The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : `It's a hard one to stomach'

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Saturday, Sep 23, 2006
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`It's a hard one to stomach'

Special Correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR: The batting performance cost India dear, said captain Rahul Dravid after the 18-run defeat to Australia. "I think we lost it with the bat, there is no doubt about it. The target was gettable on that wicket and we should have got there," he said.

"We didn't string enough partnerships together. Other than Dinesh (Mongia), none of the batsmen, who got starts, carried on. Probably we needed another 15 from batsmen at the top of the order, that was a disappointing thing in the batting performance," he said.

Dravid, who has made just 87 runs in eight innings since his Sabina Park hundred, pointed an accusing finger at himself. "It's important for all of us to be counted, consistently. It includes me, I haven't had a very good tournament and I should be the first one to put my hand up and say I should have done a lot better," he said.

Dravid singled out Mongia for praise. "He batted superbly and controlled the game very well but unfortunately there was not enough support for him. Coming back after not having played for India for a long time and to bowl, field and bat the way he did is very creditable," he said.

When asked if he had anything to tell M.S. Dhoni after the wicketkeeper's stroke, Dravid replied: "We all make mistakes and there is no point singling out one person. If you look through the line-up and leave aside Dinesh, guys with a lot more experience than Dhoni could have played better. It's a hard one to stomach, these are the kind of losses that hurt," he said.

On opening with Sehwag, he said: "We have gone through our whole ODI cricket threadbare over the last season and identified certain areas, which could be addressed. Obviously we didn't have enough time and games, so we went back to the tried and tested formula for an important game.

The skipper said he had no issues with the way the Tendulkar call back had been handled. "The umpire is well within the rules of the game to call back someone if he deems fit and I think he got it right," he added.

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