The swansong of his eventful one-day career will coincide with the denouement of a bittersweet tour. Dravid, however, remains focused on the game, even as he affords himself time for reflection.

Of all the characteristics to propel a team to No.1, earnest endeavour wouldn't often be top of the list.

Rahul Dravid definitely deserves a lot more credit for his performances in ODI cricket. Not many have scored 10,000 plus runs.

Athletes dedicating wins to their families, friends and even pets is quite common but flamboyant England off-spinner Graeme Swann has dedicated the ODI series triumph over India to the London Zoo because he happened to have a good time there.

Sachin Tendulkar knew something was wrong when he heard a click in his foot. Yet, he scored an unbeaten 122 and was adjudged man of the match. Those were the days when no media releases were emailed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Nasser Hussain, now an insightful media analyst and crusader for Test cricket, spoke to ESPNcricinfo at length about the rise of England, the ticklish demands of that side's captaincy, why he is who he is, and where the world game needs to go.

India's one-day series against England, Nasser Hussain believes, is less about a result and more finding out where their team is headed.

It has been 11 years since Rahul Dravid spent a summer in Kent playing county cricket but fans here still talk of the senior Indian batsman as one of their own and a benchmark for consummate professionalism.

Brighton. Just the name brings a smile to the face. It definitely put a big yahoo across the Indian squad, which arrived to this sun-drenched seaside town on Wednesday from the rainy, grey climes of London.

Victory brings the warmest glows but the cold light of defeat can bring clarity. The great thing about success is that it is often self-perpetuating, but the trouble is, it can sometimes obscure flaws