Dhoni's comments negative for the game: Steve Waugh

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Agencies: New Delhi, Nov 20 2012, 17:49 IST

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh today criticised Mahendra Singh Dhoni for asking the curators to "doctor the pitches" and pointed out that if a side wants to be the best it should be able to negotiate all conditions.

"Dhoni's comments this morning were really negative to the game, when he said Indian curators to doctor the pitches, which I can't understand," Waugh said during the India- Australia Innovative Forum.

The Indian skipper, after winning the first Test against England at Ahmedabad yesterday, expressed his displeasure at the Motera wicket and said that "we wanted the curators to prepare the pitches that will turn from day one".

"You want to be aggressive and be the best in the world, you got to take all the conditions and not always ask for the conditions that suits your style of play. I was a bit surprised with that. I think if you are looking to be the best in the world you got to learn to play in all conditions."

The former great said that during his tenure as the head of the Australian team he was never bothered about what sort of wicket they were playing on.

"I captained the side for 57 games and never once had a word with the curator about what sort of pitch we are going to play," Waugh said.

However, the veteran of 168 Tests said that India were the favourites to win the four-match rubber against England.

"India are a strong side, always hard to beat in India and some of the

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Reader's Comments (5)| Post a Comment

Lool who is taking

Indian fm hyderabad | 20-Nov-2012Reply | Forward

look who is talking of spirit "negative to the game " ----did they prepare friendly pitches for opposition and --- did they sledge for the spirit of the game. --what umpiring standards Tendulkar hit on the shoulder and given out LBW -- coach Greg Chapell just to name was mastermind in spoiling the spirit of Indian dressing room

Steve Waugh's comments

V K BERI | 20-Nov-2012Reply | Forward

Steve Waugh seems to be outdated. It is well known that wickets are doctored to suit the strength of the home team even in Australia. What Dhoni is asking is not the moon but asking to pay back what he received in England & Australia.Every one seems to be biased towards the teams of the subcontinent

Play on your strength- Whether Pace or Spin

Suman Bose | 20-Nov-2012Reply | Forward

Do you see a spinning pitch in Australia or England? NO, so why comment on something they do not do themselves. Teams from Sub continent does not complain when they see a pitch green in colour or pitches that suits pace bowling. It is because fast pitches are expected there.Visitors expected pitches in India to spin, MSD has only ensured that the expectation is properly served.