Dravid, caught in a technical tangle

“He should be willing to experiment and adapt according to the situation, rather than go into his shell. There is nothing wrong with his technique but runs are more important. In the end, what matters are runs not the manner in which they are made,” Chappell feels.

Another `perfectionist’, Sanjay Manjrekar cites his own case. "Look at what happened to me. I wanted to perfect my technique but in doing so, forgot about scoring runs.”

Incidentally, it was during India’s ’91-92 Australian tour, that things started to go wrong for Manjrekar. Like Manjrekar, Dravid had gone to Australia with the tag of Mr Dependable attached to his batting skills. However, once Shane Warne’s leg-stump line fell him twice in the first Test, things went from bad to worse for Dravid. What was baffling was Dravid’s inability to pick up runs and with pressure mounting, he would invariably end up losing his wicket to a bad stroke.

The three innings against South Africa so far, have done little to boost his confidence and morale. The team needs Dravid at his best. The question now being asked will be: Is Dravid being made a sacrificial goat in being asked to open the innings?

Both Chappell and Manjrekar feel it is the right move. They reason Dravid’s temperament and technique suit the demands of an opener and if India can find someone to fill in the number-three spot vacated by Dravid, it can end India’s worry.

It can also help Dravid re-establish himself. Two years ago, Dravid faced the same dilemma when he was dropped from the one-day squad but came back with a vengeance, scoring loads of runs in both the versions. Now, again he has to be positive and mentally relaxed while batting. For all you know, this could be the master-stroke that has eluded India for long.