Is Misbah a anti-Dhoni?

[Ultimate_Game]

We have all seen Dhoni as one of the best finishers in the shorter formats, who probably with Bevan ranks at the top. That got me thinking whom you would not want to have in the middle during the chase, especially at the business end of a close game and I can't come up with anyone else to beat Misbah ul Haq. Somehow as an Indian I would love to see nothing better than Misbah at the end in a close game as Misbah has played a key role in T20 Cup and WC 2011 wins :smiley: Misbah somehow keeps a cool head but eventually loses the game in the end unlike Dhoni who knows how to finish the game for his team. In T20 Cup Misbah was in the middle against India in the league game where Pak couldn't score even a run the last 2 balls and we all saw what happened in the final and also the WC semi-final. His knock against Eng went the same way today. Do you guys there's a bigger "panauti" for his team while chasing than Misbah?

[Sarkar]

Mishbah the forgotten Hero

[Ultimate_Game]

Mishbah the forgotten Hero

Not for us. We will always remember his heroics :two_thumbs_up:

[mishra]

he won test series 3-0

[ganeshran]

Dhoni is a wonderful finisher but quite often he is very well supported by other team mates who lay a good foundation and make sure the asking run rate is achievable. Also Dhoni is wonderful with rotating the strike and taking quick 2s and 3s whereas Misbah either blocks or slogs. Its not completely Misbah's fault though. More often than not his teammates come in and flash the bat hard at a few deliveries and get out like how Afridi did today. To add to that the lower middle order bats poorly making Misbah remain the lone guy standing amidst the ruin looking like he is the sole player to be blamed for the defeat

[Ultimate_Game]

he won test series 3-0

Talking finishing games in the shorter formats :facepalm: And at home even Dhoni would manage to win test series.

[Number]

I feel he somehow gets himself into a position from where if lost , all blame will directly go to him. :haha: Poor Misbah. Usually you expect your tail to be bad but what Rehman did was shocking.:cantstop::hysterical::hysterical: Couldn't even get bat close to the ball and from there whole chase got derailed.

[Asim]

The only differene: Dhoni get better assistance from other end... Misbah have always to do it single handedly...

[Yoda-esque]

Misbah-The tuktuk boy on the burning deck :((

[Ultimate_Game]

Dhoni is a wonderful finisher but quite often he is very well supported by other team mates who lay a good foundation and make sure the asking run rate is achievable. Also Dhoni is wonderful with rotating the strike and taking quick 2s and 3s whereas Misbah either blocks or slogs. Its not completely Misbah's fault though. More often than not his teammates come in and flash the bat hard at a few deliveries and get out like how Afridi did today. To add to that the lower middle order bats poorly making Misbah remain the lone guy standing amidst the ruin looking like he is the sole player to be blamed for the defeat

Agree with you that Misbah is not to be faulted everytime. But there are cases where Misbah brings his team to the brink and then doesn't know how to cross the line. E.g., in T20 Cup he couldn't score a run off the 2 balls in the league match, and in the T20 Cup final he got the team into a winning position and with only 4 to get off 3 deliveries he had a brain-fart and played a lousy shot to get out against Joginder Sharma of all people. My point is that Misbah knows how to keep his team in the game but somehow can't cross the finishing line when his team is back in the game. Haven't seen anyone do it so consistently and fail.

[bajrang]

dhoni has raina, yuvraj, now even jaddu around him while misbah only has afridi and khatmal brothers. lol also his strike rate of only 67 while chasing doesnt help. he doesnt have the extra gear like dhoni.

[Ultimate_Game]

The only differene: Dhoni get better assistance from other end... Misbah have always to do it single handedly...

Hmmm in T20 Cup leagur game and final he had the game nearly won but couldn't cross the line. See my previous post.

[Ultimate_Game]

dhoni has raina, yuvraj, now even jaddu around him while misbah only has afridi and khatmal brothers. lol also his strike rate of only 67 while chasing doesnt help. he doesnt have the extra gear like dhoni.

Whatever may be the reasons, fact remains that if Misbah is out in the middle in a tight game, chances are his team will end up losing :haha:

[Yoda-esque]

Misbah posesses the acumen but lacks the killer instinct.Dhoni has ice in his veins.He is the new IceMan.

[mishra]

Talking finishing games in the shorter formats :facepalm: And at home even Dhoni would manage to win test series.

I thought i was supporting to your argument from another angle :winky:.... For shorter formats. I agree , captaincy should go back to Lalla. Misbah is spineless as well when it comes team selection.

[mishra]

Misbah posesses the acumen but lacks the killer instinct.Dhoni has ice in his veins.He is the new IceMan.

You mean Dhoni is Yeti

[DomainK]

Mis-bah how much this time? :phehehe:

[Ultimate_Game]

Here's an example of how Misbah implodes when he has the match in his grasp and throws it away... This is the T20 Cup league game where Misbah couldn't manage 1 off the 2 balls after getting the team in a winning position... http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/287862.html

Just one run needed off two balls. 19.5 Sreesanth to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, short of a length outside off stump, Misbah tries to cut but gets beaten The field comes in, tension writ on Sreesanth's face. 19.6 Sreesanth to Misbah-ul-Haq, OUT, it's a tie! Misbah can't get it away and hits it towards cover, Yuvraj runs in, picks up the ball and throws it to the non-strikers end, Sreesanth whips off the bails with Misbah well short of his crease, delirious scenes at Kingsmead Misbah-ul-Haq run out 53 (35b 7x4 1x6) SR: 151.42

2nd example if the T20 Cup final where he couldn't score 4 off 3 balls and threw it away against Joginder Sharma... http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/287879.html

19.2 Joginder Sharma to Misbah-ul-Haq, SIX, full-toss outside the off, that's not the place to bowl at this time. Misbah is cool as ice, lines this up and pounds the ball straight back down the ground. This is a baseball style home run. Such incredible hitting under pressure. You have to give it to Misbah 6 needed from 4 balls now 19.3 Joginder Sharma to Misbah-ul-Haq, OUT, India! It's all over here! Full and on the stumps. Misbah goes for the scoop shot over short fine-leg. That is a risky shot to play with only 6 needed from 4 balls. Straight up in the air and Sreesanth takes the catch. India have won by 5 runs in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 Misbah-ul-Haq c Sreesanth b Joginder Sharma 43 (51m 38b 0x4 4x6) SR: 113.15

There were a couple other matches I saw but don't remember the exact game where he brings Paistan in a winning position and then throws it away. I am sure all this can't be other batsmen's fault when you are in a position to do it on your own.

[Pak_Fan_4_Eva]

Dhoni is to ODI's what Misbah is to Tests. Well not exactly but you get the drift

[Asim]

Hmmm in T20 Cup leagur game and final he had the game nearly won but couldn't cross the line. See my previous post.

Those can be treated as exceptions, also not fair to include T20s in this comparison... Probably you missed that but they were showing very much relevant stat in last Ind-SL match, highest ODI batting averages while successful run chase and you know what, from all current players after Dhoni with 100 + avg and some aus player it was Misbah at No.3 with 85+ avg :) it rather proves Dhoni and Misbah both are great finisher...