ID :
30113
Fri, 11/14/2008 - 09:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/30113
The shortlink copeid
Dhoni expects smooth transition from Test to O.D.I. mode
S S Ramaswamy
Rajkot, Nov 13 (PTI) Skipper of Indian cricket team Mahendra Singh Dhoni reckons switching from Test to one-day cricket mode in just three days' time would be the major challenge when the hosts take on England in first of the seven O.D.I.s here on Friday.
"It's never easy when you play back-to-back international
series. We had three days' time to switch over from five-day
to one-day series. It's quite tough but then as an
international cricketer you are supposed to play and adapt,"
said the wicket keeper-batsman ahead of the first of seven
O.D.I.s here.
Dhoni, however, expects a smooth transition because half
of the players in the O.D.I. squad did not play in the
Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against Australia.
"One of the good things is that half the side hasn't
played the Test series. It's good right now. But I have played
Test cricket as well as one-day series, it is quite difficult
to switch over to one-day mode but as I said we are
international cricketers. We are professionals," he said.
Looking ahead, Dhoni said even if India didn't take an
early lead in the series, the hosts should remain optimistic.
"If we lose a few games, we shouldn't feel so low. We
will win some and lose some but we will always have to be
positive frame of mind," he said.
The Indian skipper felt that the wicket looked on the
softer side and could help the seam bowlers in the morning.
"The wicket is quite soft right now. They are rolling the
wicket, at the same time there's a bit of grass on it. So in
the morning there will be assistance for fast bowlers. It
doesn't look it will break. It's all predictions, you will
know only when you play," he said.
Dhoni felt the new Power Play, introduced from October 1,
could throw up interesting possibilities.
"They have made it interesting. The last Power Play, the
five overs, will be decided by the team which is batting. You
(fielding side) won't have any liberty of planning. It means
when you plan a few strategies on the ground, suddenly you
find the opposition asking about the five overs. You have to
be ready for it.
"It's very tough to say anything right now, how much it
will help the side batting first or second. We can see a few
games and see what is really happening. But they say chasing
will be easier if you have a good partnership and you can take
it after that. It is really confusing right now," he said.
As per the new Power Play rules, the batting side can
choose the timing of either the second or third Power Play
(each lasting five overs), whereas the fielding side
previously chose both.
Dhoni did not think that the 5-1 thrashing of England by
India in their previous visit in 2005-06 would have any
bearing on the current contest of seven O.D.I.s.
"It is past. It's history. We are not thinking about it,"
he said.
He also refused to see the contest as a personal duel
between him and England skipper Kevin Pietersen.
"We can sit and play a game of chess in my room or his
room. But it is a team sport. It's all about winning the
series and it all starts from tomorrow. It is not about
outsmarting each other as a skipper but it about outplaying
each other side. As a team we have to do well and dominate
the opponent and do it consistently," he said.
Talking about India's winning streak under his command in
the shorter versions of the game starting from the Twenty20
World Cup in September 2007, Dhoni said that the team had
improved its fielding and that has brought a few results in
its favour.
"We have done the basics right. We have improved our
fielding. We are trying to improve our running between the
wickets and at the same time we are switching players because
it is tough to be in the circle cutting the singles throughout
the 50 overs.
"At times we have players moving out and players fresh
coming into the circle. At the same time at the end of the
32nd to 50th over we see the best fielders on the boundary
line. The best part is the players have taken upon the
responsibilities," he said.
He was also full of praise for the behind-the-scene
contribution of coach Gary Kirsten, the former South African
Test cricketer.
"Gary is very different. He is more like the guy who
operates behind the scene. He is not one who always comes to
the media and speaks. That is a very good thing and he gives
plenty of confidence to the players, a very good motivator. He
makes moves at the right moment. That is very important.
"He is very focussed and gives advises when needed. He is
not that sort of a guy who, when we lose two or three wickets,
is in panic. He is quite a calm and cool guy. He makes the
atmosphere great. He has been great so far and hopefully he
will be the same in the future," Dhoni said.
Dhoni once again reposed his faith in out-of-form players
like Yuvraj Singh who has lost his vice captaincy to Virender
Sehwag and felt that it was just a question of a few good
innings that would bring back their confidence. PTI SSR
SAK
Rajkot, Nov 13 (PTI) Skipper of Indian cricket team Mahendra Singh Dhoni reckons switching from Test to one-day cricket mode in just three days' time would be the major challenge when the hosts take on England in first of the seven O.D.I.s here on Friday.
"It's never easy when you play back-to-back international
series. We had three days' time to switch over from five-day
to one-day series. It's quite tough but then as an
international cricketer you are supposed to play and adapt,"
said the wicket keeper-batsman ahead of the first of seven
O.D.I.s here.
Dhoni, however, expects a smooth transition because half
of the players in the O.D.I. squad did not play in the
Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against Australia.
"One of the good things is that half the side hasn't
played the Test series. It's good right now. But I have played
Test cricket as well as one-day series, it is quite difficult
to switch over to one-day mode but as I said we are
international cricketers. We are professionals," he said.
Looking ahead, Dhoni said even if India didn't take an
early lead in the series, the hosts should remain optimistic.
"If we lose a few games, we shouldn't feel so low. We
will win some and lose some but we will always have to be
positive frame of mind," he said.
The Indian skipper felt that the wicket looked on the
softer side and could help the seam bowlers in the morning.
"The wicket is quite soft right now. They are rolling the
wicket, at the same time there's a bit of grass on it. So in
the morning there will be assistance for fast bowlers. It
doesn't look it will break. It's all predictions, you will
know only when you play," he said.
Dhoni felt the new Power Play, introduced from October 1,
could throw up interesting possibilities.
"They have made it interesting. The last Power Play, the
five overs, will be decided by the team which is batting. You
(fielding side) won't have any liberty of planning. It means
when you plan a few strategies on the ground, suddenly you
find the opposition asking about the five overs. You have to
be ready for it.
"It's very tough to say anything right now, how much it
will help the side batting first or second. We can see a few
games and see what is really happening. But they say chasing
will be easier if you have a good partnership and you can take
it after that. It is really confusing right now," he said.
As per the new Power Play rules, the batting side can
choose the timing of either the second or third Power Play
(each lasting five overs), whereas the fielding side
previously chose both.
Dhoni did not think that the 5-1 thrashing of England by
India in their previous visit in 2005-06 would have any
bearing on the current contest of seven O.D.I.s.
"It is past. It's history. We are not thinking about it,"
he said.
He also refused to see the contest as a personal duel
between him and England skipper Kevin Pietersen.
"We can sit and play a game of chess in my room or his
room. But it is a team sport. It's all about winning the
series and it all starts from tomorrow. It is not about
outsmarting each other as a skipper but it about outplaying
each other side. As a team we have to do well and dominate
the opponent and do it consistently," he said.
Talking about India's winning streak under his command in
the shorter versions of the game starting from the Twenty20
World Cup in September 2007, Dhoni said that the team had
improved its fielding and that has brought a few results in
its favour.
"We have done the basics right. We have improved our
fielding. We are trying to improve our running between the
wickets and at the same time we are switching players because
it is tough to be in the circle cutting the singles throughout
the 50 overs.
"At times we have players moving out and players fresh
coming into the circle. At the same time at the end of the
32nd to 50th over we see the best fielders on the boundary
line. The best part is the players have taken upon the
responsibilities," he said.
He was also full of praise for the behind-the-scene
contribution of coach Gary Kirsten, the former South African
Test cricketer.
"Gary is very different. He is more like the guy who
operates behind the scene. He is not one who always comes to
the media and speaks. That is a very good thing and he gives
plenty of confidence to the players, a very good motivator. He
makes moves at the right moment. That is very important.
"He is very focussed and gives advises when needed. He is
not that sort of a guy who, when we lose two or three wickets,
is in panic. He is quite a calm and cool guy. He makes the
atmosphere great. He has been great so far and hopefully he
will be the same in the future," Dhoni said.
Dhoni once again reposed his faith in out-of-form players
like Yuvraj Singh who has lost his vice captaincy to Virender
Sehwag and felt that it was just a question of a few good
innings that would bring back their confidence. PTI SSR
SAK
