Maybe Sachin could step aside from ODIs like Dravid - By Michael Holding

I would not say India missed out through their own doing on winning the fifth and final ODI. But I would say that the factors conspired against them. The amount of runs India had scored would have come in handy if the game had gone the full distance.
If it was a full 50-over game, then India would have had a much better chance of winning. It is easier to score at a higher run-rate over a shorter period. For example, if the asking rate is 12 runs an over for five overs or even 20 overs, then it is quite a bit easier with wickets in hand than to score at six runs an over across 50 overs.
That is why I believe the factors conspired against India. As usual, to make matters worse for India, as we all know, their bowling attack is not great so the problem always compounds for the man in charge.
England was well served by a new entrant Jonny Bairstow. He was the surprise element that England had on the field in the final game that India would have known nothing about. An argument has been put forward and for some time now, that maybe Varun Aaron should have been selected by India in the same light.
I cannot comment on whether Varun Aaron should have been played as a similar surprise element because I have never seen him bowl. Maybe he is fast as I keep on hearing, but what if he is not very accurate.

You could say maybe India could have used the last game as an opportunity to try him out at the highest level. But I would not say India missed out on something, because I don’t know anything about Aaron.
The game at Cardiff will also be remembered as Rahul Dravid’s final one-day appearance.
If you look at Dravid’s statistics as a one day player, you would come to the conclusion that he has not been as successful in one-day cricket considering his average and strike rate.
But if you look at Dravid in the context of the Indian team in the one-day format then he did very well. He did not have to bat at a high strike rate nearing 100. He had enough fast scoring batsmen in the batting line-up around him. His job was to hold the innings together while the faster scoring took place around him. With that in mind his contribution was invaluable despite having a strike in the 70s. That would have been good enough and was good enough.
He was somebody who could bat for 40-45 overs to get a hundred while the other batsmen got a move on scoring their brisk fifties at a run a ball or better. India would and still ended up with a major total on the board more times than not.
Dravid’s job was to score at a much slower rate, hold the innings together while the others played shots around him.
I certainly believe by not selecting Dravid for close to two years in one-day cricket, India missed out on a great talent. He was the guy who could pace the innings and hold the innings together. But then again India won the World Cup the last time it was played so they could argue differently.
I would assume rhe only reason Dravid was chosen for this tour was because of the abundance of injuries in the India camp. Knowing Rahul, I am sure he would have agreed to be part of the squad because he is that sort of guy who thinks country first and would have thought, `my country needs me and I will do anything for my country’. The circumstances forced his selection here.
He decided that at this stage of his life, there is no point in coming in and having a long one-day career. He wanted to prolong his Test career and having a longer stint in one-day cricket will not help.
I have not discussed this with Dravid this is just a sense I get having known the man.
In a way what summed up his, Dravid’s, one-day career was the knock in the final game. Yet again he was in the shadow of another player, this time Virat Kohli.
I don’t think he would have minded it. He would not have thought here I go again, holding the innings together while the strokemakers get the glory. He would have been happy to play his usual innings which contributed to put a big score for India on the scoreboard.
I will remember Dravid as a cricketer who was selfless and as someone who would go out there and do what is best for the team and not think about being the number one star or headline holder of the team.
His career record of 10,889 runs in one-day cricket is a testimony of how good a player he was.
India’s other great batsman Sachin Tendulkar could maybe look at also following suit like Dravid. Like Dravid stepped aside from one-day cricket, maybe Sachin could look at that option as well.
But that is only and only if there are youngsters who are ready step up to be counted.
Maybe if Sachin can take a break from one-day cricket, then he could prolong his Test career.
Nobody can take Sachin’s place. But there are youngsters coming through and eventually someone will settle into the role.
Finally, a word on the England team for they deserved all the accolades that came their way. They have beaten everyone this summer – Sri Lanka and India-. They can hold their heads up and be proud of their achievements.
Some England fans will get carried away and will think that they are thr best thing since sliced bread but their coach Andy Flower will not allow the players to think that way. They played good cricket and won well. Andy Flower is someone who does not get carried away with anything and always is looking forward.
He will let them celebrate but will remind them of the tough battles ahead.