Karan114 Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 To stay No.1, we have to win overseas India can’t retain the top rank if they don’t win abroad, says Dravid, who’ll have to shoulder more responsibility in the Caribbean in the absence of Tendulkar, Sehwag Sanjay Rajan Rahul Dravid is confident that India will live up to its No. 1 Test ranking in the challenging new season in which it will play three tough series in three continents this year. He also realizes that winning abroad will be necessary to back India’s claim to supremacy. “You can’t be No. 1 if you are not playing well abroad,†the 38-year-old former India captain says over the phone from Bangalore. “Over the last five-seven years, we have been playing really well overseas. We won in West Indies the last time we toured, won in England and gave a good account of ourselves in Australia. I don’t see why we cannot do it again this time around.†“In recent years, we have the best overseas record after Australia,†he says. India play three Tests in the West Indies—starting 20 June—after the ongoing five-match One Day series which ends on 16 June, which India have already clinched with two games to spare. The Indian team will then head to England for four Tests, followed by a limited-overs series that will extend till 16 September. India, which won the World Cup in April after 28 years, will travel on a full tour of Australia at the end of the year. The pressure will be on the 150-Test battle-hardened Dravid to drive India’s batting in the Caribbean with the experienced trio of Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag missing from the team led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Openers Sehwag and Gambhir were sidelined by shoulder injuries, while Tendulkar opted out for personal reasons. “Injuries are part of international sport, but it’s sad a lot of it had to happen at the same time,†says Dravid, who has scored 12,063 runs with 31 hundreds and 59 fifties and guided India to several famous victories in a 15-year career. “I guess it can’t be helped, we play so much competitive cricket these days. The situation is not ideal but it’s an opportunity for the younger players to stand up and be counted,†he adds. Dravid is one of only five batsmen to have scored over 10,000 runs in Test and One Day International cricket and is currently third behind Tendulkar (14,692) and Australian Ricky Ponting (12,363) in the list of batsmen with most runs in Test cricket. “I don’t think there is going to be any extra pressure on me. I don’t see it as pressure, as I always look to try and play a significant role for my team. That’s not going to be any different now,†he says. Dravid, the first international player to score centuries in all Test-playing nations, led India to their first Test series victory in the Caribbean in 35 years on their previous visit in 2006. The following year he led India to a first series win in England in 21 years before stepping down as skipper. It was the country where he had begun his international career, missing a century by five runs on debut at Lord’s in 1996. “We were in control throughout the series,†he says, referring to the previous tour of the Caribbean in which he famously set up the 1-0 series victory with knocks of 81 and 68 in the deciding final Test. “In Antigua, we were one wicket away from winning the Test. In St Lucia, we lost a whole day due to rain and (Brian) Lara played a sensational innings.†Dravid says he is not looking past the West Indies series although the year promises to be one of the toughest overseas challenges since he formed India’s steady middle-order along with Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and V.V.S. Laxman over a decade ago. “We got the immediate challenge of West Indies, and we need to focus on that. I know there is a lot of talk of England and Australia, but those can wait,†he says. “Sure, this season’s going to be an exciting one, but then, so was last season. We won a Test in South Africa and squared the series,†he says, referring to the series in which India bounced back to win the second Test in Durban after losing the opening Test by an innings. “With a little bit of luck, we should have won the series,†he says about the drawn third and final Test in Cape Town. “With other countries pushing us hard, it is obviously going to be challenging. The team showed last year what we are capable of, and I’m sure we are capable of repeating it.†About new coach Duncan Fletcher, Dravid says: “Fletcher comes with a lot of experience. I’m looking forward to interacting with him, although I think a coach can only do so much. At the end of the day, the performance lies with the players.†When asked if he has any goals left in his illustrious career, he says: “I know I’m nearing the end of the road and not starting off. At this stage, I’m enjoying my cricket.†“There are not a lot of goals left to achieve in terms of numbers and records, but the joy of playing a significant role in the successes of the team, the satisfaction of contributing to the team’s growth and helping it stay up there in the ranking, is immense.†http://www.livemint.com/2011/06/15212731/To-stay-No1-we-have-to-win-o.html?h=C
vamos_rafa Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 This is where our players,specially our seniors, differ from the others. Players like Swann,Smith who are not even a aprt of the #1 show a degree of cockiness whilst most of our players show a high degree of respect to the opposition and don't flaunt the number 1 tag. Imagine the kind of statements a loud mouthed Smith would come up with if he was a part of a #1 test team. :hatsoff:
BERGKAMP Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 Very decent comments from Dravid, a true gentleman of the game. I hope he can find some form, it would be great to see 'the wall' of old again.
Sir john Posted June 17, 2011 Posted June 17, 2011 Bowling will determine our Test future, says Dravid Rahul Dravid recreated history when he led India to twin Test series triumphs against the West Indies and England. While the 1-0 victory over the West Indies (2006) came after a long wait of 35 years, India's victory over England (2007) was after 21 years. Now, as the Indian team embarks on both the tours as the world's No 1 team, Dravid, no longer the captain, is looking to make major contributions with the bat. It's been 15 years since he made his Test debut, with a solid innings of 95 at Lord's. This time he is hoping to get a hundred and etch his name on the Honours Boards at the famed cricket stadium, also known as the Home of Cricket. Dravid, 38, has been an integral part of the Indian Test batting line-up, regarded one of the best in contemporary cricket. He is the third highest scorer in Tests, with more than 12,000 runs to his credit, and has held the most number of catches (200), but the veteran is not satisfied yet and wants to keep going and improving. times for zak+ishu+sree+munna+bhaji+mishra to show there power :ohyeah:
vvvslaxman Posted June 17, 2011 Posted June 17, 2011 We admit.. you can get both 'elevation and distance" with your posts. Can you please reduce the size.
say2chander Posted June 18, 2011 Posted June 18, 2011 Its time Dravid start performing. Long time, no 100 on big stage against a good attack.
Deleted_User_1 Posted June 18, 2011 Posted June 18, 2011 He is old school in terms of humility and playing the game like a gentleman. Remember the saying "Cricket is a gentleman's game" ?
Sir_Afridi Posted June 18, 2011 Posted June 18, 2011 Dravid performance in last 4 test series. Except against minnow NZ, he failed against all good teams. Averaged 20 against SA, 85 against NZ, 37 against Aus, 19 against SL.
phaedrus Posted June 18, 2011 Posted June 18, 2011 Dravid performance in last 4 test series. Except against minnow NZ, he failed against all good teams. Averaged 20 against SA, 85 against NZ, 37 against Aus, 19 against SL. and your point is? i am sure everyone here knows that Dravid hasnt been in the best of forms in the recent past.
Cricket Tragic Posted June 18, 2011 Posted June 18, 2011 Nah, I think that he'll want to have another crack in Australia.
jairamesh Posted June 18, 2011 Posted June 18, 2011 Despite his form, Dravid's name in a Test line-up just provides that reassurance. It's hard to explain, but with him, the batting line-up just looks "safe".
Karan114 Posted June 18, 2011 Author Posted June 18, 2011 Despite his form' date=' Dravid's name in a Test line-up just provides that reassurance. It's hard to explain, but with him, the batting line-up just looks "safe".[/quote'] Yes, I know what you mean. His numbers have declining for years now, but there is still that feeling of reassurance at seeing the name R Dravid at no.3 for the Indian Test team. I hope he can get some serious runs in the next 8-10 months and end his career on a happy note. He is a true great and deserves it.
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