The No Balls Cricket Podcast · No Balls Cricket Podcast

No Balls Cricket Unfiltered: Episode 39

·1 hr 23 min·5 clips

Why do the hosts argue Babar Azam is overrated like Arsenal, and who do they compare him to?

This episode of the No Balls Cricket Podcast provides a roundup and analysis of the 2023 Cricket World Cup's group stage. Hosts Siddharth Pradhan, the self-described "club cricketer," and his co-host, a former journalist, discuss the tournament's surprising results and team performances. They open by referencing Sunil Gavaskar's historic batting against the West Indies before transitioning to the current tournament. The hosts detail the tournament standings, noting India's perfect five wins and New Zealand's four wins. They highlight Afghanistan's two significant victories over England and Pakistan, and the Netherlands' upset win over South Africa. England's position at the bottom of the table with only one win is described as absurd. The analysis covers Pakistan's loss to Afghanistan, criticizing Babar Azam's form and the team's poor fielding and Shadab Khan's bowling. They discuss Afghanistan's confidence, citing Ibrahim Zadran's comment about playing spin well and his post-match remarks referencing the political situation for Afghans. A significant portion critiques England's disastrous campaign, attributing it to a lack of ODI practice and poor execution of their attacking philosophy. The hosts describe Jos Buttler's "attacking champions" comment as deserving of their losses. They recount being at England's heavy defeat to South Africa in Delhi, detailing specific poor dismissals like Joe Root's. The conversation turns to South Africa's powerful batting, led by Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen, and their balanced attack with Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada. Bangladesh's reliance on Shakib Al Hasan and the emergence of Mehidy Hasan Miraz is also noted. One surprising claim is that Babar Azam's development might be hindered by a lack of English language proficiency, though the other host calls this a big stretch. A memorable moment is the comparison of England's bowling decline from a "Rolls Royce" attack to a "Reliant Robin and auto rickshaw." The hosts express a fear that England's failure will lead to another insufferable "savior complex" and a push for 'Bazball' in ODIs. They argue that being a good T20 player does not automatically translate to ODI success, a philosophy they see as flawed. The tone is highly conversational, informal, and filled with banter between the hosts. The style is opinionated and analytical, blending statistical rundowns with personal anecdotes from attending matches. Cricket fans who enjoy passionate, unfiltered debate about tournament narratives and team strategies would love this episode. Listeners seeking a formal, measured broadcast or exclusive player interviews might want to skip it.

As heard by us

A feral cricket chat that still knows the score.

This episode is cricket talk with its sleeves rolled up: Gavaskar praise, a moustache bet that goes nowhere sensible, and then a sharp shift into what South Africa, Australia, India, England, and New Zealand look like right now.

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Want tournament talk that sounds like a dugout argument?

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