Dhoni V Prior (Tests)

[benchmark00]

Haddin and Boucher?

Haddin and Sanga. I know Sangy doesn't keep anymore, but in my XI, which the OP dictates, I'd have him over both.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Don't rate Haddin as a keeper at all.

Came second to Prior in 2009 & 2010/11.

 

[Xuhaib]

Dhoni has no right to make runs with that technique but he does, its fairly close i like watching Prior more so will go for him

 

[benchmark00]

Don't rate Haddin as a keeper at all.

Came second to Prior in 2009 & 2010/11.

Haddin's keeping is neutral, neither bad or good. Prior's is the same, except Prior has a 40 metre gate whereas Haddin does not.

 

[Jono]

Haddin and Sanga. I know Sangy he doesn't keep anymore, but in my XI, which the OP dictates, I'd have him over both.

Ah okay, tricked me there. Because I eliminated everyone else (Prasanna Jayawardene for SL (since I didn't know you were including Sanga), along with McCullum and Akmal). Only left Haddin and Boucher.

 

[BoyBrumby]

On the evidence of this series Prasanna is a much better batsman than keeper.

McCullum's retired the gauntlets too, hasn't he? Test wise, anyway.

 

[Jono]

Yep.

Post above was unclear. I meant I went through the other teams and couldn't think of the two Benchy was referring to because I didn't include Sanga.

But you are right, if I didn't include Sanga, should have done the same as McCullum.

 

[Daemon]

If we go by recent form then in the last two years, Prior has averaged 50+ against every opposition he's played. In comparison Dhoni was poor in the Aus series, decent in SA and average against NZ on home turf and Sri Lanka in the SC.





I choose Dhoni

 

[ankitj]

I don't think I've really ever seen Dhoni play a crucial Test knock, but I'm not going to judge him harshly for that when you consider India's top 6.

Scored a sensational maiden hundred against a rampaging Shoaib Akhtar. At that time he had already played a few quality knocks in ODIs and it appeared that he is going to be Glichrist like batsmen in tests too. Has repeatedly disappointed in tests since then.

Other than that maiden hundred he also played a crucial knock to earn a draw in England. Played one good innings in the first test in SA last year too batting alongside Tendulkar although could not save the match.

On the whole, I think he can do much better in tests than he has so far, and I hope it happens soon.

 

[zaremba]

Thread should perhaps be renamed - "which team do you support"? Not expecting too many India fans to vote for Prior, or England fans for Dhoni. Which I suppose is a fairly happy state of affairs.

 

[GIMH]

The Neil Pickup loyalists are doing Prior out of a few votes here.

 

[superkingdave]

The Neil Pickup loyalists are doing Prior out of a few votes here.

If you remember Neil's writing about his batting in his early days, then the improvement trajectory he appears to be on puts him in company with Bradman by 2012. If only his bowling had followed the same path

 

[Neil Pickup]

If you remember Neil's writing about his batting in his early days, then the improvement trajectory he appears to be on puts him in company with Bradman by 2012. If only his bowling had followed the same path

I find that bowling generally goes to pot when you start donning the gloves on a regular basis.

I am actually averaging ~15 with the bat over the last four years, though, and have started getting out by hitting crap balls to fielders whilst trying to score runs, instead of just getting bowled. I swear the big score is coming: and would have done already were I not spending half my summer coaching.

 

[Athlai]

On the evidence of this series Prasanna is a much better batsman than keeper.

Haha must have been bizzarro Prasanna playing.

 

[Outswinger@Pace]

Thread should perhaps be renamed - "which team do you support"? Not expecting too many India fans to vote for Prior, or England fans for Dhoni. Which I suppose is a fairly happy state of affairs.

Well, I voted for an Englishman in this poll. It's just that his first name wasn't Matt.

But, in all seriousness, Dhoni vs. Prior is too close to call. Prior is possibly the better test batsman (in non SC conditions) but then Dhoni's leadership skills puts them on a more or less even standing. Not much to choose between their keeping skills either.

 

[Cruxdude]

On the evidence of this series Prasanna is a much better batsman than keeper.

Always felt the claims of him being the best keeper around were an exaggeration.

 

[Spark]

Haddin's keeping is neutral, neither bad or good. Prior's is the same, except Prior has a 40 metre gate whereas Haddin does not.

Haddin leaves a bit of a gate too tbh.

 

[hang on]

dhoni.

slightly better stats since the start of the 2009-2010 season. and the leadership factor.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;keeper=1;orderby=runs;season=2009%2F10;season=2010;season=2010%2F11;season=2011;team=1;team=6;template=results;type=allround

 

[benchmark00]

Haddin leaves a bit of a gate too tbh.

See Haddin get bowled way more by playing inside the line than playing outside it.

 

[Blaze 18]

It's very close and the sensible choice would seem to be Dhoni in the subcontinent and Prior outside. Could have this thread in CC as an ongoing debate because it's too early to say.

It's funny but Dhoni averages 52.25 in England and 77.50 in New Zealand. He also averages more than Prior in South Africa (but much less in Australia). On the other hand, Prior averages more than Dhoni in India (!) and Sri Lanka. Not saying the averages mean much; I reckon they're more or less even as test batsmen, perhaps Dhoni is a slightly better player of spin. Neither is a particularly great test batsman, but then again, wicket-keepers don't have to be great batsmen.