Cricket: Dravid and Goliath

By RICHARD BOOCK

If Rahul Dravid is not the most stylish batsman in the world today, then Manoj Prabhakar is an even-tempered soul who doesn't have a bad word to say about anyone.

Unfairly treated as Cinderella's ugly sister during his early years in the Indian team, Dravid ranks as the most aesthetically-pleasing batsman on the circuit these days, his majestic stroke-play making Sachin Tendulkar appear a tad frumpy in comparison.

The princely right-hander has a fluidity to his game that his more illustrious team-mate cannot match, and even if it is difficult to decide who is the more effective, there is no question over who is easier on the eye.

Dravid's drives are all timing and poise, his back-foot shots are gloriously straight and he now hooks and cuts with the best of the Australians, despite learning his craft on the low-bouncing dustbowls around Indore.

Granted, he might not pose the one-day threat of Tendulkar and he is certainly not one to err on the side on recklessness but when it comes to making serious, influential contributions to his team's cause, the Kent professional has few peers.

That Tendulkar should win all the accolades, all the endorsements and the biggest fan base in the cricketing world, is understandable given his 30 test centuries and average of 57.96.

Having made his test debut as a 16-year-old, he's proved himself one of the most productive batsmen of all time, his deeds pushing him clear of Sir Donald Bradman on the all-time centuries list, where he now trails only compatriot Sunil Gavaskar.

In contrast, Dravid languishes back in the bunch with 13 centuries, which is why there are those who believe his name should not even be mentioned in the same sentence as Tendulkar.

But with 64 caps under his belt, Dravid has played 36 fewer tests than his famous team-mate and at his present rate of success could easily find himself near the top of the centuries list before he retires.

The Karnataka No.3 actually outperformed Tendulkar during his first 50 tests, averaging 45.12 against 41.21 after 10, 52.68 (37.41) after 20, 55.21 (51.65) after 30, 53.58 (52.15) after 40, and 52.34 (49.82) after 50.

Dravid's average now stands at 54.43, following a tour of England, during which time he strung together scores of 46, 63, 13, 115, 148 and 217, at the startling average of 100.33.

The records show the two 29-year-olds have each posted a brace of double centuries and that they each score 50 or more runs every three innings.

But what the statistics do not show is how Dravid's game is expanding and how Tendulkar seems to have peaked. The numbers might not yet add up, but in terms of style and grace, give me Dravid any day.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Drop us a line and tell us who you think is the greatest batsman. Tendulkar? Dravid? Or someone else?

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