Monday, April 06, 2009

The wall has now pouched more balls than it has bounced

But is Dravid India's finest slip fielder as Sambit says? Well for a period in the late 90's I thought he was India's best close-in catcher at all positions. When Sachin & Azhar manned the slips, Dravid the newcomer would pouch reflex catches all around the batting crease like Akash Chopra would do a few years later during the 2003-04 Australia tour.

But if we are actually talking of the best Indian fielder to stand beside the keeper in Tests, I still think Azza was the finest I have seen play for India. Had he fielded in slips over the whole of his Test career with the likes of Srinath, Zaheer, Sreesanth, Ishant, Nehra and RP bowling for India, Azhar would have a few more catches to show than he finally finished with.