SPORTS

We were not outplayed, asserts Dravid

Source:PTI
May 29, 2006 10:14 IST

West Indian skipper Brian Lara has said that after bringing down the Indians in the one-day series with slow tracks, the hosts were ready repeat the dose in the Tests by rolling out "green wickets".

Lara said that India's world class spin attack would be a difficult propostion for his batsmen on wearing pitches while bouncier ones could thwart the visitors strong batting lineup.

"Our confidence is high but India is a great opponent. Their two spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh are not going to be easy, especially on slow wickets. We are looking to get green wickets for the Tests," he said after leading West Indies to a 19-run win in the fifth one-dayer in Port of Spain on Sunday.

The victory in the final game saw the Caribbeans wrap up the series 4-1.

Indian skipper Rahul Dravid for his part said the visitors would be keen to shrug aside the one-day debacle and bounce back in the four-Test series starting with the first at Antigua on June 2.

"We have to regroup and fight back. Previously in Pakistan when we last the Test series it was the one-day team that bounced back. Now it is a challenge for the Test team to do the same," he said.

Dravid said the West Indies made the most of home advantage.

"They played real good cricket. They were better used to the conditions and it is for us to learn to play in these conditions," he said.

"The games have been close. We have not been outplayed. It was a tough series and we played well.

"We came back to restrict them to 255 (in the final ODI)."

Lara was pleased with the fact that the hosts rested key players and still dominated India, who went into the series as world number three and favourites.

"It shows there is a lot of team spirit. It was an allround team performance. The players pulled their weight together," he said.

Dwayne Bravo, man of the match with an unbeaten 62, said he looked forward to the Test series.

"That is more my style of game. The 4-1 win has given us the confidence," he said.

"It is all about confidence. Friday (in the previous game) I was shaky but went from strength to strength."

Man of the series Ramnaresh Sarwan said the Sunday win would give his team the psychological edge.

"It is a matter of getting momentum going. We did not want to give India any confidence going into the Tests," he said.

Source: PTI
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