Dravid ready to do anything
for the team

Rahul Dravid, the essential team man, will do anything to lift the Indians from their present morass.

He looked in good touch in both his innings at Lord's in the first Test against England, and so did V V S Laxman, but the team realises the Karnataka batsman is best left alone at number three, a slot which should be his by right.

Dravid averages 53.85 at number three, but all too often the good Samaritan of the Indian team has allowed himself to be pushed up and down the order to suit some fancy theory, which hasn't always worked in the team's interest.

Dravid is still bullish in his zeal to do well for India whatever the personal cost.

"You have got to do what a team requires. You have got to learn to adapt, you've got to find a way to make the team stronger," said Dravid.

"That's the goal and it sometimes makes you do things, which are out of your comfort zone," said Dravid. "And if you have to do it, then you should do it."

Starting at number seven, he moved up to number three, opened the innings, came in at number five or six; all without a murmur and he does not seem to want any credit for it either.

Neither is there a sense of grudge at the media's failure to highlight his sacrifices even when others have been reluctant to yield their places.

"I don't expect these things to be highlighted. I don't look at it as anything out of the ordinary and I don't expect any praise for it," said Dravid.

"When you represent your country or wear an India cap and walk on to the field, it is an honour in itself and you don't look for any other credit."

With 4842 runs (61 Tests, 100s: 10, avg: 51.51), he is the seventh highest all time run-getter for India behind Sunil Gavaskar (10,122), Sachin Tendulkar (8032), Dilip Vengsarkar (6868), Mohammed Azharuddin (6215), G Viswanath (6080) and Kapil Dev (5248).

Dravid's desire to go the extra mile for his team was evident when he agreed to don the wicketkeeper's gloves in one-day internationals.

"I used to keep when I was a youngster, probably 16 or 17. I used to keep regularly for the school and a little bit for college. I even attended a couple of national camps for U-15 and U-17 as a 'keeper."

"I had to pick it up again after 12 years. So, it is a bit of a learning curve and I have a lot to learn and put in that extra effort," he said.

Dravid's keeping during the NatWest triangular series had everyone gushing, including captain Sourav Ganguly, but Dravid says to expect him to be the best in the business would be an unfair demand.

"I would naturally not be the most brilliant or most natural 'keeper. But I will do my best to try and keep improving."

Dravid knows that regular wicket-keeping could make heavy demands on his time and energy.

"I would have to work harder on my fitness and certain specific areas like my legs, which I haven't done for years," he said.

But Dravid, it seems, would not be deterred even though 'keeping is considered a thankless job.

"It's a hard job physically. But it's got to be done and people who do it should love and enjoy it. If someone doesn't want to do it, he shouldn't."

Dravid says he never walks into the field expecting problems, because if you do "there is bound to be a problem."

"Even when I have been asked to open, I never had this attitude that I can't succeed. I can put my hand on my heart and say I put in my best. Unfortunately, it didn't work out, but it was not because of want of effort."

Dravid has not eschewed playing the pull shot or the square cut only because it involves risk, but because 'international teams these day are careful not to bowl to a batsman's strength'.

"The opposition studies you all the time and restricts your scoring opportunities," he said.

"It means you have to try and improve all the time because if you don't you would stagnate. You got to have an attitude to prove, not only to others but also to yourself about how much better you could be."

"It's nice to hear people say nice things to you. But over the years, I have learnt to retain my composure whether I am praised or criticised."

With many youngsters making their mark on this England tour, like he and Sourav Ganguly did in 1996, Dravid finds history repeating itself.

"To watch some of these youngsters and look back at your own experience, it is a nice feeling to realise you are still around seven years on," he says.

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