Down memory lane: Rahul Dravid's Adelaide marathon of 2003

If I remember right, only two shots in that entire innings could be deemed risky. One, to bring up his hundred, a top edge that sailed over backward square leg, during which I had almost consigned that it was “game over”. The other was the one he got out to. In between that, was an innings that could highlight the text book definition of Test match batting. It had grit, defiance, elegance and endurance. So much assuring it was that even after VVS’ dismissal, I could sense that India had after all saved the match and were heading for a draw. I could not be more wrong. The Wall stood strong with the tail and reached his double hundred, kissing the crest on his cap, no big celebrations, just raising his bat to the crowd and dressing room and getting back to the job at hand. So Dravid-esque. On 233, he finally gave in and departed to a rash hook shot, so un-Dravid-esque.

You thought I’d stop here? It is fascinating that during the same match, there was another gritty knock (not VVS) that people hardly seem to remember. Ironic that Rahul Dravid’s second innings never gets the mention it deserves? A well crafted 72 when India were chasing a tricky total of 230 on a slow pitch. India reached the target with four wickets to spare but it was not as comfortable as the scorecard suggests. Another 20 runs and Aussies might have put on a tougher fight. Fittingly so, the winning runs came off the bat of Dravid himself when he cut Stuart Macgill to the fence.

I could almost empathize with Dravid and his team mates for I too had to go through a few obstacles. To list them, getting up at an odd hour, skipping school for two days and the extra classes that followed, defying a nagging mum (the biggest obstacle for any Indian child) and answering to teachers at school. Though they were nowhere near what our heroes faced Down Under, I am sure my Indian readers will understand the severity of the situation for a 13-year-old.

I hope I have managed to do some justice to one of the most exhilarating batting displays ever. Awe-delaide, indeed!