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India v England / News
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India v England, 2nd ODI, Kochi
Dhoni 'best in world' - Cook
ESPNcricinfo staff
January 15, 2013
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MS Dhoni's post-match press conference
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Related Links
Report : Dhoni helps India draw level with crushing win
Features : Familiar problems for England to face Players/Officials:
Alastair Cook
| MS Dhoni
Matches:
India v England at Kochi
Series/Tournaments:
England tour of India
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Alastair Cook, England's captain, described MS Dhoni as one of the hardest players in the world to bowl to at the death after his counterattacking 72 from 66 balls late in India's innings provided the platform for their 127-run victory in the second ODI. Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja added 96 in ten overs for the sixth wicket, taking apart England's inexperienced attack during the closing stages of the innings, and Cook said that coming up with a field and a bowling plan for his India counterpart was extremely tough.
"He [Dhoni] is probably the best player in the world in those situations, in these conditions," Cook said. "He does it time and time again. He's incredibly hard to bowl at and with that extra man in the circle, it's very, very hard to stop on these flat wickets."
Although James Tredwell conceded just nine runs combined from the 42nd and 44th overs, Cook opted for his pace trio of Steven Finn, Jade Dernbach and Chris Woakes at the death but they failed to keep a lid on India's scoring rate.
"You're always going to have hindsight, but probably one batsman you don't want an offspinner bowling to is Dhoni," Cook said. "We've seen him a number of times and with a spinner at the end, it's very hard to bowl to him. So, look, clearly when you get hit for 68 runs in the last five overs, you think, maybe you could have done things differently. But at the time, for me, it was a very big gamble to make."
The win drew India level at 1-1 in the five-match series but, despite the emphatic result, the top order again struggled, falling to 119 for 4 just past the midway stage of the innings before Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Jadeja rebuilt. The bowlers bounced back from conceding 325 in Rajkot to dismiss England for 158 but Dhoni said problems remained in both departments and they could not hope for the dominance of recent ODI series between the two sides in India.
"We're going through a stage when we don't have the same firepower when it comes to the bowling department. Our batting department is not able to convert those starts into a big innings. But we're fielding really well, and that's a big positive for us," he said.
Dhoni described the failure of the batsmen to go on when well set as a "big problem". He said: "If three or four batsmen make 50, then it's important at least one or two of them go on to make at least 75. So that the new batsmen coming after them, when say two quick wickets fall, then they won't feel that much pressure. I think it's very important. If you look at the good side, our batsmen are getting starts. Yes, I would like them to convert their starts to a big innings so that it won't put pressure on the rest."
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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Don't know if Dhoni is Best in The World. But he certainly is The Best Finisher of the Game ! I think, he has the highest average and SR too in winning causes. Except his defensive field settings in some matches, I just love everything about him. Captain, WK, Hard-Hitting Batsman, Can ball too when needed, Takes all the pressure on himself and what not. Certainly 'The Player' any team would love to have.
And Boy ! His love with Pakistan team is well-known. He just loves to make mockery of Pakistani bowlers. In his first tour to Pak, when he used to have long-brown hair, Afridi tried to provoke him but Dhoni simply gave him a SMILE and moved on. This is what makes him Special ! And things have not changed even now. A few weeks ago too, he was hitting Pakistani bowlers all over the park !
It amazes how easily he hits the ball for SIX even without dancing down the wicket. I don't think anyone can hit "HELICOPTER" shots for SIXES like he does.
Treat to watch.
Dhoni has been an amazing ODI player, one who reads the game better than anyone. he started his career as a slogger but later adapted his game to suit the requirement. Not many in International cricket can mold their game depending on the situation. Sehwag is a prime example he never assess the situation and just play in his usual slam bang ways and we aall know he hasn't been a ODI success considering the opportunities he has got and the position he bats. I rate Dhoni the best ODI batsman of his time because he bats mostly at critical times and more often then not finish the job and don't let it half done for others.
I said after the ODI leg of India's last tour of England that Dhoni was one of the best ODI batsmen in the world and I've seen nothing since to change my mind. I find him unconvincing in Test cricket, both as a batsman and captain, but I'd probably pick him in my World XI. His unorthodox style does make him very difficult to bowl to in the later overs. Having said that, Jadeja was caning the bowlers late in the innings too, so I think that the main problem was just that the England bowling wasn't great.
The most emphatic and game determining player in the ODI world is MSD. He is priceless and its something a country cannot seem to appreciate. He is always batting for 2-3 players in every game.In the last 10 years there is not a single player barring Yuvraj who can bat India either to a win or into batting safety. his 40s and 50s have been more valuable and match clinching than many a centuryby leading ODI scorers across the world.Hhe can get century after century if he bats higher up but he's changed his entire batting style to meet the team cause. Hats off Sir MS Dhoni.
Cook is absolutely right. Whatever his shortcomings in tests are, Dhoni has been phenomenal in ODIs. The records speak for themselves. With the possible exception of Amla, no other batsman comes close to Dhoni's consistency in ODIs and Dhoni is second to none as a "finisher" in world cricket atm.
I wouldn't be too critical of Cook. He is trying to make do with the resources at his disposal. Even with our first choice team, this Indian team (which itself is missing the likes of Zak, Yadav, Praveen, Irfan, Aaron, and Munaf) would be too strong for us in these conditions in ODIs. You can't do much when the opponent is more talented than you are but I was disappointed with the way England batted. Getting bowled out in 36 overs shows a lack of fight. It was as if they made up their minds that the target was way out of their reach and tried simply hitting out. Why not try Buttler instead of Kieswetter?
@kristee:
One final thing. Even at Sydney where as per you run making is easy and so should not count for much, we should see just how many did SRT and RT made.... After all, making the most of an opportunity is also a skill, agree?
Let's see:
SRT: 5 Mat, 9 Ins, 785 Runs@157, SR of 61. RT: 16 Mat, 27 Ins, 1480 Runs@67, SR of 63.
What do we see?
We see that SRT has scored more than half the runs of RT in only one-third of tests/innings at more than twice the avg at nearly the same SR.
So my dear, we see that in tough conditions, in easy conditions, in mutually away conditions SRT is either miles miles ahead of RT or if he is behind then he is behind by a miniscule gap.
With this, I am done. I hope you will come up with some fresh idea to somehow give a new twist to SRT's record and make it look less nice....
Posted by Harmony111 on (January 18, 2013, 21:29 GMT)@kristee:
Alright let's try your "Exclude Sydney" point. ST in Aus (-Syd):15 Mat, 1024 Runs@35.31 with 3 100s & 5 50s, SR of 57.43 RT in Ind (Agg): 14 Mat, 662 Runs@26.48 with 1 100 & 5 50s, SR of 51.39
Even though your "Exclude Sydney" point is weird, what do we see when we use it?
We find that even then SRT has scored much more runs than RT in a similar no of matches & similar no of innings (29/25) at a higher avg (obviously) with more scores of 50+/100+ at a higher SR and has also scored more 4s and more 6s.
If your point was that Sachin had only scored runs in the flatter/familiar conditions of Sydney then this comment proves that even in those conditions that you think were tough/alien SRT has a better record than what RT has in India AS A WHOLE.
And if you really want to talk of the toughest wicket in Aus The WACA there too SRT's avg is 37.66 compared to RT's 38.60. Wow, what huge lead RT has there over ST, right?
Now, let's see what RTs record is if we exclude 2002-07 :-p
Posted by Harmony111 on (January 18, 2013, 20:05 GMT)@kristee: Highly selective.
To begin with, there is no conclusive evidence for you to say Dhoni was indeed out on 6. The sound on snicko might have come form his bat brushing the shoes or pads. Thus your contention that he was OUT is based on no evidence.
What I do find hypocritical is that while you talk of Dhoni's so-called dismissal that wasn't given and the extra runs it gave to India, you said not a word about Yuvraj's clear wrong dismissal and the runs that Ind couldn't score as a result. Add to it that had Yuvi not been given out wrongly, Dhoni would've never been there.....So your wud've/cud've is built on weak and flawed premises. In any case subtract the extra 66 runs Dhoni got and you get 219, Eng wud've still lost even after considering your point.
Btw, Bell was lbw in the 7th over in 1st ODI, went on to score 62 xtra runs while India lost by 9 runs - Tring Tring.
And is Sydney not a part of Aus anymore? Why do you want to exclude it? Weird point....
Posted by kristee on (January 18, 2013, 13:54 GMT)Harmony111, I meant while playing in Subcon't. Dhoni was out in the last match when on 6 but got away and India won largely thanks to his heroics thereafter. And hence my sentiments on DRS. Indians seem to be fancying they get away more often without DRS; otherwise they'd have already embraced DRS. Ponting's India jinx is altogether a different subject. Exclude Sydney from the equation involving Tendulkar and you can see how much flattered is his Oz exploits.
Posted by Harmony111 on (January 18, 2013, 12:12 GMT)@kristee: So in an article that talks about Dhoni's skills you've somehow managed to bring in DRS?
And while you are free to have your opinion about anyone or anything, what do you mean exactly by best in subcontinent? Best in subcontinent conditions or best among subcontinental batsmen? If you meant the former then let me tell you that on the same pitch where Dhoni blasted Eng bowlers the whole of Eng Team cudn't even last 40 overs or score 200 runs - so it must be tough for them to bat EVEN in subcontinent conditions. And Mr. Ponting will tell you how easy it is to bat in these conditions. And oh, Aus were 74 a.o in 26 in HOME conditions today - must be a pathetic team right that can't even bat at home.
As for DRS, on what basis do you say that having DRS will mean Ind will struggle? It's all your fishy idea.
So cos BCCI does not find DRS worth the cost and is not happy with its claims you say it has vicious designs? And Brisbane proved DRS will help BOTH teams so what's ur point?