Won’t comment much on this specific innings but zorax is right when he says that Dhoni’s innings was equal parts crucial and awful.
Dhoni’s batting throughout his career has been about premeditation. Not in the reverse switch hit sense of the word, but he doesn’t play deliveries on merit. He often decides before the ball is delivered whether he’s going to try to nudge it for a single, leave, bash or dead bat it. You can see it in his backlift and how he constantly tries to turn his wrists at the last second when he’s hunting for that single, despite the ball being there to drive.
He used to be really good at this, and did it brilliantly for years. Unfortunately it’s an incredibly hard thing to do, and his skills have since diminished, but he still seems to believe he is capable of that level of manipulation.
He isn’t and so what should be laced through covers is left alone, what is to be driven down the ground for a single is dead batted and what can be tucked away down the legside is swatted at. He’s playing EA cricket instead of reacting, and his skill level isn’t up to the task.
Dhoni’s batting throughout his career has been about premeditation. Not in the reverse switch hit sense of the word, but he doesn’t play deliveries on merit. He often decides before the ball is delivered whether he’s going to try to nudge it for a single, leave, bash or dead bat it. You can see it in his backlift and how he constantly tries to turn his wrists at the last second when he’s hunting for that single, despite the ball being there to drive.
He used to be really good at this, and did it brilliantly for years. Unfortunately it’s an incredibly hard thing to do, and his skills have since diminished, but he still seems to believe he is capable of that level of manipulation.
He isn’t and so what should be laced through covers is left alone, what is to be driven down the ground for a single is dead batted and what can be tucked away down the legside is swatted at. He’s playing EA cricket instead of reacting, and his skill level isn’t up to the task.
