Dravid: Rahane will be a ‘really good four or five’

India legend Rahul Dravid says Ajinkya Rahane will be 'really good' at number four or five in the Test side after he was shuffled around in the batting order in the recent Test series against Sri Lanka.
Rahane batted at number five in the first Test of the series in Galle but was shifted up the order, to number three, for the next two Tests as he swapped positions with Rohit Sharma.
Dravid, who batted at number three in the national side for more than decade, feels Rahane will be good against the second new-ball and when he has to bat with the tail.
Speaking to Cricinfo, Dravid said: "He is going to make a really good four or five. I am not saying he will not be able to do a three, but the kind of success he has had at five, his ability to be able to play with the tail, and the range of shots tell me he is going to be a good number five.
"It will also give him the opportunity to play the second new ball. He will have to play at whatever position he is required to for the team and that will mean sometime batting at three as was required in the Test (in Sri Lanka).
"It has been terrific for me to see how he has grown. The fact that he has kept his patience. It would not have been easy.
"When you see people racing ahead of you with not maybe the same (number of) first-class runs as you, suddenly getting more opportunities, I am sure that would not have been easy for him. It needs mental strength and courage to do that.
"For me the most pleasing fact is he has come out on the other side, the fact that has happened tells me there is the potential for a long and successful career."
Latest
-
News
Kevin O’Brien says century against England helped Ireland ‘reach for the stars’
O’Brien hit a 50-ball 113 as Ireland chased down a target of 328 in the 2011 World Cup.
-
News
Ian Harvey is Gloucestershire interim coach after Richard Dawson joins England
Dawson has accepted the position of ECB elite pathway coach
-
News
Marcus Trescothick, Jon Lewis and Jeetan Patel join England’s coaching staff
Trescothick has left his assistant’s role at Somerset.
-
News
Ben Foakes focuses on squaring the series with England
The tourists are 2-1 down going into the final Test against India.
-
News
Stonewall praises Steven Davies and warns ‘attitudes need to shift across sport’
The 34-year-old wicketkeeper announced he was gay 10 years ago.
-
News
Charlotte Edwards backs women’s cricket to keep ‘growing and growing’
On Thursday Edwards became the first female president of the Professional Cricketers’ Association.
-
News
Heather Knight ‘frustrated’ as England lose final ODI in New Zealand
Defeat ended a run of 10 straight wins across all formats for England
-
News
Jonathan Trott warns England not to get ‘too desperate’ against India spinners
The duo have taken a combined 42 wickets in the series so far.
-
News
Darren Gough fears England could be on the end of another hiding by India
Gough knows all about two-day Test wins.
-
News
Chris Silverwood hopes England batsmen can learn from quickfire third-Test loss
Silverwood would not be drawn into criticising the pitch.