India’s limited overs skipper MS Dhoni might have bid adieu to test cricket, but he still hopes for the best for the Virat Kohli led side. Dhoni, after the fourth ODI said that he hoped that the test matches were played on tracks assisting the spinners.
India’s primary strength is known to one and all, and playing on rank turners is that very strength. The likes of R. Ashwin and Amit Mishra proved to be lethal on the Sri Lankan wickets, which were sportive and not just rank turners. The threat possessed by the duo will simply amplify once they play on dust bowls, thus creating a menace for the visitors.
“At times we talk a bit too much about sporting wicket only means grass on the wicket but sporting means where you get challenged, where the spinners come into action. When you go outside India you don’t see a turning track on the very first day. We have our own speciality,” said Dhoni, talking about the nature of pitches.
Dhoni also lauded the Chepauk track and said, “For me that’s a fantastic Test wicket because it wasn’t unplayable. We scored 300 runs and they scored 270, if they would have not lost wickets it would have been a very interesting game.
“In a true Test match what you really want is the ball to start turning, specially when you are bowling slow, you want it, especially in the subcontinent, to turn early so that it is a challenge.”
Dhoni however, admitted that asking for tailored wickets was one hell of a task. “You tell them this is what we are looking for,” Dhoni said, “But its difficult for the groundsman also because its not like you mix the ingredients and you get the same result. But I always felt it was rolling that was very crucial because you roll it too much then there is no result. I have always found five-day Test match without result was a complete waste of time. So irrespective of who wins, in India specially, four days, four-and-a-half days should be the maximum a Test match should go because in that way what happens is the toss does not become very crucial.”