http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 – Cricket News Update
Quite a few former Indian players have supported the current Indian Captain, MS Dhoni, even after the team lost the opening two Tests.
The strong England side has outplayed India in both Tests and won them with a commendable lead of 196 and 319 runs respectively.
The individual performance of Dhoni has come under much criticism from home and abroad.
The 30-year-old could score just 49 runs in four innings at a poor average of 12.25 runs, with the best of 28 runs. He has taken 11 catches behind the wickets while fumbling with many important ones and could not produce any stumping.
Dhoni is leading a depleted Indian side, which was without the regular opener, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Z-Khan-c98379, on the first day of the initial Test.
Recently, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harbhajan-Singh-c61453 were also ruled out of the whole series, compounding India's misery.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/R-Dravid-c2229 was the only batsman who came out bravely and scored 262 runs in the two matches so far, at an excellent average of 87.33 runs and the best of 117, with a ton in every match.
The rest of the batting lineup was unable to resist the charged up English pace attack.
Dhoni's confidence has been shattered by two defeats, but http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 was confident that Dhoni will bounce back in the series. He said,
"I don't blame him. We are playing against the best team (England)... the commentators and crowd pressure is also there. So overall, things are not going well for MS (Dhoni) but he is a strong character and he has always bounced back and hopefully he will
fight back."
Dhoni has taken part in 59 Tests, scored 3071 runs, averaging 37.45 with the best of 148.
He has pouched 171 catches behind the wickets and has 25 stumping to his credit.
Another former Indian batsman, Anshuman Gaekwad, also supported Dhoni by admiring his overall contribution to the team.
"If you just forget these two test matches... as a captain, as a batsman and as a wicketkeeper he has done marvellously well."
India reached to the climax of the game under his Captaincy by winning the Twenty20 World Cup 2007, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 Cricket World Cup 2011, and India is still the No.1 Test team in world rankings.
Dhoni has an uphill task ahead of him once he leads the team in the third Test which will commence from August 10, 2011, at Edgbaston, Birmingham. He has to stop the flow of English victories leading from the front while retaining the No.1 spot.
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