Bowlers feel it's better to put a bowling machine, says Dhoni

 Disappointed at being hit all over the park by Australia, a few Indian bowlers feel it will be better to put a bowling machine in the field instead of they rolling their arms in the ongoing ODI series, India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said.

India and Australia together scored a phenomenal 2565 runs from the four matches played so far, excluding the 295 the visiting team scored in the abandoned Ranchi ODI and Dhoni said it is a new challenge for the bowlers to contain runs.

"It was more of a fight as to which side bowls less badly. With the extra fielder inside, if you are slightly off target, it goes for a boundary. A few of the bowlers are disappointed, they actually feel it will be better off to put a bowling machine there. It is a new challenge for the bowlers," said Dhoni here last night after India chased down Australia's 350 with six wickets and three balls to spare.

Dhoni said bowlers will eventually sort out how to adapt to the new ODI rule enforcing an extra fielder inside the 30-yard circle as compared to earlier times.

"We have not played enough with these set of new rules (in operation). That's why when you are captaining and a side has scored 300 or 325, you are not really used to it. All of a sudden, you see, 15 overs left, 220-230 and the Power Play is left, you are not really able to digest the feat because it's not really natural," said Dhoni.

"Three and a half hours of batting, the opposition is just hitting sixes and fours. It will take some time before the bowlers will also adjust to it. And at the same time, we will see some particular day if the wicket is doing a bit, sides may get out of 150-180 because of the two new balls.

"We will have to wait and watch but as of now, on good flat wickets, with a bit of dew around, it becomes a bit unfair on bowlers. The best of bowlers, fastest of bowlers, even they are at times bowling with third man and fine leg up. It is difficult for the bowlers as of now," Dhoni commented.

He also said because of these factors it has become difficult to single out a bad bowling performance as the old-fashioned thinking won't do.