Thaindian News

Melbourne, March 13 (IANS) Former Australian cricketer Dean Jones feels that for Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, winning the World Cup will remain a dream.

In his column in The Age, Jones pointed out that history is very important to cricketers.

“It tells us what we did wrong and what we did right in the past. There have been nine World Cups and those World Cup champion teams do not lie about the composition and skills required to win,” he said.

“The three main common denominators consistent with all World Cup champion teams are: Your top four batsmen must be of a high quality. They must have the technique to play the new ball, as well as have the power and stroke play during Powerplays. They also must have the fitness to bat through the whole 50 overs. Your top four bowlers must be of high quality, able to absorb pressure and bowl defensively in Powerplays. If you can’t field, don’t bother turning up!” he said.

“All this taken into account, I do not believe India will win the World Cup with its current form. Everyone here has a huge regard for the Indian team. They have the batsmen, no doubt. Tendulkar and Sehwag can rip any attack to shreds. But that alone doesn’t win the World Cup,” he said.

Jones asaid that Dhoni’s bowling line-up comprising Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Piyush Chawla and Harbhajan Singh doesn’t look as good as any of the line-ups of the previous teams.

“Dhoni wants seven specialist batsmen and four specialist bowlers. Having seven batsmen tells me that India doesn’t trust its ‘engine room’ to make the runs required. By having four bowlers, it means that everything must go right or they are in deep trouble. What happens if one is injured? Or one gets smashed,” he asked.

“India has struggled to bowl out Bangladesh and England. Ireland troubled them, but Dhoni won’t budge. India’s main weakness is the form of Chawla and Harbhajan. Chawla is being smashed and was brought in by the strong backing of Dhoni after two years in obscurity. There are three leg-spinners who have won World Cups: Mushtaq, Warne and Brad Hogg. Is Chawla as good as those three? No, he isn’t,” he said.

Jones also said that Harbhajan’s form is also an added worry for Dhoni.

“Harbhajan has struggled in all World Cups and has only taken six wickets in eight matches against the Test countries at an average of 58. His 10 overs are going for around 50,” he said.

“The team needs the attitude to get wickets and not just defend. Getting wickets always stops the run-rate. Its fieldsmen must look for run-outs and want the ball in the field.”