[PPS]

The way things are going, Murali Vijay could just make it to the World Cup Squad!
Our bowling continues to he hopless! By the time the World Cup starts, our bowlers will be a very tired lot with the amount of bowling that they are doing. Only Bhuvneshwar perhaps will be a bit fresh thanks to his injury.
Things not looking too good for us.

[pratyush6]

So the Boxing Day Test as it stands:

Australia have another 38 overs to prize out 7 Indian wickets. More like 30 overs to remove the Rahane & Kohli pair - the rest will fall like nine pins.

I was amazed they kept batting on today and the way they did - was very un-Aussie like.
But huge problems for India, specially we need to be concerned with Ashwin's bowling. He bowls as if he is playing a T20. Look at Lyon, a relatively less regarded spinner and he outbolws Ashwin exponentially. Dhawan is clearly on the way out - Rahul will get another chance next Test. Pujara is looked gingerly - as if he had no confidence whatsoever.

And again, MSD would be playing his last test in Sydney (for sure as a skipper and in all possiblity in his life).

[hemanth.anand]

There goes the Match...With Virat gone, I feel the match is gone too.
He is such a confidence inspiring cricketer.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by pratyush6

I was amazed they kept batting on today and the way they did - was very un-Aussie like.

Steve Smith being an inexperienced captain underestimated his own bowling attack! They should have easily won this game but who knows our team could still make it a nail-biting finish with us having zero chances of winning.

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by PPS

Steve Smith being an inexperienced captain underestimated his own bowling attack! They should have easily won this game but who knows our team could still make it a nail-biting finish with us having zero chances of winning.

Yes both the teams have experienced a similar nail-biting finish 7 years ago
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ausvind/...ch/291352.html
Although only Dhoni, Ishanth and Mitchell Johnson are the only common players, Both teams are however similar in one getting a victory and the other handing it over to them.

[Eddy]

Dhoni retires from test cricket, with immediate effect

[PPS]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Dhoni retires from test cricket, with immediate effect

Bit of a surprise, he should ideally have been dropped! But atleast he retired on a high by eking out a draw!

[hemanth.anand]

Its like an under-performing employee resigning when he is in danger of being terminated. I see it as an ego protection move.
Good that he has not retired from ODIs which would have been a big punch on the morale of the team

[mercedised]

Something does'nt looks right in Dhoni's surprising retirement. In the midst of the series he suddenly comes to Australia and takes captaincy and then retires. This series has not been as bad as was against England. Looks like something big related to IPL fixing is going tobe revealed, he might retire from ODI's too.

[hothatchaway]

^^^Its been long overdue and its because of the feudal mindset (jagir) that he kept cutting a sorry picture of himself on the cricket field in test matches. Always a mediocre bat in the longer version (and exposed brutally in hostile conditions) he does not even deserve a place in the current xi. His unimaginative and defensive tactics along with an agenda of promoting his own coterie in the team has chipped away a lot of the sheen that he had earned in the limited overs format.

But then again, he did what many of our past stalwarts have done, which is to keep feathering their own nests until it starts becoming an intolerable eyesore

[Achyuth Vaibhav]

Originally Posted by hothatchaway

^^^Its been long overdue and its because of the feudal mindset (jagir) that he kept cutting a sorry picture of himself on the cricket field in test matches. Always a mediocre bat in the longer version (and exposed brutally in hostile conditions) he does not even deserve a place in the current xi. His unimaginative and defensive tactics along with an agenda of promoting his own coterie in the team has chipped away a lot of the sheen that he had earned in the limited overs format.

But then again, he did what many of our past stalwarts have done, which is to keep feathering their own nests until it starts becoming an intolerable eyesore

. I don't like his technique at all, he plays with a negative mindset when he goes overseas, whenever he played, it looks like he would play for a draw rather than a win. Moreover, Kohli captained way better than Dhoni and his aggressive intent is real good. But his attitude must change in order to become more successful.

Originally Posted by mercedised

Something does'nt looks right in Dhoni's surprising retirement. In the midst of the series he suddenly comes to Australia and takes captaincy and then retires. This series has not been as bad as was against England. Looks like something big related to IPL fixing is going tobe revealed, he might retire from ODI's too.

Actually, Sreesanth had revealed names of those involved in the scandal. And the media didn't want to reveal the names, instead they gave people hints about the players. Had he continued to play, the court would have ordered him to step down from playing from ALL FORMATS. Maybe people will look at him like a legend who wanted to develop the youngsters.

Thanks,

Achyuth

[hemanth.anand]

In a nutshell, here's what he has done on the field in test match cricket.



Apart from this, he was the captain when India reached the No.1 spot in tests

[PPS]

Originally Posted by hothatchaway

His unimaginative and defensive tactics

Originally Posted by Achyuth Vaibhav

I don't like his technique at all, he plays with a negative mindset when he goes overseas, whenever he played, it looks like he would play for a draw rather than a win. Moreover, Kohli captained way better than Dhoni and his aggressive intent is real good. But his attitude must change in order to become more successful.

You can't win matches with 3 batsman & No Bowlers! A Captain is only as good as his team. We would have won quite a few games overseas if we had 2 decent/good bowlers.
Dhoni's captaincy can be perplexing sometimes but for Kohli it will be a stern test. Hope it doesn't affect his batting as he will have to rely on same set of mediocre bowlers.
For the longest time we needed a Keeper who could bat & score runs which we got in the form of Dhoni. Now Saha will get an extended run & is assured of his place in the team.

[pratyush6]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

Its like an under-performing employee resigning when he is in danger of being terminated. I see it as an ego protection move.
Good that he has not retired from ODIs which would have been a big punch on the morale of the team

Your words seem contradictory right?

Originally Posted by hothatchaway

^^^Its been long overdue and its because of the feudal mindset (jagir) that he kept cutting a sorry picture of himself on the cricket field in test matches. Always a mediocre bat in the longer version (and exposed brutally in hostile conditions) he does not even deserve a place in the current xi. His unimaginative and defensive tactics along with an agenda of promoting his own coterie in the team has chipped away a lot of the sheen that he had earned in the limited overs format.

But then again, he did what many of our past stalwarts have done, which is to keep feathering their own nests until it starts becoming an intolerable eyesore

Some questions that I have for you:
1. Can you name some better WK Batsmen in India?
2. Any evidence for promoting his own players?
3. Feathering their own nests - The guy has played 90 Tests, he is retiring before a year which all Tests will be at home - he could easily play 100 Tests

I find it rather amusing we jump on someone who has retired - whatever reasons - rather than thanking and being grateful for what he has provided to the game, we start punching holes in his character

And those thinking his name might be revealed in the IPL for some wrong doing and that is why he retired, wouldn't it make sense then to retire from all formats?

I am not a fan of his captaincy outside India - but name me one better and then talk about it. He led the team when no was ready to do so and this is how we pay back? No respect whatsoever?

All things said an done, I am thankful for the guy to have played for us, he has had the single biggest impact on the game after Sachin. Hats off MSD.

[ILTDrive]

Originally Posted by pratyush6

Y He led the team when no was ready to do so and this is how we pay back? No respect whatsoever?

This one sentence sums up my emotions on reading some of the comments about MSD. I am no big fan of his, especially the way he handled the seniors towards the end (Rahul and VVS) but then what he has contributed to the younger generation in belief is second to none and hence he deserves a very high respect from my side. He could have retired after the series or before the series, but that is his choice to make. Hopefully, he signs off on a high from the other formats.