Dhoni V Prior (Tests)

[Prince EWS]

I think Prior is pretty comfortably ahead of Dhoni as a batsman; Dhoni may be talented but his figures grossly flatter what he's actually achieved with the bat at Test level IMO. Prior's do too to some extent, but not nearly as much as Dhoni's do. I'd possibly consider Dhoni because Strauss isn't to be selected and we'll need a captain, I suppose, and I also think he's a marginally better keeper, but on batting I'd go with Prior by a fairly big margin so I'd have him initially.

 

[hang on]

Dhoni may be talented but his figures grossly flatter what he's actually achieved with the bat at Test level IMO. Prior's do too to some extent, but not nearly as much as Dhoni's do.

How do u figure that?

 

[vic_orthdox]

Haddin's keeping is neutral, neither bad or good. Prior's is the same, except Prior has a 40 metre gate whereas Haddin does not.

It's only 20 metres, to be fair. Laziest feet in world cricket, with bat and gloves in hand.

 

[Jarquis]

Haha, get out.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Haha, get out.

Sorry, referring to Haddin.

 

[MW1304]

Sorry, referring to Haddin.

Nah, he knew, he's just a massive Haddin fan.

 

[Jarquis]

sorry, referring to haddin.

+1

 

[Uppercut]

Haddin's keeping is neutral, neither bad or good. Prior's is the same, except Prior has a 40 metre gate whereas Haddin does not.

Prior's keeping isn't neutral, it's below par. Australia have just seen the best of him.

But Prior's undoubtedly been the better batsman over the past few years. Last I checked the umpires don't deduct runs for leaving a gap between bat and pad.

 

[Uppercut]

On topic, it really depends how much significance you assign to current form. For a test tomorrow I'd take Prior, but in the long run I'd expect that Dhoni would contribute a lot more.

I don't rate either of them especially highly with the gloves but I'm told Dhoni's keeping to spin has improved a lot lately in the series I've missed.

 

[fredfertang]

Before the World Cup I'd have said Prior without a second thought but Dhoni clearly has an excellent temperament and on the basis that I believe he's more likely than Prior to play a match-winning or match-saving innings I'd go for him

Still hope and expect him to have a 'mare this summer though

 

[benchmark00]

Prior's keeping isn't neutral, it's below par. Australia have just seen the best of him.

But Prior's undoubtedly been the better batsman over the past few years. Last I checked the umpires don't deduct runs for leaving a gap between bat and pad.

Some of us prefer to judge a batsman on the basis of how good they actually are in terms of technique/temperament and how likely it is those things are going to stand up in all conditions rather than base an opinion merely upon runs and stats.

Crazy I know.

 

[Jarquis]

Yeah, 10 runs in the V are a lot more valuable than 15 between point and 2nd slip.

 

[Howe_zat]

As we all know, runs don't actually count unless they're scored using a method Murphy approves of.

 

[benchmark00]

Love how people get touchy when someone doesn't rate a player they prefer on the basis basis of stats alone.

Heaven forbid someone watches a game and passes judgment instead of looking at cricinfo.

 

[Jarquis]

Or heavens that somebody disagrees with you on both the evidence of watching them play AND statistics. Oh the horror. Think of the children.

 

[benchmark00]

There are few things in life I care about less than statistics. Though your opinion on pretty much everything is one of those things.

 

[Jarquis]

 

[benchmark00]

SOMEONE DOESN'T RATE A PLAYER FROM MY COUNTRY, THEY MUST KNOW NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!

lol

 

[GIMH]

There are few things in life I care about less than statistics. Though your opinion on pretty much everything is one of those things.

That's funny given that after the first Ashes Test, when most people were saying Anderson was bowling well, you said he didn't because he didn't have the wickets to show for it and its primarily a numbers game.

 

[Bun]