Dhoni is precariously close to joining Aussie Bill Lawry as a captain associated with a famous 0-4 series loss; But inspiration could be just a glance away... India's 1971 win at the Oval
Dhoni is precariously close to joining Aussie Bill Lawry as a captain associated with a famous 0-4 series loss; But inspiration could be just a glance away... India's 1971 win at the Oval
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is precariously close to becoming the second most famous captain associated with a 0-4 series loss as the fourth and final India vs England Test drama unfolds at the Oval today.
Skipper Ajit Wadekar and teammate B S Chandrasekhar wave to cheering
crowds at the Oval after India won the Test series against England in 1971.
Pic/Getty Images
By Monday, if not earlier, considering four-day finishes in the last two Tests against Andrew Strauss' Englishmen, Dhoni will share the 'stage of shame' with Australia's Bill Lawry, who succumbed to South Africa 0-4 in the rainbow nation in 1969-70. There are similarities. While Dhoni's men were well seated on the Test No 1 throne until recently, Lawry's Australians too were highly rated. And while Dhoni's men arrived in England from different wickets in the West Indies, Lawry's Australians came to South Africa from slow, turning tracks in India. Yes, the South African tracks favoured pace bowling.
While on the edge of further ignominy, Dhoni can seek inspiration for this Oval Test from India's past performances here. He wouldn't have to strain his neck too much to look up at the famous balcony where 40 Augusts ago, Ajit Wadekar and his stars made that photograph of them celebrating their first Test and series triumph over England in 1971 famous.
Three from Wadekar's playing XI have left for Elysian Fields -- Eknath Solkar, Dilip Sardesai and Ashok Mankad. But if Dhoni wants to chat on what made that team tick, there are two members in England to tell him all about it -- Sunil Gavaskar and Farokh Engineer. And the current series' television rights holders for India would be able to provide him footage too. That's if the skipper thinks there is some value in looking back. Though Engineer would be a touch disappointed at not being made consultant for the tour, which he wanted to be, he won't hold back any advice.
Gavaskar scored 221 on this ground in 1979 when India nearly won again. Set to score 438 in 500 minutes by Mike Brearley, India ended up only nine runs short of the target and Gavaskar claimed the man of the match award.
Dhoni, alongwith his senior pros and younger guns is under immense scrutiny. The captain won't mind the heat considering what he has kept saying during his interactions with the media that tough situations make life interesting, something, which he said yesterday too.
The Indians would have to reveal their tough hide if they seek to conquer England in a Test which is of only academic interest to the hosts. Wonder what he has been telling his team in the lead-up. This is probably the best time to be at his proactive best. It is certainly not the time to say little and hope for things to fall into place. Not that he needs to deliver Churchill-like speeches.
When Australia went into the fifth and final Test at the Oval in 1972, Ian Chappell's team were 1-2 down. In a team meeting before the Test, he stressed that he was convinced his side was better than Ray Illingworth's Englishmen, but he wouldn't be able to say that to the media if his team ended up on the losing side.
He made a brave and historic non-selection too. He dropped one of his match-winning batsmen Doug Walters, a great mate of his. The dashing player had scored just 54 runs in the previous four Tests. For the first time in the history of Australian cricket, the playing XI did not include a New South Welshman.
On hearing about Walters' dropping, a touring journalist, who knew Chappell's closeness to Walters told the captain that he was surprised by his move. And Chappell's response was: "If you are talking about what I think you are talking about, then you don't know me very well. If you think I'm going to pick Doug Walters because he is a mate of mine, when it's not in the best interest of the team, then you don't know me well."
Australia went on to win the Test. The series was squared 2-2 although England retained the Ashes thanks to their triumph in 1970-71.
Dhoni has a few selection issues to sort out. The pace attack needs to have a new look to it even if Praveen Kumar is fit. RP Singh, who has come down as a replacement for Zaheer Khan, ought to play. In the batting department, there are loud calls for Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings teammate Suresh Raina to be dropped and Virat Kohli to be included.
Is this a Doug Walters-like situation? Probably!
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