THE WALL

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- The Oval, London [September 5-9, 2002].

 In the summer of 2002, the Indian cricket team toured England to play a triangular ODI series with England and Sri Lanka. Post this, they played a 4-match test series against the hosts, England. Hence, it was a big tour that started in the month of June and ended in the second week of September. Indians, however, were successful in winning the triangular series in the most dramatic of manners. Furthermore, at the end of the third test, the series was leveled 1-1 with the final game to be played at the Oval. 

In a must-win game, English captain Nasser Hussain won the toss and elected to bat first. The decision turned out to be a good one as they piled up 515 in their first innings. Michael Vaughan was the highest run getter for the hosts as he scored a magnificent 195. In a marathon innings that lasted for more than 6 hours, Vaughan showed the ultimate display of his batting. Apart from Vaughan, Trescothick, Butcher, and Cork scored gritty half-centuries as Indian bowlers toiled for 156 overs. 

In response, the Indians ended up scoring 508 in their first innings. Rahul Dravid led from the front as he scored an incredible 217 runs. In an innings that lasted for more than 10 hours, Rahul Dravid was at his absolute best. He did not look uncomfortable in any of the 468 balls he faced in his innings. It was truly a delight to watch Dravid bat. The 28 boundaries that he hit in his innings were simply pure class. It seemed that no one could get him out. Unfortunately a misunderstanding happened in between, and Dravid was run out for 217. 

However, the standing ovation that he received when he walked back to the pavilion was simply mesmerizing. After all, he has had an amazing summer wherein he scored 602 runs in 4 test matches with a hundred at Trent Bridge, Headingley, and Oval. A feat that he went on to repeat 9 years later. The series ended 1-1 as the final test at Oval ended in a draw. Rahul Dravid was awarded the man of the match award. Whereas Michael Vaughan and Rahul Dravid were the co-winners of the Player of the Series title, as both of them had an incredible summer. 

To watch that innings of Rahul Dravid, Click Here.