The Writing's On The Wall
By Gaurang
November 13 2008
And even “The Wall” aka Rahul Dravid can probably read that it says that he needs to hang up his boots, while the question is “why?” and not after it becomes “why not?” After Dravid’s latest failure versus a depleted Australian attack, the chorus of “why not?” is getting louder and louder.
Dravid has been India’s best batsman overseas and one of her greatest match-winners with the willow. But ever since he abdicated the captaincy hot seat, ostensibly to concentrate on his batting, he has looked a pale shadow of the mighty batsman who was once the solid, impenetrable, rock-like fulcrum of an Indian batting line-up that has scored tons of runs from Sydney to Sabina Park and all ports in between.
Having watched him closely during the past series, this writer, can’t pinpoint a particular weakness that has crept up into his batting. Rather, it seems that the one aspect of his batting, which was his strongest asset, even stronger than his water-tight technique, i.e. his mind, has started to betray him. He has shown an un-Dravid-like tendency to press the issue, leading to his downfall for 0 and 3 in the Nagpur Test.
This weakness has been increasingly apparent, though probably not as glaringly obvious as in this recent series, ever since the self-imposed period of introspection which he entered into after he gave up the Indian Test captaincy.
And now the tendency to press the issue, has even crept into his slip fielding. Normally one of the best slip fielders in the world, he has looked anxious, and has seemed to be snatching or grabbing at chances, putting down simple ones that normally he would have taken without a fuss.
Another factor that cannot be minimized is the fact that Anil Kumble, who not only provided Dravid with the largest number of his slip catches, but also had enormous and almost unshakable faith in Dravid as batsman, fielder, and team player, has departed the scene. M.S. Dhoni, his successor, is too smart an operator to question a legend like Dravid, by making intemperate comments in public, but he will not be averse to demanding behind closed doors in the dressing room that all his players pull their weight.
For the sake of Dravid’s many fans, it may be time for him to announce his retirement, and provide all Indian cricket fans, with an opportunity to salute him and bid him a proper farewell. Because, with the kind of batting form he is in currently, and has been for the past two years and twenty five odd Tests (a very long rope by any standard), the selectors can’t be faulted if they decide that it is time to look beyond him and make the decision for him.
The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged)
Date: 13/11/2008 23:36
The Writing's On The Wall
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 13/11/2008 23:34
Murali Vijay has looked very solid as opener...and could be a very serviceable No. 3 in Tests... though I would prefer VVS be promoted to No. 3 and maybe Badrinath and Raina or Vijay and Raina be slotted in at No. 5 and 6...
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Gabbar (IP Logged)
Date: 13/11/2008 23:40
yeah I really feel bad for Dravid - such a mighty batsman now feeling completely helpless and 25 test is indeed a long rope.
Part of the problem I seem to notice against aus was he appeared slightly slow - whether batting or fielding wise -now that is a case of mental fatigue or physical decline I don't know - mostly I think it is mental...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tendulkar is the greatest cricketer of all time
Part of the problem I seem to notice against aus was he appeared slightly slow - whether batting or fielding wise -now that is a case of mental fatigue or physical decline I don't know - mostly I think it is mental...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tendulkar is the greatest cricketer of all time
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Gabbar (IP Logged)
Date: 13/11/2008 23:42
Quote:i feel vijay should come in for dravid and either one of rohit sharma, badri, raina - should come in for gangulyBirbal
Murali Vijay has looked very solid as opener...and could be a very serviceable No. 3 in Tests... though I would prefer VVS be promoted to No. 3 and maybe Badrinath and Raina or Vijay and Raina be slotted in at No. 5 and 6...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tendulkar is the greatest cricketer of all time
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Spirit of Cricket (IP Logged)
Date: 14/11/2008 00:52
It's a real contrast when you compare Dravid to Ganguly - whose batting performance shot up after giving up captaincy.
Clever title BTW
Clever title BTW
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: khanlala (IP Logged)
Date: 14/11/2008 03:09
here we go again...
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 14/11/2008 17:05
Guys like Suresh Menon, Dilip Premchandran, etc. are trying to find all sorts of ways to justify Dravid's poor form...
They are saying he is too intense, too hard on himself, etc. to explain away his failures over two years...
Funny thing is they are even using his technical abilities as a reason why he continues to fail but Ganguly came back with a bang... after he was dropped from the team...
The argument that people with better technique have a better chance to work their way out of a slump versus players who rely more on touch and timing (i.e. Ganguly, Sehwag, etc., ) is being TURNED ON ITS HEAD. In the case of Dravid, being technically so proficient... is being made an excuse for his failure...he thinks too much, is not going by gut instinct...etc...
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
They are saying he is too intense, too hard on himself, etc. to explain away his failures over two years...
Funny thing is they are even using his technical abilities as a reason why he continues to fail but Ganguly came back with a bang... after he was dropped from the team...
The argument that people with better technique have a better chance to work their way out of a slump versus players who rely more on touch and timing (i.e. Ganguly, Sehwag, etc., ) is being TURNED ON ITS HEAD. In the case of Dravid, being technically so proficient... is being made an excuse for his failure...he thinks too much, is not going by gut instinct...etc...
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: ananthd (IP Logged)
Date: 14/11/2008 17:17
The medicine for Dravid should be the same as Ganguly's....
Drop him and if he makes a case in the domestics get him back....
Drop him and if he makes a case in the domestics get him back....
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 14/11/2008 17:19
Yes... but for some reason... Dravid keeps getting pedas...while Ganguly kept getting gaalis...
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 16/11/2008 02:06
Dravid will join Uthappa in giving K'taka batting some experience...versus Andhra Pradesh...
A.P.'s bowling has been pretty mediocre so far this season, Dravid should fill his boots..
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
A.P.'s bowling has been pretty mediocre so far this season, Dravid should fill his boots..
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 12/12/2008 18:30
Dravid RETIRE NOW!!!
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 12/12/2008 18:32
I worte this during the Aussie series...but the facts are still the same..
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
Quote:Having watched him closely during the past series, this writer, can’t pinpoint a particular weakness that has crept up into his batting. Rather, it seems that the one aspect of his batting, which was his strongest asset, even stronger than his water-tight technique, i.e. his mind, has started to betray him. He has shown an un-Dravid-like tendency to press the issue, leading to his downfall for 0 and 3 in the Nagpur Test.
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: ananthd (IP Logged)
Date: 12/12/2008 18:40
The Wall has been crumbling for more than 2 years now and most of the media instead fails to recognize....
I get so IRRITATED when BIGOTs like Ravi Shastri(he's bigotted in this respect) keep parrotting the "guy is a class player, who's bound to have PATCHES OF BAD FORM".....
How long can the PATCH be? TWO YEARS? Dravid's has been having tiny PATCHES of GOOD FORM, peppering consistent mediocrity....
And the guy is clearly not there mentally as it is now affecting his slip catching, which has really deteriorated from the SL series on.....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:12:12:18:46:33 by ananthd.
I get so IRRITATED when BIGOTs like Ravi Shastri(he's bigotted in this respect) keep parrotting the "guy is a class player, who's bound to have PATCHES OF BAD FORM".....
How long can the PATCH be? TWO YEARS? Dravid's has been having tiny PATCHES of GOOD FORM, peppering consistent mediocrity....
And the guy is clearly not there mentally as it is now affecting his slip catching, which has really deteriorated from the SL series on.....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:12:12:18:46:33 by ananthd.
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 12/12/2008 18:51
Yeah guys like Shastri are being so "understanding" about him... wonder why?
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Gabbar (IP Logged)
Date: 12/12/2008 18:53
Shastri has become bloody useless - yeah I noticed him saying that -I had the same feeling - wtf
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tendulkar is the greatest cricketer of all time
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tendulkar is the greatest cricketer of all time
Dravid Needs To Go
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 12/12/2008 16:38
Immediately...
Not just is his batting a sad, sad shadow of a once glorious batsman...his catching is pretty mediocre...he dropped another dolly yesterday...and he has looked really sluggish and out of it in the field...
I mean he never runs after the ball even if he misses it...he just expects one of the younger legs to chase it...He never used to be like this...
He doesn't want to go...but go he must...
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
Not just is his batting a sad, sad shadow of a once glorious batsman...his catching is pretty mediocre...he dropped another dolly yesterday...and he has looked really sluggish and out of it in the field...
I mean he never runs after the ball even if he misses it...he just expects one of the younger legs to chase it...He never used to be like this...
He doesn't want to go...but go he must...
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
Re: Dravid Needs To Go
Posted by: Gabbar (IP Logged)
Date: 12/12/2008 16:52
yeah he should leave otherwise his ave will drop below 50
Also what if he scores a century next innings? Are we then booked with him for another 2 years?
Maybe he is waiting to retire after this last english test - if he doesn't then srikant and company should not select him
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tendulkar is the greatest cricketer of all time
Also what if he scores a century next innings? Are we then booked with him for another 2 years?
Maybe he is waiting to retire after this last english test - if he doesn't then srikant and company should not select him
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tendulkar is the greatest cricketer of all time
Re: Dravid Needs To Go
Posted by: amit (IP Logged)
Date: 12/12/2008 16:52
dravid is just 1 more catch away from equalling the catching record. lets hope he gets it & announces his retirement after this match & have pujara/badrinath/vijay replace him in the xi in the next match
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: JayJ (IP Logged)
Date: 13/12/2008 23:27
I am not yet sure if pujara is ready for tests even after his form this year. ALL his games have been at Rajkot where the pitch so far until last match has been Flat. i want to see if he can make runs somewhere else.
Have seen Vijay only in test against Aussies and he did pretty well. Badri has not been in any form this year except for a 100 last Ranji game. Raina too not in best form.
So not a slam dunk on who need to replace Dravid.
Have seen Vijay only in test against Aussies and he did pretty well. Badri has not been in any form this year except for a 100 last Ranji game. Raina too not in best form.
So not a slam dunk on who need to replace Dravid.
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: SD (IP Logged)
Date: 13/12/2008 23:42
I think this guy is looking for another big one to announce his retirement. DOesn't want to go away on a low.
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 00:53
But maybe if he announces his retirement...he will be able to concentrate and go out on a HIGH...
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 01:04
Indian media are treating him with KID GLOVES...
I want the gloves to come off...
I want the gloves to come off...
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 01:08
Ganguly apparently disagrees with me...
Calcutta: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly came out in support of Rahul Dravid dismissing claims that the ‘Wall’ is showing signs of vulnerability.
“Dravid is a great cricketer with a lot of maturity. It will be wrong to say that it’s over for him,” Ganguly said after a practice session at the Eden Gardens Friday.
Dravid with 10,366 Test runs to his name has managed just two centuries and nine 50s in the 48 innings he has played over the last two years.
Dravid’s last five innings read a dismal 11, 11, 0, 3 and 3.
But Ganguly, who retired after the Test series against Australia recently, believes Dravid’s return to form is just a matter of time.
“One should not judge him on a few failures. It is a temporary loss of form and I am sure he’ll come up with a big knock soon to silence his critics,” Ganguly said.
The former India captain is currently keeping himself in shape and is hoping to play in the Ranji Trophy Plate group semi-final and help Bengal return to the Super League.
Ganguly had earlier expressed his desire to turn up against Vidarbha in the Plate group but since Bengal have already made the semi-finals, he chose to wait for the last-four stage.
“I am eager to play for Bengal in the semi-finals. We are currently doing well in the league stage and I am sure we’ll make the Super League,” Ganguly, who had a rigourous indoor and outdoor session, at the Eden added.
Asked, whether India should tour Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai terror strikes, Ganguly declined comment.
Asked whether the terror strikes will put a shadow on Pakistan cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul who are his teammates in Indian Premier League (IPL) side Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Ganguly said there was still plenty of time for the second edition of the Twenty20 competition to begin.
“IPL is still some months to go. I hope things will get normal by then,” Ganguly said, adding that Eden will host a KKR camp from January 6 to scout for talent in the domestic circuit.
Calcutta: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly came out in support of Rahul Dravid dismissing claims that the ‘Wall’ is showing signs of vulnerability.
“Dravid is a great cricketer with a lot of maturity. It will be wrong to say that it’s over for him,” Ganguly said after a practice session at the Eden Gardens Friday.
Dravid with 10,366 Test runs to his name has managed just two centuries and nine 50s in the 48 innings he has played over the last two years.
Dravid’s last five innings read a dismal 11, 11, 0, 3 and 3.
But Ganguly, who retired after the Test series against Australia recently, believes Dravid’s return to form is just a matter of time.
“One should not judge him on a few failures. It is a temporary loss of form and I am sure he’ll come up with a big knock soon to silence his critics,” Ganguly said.
The former India captain is currently keeping himself in shape and is hoping to play in the Ranji Trophy Plate group semi-final and help Bengal return to the Super League.
Ganguly had earlier expressed his desire to turn up against Vidarbha in the Plate group but since Bengal have already made the semi-finals, he chose to wait for the last-four stage.
“I am eager to play for Bengal in the semi-finals. We are currently doing well in the league stage and I am sure we’ll make the Super League,” Ganguly, who had a rigourous indoor and outdoor session, at the Eden added.
Asked, whether India should tour Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai terror strikes, Ganguly declined comment.
Asked whether the terror strikes will put a shadow on Pakistan cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul who are his teammates in Indian Premier League (IPL) side Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Ganguly said there was still plenty of time for the second edition of the Twenty20 competition to begin.
“IPL is still some months to go. I hope things will get normal by then,” Ganguly said, adding that Eden will host a KKR camp from January 6 to scout for talent in the domestic circuit.
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 04:26
I don't think Dravid EVER said a public word of support for Sourav when he was out of the team...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:12:14:04:26:40 by Birbal.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:12:14:04:26:40 by Birbal.
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 04:33
btw, yesterday on TV he was shown reading some "Self-Help" book in the pavilion...
The guy is really struggling mentally...
The guy is really struggling mentally...
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: anu_d (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 16:28
Sehwag was on the rampage and Pietersen was desperate for his wicket. He could keep dangling the carrot at his bowlers: "Get him and you can bowl at Rahul Dravid". Suddenly the prospect of Dravid was nirvana to England's bowlers. Not so long ago it was purgatory..Vic Marcs in Guardian
Shows how much Dravid's status has fallen in world cricket
Shows how much Dravid's status has fallen in world cricket
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 14/12/2008 23:17
We don't need some English paper to let us know... Dravid has been sucking for about 2 years and we all know it...
Though Anu_D you are right that our SKC infected journos may now start attacking Dravid as they have been given the green light...
Though Anu_D you are right that our SKC infected journos may now start attacking Dravid as they have been given the green light...
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: anu_d (IP Logged)
Date: 15/12/2008 06:28
Dravid has avregd 28 in the last 2 years...post captaincy....and Ganguly averaged 50+.
I told ya.....long time back...this guy Dravid is a PAPPU
I told ya.....long time back...this guy Dravid is a PAPPU
Re: The Writing's On The Wall
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 15/12/2008 16:43
And he gets Grade A contract...
This guy is TEFLON coated or what?
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:12:15:16:44:13 by Birbal.
This guy is TEFLON coated or what?
_____
ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:12:15:16:44:13 by Birbal.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.