Lord's sightscreen is a problem, says Dhoni

[King]

Mahendra Singh Dhoni said a problem with the sightscreen led to his dismissal in the first innings. More... Lord's sightscreen is a problem, says Dhoni July 24, 2007 13:26 IST Things at Lord's, the spiritual home of cricket, are not so perfect after all. Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images], India's saviour in the first Test, has said "a problem with the sightscreen" led to his dismissal in the first innings and he was lucky enough to stay unbeaten in the second and see India through. "There was a problem with the sightscreen at the pavilion end. I could not see the ball on three occasions, and on all those occasions, I played the same shot," Dhoni said. "In the first innings I got out, but in the second innings it went for four," the wicketkeeper-batsman said after the match. He said the problem was that due to the shorter sightscreen the ball was difficult to spot in the similar coloured background. "The sightscreen is small but the background is also maroonish and the ball mixes up with the colour," he said. "There is also the clothing of the spectators. During the first innings, it was also bright (because of the sun)." Dhoni hit 76 not out which, in captain Rahul Dravid's [Images] words, "got India out of jail" against England [Images] on Monday. His uncharacteristically subdued knock helped India hang in until the rains arrived to keep them unconquered at 282 for nine while chasing a target of 380 on the fifth and final day. Dhoni said his match-saving innings showed how far he has come from being a slam-bang batsman to one who plays "according to situation".

[King]

How much truth is there in that? Is he embarassed about the shots he's mentioning and trying to bail out of it blaming the sight screen? I don't know really. I would like him to take it a little easy before blowing his own horn. It is for others to say if he plays according to situation. Anyways the 2nd inning knock was pretty gritty.

[Cricketics]

yaa i heard him saying that.. i recorded his int'view when he said this..

[The Outsider]

How much truth is there in that? Is he embarassed about the shots he's mentioning and trying to bail out of it blaming the sight screen? I don't know really.

They were showing a pre match clipping where Tendulkar was having problems with the sightscreen as well and then there was a 5-10 minute discussion among the commentators that quite a few batsmen have found the sightscreen at Lords to be a nuisance.

[King Tendulkar]

The sightscreen is a problem. It is inadequate. As they will not put real good ones up as this would mean MCC memebers were they sit could not see or would have to be moved

[Guest dada_rocks]

why would he lie, they need to fix this sight-screen problem. Mecca of cricket my ar$e .:thumbs_down:

[observer1]

everyone has problems with the screen at lords (pavilion end) - it is a semi-transparent cloth screen, and is designed as a see-through for the members who are also allowed to sit under it. And, they, in their blue shirts, yellow ties, khaki trousers and trilby hats start moving around after they have had their lunch time champagne. Dhoni has merely vocalised what a lot of cricketers mutter about. Good on him. Having said all that, it is my opinion that it is by far the best ground in england. The facilities for spectators, the ambience, the cleanliness is incredible.