India sweats over Dravid's form ahead of Oz tour

[DesiChap]

Bangalore, December 6: Less than three weeks before India's high-profile Test series in Australia, concerns persist over the form of batting mainstay Rahul Dravid. Since quitting the captaincy in September, the 34-year-old has struggled to recapture the kind of form that established him as one of the world's top batsmen. While his place in the line-up for the four-Test tour starting on December 26 is not in doubt, the final Test against Pakistan beginning on Saturday presents him with a final opportunity to find his touch before heading to Australia. "It's very important for the team that Rahul plays long innings in Australia," former coach Aunshuman Gaekwad said on Thursday. "He needs to stay to stabilise the entire innings to have the required effect. The role of the number three batsman is crucial for any team." Dravid averages 64.72 in seven Tests in Australia and was the highest run-getter for the side during the 2003-04 tour with 619 runs at an astonishing average of 123.80. His double hundred helped India win the second Test at Adelaide and he also had two scores in the 90s among his three half centuries in a remarkable series that ended in a 1-1 draw. However, Dravid has failed to deliver in his starts in the first two Tests against Pakistan. He was unfortunate to be given out for 50 in the second Test in Kolkata, where the two sides stacked up nearly 1,500 runs combined, but the manner of his dismissals in the first Test was so untypically Dravid, renowned for his technical excellence. Just 378 shy of joining the exclusive 10,000-run club in Test cricket, Dravid fell in the first innings playing across the line to debutant pacer Sohail Tanvir and was bowled by a quick ball from Shoaib Akhtar that sped through the gap between bat and pad. "But he is a classy player, and is just one innings away from regaining form," former captain Ajit Wadekar said on Thursday. "Hopefully that will be soon." Dravid gave up the captaincy after the England tour to focus on his batting, but looked out of sorts in the ODI series against Australia, scoring 51 in five completed innings and subsequently lost his place in the ODI side. India lead the three-Test series against Pakistan 1-0 after winning the opening Test by six wickets. The second match ended in a draw. http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/India-sweats-over-Dravids-form-ahead-of-Oz-tour/247385/

[DesiChap]

ooops can the mods please edit the title and put "India sweats over Dravid's form ahead of Oz tour"

[feverpitch]

nothing to sweat about... out of form batsmen should be swept aside...

[Predator_05]

If he fails in Australia, he will be dropped for Yuvraj. Sad, but true - i hope it doesn't happen, because Dravid is an Indian legend who deserves support. He looked excellent yesterday - got off the mark in style with a sweetly timed boundary and looked intent on running any single he could get. A good knock isn't far away - he just needs a bit of luck.

[Bumper]

If he fails in Australia' date= he will be dropped for Yuvraj. Sad, but true - i hope it doesn't happen, because Dravid is an Indian legend who deserves support. He looked excellent yesterday - got off the mark in style with a sweetly timed boundary and looked intent on running any single he could get. A good knock isn't far away - he just needs a bit of luck.

He wont be dropped with Kumble as our captain. Besides, this team, the media and the selectors believe too much on reputation. For most, its tantamount to sacrilege to imagine a test squad without a Dravid or a Tendulkar. But i do think, Dravid will score atleast two big 50s Down Under, finishing the series with an average of 37ish. If he does that as an opener, he wont be drop worthy.

[Predator_05]

Don't be so sure. Yuvraj is rated quite highly by Kumble and the seniors, not to mention the selectors. They won't think too long about bringing him in if Dravid doesn't score. Remember - Ganguly's career was almost killed off because of the "Yuvraj factor", and Laxman was dropped for him in the Mumbai test vs ENG. It's possible.

[donkey]

all batsmen fail against australia..dravid wont b singled out.....and so far he has scored 34...38....50...8*...and 19.....hardly a bad patch I would say

[Guest dada_rocks]

he won't fail in aussie land .. today he was just over complacent

[King]

Same yardstick that applied to Ganguly or Tendulkar applies to Rahul Dravid as well. These folks don't lose technique or talent over night. They may wane a little bit but they sure have the ability. It's only a matter of time he's among runs again but can the selectors let the bench warmers wait for him to get into his usual form though?