India’s refusal to admit to its flaws is disturbing

[Switchblade]

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/indias-refusal-to-admit-to-its-flaws-is-disturbing/article5706883.ece The Indians lacked killer instinct on the rather disastrous tour of New Zealand — that ability to go for the jugular when on top. They were the happy tourists, content with their displays irrespective of the results, applauding the opposition and not introspecting to see where the problems lay. It was disappointing to hear skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni say at the end of the Test series that he was happy with the bowlers. Surely you don’t utter these words when you have lost the ODI series 4-0 and the Test series 1-0. Particularly after the bowlers had allowed a Brendon McCullum-inspired New Zealand stage a great escape at the Basin Reserve. One would have expected the skipper to send a strong message to his men. If a captain does not act tough in times like these, complacency creeps in. When a side has a 246-run lead in the first innings, reduces the opposition to 94 for five with more than two days remaining and still fails to close out the contest, there is a serious issue. It was a similar story in the first Test of the South Africa series in Johannesburg where Dhoni’s men blew a glorious opportunity on the final day. The Indians have let decisive moments fly by. They have simply not pounced on the opposition when sniffing a win. India won a vital toss in Wellington. The greenish pitch on the first day was such that almost every ball could have had the batsman’s name on it. Then the moisture dried out. The spin of the coin should have settled the match; instead the Indians let the Kiwis wriggle out. And a refusal to admit flaws is disturbing. The Indians dropped two series-deciding catches off McCullum on the third day at the Basin Reserve. Yet, when Cheteshwar Pujara was asked a question on India’s fielding, he replied: “It has mostly been fantastic.†Not attacking enough The field placings were not attacking enough; easy singles were conceded to take the pressure off. And deliveries were sent down on both sides of the pitch. Is this acceptable bowling? When the pitch stopped assisting seam, the bowlers did not display air speed and swing — this does not depend on surfaces — to go past defences. A look at the bowling figures for the series tells the story. Ishant Sharma, impressive in phases but someone who has lost the toe-crusher, took 15 wickets at 25.13 in the two Tests. Shami’s 10 scalps came at 35.10 and Zaheer took nine at 42.44. The bowling was shoddy in the first innings in Auckland, and the second here. In the context of the series, these were very important days. The Indian pace pack did combine rather brilliantly in the second innings at Auckland and the first innings of the second Test but then a Test is played over two innings. Consistency was lacking. Shami is becoming predictable with his methods and has to work on conventional swing. Zaheer is at that stage of his career where he needs the pitch to do a bit for him. India requires the pace and fire of Umesh Yadav. Ravindra Jadeja was ordinary. There was hardly any deception in the air; he averaged 85.66. On surfaces where the ball does not grip, he is not much of a force. There were positives for India in the form of opener Shikhar Dhawan (215 runs at 53.75) and Ajinkya Rahane (162 runs at 54). Virat Kohli (214 at 71.33) came up with a battling century on the series’ final day but the talented batsman would be bitterly disappointed with the horrendous shot he played in the second innings of the first Test. That indiscreet stroke might have cost India the match and the series. One would have to reserve judgment on the emerging batting line-up though. In Auckland and then in Wellington, India did not have to bat first when there was considerable assistance for seamers. Subsequently, the pitch flattened out at both venues. With 10 defeats in its last 12 Tests abroad, India is incredibly fortunate to be second in the ICC rankings.

[cowboysfan]

Dhoni is ****ing Nero here,which player or coach has the balls to oppose him when he keeps saying they are doing well and everything is hunky dory?.

[TNAmarkFrmIndia]

I think Dhoni is treating this time like it's a team that is still inexperienced in conditions like South Africa and New Zealand and that it's a learning process, whereas it's actually our inability to take wickets and not our inability with the bat that's causing us to not win matches, and our bowlers are actually experienced. Both Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan have been on South Africa and New Zealand tours before and (barring Ishant Sharma in 3 innings) they have been poor when it mattered most. I think Dhoni thinks that losing is a part and parcel of a team that is still growing but I don't think he has a good enough idea of how to nurture and grow a young team.

[tweaker]

The time has come to make drastic changes in the team.Coach,bowling coach,captain have to be replaced.Career of many players should be on the line.

[vvvslaxman]

These self-pity speeches are understandable if it comes from someone does well. He is not exactly stepping up in Tests as in one dayers. Iron handed guys liek Lloyd, Alan Border is what we need during this transiton. Someone with a vision and goal. Overseas tours are considered mere distractions more than anything else.

[rkt.india]

I think Dhoni is treating this time like it's a team that is still inexperienced in conditions like South Africa and New Zealand and that it's a learning process' date=' whereas it's actually our inability to take wickets and not our inability with the bat that's causing us to not win matches, and our bowlers are actually experienced. Both Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan have been on South Africa and New Zealand tours before and (barring Ishant Sharma in 3 innings) they have been poor when it mattered most. I think Dhoni thinks that losing is a part and parcel of a team that is still growing but I don't think he has a good enough idea of how to nurture and grow a young team.[/quote'] His selections have been wrong. He is too defensive in his approach. Three bowlers cannot win you test matches, 4th bowler is nonexistent and is only their to bowl his overs. Unless, all bowlers start contributing together, this is what is going to happen. Neither Zak nor Ishant or even Shami bowled poorly. None of them was going to take 10-fer. If you depend on three bowlers, you need them to be devastating, everyone of whom is capable of taking a 10-fer. let alone 5 bowlers, we did not have a good enough 4th bowler for these conditions to support 3 main bowlers.

[jf1gp_1]

His selections have been wrong. He is too defensive in his approach. Three bowlers cannot win you test matches' date= 4th bowler is nonexistent and is only their to bowl his overs. Unless, all bowlers start contributing together, this is what is going to happen. Neither Zak nor Ishant or even Shami bowled poorly. None of them was going to take 10-fer. If you depend on three bowlers, you need them to be devastating, everyone of whom is capable of taking a 10-fer. let alone 5 bowlers, we did not have a good enough 4th bowler for these conditions to support 3 main bowlers.

tell me honestly when you saw our bowling lineup for first test did you believe we have 3 bowlers all i saw was 1 in sami, 1/2 in ishant and 2 part time spinners in zaheer and jaddu

[rkt.india]

tell me honestly when you saw our bowling lineup for first test did you believe we have 3 bowlers all i saw was 1 in sami' date=' 1/2 in ishant and 2 part time spinners in zaheer and jaddu[/quote'] It is about conditions. If conditions are in their favor, you can think we have 3 pace bowlers but when conditions go flatter, you need extra wicket taking bowler to share the load. At least these 3 pacers picked wickets, but conceded more runs because they did not get support from 4th bowler who could also pickup wickets and the reason they had to bowl more overs to pick wickets. The more overs you bowl, the less effective you will be.

[NareshK]

A few captaincy decisions have been flawed but the team has done well overall because many members of this team have barely played 4-5 test matches and on their first overseas tours to SA and NZ. They came close to winning on a few occassions but couldn't close it out. But that comes with experience. They should have played 4 seamers and Dhoni's choices showed he didnt read the game well.