‘Let’s get on with the game’

The crushing weight of a country on his back, vultures flapping their wings in the background after the Durban massacre...

The crushing weight of a country on his back, vultures flapping their wings in the background after the Durban massacre, what would you expect Rahul Dravid to do? Today he simply shrugged his shoulders and said ‘let’s get on with the game’.

Facing a battery of cameras, and a barrage of shrill calls for a purge and a pay cut from politicians and BCCI’s boardroom players, Dravid’s reply was this: “It is a country of extreme reactions and extreme emotions, and it was probably expected. So we’re not really worried about what’s happening back home. Can I be worried about something I cannot control?”

Tearing up notions that it is this criticism that will now spur his team on, Dravid added with a glint in his eye, “I’ve never believed that a cricket team should need criticism to perform. I don’t think it should be a motivating factor for anyone, it never has been for me. Every time you go out to play for India, you should be proud to play for your country and go out there and compete.”

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Pointing to his own case, when he once had to pull out the ‘keeping gloves to stay in the team, Dravid said: “I’ve withstood a lot of criticism as a batsman. I’ve been out of the team for a year, I have had my share. It’s no different now. You’ve got to accept that some amount of criticism is justified, some amount is a bit over the top as well.”

Then, turning back to the crucial day game against South Africa under the majestic Table Mountain here tomorrow, Dravid hinted at a few changes in the XI after the official exit of pacer Munaf Patel, who was seen limping out of the team hotel today for some local help.

His ankle is still very sore, an injection has already gone in this morning, and the team prefers to keep Munaf on hold with an eye on the long series ahead. But who will take his place? It’s still being worked out but the word is India may stride into the Newlands ground tomorrow with two spinners.

Maybe, you could just catch the two strike spinners — Kumble and Harbhajan — taking the field together in a one-dayer after 15 months, when India lost to Sri Lanka in Colombo by 18 runs.

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But it’s a decision that will hinge on the “dry” wicket and “even, good bounce” as South African skipper Graeme Smith reckoned it may be.

“Obviously, Munaf’s injury will mean we will re-look our bowling combination a bit,” said Dravid.

Another change in the XI could be the return of Irfan Pathan in place of Suresh Raina or Dinesh Mongia. And Sehwag? Dravid said it depends on how he “pulls up” before the match, and Chappell is confident that he will be eager to go in. But again, it’s a big if. Quite like India’s chances of turning this challenging series around.

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Domestic cricket, anyone?

• Newlands: In a subtle message to players who have not been performing consistently, skipper Rahul Dravid suggested that they may have to return to domestic cricket to get it right again. But, he added, that would be the selectors’ call.

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“If they are not doing well consistently, at some stage, the selectors have to take that call. Whether they feel someone will be better going back to domestic cricket and going through the grind and scoring runs,” said Dravid.

“After a point of time, there comes a time when you have to go back to domestic cricket and reassess and re-look your game. With probably the exception of Sachin Tendulkar, everyone in this team at some stage or the other has gone back to domestic cricket and learnt and come back a better cricketer. Or sometimes, not come back,” he added. —ENS