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Heroes and villains

MS Dhoni captained India in a Test for the first time the year that The Dark Knight was made. His journey in that format has been a real rollercoaster in the half dozen years since and he's lived Aaron Eckhart's most famous line from that film. He's led India most often, won most often and the team have hit #1 in the rankings under his stewardship. As a keeper batsman, his record is the best amongst all Indian wicketkeepers and not too shabby on the all time list for those who have kept in more than 75 matches. Yet, he will equally (and depending on who you ask, solely), be remembered for leading a team that has repeatedly gotten decimated outside Asia. Across England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the West Indies the ledger reads a pitiful 4-15 (and 7 draws). Like Bruce Wayne's alter ego though, Dhoni just carries on. He never points out the fact that he's led the team to series wins in New Zealand (only one of two Indian captains to do so) and the West Indies (one of three). Or that under him the team have had one of their finest overseas wins ever. Or that for much of his time overseas (especially since 2011), he's had to make do with Ishant Sharma as his bowling spearhead. Whether you think of him as a villain or a hero, his stoicism remains. What he does care about though is the effort the team puts in and whether they're heading the right direction. Or the process as he likes to call it. And he knows that he may not be around to see the day and it may not be his team any more, but the tide will turn and he would have helped set up the base. Just like Ganguly and Dravid did for him. Hopefully when that day dawns, he will be remembered the way he should be. As a Test hero.

Steven Smith is already a hero in the eyes of his countrymen. And like all silver screen heroes (at least in the first half of films), he can do no wrong at the moment. He had a tough first day as captain but kept his cool, led the way on the field and with the bat and his team romped home in for days after the opposition were 311-4. Dhoni can be forgiven for thinking that if it had been India, the bowlers would probably have not recovered, they would have conceded 600 and lost by an innings. Still, Smith has his share of problems too. Apart from him and Warner, none of the other batsmen (or Haddin) have made runs. Nathan Lyon was excellent in Adelaide and Josh Hazlewood the same in Brisbane but the other bowlers have been hit and miss. Injuries haven't helped and it's great credit to Smith's batting and his leadership as well as the team's fighting spirit (aided by some ineptitude from India) that they are 2-0 up. The MCG is another favoured venue for the home team and one where they haven't lost to an Asian team since 1981 (when they lost twice in a year). And despite a debutant batter and a bowler returning from injury the Aussies will fancy their chances of going one step further towards their second successive home whitewash of the Indians.

India have their own debutant (as I finish writing this a session into the start of the third Test), and if Rahul can even go a third of a way to emulating the more famous Rahul from his state, Rohit Sharma's Test career will continue to struggle. The key for India to make a comeback into the series though will be the bowlers. Both with their ability to take wickets (without losing control of the run rate) and also with how they can contribute with runs and partnerships in the lower order. Dhoni's role there is critical too and the one thing he doesn't have on his resume is a defining Test match innings overseas. The MCG wouldn't be a bad place to do it and become a hero again to everyone.

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