I don't want to see this wicket again: Dhoni on Motera track

"It was not so easy. We were on the field for two, two-and-a-half days. The bowlers had to bowl very patiently. (Pragyan) Ojha bowled close to 80 overs, (Ravichandran) Ashwin bowled 72 overs. And they were supported well by the fast bowlers," Dhoni said.

"As the game progressed the pitch got slower and slower. I don't think there was much turn. The odd ball turned but there wasn't enough bounce for the edge to carry to the slip fielder. It was about keeping one or two deliveries out and you were set for the game."

Dhoni said the turning point in the match, after India ran up a huge score, came in the final session of day two and first session of day three as England folded up for under 200.

"It was the last session on the second day and first session on the third day that really shifted the game in our

favour," said Dhoni.

The Indian skipper also praised his fast bowlers and said they contributed in equal measure to what the two spinners did.

"Our fast bowlers bowled really well. Zaheer Khan put in a lot of effort, we've seen Umesh improve, he's bowling real quick. The contribution of the fast bowlers was really important. They gave us the breakthrough when it was really needed.

"What was impressive was the fast bowlers getting six wickets. It was not an ideal track for fast bowlers to get wickets. Their contribution was as important as the spinners.

"The first innings was challenging for England as the ball was turning. After that the wicket slowed down and they got used to the pace. That's one of the main reasons why our bowlers had to battle really hard to get wickets in the second innings," he explained.

He defended England's strategy of going in with three fast bowlers in the game and leaving out left arm spinner Monty Panesar which has been criticised.

... contd.

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