STICKING TOGETHER: It seems that Dravid would continue to give Sehwag company at the top, at least in the second Test in Faisalabad. — Photo: S. Subramanium

Lahore: It was an opening partnership that has, probably, laid the foundation for a strong Indian display in the rest of Test series. Much of cricket is about confidence and the sight of the openers dismantling the Pakistani attack must have, irrespective of the docile state of the pitch, injected loads of self-belief into the rest of the batsmen.

But then, one of the protagonists in the epic 410-run association is not a specialist opener. He, in fact, has his rightful place in the pantheon of all-time great No.3 batsmen in Test cricket.

Rahul Dravid put his own hand up, like a leader and a captain, when his side faced a crisis in team composition. He was going to walk out with Virender Sehwag at the top of the order.

That really was the beginning of an astonishing tale that threatened the 50-year first-wicket record in Tests between Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad like never before. Yet, it is important not to be carried away by a mammoth stand brought about by circumstances.

Importance of No.3 slot

Dravid is a pragmatic person and he was only being realistic when he said him opening the innings "was not a long-term solution." The No. 3 slot is a key position in the line-up and the skipper is too valuable for India in that position.

Sehwag too stressed on the importance of Dravid at one drop. True to tell, Dravid risked everything when he volunteered to open. It was his call and there was enormous pressure on him to deliver after the Pakistanis piled up runs.

Given his temperament and technical purity, it was not surprising that he succeeded, making the mental adjustment; mentally facing the new ball first up and entering the field after the fall of the opening wicket can be quite different.

While it is likely that Dravid might continue in the opening slot, at least in the second Test in Faisalabad, the Indian think-tank needs to get either Gautam Gambhir or Wasim Jaffer partnering Sehwag soon.

A specialist job

Opening the innings is a specialist job and if Indian cricket is to move forward, it has to look at men who are being groomed for the role. Coach Greg Chappell sent the right signals when he spent considerable time with Gambhir in the arena during one of the several stoppages for bad light in the Lahore Test. Cricket is such a mental sport, where psychology and momentum are essential ingredients, that it is vital that the motivational levels of Gambhir and Jaffer are not allowed to drop.

India needs to develop a solid, durable opening combination, which will enhance the strength of its powerful middle-order. Australia continues to rule Test cricket and the roles played by Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer have been significant.

In Pakistan, the Indian team-management has had to keep in mind the need to play Sourav Ganguly in the eleven; the sight of a former captain sitting on the reserve bench might not have led to a happy dressing room ambience.

The nature of wicket provided for the first Test has also come under severe criticism and rightly so.

Despite the constraints of the weather, a livelier track could definitely have been prepared for the match in Lahore.

There are enough indications that point to the last remaining layer of grass being shaved off the surface at least three days before the start of the Test. And since the track lacked hardness, it turned a paradise for the batsmen.

Defensive host

The Pakistanis, it seems, have not learnt lessons from the Multan Test of 2004. Or they have learnt the lessons of the wrong kind from that defeat at the hands of Indians. The home team's distinct advantage over India lies in the pace bowling department and Inzamam's team is not playing to its strength.

The host, it appears, is a touch worried about its own batting on a greenish wicket which offers seam movement. This points to a defensive mind-set. Pakistan, over the years has been a much better side, when it has attacked.

Corridor bowling and bounce, from just short of a good length, will work more than reverse swing against the wristy Indian batsmen, who are adept at putting away deliveries of full length, swing or no swing, between square-leg and mid-wicket.

A livelier pitch in Faisalabad will definitely add to the contest, weather permitting. But why the BCCI did not accept PCB's suggestion to hold the first Test in Karachi is another question that begs an answer. The first Test in Pakistan's commercial hub could have turned a cracker of a duel, setting the tone for the series.

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