Rahul Dravid

NEW DELHI, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Factbox on India''s Rahul Dravid, who was named India captain for home one-day series against Sri Lanka and South Africa on Thursday: Born: January 11, 1973 in Indore. Right-hand bat. One-day wicketkeeper. Test debut: v England, Lord''s, June 1996. 91 matches, 7,871 runs, average 58.30, 100''s 20, 50''s 38, catches: 127. One-day debut: v Sri Lanka, Singapore, April, 1996. 265 matches, 8429 runs, average 39.20, 100''s 10, 50''s 62, catches 157, stumpings 14. Technically accomplished batsman regarded among the finest in the modern game. Initially struggled for a regular one-day spot due to his defensive batting, being nicknamed ;The Wall;, but sealed his place by agreeing to keep wicket. ---- 1999: Becomes the third Indian to score centuries in both innings of a test against New Zealand in Hamilton. Scores five test hundreds abroad before his first one at home. Scores 145 off 129 balls against Sri Lanka at the World Cup in England, where he makes 461 runs at an average of 65.85. 2000: Named as one of Wisden''s five cricketers of the year. 2001: Scores 180 while Vangipurappu Laxman makes 281 in a fifth-wicket stand of 376 as India defeat Australia in Kolkata after following on to end the tourists'' record 16-test winning streak. 2002: Becomes the fourth player after West Indian Everton Weekes, Australian Jack Fingleton and South African Alan Melville to score centuries in four consecutive test innings. 2003: Cracks 233 at Adelaide, leading India to an upset test win in Australia, becoming only the second Indian batsman, with Sunil Gavaskar, to score four test double-centuries. 2004: Captains India to victory in the first test in Pakistan in the absence of injured captain Saurav Ganguly. India go on to complete a historic maiden test series triumph across the border. 2004: Scores a career-best 270 in the deciding third test against Pakistan, overtaking Gavaskar''s record of four test double hundreds. It is the third highest score by an Indian after Virender Sehwag''s 309 and Laxman''s 281. 2004: Named ICC player of the year and test player of the year. 2005: Scores hundreds in both innings, 110 and 135, in the second test against Pakistan in Calcutta to achieve the feat for the second time. Named captain for a full series for the first time, for a one-day tri-series in Sri Lanka in July-August in the absence of Saurav Ganguly for the early games due to a four-game ban. Oct 13: Appointed captain for two one-day series against Sri Lanka and South Africa, replacing Ganguly. (Compiled by N.Ananthanarayanan in New Delhi)

Saurav Ganguly factbox

FACTBOX-Cricket-Former India captain Saurav Ganguly
NEW DELHI, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Factbox on India''s Saurav Ganguly who was axed as captain on Thursday: Born: July 8, 1972 in Kolkata, formerly Calcutta. Left-hand bat, occasional right arm slow-medium bowler. Test debut: v England, Lord''s, June 1996. 84 tests. 5066 runs, average 41.18. 12 hundreds. One-day debut: v West Indies, Brisbane, January 1992. 279 matches, 10,123 runs, average 40.65. 22 centuries, 60 fifties. - - - - Stylish left-hander with flowing off drives, used to be rated among leading one-day batsmen, particularly for his prolific opening partnerships with Sachin Tendulkar. Weak against sharp pace and short bowling aimed at rib cage. India''s most successful test captain with 21 victories from 49 matches. 1992 - Made India debut aged 19 in a one-day tri-series in Australia, but discarded after one game which critics and media attributed mainly to his poor attitude. 1996 - Recalled for test tour of England amid intense media scrutiny. Scored 131 on debut at Lord''s and 136 in the next test at Trent Bridge. 1999 - An average season with English county Lancashire. Dubbed ;Lord Snooty; by the British media for what they called his boorish behaviour. 2000 - Appointed India captain during a home series against South Africa after Tendulkar quit the job to focus on his batting following a 3-0 test series rout in Australia. 2000 - Linked up with New Zealander John Wright, appointed India''s first foreign coach. Credited with backing youngsters such as Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag to help them overcome hiccups early in their careers. 2001 - Leads India to a stunning 2-1 comeback home test series victory over Australia despite poor batting form. Heavily criticised for making rival captain Steve Waugh wait by repeatedly arriving late for the toss, but hailed as a hero at home. 2002 - Leads India to a 1-1 test series draw in England, the team then sharing the ICC Champions Trophy with hosts Sri Lanka. 2003 - Captained the team to the World Cup final in South Africa, India''s first since their shock 1983 victory. 2003-04 - Shook off poor form to hit a flowing 144 in the drawn first test in Brisbane, inspiring India to a creditable 1-1 test series draw in Australia. 2004-05 - Position in team under scrutiny due to poor batting and fitness. Handed two-test ban for his team''s slow over rate in a one-day defeat versus Pakistan in Calcutta, but appeals successfully. 2005 April - Banned for six one-dayers for his team''s slow over rate in two consecutive defeats in a 4-2 home series loss to Pakistan. Indian board left him out of last two games of the series and the ICC imposed punishment retroactively after an unsuccessful appeal. July - Rahul Dravid named captain for one-day series in Sri Lanka. August - The ICC arbitrator reduced ban by two games after the Indian board''s second appeal, allowing Ganguly to re-join squad after missing first two matches in Sri Lanka. Reached 10,000 one-day runs by scoring 51 on his return in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, becoming only the third player ever to achieve the feat behind Tendulkar and Pakistan''s Inzamam-ul-Haq. September - Retained captain for following Zimbabwe tour despite uncertainty due to his poor batting. Hits first test hundred for almost two years in the opening match in Bulawayo, but then reveals that coach Greg Chappell had suggested before the game that he step down for an in-form player. The issue flares up into a major row after Chappell''s leaked e-mail to the cricket board says Ganguly is no longer fit to captain the side. The row is settled by the board, but fresh uncertainty shrouds Ganguly''s position due to a tennis elbow injury. Oct. 13 - Replaced as captain by longtime deputy Rahul Dravid for two home one-day series versus Sri Lanka and South Africa. (Compiled by N.Ananthanarayanan in New Delhi)

Salaam Bapu