Head to Head - 2: Dravid & Sehwag - Even A Tie Breaker Can’t Tell Us Who Is Better In Tests!
While the fight between the fanatic fans continues unabated, here's a novel approach to studying these two fascinating players who have laid the foundation for the Golden Era of Indian Cricket
My previous post on this topic showed clearly that there is very little to differentiate between the contributions of Dravid and Sehwag to test cricket. We have relied heavily on runs scored – taking equal number of matches into account. This situation is similar to a “stalemate” in chess or a “6 games each” in tennis. Of the two, tennis has the interesting ‘tie breaker’ system to get out of the situation.
Let’s find a way to bring in the tie breaker into the Dravid-Sehwag career statistics!
Sehwag has played 135 innings to date compared to Dravid’s 245. To make this an apple to apple comparison, let’s consider the first 135 innings only of these players. Let’ divide them into 9 segments of 13 innings each and a 10th segment of 18 innings. Each segment shall be called a “Game” as in tennis. We shall look at the batting graphs of the two in each of these segments. The player with “better looking graph” gets the “point”! I assume you all are in agreement with this approach J
Remember:
We shall not be counting runs, 6s, 4s, balls etc – we only take a look at how the game looks "grapically" and make a subjective decision on who won each game!
Player with more peaks wins the "Game"! In other words, a 300 and many low scores by Sehwag is not as good as six 50s or three 100s by Dravid J 
Note: Red line is Dravid, Blue line is Sehwag. X-axis is Innings # and Y-axis is “Runs Scored”.
In the commentary below on each "Game" shown in the graph above, the numbers in brackets after the player's name and points represents the "actual runs" scored by the player “in that segment” (of 13 matches) in his career.
Game 1 - Innings 1 - 13
Strong debut by Dravid and an equally strog debut by Sehwag. But Sehwagh has clearly played a few bigger knocks, including two more centuries.
Dravid – 0 (438) ; Sehwag – 1 (693)
Game 2 - Innings 14 - 26
Dravid equalizes with a high 100 and six 50s to Sehwag’s one 100 and one 50.
Dravid – 1 (678) ; Sehwag – 1 (401)
Game 3 - Innings 27 - 39
Sehwag comes back with a huge ‘Sehwag Special’ – a fabulous 309 in his 34th visit to the crease! The Nawab of Najafgarh is a refreshing addition to India’s cricket landscape. Dravid’s performance in this game was equally impressive, though dwarfed by the triple ton.
Dravid – 1 (717) ; Sehwag – 2 (896)
Game 4 - Innings 40 - 52
The champions are fighting it out – for every run and every ton. Four 100s and one 50 by Dravid to three 100s and two 50s by Sehwag. Indian cricket is in failproof in safe hands!
Dravid – 2 (756) ; Sehwag – 2 (754)
Game 5 - Innings 53 - 65
Bangalore’s poster boy strikes a lean patch, while the Nawab continues to survive and stay ahead with a two double centuries. Dravid – 2 ( 260) ; Sewag – 3 (830) Game 6 - Innings 66 - 78
Dravid bounces back in style while Sehwag struggles. One double century, 2 high centuries and three 50s to Sehwag’s one ton, one 50 and SIX singl digit scores!
Dravid – 3 (949) ; Sehwag – 3 (423) Game 7 - Innings 79 - 91 A relatively quiet phase – Four 50s by Dravid to one 100, two 50s, two ducks and 4 single digit scores by Sehwag Dravid – 4 (456) ; Game 8 - Innings 92 - 104
Sehwag – 3 (444)
The lion is roaring! A triple ton, a double ton, a 50 and of course the usual low scores! But let’s give it to him – though Dravid was fine with one ton and three 50s.
Dravid – 4(525) ; Sehwag – 4 (767)
Game 9 - Innings 105 - 117
“The Wall” is standing tall and firm. No wonder, it was and is The Great Wall of India!
One double century, three tons, and one 50 to Sehwag’s four 50s
Dravid - 5 (796) ; Sehwag – 5 (489)
Game 10 - Innings 118 - 135
This is the most beautiful of all! These two play the marathon in their own way – and never seem to tire. One double ton, Five centuries, a fabulous 99 and an aggregate of 1342 runs by Sehwag. Interestingly, Sehwag's duck in Innings # 135 coincides with that of Dravid who had met the same fate in his 135th innings. So who is the winner of Game 10?? Even a third umpire would say “I can’t decide”. You decide, guys and gals. My decision is:
Three double tons and four 50s by Dravid with an aggreate of 1280 runs.
Dravid – 5 (1280) | Sehwag – 5 (1342)
Since the tie breaker too hasn’t produced any result, in the next and concluding post, we shall abandon the “tennis approach” and go with the beautiful game’s approach - ugly (to some) and beautiful to many – Sudden Death! See you all soon! Till then … don’t fight … or just continue to fight! We all love the fight! And it will be nice if more fans can join in the melee – and someone should take care of the safety of our guys, @dravia and @maddydravid
PS: If you find this post tough to understand, I wouldn't blame you! Numbers are the toughest to work with or understand - unless it is money! Wait for the concluding post which will not have numbers 
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If it were to be a Bollywood movie how I wish you would leave it at 5 all and we live happily ever after each thinking his/her fav player is better than the other :)
But you are going for the Kill and hell yeah I am waiting for it too :)
My personal opinion RD has always been my fav since his debut. The number of times he has scored a significant innings when India were 2-3 down cannot be expressed in terms of numbers. Remember we never had a settled opening pair when RD used to walkin at no.3 during 90s or till I can say the other master Sehwag made the opening position his own.
Credit goes to Sehwag too for making batting look easy and viewing so enjoyable but for the sheer quality or class of shots I would prefer to view a Dravid/Sachin straight to Sehwag's (personal opinion ppl).
For me Dravid is a legend and Sehwag well nad truly on his way to become one and we truly blessed to see these masters perform at the highest Level :)
the only thing that i wud like to say is that Indian cricket & we all cricket fans are very lucky that two players of such contrasting style yet enormous efficiency have played together & we as fans have been very lucky to see these players playing in this generation.
I just want to thank both these players from the bottom of my heart for providing so many glorious moments to us.
Whenever i think of rahul dravid the first flash that comes in mind is his shear ecstacy upon hitting the winning runs against australia in adelaide & sehwag always reminds us of his two triples.
Sorry 4 disturbing.Hopw u will make it ny 2morrow.
I am trying to concentrate on writing my last post on this topic but your fighting is disturbing me ;)
I had set myself a deadline of completing by tomorrow morning - I can't now - and you will have to wait for a few more days.
Till then you can keep arguing ;)
as holmes said that here we r talking of their game not poularity.And u must have heard the comment on television by 1 of da commentrator that
"TEST CRICKET WANTS PLAYER LIKE SEHWAG"
now test cricket do not need technique,class,contistency.they r in need of player like sehwag.technique, class, contistency. they r in need of player like sehwag.
SEHWAG IS BEST IN ALL 3 FORMATS OF GAME. thats it.
Secondly,coming to the topic see this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la8kiCWvcqI
Wise People have voted 16% for Dravid but he was dropped because of BLEADY POLITICS.But sehwag got only 4% votes but selected.And Mr.Ragunath sir and Mr.Holmes i bet even you create a poll and ask for public opinion Dravid will trash out his opposition in votes be it sehwag or dhoni!!!