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Dravid hopes to win seventh ODI

By Sanjay Rajan
April 14, 2006 18:13 IST

India skipper Rahul Dravid says his side have no intention of easing up in the last one-dayer against England and insisted they would be going for the win on Saturday.

"We'll play to win. We'll see what the best combination is," the 33-year-old batsman told a news conference on Friday, brushing aside suggestions the hosts would use the final one-dayer to blood some fresh talent.

India won the first four matches to claim an unassailable lead in the series. The fifth was washed out and the tourists recorded a consolation five-wicket victory at Jamshedpur where the hosts rested a few key players.

Dravid, who opted out of the last two matches, said the misfiring top-order would be looking to use this opportunity to bat their way into form.

"It has been a worry. We probably have to get runs in the top of the order, and that is what we will be looking to do tomorrow," said Dravid, who opened the batting in the third and fourth ODIs, bringing solidity at the top in the absence

of an injured Sachin Tendulkar.

The extended slump of opener Virender Sehwag and middle-order batsman Mohammad Kaif have been a cause for concern.

Sehwag, who led in the previous match in Dravid's absence, had spoken of sitting out the final one-dayer.

But Dravid, who was born in Indore, was giving nothing away.

"We want to get the best out of our players. Sometimes it might mean playing people a little bit more, and sometimes it might mean giving them a bit of a break," he said.

"Like how we decided to give Mahendra Dhoni a break before the series against Pakistan (in Abu Dhabi on April 18 and 19)."

The burly wicketkeeper-batsman, who made a valiant 96 at Jamshedpur, will be missing his first one-dayer since his debut in Bangladesh in December 2004. Dinesh Karthik, a regular in the Test side till 2004-05, takes his place.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh did not bowl at the nets. Dravid said the bowler had a slight niggle but that he should be ok.
Sanjay Rajan
Source: REUTERS
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