Rahul Dravid said it was nice for the Indian batsmen to be travelling to South Africa for the Test series with runs under their belt but added the conditions and the pitches would be different. With 11,943, Dravid is just 10 runs behind Brian Lara's tally in Tests. Only Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting are ahead of Lara and Dravid.
The Indian batting ace was pleased with his innings here on Monday but was disappointed at missing out on a double hundred by nine runs. “It was the wrong choice of shot, I guess,” he said.
He highlighted the performance of the Indian bowlers. “The credit should go to the bowlers for dismissing New Zealand out for 193 and setting up the match for us. We have a huge lead now. Hopefully, we will go on to win the Test.”
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Dravid said he had worked on his batting, particularly on coping with left-arm pacemen, after the home series against Australia. “I am playing a lot towards mid-off than cover now. I am playing straighter.”
Accept the challenge
Asked about age often being mixed up with performance, Dravid said, “I guess when one is 37 or 38, people will ask questions after a few failures. That is a part of the challenge and I accept it. At the end of the day, it is all about scoring runs and taking wickets. But when the team is backing you, it gives you confidence.”
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Dravid felt the first session will be crucial on Tuesday. “The ball is still hard and as we saw this morning, there is always more for the bowlers operating with a newer ball. Once the ball gets softer, it becomes a lot more difficult for the bowlers and the edges do not carry. The pitch is still good although it was heartening to see some spin this evening.”
He gave credit to the New Zealand bowlers for operating with control in the series. “They have bowled in the good areas right through the series. And in Daniel Vettori they have a spinner whom only Viru (Virender Sehwag) has been able to dominate. But Viru is exceptional.”
Asked about Suresh Raina's dipping form in the series, Dravid responded, “He is an exciting talent. But Test cricket is a hard learning school. He will be better off from the experience.”
New Zealand paceman Andy McKay who took out Sachin Tendulkar in the morning for his first Test wicket, said, “I was very happy to get Tendulkar for my first wicket. But I must say sorry to the crowd that awaited his 50th Test century.”
The Kiwi said every session was crucial from now on. “We will have to take our second innings deep into the fifth day.”