Monday 9th January, 2012

Throughout India’s rise to the top of the Test Lord’s, with India 240 for 5 in reply to England’s 474, table and their subsequent time at the top - 18-odd Dhoni nicked tentatively to . In the second months - the image of their Dhoni coolly innings, with India reeling at 225 for 5 in the face of marshalling his troops and nonchalantly addressing a huge target, he exposed the tail by wafting a catch post-match ceremonies and press conferences with a to the wicketkeeper. At Trent Bridge, India were 52 confident smile on his face became a trademark. runs ahead of England when Dhoni played a leaden- Captain Cool, he was called. For what seemed like footed flash at James Anderson to give second slip years, Dhoni could do no wrong. He would make a catching practice. A dramatic, match-turning col- bowling change and more often than not it would lapse ensued. His forgettable match was capped with work. He got the best out of players like Gautam a first-ball duck in the second innings as he left a Gambhir, and . He led that was destined for the stumps. former captains in , A pair of breezy fifties followed at Edgbaston, and while handling egos in the but they had little bearing on the match, and at The dressing room. He presided over a rare Test series Oval Dhoni was back to business, edging catches to win in New Zealand, a first drawn series in South the wicketkeeper and second slip. His 144 against Africa, and hasn’t lost a series at home. West Indies in – he walked in at 396 for 6 - Now the aura that Dhoni had built up over three was sandwiched between scores of 0 in Delhi and 8 years is unraveling fast. He cannot be blamed for and 13 in Mumbai, each the result of a faulty tech- India’s failing, but his inability to inspire, his nique. In Australia, he has driven to gully, been Michael Clarke repeatedly defensive captaincy, and his lack of runs bowled and chipped back a yorker to the bowler. BY JAMIE ALTER (220 in four Tests against England and 88 in four Dhoni’s admission that India were beaten by the innings in Australia) have been factors in their better side certainly could not be argued with. ichael Clarke had been here before. A victo- downfall. His welcoming Brad Haddin in the first Australia have been the better side all series. Their MS Dhoni ry over India at the SCG to deliver Australia innings of the MCG Test, with Australia 211 for 6, inexperienced top order has yet to deliver collective- Man unassailable 2-0 series lead. Except the with a long-on, deep midwicket and fine leg in place ly - 37 for 3 at Sydney was precarious and Shaun ing 361 runs including a glorious unbeaten triple- conditions were somewhat different. was baffling. His swapping for R Marsh has hardly looked a Test batsman - but their , smart captaincy, and even the prized In 2007-08, it was Clarke’s part-time spin that Ashwin, with Australia nine down in the second senior batsmen have all cashed in. Ben Hilfenhaus of Sachin Tendulkar to turn the momentum back reaped three in the final over of an ugly innings, and spreading the field and employing one (15), Peter Siddle (11) and James Pattinson (11) have Australia’s way on the fourth afternoon. He has been incident-marred Test and delivered Australia a slip was criminal. all been in the wickets. an ever-present force, rotating his fielders, switching thrilling win. In 2011, it was his glorious unbeaten In Australia’s only innings at the SCG, when the All this while, the maturing of Clarke has almost his bowlers, and at the SCG his bat led India’s batter- 329 that spurred Australia on to an innings victory. hosts were 99 for 3 - still 92 runs behind India - happened in parallel to what Dhoni has done. Since ing. He has offered stability to a side that was creak- Back then, Clarke was a batsmen bristling with tal- Dhoni called on Ashwin and stuck in a deep point assuming the captaincy 10 Tests ago, Clarke has ing. ent but yet to live up to expectations. Today, he is and deep midwicket. That is not the thinking of a averaged 59 while scoring the three best centuries of Clarke has done little wrong in two Tests, and his Australia’s captain and a proud one at that, having champion leader. More than these tactical decisions, his 78-match career. He came into this series having captaincy has been received with acclaim. In these completed one of the most overriding Tests that a it is the utter demolition of Dhoni’s image of a overseen two crushing defeats in two drawn series - two Tests, it was evident that every player knew leader can. And his triple-century is being heralded proactive captain that may hurt India further. to in Cape Town and New Zealand in their role. This is not a settled unit, but if Australia as the innings of the 21st century. And then there is his . In the last year Brisbane - and with much of the Australian public retain the same team throughout the series it will MS Dhoni had also been here before. At the time Dhoni has averaged 30, boosted by two unbeaten still not convinced of his abilities as a Test player. prove that the right steps are being taken. of India’s defeat in Sydney last time around, he was half-centuries. Most worrying is the manner in His two most experienced batsmen had nooses hang- “I’ve spoken about consistency and our guys are India’s limited-overs captain with sights on leading which he has been dismissed in that period. In the ing around their necks, a pace attack cobbled togeth- doing that now,” said a beaming Clarke after the the team in all formats. With Anil Kumble coming to West Indies, Dhoni made 0, 16, 2, 5 and 74. He was er after injuries to three first-choice bowlers, and the SCG win. “In any team you need experience and the end of his career, Dhoni was the heir in waiting out fending to gully, top-edging to cover, chipping to unenviable task of leading a team roundly criticized youth and I think now this Australian team has it.” to captain the Test team. Today, having led India to mid-on, spooning to mid-off, and pulling to deep by the Australian media and in dire need of inspira- He appeared a man at peace with the world, the top of the Test rankings and a World Cup, he square leg. Four of those five dismissals came with tional guidance. This was, without a doubt, his while Dhoni’s comments did nothing to mask India’s stands amid a pile of rubble as India lick their India in shaky position. biggest test as captain of the Australian team. frailties. While Australia go to Perth led by their wounds after six consecutive overseas Test defeats. Onwards, to England. In the first innings at Clarke has responded fittingly, with a series-lead- captain, India stumble without direction. Curator says plenty of Michael Tissera bounce in WACA pitch PERTH, Australia (AP) — The WACA played at in recent tours. Ground’s curator says Australia and India can Australia coach Mickey Arthur expects India expect plenty of bounce from the pitch when the will have problems with the conditions in Perth. in Cape Town third Test begins in Perth on Friday. “Certainly in the first innings, they didn’t look Cameron Sutherland said Sunday he believes comfortable,” Arthur said of the Sydney Test. Former national captain and Brearley will discuss on the ongo- the wicket will play similarly to last year’s Ashes “They looked comfortable in the second innings ... test, when pacemen and Ryan (but) this is a wicket (Sydney), and Adelaide, that one of the most respected voices ing debate on tackling corruption Harris shared 18 wickets against England in a 267- most resembles the subcontinent. in Sri Lankan cricket, Michael in cricket, the postponement of win by Australia. “The WACA is going to be totally different. Tissera is in Cape Town attend- the World Test Championship Those conditions may lead Australia to opt for a There’ll be a lot of pace, a lot of bounce. It’ll be ing the MCC’s World Cricket scheduled for 2013 and examine four-man pace attack and leave out spinner Nathan interesting to see how they go there.” Committee meeting. MCC’s World the thoughts of Rahul Dravid on Lyon, who made little impact in the first two Tests. India is expected to make a change to its batting Cricket Committee is an inde- pink balls and the potential for Harris and towering paceman Mitchell Starc lineup, with Rohit Sharma in line to make his test have been called into the squad, covering the loss of debut and replace the struggling in the pendent body which comprises day/night . James Pattinson to a foot injury. middle order. current and ex-international The MCC’s World Cricket India star batsman Sachin Tendulkar is still “Rohit’s had his challenges on wickets that cricketers across the globe to dis- Committee comprises: seeking his record 100th international century, hav- bounce,” Arthur said. “He’s going to go into a fur- cuss the prevalent issues in the Mike Brearley (Chairman), Michael Tissera ing been on 99 since March. Tendulkar is the only nace at the WACA because there is going to be game. It acts as a complimentary Mike Atherton, Steve Waugh, India batsman to have scored a Test century at the bounce there. If he gets the nod, it’ll be very inter- body to the ICC and its con- Geoffrey Boycott, Steve Bucknor, Pollock, Barry Richards, Dave WACA, although it’s not a venue the visitors have esting.” stituent nations. Martin Crowe, Tony Dodemaide, Richardson, , The two-day sitting chaired by Andy Flower, Mike Gatting, Alec Stewart, Michael Tissera former England captain Mike Majid Khan, Anil Kumble, Shaun and Courtney Walsh. (RC) Sri Lanka ask for extra practice game

tour itinerary. The tourists lost the three match Test series 2-1 and the five match ODI series will get underway on Wednesday at Park in Paarl, about one hour from Cape Town. Paarl was the venue for Sri Lanka’s World Cup fixture The national cricket team Accordingly, Sri Lanka against Canada in 2003, where has requested for a practice will play a joint Western the game ended in less than game ahead of the five match Province-Boland Academy XI two hours after Sri Lanka ODI series against South at Morgenster Sports Ground bowled out the opposition for Africa that gets underway in Brackenfell today. The just 36 runs. (RC) later this week. game was not in the original The WACA, Perth, Western Australia.

Monday 9th January, 2012