Probably my last Test at Lord's; lucky that short-ball strategy worked - MS Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ishant Sharma after the second Test match at Lord’s

MS Dhoni said they were lucky that the short-ball strategy worked in India’s favour.

In the post-match conference after the historic win at Lord’s, the Indian skipper was asked if the short-ball strategy against England was fuelled by the success of Australian and Sri Lankan bowlers in using the same ploy.

“If you compare our bowling with the Australian attack we have very different bowlers. We don't have many bowlers who can bounce like that,” Dhoni replied.

“If I was Mitchell Johnson I won't bowl up ever. I don't care who the batsman is. Ishant is someone who can do that. Can't ask Bhuvi to bowl that. Even Shami can bowl quick, but he doesn't get a lot of bounce off the wicket. We just wanted to exploit conditions and throw a challenge to them and see what they do: duck or play shots. In this case we were lucky and it worked in our favour. Some days they will not play any shots and it wont work in your favour,” he admitted.

Mitchell Johnson was the star of the last Ashes series in Australia boucing out England. The left-arm seamer ended the series with 37 wickets.

Team Effort

India did not win away from home since 2011 and tasted success after 15 Test matches. The young Indian side twice came close in Johannesburg and Wellington but not able to effect the finishing touches in the previous tours to South Africa and New Zealand.

“It is a result of hard work and effort of the team. I felt in the last couple of series outside India we were in a position to seal victories in one game each in both places, but somehow we were not able to do that. I felt the bowlers put in great efforts in both matches. What was important was to keep working hard.

“Keep giving the same kind of preparation and thinking into the game. And because of that we have sealed the first game for this team. It was fantastic to see the kind of effort and determination from this team,” mentioned the wicket-keeper batsman on the win. The world cup winning captain, however refused to compare the win with Durban Test against South Africa, 2010.

“I don't believe in comparison. Not as if I have 50-60 Test wins to look back at,” stated Dhoni.

“Every Test is special for its own reason, every innings or hundred or fifty is special in its own way. If you see, the team or the 18 from back then, almost the entire team is different. Just in that way it is very special. It was a Test match where there was a lot of pressure on us. Lost a crucial toss and had to fight hard for those first one-two hours when there was moisture on the wicket. I felt that the openers did that with the No. 3 batsman and then we scored runs, and Bhuvi bowled well in the first innings and Ishant in the second innings,” said the most successful Indian skipper.

Speaking on the match changing innings of 68 from Ravindra Jadeja, he said, “Jadeja is very talented. At times he feels pressure. What's important is that he gets a few innings like this. Going forward he will start feeling more confident. And maybe you will see a change in his approach.

“Still I think the number where he bats he has to score quickly, look for runs. Irrespective of how he plays, quite a few batsmen lower down the order score many more runs playing aggressive cricket rather than just surviving in the middle. He should just look to go in and hit the fast bowlers. What we have seen is, once he attacks he gets into much better positions to play his strokes,” the cricketer from Ranchi pointed out.

Last Lord’s Test

33-year-old Dhoni admitted that this was his last Test at Lord’s, and it’s unlikely that he’ll come here as a Test cricketer again.

“Don't know how exactly it feels (the victory). It will be my last Test at Lord's. Don't see myself coming back here in I don't know how many years. Definitely a memorable Test match. Have had close Tests here.

“[I] Still remember 2007 series where we drew the match because of bad light, and me and Sreesanth were batting at that time. We saved that Test and went on to be victorious in that series. Every match is special and it's great to win Test matches outside India. Being Lord's, yes very special. But at the same time every Test match is special,” Dhoni recollected.