Player Discussion: Rahul Dravid : Cracks in the wall?

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Rahul Dravid : Cracks in the wall?

Printed From: Cricket World
Category: Letter To The Editor
Forum Name: Player Discussion
Forum Discription: Player discussion, comparisons and memories
URL: http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4724
Printed Date: 23 May 2013 at 8:13pm
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Topic: Rahul Dravid : Cracks in the wall?

Posted By: dips_december
Subject: Rahul Dravid : Cracks in the wall?
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 4:48am

Rahul Dravid has been one of india's most reliable batsmen for the last decade or so. He has been nicknamed 'The Wall' for his rock solid technique but his recent records are really worrying and showing signs of rapid decline. Since giving up captaincy his average has dropped drastically to 33 and his overall career average has dropped from 57 to 53. Here are some stats showing that crickas may have developed in the wall..

Surprisingly, ever since Dravid has relinquished Test captaincy in a controversial manner in 2007, his performance has gone from bad to worse. The table below shows that his average has dipped to 34, quite ordinary going by Dravid's high standard over the years.

	Mts	Inns	NO	Runs	Avg	HS	100s	50s	0s
Before becoming full-time captain	91	153	18	7871	58.30	270	20	38	5
During full-time captaincy stint	20	36	5	1598	51.55	146	4	10	0
Since relinquishing captaincy	13	25	3	754	34.27	111	1	4	0

My question is, what's wrong with the Wall? Surely one cant lose his talent overnight but nothing seems to be going right fo him.

Replies:

Posted By: NZ_Fast
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 10:06am

Its simple really from my view point. Hes got old and complacent.

Posted By: Clobber
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 10:19am

He certainly hasn't got complacent, that's extremely harsh - watch him batting and you can see he is giving it everything still.

I reckon the heavy burdens he has carried over the years (not just the captaincy) have worn him down and his problems now are down to mental fatigue as much as anything else.

Posted By: bladescape
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 1:52pm

I have to agree with Clobber.
Dravid needs to throw all the worries away and try to start from the beginning because when I saw him bat he didn't have as well timed shots as before and he didn't play a few of his shots as technicly as well.

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You know, I'm trying to decide whether to change my siggy or not...

Posted By: spin wizard
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 5:18pm

India need to bat him at 5 too, let Laxman bat at 3.

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In troubled times, being philosophical helps a great deal, it helps you to remain sane and not do any further damage.

Posted By: dips_december
Date Posted: 26 September 2008 at 4:51am

Well he has averaged around 64 at no 5 and 7o at no 7. He needs a big 100 today against Delhi to carry that confidence into the first test against Australia.

Posted By: spin wizard
Date Posted: 26 September 2008 at 3:47pm

India should have never let Dravid open in Aussie. Sehwag and someone should have done that - if Yuvraj had to play, put him there. Hussey had to bat at 5 for Aussie because they weren't gonna mess with Hayden/Langer combination. Just like how they did a brainless decision in the World Cup to bat Tendulkar at 4 when the man has had so much success batting as an opener years and years on a trot!

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In troubled times, being philosophical helps a great deal, it helps you to remain sane and not do any further damage.

Posted By: Clobber
Date Posted: 26 September 2008 at 9:40pm

It is typical of the sort of thing he has done over the years, where he is willing to do something for the good of the team even if it is to his own detriment.

Posted By: dips_december
Date Posted: 27 September 2008 at 10:09am

Exactly and being the team man has affected him and he came in at no 6 or 7 during his last ODI series which led to the start of a slump in form. He opened in the Irani game and spent useful time in the middle. I am sure he will be back at no. 3 during the tests against Oz and it was good to see Anil Kumble once again praising his efforts in this practise match.

Posted By: dips_december
Date Posted: 05 November 2008 at 8:39am

Well I'd like to bring up this topic once again. Dravid has had scores of 51, 5, 39, 11 and 11 against Australia in this series. He has looked in control and really good but those starts have not been converted. This has been his problem of late. His strike rate was down in the 30's prior to this series but he has lifted it up this series.

With all the others scoring runs you have to ask what is going wrong? It's not that his footwork is wrong or anything but its just that the runs are not coming. What's hs main problem?

Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 05 November 2008 at 8:46am

He lacks confidence lad , plain and simple. He appears edgy at the crease , pushing at balls that should be left alone. One good knock can change that or maybe a little good fortune - being dropped in the slip cordon might do the trick.
He's still a class act and as has been stated many times before , a fine team man.

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Mental disintegration works for me !!

Posted By: dips_december
Date Posted: 05 November 2008 at 8:49am

Well Sledge he looked quite calm and the Dravid of old in the second innings at Kotla and yet he got out chasing a wide ball. Yea one knock will do him a world of good or else I doubt whether he will get selected for the England series. And he needs it quite badly. Kumble's not the skipper any more and Dhoni has a liking for youngsters. I hope he gets a big one.

Posted By: dips_december
Date Posted: 06 November 2008 at 4:10pm

Words of encouragement from Javed Miandad.http://www.cricketnirvana.com/features-article/2008/November/features-article-20081106-5.html

Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 07 November 2008 at 5:26am

I'll tell you something Dips - Kevin Pietersen and company will be highly delighted if Dravid is left out for the upcoming tests - his record against England , both home and away is terrific.

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Mental disintegration works for me !!

Posted By: dips_december
Date Posted: 07 November 2008 at 2:46pm

Well Sledge his record has been terrific against most countries but e\that average was nearly 58, two years back and now its aroung 53. Shows he is fast on the decline. I guess what Miandad said was absolutely right. Srikkanth needs to go to him and have a chat with him and knowing the person he is, he will be doing it soon.