Rahul Dravid - What would you do? Is he still one of India's 6 best batsman?

[GotSpin]

WI wickets are not bowler friendly these days so that isn't going to be a factor. But yeah he would be awesome if he gets to bowl on SA wickets.

Yes but my point was that he has already done extremely well in Sri Lanka on wickets that are in no way suited to pace bowling, and as such, I see no reason why he won't transcend the conditions at home.

He averages just a tick over 21 at home Btw - Although these stats are somewhat aided by a series against Bangladesh

 

[Shri]

Yes but my point was that he has already done extremely well in Sri Lanka on wickets that are in no way suited to pace bowling, and as such, I see no reason why he won't transcend the conditions at home.

He averages just a tick over 21 at home Btw - Although these stats are somewhat aided by a series against Bangladesh

Conditions when he toured were different than the usual SL conditions tbf. Had cloud cover, assistance from a damp pitch because of the rain and even frequent rests between spells because of all the rain delays. Will be interesting to see how he copes when his pace drops during a long spell. All I am saying is there are parts of his bowling I haven't seen yet, and when I see 'em I am more than likely to rate him highly as I am a big fan of fast bowling.

 

[Blaze 18]

http://blogs.espncricinfo.com/inbox/archives/2011/01/an_unassuming_man_called_rahul.php

 

[Jono]

Read that a few minutes ago. Felt so sad

WAG. Will forever love him.

 

[Spark]

Beautifully written but very sad piece.

 

[Jono]

Indian cricket pretty blessed to have had Sachin, Kumble, Dravid and Laxman all at one time. Gentlemen.

It is going to be a bit different in the coming years though. At least with on field personalities. Harbhajan, Yuvraj, Sreesanth, Kohli, Sharma, Praveen etc. continuing in the near future. Not exactly known for their modesty.

At least we still have Raina though. Pujara an unknown but seems a decent chap.

 

[Teja.]

I don't think my heart can take even one of VVS, Dravid and Sachin retiring, Let alone all of them in a space of 1-3 years.

 

[smash84]

Inbox | Cricket Blogs | ESPN Cricinfo

wonderfully well written piece

 

[0RI0N]

4.5 yrs ago after the WI tour of 2006, he had 9048 runs @ an ave of 58.75.
His current ave sits at 52.45.
A drop of over 6 runs.
He has done sweet **** all since WI 2006.
vs Aus, SA, Pak Eng and 2 away tours to SL -from 2006 WI tour till present
vs SA away 2006/07
125 runs at 20.83 no 50s
-
vs Eng away 2007
126 runs at 25.2 1 50
.
vs Pak in Ind 2007/08
191 runs at 38.2 1 50
.
vs Aus away 2007/08
237 runs at 33.86 2 50s incl crucial 93 at Perth and 21 runs in 2 innings off 180balls at MCG.
.
vs SA home 2007/08
178 runs at 44.5 1 hundred on a Chennai road
.
vs SL away 2008
148 runs at 24.67 1 50
.
vs Aus home 2008/09
120 runs at 17.14 1 50
.
vs Eng 2008/09
143 runs at 35.75 - scores of 3, 4, 136 and 0.
.
vs SL away 2010
95 runs at 19 0 50s
.
vs Aus 2010/11
112 runs at 37.3 1 50
.
vs SA away 2010/11
120 runs at 20 0 50s
1600 runs at 27.12
Those are dismal numbers however you look at it.
If you include the easy series vs
BD (twice)
NZ ( twice)
SL home
he averages a shade under 40 during this 4yr period.
He is going down the proverbial **** creek without a paddle.
Dravid please keep on playing, your average will drop below 50.

 

[four_or_six]

Please don't avoid the swear filter Orion, just type the swear-words and let the filter **** them out for you. Thanks.

 

[0RI0N]

Will do four_or_six.

 

[G.I.Joe]

I don't get why it's seen as a negative that a players average goes down as he ages.

Viv Richards had an average of 60 at one point (without having to play the WI attack), and he ended up with 50 in the end (still without having to play his own attack).

Its a natural progression for a lot of good players.

 

[0RI0N]

Ofcourse it is a negative.
The average is decreasing.
If that was not the case, then we will judge players on their peak years.
If you playing test cricket at 35+yrs and your powers are fading, be prepared to have those tests judged as part of your record.
We can't magically ignore the bad and rejoice at the good.
If you not good...retire.

 

[Howe_zat]

I don't get why it's seen as a negative that a players average goes down as he ages.

Viv Richards had an average of 60 at one point (without having to play the WI attack), and he ended up with 50 in the end (still without having to play his own attack).

Its a natural progression for a lot of good players.

True, but how long these players can stay on for is heavily dependent on how far the fall is and how long it lasts.

Viv Richards averaged 62 by 1981 and obviously couldn't keep that up, but he still averaged 43 for another 10 years, which given the period was still excellent.

It wouldn't be a problem if averaging, say, 48 were bringing Rahul's average down but he is averaging 40, and as has been pointed out his performances on tour haven't been up to scratch.

Obviously 40 is not that bad but it has raised serious questions over whether or not other young batsmen could do so, given that averaging 50+ is the norm for Indian batsman these days.

 

[Shri]

Yep, Dravid has been a passenger in the side for a while now. The management has already missed 2 years when they could have groomed someone for the future. Ganguly had a much shorter lease before he was dropped.

 

[G.I.Joe]

True, but how long these players can stay on for is heavily dependent on how far the fall is and how long it lasts.

Viv Richards averaged 62 by 1981 and obviously couldn't keep that up, but he still averaged 43 for another 10 years, which given the period was still excellent.

It wouldn't be a problem if averaging, say, 48 were bringing Rahul's average down but he is averaging 40, and as has been pointed out his performances on tour haven't been up to scratch.

Obviously 40 is not that bad but it has raised serious questions over whether or not other young batsmen could do so, given that averaging 50+ is the norm for Indian batsman these days.

Dravid's 40 over 4 years is pretty much in the same ballpark as Viv's 43 over 10 years without having to face the WI attack, IMO. I don't see why he deserves all the criticism if Viv doesn't.

43 over 10 years is much more shocking for a top drawer batsman, ITBT. Viv just went down in my estimation.

 

[vcs]

wonderfully well written piece

That piece takes me right back to my childhood... I used to love reading Sportstar (my father had preserved issues dating back to the late '70s and early '80s), I also used to bounce the ball off the wall and then try out textbook batting strokes...

 

[smash84]

4.5 yrs ago after the WI tour of 2006, he had 9048 runs @ an ave of 58.75.
His current ave sits at 52.45.
A drop of over 6 runs.
He has done sweet **** all since WI 2006.
vs Aus, SA, Pak Eng and 2 away tours to SL -from 2006 WI tour till present
vs SA away 2006/07
125 runs at 20.83 no 50s
-
vs Eng away 2007
126 runs at 25.2 1 50
.
vs Pak in Ind 2007/08
191 runs at 38.2 1 50
.
vs Aus away 2007/08
237 runs at 33.86 2 50s incl crucial 93 at Perth and 21 runs in 2 innings off 180balls at MCG.
.
vs SA home 2007/08
178 runs at 44.5 1 hundred on a Chennai road
.
vs SL away 2008
148 runs at 24.67 1 50
.
vs Aus home 2008/09
120 runs at 17.14 1 50
.
vs Eng 2008/09
143 runs at 35.75 - scores of 3, 4, 136 and 0.
.
vs SL away 2010
95 runs at 19 0 50s
.
vs Aus 2010/11
112 runs at 37.3 1 50
.
vs SA away 2010/11
120 runs at 20 0 50s
1600 runs at 27.12
Those are dismal numbers however you look at it.
If you include the easy series vs
BD (twice)
NZ ( twice)
SL home
he averages a shade under 40 during this 4yr period.
He is going down the proverbial **** creek without a paddle.
Dravid please keep on playing, your average will drop below 50.

This is dire tbh......by Dravid (or even Indian batting standards)

 

[smash84]

That piece takes me right back to my childhood... I used to love reading Sportstar (my father had preserved issues dating back to the late '70s and early '80s), I also used to bounce the ball off the wall and then try out textbook batting strokes...

Wow......do you still have that collection now??? It would would make for awesome reading regarding cricket in those days.

 

[vcs]

Wow......do you still have that collection now??? It would would make for awesome reading regarding cricket in those days.

Not anymore. My mother gave them to the raddiwala when we shifted house. Thankfully, I had already read most of them many times by then.