Rahul Dravid is determined to taste the joy of winning in New Zealand u2014 the only place where he has not experienced a Test victory
Rahul Dravid is determined to taste the joy of winning in New Zealand, the only place where he has not experienced a Test victory
Recentlyu00a0the Holding Willey Report declared Rahul Dravid as India's greatest Test cricketer of all time. It is a tribute to the intense fighter for his unmatchable feats against the best in the most demanding and hostile conditions. For an Indian team, New Zealand provides a real challenge. It's a place they have not won in 41 years.
The ultimate compliment to his batsmanship was when even during his poor run last season, when the topic of playing in New Zealand cropped up, it was said: 'We will need Dravid in NZ'.
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Against the Kiwis in their backyard, he has scored 452 runs in four Tests at an average of 64.57. One of the hallmarks of the Dravid-Sachin Tendulkar-VVS Laxman era has been India's Test wins away from home against the most intimidating oppositions. A win in New Zealand, Dravid said will be the icing on the cake. "If we can win the series... nothing like it," he said.
This tour is also special for Dravid because he needs another two catches to surpass Mark Waugh's world record of 181 Test catches.
Excerpts from an interview just before he took the flight to Kiwiland:
Even when you were not doing well, there were many who said that Dravid will be needed in New Zealand? What does it mean to you?
I can take confidence from that fact and hopefully will try and replicate that. It is nice to have done well abroad. I have played in a Test match win everywhere in the world, except in New Zealand. So to win a Test match and the series will be great. I will try and make a good contribution to the team and if we can win the series... nothing like it.
We are starting the Test series at Seddon Park, Hamilton. You must have fond memories of the venue?
Hamilton obviously is special. It was nice to play my first Test match there in 1999. I got a hundred in each innings (190 and 103 not out) which were two very important hundreds for me at that stage of my career. It gave me a lot of confidence to score hundreds away from home that too in New Zealand. It was critical for me because it helped me cement my place in the one-day side. In fact, I was not in the one-day side at that stage. I got those two hundreds and got picked in the one-day side. Hamilton has always been a special venue for me. I have always enjoyed playing there.
Overall, you have a fine record in NZ? The conditions can be challenging there, so how did you crack it?
I haven't batted differently in New Zealand than I have anywhere else. I haven't found the wickets there to be unplayable. The wickets in 2002-03 were not great but the wickets in 1998-99 were really good. I feel this time the wickets are going to be good. You can't base your judgment on the last tour.
I have enjoyed playing in New Zealand; it is a nice place to tour; it is a lovely country and generally the grounds are quite beautiful. Test matches are quite well supported as well. I love touring there, and I did well in 1998-99 and had moderate success in the Test matches in 2002-03. I have a few friends and looking forward to catching up with them.
So, I am excited and looking forward to going back there and have a good series.
Rahul Dravid takes a catch during a fielding session at the Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday. Dravid is just two catches away from overtaking Mark Waugh's Test record of 181 catches. PIC/AP
The Indian batting unit goes in with a huge reputation. What's the challenge for you guys?
The reputation has been earned because of good, consistent performances over the years. But you start each series from zero. It is important for us as a batting unit to do well. We know we have the bowling attack now to take 20 wickets in those kind of conditions, and that is a great confidence booster. So, you know as a batting unit if you can put up the scores then you can set the game up for your bowlers to win it. So, it gives you a lot of confidence when you know that you are going into a game with the ability to take 20 wickets.
Then you know that your contribution as a batting unit can make a big difference in the result of the game.
You go into the series with a hundred in your last Test (vs England)?
It was nice to get a hundred in the last match, but it is behind me now. I have been someone irrespective of what my score has been in the last match, whether it is a good or a bad score, I try to start each match afresh and each series afresh and try and build from that. It was good to have a hundred in my last game but I am just looking forward to start this one fresh.
We have seen again in this series that New Zealand is not an easy place to settle down for young batsmen. What's your advice for them?
Early on in the tour spend as much time as you can getting used to the conditions; have as many net sessions, as many practice sessions you can in those conditions. It definitely does help to hit as many balls you can hit early on in the tour. Once you get into the swing of things, once you start playing games, then you will be fine. Once you have a few scores under your belt then the confidence will take you through. But initially, as soon as you go there even if you don't have quantity, it's important to have quality time in the nets.
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