When the attacker goes defensive!

Before you go through this post, I would like you to know that I am not against anyone just for the sake of doing so like many others (such readers are requested to refrain from scrolling down as you would go against me towards the end :P ). If I’m against something or someone, it is because I truly believe so.

The attacker that I am talking about is none other than the present Indian Cricket team captain. Though I have never been a big fan of Dhoni, I developed a certain amount of respect for him looking at the way he led the side in the last few tournaments, and made some excellent decisions. He doesn’t have a technique many people would love to watch, but yeah, he is more productive than most of the men in blue.

What I could not understand was his decision to not declare early in the ongoing Test against New Zealand at Wellington. What was he waiting for? Was it some individual big score that he wanted some of his teammate to achieve? Was he enjoying batting himself too much that he could risk winning an easy match? I heard it on TV during the lunch break on the third day that it was forecasted that the last day would be cloudy, and there would be chances of rain on the fourth day too. Now, what answer would he have if it rains on the last day! Moreover, the target that should be set in such circumstances should be such that the other side should consider it to be chaseable, and try to achieve it, and in the process lose wickets. Would the New Zealanders consider a chance of winning chasing 617? If Dhoni let his team continue to bat thinking that India will win the series even if the match ends up in a draw, I am totally against such strategies. He is well-known for his attacking cricket, and should abide by his technique in such cases too. A target of 450 would have been very safe and sensible.

I have always loved to see India win matches. In fact, there have been days when I used to feel bad for hours after India lost a cricket match. But this is one such occasion where I would like the match to go away from India’s hands; in such cases, I would rate a draw as equivalent to a defeat! The captain should learn to make better decisions. I sincerely hope that it rains the whole day in Wellington tomorrow. A side which is doing so well should not lag behind in any department, not at least in decision making.