200 + runs or 10 + wickets. Which deserves Man of the Match?

I was almost sure I would come across this argument at work but it seems myLot is where I'd get to discuss it. I understand when you say that bowlers are the one's who get you a victory especially in tests but there is one point that you need to consider. Dhoni scored his double ton in almost as many balls which helped India's run rate overall. Imagine a situation where Dhoni had taken 400 balls to get to his 200. This would mean Australia would have to bat fewer overs to save the match which would have given them confidence and resolve to stay at the crease. I know its harsh Ashwin didn't get it but we can't say Dhoni didn't deserve it. A trophy between the two of them would have been ideal.

I am also in agreement with you. Of course I rejoice at the Dhoni's superb and fast innings with such a strike rate who helped the India to gain lead runs. But, India's batting innings started after the end of England's batting innings and the main hero to finish the England's batting innings within a good time was Ravichandran Ashwin. And even in the second match too, he took five wickets . In the test match, where the time to out the opposition twice is crucial, bowler's play important rule and even though I loved Dhoni's innings a lot, I was with Ashwin's side to win him Man of Match. Anyway, now I must content myself by praising both and be happy for the overall victory brought to us both the heroes..... :)

I would say it depends a lot on the conditions and the pitches. On batting friendly wickets a 10+ haul would be deemed better. On the other hand on bowling friendly pitches the 200+ would be deemed better. I think to be fair, in the first match MSD deserved it as his innings changed the complexion of the game. India went from defending to attacking in that innings a la what happened in Laxman's case at Eden Gardens. Of course, in Laxman's case the situation was much worse with us having followed on. Also, the pitch was an outright spinner, so Ashwin got a lot of assistance. Don't get me wrong, he bowled really well to pick the 12 wickets when others like Bhajji did not get much among the wickets, but still it was a pitch tailor made for spinners. Cheers! Ram

When do you think would Ashwin get to bowl - only if Dhoni wants and asks him to. Well, I am not saying as if it was all in Dhoni's hands if to allow Ashwin to bowl or not. After all, Ashwin isn't in the team as a batsman. He is a bowler and did his job. But as a captain Dhoni has more decisions to take rather than simply ask someone to bowl. Remember, Kumar didn't bowl a single ball in the second innings and Ishant bowled just three. We all know how capable Kumar is and what we saw against Pakistan some weeks back. Then why didn't Dhoni ask Kumar to bowl? After all, Dhoni didn't get impressed with Kumar's batting overnight when he gave him good company. It is a responsible decision to not ask your frontline bowler not to bowl. It's just because Ashwin got 12 wickets in the match that you are putting up your mind. Well, fair enough. But what if Ashwin, Jadeja and Bhajji would have shared wickets and the match would have ended in a similar fashion? MSD would still have got the MOM. I think there is more going behind a captain's mind than what we see. I remember where he said that his decision to come to bat at no. 4 in the finals against SL wasn't criticized because he led India to victory. Coming to bat at an unusual position might have had brickbats at him, had he failed. But what went behind that decision, only Mahi knows. And Dhoni really played selfless cricket, refusing singles when he was on 149. We have to see a larger picture with the mind that our physical eye cannot.

Yeah,I too agree with you that bowlers decide the result of a test match. But in the last test match I too even will say that was a very tough call. In my opinion,both deserves the Man of the Match award. But I dare it can't be given to both. If Dhoni didn't batted well either the test match will go draw or a least chance that India to loose that one. And if Aswin didn't bowl well then India would have lost that one. Therefore I too agree that Aswin really deserved a MoM in the last test match.

This happen sometime but in this case Dhoni was the one who deserves. You know that but still has started the discussion. I can say that you are one the critics of Dhoni. It's because of Dhoni innings that the match has gone India way, otherwise India could have lost if Dhoni got out around 100. The manner in which that 200 was made was the cynosure of that match. The wicket was turning from day one and getting 12 wickets was not that tough. I would appreciate James Pattinson for his great efforts for his 6 wickets because nothing was there for fast bowlers. In this match, Dhoni was quite stupendous and was a mile ahead of all the contestants for man of the match. And for your question it depends on situation? A match winning innings of 125 in fourth inning can beat 10 wickets haul and sometimes 10 wicket haul can beat a 225 run knock. It depends on situation. What is the turning point and so many point matter but in this case it was Dhoni and as I said you know it very well.

True bt actually since Dhoni is the captain he did well to contain the oppostion nd also remember he played so well even with the tail enders