Playing five bowlers a positive move: Rahul Dravid

Bengaluru: The combination of six batsmen and five bowlers which India seldom embraces, but which they used in the opening Test at Trent Bridge has gained the full backing by Rahul Dravid.
The former Indian skipper was all praise for coach Duncan Fletcher and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni plumping for the formula.

“It is a very courageous move and positive move in my opinion. In the past, India have been a bit scared to play five bowlers especially overseas. But I thought MS Dhoni and Duncan Fletcher were pretty brave to play five bowlers,” said Dravid, currently commentating on the series in London.

Dravid also said the conditions at Lord’s where the second Test begins on Thursday, will be conducive for the bowlers.

“Lord’s will provide a different set of challenges to what one saw at Trent Bridge in the first Test. The conditions will be a little different and the pitch could be of greater help to the pace bowlers.”

The weather in London for the better part of Wednesday was gloomy and that was also quite symbolic of the mood in the England campaign after James Anderson was charged with a Level-3 offence by the ICC following his altercation with Ravindra Jadeja in the first Test.

Reacting to the incident, Dravid said, “I got to know about the episode in the morning when I was reading the papers. From what I read, there have been pretty serious allegations made and the ICC must investigate it thoroughly.”

Though the voices for inclusion of R. Ashwin has been gaining ascendancy, Dravid believed the spinner has to wait for his turn and conditions suitable for his kind of bowling.

“Given Jadeja’s recent performances, it was difficult to leave him out of the side for the Trent Bridge Test. The conditions in which he bowled there were not great either as the ball wasn’t turning much. But I am sure Ashwin will get his chance depending on the conditions.”

The batting legend who mentored the team in England prior to the start of the series was satisfied with the line-up, especially with opener Murali Vijay’s performance.

“The openers got off to a good start in the first Test but somehow Dhawan could not make it count. But we should not be too worried. I am happy for Vijay though. He has worked very hard and he certainly deserved the century. Hopefully, he (Vijay) will build up on that innings in the series,” said Dravid during a tele-conference.