Teammates salute Dravid`s contribution to Indian cricket

The cricketing fraternity came together tonight to raise a toast for the retired Rahul Dravid as they fondly remembered the immense contribution of the batting stalwart who emotionally remarked that he would miss being part of the Indian dressing room.

Accolades such as "huge pillar" of Indian cricket "greatest number 3 bat" and one of the "best cricketers and ambassadors" poured in from his former and current teammates who paid glowing tributes in a star-studded felicitation function.

Former captains Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman and current skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni were among those who spoke at the function attended by a galaxy of former cricketers, BCCI officials and other dignitaries. While describing him as a "huge pillar", Ganguly said Dravid, who announced his retirement from international cricket on March 9, was a great ambassador of the game.

"He was one of the huge pillar through which Indian cricket went forward. He is one of the greatest batsmen not just in India but in world cricket," Ganguly said.

 "You (Dravid) played in an era when Indian cricket went from strength to strength."

Ganguly rated his 180 against Australia at the Eden Gardens in 2001 as Dravid`s best knock.

"As far his best knocks are concerned, there are bound to be debates. But as I had said always, the one at Eden Gardens is the best. Though I rate the knocks overseas highly, I think the knock at Eden with VVS (Laxman) not only established him in world cricket but was also important for Indian cricket.

"I am happy that he could take the decision on his own. His contribution to Indian cricket isn`t finished with the number of runs he has scored or the catches he has taken, he is a great ambassador." The left-hander said he was lucky to have Dravid as his deputy when he was the captain of the Indian team.

"I was lucky to have you as vice-captain for five years, the work behind you and John (Wright) did."

Recalling his long career, Dravid said that Dhoni`s team winning the ODI World Cup last year was a "special moment" for him.

Dravid said having spent so much time with the team, he will now miss being part of the Indian dressing room.

"I will miss being part of the dressing room, the banter, the camaraderie but not so much the rap music," Dravid said in a lighter vein. The former Indian captain said that he had made a pact with himself that he would not cry in any of the functions, and it was "tested to the limit" in the last two-three weeks.

Kumble, with whom Dravid combined to effect a number of dismissals, felt it would be difficult for anyone to emulate the cricketer. "It`s been a great partnership with you Rahul. When we look back we can gladly say we will only remember the wonderful memories. I just spoke about the 55 catches you have taken (off my bowling).

"When his first son Samit was born, somebody sms-ed saying caught Dravid b Kumble. But his son cannot be Rahul Dravid. It would be easier for his son to take take 2 wickets than score the number of runs he has scored, just like it would be easier for my son to have a batting average of 18," Kumble said.

"All of us know how he is as a person. During the evening-outs on tours he would know exactly what I hated. He was at times lost in his own thoughts, probably thinking about how he would bat the next day or analysing the day`s proceedings. I know in the next couple of months he would be busy with the IPL. I tell you it’s going to get busier."

Dravid ended his Test career with 13,288 runs – behind only Tendulkar -- in 164 matches, with 36 hundreds and 63 half centuries at an average of 52.31, the 270 against Pakistan being his highest score. In the 50-over format, he scored 10,889 runs from 344 ODIs with 12 centuries and 83 half centuries at an average of 39.16. Laxman, who has been involved in innumerable match-winning partnerships with Dravid, termed the latter as an "all-time great".

"It is a great occasion in the presence of the legends and the Indian greats of cricket to celebrate the end of the illustrious career of one of the all-time greats of the game. A great friend and a colleague.

"I will definitely be missing you in the dressing room. When I first met you as a 16-year-old, playing for Karnataka Under-19, I was impressed with your passion for the game and your style. We then went on to play for India and I cherish our relationship that blossomed over the years.

"In 1996, Rahul made his debut at Lord`s where he got out after scoring 95. He must have been really disappointed not to have got his century. But he proved how much effort, hard work and pride he puts into his game when he scored his century at Lord`s in 2011. Celebrations showed how much it meant for him to score it at the Lord`s for his country. Laxman recalled the sacrifices Dravid made in the interest of the team.

"He has always been a very selfless cricketer. And that was proved by the various roles he has donned as a cricketer over the years. Right from opening the batting to keeping, he has always showed that for him team comes first.

"All the best to Rahul as he prepares to spend the time with his lovely family. I would also like to congratulate his family for the upbringing and the way he has been. Even after achieving so much he has always remained grounded. I am sure he would contribute to Indian cricket in the future also." Dhoni spoke about how different was Dravid in terms of showing aggression.

"At a time when it is considered that aggression is verbal, he never said a word to the opposition. He showed the aggression through taking a catch or staying at the crease and channelise the discomfort and aggression in the best possible manner.

"He is one of the greatest to play the game and the greatest to play at number three. He is someone who has got most catches. He was always ready to do anything for the country and the team when it came to opening the batting, wicket keeping, or fielding at silly point or at the slips."

Dhoni also said that Dravid would easily overcome difficult phases.

"India lost in the first round in the 2007 World Cup and then there was a phase were we won 20-22 matches chasing and Rahul Bhai has been a part of both. He was someone who would walk through the obstacle.

"As a wicket keeper, he has taken some catches which many regular keeper wouldn`t have. It is a tribute from a lot of youngsters who have learned from Jam. Not to forget he could play most of the sports well, be it soccer or badminton. He is a true gentleman," Coming back to Ganguly, the left-hander remembered the century Dravid hit in his early days, against Bengal.

"In our early days, I remember on an ordinary wicket, he got a hundred. I remember in 1990 he debuted for Karnataka and scored a hundred against Bengal.

"It`s good to see you leading a side now (Rajasthan Royals in IPL) and hope you come back for the next season too. It`s been a honour and pleasure to share some wonderful, tough moments," Ganguly said.

Batsman Rahul Dravid likely to announce retirement on today in Bangalore

Rahul Dravid’s glittering international career may come to an end as the veteran batsman likely to announce his retirement on today in Bangalore.

Dravid has called a press conference on today in Bangalore that will also be attended by BCCI president N Srinivasan. It was learnt that Dravid would pull curtains down on his illustrious career during the press conference.

Dravid, like most other Indian batsmen, had a poor run in the four-Test series to give Australia a clean sweep. He made 194 runs at an average of 24.25 in this series.

Dravid had already announced his retirement from one-day cricket and Twenty20.

The elegant right hander, nicknamed `The Wall` for his dour defence, is the second highest run getter in Test history with 13,288 runs, behind only Sachin Tendulkar who has 15,470 runs. He has 36 Test centuries with a highest score of 270 and an average of 52.31.

Dravid has also taken more catches (210) than anyone else in Test history during his 164 Test matches since he made his debut against England at Lord`s in 1996. He captained India from December 2005 to August 2007.

There is a question mark over another Indian veteran V V S Laxman who too had a miserable run against Australia in the current series.

There was no word yet about his future plans.

Indian batting stars under fire after MCG debacle

The Indian media on today lashed out at the country's famed batting line-up for letting the team down in the opening Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Chasing a 292-run target on Thursday, India failed to cope with Australia's pace attack as they were shot out for 169 despite the batting experience of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag.

"Melbourne Meltdown" said a Times of India headline after the tourists' 122-run defeat. "Those expecting India's much-vaunted batting line-up to give Australia a run for their money were disappointed when Dhoni and Co surrendered without even putting up a semblance of a fight," the paper wrote.

Australian fast bowlers James Pattinson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle all struck it rich on a seamer-friendly track, grabbing 19 of the 20 Indian wickets to lead their side to a crushing victory.

"'Foreign fever' returned to grip the Indian team as Pattinson, Hilfenhaus and Siddle tormented them - much like the English bowlers had done in England - with a heady cocktail of pace, bounce and movement served with relentless consistency," said the paper.

It was India's fifth successive Test defeat away from home after a 4-0 loss in England.

"Mauled in Melbourne" the Hindustan Times said on its front page and "Bat-erred India fall apart" on its sports page.

"The chase was always going to be an uphill task, considering the recent barren run which has seen the famed batting line-up not cross the 300-run mark in the last 10 away innings," said the paper.

The Hindu newspaper also blamed the batsmen for defeat, saying the "famed batting line-up fails to deliver".

Ravi Shastri, former India all-rounder and now a noted TV commentator, said the Indian batsmen needed to show grit to bounce back in the four-Test series.

"India need runs from all their main batsmen. Now that bowlers look the part, batters have no business to let them down," he wrote in the Times of India.

"I wouldn't be surprised if this completely turns out to be a bowlers' series. If so, then every run saved or made would count. India have the skills. All they need is resolve," he wrote.

Former India paceman Javagal Srinath said the tourists could fight back.

"Saddled with the reputation of being poor starters overseas, India did precious little to rectify the anomaly in the Melbourne Test," he wrote in the Hindustan Times.

"Barring England, where nothing went right for them, India have bounced back after first-Test losses. There is no reason, given the experience and quality of the India batting, why they can't do so again in Sydney."

The second Test starts in Sydney on January 3.

India’s ageing champs represent biggest threat to Australia

India’s three ageing champions – Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman -- represent the biggest threat to Australia’s developing bowling attack, and, they are determined not to let a rushed preparation compromise their last attempt at beating Australia at home.

Tendulkar and six of his teammates landed in Melbourne last night to get an early start at plotting their nation’s first series win on Australian soil.

Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Wriddhiman Saha will spend the next several days in Melbourne before playing in the first of two tour matches against a Cricket Australia chairman’s XI in Canberra from December 15.

Dravid’s remarkable renaissance has produced five centuries in 2011. In the same period, Tendulkar has been chasing his 100th. Dravid looked shot when he left Australia after a torrid series four years ago but he is back, age 38, seeking the ultimate farewell.

Before leaving India, Dravid said he still regarded Ricky Ponting - who is fighting for his career as Dravid was on his previous visit - as a great player.

In the two decades since Tendulkar first displayed his serene genius in Australia, India has won just two Tests here - one in Adelaide eight years ago and one in Perth during the tempestuous tour of 2007-08.

The anticipation of Tendulkar’s century of centuries, nine months in the making, has become a mania in a country of more than 1 billion, which is eager for distractions from unsettled times.

“It has become an obsession,” said Harsha Bhogle, the Indian cricket commentator and writer whose voice will be heard on ABC Radio from Boxing Day.

Bhogle told The Age: “Actually, we were hoping he would play the one-dayers [at home against the West Indies], get a hundred, get it out of the way and we could go back to thinking about something else.”

“Tendulkar’s hundred will allow people to forget that inflation is at a record high, that there is a new corruption scandal every day,” Bhogle said.

Tendulkar was rested from the one-day series to prepare for his last tour of Australia, which he has excited with six of his 51 Test centuries. A seventh would carve for Tendulkar yet another special place in the history of Australia-India combat.

“I think he would love to get it anywhere but he would really love to get it in Australia on Boxing Day,” Bhogle said.