Time to bat for Dravid

You can always count on namma very own Rahul Dravid. Consider: In the toughest terrain in the world down under, against a team which doesn't know to lose, against bowlers who can hurl the red cherry at 160 kph, he has expressed his readiness to open the innings. All because the middle order is houseful enough to check in inform players like Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan. This, despite the fact, that he's not in the greatest of form. And despite the fact that he is not an opener (barring the odd occasions). One might add: None of his fellow seniors offered to don the toughest role in the team.

Sachin Tendulkar is an opener in one-dayers, like Saurav Ganguly. And so, it would make more sense to thrust this responsibility on one of them.

For all you know, Dravid might yet re-invent himself as a successful opener. God know he has worn many hats before - from one drop to right down the order. But what happens if he fails? As it is, it is his last tour to Australia, and the pressure will already be on him to perform. With India's batting bench strength, a failure might even pull the curtains on India's most dependable batsman and a glorious career. If this happens, it will be ironically because he put team before his interests. Which, one cannot say for his more illustrious colleagues.

In fact, Team First, has always been Dravid's USP. If you want someone to bat to save your life, you will pick Dravid, and not the Sachins and the Laras. He may not be flashy and ferocious, but many a battle is won without bloodshed. And in the evening of his career (?), when he's ready to take the road not taken before, he deserves a standing ovation - whether or not he clicks. On several occasions, he has batted at several positions for the cause of the team. This time, it's only right that his fans bat for him….