Rahul Dravid

[Prince EWS]

The reemergence of this thread after every tour or rather every match is disturbing but inevitable

People usually start new ones, actually. I've merged about 6 different threads into this one over time.

 

[Richard]

He is past it, because out of form doesnt last two years, and you don't average in the mid 20s consistently if out of form.

Yeah, quite true, I often use the term "bad form" purely to mean "lack of runs". Will edit the above post.

 

[andruid]

Are they waiting for him to retire honourably.

 

[Xuhaib]

where did my thread go

 

[NUFAN]

I'm happy to see Dravid's average dip to 52.

So much better seeing him around the Lara's, Border's, Chappells, Gavaskar's, SWaugh's etc in terms of average.

 

[Arjun]

Dravid should now bat at six, where he and the team can benefit.

 

[Precambrian]

Dravid should now bat at six, where he and the team can benefit.

Prefer him not being in the side. Two years is awesome lot of time.

 

[Arjun]

Prefer him not being in the side. Two years is awesome lot of time.

With whom do you replace him? He's still a top batsman by a long way. Seeing Yuvraj in action today, Dravid needs to stay on a little longer.

 

[Precambrian]

With whom do you replace him? He's still a top batsman by a long way. Seeing Yuvraj in action today, Dravid needs to stay on a little longer.

Yuvraj is never a test class batsman and comparison of him and Dravid is not valid imho. Many are knocking the doors who are worthier than Yuvraj and possible on current form better than Dravid like Badri, Pujara, Sharma etc.

 

[silentstriker]

With whom do you replace him?

Badrinath, Chopra, Vijay, maybe Pujara or Raina.

 

[Precambrian]

Badrinath, Chopra, Vijay, maybe Pujara or Raina.

Vijay and Chopra were not considered because they are openers in the strictest sense.

 

[NUFAN]

Vijay and Chopra were not considered because they are openers in the strictest sense.

Could Gambhir possibly move to number 3?

I think he'd be a terrific first drop and if the opening batters were more likely to perform than the back up middle order batsmen, I don't think it would be too bad a move.

 

[silentstriker]

Vijay and Chopra were not considered because they are openers in the strictest sense.

Well then Sehwag should have no business opening, even he doesn't think of himself as an opener and speaks wistfully about someday being part of the middle order.

 

[Precambrian]

Could Gambhir possibly move to number 3?

I think he'd be a terrific first drop and if the opening batters were more likely to perform than the back up middle order batsmen, I don't think it would be too bad a move.

Not a bad thing to have Gambhir at No.3, but he's already made his dough at the opening spot. Not really necessary to disturb a well established opening partnership just to accomodate a replacement for a No.3 bat or a No.6 bat. Pujara, Raina and Sharma are all middle order players who can fill in easier than Vijay or Chopra. Or if Vijay is persisted with, he may well have to bat lower than he bats in the Ranji Trophy. I don't think the adjustment will be difficult as he is a reasonably good player of spin.

 

[Precambrian]

Well then Sehwag should have no business opening, even he doesn't think of himself as an opener and speaks wistfully about someday being part of the middle order.

Not at all. Sehwag is Sehwag, a freak of nature. He is imho an exception than rule.

 

[silentstriker]

Not at all. Sehwag is Sehwag, a freak of nature. He is imho an exception than rule.

Hussey? Cricket is littered with such 'exceptions', making the rule that an opener cannot bat well in the middle order not a very good one in the first place.

So what about, for example, Murali Vijay's game that you find unsuitable for the middle order?

 

[analyst]

Dravid will be back to his old self only once he is outside the subcontinent and if he plays himself into some sort of form before he departs the subcontinent. Otherwise its pretty much curtains.

 

[silentstriker]

Dravid will be back to his old self only once he is outside the subcontinent and if he plays himself into some sort of form before he departs the subcontinent. Otherwise its pretty much curtains.

It's been curtains for a while.

 

[Precambrian]

Hussey? Cricket is littered with such 'exceptions', making the rule that an opener cannot bat well in the middle order not a very good one in the first place.

So what about, for example, Murali Vijay's game that you find unsuitable for the middle order?

Cut it off SS, I am not interested into entering into an argument. I doubt whether you will find many cases like Sehwag who is not a bona-fide opener yet made it big in Test match cricket.

As to M Vijay, please see my post above in reply to Nufan. I am not sure Vijay should be preferred over Badri for filling any middle order spot in tests.

Edit - True in case of Hussey but he was way way way superior to Vijay when selected and again is akin to Sehwag.

 

[Precambrian]

Dravid will be back to his old self only once he is outside the subcontinent and if he plays himself into some sort of form before he departs the subcontinent. Otherwise its pretty much curtains.

10 of the last 24 tests Dravid played were outside the subcontinent (of course barring Bangladesh). He scored 488 runs @ 27 from them.