I cannae stand it anymore

I have to confession to make. I'm starting to get sick and tired of MS Dhoni as a test bat. Last night's 6 off 54 was the latest example of the kind of chicken-scratch innings I've come to expect from him, wherein he comes in, plays shots straight to fielders, blocks endlessly, and seems to have no attacking shots whatsoever. I don't mind the hard-hitting batsman occasionally turning cautious when the occasion demands it, but he should still remember his main strength are his offensive strokes. Otherwise, he is condemned to get out when he makes his first attacking move. Whats more galling is that Dhoni is getting a free-ride on the basis of his one-day form. Dhoni hasn't played a straighforward attacking innings in tests since his 148 at Faisalabad. The two attacking innings he has played have come in hunting-for-declaration settings (Antigua 2006, the Oval 2007). Other than that there has not been much to distinguish his other efforts from what he he played last night. Why don't India simply play Dinesh Karthik, who is a better test bat (his technique is better, he takes more singles, his strokeplay is superior). As things stand, Dhoni's achievements in one-days and T20 ensure he stays in tests, while Karthik occupies the sidelines (lets not forget that other than a small blip against Pakistan Karthik has even been successful as a opener, thus indicating no shortage of technique). Dhoni's value down the order lies in him playing attacking cricket, or a slightly modified version thereof. At the moment, if everything isn't stacked up for him (cf Antigua 2006 or the Oval 2007) he looks so hopelessly out of depth that it is embarassing. But I doubt anything will be done about this. Once again, we have managed to confuse tests with one-days and it isn't doing anyone any good.

As Dhoni walks out today, he should remember that his value lies in putting opposing teams on the backfoot, not in making them feel that they are always in with a chance.