Dravid

is this the end? not going by pure stats alone, but he has not seemed comfortable in tests since about 2007 (save the odd test match). i thought he would last till the saffie series where a batsman of his class and experience could be invaluable, but it does not seem he will last that long

should the likes of sharma/pujara/etc (not yuvraj please) be blooded in the 5 home tests following this one? will give them some time to settle in before the series of big tours starting december

dravid clearly looks like the second of the big 4 to go. we might as well give him a farewell series at home against the aussies, like ganguly and kumble

Don't worry - he'll no doubt score a double ton against us to cement his spot for a while yet.

Since the end of the Bangladesh series in May 07, Dravid has played in 33 Tests.

Of those - 9 v SL, 7 v AUS, 3 v SAF and 3 in England ..... all challenging teams.

3 games against NZ and 2 against Bangladesh have been the only respite among several tough series.

That fact explains the 5 runs off his average over the three years - but almost 53 is still up with the best around. At 37, he's not getting any younger. I've a feeling he may announce his retirement soon and go out at the top ... would be such a shame to see a great servantof Indian cricket continue for one series too many and have his average fall below 50.

Couldn't care less about the stats when Dravid is concerned. It's just the way he's played that is disappointing.

But dorrie, the one inevitably follows the other. In well over 30 years following the game, I've never known anyone playing poorly not have their numbers suffer.

Had Dravid looked comfortable and on top of his game, then chances are he would actually been on top of his game. That being the case, his average would - in all probability - have remained around the 60 mark.

My point is that if he looked like being the same great player, just going through a bad patch I wouldn't give it a second thought. This looks terminal.

Indeed. Had he been 5 years younger that may have been the case. Sadly, it may well be that age is slowly catching up with him, hence my hope he doesn't go on too long.

It's very rare nowadays to see more than one player in an international XI pushing 40. For India, my feeling is that the one player will be Sachin.

doremi wrote:Couldn't care less about the stats when Dravid is concerned. It's just the way he's played that is disappointing.

exacto-mundo

and at the age of 37 he is not likely to get much leeway from the selectors once dropped

it would be really sad if one of india's greatest was reduced to carrying drinks at the end of his career and announcing his retirement on a tour

i think this present home series is ideal for a farewell series. thankfully he is not part of the odi team so he will have time to think over it over the next month or so. also hopefully the selectors have a vision and talk to dravid about it and allow him to plan a farewell he richly deserves. the next home series will be a year later and i dont see him lasting that long

just on his record since bangles 2007. in the 11 series since he has averaged below 40 in 7 of them. below 25 in 4 of them. out of the 4 he averaged more than 40 in were 2 series in bangla and nz and one monster series he had at the end of last year against lanka at home. this is not the dravid we know

Dravid doesn't even look like he enjoys his cricket these days.

He has a face like a constipated and colic ridden baby when he takes the field..

Maybe it is time for an honourable exit and for India to look for his replacement.

Move Laxman up to number 3 for the next 12-18 months and blood a youngster in the middle order. Or play Gambhir one down and open with Vijay?

i think sehwag and gambhir are young enough to take care of opening duties for a few years more. vijay in all the chances he has got has not had even one big innings and frankly doesnt look too great when the ball is doing a bit

lax at 5 for me as we dont want all the experienced bats right at the top. laxman also plays very well with the lower order. raina has earned himself a spot for the next few matches at least and would play at 6. so i would probably blood pujara or sharma at 3

Laxman should have been at 3 since 07. Raina deserves a chance at that MO spot and Pujara should be tried out as well.

The planning around Dad's army replacements should have commenced 2-3 years ago. Laxman despite his outstanding innings in the last test is very unfit and looks like a middleaged Casino star as opposed to a top brass cricketer.

Wonj't be a day too soon if these guys moved over and made way for the next Gen.

VVS got to bat at 3. Plain and simple. At that slot, he'll be even more fluent.

As for batting with tail, you won't find a worse batsman than VVS for that. His batting with Ishant and Mithun was shoddy to say the least in the first test at Galle.

He is least fit to bat with tail. He just doesn't know how to farm the strike.

I feel the Aus series will decide Dravid's fate.

Another series of this magnitude, will probably seal his fate.

PS: This was only the 2nd time in his career, that he couldn't tally 100 runs in a series. First time being that series in Aus in '99.

As for Vijay, he should stick to his position of replacing Gambhir whenever need arises. IMO, he is not good even for that. Never ever goes on to something substantial.

Vijay has shown flashes of ability and I think he can improve, so don't mind him being the reserve opener. Pujara deserves in, Yuvi out. VVS at 3, Raina, Dhoni and another will give decent stability.

I think we got to fast track Pujara into Indian team. He is in form of his life and we're persisting with guys like Yuvraj.

I take it most feel Badrinath has now blown his chances and is way down the pecking order?

Has Dravid ever loked as if he is enjoying himself at the crease?

Dravid's problem is that whenever he's out of form he retreats into his shell, plays no shots, and makes batting look extremely painful when he's out of form, rather than going out and playing a few shots hoping for the best.

PeterCS wrote:Has Dravid ever loked as if he is enjoying himself at the crease?

Yes.
Immediately after he's had his hemorrhoids seen to.
Looks more comfortable then ....smiles a bit too ...

He may announce his retirement tomorrow.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/current/story/556624.html

Great career from a great man. Like many before him, probably stayed on one or two series too many.

Can't blame him though, he had an exceptional series in England (not a half arsed good one which turns out exceptional in the circumstances) and so too was the year 2011 for him.

Another good thing is that, if indeed he's retiring (he surely will be), he didn't do it when India were in the middle of a series and hog the limelight.

A great servant to Indian Cricket. Are we seeing a changing of the guard with Laxman & Tendy to follow?