<p>“The last ten overs have always been a big concern for us,” Dhoni remarked. The worry, Dhoni pointed out, wasn’t a recent development. “We are not having (this problem) for the last 2-3 months, but we have been bothered by this for a long time now, over one and a half years. We have done well in between but we have really not been consistent. <br />“There are still some areas where we can improve and the end result will depend on those 5-6 overs. It is an area where we need to improve and we are putting a lot of effort. <br /><br />“We have achieved the desired result on occasions but we have not been consistent with it,” he noted.<br /><br />Despite a good record batting at number three, the Jharkhandi prefers batting down the order to lend solidity to the lower half. “I don’t know how many times I have batted at number three but I have done decently well,” he said.<br /><br />“There are people who can fill in the gap at number three, so if you have the people who can do the job up the order, I can stay down the order and do a good job batting at five or six. <br /><br />“It is the team that comes first. Batting at number five or six, you need a bit more experience to finish the games. <br /><br />“Maybe if somebody gets groomed and analyses the game really well and is able to bat at number five and closes the game more often than not, then maybe I will try before it gets too late to bat at number three,” he observed.<br /><br />Dhoni declined to divulge details about a few of the Test regulars travelling to South Africa to get acclimatised to the conditions before the start of the first Test in mid-December. <br /><br />Eight senior players have been reportedly given permission to leave for South Africa immediately after the three-Test series at home against New Zealand, skipping the one-day series to get used to conditions in a country where India have never won a Test series to date. <br /><br />“As of now, no confirmation has gone from the players’ side to the BCCI and nothing has been received from the BCCI either,” Dhoni offered.<br /></p>
<p>“The last ten overs have always been a big concern for us,” Dhoni remarked. The worry, Dhoni pointed out, wasn’t a recent development. “We are not having (this problem) for the last 2-3 months, but we have been bothered by this for a long time now, over one and a half years. We have done well in between but we have really not been consistent. <br />“There are still some areas where we can improve and the end result will depend on those 5-6 overs. It is an area where we need to improve and we are putting a lot of effort. <br /><br />“We have achieved the desired result on occasions but we have not been consistent with it,” he noted.<br /><br />Despite a good record batting at number three, the Jharkhandi prefers batting down the order to lend solidity to the lower half. “I don’t know how many times I have batted at number three but I have done decently well,” he said.<br /><br />“There are people who can fill in the gap at number three, so if you have the people who can do the job up the order, I can stay down the order and do a good job batting at five or six. <br /><br />“It is the team that comes first. Batting at number five or six, you need a bit more experience to finish the games. <br /><br />“Maybe if somebody gets groomed and analyses the game really well and is able to bat at number five and closes the game more often than not, then maybe I will try before it gets too late to bat at number three,” he observed.<br /><br />Dhoni declined to divulge details about a few of the Test regulars travelling to South Africa to get acclimatised to the conditions before the start of the first Test in mid-December. <br /><br />Eight senior players have been reportedly given permission to leave for South Africa immediately after the three-Test series at home against New Zealand, skipping the one-day series to get used to conditions in a country where India have never won a Test series to date. <br /><br />“As of now, no confirmation has gone from the players’ side to the BCCI and nothing has been received from the BCCI either,” Dhoni offered.<br /></p>
