Collapses and mounting losses

Brisbane, December 21

After the stunning defeat in Brisbane, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that the team's approach to batting in overseas tours has “improved” in the last one year.

That’s difficult to accept when a team has lost its middle order for 11 runs in just over three overs, as India did in the second innings at Brisbane. Yet, after the horror of the final two Tests of the tour of England, when India lost the matches inside three days, being beaten on the fifth or fourth days of a Test does seem to be an improvement.

In fact, no one expected the Indian batsmen to rack up 408 in the first innings on the greenish, quick wicket in Brisbane. A score of 408 at the Gabba is definitely an improvement, though it’s another matter that having reached 321/4, they should have made at least 500 in the first innings. India lost their last six wickets for 87.

This was a collapse from a position of strength. In the second innings, we witnessed a more familiar collapse, a collapse from a position of weakness. Having conceded a lead of 97, India had their backs to the wall when they lost Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma and Dhoni in 20 balls, before the lead could be wiped out. Effectively, India were 10 for five and had no hope.

In the first Test at Adelaide, India had lost the last five wickets for 45 in the first innings and the last eight for 73 in the second.

“In both these first two Tests, only a bad period of about 20 matches has badly affected our results,” said Dhoni after the second defeat. “Despite the collapses, it can be seen in the overseas tours from last year that the batting approach has improved. We just have to take it forward. Then it becomes a matter of seeing what is important for the team in different situation.”

“There is no substitute to experience. We cannot get experienced players from anywhere. These same players have to play more matches and get that experience. The more we play overseas more will be experience. We cannot get experienced players from anywhere else,” he said.

India have now lost six Tests in a row in Australia, starting from the first Test of the 2011-12 series. They have also lost five Tests in a row abroad. After a win at the Lord’s Test, they had lost three in a row in England. Since winning the World Cup in 2011, India have lost away series in England (twice), Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Another defeat in Australia looms ahead.

“This collapse in Brisbane was quite different and will be addressed in a different way,” Dhoni said. “Yes, we have had batting collapses in the past, in the recent Test series we have played overseas. Generally how you address a situation is you try to tell the batsmen to bat as normally as possible. To not really look at the scoreboard as to what really has happened.”

“You play according to the merit of the delivery. If it is there to be hit, you hit. You look to score and be positive. That's how it is supposed to be,” he added.

Yet, the sum total is that the Indians continue to collapse, and the captain has reached a stage he derives hope for the improvement in the quality of defeat. — PTI/TNS

Collapsing in Australia

6/77In first innings of 1st Test at Adelaide, going from 367/4 to 444 all out

8/73In second innings of Adelaide Test, from 242/2 to 315 all out to lose the match by 48 runs

6/87In first innings at Brisbane,  from 321/4 to 408 all out.

4/11In second innings at Brisbane, from 76/1 to 87/5, to be bowled out for 224

Dhoni’s take on the way forward

In both these first two Tests, only a bad period of about 20 matches has badly affected our results Despite the collapses, it can be seen in the overseas tours from last year that the batting approach has improved. We just have to take it forward. Then it becomes a matter of seeing what is important for the team in different situation.

Yes, we have had batting collapses in the past. Generally how you address a situation is you try to tell the batsmen to bat as normally as possible. To not really look at the scoreboard as to what really has happened. You play according to the merit of the delivery. If it is there to be hit, you hit. You look to score and be positive. That's how it is supposed to be.