1st Test: Australia v India at Chennai February 22-26 , 2013..

[Sphagnum]

India are the best/worst thing to ever happen to international cricket.

I hate seeing them win.

 

[vvvrulz]

So he's played more test matches at home and in the surrounds (which have 3 of the other nine test nations) than away over a 74 test career. That's alot different to the proportions of others im sure :roll:

Do we critique Clarke for playing 52 of his 90 tests in oceania, and 16 in Asia, 12 in England, only five in Saffa/Americas? Clarke averages 63.5 in Oceania and under 50 everywhere else (46 or so in Europe, 41 in Asia, under 40 elsewhere). Obviously a better batsmen but similar sort of drop off.

He's a decent cricketer who sure, gets exposed outside his home conditions, like many cricketers (Matt Hayden and Sehwag the biggest examples).

It also has alot to do with form. Clarkes career best form has coincided with a run of 12/21 tests in Australia - still scored runs in all away tours except Windies. It could prove to be similar with Dhoni.

Yes there is a drop off for Clarke, but its still an average of 40+. That is top class.

Again a drop off but Hayden and Sehwag also have very good overseas records, Hayden was fantastic in the '01 series in India and Sehwag has test centuries in the West Indies, South Africa, Perth and that 195 in Melbourne. Both average over 40 in foreign conditions, not as great as at home but still very good.

Dhoni averages in the low 30s outside of the comfort of home, he has not hit a single test century outside of Asia, and in fact I can't think of a single influential innings played after crossing oceans. Those centuries at home were usually on dustbowls part of 500+ scores and he is an awful test match captain on top of that.

He's not bad but he's certainly not one of the modern greats of test cricket.

 

[Red Bear]

Hayden was a massive flat track bully. Once the ball started moving around he was all at sea. Sehwag pretty similar.

 

[Mr Angry]

Dhoni is easily the best wicketkeeper/batsman India have ever produced.

Gilchrist remains the best the world has seen.

Whilst niether would be in the top for keeping itself, both were/are great additions to thier teams.

India would be a weaker team without MS.

 

[Fufu Andronez]

Dhoni has rigged his Test career.
He has played 46 test matches in Asia, and under 10 in any other continent let alone country.

He'd be averaging under 30 if he faced up equally to different conditions, doesn't stand a chance against quality bowling on neutral pitches.

He's lucky to even have a test career let alone test captaincy, Dinesh Karthik is a much better test player and is a good keeper.

How is he supposed to be in control of where he plays his tests? Almost every player in every team will play more home matches than away. It's not like he's a top order batsman who's only focus is to make runs. He's a wicketkeeper batsman and his record IMO opinion is perfectly fine for his role in the team with an average of 38 (which will probably go up after this match).


He's definitely not one of the best of all time but he is a very good player.

 

[vvvrulz]

Dhoni is easily the best wicketkeeper/batsman India have ever produced.

Gilchrist remains the best the world has seen.

Whilst niether would be in the top for keeping itself, both were/are great additions to thier teams.

India would be a weaker team without MS.

In limited overs sure, not so sure about Test cricket though. If given a proper run I think D.Karthik would have developed into a better keeper/batsmen.

 

[Springbokfly]

India would have all got out for 150 if the Big Show was playing.

 

[vvvrulz]

How is he supposed to be in control of where he plays his tests? Almost every player in every team will play more home matches than away. It's not like he's a top order batsman who's only focus is to make runs. He's a wicketkeeper batsman and his record IMO opinion is perfectly fine for his role in the team with an average of 38 (which will probably go up after this match).


He's definitely not one of the best of all time but he is a very good player.

Dhoni has a *lot* of control over where he plays, who is selected etc. He is very influential in the Indian management.

There is nothing wrong with that average for a keeper batsman, I agree. I'm just saying he's overrated because a huge bulk of those runs come in favourable batting conditions. He does very little overseas with the bat and is a poor captain.

I rate him as passable as a test cricketer and I believe there are better keeper batsmen in India.

 

[BunniesMan]

Have a quiet feeling today will be the day of Hughes and Clarke. I predict they'll both score big in building us a 200+ run lead.

 

[Earl]

haha you said that the other day.

stop predicting stupid shit

 

[Red Bear]

Dhoni is easily the best wicketkeeper/batsman India have ever produced.

Gilchrist remains the best the world has seen.

Whilst niether would be in the top for keeping itself, both were/are great additions to thier teams.

India would be a weaker team without MS.

Andy Flower must come into consideration here, along with Gilly. Gilly was the perfect number 7 in that Australian team but Flower was one of the best batsmen in the world for a period in a team lacking anything world class with the bat, and kept (possibly out of necessity) whilst batting 3/4.

 

[Sphagnum]

Have a quiet feeling today will be the day of Hughes and Clarke. I predict they'll both score big in building us a 200+ run lead.

The writing went on the wall in the first innings with Hughes.

He will be lucky to make the plane to England when India are finished humiliating him for the inept spastic that he is.

 

[vvvrulz]

Andy Flower must come into consideration here, along with Gilly. Gilly was the perfect number 7 in that Australian team but Flower was one of the best batsmen in the world for a period in a team lacking anything world class with the bat, and kept (possibly out of necessity) whilst batting 3/4.

I backed Andy Flower in these parts not long ago and got shot down left right and centre

 

[Earl]

Anyone who thinks Andy Flower wasn't one of the best keeper/batsmen to play the game doesn't know f**k all about cricket.

He was right up their with the best.

 

[oldmancraigy]

He has but at least he has wickets. The other end needs to be tied down and the seamers just aren?t capable of that.

Que?

What are they tying down the other end for? So that Lyon can go at almost 5 an over and get a wicket every 80 balls???

The pitch is a fairdinkum gift to a spin bowler, but because the selectors have persisted with mr ican'tbowl it's proving tough to make headway.

The quicks have done their bit - Lyon has been woeful.

 

[JW]

Have a quiet feeling today will be the day of Hughes and Clarke. I predict they'll both score big in building us a 200+ run lead.

Good old BM. Say it enough times and eventually you'll be right.

We need him to get runs, but the more likely scenarios will be:

Phillip Joel c: Dhoni b Ashwin for SFA (poking his bat at rubbish)

OR

Phillip Joel b: Ashwin for SFA (chopping on)

AND

BunniesMan to blame it on the non-striker, the captain and/or the team management.

 

[hineyrulz]

Que?

What are they tying down the other end for? So that Lyon can go at almost 5 an over and get a wicket every 80 balls???

The pitch is a fairdinkum gift to a spin bowler, but because the selectors have persisted with mr ican'tbowl it's proving tough to make headway.

The quicks have done their bit - Lyon has been woeful.

And the worse thing is Lyon is still the best option over there. Can't believe they left SOK at home even after that Plonker Beer was injured :crazy:

 

[vvvrulz]

Lyon might get these last two and fluke his way to five wickets.

 

[Hutty1986]

It hasn't taken Lyon long to be absolutely f*cking sh*thouse, again. Send the useless balding pr*ck home

 

[Earl]

Lyon only 9 short of his maiden double ton