Couch Talk

Former England captain Mike Gatting talks about his career, highlighting the back-to-back Ashes wins in 1985 and 1986-7, the tour to India in 1984-5, his maturing as a batsman, the 1987 world cup and the rebel tour to South Africa amongst other things.

Cricket journalists Sam Collins and Jarrod Kimber embarked on a journey in 2011 to make a cricket film about Test cricket. It ended up being a documentary about cricket governance, misadministration, shady deals and the takeover of the game by India, England and Australia. They talk about the film, the four year journey to make it, the various hoops they had to jump through and their hopes for the fim, amongst other things.

Former Australian bowler Damien Fleming talks about being a swing bowler and surviving and succeeding in the subcontinental conditions, his side-on bowling action inspired by Dennis Lillee, bowling in the death, the memorable final overs in 1996 World Cup semifinal and 1999 World Cup semifinal, bowling to Sachin Tendulkar in his peak, and his life after cricket amongst other things.

Former England fast bowler Simon Jones talks about his inspirations in becoming a fast bowler, his injury-curtailed Test career, the captaincy of Michael Vaughan and Nasser Hussain vis-a-vis Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook, the influence of Duncan Fletcher’s coaching, and his dream dismissal of Michael Clarke in Ashes 2005, amongst other things.

Former West Indian great Sir Andy Roberts talks about the root cause for the current malaise in the West Indies team, the coaching methods that do not aid the fast bowlers, the role of senior pros in the team and also about his role as mentor to the Saint Lucia Zouks franchise in the Caribbean Premier League, amongst other things.

Author and Philosophy professor Samir Chopra talks about his new book “Eye On Cricket: Reflections on the great game”. He offers a deeply personal take on a game that has captivated him his entire life. He reflects on a childhood centered on cricket, fandom, and the expatriate experiences of cricket amongst other things.

The Former head coach of Australia and Kolkata Knight Riders talks about his coaching philosophies, dealing with detractors that questioned his lack of playing experience, his ideas on leadership culture, his logic behind multiple captains while at KKR and also his desire to be a coach again, amongst other things.

Former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holdings talks about fast bowlers and great batsmen of his time and modern day, the work loads on fast bowlers, the controversial incidents during WI tour to England in 1976 and to New Zealand in 1981, Mohammed Amir’s comeback to cricket from spot fixing ban, the health of Test cricket etc.

Former White Fern Nicola Browne talks about the state of women’s cricket in New Zealand, the proposed Women’s Big Bash league, her fond cricket memories, her struggle with Celiac’s disease and her future plans amongst other things.

Former India batsman Pravin Amre talks about his short-lived India career, scoring a hundred on debut at Durban facing hostile South African bowling, his coaching philosophies with Mumbai Ranji team and Delhi Daredevils of IPL, and also his learnings from coach Ramakant Achrekar, amongst other things.