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Wednesday, Jun 20, 2007
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We need to excel in all departments: Dravid

Special Correspondent

Says each and every member of the squad should reproduce the performances of 2002

THINK TANK: After a not-so-tough tour of Bangladesh, Team India captain Rahul Dravid, his deputy Sachin Tendulkar and the new manager Chandu Borde have a tough job on hand.

Mumbai: India has to excel in all departments of the game, reproduce the form showed five years ago, the batsmen have to put runs on the board and the bowlers have to pick twenty wickets in order to make it a truly Indian summer in England, said India skipper Rahul Dravid a few hours before boarding a London-bound flight on way to Ireland.

Dravid’s team will play a limited-overs match against the home team at Belfast, three Future Cup one-day matches against South Africa and one Prince Trust Charity match against Pakistan in Scotland.

Confirming that it will be his last tour of England as part of an official Indian team, Dravid said he doesn’t look forward to another tour of England in four or five year’s time.

“I cannot say the same for the others (Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble and V.V.S. Laxman). I would like to make it memorable by winning the series in England.

“I think each and every member of the squad should reproduce the performances of 2002. Ajit Agarkar’s century at the Lord’s was a fine individual showing and Parthiv Patel had a fine debut series. Then we scored a fine victory at Leeds and thereafter batted well enough chasing England’s 500-plus total at The Oval. These were some of the outstanding performances five years ago. I cannot really identify the turning point of the series in 2002. Experience is essential for the batsmen to put runs on the board, but it’s no secret that the bowlers have to take 20 wickets to win matches.”

Specific roles

On this count Dravid spelt out specific roles for bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad — 15 wickets in the 1996 series in England — and Zaheer Khan, the leader of the pace-pack. “Prasad has bowled well in England and is familiar with the conditions there. I am sure he’s working hard with the young seamers.

“As the tour progresses, he will get enough opportunities to interact with the bowlers regarding line and length and other facets of bowling. Similarly, Zaheer will have to play a mentor’s role. I think the entire team has to stay fit, this is another key to achieve success on a tour.”

This will be India’s 15th tour of England.

Looking forward

When asked how the players look forward to England tour, Dravid said: “There’s a great sense of history about England and cricket played between India and England has a sense of history too. Some of the greats have played on different grounds in England and all the Test matches I have played there have been well attended and appreciated by the spectators.”

Cricket manager Chandu Borde, introduced by the BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah as a “Very healthy man and in touch with cricket” said:

“There’s great potential in this Indian team, but it’s going to be challenging for me and the team. A home team always does well, all the more the reason the Indian team will find the matches against England challenging. I have been watching the England-West Indies series on television.”

Responding to a question as to what role he expects Chandu Borde to play, Dravid said:

“We will dip into his sound cricketing knowledge and he will be very much a part of the team management.”

The Indian captain also said that Dinesh Karthik has been given opportunities and he has done well.

“We have not pigeonholed him in one category, there was a potential in him to take another role. At the end of the day it’s up to him to make the most of the chances and this applies to all the players.

"”Karthik has shown the desire and passion to do roles other than as a keeper.”

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