CG Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 Lately there has been much discussion about the merit of some Test captains and no one has ignited more strident debate over his credentials than MS Dhoni. Dhoni is a brilliant captain in the shorter versions of the game, and a master at timing his run to the finishing line as a middle-order batsman. However, as a Test captain he's too reactive and has a tendency to let the game meander along, like an absent-minded professor strolling in the park. His conservatism allows the better players among opposition batsmen too much freedom and too many easy runs. Consequently, big partnerships, like the match-saving one by Brendon McCullum and BJ Watling, build too often. Dhoni really should have been replaced as Test captain following India's disastrous tours of England and Australia in 2011-12, when his teams displayed little fight in losing eight matches on the trot. When a captain starts to hinder his team, he needs to be replaced. During that horror patch, Dhoni was unable to inspire his team and looked like a skipper just going through the motions. There's no doubt that a captain - even the best of them - can stay on too long, to the point where he loses his team. Dhoni did bounce back when he orchestrated a convincing whitewash of Australia at home. There's no question he's a better captain under familiar conditions. He's at his best with spinners operating regularly, whereas when conditions are more in tune with seamers he struggles. In fairness to the selectors, not replacing Dhoni following the disaster in Australia was understandable, as a number of senior players retired and the alternatives were few. A suitable alternative is now available in Virat Kohli. He has leadership experience as captain of Indian youth teams and, more importantly, he's now the right age and has matured into a top-class batsman. Even more importantly, he has shown his mettle overseas by scoring runs in difficult arenas like the WACA and the Bullring. This is the sort of inspiration India need to boost their overseas record. However, what they need even more is a proactive captain who can get the best out of his bowlers when playing in unfamiliar conditions. Good captains evaluate their assets, then go out and utilise them wisely. Michael Clarke is a perfect example. It's an over-simplification to say he's lucky to have Mitchell Johnson as a spearhead; the bowler is also fortunate to have a captain who enhances his chances of snaring victims. Johnson wouldn't be as successful under the conservative leadership styles of Dhoni, Graeme Smith or Alastair Cook. Kohli is an aggressive batsman but that doesn't automatically mean he'll captain in the same manner. Ricky Ponting was an aggressive strokemaker nicknamed "Punter", but as captain he didn't take his gambling instincts on to the field. Kohli needs to be brave as an India captain. Instead of placing defensive fields for Ishant Sharma's wayward deliveries he has to challenge him by deploying men designed to aid the bowler, as long as he maintains line and length. If Ishant can't oblige him, he has to find another bowler who can. This is where Clarke excels. He expects his bowlers to seek wickets rather than concentrate on saving runs. Eventually this becomes second nature and once bowlers are "expecting" wickets, they tend to be more successful because they are bowling aggressively rather than defensively. While Dhoni's tendency to rely on batsmen making mistakes and getting themselves out works brilliantly in the shorter forms of the game, the ploy is often exposed as flawed when gritty opponents like McCullum mount a counterattack in Test matches. Dhoni's latest injury may be fortuitous. It gives the selectors a chance to evaluate Kohli's leadership credentials in the one-day arena, and if he's successful, they should appoint him Test captain. Indian selectors rarely take the aggressive option. They prefer to allow senior players to decide their own future. Now is a good time to adopt a proactive approach and hope it rubs off on a new captain. Former Australia captain Ian Chappell is now a cricket commentator for Channel 9, and a columnist RSS Feeds: Ian Chappell © ESPN Sports Media Ltd. http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/721473.html
BlueBee Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 :hatsoff: He has said the right things. We should get a new captain who could be aggressive and proactive like Michael Clarke who could challenge his bowlers to get him wicket not only contain. And we should find a new bowler to replace Ishant
Desi Cartman Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 This is the bottom line Kohli needs to be brave as an India captain. Instead of placing defensive fields for Ishant Sharma's wayward deliveries he has to challenge him by deploying men designed to aid the bowler, as long as he maintains line and length. If Ishant can't oblige him, he has to find another bowler who can. :agree:
ravishingravi Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 :hatsoff: He has said the right things. We should get a new captain who could be aggressive and proactive like Michael Clarke who could challenge his bowlers to get him wicket not only contain. And we should find a new bowler to replace Ishant Dhoni funboyz will go into a tizzy. Clarke comparison is the last thing they want to hear
FischerTal Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 ian chappell is just another ICF RE :dontmentionit:
Kiwi Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 Chappell talks too much about Indian cricket. How about your neighbors NZ chaps they just pantsed these pansies.. -.-
putrevus Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 Chappell talks too much about Indian cricket. How about your neighbors NZ chaps they just pantsed these pansies.. -.- R u a moron or something, how the heck did NZ dominate india in tests.
vvvslaxman Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 Chappell talks too much about Indian cricket. How about your neighbors NZ chaps they just pantsed these pansies.. -.- Plz achieve something first. He will talk about you.
Pagalpanti Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 Plz achieve something first. He will talk about you. Doubt he is really a Kiwi, pops up in every Pakistani thread.. and disses India everywhere.. another wannabe firangi from across the border probably :giggle:
putrevus Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 This idiot Chappell's love fest of clarke needs to be stopped, if dhobi had rampaging bull like mj in his arsnal he would hit clarke for six. Come and talk to me when clarke wins something away .
Pagalpanti Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 This idiot Chappell's love fest of clarke needs to be stopped, if dhobi had rampaging bull like mj in his arsnal he would hit clarke for six. Come and talk to me when clarke wins something away . Didnt they beat SL away without MJ? Clarke should get credit actually, he's hardly had the same bowling lineup for more than 2 series in a row with injury and stuff..
putrevus Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 Didnt they beat SL away without MJ? Clarke should get credit actually' date=' he's hardly had the same bowling lineup for more than 2 series in a row with injury and stuff..[/quote'] Is dhobi chop lever or something , when did dhobi have decent bowling attack yet he has won his share . Clarke was 0-7 and lucky not be 0-8 due to idiotic umpires away from home. i have issues with dhobi but he has won more with less , he is unbeatable at home but when you are saddled with inept bowling attacks he has done very well.
Kiwi Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 Plz achieve something first. He will talk about you. True beating rich minnows isn't much of an achievement :--D
Pagalpanti Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 Is dhobi chop lever or something , when did dhobi have decent bowling attack yet he has won his share . Clarke was 0-7 and lucky not be 0-8 due to idiotic umpires away from home. i have issues with dhobi but he has won more with less , he is unbeatable at home but when you are saddled with inept bowling attacks he has done very well. Well issue is despite knowing our bowling is inept, how the likes of Ishant/Zak get to play all the away tours despite doing nothing and new guys like Pandey/Aaron/Yadav get to warm benches...
putrevus Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 Well issue is despite knowing our bowling is inept' date=' how the likes of Ishant/Zak get to play all the away tours despite doing nothing and new guys like Pandey/Aaron/Yadav get to warm benches...[/quote'] That is biggest complaint I have against Dhobi, he and his supporters cannot come out and just use bowlers being weak as excuse when he does not even give a chance to youngsters. When youngster like Shami who only comes due to Pissant being so bad and then does not get rest at all. What that should tell Dhobi instead trotting these TTFs he needs to give young blood a chance to prove their worth but moron is stubborn mule.
khanjee Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 IC is a complete moron. His reasoning is out of place. Why wasn't he calling for Clark head when he kept on losing and to boost your ego just because Clark beat Eng home? Crap old man with nothing good to say but change his mind every few minutes. There is nothing Dhoni can do until he find some decent bowlers. Just like Misbah can't do much at time with the crappy batsmen we have. Not Dhoni fault..team just not good enough
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