Date:06/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/06/stories/2006030649422100.htm
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Sport - Cricket

I don't believe in psychological advantages: Dravid

Sports Reporter


  • It is easy to be critical but Harbhajan is a proven performer for us: Dravid
  • We performed against one of the best sides in the world. We got into positions to win matches against India: Flintoff.
  • In Mohali, we won't get ahead of ourselves. Just fight and play like what we have done here: Flintoff.

    Nagpur: The honours of the first Test were even, though an under-strength England will probably be the happier of two teams as they head to Mohali for the second Test. "I don't really believe too much in psychological advantages," said Indian captain Rahul Dravid. "But England am sure will be very pleased with its performance and what it did over five days, considering the tough period it had just before the Test started."

    On his side's bowling, Dravid said, "If you play defensive on this wicket it was difficult to get you out. Not too disappointed but for the next match, if we need to take 20 wickets, we will try to do better. It is easy to be critical but Harbhajan is a proven performer for us and I am sure that before this series is over, he will hopefully have a major role to play. We were looking for someone who would hit the deck and bowl around 135-140 and hopefully Sreesanth can go from here."

    Bit of a scare

    Dravid said the late charge was to give England a "bit of a scare", but that "chasing eight runs an over was never going to be easy." What will India take from the game? "The positives were the way we fought back from some tough situations. Anil and Kaif's partnership, batting out the last day on the fifth-day wicket - it's never easy, there is a bit of pressure. The spirit is pretty good, we can take that with us."

    English captain Andrew Flintoff said, "I'm obviously proud of the lads. In the lead up there were a few things that went against us. We were a young side with three debutants. But we scrapped and were ahead for the most part of the Test match. We showed what were capable of."

    Was he worried at any point that India would chase down 368? "Dhoni is an explosive player, and Sachin's one of the best but that (India going after the bowling) was the only way for us to get back into it. It would have taken a special effort for them to get it."

    Enjoying captaincy

    The big Lancashire man said he was enjoying captaincy though he was just keeping it "warm for Vaughany". What did he say during the huddle at the end of the match? "Again don't remember exactly. It was along the lines of being proud of what we have done. We performed against one of the best sides in the world. We got into positions to win matches against India. And we'll go into Mohali well.

    "In Mohali, we won't get ahead of ourselves. Just fight and play like what we have done here. Expectations are what you build up in your own heads."

    Both captains also spoke on the timing of England's declaration. While Dravid said it had probably come a little late, Flintoff said it had been influenced by the workload his bowlers had. "Knowing how I felt, I thought a night's sleep would do us good and then come out fresh," said the English skipper.

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