81 All Out - A Cricket Podcast · 81 All Out

When India faced Nas ball: rewind to England's tour of India in 2001

January 16, 2024·1 hr 15 min·7 clips

How Nasser Hussain's 2001 plan to stifle Tendulkar foreshadowed modern tactics against Steve Smith.

This episode of 81 All Out revisits England's 2001 cricket tour of India ahead of a new Test series between the teams. Host Mahesh is joined by regular panelists Sid B, Ashoka, and Prashant to share personal memories and analyze the historical contest. The discussion centers on the tactical and narrative arcs of the series, set against a backdrop of global events like the 9/11 attacks. The panel notes the series occurred shortly after 9/11, which raised security concerns and led to key England players like Andy Caddick and Robert Croft missing the tour. Nasser Hussain captained an England side thin on resources, lacking a premier spinner and featuring a young, pre-peak Andrew Flintoff. India, led by Sourav Ganguly, was in a period of transition and scrutiny following the match-fixing scandal and a controversial unofficial Test in South Africa. The series included three Tests in Mohali, Ahmedabad, and Bangalore, featuring two draws and an Indian victory in the first match. A major focus is Hussain's defensive captaincy, specifically using Ashley Giles to bowl a negative leg-stump line to Sachin Tendulkar to stifle scoring. The panel draws a parallel between these tactics and those later used against Steve Smith, noting a historical symmetry. They discuss how Hussain's strategy of injecting time into the game by restricting India's run rate to around two per over was a response to his team's limitations. The episode highlights specific performances, like Craig White's century, Matthew Hoggard's skillful reverse swing, and Tendulkar's dismissal of Mark Ramprakash with a googly. Interesting insights include the panel's view that inefficiencies in teams of that era created more exciting contests than today's more dominant sides. They explore the contrasting legacy-building of captains Nasser Hussain and Sourav Ganguly at that juncture. A memorable anecdote recounts Mark Ramprakash arguing players were safer in India than England during the post-9/11 security meeting. The panel also reflects on forgotten players like Connor Williams, who scored runs in an unofficial Test but never earned a full cap, and the revolving door of India's support bowlers like Tinu Yohanan and Iqbal Siddiqui. The tone is conversational, analytical, and nostalgic, blending personal anecdotes with tactical discussion. The hosts engage in friendly debate while dissecting captaincy decisions and historical context. The style is informal and reflective, with the panelists often laughing and building on each other's points. Cricket history enthusiasts and fans interested in captaincy tactics, especially from the early 2000s, would love this episode. Listeners seeking high-energy commentary or exclusive new revelations might skip it, as the appeal lies in reflective analysis and shared nostalgia.

As heard by us

A focused 2001 rewind that makes selection and balance the main story.

81 All Out uses England's upcoming visit to India to reopen the 2001 tour, and it gives the discussion room to breathe. Mahesh, Sid B, Ashoka, and Prashant revisit the series through the 1993 alternative, then move into selection choices, bowling balance, and the shifting case…

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Why you'd press play

A thoughtful 2001 India-England rewind ahead of the next England visit to India.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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