*Official* Second Test at Trent Bridge

[Furball]

And Dhoni will cop a lot of abuse from fans and media but I still maintain that he is the best Indian captain that I have seen during the last 25 years.

Although I wonder how he will cope when the big four are gone.

Sourav Ganguly would like a word.

 

[honestbharani]

And Dhoni will cop a lot of abuse from fans and media but I still maintain that he is the best Indian captain that I have seen during the last 25 years.

Although I wonder how he will cope when the big four are gone.

If anything, Dhoni should cop it for his woeful batting form.. I don't see much wrong with his captaincy given the sort of resources he has gone with..

 

[Prad100w]

And Dhoni will cop a lot of abuse from fans and media but I still maintain that he is the best Indian captain that I have seen during the last 25 years.

Although I wonder how he will cope when the big four are gone.

Well i don't know about that. Some of his tactics were appalling. But again, **** happens sometimes. To be frank more than being the best captain, Dhoni was a very lucky captain.
And the luck may run out after this series. And his batting in tests remains a question mark too.

 

[Uppercut]

Sourav Ganguly would like a word.

Sourav Ganguly would like to have achieved 5% of what Dhoni has.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Sourav Ganguly would like to have achieved 5% of what Dhoni has.

Yeah, don't remember the Ganguly world cup win or test number 1 spot. Not saying he was poor but Dhoni has done better.

 

[smash84]

Well i don't know about that. Some of his tactics were appalling. But again, **** happens sometimes. To be frank more than being the best captain, Dhoni was a very lucky captain.
And the luck may run out after this series. And his batting in tests remains a question mark too.

But his Midas touch was what brought India to the number 1 position IMO (along with booting out Greg Chappell ). The luck that he had with him.

Sourav Ganguly would like to have achieved 5% of what Dhoni has.

haha.....This

 

[Jacknife]

That was all just a little too easy. So on to the 3rd Test where hopefully England can win the toss.

That's what's made it more impressive for me, the fact we lost 2 tosses and had to bat in the worst of the bating conditions in both tests, yet have still maintained a level of belief, determination and skill.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah, don't remember the Ganguly world cup win or test number 1 spot. Not saying he was poor but Dhoni has done better.

Not that I'm saying that Ganguly was a better captain than Dhoni necessarily or even that Dhoni hasn't been one of the main reasons that India have achieved that, but I've never liked that "credit all team successes to the captain" stuff when rating them. I don't remember Dhoni winning the World Cup or Dhoni being the number one Test team either; I remember India doing it. Dhoni just happened to be captain at the time. He was a big part of why IMO but it's quite possible to have a much better captain with much worse results or much fewer achievements - the comparative strength of the personnel is a far, faaaar bigger factor in performance IMO.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Not that I'm saying that Ganguly was a better captain than Dhoni necessarily or even that Dhoni hasn't been one of the main reasons that India have achieved that, but I've never liked that "credit all team successes to the captain" stuff when rating them. I don't remember Dhoni winning the World Cup or Dhoni being the number one Test team either; I remember India doing it. Dhoni just happened to be captain at the time. He was a big part of why IMO but it's quite possible to have a much better captain with much worse results or much fewer achievements - the comparative strength of the personnel is a far, faaaar bigger factor in performance IMO.

I don't think there is a lot to choose between the sides both had. Dhoni got more out of them. In a way it is a bit like England with Hussain and Vaughan though. Without the former laying the foundations the latters success would never have happened.

 

[Cruxdude]

This mauling has been the toughest one to take since maybe forever. At least in the 90s we never expected to win overseas but a game such as this where we had more than a fair chance of winning and then got humiliated is tough to take.

I was watching when Broad and Swann took the momentum away from India, but 221 is not a great total and was about the score anyone would have hoped we would bowl England out for before the match.

Woke up on the second day and the first ball I see Sachin plays a crap shot to a nothing ball and gets out. Even after that we were in the drivers seat at 270/4. what followed was the worst piece of cricket I have seen from India. Yuvraj got a good nut, but Dhoni was absolutely horrendous. Considering Dravid was still going strong at that point his shot was not one I expected from the captain. Broad bowled very well but we helped too by playing crap.

When we got Cook real early and the way Ishant was bowling at that time I expected it to be a thriller and how wrong could I ever get. The problem with this Indian bowling has been that when they get under pressure they bowl absolute filth. Allowing a team to score 400 runs in a day is ridiculous and Dhoni's captaincy has also been too defensive. Couldn't they have packed one side of the wicket and bowled wide to frustrate them?

Today was the worst though. By the time I woke up we were 55/6 and I saw absolutely nothing of this innings.

Admired the English team for their never say die attitude at 124/8 and at 270/4. Even when India got Trott out and had them effectively 270/6 they did not buckle under pressure. Kudos to the english team. totally deserved the win.

I don't think India will get whitewashed hin this series but neither did I think we will lose this test.

Also think that the peak for this Indian team has been reached and we are on our way down. Batting has been more of a problem than our bowling. Harbhajan needs to be chucked and also Dhoni should not be an untouchable. His performance with the bat, gloves and captaincy have been horrendous. Worried about the youth that are coming up. They need to get as many chances as possible.

 

[Howe_zat]

I am excited to see how many people take up broadsword's offer of a jagerbomb competition later tonight #gohardorgohome

(Y)

 

[smash84]

and also Dhoni should not be an untouchable. His performance with the bat, gloves and captaincy have been horrendous. Worried about the youth that are coming up. They need to get as many chances as possible.

Dhoni has done as good a job with this broken side could have been done I suppose. His captaincy is not at fault although his personal performance was quite bad

 

[BoyBrumby]

Very disappointing England let India recover from 55/6 to put on over 100 for the last 4 wickets.

Nah, great performance from the seamers today. Super hostile bowling from Big Bres in particular. The bouncer that curved into Mukund was an absolute brute. Pretty near impossible to play.

Assuming Tremmers is fit for the third the selectors have a tough call to make. How do you drop a bloke who's taken 7 wickets and scored over 100 runs?

Pretty ordinary effort from India today, I thought. Dravid and Laxman got jaffas, which happens, but the efforts from Raina and Yuvraj were a bit soft, I thought. Yes, we get that you can't deal with short stuff, but duck or sway or let it hit you or something. Raina's attempted hook looked rather too much like the shot of a chap who'd swallowed it.

 

[Uppercut]

Not that I'm saying that Ganguly was a better captain than Dhoni necessarily or even that Dhoni hasn't been one of the main reasons that India have achieved that, but I've never liked that "credit all team successes to the captain" stuff when rating them. I don't remember Dhoni winning the World Cup or Dhoni being the number one Test team either; I remember India doing it. Dhoni just happened to be captain at the time. He was a big part of why IMO but it's quite possible to have a much better captain with much worse results or much fewer achievements - the comparative strength of the personnel is a far, faaaar bigger factor in performance IMO.

Over all formats there's a pretty ridiculous correlation between Dhoni being captain and India being good, though. Kumble is captain- India play terribly. Dhoni takes over for a test- India play awesome and crush South Africa. Kumble comes back- India play terribly, lose in Sri Lanka and are outplayed in the first test against Australia (except for a brief session when Kumble goes off for treatment and Dhoni takes over). Dhoni takes over for the second test- India stuff Australia. Kumble comes back- draw. Dhoni takes over for the final test- India stuff Australia again. Dhoni gets the gig full time- India become world number one, and hold onto it for a decent period.

Then there's T20, where India were poor until Dhoni took over at the first World T20 and won the trophy from nowhere. Same thing happened in ODIs too. It's really quite hard to argue with.

 

[Prince EWS]

Over all formats there's a pretty ridiculous correlation between Dhoni being captain and India being good, though. Kumble is captain- India play terribly. Dhoni takes over for a test- India play awesome and crush South Africa. Kumble comes back- India play terribly, lose in Sri Lanka and are outplayed in the first test against Australia (except for a brief session when Kumble goes off for treatment and Dhoni takes over). Dhoni takes over for the second test- India stuff Australia. Kumble comes back- draw. Dhoni takes over for the final test- India stuff Australia again. Dhoni gets the gig full time- India become world number one, and hold onto it for a decent period.

Then there's T20, where India were poor until Dhoni took over at the first World T20 and won the trophy from nowhere. Same thing happened in ODIs too. It's really quite hard to argue with.

I'm not disagreeing with any of that. I'm just saying that you have to actually mention it before it becomes a valid point.

 

[hazsa19]

Very disappointing England let India recover from 55/6 to put on over 100 for the last 4 wickets.

Nah, great performance from the seamers today. Super hostile bowling from Big Bres in particular. The bouncer that curved into Mukund was an absolute brute. Pretty near impossible to play.

Assuming Tremmers is fit for the third the selectors have a tough call to make. How do you drop a bloke who's taken 7 wickets and scored over 100 runs?

Pretty ordinary effort from India today, I thought. Dravid and Laxman got jaffas, which happens, but the efforts from Raina and Yuvraj were a bit soft, I thought. Yes, we get that you can't deal with short stuff, but duck or sway or let it hit you or something. Raina's attempted hook looked rather too much like the shot of a chap who'd swallowed it.

I would actually keep Bresnan for Edgbaston. He's bowling so well so why not? May as well give Tremlett another week to recover for the bounciest wicket in England. And it's his home ground.

 

[Burgey]

Beautiful. Great scoreline to wake up to.

 

[Burgey]

I would actually keep Bresnan for Edgbaston. He's bowling so well so why not? May as well give Tremlett another week to recover for the bounciest wicket in England. And it's his home ground.

Give Swann a "rest" IMO.

 

[hazsa19]

Give Swann a "rest" IMO.

Makes perfect sense

 

[JBH001]

Beautiful. Great scoreline to wake up to.

Can't say I'm too displeased myself, tbh.