Leading for a major chunk of the first Test and then slipping down and trying to save the game, India went through a roller-coaster ride before snatching a draw but M.S. Dhoni preferred to dwell upon the ‘positives.’
“It was a fantastic effort in the end. You don’t think about the pitch and things that you cannot control. Our batting, especially Vijay did well and our bowlers too were not lacking in effort and someone like Ishant bowled 30 overs,” the Indian captain said here on Sunday.
Dhoni lauded the partnerships that the lower-order strung along with Stuart Binny. “It was crucial at that time as we still had half-a-day left. It was a partnership (Binny and Ravindra Jadeja) that was needed. Not many players in this team have had the experience of playing under this kind of pressure and it was good that the individuals stood up,” the skipper said while expressing his preference to see pitches that aid seam and swing in England.
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Dhoni also conceded: “We were hampered because the wicket wasn’t really suiting Stuart Binny’s kind of bowling but Jadeja bowled well.”
Dhoni’s counterpart Alastair Cook termed the match as an ‘extraordinary game of cricket.’ “Both sides had massive ten-wicket stands. We had a disappointing session today but we were in with chance till about half-an-hour before tea. This pitch was so unique, it was like the Nagpur pitch we batted upon,” the England captain said.