The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Dravid scales yet another peak

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 30, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Dravid scales yet another peak

S. Dinakar

Commitment and resilience underline the gritty batsman’s career

— Photo: K. Pichumani

ROCK SOLID: Rahul Dravid’s technique has held him in good stead especially on the seaming and bouncy tracks abroad.

Chennai: For a change, the focus was on Rahul Dravid. The genial cricketer took off for a single and raised his arms as he completed the stretch. The 10,000th Test run marked yet another peak for the strong, largely silent contributor.

Fittingly, the feat was achieved under the scorching sun; Dravid knows all about sweat and sacrifice. Dravid’s efforts might not always be under the spotlight, but he, nevertheless, puts his hand up for the team, time after time.

Commitment and resilience underline his career. In the epic against Australia at the Eden Gardens in 2001, Dravid’s solid 180 was overshadowed by V.V.S. Laxman’s astonishing 281. Dravid, however, would not be bothered about numbers or recognition. He stresses contribution, particularly at the crunch.

Perfect No. 3

Not surprisingly, the respect for Dravid is spontaneous. Mohinder Amarnath, an outstanding No. 3 for India in his playing days, says, “He does not rest on his laurels. He treats every match as a fresh game. His concentration levels are remarkable and he can adjust to the different conditions. When he makes a significant contribution, India, generally, wins. He has the defence and the shots. He is your perfect No. 3.”

His lasting edifices away from home — the 148 in conditions favouring swing at Leeds, his monumental 233 at Adelaide and his historic 270 at Rawalpindi — were all match-winning efforts reflecting a purity of technique and strength of mind. The man is hard to break.

Superb record

In England, where front-foot play is required to quell movement, and in Australia, where a batsman essentially relies on back-foot play, he averages 65.35 and 48.60. Away from home, he is at home.

Dravid’s technical attributes shine through in his approach. On a day of cloud-cover and icy winds in Wellington’s Basin Reserve, he, rising on his toes and playing with soft hands and a vertical blade, kept down vicious deliveries climbing into his body from a rampant Shane Bond.

It was high-quality batting on a green, first-day wicket.

He has the repertoire to bat on green, seaming wickets with bounce. He plays in the ‘V’, relying on pushes rather than extravagant drives for runs.

He is patient, waits for the bowler to err in length. Frustrated, the bowler attempts something different, and if the ball is short Dravid responds with cuts and pulls. Horizontal bat shots are essential on such surfaces.

There are occasions when he sways away from the line of the bouncers, never taking his eyes off the ball. Given his lovely side-on methods, he rarely gets opened up or cut into half. Dravid’s balance in his stance and a still head are major factors in his impeccable judgment on and around the off-stump. He comprehends the art of ‘leaving’ the ball, picking the line and the extent of movement.

While defence off either foot will remain his strength, he possesses the shots, even the ones of the delicate variety such as the late cut. Classical in his style, he moves back and across, covering for the deviation against the pacemen, and uses his feet against the spinners.

Focus and the ability to see through spells are his allies. So are his determination and work ethic. His former India coach Aunshuman Gaekwad says, “He is a role model, on and off the field. He is a perfect ten.”

In the 10,000-plus terrain now, Dravid will take fresh guard.

SUPER SIX IN 10,000 CLUB

Read as Name, Country, Tests, Runs, 100s

BRIAN LARA (WI) 131 11,953 34

SACHIN TENDULKAR (Ind) 147 11,782 39

ALLAN BORDER (Aus) 156 11,174 27

STEVE WAUGH (Aus) 168 10,927 32

SUNIL GAVASKAR (Ind) 125 10,122 34

RAHUL DRAVID (Ind) 120 10,031 25

As on March 29, 2008

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport