14 August,2011 06:14 AM IST | | Clayton Murzello
Mahendra Singh Dhoni may have walked out of the media conference on Saturday satisfied by his defiant 'innings' at Edgbaston yesterday. But his side still stays the subject of ridicule.
England team celebrate the fall of India's last wicket, S Sreesanth
to win the third Test at Edgbaston on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images
Dhoni offered near no comments to questions with regards to scheduling and preparation, the lack of which led to his side's innings and 242-run defeat to England here on Saturday and the abject surrender of the World No 1 crown.
Dhoni tried hard to resist being a tool for controversy. That is understandable to an extent, but he is the skipper. His boss at the BCCI - N Srinivasan doesn't have to face the media before and after every match.
India lost 0-3 to England in 1974, but the current series loss is more embarrassing, according to those who witnessed that shellacking simply because India were not the No 1 team then although they beat Tony Lewis' tourists in the 1972-73 series which made up the hat-trick of wins following the 1971 series wins in the West Indies and England.
Sure, England's bowling was top-class, just like it was in the last Ashes series Down Under; just like it was in 2005 when England regained the Ashes for the first time since 1986-87. What should tear Dhoni's heart was that the two above mentioned series were more of a contest than this one.
Rahul Dravid could well be ruing his decision not to ask for a review for his caught behind dismissal and there was cricketing cruelty written all over Sachin Tendulkar's run out on Saturday, but the fact is India were bowled out for 244 inside 56 overs. Dhoni (74 not out) and Praveen Kumar's entertaining innings of 40 notwithstanding.
It would be unfair to question Dhoni's commitment to the cause. Ditto his deeds which put India on top of the international map. Lest we forget, he was the toast of the nation only a few months ago when he lifted the World Cup. But some of his views after the Edgbaston defeat were interesting, if the word 'strange' sounds over the top.
He gave the impression that overseas performances were not all that critical when this aspect is viewed as a hallmark of a great side. When asked what he would be telling his batsmen, who have been destroyed in the series with the exception of Rahul Dravid, who scored hundreds at Lord's and Trent Bridge, Dhoni reminded media persons that India play 80 per cent of their cricket at home: "All these away series are there to improve you as a cricketer. I think it is important not to go very critically about the technical aspect. You must go out there and enjoy and that is very important."
His comment reminded one of then coach Kapil Dev, who stressed on the enjoyment factor when his team was losing match after match on the 1999-2000 tour of Australia. By the way, this series is spoken the same breath.
India lost 0-3 to Steve Waugh's Australians and didn't even qualify for the one-day triangular series final which was contested between the hosts and Pakistan.
Dhoni wants to view Thursday's final Test at the Oval as a one-Test series and did not rule out a win for India. No harm. But, a consolation win cannot lead to an all-is-forgotten situation. Tough captains will not fall for that.
When Australia won a dead rubber Test against England at Sydney in 1986-87, Allan Border discovered his star batsman Dean Jones celebrating the win with some mates. Border, despite ending that Test on the winning side, found little or no joy.
He is believed to have rebuked and reminded them, saying, "we still lost the Ashes, mates." The celebrations ended. Dhoni has been a fine captain, and the Captain Cool image is cool. But showing he is a tough one, will do too. Now, more than ever!
