02 August,2011 08:14 AM IST | | Harit N Joshi
India's dismal performance in the Lord's and Trent Bridge Tests has invited heavy criticism from the cricketing
fraternity.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni & Co are on the verge of losing their No 1 Test ranking to England after yesterday's 319-run defeat on the penultimate day of the second Test in Nottingham, following a defeat in the opener at Lord's last week.
Bishan Singh Bedi
Former India skipper Bishan Singh Bedi said India do not deserve to be No 1 any more. "You are as good as your last innings. We do not deserve to be called the No 1 Test team. What have we done to maintain our No 1 position? We only focus on individual milestones," Bedi told MiD DAY yesterday.
The legendary spinner heavily criticised India skipper Dhoni for putting the opposition in to bat after winning the toss in both the Tests. "I cannot agree with Dhoni's strategy of putting the opposition in. He defied all cricketing logic. Batting first is always an advantage in Tests. If you are going to bowl first, then take four seamers (in the team). Else, why expose our weak bowling attack? (Suresh) Raina and Yuvraj (Singh) can bowl some spin. I don't understand what coach Duncan Fletcher is doing," thundered Bedi.
Ajit Wadekar, who led India to a historic win in 1971 in England, said the team lost confidence after the first Test at Lord's. "The loss at Lord's affected our team's confidence. Our batters panicked and bowlers didn't know where to bowl despite favourable conditions at Trent Bridge," said Wadekar.
