Nov 09, 2008 01:13 AM
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Dhoni has this incredible gift as a captain - to make things happen. He made it happen yet again on 3rd day of the final test match between India and Australia. From a position of 189/2 at close of play yesterday, Australian side just managed few more but lost 8 wickets on day three to finish at 355 all out. I just happened to read this comment from an reader at Cricinfo "Dhoni can walk on water". That summed it up
However, it takes us back to couple of cliches . the cliches of Cricket and the cliches of debates.
The Cliche of debates - Does the end justify means?
There is no answer to this in general, but when it comes to sports it does have an answer. Sports is all about playing the game "fair". When you do not give a chance for the opponent to win, you have not been fair. As a cricket fan, I do not mind seeing India end up losing in a quest for victory; A victory in a fair way. Now, even if India happens to go on to win, I am not too sure if I would be entirely proud. There would be that lingering bitterness of not having played fair cricket.
Indian writers have been equivocal about Dhoni's tactics. They have also criticized Australia for not taking the game ahead! We have not been fair to them on field, let us be fair to them atleast off the field! The boring day's cricket can be attributed to none other than Dhoni.
Few even claim that India was not negative, but only Defensive! Such a thin line between the two. Whatever the terms used, it was evident that Cricket was played as it should not be
The Cliche of Cricket - How to make test matches interesting?
One of the funniest remarks I have heard with respect to test cricket is the comment by Richie Benaud. When Geoff Boycott said "Test matches are boring", Richie replied, "Well . who made it boring?!". The state of test cricket is not discussed only recently after the advent of T20, but it has remained since the days of 1950s when anything bowled at Boycs was well . left.
Those looking for the answer for - how to make test cricket better, would have found the answer today. It was such a boring days cricket to see bowlers bowl wide of offstump and batsman not using their bat. Any rule ICC brings to halt an 8-1 field or anything the governing body tries to do will not make test cricket interesting. It is up to the players to play for a win and make cricket intersting.
Dhoni's defensiveness could have been justified if the bowlers had bowled at the stumps and still managed to keep the runs in check; trying to choke the runs is OK as long as it is done the right way.
It is so strange to see such a defensive tactic from Dhoni, who was at his aggressive best in the 320 run massacre of Australia at Mohali. Those who justify the tactics are definitely the ones who did not watch the match, but just the score. Those who would have seen would know, the tactics used by India today is not good for both the spectators and for the spirit of Cricket
