Dravid to retire tomorrow?

Cricinfo's mobile app (the main site seems to be down right now) is reporting that Rahul Dravid has called a press conference in Bangalore tomorrow that will also be attended by BCCI President N Srinivasan. They're speculating that he intends to announce his retirement.

Superb cricketer and seemingly a fantastic person. Always speaks so well in interviews. If I was the ICC or BCCI I'd do everything in my power to keep him involved in the game, even if it's just an ambassadorial role. A credit to the game of cricket.

He has been my favourite Indian cricketer for a long time.

The antithesis of the ‘rock-star’ Indian Cricketer.....a great of the game, no debate there. One of the most effective batsmen of all time. You’d probably have to say he has had the most successful technique ever?

It's all over Twitter, and by the looks of it he is going to call it a day. A true cricketing great and an absolute gentleman. One of the nicest blokes around in world cricket, whether it be on the field or of it. I to hope that he remains involved in the game in some form as a man of his skill, reputation and class has a lot to offer to any position he is offered.

On the playing side, it is a great time for him to step out. It is clear India to rebuild with some youngsters and a gradual loss of players seems the way to go. Hopefully Rohit or Rahane will get a go at test level, but they will have awfully large, and immovable, shoes to fill!

True legend, someone I've always enjoyed watching bat. As you say JD they won't be able to replace him, youngsters in India are now so focussed on 20/20 that Dravid type players are a thing of the past.

Hampo, why don't you consider doing an article on him, you are quite heavy into cricket aren't you?

In fact I even have a title for you.

Dravid, the end of an era?

It's an idea mate, just finished my first draft of number one in a series about Allen Stanford but will have a crack at a Dravid one, wait for the official annoucement first mind.

real shame, i thought he would be the last of the big 3 to retire...

he is just as good if not better than sachin but has lived in his shadow, because of his pure un-selfishness, and the way he goes about his game...massive respect to him for going out on his own terms, and i hope this prompts VVS to retire

for the last time:

WELL PLAYED RAHUL

I've always rated Dravid above Tendulkar and when he goes he will be sorely missed. Well done on a fine career Mr.Dravid, enjoy your retirement.

A poor decision in my view - I feel that him and Sachin (less so VVS) are still needed to nurture the others into the Test team and it was only seven months ago that he starred against one of the best two bowling attacks in the world.

Biltong/Hampo - I was thinking of doing a Dravid article myself but as Hampo has called it first I won't

One of the greatest batsman of all time. When you think of Test cricket, Dravid all ways springs to mind.

Of the great batsmen of the this era, Lara and Dravid are now gone. Only Tendulkar, Ponting and Kallis are left.

With the modern day obsession with T20, it's highly likely that players of this caliber may never be seen again.

Shelsey93 wrote:A poor decision in my view - I feel that him and Sachin (less so VVS) are still needed to nurture the others into the Test team and it was only seven months ago that he starred against one of the best two bowling attacks in the world.

Biltong/Hampo - I was thinking of doing a Dravid article myself but as Hampo has called it first I won't

Well why don't you guys make it a collective effort. It works well, Kiwi and myself do it regularly with the super XV, and it does help especially when a lot of research is needed. After all it is the quality of the article that is important, isn't it?

Shel you take it mate, I've still got a couple more to do in the Stanford series so I don't mind.

Well, lets see if he actually does retire first. As Cricinfo's George Dobell joked on twitter, this would be a fabulous marketing ploy if it was announcing Dravid's new sponsorship deal

And please feed in any ideas for the article - notable innings that you remember Dravid playing etc.

Will probably look to focus on his standing as perhaps the last of the 'gentleman' cricketers and his ambassadorial impact on the game as well as his cricketing achievements.

It's on twitter and SSN that's it's official, I'll have a think about some innings as well.

His retirement speach will probably still be going on through till Saturday, Dravid isnt one to get out quicjly.

he has officially retired

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:His retirement speach will probably still be going on through till Saturday, Dravid isnt one to get out quicjly.

he does know how to pace himself.

Duty281 wrote:I've always rated Dravid above Tendulkar and when he goes he will be sorely missed. Well done on a fine career Mr.Dravid, enjoy your retirement.

I was privileged to see Dravid's 95 at Lord's in his first Test innings in 1996. He was still playing beautifully in England 15 years later. A very fine player, lovely chap and one who will be missed.

Mixed feelings on this accouncement; did Dravid still have something to offer as a player at test level? I believe so. His superb 2011 showed that he was certainly not 'shot' as some were muttering prior. On the other hand, it is nice to see such a tremendous player going out on his own terms, and still a great player, rather than a once-great one who stayed on for too long.

Certainly, there haven't been many other cricketers who have commanded my respect the way Dravid always has. A consumate professional, fantastic run accumulator and, on top of that, a very underrated captain in my own opinion. Cricket will be poorer for him going, but what a career it's been.

Thanks, Rahul, and good luck in retirement.

biltongbek wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:His retirement speach will probably still be going on through till Saturday, Dravid isnt one to get out quicjly.

he does know how to pace himself.

Unlike Ian Bell whod probably walk out of his own retirement speach early looking of the lunch trolley

88Chris05 wrote:Mixed feelings on this accouncement; did Dravid still have something to offer as a player at test level? I believe so. His superb 2011 showed that he was certainly not 'shot' as some were muttering prior. On the other hand, it is nice to see such a tremendous player going out on his own terms, and still a great player, rather than a once-great one who stayed on for too long.

Certainly, there haven't been many other cricketers who have commanded my respect the way Dravid always has. A consumate professional, fantastic run accumulator and, on top of that, a very underrated captain in my own opinion. Cricket will be poorer for him going, but what a career it's been.

Thanks, Rahul, and good luck in retirement.

Knowing when to get out is a skill in itself. Would he be able to score runs in 2012? Yes, I think he would. But would he be able to do it with the same consumate ease that he has done in previous years, probably not. His powers are waning for sure, Dravid never gets bowled and getting bowled 6 times in 8 innings in Aus shows it is drifting to some extent, but he could still average mid 40's for the next year in Test cricket. But for the good of Indian Test cricket I think he has got out at the right time. He doesn't want to cling on to long and sully the memories of his greatness in the past, and also he doesn't want to go at the same time as Tendulkar as this would leave a gaping gap in the Indian middle order and the pressure on the new batsmen who have to replace Dravid and Tendulkar simultaneously would be immense. I think once again, like his entire career, Rahul has paced this perfectly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr4bK63WxXY&feature=related

a fascinating speech at the Sir Don Oration last year

Dravid - a great player.

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:Dravid - a great player.

not much more you can say, sums it up.