An innings to remember
Mahendra Singh Dhoni played a phenomenal innings to help India register a Test win against Australia. He restored some of the reputation his team had enjoyed in the longest format of the game, but on a designer spin pitch in Chennai on which only the fiery pace of James Pattinson helped a fast bowler take wickets.
A measure of the nature of the pitch could be gleaned by the fact that the Indian pace duo went wicketless.
Dhoni’s counterpart, Michael Clarke, the leading Test run scorer of 2012, also scored a classy century on the opening day. Sachin Tendulkar was among the runs, so too Virat Kohli who played a polished innings. Dhoni’s double century, the highest score by an Indian captain against Australia, was, however, in a league of its own.
Muscling his way past the difficulties posed by a pitch that resembled more a tennis clay court than a turf wicket, Dhoni dominated in a manner that only great attacking batsmen of the modern era seem capable. Australia caved in, fighting back only to the extent of making India bat again for victory.
The question is whether India should tamper with pitch preparation to the extent of enhancing its spin-bowling resources while denying a fair chance to cricketers to play their normal game. The beauty of Test cricket lies in the varied conditions in different parts of the world. While Indian spinners enjoyed the advantage, some introspection may be necessary.
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