Try to take his wicket in the first 15 minutes. If you can't then only try to take the remaining wickets ~ Steve Waugh
The quote perfectly suits on someone like Rahul Dravid. The most hardest form of game is definitely the test cricket. No just about strength or talent attributes like endurance, patience and technique all are tested in test cricket.
The player is not great unless and until he proved his mettle in test cricket. The era of Epitome Greatness that rocket launch the cricket fraternity by tornado because of the legend like Rahul Dravid.
Same era when game of cricket was turned into more professional side. Matches and series were played like professionals and even players get the credit of it well too.
After the inception of T-20s or small format of cricket, test cricket completely shrinks down to some different zone and lost its existence. The values of test cricket were vanished and roots were destroyed.
In short, comparing any batsman of his era with Rahul Dravid would not be fair at all. Rahul Dravid was the rare talent or even if we say unmatched it won’t be wrong in any way. Rahul Dravid never consider himself above the game Or never showed any disrespect to player or umpire in his illustrious career.
Famous for the name of The Wall he was the player of sheer greatness with some top quality of knowledge for the game of cricket. The Karnataka player is always known for the impact he had over his records. Still, people, give preference to stats by knocking over the cricketer impact.
Here are those records of Rahul Dravid which I believe is difficult to overcome:
Highest number of Century plus partnerships in a game of cricket:
Yes, you heard right! Highest number of partnerships in a cricket. Not even the greats in his era or even before him have this stats in their Arsenal. Rahul Dravid was involved in the most number of Century plus partnerships in his long illustrious career where he holds the record of 52 times of Century plus partnerships.
With the god of cricket Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid had unique feat for 20 times in century plus partnerships. Cricket is all about partnerships game and there is no better cricketer then Rahul Dravid who could defined the art of building partnership. With the game of cricket has been involved so much it is quite rare in T-20 era to see big a partnership in the middle of game to provide any sort of help to the team.
Most number of runs (10000) while batting at No.3:
The role No.3 batsman is very crucial when openers gets out cheaply. As openers are always open to play their natural game. But the one who actually defines the role of No.3 spot it would none other Rahul Dravid.
He has opened the innings, bat down the order or even in the middle order but the spot that defines this Genious is ideally No.3. There was the era of Sir Don Bradman and after he retired many great players walked in but no one could surpass the impact as the number of runs in case of Kumar Sangarkara while batting at No.3 but Still Rahul Dravid is in the Top 2 of the list when there were player like Ricky Ponting or Brian Lara.
Brian Lara ~ If I have to put anyone to bat for my life, it’ll be Kallis or Dravid.
Highest number of Catches at slip position in the history:
“To win the matches You have to take the catches"
If there is any other aspect of game over partnership to make you games then it would definitely be Catches. If there is some doubt over this aspect of game then your knowledge for cricket is incomplete. Batsman go on to make century after getting chance on his drop catch which team later on believed that it wasn’t supposed to be done by player.
Rahul Dravid is above than everyone out their at slip position or even greatest slip contender cricket has ever witnessed. Do watch his 200th catch in the test match if you ever doubt his instincts about his slip position. The most safe pair of hands in sub continent hostile weather where spinners have more chance to getting wickets at the slip position.
Rahul Dravid while at slip position grabbed 210 catches in the test cricket history which is quite impossible to think if player can half a way of this feat, Dravid achieved.
Highest number of balls in test cricket history ever faced:
31258 balls faced in his long test career most by any batsman in the world
The aspect perfectly defines this Genius batsman of this era. The way he defended the red ball in test cricket was awe-inspiring. When he was their on crease or even with tail there was relief in a hut or in the stands when fans witness him leaving the balls outside the off so perfectly.
In a modern-day cricket or in T-20 Era it is quite wrong to imagine that any player of present era will be going close to this record of Rahul Dravid and he did against some best pacers of all time like Allan Donald, Curtly Ambrose, Wasim Akhram, Brett Lee, Dale Steyn or Glenn McGrath.
Highest number of hours spent on the field:
That’s why we call Mr dependable attributes like patience, grit, determination or concentration perfectly fits on this player. The instincts to bat and disturbed the line and length for long amount of hours put this player above everyone in the league.
That concentration, grit and patience along with the value of game benefited him to bat for long hours and make the bowlers along opposition in give up situation.
Not having the highest runs under his name but I say it’s always about impact over runs in cricket. Sachin Tendulkar may have more runs than him but the amount of time he was on the crease proved it why he was called the wall. Total of 44,152 minutes on the crease no one in history has these numbers under his name.
Glenn McGrath ~ If there was one Indian player who could get a direct entry into the famous Australian team of the late 90s, it would be Rahul Dravid.
