Mahendra Singh Dhoni's batting in Tests - below par against good bowling?

[fineleg]

Yes, everyone collapsed today. But, the way MSD got out...hasn't he done this similar sort of thing many times? Rash shot to a genuine fast bowler...is MSD just not capable of playing good fast bowling at Test level. He does have a few good innings, but by and large he seems to be far below Test level. Yes, today everyone collapsed, but there is this pattern to MSD dismissals against fast bowling.

[fineleg]

After Kumble, MSD cannot be made Test captain, if he continues like this. infact he is not an automatic shoo in for the Test 11.

[Desi Cartman]

yup his batting in Tests is not good .. Boucher is much better than him when it comes to Tests

[DomainK]

I think Karthik would be a better choice for tests. He is a decent keeper and a much better test batsman.

[Cricketics]

After Kumble, MSD cannot be made Test captain, if he continues like this. infact he is not an automatic shoo in for the Test 11.

look i have no prb in Dhoni continuing to keep for us in Test.. but i would agree with the fact that after Kumble, isntead of Dhoni i would pick Sehwag as our captain

[DomainK]

look i have no prb in Dhoni continuing to keep for us in Test.. but i would agree with the fact that after Kumble' date=' isntead of Dhoni i would pick Sehwag as our captain[/quote'] I like this idea. I am sure that captaincy will bring much more stability to Sehwag's batting.

[msb1991]

I would normally ridicule this thread, but his keeping has been below par and he has been in wretched Test batting form. Although an immediate drop would not likely be the best option, keeping Dinesh Karthik around the squad cannot do harm. Karthik should look to, once again, hone his keeping skills, as they have looked slightly ragged as of late. Dinesh Karthik cannot be expected to recreate his opening form as a lower order batsman though, it is clear that he prefers opening and the numbers do all the talking on that front: Opening: Average - 40.87 Number 7: Average - 23.93

[fineleg]

Is MSD's senior-junior talk having an effect on the team? The team appears to be switched off. No interest. No effort to fight back. Just going through motions!!! Has MSD divided the team? so no more enthusiasm from seniors or mixing with juniors, encouragement

[yoda]

MSD is the opposite of Sehwag. Can't do squat in tests.

[sm332]

a lot of room for improvement without a doubt but I would be wary of writing him off just yet

[Ram]

The last *meaty* innings that Dhoni played was his 90-odd against England in the third test of that summer in England. I fail to remember whether he made runs in B'desh or not, but his contribution has definitely been below par since then. Yes he scored that VITAL 50 in the first innings at Delhi against Pakistan and YES, he shared that all important partnership with VVS in the second innings at Perth, but he hasnt been at the forefront of the team's run scoring charts, which is a bit of a worry coz he is definitely a good batsman. If Dhoni continues failing to produce a substantial innings ( 80+ or 100) in this series too, then questions will definitely be raised about his place in the team, especially Parthiv showing some prolific form in domestics and Karthik also waiting in the wings. But the IMPORTANT thing that is in favor of Dhoni is his OUTSTANDING keeping abilities. I would rate amongst the top-tier of wicket keepers in world cricket today. In Indian cricket, wicket-keeping and batting talents have always remained mutually exclusive skills. If a guy could keep well ( Mongia), he was a pathetic batsman. If someone could bat decently ( Parthiv, MSK Prasad, Deep Dasgupta), then they dropped catches by the dozens. Dhoni was the first one to break that trend.

[fineleg]

Dhoni was the first one to break that trend.

In Tests he has not broken the trend. He has kept well, but batted below par. So, he has not broken the trend in Test cricket of {poor keeper+good bat} or {good keeper+poor bat}

[sm332]

In Tests he has not broken the trend. He has kept well' date=' but batted below par. So, he has not broken the trend in Test cricket of {poor keeper+good bat} or {good keeper+poor bat}[/quote'] and yet the man averages 33+ ... what are you smoking ... he has a lean trot no doubt .. but lets not start with the 'perpetually useless' argument

[Kartikey]

After Kumble, MSD cannot be made Test captain, if he continues like this. infact he is not an automatic shoo in for the Test 11.

It has to be Sehwag as the next captain. Bring Parthiv in instead of this lunatic.

[cochise]

I like the idea of Sehwag as Captain. But Dhoni has to remain in the side as keeper. He is just having a bad trot.

[diegovegaz]

i hv already mentioned it time and again that dhoni has always fallen to fast bowlers like lee, akhtar, steyn, morkel, etc he is ok against d medium pacers, but against d faster ones , all he can do is edge to the keeper

[diegovegaz]

I like the idea of Sehwag as Captain. But Dhoni has to remain in the side as keeper. He is just having a bad trot.

sehwag as captain is a matter that may b discussed in d near future after kumble's retirement dhoni's keeping is good, in fact very good, but it is his batting which is a worrying the tail of the indian batting starts when dhoni arrives his reputation of hitting d ball hard has been there since his debut, but he no longer has this ability i think parthiv patel should get a chance in test matches only dhoni's batting is a cause of gr8 concern. i don't think it is a bad phase, he has always bn like this in tests

[cochise]

He is dynamic enough a player to change and improve his game. And he will. The guy responds to challenges.

[carnish]

Bump :D I don't know how he is going to do tomorrow but the fact is i am terribly nervous and i feel we are going to see another failure from DHONI tomorrow... what say guys..??

[Needforspeed]

Dhoni will click tomorrow. Will score a fifty. :dance: