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[ramshorns]

In Dravid they trust

There can hardly be a more reassuring sight than Rahul Dravid at the crease when your team is in a slight bother. As on innumerable times over the past decade, he calmed Karnataka's nerves on the second day at the Chinnaswamy by blunting the UP attack
Siddarth Ravindran at the Chinnaswamy Stadium

January 4, 2010


The previous time Rahul Dravid played more than three Ranji matches in a season was in 1997-98, when he made a double-century in the final against Uttar Pradesh to help Karnataka to the trophy. Since then, he has hardly been available for Karnataka, his international duties erasing any chance of being part of a full campaign. Since then, his state has won one more Ranji title, but it has been mostly a decade of struggle.

This season he's played four matches, and Karnataka are again showing the all-conquering form of the late 90s. After years of being also-rans, Karnataka's revival also started with a match against UP last November - a 185-run demolition of Mohammad Kaif's side in the campaign opener in Meerut. Dravid was instrumental in that victory, compiling a measured 97 in a match-turning 277-run association with the gifted youngster Manish Pandey after Karnataka were reeling at 27 for 3.

When the two sides met again, it was in the semi-finals at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, which hasn't been a bowler's favourite over the past few years, with hardly any side managing to take 20 wickets. Ahead of the semi-final, both teams knew the match was likely to be something of a replay of the last time when Karnataka and UP met at the ground - the home side making 511 in nearly two days, only to see Kaif's boys pile on 567 and snatch three points for the first-innings lead.

The first thing Dravid did right in the game was win an important toss, but Karnataka were in danger of frittering that advantage after RP Singh's two-wicket over reduced them to 138 for 3. All three dismissed batsmen - in their early twenties age-wise - had been in for at least an hour, and each had crossed 30 without carrying on to a score that would really hurt UP.

There can hardly be a more reassuring sight than Dravid at the crease when your team is in a slight bother. As he done for India innumerable times over the past decade, Dravid calmed his team's nerves by blunting the UP attack. There were no flash strokes in the hour till tea, the only boundaries he stroked were a textbook cover drive and a whip to midwicket off a legstump half-volley. Otherwise, it was classic Dravid, solid defence mixed with a few singles to dissuade the opposition. In the 18 overs of the final session, he grafted 20 runs, persevering even after Pandey threw away his wicket for an eye-catching 66.

With the knowledge that even 500 will not be sufficient, he began the second day carefully as well. Only after the main threats, RP Singh and Praveen Kumar, had been seen off in the first hour, and Karnataka's score had crept past 300, did he unveil his full repertoire of strokes. Legspinner Piyush Chawla was carted for three fours in two overs, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was deftly leg-glanced for a boundary followed by a superbly timed on-drive for four more. There was even a late cut off Chawla to bring up the 350.

Dravid rarely took the foot off the gas after that, his final 147 runs consuming only 36 deliveries more than his first fifty. Even so, his first ugly stroke was only after he reached the double-century - an attempt to shovel a delivery from way outside off towards midwicket. He compensated for that, though, with a sweetly timed straight hit that cleared the top of the sightscreen.

What stood out in his innings was the determination, showcased by his annoyance at not finding the gap with a square cut when on 194 - Karnataka were in control with the total exceeding 550 by that stage, but he still chastised himself and practiced the stroke several times before the next delivery.

He returned to a standing ovation from the dressing room, which had at least four young batsmen ruing the shot selection that denied them a potential century. After navigating Karnataka towards their first Ranji final in 11 years, Dravid termed it a "truly satisfying day." He will be hoping his juniors have absorbed the lessons from an instructive innings because if Karnataka make the title clash, they won't have the failsafe Dravid to rely on, as he will be in Bangladesh for the Test series.

http://www.cricinfo.com/ranjisuperleague2009/content/story/442424.html

[ramshorns]

It really amazes me when the real great players in cricket (not the 20-20 variety) time and again rise to the occasion.   RD did not even have to play this game.   But shows up amd almost spends close to 2 days on the field batting and in the process guides his team to a position of invincibility. 

More importantly as the above article eludes to when 4 young guns fail to conver starts RD notches up a mammoth 209* and shows them a thing or two.   Hope some one learned a thing or two hopefully Manish Pandey.

Incredible, incredible stuff.

[Cover Point]

It really amazes me when the real great players in cricket (not the 20-20 variety) time and again rise to the occasion.   RD did not even have to play this game.   But shows up amd almost spends close to 2 days on the field batting and in the process guides his team to a position of invincibility. 

More importantly as the above article eludes to when 4 young guns fail to conver starts RD notches up a mammoth 209* and shows them a thing or two.   Hope some one learned a thing or two hopefully Manish Pandey.

Incredible, incredible stuff.

his choice was to either play this game or play gilly danda. i understand dravid did not make it to the semifinals of all India gilly danda tournament and thus decided to play this game.

[Tilal]

He is an ATG for a good reason.  He has been the leader of the "fearsome fourseome" of indian test team of the last several years.  I argue that it was really "fearsome fivesome" with Ganguly not far behind the foursome in certain ways.

[ramshorns]

He is an ATG for a good reason.  He has been the leader of the "fearsome fourseome" of indian test team of the last several years.  I argue that it was really "fearsome fivesome" with Ganguly not far behind the foursome in certain ways.

1) What is ATG?

2) Who are the fearsome foursome?

[Tilal]

He is an ATG for a good reason.  He has been the leader of the "fearsome fourseome" of indian test team of the last several years.  I argue that it was really "fearsome fivesome" with Ganguly not far behind the foursome in certain ways.

1) What is ATG?

2) Who are the fearsome foursome?

Rahul Dravid, who has a style even more reassuring than the Kallises and Gavaskars. The aforementioned masters would always make it clear that what they were doing was difficult, beyond the reach of mortal men. Dravid, however, seems to treat the most challenging conditions like a crossword puzzle which he is enjoying figuring out. He looks vaguely amused that the last ball was a real screamer which almost cut him in half; when a bowler delivers a relatively easy ball, Dravid peers back quizzically, as if asking why he bothered. That does not make him the greatest – my suspicion is that the title belongs to Len Hutton – but it does make him the most entertaining to watch.

I was going to say “long may he continue”, but it would be redundant. It's just what he does.

http://blogs.cricinfo.com/diffstrokes/archives/2009/12/the_slowcoaches.php

[dextrous]

He is an ATG for a good reason.  He has been the leader of the "fearsome fourseome" of indian test team of the last several years.  I argue that it was really "fearsome fivesome" with Ganguly not far behind the foursome in certain ways.

I thought Ganguly was in the 4...did you kick him out to accomodate dravid?

[Tilal]

He is an ATG for a good reason.  He has been the leader of the "fearsome fourseome" of indian test team of the last several years.  I argue that it was really "fearsome fivesome" with Ganguly not far behind the foursome in certain ways.

I thought Ganguly was in the 4...did you kick him out to accomodate dravid?

Ganguly tops the list for me personally for his willingness to take on the opposition.   For me his is the leader of the pack.  (I was just going by circinfo bloggers and expers about ATGs who place others ahead of Ganguly)

[Cover Point]

He is an ATG for a good reason.  He has been the leader of the "fearsome fourseome" of indian test team of the last several years.  I argue that it was really "fearsome fivesome" with Ganguly not far behind the foursome in certain ways.

I thought Ganguly was in the 4...did you kick him out to accomodate dravid?

ha ha ... Ganguly would be #1 ... if the list was a list of politicians. He was #1 in having dinner with Pawar to get himself selected. In batting he would be a distant 165th!

[dextrous]

He is an ATG for a good reason.  He has been the leader of the "fearsome fourseome" of indian test team of the last several years.  I argue that it was really "fearsome fivesome" with Ganguly not far behind the foursome in certain ways.

I thought Ganguly was in the 4...did you kick him out to accomodate dravid?

ha ha ... Ganguly would be #1 ... if the list was a list of politicians. He was #1 in having dinner with Pawar to get himself selected. In batting he would be a distant 165th!

Does Chicago Veteran's League have 164 members now?

[Cover Point]

He is an ATG for a good reason.  He has been the leader of the "fearsome fourseome" of indian test team of the last several years.  I argue that it was really "fearsome fivesome" with Ganguly not far behind the foursome in certain ways.

I thought Ganguly was in the 4...did you kick him out to accomodate dravid?

ha ha ... Ganguly would be #1 ... if the list was a list of politicians. He was #1 in having dinner with Pawar to get himself selected. In batting he would be a distant 165th!

Does Chicago Veteran's League have 164 members now?

that chicago league is still waiting for you to come and bowl. I personally guarantee 6 sixes in one over. But then whats the big deal in beating a girl!

[Blwe_torch]

He is an ATG for a good reason.  He has been the leader of the "fearsome fourseome" of indian test team of the last several years.  I argue that it was really "fearsome fivesome" with Ganguly not far behind the foursome in certain ways.

I thought Ganguly was in the 4...did you kick him out to accomodate dravid?

ha ha ... Ganguly would be #1 ... if the list was a list of politicians. He was #1 in having dinner with Pawar to get himself selected. In batting he would be a distant 165th!

Does Chicago Veteran's League have 164 members now?

that chicago league is still waiting for you to come and bowl. I personally guarantee 6 sixes in one over. But then whats the big deal in beating a girl!

6 sixes?...no big deal, if Naghma aunty is the bowler.........provided she doesn't do a Trevor Chappel, considering she is such a big fan of the 'middle-finger GC'.

[12th_Man]

While we call it a team game, but here is wall carrying them for the season. I think Pandey also had a good season this year.

[Flamingo]

He is an ATG for a good reason.  He has been the leader of the "fearsome fourseome" of indian test team of the last several years.  I argue that it was really "fearsome fivesome" with Ganguly not far behind the foursome in certain ways.

I thought Ganguly was in the 4...did you kick him out to accomodate dravid?

ha ha ... Ganguly would be #1 ... if the list was a list of politicians. He was #1 in having dinner with Pawar to get himself selected. In batting he would be a distant 165th!

Does Chicago Veteran's League have 164 members now?

that chicago league is still waiting for you to come and bowl. I personally guarantee 6 sixes in one over. But then whats the big deal in beating a girl!

 

Bring it! 

[Cover Point]

I was talking about the other girl. She is sexier (no offense). It's in her name

He is an ATG for a good reason.  He has been the leader of the "fearsome fourseome" of indian test team of the last several years.  I argue that it was really "fearsome fivesome" with Ganguly not far behind the foursome in certain ways.

I thought Ganguly was in the 4...did you kick him out to accomodate dravid?

ha ha ... Ganguly would be #1 ... if the list was a list of politicians. He was #1 in having dinner with Pawar to get himself selected. In batting he would be a distant 165th!

Does Chicago Veteran's League have 164 members now?

that chicago league is still waiting for you to come and bowl. I personally guarantee 6 sixes in one over. But then whats the big deal in beating a girl!

 

Bring it!

[Blwe_torch]

I was talking about the other girl. She is sexier (no offense). It's in her name

He is an ATG for a good reason.  He has been the leader of the "fearsome fourseome" of indian test team of the last several years.  I argue that it was really "fearsome fivesome" with Ganguly not far behind the foursome in certain ways.

I thought Ganguly was in the 4...did you kick him out to accomodate dravid?

ha ha ... Ganguly would be #1 ... if the list was a list of politicians. He was #1 in having dinner with Pawar to get himself selected. In batting he would be a distant 165th!

Does Chicago Veteran's League have 164 members now?

that chicago league is still waiting for you to come and bowl. I personally guarantee 6 sixes in one over. But then whats the big deal in beating a girl!

 

Bring it!

Never mind Flamingo......................the ball did all the damage. He is seeing things in different light, ever since.

[Cover Point]

I was talking about the other girl. She is sexier (no offense). It's in her name

He is an ATG for a good reason.  He has been the leader of the "fearsome fourseome" of indian test team of the last several years.  I argue that it was really "fearsome fivesome" with Ganguly not far behind the foursome in certain ways.

I thought Ganguly was in the 4...did you kick him out to accomodate dravid?

ha ha ... Ganguly would be #1 ... if the list was a list of politicians. He was #1 in having dinner with Pawar to get himself selected. In batting he would be a distant 165th!

Does Chicago Veteran's League have 164 members now?

that chicago league is still waiting for you to come and bowl. I personally guarantee 6 sixes in one over. But then whats the big deal in beating a girl!

 

Bring it!

Never mind Flamingo......................the ball did all the damage. He is seeing things in different light, ever since.

chal jaane deta hoon

[ramshorns]

Look at how badly RD wants to play this Final Ranji game versus Mumbai but he does not have the bandwidth given he has national duties starting the 17th.   Just for his sake I want them to advance the game to 10th instead of the 11th.

--

It was Dravid's chanceless double-century that virtually shut UP out of the semi-finals, and Karnataka are still fretting over his availability for the finals, which ends on the 15th. India's first Test against Bangladesh starts two days later. Last-ditch efforts were still on to advance the final by a day, so that it finishes on the 14th, which will make it easier for Dravid to participate.

"I've had a chance to speak to the Indian team management and they expect me to be in Dhaka by the 15th evening, latest," he said. "To do that, it (the Ranji final) will probably have to be preponed by a day, if not, it may not be possible."

[WicketView]

 

[Flamingo]

I was talking about the other girl. She is sexier (no offense). It's in her name

He is an ATG for a good reason.  He has been the leader of the "fearsome fourseome" of indian test team of the last several years.  I argue that it was really "fearsome fivesome" with Ganguly not far behind the foursome in certain ways.

I thought Ganguly was in the 4...did you kick him out to accomodate dravid?

ha ha ... Ganguly would be #1 ... if the list was a list of politicians. He was #1 in having dinner with Pawar to get himself selected. In batting he would be a distant 165th!

Does Chicago Veteran's League have 164 members now?

that chicago league is still waiting for you to come and bowl. I personally guarantee 6 sixes in one over. But then whats the big deal in beating a girl!

 

Bring it!

Oh I know you were talking to dex, I was just sticking up for girls everywhere!

[Tilal]

Look at how badly RD wants to play this Final Ranji game versus Mumbai but he does not have the bandwidth given he has national duties starting the 17th.   Just for his sake I want them to advance the game to 10th instead of the 11th.

--

It was Dravid's chanceless double-century that virtually shut UP out of the semi-finals, and Karnataka are still fretting over his availability for the finals, which ends on the 15th. India's first Test against Bangladesh starts two days later. Last-ditch efforts were still on to advance the final by a day, so that it finishes on the 14th, which will make it easier for Dravid to participate.

"I've had a chance to speak to the Indian team management and they expect me to be in Dhaka by the 15th evening, latest," he said. "To do that, it (the Ranji final) will probably have to be preponed by a day, if not, it may not be possible."

mumbai will be without the services of one mr. tendulkar.  so it is even. it is going to be straight shootout between Rahane and Pandey - the leading scorers this year.