After Dravid, the cupboard is empty

Anyone with a Test batting average of fifty-plus, is among what is a special bracket of extraordinary players. They are sort whose patience and mental endurance explains their methodical style and in-depth approach, no matter the pitch conditions.

Sir Leonard Hutton and Barry Richards were two, who having watching them in an era of uncovered pitches, showed off their skills, balance, technique and endurance that set them apart from even those with more flamboyant styles and reputations, with averages nudging the mid-40s. Okay, Richards didn't have a long Test career, but perfection and quality as well as technique was so impressive.

John Wright, with typical dry Kiwi humour, when challenged, wrote a list on a beer coaster in bar one evening in Durban, South Africa when asked the question to name the top five batsmen with whom he would have liked to have batted. There was only one name on the list, written five times – it was Rahul Dravid. Sure, he explained, he had immense respect for Sachin Tendulkar and Vangipurappu Laxman, Michael Vaughan and Steve Waugh, among others, but The Wall had a special place. It is like having a special niche. It is all about dependability.

Many months later, during a visit to England for research on the revised version of the book Cricket Captains of South Africa, and sitting in the press box at Headingley, Leeds, memories of that list Wright had written in Durban came back. Dravid, more than any modern Indian batsman had added character to Indian batting styles that tour and the human qualities to the team's normally impassive face. Merely being able to sit watch his silky skills and pad play for a session is worth a month's wages.

In 2002, his century at Headingley had enabled him to score 385 runs in that series at an average of 77.02 pushing his Test career to what was a total of 5118 runs in 108 innings for an impressive average of 52.76. Few can beat that for consistency. Here is a batsman who can score runs in most conditions.

Let us forward seven years and an innings of mastery in composition and execution: 177 against a rampant Sri Lanka bowling attack in helpful conditions laid bare the reasons why Dravid's presence in the Indian side is so important. It also helped him to reach 11,000 Test runs.

Tendulkar may be the 'little master' but for those who want to make an impression, there is nothing wrong with following Dravid's path to fame. The journey is worth it, along with the cult following which it has attracted.

Dravid has the unerring habit of building big partnerships that places the opposition not only under pressure but adds to his reputation of scoring his centuries when needed. This latest example in Motera, Ahmedabad, Dravid played the mentor role again and added his inspiration to the increasing improvement in Yuvraj Singh's batting skills at Test level. He was impressing on Yuvi the value of working for his runs and, in this case, making sure that the Sri Lankan bowlers were not going to get his wicket so cheaply.

On a slow pitch, where patience is needed by both sides and the use of flamboyant strokeplay was reduced to a minimum, Dravid spread his expertise and calm over the early proceedings, stepped up the runrate where needed. It was all like watching rare video footage of Hutton.

The point here is why Dravid is such an important player in the Indian side, even at the age of 36, how he commands respect; his impassive style belying his inner control. Without him at Motera, India would have been playing catch up against a Sri Lanka side that has found strong self-belief.

Invaluable in this case has been his missing the ODI series against Australia and getting in some highly valuable first-class action in a Ranji Trophy match for Karnataka. It explains yet again the invaluable role the domestic game plays in the various Test nations, giving those who need to do so, the chance to hone their skills as the next challenge awaits.

As had been explained elsewhere, with Dravid there is no reason to look for a Plan B as Dravid is Plan A; it is all about The Wall and how it is his unshakeable ability that the creates the opportunities for an innings in disarray to recover.

The point is, with India's top-order all on the wrong side of 34, who is there after Dravid to take over such an important mantle of someone who is recognised as the bulwark on which the foundation of match-winning totals can be built?

As with the retirement of Anil Kumble, India have lost a potent weapon in their assortment of bowlers and as can be seen, the cupboard has become embarrassingly bare. There is no one to replace the man who won Tests on his own and created opportunities for others as he built pressure.

The question is should Dravid quit after the next World Cup, who is going to be the new Wall? The problem is, there is no one, and this is why India need to uncover someone to learn from the one who can help build a new image.

It is easy to imagine the critics who are going to disagree with such comments. Too bad. They don't bat at three for India and score centuries and are unlikely to do so in their wildest dreams.