I rate Amla very highly in tests (best of the present generation ahead of guys like Cook, AB) and I have always feared him more than AB whenever we played South Africa because of his Dravid like temperament and endurance.
But I have been disappointed with him over the past year or so. He has had a very early decline and has been declining ever since he became 32, struggling to keep up his previous lofty standards. He was on course to become an ATG but this early decline has done a bit of damage to his reputation. I hope he finds his mojo back though. It's a bit surprising because he isn't totally dependent on hand eye coordination unlike players like Sehwag who generally deteriorate at this age.
Dravid was effective till the penultimate tour of his career. Got man of the series in trying and testing conditions and match situations when India were getting demolished in England in 2011. He was the only guy who put up the last resistance like the great wall he was known to be. He struggled with the pace in Australia in his last tour and being the ever gentleman he is, retired as soon as he found out that he became too old to cope up with the pace and was a liability for the team without asking for a farewell series, which he was very much entitled to do so imo. The moment he retired, he decline the national team offer and became the coach of the Indian U19 team and Indian A teams and has been instrumental in guiding the Indian youngsters and making them match ready when they enter the international circuit. His contribution to Indian cricket has been immense pre and post his retirement and something that cannot be measured. I would take Dravid at this point of time.
