Our fast bowlers will have to start using their brains more, says Mahendra Singh Dhoni

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http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/our-fast-bowlers-will-have-to-start-using-their-brains-more-says-mahendra-singh-dhoni/0/ India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was livid with his fast bowlers and said the pacers gave too much width and bowled short to New Zealand in the fourth ODI at the Seddon Park. The visitors lost the match to give the hosts an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match ODI series. “Right from the start, we gave away too many boundaries. We gave too much width to the batsmen and the bowlers bowled quite short which meant that they could freely score off them. It meant that we didn’t start off well,†said a dejected Dhoni after the Men in Blue couldn’t defend 279 runs. “The spinners bowled quite well and then the fast bowlers came back on and they again gave away runs freely, which meant that we weren’t able to hang on to the pressure created by the spinners. “It was a disappointing bowling performance from the fast bowlers. But the positive is that the spinners bowled really well,†he added. When asked particularly as to why he chose to take off the spinners after both Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin had bowled well in their initial spells of five overs each, Dhoni replied: “Given the way how the fast bowlers bowled in the first ten overs, I wasn’t sure they would be able to keep the pressure on later. So I personally thought that it’s important to keep the spinners especially Jadeja and use them later, when the batsmen might have to go for the big shots. “But the way the fast bowlers bowled in the middle overs it meant that they never really had to play those big shots. That was a crucial phase, where with the open fields we shouldn’t have given away too many runs. But we were giving a boundary every over and we were not able to build any pressure,†he said. India made a couple of changes to their side ahead of this must-win game, dropping both Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina. Virat Kohli was asked to open the innings, while Ajinkya Rahane batted at number three. Ambati Rayudu played his first ODI since the Zimbabwe trip in mid-2013 and Stuart Binny made his India debut. “We had to make these changes at some point. Raina was getting good starts but he was not able to convert those starts. Sometimes if you can take the individual away for a few games, he can relax and think freely about his game and that’s the reason why we rested both Shikhar (Dhawan) and Suresh Raina in this game,†Dhoni opined. “We had a chat with Virat, and he was quite confident about opening. It allowed us to play Rahane at number three and Rayudu at number four, which allowed us to maintain the strength of our team. “Rahane came in as an opener but a few months ago, along with the selectors, we decided that he is a good middle order batsman and he bats well there. We have tried him as opener earlier and it didn’t work, so we should keep trying him in the middle order,†added the Indian skipper. In the end, it was once again the bowling woes that hampered India in this series and Dhoni said the bowlers need to apply their mind and try to improvise. “When it comes to talent, we definitely have bowlers who can do well. But at the same time they will have to start using their brains more and improvise themselves,†he said. “(Mohd.) Shami is someone who has been quite consistent, apart from this series. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been off this series but he’s a good bowler. At the end of the day they need to push themselves because with rule changes it is going to be quite tough. But it hasn’t been rule changes hurting us in this series, it has been bad bowling,†Dhoni signed off.

[G_B_]

I seriously do wonder. what is the educational level of Indian bowlers. I do know for example Srinath and Zaheer did have college degrees.

[kubrickian]

Do they even have brains ? No offense but most seamers who play for India seem to lack severely in intelligence department. Is it because they come from an illiterate background that they don't seem to learn ? This is a genuine doubt that I have.

[CG]

Mr dhoni how about u use yours first.

[skindia]

Munaf has brain

[Detonator]

Dhoni didn't know the fact that fast bowlers, esp bhuvi needs 4-5 overs to get the look and feel of the pitch and attack in the next 2-3 overs as they have fine tuned their skills while bowling the initial 5 overs. It's all Dhoni's fault, he shldn't ve taken off the fast bowlers after 5 overs, becoz they might ve potentially got wickets after a couple of overs. Fast bowlers have enough brains, it's just Dhoni who donno how to utilize fast bowlers. He need to be sacked as a captain, wicket keeper and batsman. He shld carry cool drinks, bats and box cups.

[skindia]

once irfan gets fit....hopefully problem will be typed

[rkt.india]

It was a disappointing bowling performance from the fast bowlers. But the positive is that the spinners bowled really well,” he added.

Yeah, spinners bowled really well. They did not pick up a single wicket. Any bowling without a wicket is poor bowling. Does not matter what your ER is these days, rest will eventually be spanked by set batsmen.

[Lord]

strong statement. but these guys are inexperienced and these things are expected. We need a better bowling coach/mentor

[skindia]

ashwin is main culprit

[skindia]

Not a Single experienced bowler in team

[CG]

Yeah' date=' spinners bowled really well. They did not pick up a single wicket. Any bowling without a wicket is poor bowling. Does not matter what your ER is these days, rest will eventually be spanked by set batsmen.[/quote'] Love is blind.

[kubrickian]

Yeah' date=' spinners bowled really well. They did not pick up a single wicket. Any bowling without a wicket is poor bowling. Does not matter what your ER is these days, rest will eventually be spanked by set batsmen.[/quote'] NZ batsmen played them out and didnt look to take any risks. In the context of the game, the spinners did very well. If the seamers had done half as well, there would have been lots of pressure on them which would have led to wickets.

[Lord]

Yeah' date=' spinners bowled really well. They did not pick up a single wicket. Any bowling without a wicket is poor bowling. Does not matter what your ER is these days, rest will eventually be spanked by set batsmen.[/quote'] When they spanked the pacers they could take it easy against spinners.hence was harder for spinners imo still Ashwin was mediocre.only Jaddu bowled well

[CG]

NZ batsmen played them out and didnt look to take any risks. In the context of the game' date=' the spinners did very well. If the seamers had done half as well, there would have been lots of pressure on them which would have led to wickets.[/quote'] We had them 2 wickets down .2 wickets form spinners would have opened the game but they were not enough to take wickets by beating the batsman .Jadeja depends on pitches and mistakes of batsman and ashwin has lost it .U need a spinner who can decieve a batsman with variations and pick wickets.

[kubrickian]

We had them 2 wickets down .2 wickets form spinners would have opened the game but they were not enough to take wickets by beating the batsman .Jadeja depends on pitches and mistakes of batsman and ashwin has lost it .U need a spinner who can decieve a batsman with variations and pick wickets.

Jadeja beat the batsmen many times but he was taken off the attack as Dhoni wanted to keep his overs for later, mainly because the seamers were not doing their job. Ashwin was not as good as Jadeja but he was still stopping the run rate. If the seamers had kept a check on RR instead of gifting a 4 or 6 every over, it would have made a difference. Giving the ball to Murali Rayudu was also a blunder.

[Talwar Raja]

Given the way how the fast bowlers bowled in the first ten overs, I wasn’t sure they would be able to keep the pressure on later. So I personally thought that it’s important to keep the spinners especially Jadeja and use them later, when the batsmen might have to go for the big shots

. okay. What made him bowl binny and mutthiah rayudu. ? Were they better than regular bowlers?

[CG]

Jadeja beat the batsmen many times but he was taken off the attack as Dhoni wanted to keep his overs for later, mainly because the seamers were not doing their job. Ashwin was not as good as Jadeja but he was still stopping the run rate. If the seamers had kept a check on RR instead of gifting a 4 or 6 every over, it would have made a difference.

As i sais we do not have any attacking spinner who can beat batsman with variations.Leftarm spinners are containers and due to lack of variation have to play a defensive role.We really need to look for a wrist spinner or somebody who turns the ball.

[TheWall]

entire bowling unit is a farce

[skindia]

time to give chance to shreyas gopal