SUMMER`S END..

At around half past three yesterday afternoon at The Oval, Graeme Swann took the last Indian wicket to confirm their expected 4-0 humiliation in the Test Series.   Joyous scenes followed, medals were awarded, men-of-the-match were anointed along with men-of-the-series, speeches were made, commentators reflected and looked forward and the sell-out crowd drifted homeward.

A couple of hours later, it started raining and it was dark here in deepest Kent by just after 8.00pm.   It seemed pointedly strange that the end of the last test match had coincided with  the arrival of a distinctly autumnal feel in the air.   Like a message from above to suggest that summer was coming to an abrupt end with only dark days and long nights on the horizon.

But for us cricket lovers, it has been a summer to remember, to cherish even, like those of 1981, 2005 and 2009.   England are now the undistputed world leaders in test cricket, a position secured by hard work, raw talent being finely tuned, inspirational management and leadership and a relentless pursuit of excellence in all departments of the game.   I can`t think of a weak link in the current squad and that`s not something that has been said for many a year.  

Despite the end of the test series, I`m told I can look forward now to the one day internationals and the 20/20 crash bang wallop games against India over the next three or four weeks.   Well, it might be entertaining, but it ain`t proper cricket.   But I suspect India might be grateful they can wait those few weeks to let the dust settle back home before they attempt a sheepish re-entry. 

So at the end of this test match summer I`m left with total admiration for each and every one of the England squad, who have produced wonderful individual and collective performances.   As for India, they may have problems but at least they left us with the memory of a truly admirable individual amongst their ragged ranks.  

Rahul Dravid - 38 years old - 35 test match centuries - a record 30,090 balls faced in test matches, more than even the revered Sachin.   But more than all of that, a  true gentleman.   An urbane ambassador for his country and for the game, unsurprisingly chosen to face the cameras and the microphones when fortunes were at their most fraught.  Cricket, you see, can charm in so many ways and in Rahul Dravid India have someone who does so, both on and off the field of play.  The summer may have ended, but the memories  will linger on.