BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | England hit The Wall



By Martin Gough BBC Sport Online

Only in a team bristling with batting talent could a player of the ability of Rahul Dravid fail to stand out.

A Test average that has remained consistently above 50 is the mark of a man who provides the backbone to India's line-up.

But, in a country where style is rated at least as the equal of substance, and with a team-mate of the calibre of Sachin Tendulkar to distract attention, Dravid must normally be content with a supporting role.

Top Indian innings overseas

221: Sunil Gavaskar v Eng, The Oval, 1979

220: Sunil Gavaskar v WI, The Oval, 1979

218: Sanjay Manjrekar v Pak, Lahore, 1989

217: Rahul Dravid v Eng, The Oval 2002

212: Dilip Sardesai v WI, Kingston, 1971

Even during some of his finest hours, Dravid has been second-best.

He hit 180 following-on to help India to a famous victory over Australia in Calcutta, but VVS Laxman's 281 at the other end was recently named Indian innings of the century.

But as his nickname, The Wall, suggests Dravid is not one to get upset, and at The Oval he finally got his chance in the spotlight.

Fourth Test latest

This match was supposed to be a celebration for Tendulkar, playing in his 100th Test.

But the little master managed only a quickfire 54 on Saturday afternoon before departing the piece.

"I just try and take one ball at a time, keep reminding myself about staying at the wicket and my role in the team," he said simply at the close of play on Saturday, when he was 131 not out.

"When you are chasing 515 someone needs to play a big innings."

Patience

England's plan of frustrating India's batsmen out may have worked against the more impetuous in the order, particularly captain Sourav Ganguly.

But it has met its match in Dravid, a man whose concentration is such that he is happy to take his chances when they come.

Dominic Cork has a word with Dravid
The frustration grew for England's bowlers
The beginning of his innings at The Oval was an apt illustration: he took just 76 deliveries to reach his half-century as England's back-up pace bowlers struggled.

But he was happy to take a back seat while Sachin Tendulkar was cracking a quickfire 54, and England's short-pitched tactics with the old ball saw him leave with discrimination.

He took 127 more deliveries to reach three figures, hitting just five of his 15 boundaries once he had passed 50.

And by the time he was run out, in a horrible mix-up with Ajay Ratra, he had faced 468 deliveries in six and a half hours.

During the afternoon he passed 30 hours of batting in a four-Test series that has already brought scores of 115 at Trent Bridge and 148 at Headingley.

Dravid pulls
Dravid chose his shots carefully
It was significant that, when England had success with the tactic christened "boring-line" by critics in India at the end of last year, Dravid was way below top form, troubled by a shoulder injury.

His feats of concentration are put to best use away from home, where his average is almost five runs higher than overall.

But it was to be expected that Dravid would fall just short of grabbing all of the headlines, as Ratra's error saw the Indian kingpin finally out for 217.

He was just four runs short of the Indian record, set at the same ground by the legendary Sunil Gavaskar 31 years ago.