Zimbabwe v India, 1st Test, Bulawayo

Dravid keen on India dominating Test series

PTI

September 11, 2005

Rahul Dravid: 'We have got to play good cricket, focus on ourselves and not worry about the opposition' © Getty Images

India would emerge as the runaway winners if they play to their potential and not worry about Zimbabwe - their opponents - in the upcoming two-match Test series, according to Rahul Dravid, their vice-captain.

"If we play good cricket, we should win," Dravid said in the run-up to the first Test beginning on Tuesday. "We have got to play good cricket, focus on ourselves and not worry about the opposition. It is very important from our point of view to win the Tests against Zimbabwe and win them well."

Dravid acknowledged the quality of Heath Streak and Tatenda Taibu in the opposition ranks but also admitted that they knew little about the rest of Zimbabwe team. "Streak and Taibu have been around for a while, they have got some experience. But, to be honest, we don't know much about the other cricketers."

Dravid felt the pitches at Bulawayo and Harare would be similar to the track they played in Mutare - against the Board President's XI - over the weekend. In that respect, he believed the three-day warm up game was a good work-out for his side. "The track was a good wicket to bat on and was a bit slow. It was a similar kind of wicket we might get in Tests as well.

"It was a good three days from our point of view," he continued. "Anil [Kumble] bowled a good spell. For people like Balaji who have not played for a while, it was good to have a go in these conditions. In the end it was a good work-out."

Dravid also said that he was concerned over the way he was out bowled out four times in the tri-series. "It happens. Sometimes you do get out in the same fashion. But it's pretty unusual to get out in the same way. There were different ways of getting bowled, also a couple of inside edges and a couple of misses. I am not really concerned about it. I will keep on improving."

© PTI

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Matches

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Players/Umpires

Lakshmipathy Balaji

Rahul Dravid

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Series/Tournaments

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India