Dhoni doesn't heed his own warning
Plays of the Day from the second ODI between England and India, in Cardiff
Sidharth Monga in Cardiff
27-Aug-2014
MS Dhoni knew the back-of-the-hand slower ball was coming from Chris Woakes, but it still did him in • Getty Images
The boo
Finally the Indian supporters have found voice. This was an ODI, and India were doing well. Suresh Raina was on 99. He got one on the pads, the ball went fine of fine leg, Raina came back for the second even as Chris Woakes appealed and appealed for an lbw. It was clear the ball had pitched outside leg so there was no chance of a leg-before, but all eyes were still set on umpire Richard Illingworth. As soon as Illingworth raised his knee to signal leg-byes, the large and loud Indian contingent let out a loud boo.
Finally the Indian supporters have found voice. This was an ODI, and India were doing well. Suresh Raina was on 99. He got one on the pads, the ball went fine of fine leg, Raina came back for the second even as Chris Woakes appealed and appealed for an lbw. It was clear the ball had pitched outside leg so there was no chance of a leg-before, but all eyes were still set on umpire Richard Illingworth. As soon as Illingworth raised his knee to signal leg-byes, the large and loud Indian contingent let out a loud boo.
The warning
"Peeche se slow dalta hai," shouted MS Dhoni to Ravindra Jadeja as Woakes ran in, warning Jadeja that Woakes bowls a back-of-the-hand slower ball, asking him to watch for it. Jadeja got a yorker. Two overs later, in the 49th over, as Dhoni looked to deposit a length ball into the river Taff, he seemed to have forgotten his own advice. He played all around a back-of-the-hand slower ball, and was bowled.
"Peeche se slow dalta hai," shouted MS Dhoni to Ravindra Jadeja as Woakes ran in, warning Jadeja that Woakes bowls a back-of-the-hand slower ball, asking him to watch for it. Jadeja got a yorker. Two overs later, in the 49th over, as Dhoni looked to deposit a length ball into the river Taff, he seemed to have forgotten his own advice. He played all around a back-of-the-hand slower ball, and was bowled.
The leave
Ian Bell has had a problem with leaving balls all summer. At Trent Bridge he looked to late cut Ishant Sharma, then tried to leave it because it bounced on him, but couldn't get out of the way in time. Dhoni got the catch. At Lord's, he did basically the same to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and gloved him through to third slip. Today he completed the set by leaving Mohammed Shami alone. He might have finally succeeded in performing the leave, but chose the wrong ball and went about it the wrong way. The ball went straight on and castled him. His pad hadn't even come across to cover the stumps, which would have at least made the umpire take a call.
Ian Bell has had a problem with leaving balls all summer. At Trent Bridge he looked to late cut Ishant Sharma, then tried to leave it because it bounced on him, but couldn't get out of the way in time. Dhoni got the catch. At Lord's, he did basically the same to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and gloved him through to third slip. Today he completed the set by leaving Mohammed Shami alone. He might have finally succeeded in performing the leave, but chose the wrong ball and went about it the wrong way. The ball went straight on and castled him. His pad hadn't even come across to cover the stumps, which would have at least made the umpire take a call.
The sweeps
When James Anderson came in to bat at 143 for 9, the game was over, but some needle remained. Ravindra Jadeja was one short of a five-for. Anderson was facing him. This was going to be interesting. The first ball turned sharply in, down leg, but wasn't called. Rightly so. Anderson swept hard at the next ball. He got four for it. It didn't matter risking giving Jadeja a five-for. He was going to play his shots. In the next over, James Tredwell swept Jadeja for a six. Then Anderson tried to reverse-sweep him, but couldn't beat short third man. Finally when the final wicket fell, Jadeja was under the catch, but not off his own bowling. India and Jadeja won't mind that at all.
When James Anderson came in to bat at 143 for 9, the game was over, but some needle remained. Ravindra Jadeja was one short of a five-for. Anderson was facing him. This was going to be interesting. The first ball turned sharply in, down leg, but wasn't called. Rightly so. Anderson swept hard at the next ball. He got four for it. It didn't matter risking giving Jadeja a five-for. He was going to play his shots. In the next over, James Tredwell swept Jadeja for a six. Then Anderson tried to reverse-sweep him, but couldn't beat short third man. Finally when the final wicket fell, Jadeja was under the catch, but not off his own bowling. India and Jadeja won't mind that at all.
Sidharth Monga is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo