Thaindian News

Perth, Jan 11 (IANS) Former India captain and veteran middle-order batsman Rahul Dravid hopes that the ongoing Test series against Australia doesn’t turn out to be a nightmare like the whitewash the team suffered during their England tour last year.

“It’s important we don’t go down the same route. Hope we can fight back and play better cricket. We had our moment in Melbourne…we need to take heart from it. It’s important for us we don’t go down the route of England,” Dravid said here Wednesday.

India are 0-2 down in the four Test series. The third Test begins at Perth on Friday.

Dravid, who has been bowled out thrice in the series so far, said he was working on his technique.

“I am definitely working on a few things. When you get out bowled three times you do think about it. I’ve worked on a few things but it isn’t anything major. There isn’t anything drastic that I have changed over the last year when I was very successful. I have seen the videos (of England) and I can’t see anything different. I hope it’s just a coincidence,” said Dravid, who turned 39 Wednesday.

Dravid also said that senior batsman V.V.S.Laxman was not bothered as calls for his dropping from the team got stronger. Dravid said Laxman is a relexad individual and knows how to handle a situation when things are not going in his favour.

“I don’t think the talk (of Laxman’s removal) has affected him much. I haven’t read and Lax is not bothered either. It’s part and parcel of our job. You have got to accept it while you continue to play. That’s the way it goes. He is a pretty relaxed character and I’m sure he would come good in one of these Tests,” said Dravid.

Dravid said Sachin Tendulkar’s impending 100th international century was not putting pressure on the team. He said it would be great of Tendulkar achieves his landmark at Perth.

“As for Sachin’s 100th century, it’s not spoken about much. He’s been pretty relaxed about it. He’s been batting so well. He got a 90 in Mumbai and 70 and 80 in the last two games. He is batting well enough to complete it. It’s great if he can do it here. But he wouldn’t be worried as he has been batting beautifully over the last two or three games,” Dravid said.

Dravid said each batsmen in the team has to plan his own strategy to handle the Australian bowlers. He also added that key for India would be to keep Australia in the field as long as possible.

“Each to his own and each has to plan his own strategy. One (plan) doesn’t fit everyone. You need to know what your game plan is, what you have done throughout your career and what’s got you success. I can’t bat like Viru (Virender Sehwag) and he can’t bat like me. Each one of us have our own game plan. I think the key for us is to keep Australians in the field for as long as possible,” he said.