A tale of two Captains by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Event:

Australia in India 2008/09

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DateLine: 22nd October 2008

 

Dhoni and Ponting before coming into this test match had totally two different issues to deal with. Ponting after having pushed India to the brink of defeat in the first test just had to up the ante a little bit in the second test. Dhoni on the other hand had a lot on his plate.Till the last minute he did not know if he was going to captain the team. Anil had kept everybody on the tenter hooks even making Ponting take a dig at him. Ponting referring to the Indian team as playing the old school of cricket and also asking them who their captain was, going into the second test. That sought of got the Indians going.
Dhoni beats Ponting at his own game
Once Dhoni knew that he was going to captain India , the body language of the whole team changed completely. Openers were scoring at four an over and the tempo was maintained right through the test match even though the wickets were falling at regular intervals. On the contrary Aussies were going at two an over. In out fields,bowling changes were spot on from the Indians.They were both attacking and defensive depending on the situation. On the other hand Aussies had a poor body language right through the test match. Ponting was not as inspirational a leader as Dhoni was in this test match. Dhoni got his team going. There was unity in the team and therefore a great team effort. On the contrary Australia were in tatters. Ponting,Lee spat dominated the Headlines after the huge defeat.
Both Seniors and Juniors performed
For once the talk was not centered around Seniors or Juniors.Dhoni carried everybody with him.From Sachin and Saurav to Mishra the debutant to Ishant everybody contributed putting to rest speculations on retirements,vrs and so on and so forth for the time being. Dhoni got the best out of practically everybody thereby inflicting the heaviest defeat on the Aussies in the last 17 yrs.
Ponting left with lots to ponder
At the end of the test match Ponting was left with lots to ponder about. Calls of bring back Warnie and Symmo were ringing loud and clear. He was answering questions on whether Australia had lost its invincibility,his spat with Lee,Lack of quality spinners,and a weak pace bowling department and whether his team would be able to bounce back after this crushing defeat and even if it does what does it hold for the future of Australian cricket.
On one hand Dhoni had given his nation a lot of hope and a Diwali present and even a confusion on who should captain India in the next test match a good one to have. Ponting on the other hand had given his country despair and a lot to think about over its future.A sporting nation like Australia where even their Prime minister follows this game, this one would be hard to digest.