Legendary wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist has lavished praise on Indian wicket-keeper saying the unorthodox style of wicket-keeping has helped India’s limited-overs captain flourish behind the stumps.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Gilchrist said:“There’s only one textbook that has MS Dhoni’s keeping (style) in it, and he’s the only one who’s read it.He has forged his own technique. He does not follow the traditional keeper’s technique. And that’s not a criticism, that’s a compliment.
“He’s very effective and street-smart. I think he’s the quickest stumper that I’ve ever seen. You can have a perfect textbook technique and miss a stumping because you’re a bit slow.But he gets the ball back to the stumps, and he has pinched a few dismissals just by the pace of his hand,” he added.
Meanwhile, the 44-year-old said that his country will turn things around soon in the Tests against South Afric. The Australian team is going through a tough phase right now but Gilchrist said Steven Smith’s men will get back to winning ways sooner than later.
Gilchrist said:“The Australian cricket team is clearly a team that’s still learning a bit about itself under a relatively new captain. In Michael Clarke, we’ve just lost another sort of Hall of Famer, a sort of 120-Test type player, so that’s a big hole to fill.”
The Australian team is currently on a four-match win-less streak and a tougher test is awaiting them as they are set to visit India for four Tests next year. When the former cricketer was asked about what should be their approach to performing well in subcontinental conditions, Gilchrist, who was part of the Australian team that won a Test series in India in 2004, said: “You have to know your own game and work at what approach you have to take.
“Is not a blanket policy, so I can’t say that everyone must sweep, or everyone mustn’t sweep. Use your feet, or don’t use your feet. Some do, some don’t. It’s all in your mind,” he continued. “Is it going to be an aggressive approach, or is it going to be a patient one? It might be a blend of both. That would be my word of advice.”