Time to Let Number Three Breathe

There is a certain rigidity that goes with the position. It is then more than a tricky situation for a skipper to decide if the man destined for the role should actually be relieved of it.

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One has held the number three position long enough to become the highest scorer in Test cricket in that position. The other has had to vacate his number three position rather reluctantly and has admittedly never quite felt at home since. That though did not stop him from becoming the batsman to score the most runs in 2007.

But 2008 has been very different. The silence from Rahul Dravid’s bat was deafening (he was never one for words). The criticism against Jacques Kallis was taking the decibel levels to a whole new level, this long after he had relinquished his favoured number three spot for the next best at four.

But ironically it is in the same week, the penultimate one of 2008, that both men have stood their ground, buried their demons, silenced their critics and got their team into decently respectable positions.

There was pressure on Mahendra Singh Dhoni to either let Rahul Dravid rest entirely or shunt him down to the number five position, perhaps trading places with V.V.S. Laxman. The latter seemed a more realistic option given that sitting out was not going to do Dravid much for his confidence. But to the latter’s credit, his self belief was strong and it showed through in his gritty half century. It may not have been his best but its value in denting the psyche of the England cricket was invaluable in that tremendous partnership with Gautam Gambhir.

Similarly a gun appeared trained on Jacques Kallis’ head, the only one in the top six in the South African line up not gunning for the 1000 run spot in the calendar year. After a great 2007, the slump became even more evident, calling for uncouth comments bordering on the lines of Kallis being a selfish player or of one who has slowed down South Africa’s progress.

He worked in between matches with Duncan Fletcher, quietly worked on his game and it appeared to have been vindicated as he, like Dravid, weathered the storm of the Australian bowling, stood his ground and made it count. His half century was also crucial in his partnership with AB de Villiers and in hindsight of the wreck that Mitchell Johnson left South Africa in at the end of the day’s play, those sixty-one odd runs only became more priceless.

Proven men of reputation need little motivation. Mounting criticism can weigh heavily on the shoulders. By no stretch of the imagination are either men of the den yet. The gun will still be leveled, the focus still narrow. But if they have shown signs of a fight back, they will always be a threat to the opposition when they do actually roar.

It may not be bright sunshine. But it is still a ray of hope at the very least.

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