Dhoni: England Need a Strategy Other Than Sledging
Sreelata Yellamrazu: After a 3-0 series victory, the Indian skipper chose to address the issue of sledging and give banter a limited space on the cricket field during the India England ODI series.Mahendra Singh Dhoni himself is a man of few words, on the cricket field, never Sreelata Yellamrazu:
After a 3-0 series victory, the Indian skipper chose to address the issue of sledging and give banter a limited space on the cricket field during the India England ODI series.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni himself is a man of few words, on the cricket field, never mind if he is expounding theories at the post match presentation ceremony. And the Indian captain feels that the England team can take a cue and turn down the volumes of banter on the cricket field and instead focus on winning.
Dhoni was not been sarcastic but merely responding to the theory put forth by England bowlers, Tim Bresnan and Samit Patel, who felt words were as necessary a weapon in trying to unsettle some of the Indian cricketers during the ongoing India England ODI series. There were a few run ins between the Indian and England cricketers although nothing that called for permanent animosity. While England have been looking to intimidate India with words, the Indian batting line up, in particular, has chosen to set England back by results.
Although Dhoni, like modern cricketers, does not believe that the game on the field needs to be absolutely silent, he certainly feels that war of words has limited scope on the field and after three wins on the trot, Dhoni feels it is England that will have to review their strategy if they are to register a win and it certainly won’t be by the choice of a few words.
Over the years, the issue of sledging has become a contentious topic and although it has not overshadowed the contest on the field in this case, a reminder to keep things in check and the spirit in which the game should be played would not be totally out of line given how quickly tempers can boil over, throwing plot lines out of the window. Perhaps Alastair Cook, the England ODI captain, will see the merit in the advice. After all, England can use all the resources available, having lost the ODI series.