Dhoni likely to miss first Test against England, for slow-over rate
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is likely to miss first Test against England, scheduled to be started on July 21,
2011 at Lord’s, after being fined for second time this year for slow-rate over.
Dhoni, on Sunday was fined 60% of his match fee as India fell short of three overs of their target, in second Test match, which ended in draw against West Indies in Barbados, while his other teammates were fined 30% of their match
fees.
“The penalty was accepted by India without contest so there was no need for a hearing,” the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statment.
Earlier this year, the captain was found guilty of the same action in third Test against South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town.
The rule 2.5 suggested by International Cricket Council (ICC) code-of-conduct states that three offences in the same format of the game in a time period of one year results in suspension of the skipper for one match in the same
format of the game, in which the breaching was witnessed.
However, Dhoni could only be sidelined from the first Test against England, if his side failed to maintain the required over-rate during the third Test against the hosts, scheduled to be played on 6th of July. Indian
pacers, Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar were given majority of the overs to bowl. Although, Ishant was praised of making a ten-wicket haul in drawn Test at Barbados but simultaneously he was being criticised for consuming more than required time to finish
his overs.
“Ishant takes a long time to return to his bowling crease and it sometimes stretches his over to seven minutes,” revealed by an insider from the Barbados Test.
Ishant was awarded man-of-the match for his remarkable bowling services offered in second Test match.
India is currently leading the series 1-0, as they won the first Test by a big margin of 63 runs, while the second Test ended in a draw, as rain and bad light interrupted the play causing India to stay away from victory by three
wickets and Windies fell short of 79 runs in achieving the target.
India will start their tour to England with the four-match Test series at the end of this month.