Debut and Retirement on Same day @ 38 Years

                                                            THE WALL

      Retirement was announced before  Debut....isnt it strange?  That too debut at the age of 38 years and after having 15 years of international experience.

I hope by now you would have guessed about whom this post is?  yes you are right this post is about great "The Wall".  But Rahul Dravid himself told he is indifferent about this tag attached to him... time and again it was proved he is the "The Wall" for Indian cricket.  Many a time I was irritated in watching him...for the slow pace the runs were scored...but you know one thing...thats an art, its not all that easy to stay at crease..when at the other end people are doing march past.... :-) (Indian players are good in that)

I like Dravid very much more than others for his style of stroke playing and determination towards his game...awesome. In his only T20 international appearance, the 3 consecutive sixes were punching reply to his critics....for criticizing him that " He is not fit for shorter version of the game".

Poor guy not knowing to play politics...was taken for granted always. He has been asked to open the innings,  and was asked to keep the wickets, he did all as a team player and was flexible. But being former captain and senior member of the team, he was not at all consulted before his inclusion  in ODI and T20 squad for the ongoing England tour.  Do you think...the same will be the case with other seniors...definitely not.  He timed his resignation from captaincy wrongly...and it was not wise move and not doing any good to his career.

He deserves much more recognition than what he has got today.  He will be the good inspiration for the budding cricketers.

The lesson from his career is "Being competent is not enough, have to be smart"!!

Batting and fielding averages

 

	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	4s	6s	Ct	St
Tests	157	273	32	12775	270	53.00	30090	42.45	35	60	1602	19	207	0
ODIs	339	313	40	10765	153	39.43	15124	71.17	12	82	941	42	196	14
T20Is	1	1	0	31	31	31.00	21	147.61	0	0	0	3	0	0

Bowling averages

	Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10
Tests	157	5	120	39	1	1/18	1/18	39.00	1.95	120.0	0	0	0
ODIs	339	8	186	170	4	2/43	2/43	42.50	5.48	46.5	0	0	0