It is not easy to be called the most technical batsman in the world. It is not easy anchoring an innings with remarkable consistency over 15 years. And it is not easy to be called Mr Dependable and The Wall by even the most ardent critics, time and again. Then again, it was never easy being Rahul Dravid.

There was a time when betting used to be on results. Then came a time when it was on scores and then it became a whole lot intricate with bets put on each ball and over. The India-England tour has defied all odds and left the betting syndicate topsy-turvy.

As a cricket fan, I have a lot of respect for what your team has achieved in the past few weeks but I humbly threaten you to return the trophy and make it 4-0 in favour of India.

There are three aspects to contemporary international cricket. Batting, bowling, and shooting off the mouth. Get all three right and the chances of a win double up.

Legend has it that a warrior will rise from the ashes to take the world  by storm. For India, he rose two decades ago. And yet Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar failed to conquer the final bastion of world cricket in what possibly, could well have been his final assault.

'Ladies and Gentlemen, day one of the first Test begins. Thank you and welcome to the Lord's.' While the much anticipated 2000th Test has highly followed cricketers pitted against one another, there are two master-minds here  who have managed to slip away from the spotlight with intentional success.