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 London,
August 8: Skipper Rahul Dravid has backed the Indian team to
reproduce their winning form in the third and final Test at the
Oval which he expects to produce a "decisive result".
India are on the cusp of their first series win in England in 21
years after taking a 1-0 lead, and Dravid firmly believes the
team could go all the way to repeat their 1986 feat.
With the Oval pitch expected to offer good bounce, and the
weather too looking great, Dravid acknowledged that there would
be a result in the match.
"We have not thought of anything else other
than a decisive result," Dravid told reporters on the eve of the
series decider. "In the last two Tests, there were about 340
overs played and there was a result at Trent Bridge and nearly a
result at Lord's. "In this one there will be about 450 overs of
cricket and we believe there will be a result and hopefully we
will play some good tough cricket and finish on the right side
of the result." The Indian captain, however, made it clear that
he was not trying to put the cart before the horse and thinking
about how it would feel to win a series in England.
"It hasn't crossed my mind. I am not thinking
about it. I am just focused on playing a good Test. We are very
happy with the way we played at Trent Bridge. "We did a lot of
our basics right there. And we would like to replicate some of
that in this game. "England will come hard at us. But we just
want to be ready and be focused on what we want to achieve."
As for the extra bounce that the wicket is
likely to offer, Dravid felt that his batsmen would have to make
some adjustments. "We have played well in these conditions and
done well in these conditions before. Just a question of
adapting and adjusting a bit to the extra bounce," he said.
He also had an encouraging word for Anil
Kumble saying that the Oval pitch might have something in it for
him. "There will be a bit of bounce for him. If there is
anything in the wicket for the spinners, Anil is the best person
to utilise it." Dravid wasn't overly concerned about his own
batting form. On the contrary, he said that he would seek some
inspiration from his innings of 217 that he scored here in 2002.
"I have some good memories of Oval and
probably I would jog my memory and seek some inspiration from
that knock," he said. "It has been four years and tomorrow is a
new day and a new game. But I am hitting the ball well and am
confident of doing well." Asked about pacer Sreesanth's frame of
mind going into the crucial Test after being left out of the
following one-day series, Dravid said he was fine.
"Sree is well prepared for this
responsibility. We have had a word and he is fine. Getting
picked and getting dropped are a part and parcel of
international sports. "We want players to get disappointed,
learn from their mistakes and go out and prove themselves again
and feel happy about it. I have no problems with people feeling
bad and being dropped." (Agencies)
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