Test Cricket loses a Legend
I have been a massive Sachin Tendulkar fan for the 17th year running - But today as Rahul Dravid announced his retirement and I write this passage, there will be a few instances where I might provide an impression of paying disregard to the Master. Really not my intent, the need for the hour is to put Rahul Dravid in the limelight - He really deserves to be there. So no offences meant to any Sachin fan similar to me.
Bowlers around the world be pleased when their run-up finds the rhythm and the release is precisely how they want it to be. Almost all the batsmen attain maximum delight when they middle the first few deliveries they face and when the contact makes the sweetest of sounds. But not many in the history of the men who have played the game, would have derived sheer pride and pleasure in watching the ball pass through, as Rahul Dravid has. He didn’t mind if you were Shoaib Akthar with a run-up twice the length of the pitch, or a Chris Harris delivering dibbly dobblies, blocking anything that arrives straight was his top-priority and he duly did that remarkably well for years.
Rahul Dravid the Test Batsman, has always been a throw-back to the old times. The typical number three, who would construct an innings brick by brick (no wonder he was called the Wall), unwilling to have a go at anything outside off, offering very little chances and hope to the fielding side, completely unworried about looking pretty and solely concerned about being effective and useful to the team. Throughout his career, Rahul Dravid had to fight off his critics, mostly for being too defensive (boring in layman terms) in his batting. Anyone who has played serious cricket would agree that the forward defence is as difficult as the pick-up shot over mid-wicket. How many of us do realize that? How many times have we witnessed the situation of going into the last session of play feeling safe, one wicket leading to another and in the end we had tears and heart-breaks alone left to ponder on? With the innings about to fold and the tail-enders fighting against time to save the match, the corner of our minds would ask - How I wish Rahul Dravid was batting in one end? Test Cricket is a seriously demanding business and only the fittest have ever survived it. Rahul lived his entire career wanting to be a successful Test batsman and he indeed was one.
It’s a mere misfortune for Rahul Dravid to have played in the same era as Tendulkar did - Of course, Dravid would firmly deny it. Sachin Tendulkar was already 7 years old in the circuit when the man from Karnataka made his Test debut. That made is impossible straightaway for him to overhaul the Mumbai master. Though he played 94 matches on the trot from debut before missing one while Sachin’s was 84, though he made twin centuries in the same match twice, which Sachin never managed to (Ricky Ponting did it thrice and that’s why he is so special), Rahul Dravid always remained in Tendulkar’s shadows - for which neither of them can be blamed.
Rahul Dravid the Test Batsman, has always been a throw-back to the old times. The typical number three, who would construct an innings brick by brick (no wonder he was called the Wall), unwilling to have a go at anything outside off, offering very little chances and hope to the fielding side, completely unworried about looking pretty and solely concerned about being effective and useful to the team. Throughout his career, Rahul Dravid had to fight off his critics, mostly for being too defensive (boring in layman terms) in his batting. Anyone who has played serious cricket would agree that the forward defence is as difficult as the pick-up shot over mid-wicket. How many of us do realize that? How many times have we witnessed the situation of going into the last session of play feeling safe, one wicket leading to another and in the end we had tears and heart-breaks alone left to ponder on? With the innings about to fold and the tail-enders fighting against time to save the match, the corner of our minds would ask - How I wish Rahul Dravid was batting in one end? Test Cricket is a seriously demanding business and only the fittest have ever survived it. Rahul lived his entire career wanting to be a successful Test batsman and he indeed was one.
It’s a mere misfortune for Rahul Dravid to have played in the same era as Tendulkar did - Of course, Dravid would firmly deny it. Sachin Tendulkar was already 7 years old in the circuit when the man from Karnataka made his Test debut. That made is impossible straightaway for him to overhaul the Mumbai master. Though he played 94 matches on the trot from debut before missing one while Sachin’s was 84, though he made twin centuries in the same match twice, which Sachin never managed to (Ricky Ponting did it thrice and that’s why he is so special), Rahul Dravid always remained in Tendulkar’s shadows - for which neither of them can be blamed.
Few of his finest efforts were the ones which came in real adversity and testing conditions. I can quickly recall the 148 at Headingley where Sourav received the plaudits for being brave when he chose to bat on a green wicket. What went unnoticed was, the Indian Captain had the luxury provided by one of his noblest wards, his deputy at that time. Let's pay due credit to Sanjay Bangar as well, for playing his part when the platform was set. The 180 at Eden Gardens and his wonderful reaction on reaching a Hundred were pure Master-pieces. The brilliant alliance that Dravid and Laxman forged, went a long way in resurrecting a train that was about to derail. Till this day it is remembered as a turning point in India’s cricket history. I would always fondly remember his first Test Century, the painstaking 148 at the Wanderers. India were (and still are) poor travelers at that time and we tended to get intimidated by the opposition’s pace battery at the first sight of it. Dravid's bravery was illustrated by the number of pull shots he unleashed against the bowling attack including Donald and Pollock. Another innings that many of us wouldn't remember is the unbeaten 27* scored when the others around him went to the ground on the deftest of pushes. 20 innings passed by before he could notch up his second century, but this 20 included 12 fifties. His conversion rate was questioned, but he still ended with 36 tons, bettered only by Sachin, Ponting and Kallis.The 81 and 68 he made against West Indies at Kingston on a terrifying pitch was made in typical Rahul-Dravid fashion - fighting tooth and nail for each run, not giving an inch to the opposition. The 233 at Adelaide was another remarkable exhibition of skillful batting.
This is what Steve Waugh had to say about that knock in his auto-biography - “Rahul’s batting was poetic, with flowing follow-throughs that capilaized on exceptional footwork and a rock-solid base. His head was like the statue of David, allowing for perfect balance and easy hand-eye coordination”. Speaking about Autobiographies, Steve Waugh’s “Out of my comfort zone” has been foreworded by Rahul Dravid. That speaks volumes of how highly Dravid was rated.
Over the years, we had been battered and bruised during Tours down under, so it gave me a great sense of joy when we put one across the Aussies - Dravid's contributions in this match is priceless. Ironically, his much-maligned 12 of 96 balls at the Oval remains as one of the most crucial innings that Rahul played. We were already ahead in the series and all we needed was a draw. Rahul’s innings - with India tottering at 11-3 at one stage - was so valuable in securing a series win, which had previously evaded us for 21 years.
It haven’t read Cricinfo’s eight of his best or any related articles on Dravid and therefore consider my apologies if I have listed down what they have done already.
Rahul Dravid’s best have always come at Number 3 - though in reality, he was walking in within a quarter of an hour after the openers have marched in. In spite of his great success in that pivotal position, Dravid never chose to turn his back when the team needed him to open the innings. That tells a lot about who comes first to him - the team or himself. This sacrificial nature of his was at times taken for granted by Indian Cricket. None worse than the last test in England. After fielding for 662 minutes while England batted, Rahul played right through the Indian Innings which lasted for 378 minutes and remained not-out. When England enforced the follow-up, Rahul Dravid was sent to open the 2nd innings - Spare a thought for the Man.
As a Captain, Dravid lead India to Series triumphs in England and the West Indies. But his best moments came in Pakistan in 2004, where he had to lead in Saurav’s absence. The one incident that will be best remembered in the series is his brave declaration call when Tendulkar was batting on 194. India didn’t do a great deal of damage on that day, Pakistan ended with 48-0. But the message was sent loud and clear - Unlike earlier tours across the border, India meant business and nothing but a series win would make them content. Sourav came back for the decider but it was Rahul’s impeccable 270 that designed the way for Team India's Series win.
Batting and Captaincy apart, there was one important attribute that increased Rahul’s value to the team - Slip Fielding. Australia were coasting along with a lead of 142 and 7 wickets in hand in the memorable Adelaide Test, when Dravid the fielder intervened to stunning effect. Two sharp catches, one of those single handed - to dismiss Steve Waugh and Damien Martyn, turned the tide right towards India from where we never looked back. He was absolutely flawless in the initial part of his career and if my memory serves right, the first real drop I have seen from him was in the Pakistan tour of India in 2005. Over the years the catching quality went down marginally, but at the moment Rahul Dravid leads the list for the number of catches snapped by a non-wicket-keeper (may be eventually taken over by Mahela, Ponting or Kallis).
Rahul Dravid’s best have always come at Number 3 - though in reality, he was walking in within a quarter of an hour after the openers have marched in. In spite of his great success in that pivotal position, Dravid never chose to turn his back when the team needed him to open the innings. That tells a lot about who comes first to him - the team or himself. This sacrificial nature of his was at times taken for granted by Indian Cricket. None worse than the last test in England. After fielding for 662 minutes while England batted, Rahul played right through the Indian Innings which lasted for 378 minutes and remained not-out. When England enforced the follow-up, Rahul Dravid was sent to open the 2nd innings - Spare a thought for the Man.
As a Captain, Dravid lead India to Series triumphs in England and the West Indies. But his best moments came in Pakistan in 2004, where he had to lead in Saurav’s absence. The one incident that will be best remembered in the series is his brave declaration call when Tendulkar was batting on 194. India didn’t do a great deal of damage on that day, Pakistan ended with 48-0. But the message was sent loud and clear - Unlike earlier tours across the border, India meant business and nothing but a series win would make them content. Sourav came back for the decider but it was Rahul’s impeccable 270 that designed the way for Team India's Series win.
Batting and Captaincy apart, there was one important attribute that increased Rahul’s value to the team - Slip Fielding. Australia were coasting along with a lead of 142 and 7 wickets in hand in the memorable Adelaide Test, when Dravid the fielder intervened to stunning effect. Two sharp catches, one of those single handed - to dismiss Steve Waugh and Damien Martyn, turned the tide right towards India from where we never looked back. He was absolutely flawless in the initial part of his career and if my memory serves right, the first real drop I have seen from him was in the Pakistan tour of India in 2005. Over the years the catching quality went down marginally, but at the moment Rahul Dravid leads the list for the number of catches snapped by a non-wicket-keeper (may be eventually taken over by Mahela, Ponting or Kallis).
I couldn’t have added too many accolades to what have already been tributed to Rahul Dravid in the past couple of days. I end with just thanking Rahul Dravid for being the epitome of selflessness he has been, for illustrating why you don’t have to be a naturally gifted batsman to score runs in abundance, for playing hard yet being a disciplinarian, for constructing a remarkable career surrounded by laurels alone and not an iota of controversy. The diplomat in him announced that the younger generation of batsmen to follow would be better than him and he wasn't half talented at 23, as the country's other 23-year olds are today. This knowing very well that India is yet to fully replaced Sourav, the Test batsman after a 4 year search. This humility is what separates Rahul from the rest.
One of the deepest regret I would always have is - the soundest of defensive techniques if ever there was one, was breached so repeatedly in his last series and his last ever dismissal was reaching out to a very wide delivery to spoon a catch to gully. History knows that he is much better than that.
I do believe, One day we may (WE MAY) have another Sachin Tendulkar, but another Rahul Dravid looks to be an impossible proportion.
We love you Rahul, Thanks for your services, Thanks for the memories. Test Cricket will miss you.
I dread to think about India's next overseas assignment.
Comments
Post a Comment