Dravid will play a mentoring role before the series begins on July 9
© AP
Chief coach Duncan Fletcher wants a longer role for Rahul Dravid for Team India. This is the first time, an overseas coach has welcomed an Indian great in the dressing room and it was on Fletcher's invitation that Dravid agreed to play the role of a mentor till the start of the first Test against England from July 9. And as India aim to build a new generation side, Fletcher wants a longer role for the former Indian Test skipper. (England will Struggle Without Swann: Pietersen)
Speaking to the BCCI website (www.bcci.tv), Fletcher said: "Rahul can play a role right through. His approach and his character is so good. I've really enjoyed talking cricket with Rahul. I really rated him and wanted him back in the side for some time now. We've had some chats since he got here and discussed various ideas and possibilities. What I also like about him is that he can relate to the players culturally. Also, if a player gets the same message from more than one person, he is going to be more convinced about it." (India Keen to Keep Cook on the Defensive)
Dravid was invited to by the team management to address a young side, many of whom would be playing a Test series in England for the first time in their careers. Having lost the 2011 series in England 4-0, India are taking every precaution to look the hosts in the eye. India are without a VVS Laxman, Sachin Tedulkar and Dravid this time and much of the responsibility will lie on Virat Kohli and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Dravid was the only one who stood amid the 2011 ruins. During this transition period, Fletcher feels Dravid's role was crucial. (Dravid Says Bowling the Key for India)
"Fortunately for me, I went through a similar phase with England where the older players were left out or retired and a whole new generation of cricketers came in. The major difference is that with the older ones you just sit back and let them come to you. No matter how good and experienced one is, bad habits sometimes creep in and you've got to help them get rid of those small bad habits without being too overbearing.
"The younger players are a bit reluctant because they don't understand their game fully. So, you've got to go to them and talk to them. However, you have to make sure you send the message very clearly because otherwise they can get confused and start making their game more difficult. (Dravid Named Batting Consultant for England Tour)
"You keep the communication very simple and don't make more than one change at a time, even though some players might require more than one change - technically and mentally. The key is to change only one link of the chain at a time. If you change two, you don't know which one will confuse the player. That's why it takes time. Cricket is not an easy game to improve at in a short time," Fletcher said.
The decision to invite Dravid was met by criticism from various quarters. With the batting department in relatively safe hands, many felt that India needed a bowling mentor. Fletcher clarified why he invited Dravid to the Indian camp.
"People would think I have called him to help the batsmen," Fletcher said. "But actually it's as much for the bowlers. What people don't understand is that the bowlers think like bowlers. I wanted Rahul to talk to them and make them think like batsmen. That way they will know what areas a batsman likes and doesn't like, which will help them a great deal in forming their strategies.
"The problem is that the Indian bowlers don't bat or practise batting when they're playing domestic cricket. And so, while they understand their bowling, they don't understand batting," explained Fletcher, India's coach till the 2015 World Cup.
India's bowling strength will be severely tested this time. Ishant Sharma, with 55 Tests, remains the most experienced bowler in the pack. The other frontliners -- Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Varun Aaron have a combined 13 Tests between them, and Ishwar Pandey and Pankaj Singh are yet to debut.
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