The man who responds to responsibility
It has been a while now since M.S. Dhoni the batsman has looked comfortable on the test circuit. For the past couple of years he has looked as unsure of his role with the bat in the test line up as he has looked invincible in the shorter format of the game. But as soon as he was elevated to the post of the skipper, there was no looking back.
Men respond in different ways to responsibility. The Tendulkars and Dravids tend to feel the extra need to set an example and fail to realize that they are great role models even when they are living their own normal lives. The Gangulys are capable of inspiring others and then there is Dhoni. He is a mixture of it all.
Mark Nicholas was on commentary when he made a wonderful comment, "Everything about Dhoni seems to make a statement of intent". When Sehwag fell in the second innings of the recently concluded Mohali test, I said to myself "If I know Dhoni well he would come out now". He did exactly that and how. He even made Ganguly sprint for his runs and that is no mean thing.
Since the breathtaking assault on Shoaib Akhtar and co., apart from a gritty defense at Lord's in last year's first test against England, he hasn't had much to show for his batting efforts in Test match cricket. During this time he has won the Twenty20 world cup, flourished as an ODI captain and been virtually peerless as an ODI batsman. On the recent tour of Sri Lanka, he managed to decoded Ajantha Mendis with characteristic élan when his more illustrious colleagues looked dumbfound against his repertoire. But as a test batsman, he has been in a sort of no man's land, struggling against top class bowlers.
A major reason for this discrepancy I think has been the confusion over his role as a test match batsman. So when Ganguly dropped the anchor at Mohali, and the pitch gave enough indication that it would help you if you are willing to go for it, the scene was set for Dhoni. In the second innings he was in fact awarded with ODI fields. Then there is very little you can do to protect against his skill of picking his spots and pinching you every now and then with his running between the wickets. This test should go a long way in establishing his test batsmanship. During the presentation ceremony he talked about the need to bat aggressively and being himself and that is what he should try to remember every time he goes out to bat in tests.
Behind the wicket he was a little below the lofty standards he has set himself. Let off would be harsh word for both of them were very tough chances, but once he was wrong-footed to a Zaheer incutter that took the outside edge and went between him and Dravid and the other hit him on the knee role, when the gloves stayed a little too high against a Harbhajan off spinner. Thankfully for India, Ishant provided him another chance before Hussey could inflict too much damage. He more than compensated for that with another show of intent when he stood up to the wickets for Zaheer on the last morning, to keep Michael Clarke inside the crease and let Zaheer pitch it up and get some swing. How many Indian keepers have managed such heroics against fast bowlers? And since Nayan Mongia in his heyday, couple of outstanding Australians apart, how many across the globe have managed to keep so well to spinners?
Men respond in different ways to responsibility. The Tendulkars and Dravids tend to feel the extra need to set an example and fail to realize that they are great role models even when they are living their own normal lives. The Gangulys are capable of inspiring others and then there is Dhoni. He is a mixture of it all.
Mark Nicholas was on commentary when he made a wonderful comment, "Everything about Dhoni seems to make a statement of intent". When Sehwag fell in the second innings of the recently concluded Mohali test, I said to myself "If I know Dhoni well he would come out now". He did exactly that and how. He even made Ganguly sprint for his runs and that is no mean thing.
Since the breathtaking assault on Shoaib Akhtar and co., apart from a gritty defense at Lord's in last year's first test against England, he hasn't had much to show for his batting efforts in Test match cricket. During this time he has won the Twenty20 world cup, flourished as an ODI captain and been virtually peerless as an ODI batsman. On the recent tour of Sri Lanka, he managed to decoded Ajantha Mendis with characteristic élan when his more illustrious colleagues looked dumbfound against his repertoire. But as a test batsman, he has been in a sort of no man's land, struggling against top class bowlers.
A major reason for this discrepancy I think has been the confusion over his role as a test match batsman. So when Ganguly dropped the anchor at Mohali, and the pitch gave enough indication that it would help you if you are willing to go for it, the scene was set for Dhoni. In the second innings he was in fact awarded with ODI fields. Then there is very little you can do to protect against his skill of picking his spots and pinching you every now and then with his running between the wickets. This test should go a long way in establishing his test batsmanship. During the presentation ceremony he talked about the need to bat aggressively and being himself and that is what he should try to remember every time he goes out to bat in tests.
Behind the wicket he was a little below the lofty standards he has set himself. Let off would be harsh word for both of them were very tough chances, but once he was wrong-footed to a Zaheer incutter that took the outside edge and went between him and Dravid and the other hit him on the knee role, when the gloves stayed a little too high against a Harbhajan off spinner. Thankfully for India, Ishant provided him another chance before Hussey could inflict too much damage. He more than compensated for that with another show of intent when he stood up to the wickets for Zaheer on the last morning, to keep Michael Clarke inside the crease and let Zaheer pitch it up and get some swing. How many Indian keepers have managed such heroics against fast bowlers? And since Nayan Mongia in his heyday, couple of outstanding Australians apart, how many across the globe have managed to keep so well to spinners?
posted by w_o @ 11:59 PM
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