it oversimplifies England's adaptable and risk-calibrated batting approach. The panel humorously critiques Indian captain Rohit Sharma's record, noting he hasn't won a Test in his last three home matches. They also jest about shifting blame to a "Mumbai lobby." The tone is analytical and conversational, blending statistical insights with passionate cricket fandom and occasional humorous asides. The style is a free-flowing roundtable discussion where hosts frequently challenge and build upon each other's points. Cricket enthusiasts who enjoy deep tactical analysis of Test matches and evolving playing philosophies will love this episode. Listeners seeking only celebratory praise for England's win or those averse to critical examination of the Indian team's performance might prefer to skip it.

As heard by us

A remarkable win, argued through the cricket rather than the headline.

England's 28-run win in Hyderabad feels larger than the margin suggests. India's first-innings lead of 190 should have put the match in a different place, yet the panel treats England's result as one of the more striking wins in India over the last decade and a half, especially…

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You want a deep read on England's 28-run win over India in the Hyderabad Test.

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