Teammates salute to Dravid's contribution

The cricketing society came together to raise a toast for the retired Rahul Dravid as they fondly remembered the huge contribution of the batting stalwart.

Accolades such as "huge pillar" of Indian cricket "greatest number 3 bats" and one of the "best cricketers and ambassadors" poured in from his former and current teammates who paid glowing tribute in a star-studded felicitation function.

Former captains Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, current skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and VVS Laxman were among those who spoke at the function attended by a galaxy of former cricketers, BCCI officials and other dignitary.

While relating him as a "huge pillar", Ganguly said Dravid, who announce his retirement from international cricket on March 9, was a great ambassador of the game.

"He was one of the huge pillar through which Indian cricket went forward. He is one of the greatest batsmen not just in India but in world cricket," Ganguly said.

"You (Dravid) played in an era when Indian cricket went from strength to strength."

Ganguly rated his 180 against Australia at the Eden Gardens in 2001 as Dravid's best knock.

"As far his best knocks are concerned, there are bound to be debates. But as I had said always, the one at Eden Gardens is the best. Though I rate the knocks overseas highly, I think the knock at Eden with VVS (Laxman) not only established him in world cricket but was also important for Indian cricket.

"I am happy that he could take the decision on his own. His contribution to Indian cricket isn't finished with the number of runs he has scored or the catches he has taken, he is a great ambassador."

The left-hander said he was lucky to have Dravid as his deputy when he was the captain of the Indian team.

"I was lucky to have you as vice-captain for five years, the work behind you and John (Wright) did."

Recalling his long career, Dravid said that Dhoni's team winning the ODI World Cup last year was a "special moment" for him.

"Mahi, you have to be proud of what you have done with this Indian team. It was a special moment for me to see the group of boys holding the World Cup last year after 2007 (when India was knocked out in the first round).

"It was a memorable moment. It was inspiring, as a 10-year-old, to see Kapil Dev lift the World Cup, and to do it again in 2011, was special. I know you have inspired a lot of 10-year-olds, there are challenges but you have the right temperament to take the legacy of Indian team forward."

Dravid said having spent so much time with the team; he will now miss being part of the Indian dressing room.

"I will miss being part of the dressing room, the banter, the camaraderie but not so much the rap music," Dravid said in a lighter vein.

The former Indian captain said that he had made a pact with himself that he would not cry in any of the functions, and it was "tested to the limit" in the last two-three weeks.

Kumble, with whom Dravid combined to affect a number of dismissals, felt it would be difficult for anyone to emulate the cricketer. "It's been a great partnership with you Rahul. When we look back we can gladly say we will only remember the wonderful memories. I just spoke about the 55 catches you have taken (off my bowling).

"When his first son Samit was born, somebody sms-ed saying caught Dravid bowled Kumble. But his son cannot be Rahul Dravid. It would be easier for his son to take 2 wickets than score the number of runs he has scored, just like it would be easier for my son to have a batting average of 18," Kumble said.

"All of us know how he is as a person. During the evening-outs on tours he would know exactly what I hated. He was at times lost in his own thoughts, probably thinking about how he would beat the next day or analysing the day's proceedings. I know in the next couple of months he would be busy with the IPL. I tell you it’s going to get busier."

Dravid ended his Test career with 13,288 runs -- behind only Tendulkar -- in 164 matches, with 36 hundreds and 63 half centuries at an average of 52.31, the 270 against Pakistan being his highest score. In the 50-over format, he scored 10,889 runs from 344 ODIs with 12 centuries and 83 half centuries at an average of 39.16.

Laxman, who has been involved in innumerable match-winning partnerships with Dravid, termed the latter as an "all-time great".

"It is a great occasion in the presence of the legends and the Indian greats of cricket to celebrate the end of the illustrious career of one of the all-time greats of the game. A great friend and a colleague.

"I will definitely be missing you in the dressing room. When I first met you as a 16-year-old, playing for Karnataka Under-19, I was impressed with your passion for the game and your style. We then went on to play for India and I cherish our relationship that blossomed over the years.

"In 1996, Rahul made his debut at Lord's where he got out after scoring 95. He must have been really disappointed not to have got his century. But he proved how much effort, hard work and pride he puts into his game when he scored his century at Lord's in 2011. Celebrations showed how much it meant for him to score it at the Lord's for his country.

Laxman recalled the sacrifices Dravid made in the interest of the team.

"He has always been a very selfless cricketer. And that was proved by the various roles he has donned as a cricketer over the years. Right from opening the batting to keeping, he has always showed that for him team comes first.

"All the best to Rahul as he prepares to spend the time with his lovely family. I would also like to congratulate his family for the upbringing and the way he has been. Even after achieving so much he has always remained grounded. I am sure he would contribute to Indian cricket in the future also."

Dhoni spoke about how different was Dravid in terms of showing aggression.

"At a time when it is considered that aggression is verbal, he never said a word to the opposition. He showed the aggression through taking a catch or staying at the crease and channelise the discomfort and aggression in the best possible manner.

"He is one of the greatest to play the game and the greatest to play at number three. He is someone who has got most catches. He was always ready to do anything for the country and the team when it came to opening the batting, wicket keeping, or fielding at silly point or at the slips."

Dhoni also said that Dravid would easily overcome difficult phases.

"India lost in the first round in the 2007 World Cup and then there was a phase was we won 20-22 matches chasing and Rahul Bhai has been a part of both. He was someone who would walk through the obstacle.

"As a wicket keeper, he has taken some catches which many regular keepers wouldn't have. It is a tribute from a lot of youngsters who have learned from Jammy. Not to forget he could play most of the sports well, be it soccer or badminton. He is a true gentleman,"

Coming back to Ganguly, the left-hander remembered the century Dravid hit in his early days, against Bengal.

"In our early days, I remember on an ordinary wicket, he got a hundred. I remember in 1990 he debuted for Karnataka and scored a hundred against Bengal.

"It's good to see you leading a side now (Rajasthan Royals in IPL) and hope you come back for the next season too. It's been an honour and pleasure to share some wonderful, tough moments," Ganguly said.

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Dravid support Sachin on new ODI layout

Test colleague Rahul Dravid has backed Sachin Tendulkar's suggestion to refurbish the ODIs by splitting the format into four innings of 25 overs each.

"It is an attractive suggestion. I don't know why the ICC has discarded it (Tendulkar's suggestion via a letter to ICC), but it's a good idea that Sachin has given and is worth experiment," said India's batting foundation on the England tour, on the sidelines of a promotional event for 'Gillette' in Mumbai, Wednesday night.

"It has been try out in Australia (in domestic cricket) and the plus and minus point should be look into," he added.

Tendulkar had written a letter to the ICC to change the arrangement of the ODIs from two innings of 50 overs to four of 25 overs, like a Test match, but the world council's chief administrative, Haroon Lorgat, had rejected it.

"There is no need to change the format," Lorgat told journalists in Colombo on Wednesday.

"We did be given a written proposal from Sachin, but that was a long time back. I had spoken to him many times about it, the last one as recent as during the World Cup in April.

"The success of the contest showed that the 50-over format was in sound health and there was no need for dramatic changes," Lorgat added.

"The decision-making board meeting after the World Cup decided that the present format was doing well. That has not changed," Lorgat stressed.

Tendulkar had argue that four innings of 25 overs would be a fair way to balance the advantage gained by the team which won the toss in circumstances such as bad weather and sub-quality pitches, which historically had established that a match can virtually be determined by the toss of a coin.

Dravid also backed the Board for deciding to put pressure on the ICC for revising the contentious Umpire Decision Review System, of which he got the rough end of the stick in the Test and ODI rubbers in England.

"It's not set in stone. Anything linked with DRS is a work in progress. There are new challenges and questions about it. It's up to the member Boards (of the ICC) to ask whether things are better with it in place," said the 39-year-old Dravid.

Dravid, who was the lone batsman to show constantly superb form in hard conditions next to a top-class England pace attack in the four-match Test rubber that India lost 0-4, was also controversially given out throughout the 'Hot Spot' image system on at least three occasions, leading to big debates over DRS.

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Rahul Dravid needs to sign off with a win

Rahul Dravid is hoping to mark his 344th and final ODI form with a long past due first victory over England this summer for India.

Dravid, one of cricket's modern greats and by common permission a paragon of very good behaviour on and off the pitch, may well be playing his last match in Britain of any report at Cardiff's SWALEC Stadium on Friday.

The 38-year-old admit this summer has been a "bitter-sweet" practice, as he has continued to churn out runs in vain while India first of all lost their number one Test status to England in an unpredicted 4-0 series romp for the hosts, then were second best in a one-off Twenty20 and are 2-0 down with only one to play in the NatWest Series.

He will be absent following departure for next month's five-game replay in India, but may yet be back to play in England - along with his fellow respected veteran Sachin Tendulkar - should his country stay in the top four of the International Cricket Council rankings to qualify for the inaugural Test championship in 2013.

A 13th ODI hundred would be a fitting farewell, of course, but Dravid is more troubled with India's fortunes.

"I would like to sign off with a win. It would be lovely for India," he said. "We have had a hard tour, and it would be lovely to finish with a win - irrespective of what I get."

Dravid, famously nicknamed 'The Wall' for his strength of mind and waterproof technique in Test cricket, modified his game efficiently to the 50-over format.

The results have been creditable, and he will leave the ODI stage correctly at ease that he has been such a high achiever.

"It does not feel like I am finishing, or leaving, or the end, because I will be playing Test cricket.

"But it is a nice time to reproduce on what I think was a pretty pleasing and satisfying one-day career.

"I don't think there is going to be anything dissimilar in my life from tomorrow onwards.

"My wife did talk about there were some very nice things written about me during the Test series, back in India.

"It was a bit bitter-sweet in the sense there was a lot of pleasure in my opinion against a tough assault and scoring runs, but it has been a unsatisfactory tour for us.

"I am still truly humbled by some of the nice things said about me in the last few weeks."

With characteristic modesty, Dravid cites an event in which he himself played no part as perhaps the proudest moment of his cricketing life.

He was not chosen in the squad which this year won India's second World Cup, on home ground, yet he took more pleasure in that communal success than in any of his own personal glories.

He added: "I'm not dreading quitting. "You just recognize that the time has got to come at some stage when you have got to move on.

"I am happy and I am at ease with that. "I have had some highs and low in both forms of the game.

"That is life, that is cricket - and it has taught me a lot about for myself as a person and how to deal with a lot of things. "I have totally no regrets."

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Sachin, Dravid shift up in ICC Test rankings

Senior batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid gain a place each in the newest ICC player rankings for Test batsmen, which is being head by South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis.

While Tendulkar better from fifth to fourth, Dravid raised a rung to ninth from tenth position.

Among Indian bowlers, pace lead Zaheer Khan gained a place to be at sixth in spite of being ruled out of the recently completed four-match Test series between India and England after behind constrain injury on the very first day of the opening match at Lord's.

As England claimed the title of number-one Test side in the world with a 4-0 series victory, four of their batsmen made it to the top-10, with Ian Bell being the most distinguished.

Bell and Alastair Cook have jointly claim the second position after Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara slip three places to fifth after scoring only 10 and 17 in the lately completed Test against Australia.

Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott are other batsmen in the top-10. England now boasts of four bowlers and equal number of batsmen in the top 10.

Australia's Shane Watson and Ryan Harris, Rangana Herath of Sri Lanka and Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez and Misbah-ul-Haq have achieve career-best rankings in the latest list, which was free after the conclusion of the Galle Test between Sri Lanka and Australia and the one-off Test between Pakistan and Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

The player rankings will now be efficient after the second Test between Sri Lanka and Australia, which starts on Thursday in Pallekele, while the Test Championship table will be updated after the end of the third and final Test between the two sides which starts in Colombo on 16 September.

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England chip left after Dravid's epic

India 300 (Dravid 146*, Bresnan 3-54) and 129 for 3 (Tendulkar 35*, Mishra 8*) trail England 591 for 6 dec by 162 runs

England moved nearer to a 4-0 series whitewash next to India in spite of encounter some brave confrontation from Rahul Dravid on day four at The Oval. Dravid's winning 146 accounted for almost half of his side's first-innings total as the tourists were bowled out for 300 during the afternoon session.

It was the first time they had reached that mark in the whole series, but the total was still not sufficient to avoid the follow-on as England made their opponents bat all through the whole day.

India avoid another top-order collapse and ended the day 162 runs behind on 129-3, but they still face an uphill task on the final day if they are to avoid beat in the fourth and final Test.

India had resume the day on 103-5 and during the night partnership of Dravid and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (17) survived for 12 overs awaiting the latter edge at the back off the bowling of James Anderson.

Dravid continued undeterred and bring up his century, from 168 balls, with a dab to third man for two off Tim Bresnan.

The 38-year-old is fourth on the all-time list of Test centurions with 35 and becomes only the third India player to carry his bat in a Test innings.

Amit Mishra, who shattered the last ball before lunch for a six over long-on, made a breezy, defiant 43 in a seventh-wicket stand of 87 before he was dismiss by a superb one-handed Ian Bell catch as he attempt to pull a Bresnan delivery.

Usual opener Gautam Gambhir, not second-hand at the top of the innings due to a concussion, then made a n almost strokeless 10 before looping an easy catch to Kevin Pietersen at gully off Stuart Broad.

RP Singh hit five boundaries in a rapid 25 to help take the tourist to the 300 mark for the first time in the series, but they would go no further.

Bresnan (3-54) had Singh wedged at third slip and last man Sreesanth drove the same bowler directly to Eoin Morgan at cover two balls later.

Dravid was trapped four runs short of 150 and minutes later was back out in the middle again, retain opening duty as England, with a first-innings lead of 291, compulsory the follow-on.

His continuous spell at the crease looked to have come to an end when he was given out trapped by short-leg Alastair Cook off Swann, but a review showed the ball had clearly miss his bat.

But his valiant confrontation finally ended when he was once again snared bat-pad by Cook off the same bowler, with the review this time going next to him despite no evidence of any edge. With no conclusive proof suggesting Dravid had actually nicked the ball, it was strange how third umpiring Steve Davis determined to claim superiority the on-field umpire.

The Hot-Spot and snick meter clearly failed to spot any contact between the bat and ball but Dravid walked off the field in a cordial manner, very typical of him.

The wicket can be crucial in the background of the game, felt Sunil Gavaskar in the commentary box.
Virender Sehwag made a patchy 33 before departure as he was beaten by the spin of Swann and bowled throughout the gate attempt an ambitious drive against the turn.

Sachin Tendulkar (35 not out) and VVS Laxman almost made it to the come to an end but the latter fell for 24 late in the day after a beauty from Anderson sent his off stump flying out of the ground.

And Tendulkar was given a life when slow-motion replay suggested he was confused by Prior in the closing stages of the day but no England player appeal after the bails were removed with the batsman's back foot appear to be in the air at the crucial moment.

But with no appeal, Tendulkar survives and will have a chance to make that indefinable hundredth international hundred on the final day of the series.

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Swann set belongings to see on early wickets

Graeme Swann has already eliminate two of India's best hopes of avoid a 4-0 power series whitewash - and would have bag an even bigger wicket if his team-mates had been on the ball.

Swann was the bowler who to finish shifted Rahul Dravid, after more than seven hours of confrontation with an winning 146 in India's first-innings 300 and then just 13 more out of 129 for three at stumps on Day Four of the fourth Test at The Oval.

He doubles up with the off-spinner's favourite mode of discharge, bowling Virender Sehwag through the gate.

But Sachin Tendulkar survive on 34 - when he would have gone stumped had England had the presence of mind to demand - and will therefore stand in their way again tomorrow, in what force yet prove to be the Little Master's last Test innings in this country.

"What can I say? I'm at the bowler's end, so I can't see," Swann protest. "They've only got about 12 pairs of eyes round the stumps.

"It's not precisely the brains belief who field round there, so it's no revelation nobody picked up on it." Nearest of all was the man who took off the bails, with Tendulkar's foot off the floor.

"I am a bit astonished Matty Prior didn't, because he appeals for everything," added Swann, who however had plenty to smile about.

On a wearing pitch, he previously has five wickets in the match - and could easily be the key to the ending as India try to bat out three sessions, still 162 runs short of making England bat again.

"I look forward to it, having to play a big part in a possible victory for England - that's always thrilling," said Swann.

"It's going to be a hard day, make no bones about that. We've got seven more wickets, and we need to get them fairly sharpish so we don't end up in a circumstance where we might have to bat again.

"We need to crack on in the morning in the same vein we ended tonight, because I thought we bowled actually well in that last session."

He is already pleased to have prized out Dravid, who long-established tonight that he did feel a thin edge on his bat-pad removal from office achieved via DRS.
"The way he's batted this summer has just been outstanding," Swann said of his adversary.

"It is very fulfilling first of all to get him out tonight. His was the one wicket we were in fact gunning for tonight because he approved his bat in the first innings, and has got a hundred in every Test match (of the summer) more or less."
As for Sehwag's exit, Swann said: "Bowling people all the way through the gate only happens three or four times a year, if you're lucky.

"It's always one to savour, especially when it's a player of his repute and standing. "When it comes out of your hand, you know it's in the right place. But when you actually see it go through the gap, it's an amazing feeling.

"I'd previously had one go over the top of leg-stump and I'd said to Straussy 'it's just not my day'. "He said 'stop being so gloomy, Swann'. So good on him."
Swann made it clear too that there will be no slacking tomorrow from the world's number one team, with another victory to push for.

"After five days of cricket, if you're just going to turn up happy with the draw then you're not going to last long in this rule.

"We'll be rotating up tomorrow 100% dedicated to try to win this game. If anyone aired those sort of views in the changing room, they'd be shot down - and rightly so.

"We need to try to get the wickets early - a help if we could get three or four before lunch, and particularly get rid of Tendulkar. We don't want him sticking around too long."

Dravid is not giving up hope that his team-mates can come good with some delayed and telling disobedience tomorrow - and refuses to blame them for India's ills.
"It will be mixed feelings (if India loses)," he said.

"I guess there will definitely be a sense of satisfaction at the way I played, and I'm still hoping that we will be able to draw this Test match.

"Sachin is unmoving batting and is looking good - so who knows? "Evidently when you get a hundred and don't end up winning the Test match it doesn't feel nice all the time.

"The guys have tried, practiced hard ... but clearly this time we haven't clicked as a unit, which has been sad. "It's not trying, because no one is going out there not to try and succeed.

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Indian batting resolve be there tested

Indian cricket has come a long way. Certainly the rush of the last few summers has caused a few headaches but cricket is lucky to have India as its driving force. Amongst major playing nations, only Sri Lanka has better half as much.

However, India has cause to worry about its prospects. Over the next few months the quality of Indian batsman ship will be examine and the new making needs to prove it can counter lifting deliveries as capably as their elders.

India's rise in the last 15 years has in no small part been due to the ability of senior batsmen to master back foot play. Now that go forward is in peril. Whereas the old guard of necessity learnt to play back, their successor can make millions by bashing away off the front peg.

India visits Australia this winter and within a few months group will know whether the Indian Premier League (IPL) is a breeding ground of brilliance or a promoter of charlatans. Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trot have risen on the back of old shaped technique and attitudes. Can the new Indians match them?

Lacking guts

Indian batting needs to keep its imagination. Not so long ago, and with few exceptions, Indian batsmen were incompetent against great pace and seam movement and were easily crushed by assorted English miners and antipodean roughnecks.

England once claims four Indians off the first 14 balls of a Test match. Forgetting about the Ghurkhas, and applying a caricature, observers finished that Indian batsmen lacked fortitude.

In fact many of those players lacked experience and sometimes leadership. As George Headley was obliged to play under useless West Indian pale skins so Indian teams were for an unconscionable period led by Maharajahs unburdened with cricketing knowledge or skill.

Not that the batting order was strong or knowledgeable sufficient to flourish in hostile conditions. Indian batsmen were raise on passive pitches. Expert against spin, they were found wanting next to cutters and rib ticklers.

Now they place up on fiery track in Perth and on damp decks in Leeds.
Of course, a strange generation of batsmen has emerge, one of the finest any country has produced. No nation can forecast such riches, let alone depend on it.

All a community can do is to organize itself so that talent is paying attention, recognized and knowledgeable. After that it's up to the player. Additionally the present seniors were lucky with their timing. Cricket has enter its second age of high scoring.

Helmets have summary the threat posed by fast bowlers, pitches have lost their spirit and, in India, faster tracks and more recurrent tours have forced the issue.

Scaling new heights

So Indian batting has scaled new heights. It is an impressive line-up. Sachin Tendulkar's 100th hundred for his country is eagerly awaited.

How easily that phrase “100th hundred” trips off the tongue, concealing a mind-boggling feat requiring unexpected skill and stamina!

Rahul Dravid is a remarkably durable and talented first drop. Alas! Virender Sehwag is upset, a serious loss to any team for he can control from the outset.

He is a master cast as a maverick. Still V.V.S. Laxman is approximately, continually fretting until the crisis comes.

Sourav Ganguly has reserved but Gautam Gambhir has risen, and formed a potent opening partnership.

What about their replacements? Is Indian batting in safe hands? Can the new group play off both feet?

Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and company have the capability, but are their education complete?

Can they build an innings? If not they will wither in the sun of separation, fall at the fence of high hope. Nothing lasts forever, not even Tendulkar, Laxman and Dravid.

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Rain plays wet blanket at Lord's

Jonathan Trott struck his seventh Test half-century before rain brings an untimely end to day one of the first Test between England and India at Lord's.

Playing in his first Test match next to the world number one-ranked nation, Trott ride his luck when presenting Rahul Dravid with two chances at slip and made the tourists pay by navigation England to 127-2 under leaden, swing-assisting skies.

An early tea was taken with Trott victorious on 58 and Kevin Pietersen not out 22, however dark clouds surrounded Lord's and determined rain meant no further play was possible.

India, who had in progress the day so well by dismiss openers Alastair Cook (12) and Andrew Strauss (22) either side of lunch, will now be sweating on the man who dismissed both, Zaheer Khan, after he hobble off the field with an apparent constrain injury midway through his 14th over.

Having won the toss and opt to bowl there were hopeful early signs for the Indian seamers, with Zaheer's first ball moving considerably into Strauss and Praveen Kumar finding some lavish swing from the Pavilion End.

After causing the England openers plenty of problems, it came as no surprise when Zaheer trapped Cook on the gather in the 11th over to claim the breakthrough.

Strauss, who had one near miss from a run-out, scored his first boundary after 48 balls off Sharma, with new man Trott also finding the ropes after another loose release from the wayward seamer.

Spinner Harbhajan Singh was given the 19th over and approximately saw off Trott with his first ball, which went straight on and took the edge. Dravid, at slip, did not get down quickly sufficient and the chance went begging.

England reach lunch on 43-1 and, just as it comes into view as though batting conditions were improving, Strauss undid 25 overs of alert work by looking to pull a Zaheer bouncer from outside off stump.

He was quick for pace and top-edged it low on the bat, giving Ishant Sharma a simple catch at fine leg.

Pietersen endure a nervy start, taking 14 balls to get off the mark and looking ill at ease as Sharma tighten up his line.

Zaheer had bowled 33 successive dot balls when he finally located Trott's edge, only for the ball to wriggle between wicketkeeper and first slip. Either Mahendra Singh Dhoni or Dravid might have pouched it but neither man put a hand on it to give Trott a second life on 32.

A single off the next ball took England past three figures but inferior was to follow for India when Zaheer pulled up with an obvious hamstring injury and left the field in some discomfort.

Trott eased Harbhajan for four throughout the covers as England looked to break the shackles, but Pietersen almost rotten to a rash stroke, skying one just over mid-on off the spinner.

Trott's 50 came up off 89 balls before dark skies and heavy light rain took the teams off early.

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Struggle for number 5: Yuvraj or Raina?

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni faces a hard task of choosing between Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina for the number-five spot in the first Test against England.

It will be quite a choice for Dhoni as Yuvraj or Raina are together left-handers, both violent, both brilliant fielders and both worth a few handy overs of spin.

Raina has been inspiring in the recently-concluded tour of the Caribbean, where he scored 232 runs at 46.40 with three half-centuries on tracks that Rahul Dravid describe as the most difficult among all he has played in the West Indies in the last 15 years.

On the other hand, Yuvraj Singh showed his brightness in the World Cup.

While Raina manage to impress no less than famous batsman Sunil Gavaskar in the way he flinch not to one single short-pitched release from the West Indian pacemen directed at his torso, Yuvraj can flaunt his figures that shows seven half-centuries from the last 11 Tests he played and the success he has enjoy against England with 46-plus average.

Raina can certainly maintain that he deserves as much contact as possible given the wheels of transition have slowly begun to turn in Indian cricket. And there is every reason to keep him battle-hardened and not a discouraged young man when the time comes.

However, Yuvraj, if sidelined now, might not make a comeback and his otherwise glorious career would show just 34 Tests with 1639 runs during a fractured career of 12 years.

Raina can be probable to take on the aggressive off-spin of Graeme Swann like he did to leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo on the first afternoon of Jamaica Test against the West Indies that was a game-changing instant of the three-Test series.

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Oram: I feel disengaged with IPL

New Zealand player Jacob Oram says he felt detached with the IPL as the "after-match parties, Bollywood stars and manner parades" seem far detached from actuality.

"Being at this point for six weeks, not playing much, preparation firm but not in fact getting on the ground has been kind of strange. In a way I feel like I haven't in fact got concerned in the event," Oram, who play for Rajasthan Royals as an injury replacement for Paul Collingwood, tell the Dominion Post.

"I haven't watched it on TV and I couldn't tell you the standings, partly because I know our sides out of it. I feel a bit detached from the tournament," he added. Speaking about his knowledge in the league, the impressive 32-year-old said it was strange at times.

"After almost every game there's an after-party, there's Bollywood stars there and way parades; the drinks are free and the cheerleaders are around. It's a dissimilar world.

"Sometimes you speculate if you're here for cricket or not. Ultimately you are. It is good fun, but at the same time I don't think its realism," Oram said. Oram also recall his connections with Rajasthan captain Shane Warne's performer girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley.

"She (Hurley) was here for a week, halfway throughout the event. She's a very nice lady and has an organic farm herself, so with my wife's family being organic farmers there was an exchange starter there.

"She brings her kids across and Shane had his three kids there, and nannies and a bit of safety so there was a massive associates for a while," Oram said. One of the pleasant experiences of the IPL, according to Oram, was sharing the bandage room with Warne and veteran Indian batsman Rahul Dravid.

"He (Warne) is a nice guy, actually simple to talk to. He's about to give up work and that knowledge will last forever. I'm glad I had that opportunity. I played alongside Rahul Dravid; there's some attractive cool things I've knowledgeable," he said.

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Dravid hopes to stand out in West Indies

Indian middle-order ace Rahul Dravid is confident about the Indian cricket team humanizing upon its 2006 presentation in the future tour of the West Indies. During the 2006 West Indies tour, the Indian team created history under Dravid's captaincy when they won a Test series in the Caribbean for the first time in 35 years.

"We won the series there last time around but I hope we will do better this time," he said on the sidelines of a promotional event on Tuesday.

"If the West Indies play their full power side, they will be a tough team to beat. But it will be attractive to see if they have their full side."

Dravid become only the second Indian captain, after Ajit Wadekar, to have won a Test series in the West Indies when he led India to a 1-0 win in a four-match rubber in 2006.

Meanwhile, Dravid was sure that the last episode in the rivalry between spin wizard Shane Warne and batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, with the former proclaim his departure from the IPL, would be an absorbing one when Rajasthan Royals take on Mumbai Indians on Friday.

"Both are huge players. If we see the history we will agree both are legends. It will be a good show by huge cricketers. Everyone will like to see such contests.

With any luck, there would be a good competition," he said. The 38-year-old cricketer, who is part of the Jaipur group, said innocence was the motive behind Rajasthan Royals' breakdown to make it to the playoffs of IPL 4.

"Look, our side has got a little bit of greenness if you look at our game. There are 10 teams and at the finish of the day other teams had almost certainly more practiced players in this competition."

"We are not in a place to get to the play-offs. We have got some up and down performance. We have some young people doing well for us. We can improve next year," Dravid said. He pinpoints Rajasthan Royals' Ashok Menaria and Ajinkya Rahane as the players to watch out for in the future.

"Happy to perceive some young players like Ajinkya Rahane and Ashok Menaria come from side to side...they have shown a sight of what they can do. Rahane has done well for Mumbai in Ranji and domestic cricket while Menaria has completed well for Rajasthan."

Meanwhile, South African Johan Botha, who was also there at the event, said he would be happy to succeed Warne as the Jaipur outfit skipper if he is asked to do so. "I think when Warnie stops; a few guys might take over.

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