Watson calls Dravid 'nicest guy in cricket'

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Stand-in Australia captain Shane Watson described Rahul Dravid as 'the nicest guy' in world cricket ahead of the Indian batsman's likely retirement announcement on Friday.

Watson, who played with Dravid for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), was full of praise for the 39-year-old before Australia's one-day squad departed for the West Indies.

"I was actually talking to Rahul during the IPL last year and he was contemplating whether he was actually going to come out to Australia," Watson was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald, referring to the recent series.

"But after having such an amazing England series he obviously felt it would be a great option to come out to Australia."

"I suppose in the end it showed the dominance of our bowlers because Rahul was still in pretty good touch but our bowlers just bowled so well to him."

The Press Trust of India and the Cricinfo website on Thursday both said Dravid was poised to call time on his international career after the wretched Test series in Australia in which India were whitewashed 4-0.

Watson said he felt fortunate knowing the Indian.

"He's probably the nicest guy -- no, he is the nicest guy -- that I've met in cricket. He's a phenomenal man," he said.

"He loves the game with so much passion, it's in his blood and in his heart. He is certainly going to be sorely missed by the Indian public and the cricket-loving public as well."

Dravid, popularly known as 'The Wall', scored only 194 runs in eight innings in Australia and is expected to announce his retirement at a press conference scheduled for Friday in Bangalore.

His 13,288 Test runs leave him behind only fellow Indian Sachin Tendulkar on the all-time list.