What Made Dravid the Greatest Test Player?

Just look at the above picture. This is the calmest and most pleasant scene that I have ever seen in Cricket. Jammy leaving a delivery. Just see how confidently, he leaves a 155kmph delivery from Shoaib Akhtar. These are the few points that undoubtedly makes Dravid a great test player.

1. Leaving the deliveries.

The best thing about a classic Dravid innings was his patience. He had the patience and confidence to leave the deliveries outside off stumps, so that he could avoid getting out on poor shots. Also, this strategy helped him avoid getting dismissed by edging the ball in the slips. This was what leaving meant for Rahul Dravid. But for the bowlers, it meant a mental breakdown. It was next to impossible bowling him on the wickets, because of his rock solid defense. The only way to dismiss him was bowl outside-off hoping that he knicks one in the slips. But, sorry to the bowlers.

Dravid once said in a TV show ,"Sometimes, leave is the best shot."

2. Rock Solid Defense.

 

Have you ever seen any batsmen, just defending a 95 miles bouncer, that too with such grace that it hardly moves an inch. That was Rahul Dravid. When the most fiery pacemen including Lee, Akhtar, Donald used to surprise him with their deadly bouncer, he used to just push it deep inside his crease. That was his defense.
Not only this, when the swing kings like Wasim Akram, Pollock tried to get his wicket by bowling their in seamers, his straight bat seems to have applied a break on the delivery, that it dare not move an inch farther than his feet. This helped him in getting to know the pitch better and the quality of seam, different bowlers have got.
For the bowlers, it became a nightmare, as they were forced to try other deliveries, disturbing their line and lengths completely.

3. Extraordinary Shot Selection

One thing that many people have failed to notice was the extraordinary shot selection of Rahul Dravid. He was so good with his wrist that he could just turn a on-the-leg delivery into a cover drive. In a match against Australia, Bichel tried to get him dismissed by bowling him on the legs, hoping that he would push it in the hands of short midwicket. But Dravid played those deliveries with such an ease, finding gaps on the on side and surprising everyone by pushing one through the covers.
And when it comes to the famous Dravid's cut, it needs no explaination.

They may say that there has been Lara, Ponting, Sachin, Kallis who are the best test players, but the grace and the vibrance that Rahul Dravid created with his presence on the crease is unmatched.