McCullum's declaration

[putrevus]

Very brave and sporting declaration.Looks like it is paying off already, compare this with, for example our Kaptaan against same NZ in 2009 waiting to get lead over 600 runs folks. It is right folks 600 fricking runs, end result was very predictable draw with 8 wickets down and running out of time. So our great kaptaan and his great captaincy predates from 2009 and we are still reeling under it.

[vvvslaxman]

Definitely brave considering how Gayle pummelled them in the last match in a small chase.

[BlueBee]

Aggression always rules!!!!!

[velu]

learned a thing or two from our kaptain kewl during IPLs :csk:

[saneindian]

One difference is we were leading the series 1-0, Kiwis need a win here to win their first away series in 10-12 years (not counting BD/Zim). The apt example would be Sydney test of 2004 vs Aus, series at 1-1, on day 4 Dada decided to bat on an on till Aussies were set a target of 440+ in about 100 odd overs. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64062.html In England 2007, Dravid also delayed the declaration at Oval to keep the 1-0 lead safe. Safety first has always been the approach of our various captains though Dhoni has taken that to insurmountable levels.

[Cricket_Hacker]

having a popgun attack like ours doesn't help

[Lord]

Its Kiwis who made the decision against WI,Dhoni or India didnt even need such situations v WI in recent times

[saneindian]

And in the 2nd test on our last NZ tour, Kiwis batted on till they had batted us out of the test match and preferred to preserve their 1-0 series lead.

[Gollum]

To be fair to Captain Corrupt our bowling attack is so ****ed up that it isn't worthwhile taking such a big gamble.

[undisputed chap]

No total is safe if you have ishant :((

[vvvslaxman]

Forget about India for a moment. Last match NZ got bit**slapped by gayle in the second innings chase. 80 in 47 balls. So it is a bold declaration regardless of scenarios, situation.

[keith]

It's a bold declaration, but given that there were potentially 98 overs to bowl today I would have preferred a few overs of batting to get the lead up to 340. Not that it matters now since Boult and Southee have ripped out 3 wickets, and rain has interrupted anyway.

[ThePhenomenal1]

India's problem starts and ends with dhoni HE PICKS THE SH*T BOWLERS like ishant and zaheer - toothless on flat tracks and cant get the job done on a greentop. He doesn't pick the decent fast bowlers we have like pandey and aaron and we will wait for trent bridge. HE KNOWS THE BOWLERS HE PICKS ARE SH*T SO HE GOES ULTRA DEFENSIVE Remember the SA tour where every innings was like 100-1? thats because ishant and zaheer cant win you test matches in current form, or ever now. Its sickens me. Solution: Pick shami, pandey, pankaj, aaron and go for wickets. More likely you will get some wickets and you have the batsmen to apply pressure and support the bowlers. Attack. Attack. Attack. Bowlers less likely to attack with huge cushion of runs all the time. 300-350+ with a day and a half is decent if you can probe

[saneindian]

On flat wickets with little help no Indian bowler seems like doing well. We have seen that in ODIs and in a number of tests, Dhoni should get the blame but cant attribute failure of bowlers in such conditions entirely to Dhoni. Has got something to o with the ability of the bowlers as well. All those whom you have named struggle big time in SA in the A tour on a flat pitch, struggle on flat pitches in domestic FC cricket but the moment they get bowler friendly tracks, they all become dangerous with swing and seam. An that is our hope for the Eng tour, a hope that the pitches are fresh and offer a lot of movement.

[putrevus]

just blaming it on bowlers is just too easy this guy has to show some skills and leadership as captain. To expect half Zak and useless ishant to win a test after test without ever giving a chance to any youngster is insane. both in odis and test it looked dhobi was allergic to change the squad.that is not acceptable when the side is getting blanked and just not good enough.

[putrevus]

On flat wickets with little no Indian bowler will do well. We have seen that in ODIs and in a number of tests, Dhoni should get the blame but cant attribute failure of bowlers in such conditions entirely to Dhoni. Has got something to o with the ability of the bowlers as well. All those whom you have named struggle big time in SA in the A tour on a flat pitch, struggle on flat pitches in domestic FC cricket but the moment they get bowler friendly tracks, they all become dangerous with swing and seam. An that is our hope for the Eng tour, a hope that the pitches are fresh and offer a lot of movement.

not putting all the losses on him but with his style unless we get turning tracks he is never going to win any tests

[fineleg]

Forget about India for a moment. Last match NZ got bit**slapped by gayle in the second innings chase. 80 in 47 balls. So it is a bold declaration regardless of scenarios' date=' situation.[/quote'] gayle is unpredictable but more often than not - he gets out.

[rajmarie]

And in the 2nd test on our last NZ tour' date=' Kiwis batted on till they had batted us out of the test match and preferred to preserve their 1-0 series lead.[/quote'] Exactly. I don't even know how McCullan made that decision. The reason being he too is very defensive captain himself...as the over example shows.

[Pagalpanti]

Tbf the 600 declaration doesn't seem so bad now, our bowlers conceded almost 450.. even then some people were complaining of late declaration Anyway 300+ on day 5 pitch vs WI is hardly a bold decision, even 200 is enough for those sloggers..

[ThePhenomenal1]

Exactly. I don't even know how McCullan made that decision. The reason being he too is very defensive captain himself...as the over example shows.

Thing is, you dont have to be aggressive always. But being aggressive mostly is key to victory