Bhargav

Dear NL Team,

I didn't quite understand the point of the Subramanian Swamy Interview. Redactions were the least of my concerns. There was no substance in the questions or in what Swamy said. 

There was an attempt to address some policy questions, but obviously, Swamy would never give serious enough answers. If policy questions were a focus, there could be many contemporary politicians, commentators, etc., you could have had on.

If mudslinging was the focus, you could have reported his tweets and analysed their credibility. The interview felt like a waste of time and resources that could have been directed toward other, more substantial interviews.

***

Mohak 

Hi Abhinandan,

Cricket, I believe, is a sport because it is a physical activity with rules and recognition. Agreed, it does not have the athleticism of some other sports, but that is purely because professionalism in cricket is a new phenomenon, post-1960s or 70s. But to further complicate the debate, are gymnastics and breakdancing (that are part of the Olympics) sports?

Also, cricket today is athletic enough, and I would love to be part of the panel to discuss it. I would recommend Jarrod Kimber's podcasts and books.

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Prakash

Sport requires athleticism, quick reflexes and skill. The level of athleticism, reflexes, and skill complexity varies by sport, a player's role within a sport, and the era under consideration. Cricket has some roles common to all players, and others specific to the level of technical skill a player has and the role he/she matches. Wicketkeepers/fast bowlers need a very high level of athleticism, as does fielding around the boundary. Spin bowlers, batsmen, and slip fielders need relatively less level. Cricket has changed a lot more over time than some other sports, and the level of athleticism needed today is much higher than it was 40-50 years ago.

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Madan

Just a suggestion, but it's only because you are NL. If a panellist (NL/guest) is giving a recommendation and you are familiar with it, don't jump in immediately with your experience/knowledge; it doesn't matter how exciting it is. Gives it a much more pro feel if you wait for them to complete and then add your nuance. ( onwards and upwards )

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Nikhil

About cricket not being a sport: While I get Abhinandan's tongue-in-cheek "Oh, cricket is not a sport" jab, it falls flat in any sane comparison of the demands placed on players' bodies. 

Multiple papers: Movement patterns in cricket vary by both position and game format. Movement Demands of an Elite Cricket Team During the Big Bash League in Australia - PMC indicates that players run at speeds between 2 km/h and 5 km/h, depending on their role (batting, bowling, or fielding). If we add this up over a day in ODIs or 5 days in Tests, it is a test of stamina and athleticism far greater than in many other sports. 

Additionally, the fact that pure athleticism is not sufficient to succeed (tactics, strategy, skill, and technique are all necessary) makes cricket a far more challenging sport than one might perceive from the outside. Anyways, that was my 2 cents on this whole debate.

Love the podcast! Keep up the great work.  

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