Friday, December 21, 2007

India-Australia First Test: Expectations from Rahul Dravid

India’s tour to Australia will start with the India vs Australia 1st Test on 26 December. India and Australia 1st test will be held at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Match will start 10:30 local time (23:30). Now, fans of both teams are now excited to see the 1st test match. Ahead of the 1st Test both teams have already announced their squad. Indian team manager naturally depends on strong batting side. On the other hand, Australia may going to play four pacer in Boxing day.

No, doubt Indian batting trio Sachin, Sourav and Dravid have been included in the 16-man squad. It is do or die match for Indian former captain Rahul Dravid. He left-out from ODI squad for his bad performance. Now, he is still playing Test cricket as a specialist test playing batsman. He is under huge pressure. Dravid’s performance in warm-up match is satisfaction. He opened with Wasim Jaffer and still in crease with the score of 38 off facing 147 balls. His test performance in past year was not good. He got only one Test century against Bangladesh. He is the only one Indian batsman who has average above 55 in his 115 Test matches including 24 boundaries. As a specialist batsman, his team mate both Sachin and Sourav had to go throw into bad times before him and they have also come back to prove themselves.

Rahul Dravid has already played many positions in his teams need but he is a regular batsman in number 3 position. However, it appears his team now needs him to take his middling form and reshape himself as an opener for the Australian series. According to Rahul Dravid, ‘I’ll just bat where I’m asked to bat by team management.’

His recent performance in home ground against Pakistan appears him likely to come back in the main squad permanently. He managed 59, 42, 38 and 34 against Pakistan in the recent successful Test series.

Everyone looks toward to Rahul Dravid who will turn 35 next month. It is thought that he may return with prime form and play all the test matches against Australia. No doubt, it should be difficult for him to come back in the main squad of India team. What’s your expectation about Rahul Dravid? Can he come back in the Test series?
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