Dravid Likely to Retire

[MyLord]

Dravid WAG. Class on and off the field.

Only Jaklis the last of the greats soldiers on (Ricky and Tendulkar largely spent and coasting).

 

[silentstriker]

What. A. Great.

That is the most epic picture I've ever seen.

 

[kyear2]

Epic indeed.

 

[Viscount Tom]

LOL @ the partnership with Raina.

 

[smash84]

 

[CWB304]

Since his debut he has been one of the best test batsman in world cricket. I have him in tier 1 along with Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting, Kallis and Sangakkara. Of those he was the best at playing the moving ball, and probably was India's best batsman of the 2000s.

He should be remembered as a player who had a superb defensive technique and extremely good powers of concentration and mental strength, but also as a player with all the shots in the book, and one who could stylishly take apart bowling attacks when he occasionally wanted to. He was clinical at putting away the bad ball, and I think his strokeplay and elegance is and was sometimes forgotten in his overall reputation.

An all-time great player, a great team man, an adaptable player and someone India could count on time and time again, responsible for their greatest achievements.

Another superb post; agree with every point but particularly the bolded. The footwork of prime Dravid to the swinging and seaming ball was without question the best of this era.

And it was not just his defensive technique; he moved his feet so quickly, smoothly and decisively to the pitch of the ball that when it was deviating the most it was as if he was playing a different game - he had this disconcerting habit of nonchalantly driving balls that would have got almost any other batsman out LBW or caught behind to wherever he liked in the V. And every time it was that quick, decisive and totally unique footwork of his which would set up the stroke.

Absolutely amazing player and my second favourite of your five titans after Lara.

 

[zaremba]

None of India's batsmen do .

Actually, ironically, the only one who seemed kinda 'Australian'.

In a way, that's the mark of the man, that supporters from each country think of him almost as one of their own. That said, "Australian" is probably the last adjective I'd use of him.

 

[silentstriker]

Yea, he's Australian like Dennis Lillee was Indian.

 

[_Ed_]

What. A. Great.

That is incredibly awesome.

 

[Ikki]

In a way, that's the mark of the man, that supporters from each country think of him almost as one of their own. That said, "Australian" is probably the last adjective I'd use of him.

Yea, he's Australian like Dennis Lillee was Indian.

Well, I guess it depends what you'd attach to that adjective. Nor am I trying to suggest that is what all players should attempt to be. It's just that he seemed far more identifiable with as an Australian who watched our matches against India.

 

[Furball]

Dravid had far too much class to be thought of as an Australian.

 

[Ikki]

Dravid had far too much class to be thought of as an Australian.

And pray tell which team had the monopoly on that?

 

[ankitj]

Must watch this prank on Dravid

Bakra - Googly time for Rahul Dravid (Ep. 1, 9/12) - YouTube

 

[Ikki]

Haha, what a legend. Imagine playing that prank on Warne

 

[Jono]

Well, I guess it depends what you'd attach to that adjective. Nor am I trying to suggest that is what all players should attempt to be. It's just that he seemed far more identifiable with as an Australian who watched our matches against India.

I don't think the Australian public warmed to Dravid as much as they did with Sachin and Laxman, and you'd think the Australians would warm to someone who was similar to their own.

 

[Ikki]

I wasn't referring to whom the general public received well or for whatever reason they did so. I was explaining the reasons why I liked him more. I feel if we had to pick one of India's great cricketers he would slot into our dressing room easier than the rest. From Gilchrist talking about how Sachin was often unavailable and Ponting talking about how he and Dravid had discussed and encouraged each other about staying on, whilst in their troughs, that picture of him formed for me. Anyway, it is not an important point, really.

 

[Furball]

I don't think the Australian public warmed to Dravid as much as they did with Sachin and Laxman, and you'd think the Australians would warm to someone who was similar to their own.

Yeah, if anything Dravid seems more 'English' so to speak, which I think is reflected in how highly he's thought of over here.

 

[benchmark00]

lol.

 

[Ikki]

Nah, Dravid showered.

it is a credit to Dravid that he was well-liked by pretty much all.

 

[Jono]

I wasn't referring to whom the general public received well or for whatever reason they did so. I was explaining the reasons why I liked him more.

Fair enough.