Posted by Rahul Dravid hit his 10,000th Test run today en route to his 25th Test hundred. It’s a little bit overshadowed by Sehwag’s triple hundred, but that’s pretty much the way it goes for Dravid.
Dravid was very much the support act for Sehwag yesterday, hitting 68 in a partnership worth 268. Stunning innings like Sehwag’s can’t happen without a batting partner though and it’s no coincidence that The Wall was protecting the other set of stumps during VVS Laxman’s sublime 281 against Australia as well. In between all the forward defensives he found time to tot up 180, which is some second fiddle – a second fiddle encrusted with rubies, played by a perfectionist, perhaps.
Today’s 111 saw Dravid’s average edge above that of the man who’s overshadowed him most throughout his career. Rahul Dravid averages 55.41 in Test cricket. Sachin Tendulkar now averages 55.31 after registering a duck. With Sehwag only adding 10 to his overnight total, perhaps he and Tendulkar were merely being gracious enough to give Dravid a day of his own.
We move that Dravid’s day becomes a national – no – international holiday, so that he’ll get the respect he deserves for all eternity. There’s nothing like a day off to heighten your appreciation of someone.
I’m taking the day off in appreciation!
Dravid’s career average was actually more than Sachin’s for a long period of time, especially during his golden period in 2003-2006, when it was just shy of 58. During that period 2003-2006, Dravid’s career average was better than most notable contemporary players except one – RT Ponting, who was neck to neck in that department.
On 31 December 2006, Dravid’s career average was 57.58, Ponting was 59.38 and Tendulkar was 54.87.
On 24 Mar 2008, Dravid is at 55.41, Ponting is at 58.53 and Tendulkar is 55.31.
For reference here are the Statsguru links:
Dravid
Ponting
Tendulkar
And who was at the other end when Sehwag scored 254 off 247 in 2006, in a partnership of 410 for the first wicket? That’d be Dravid again.
Perhaps you should anoint him official god. That’d be a start.
More: Dravid has made two scores of over 140 in ODI’s, and was Man of the Match on neither occasion. The first time, he made 145 when Ganguly made 183. The second time, he made 153 when Tendulkar made 186.
We saw the one against Sri Lanka in the World Cup. He was ahead of Ganguly when he was out and playing better than him too.
hey,i am very very happy for rahul.he prove that he is best player in world.east and west he is best.
Err sorry, but I think Dravid gets far more than his share of praise. The “bridesmaid” tag is exaggerated. Had he been an Englishman, he would never have survived his first 2-3 years in international cricket when he clearly benefited playing in the shadow of Tendulkar and Azhar. had Ramprakash been an Indian we might well have seen him with some of Dravid’s numbers.
And what of Dravid’s wicket-keeping era? Designed to keep his place in the side as he was about to be dropped around this time.
Dravid began his career by failing to get the ball off the square and we’ve come a full circle. A very good batsman and India’s best ever slipper, but a notch below what makes a great. Numbers do reaveal a lot but in Rahul’s case, they mask his weaknesses.
You need to dominate and frighten bowlers to be a great. Do you think he ever gave any bowlers a sleepless night?
Truth, as they say is always bitter. The whole world knows that Sachin Tendulkar is not a match winner, whereas Rahul Dravid is. And what ‘frightening’ of a bowler are you talking about. Except Sehwag no one commands that feeling from bowlers. At the most Sachin only commands ‘respect’. And dear sir , the keeping gloves were forced on Rahul Dravid, he never wanted them. And what is this nonsense of him having ‘benefitted’ during his early years. Do you forget that he was scoring more than both of them right from his first day in test cricket.