Through this series,Englands bowlers have befuddled Indias batsmen,not allowing them to cross 300 once. But,quite wonderfully,this ignominious rout reminded us this team includes not just the highest run-maker (and century-scorer) in Test history but also the second-highest. Rahul Dravid drove,flicked and cut his way to his sixth century on English soil in the first innings of the Oval Test,and forced us to confront the fact that he,as wicketkeeper,slip fielder,batsman and inspiration,has been the bedrock of his teams successes for 15 years. He carried his bat in that first innings,as his teammates fell around him. He walked off,expression reserved,knowing that there was a Test still to save. And,remarkably,he walked in again,to open the batting. This teams,and its supporters,dependence on him is exceeded only by his willingness to shoulder whatever responsibility comes his way. In his remarks afterwards,he was graceful yet pointed about those others who,one day,will have to carry the burden of that responsibility: Indias younger batsmen,he said,had plenty of talent and ball-striking ability,but that would not be enough. This is a mental game, he reminded us,it is about the space of the mind. And,indeed,watching Dravid keep his head when all about him are losing theirs,and their wickets,we can almost sense the single-mindedness that keeps Broad,Anderson and Swann at bay. In the West Indies,in June,he played himself out of a bad patch through a gritty determination to weather adverse circumstances. At the Oval,he transcended those circumstances,playing with fluency and elegance. He is 38,and one day he will choose to leave; we know only that,whenever it may be,it will feel too soon.
