Dravid looks to young players for one-day boost

By IANS

London : Team India skipper Rahul Dravid is looking at youngsters in the squad to improve his side’s one-day performances as they start a hectic period of limited overs cricket.
India face England in a lengthy seven-game one-day series starting Aug 21 at the Rose Bowl in Southampton and will play a total of 12 more one-day internationals (ODIs) before the end of the year, including those against Australia and Pakistan.


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“The young guys are the ones who are going to have to drive us this week,” Dravid told media persons in Glasgow after a facile seven-wicket win over cricketing minnows Scotland Thursday.

“They must show that eagerness and push the other guys to raise the bar. I will be looking for them to have big performances.”

Normally a one-day powerhouse, India suffered the embarrassment of being dumped out of the 2007 World Cup in March at the group stage.

Dravid says India are now keen to get their one-day skills back to their best.

“There is a lot of one-day cricket over the next few months,” said Dravid.

“It’s a good opportunity to get into a the one-day mode. We need to show more consistency. A year back we played some very good one-day cricket – we need to get back to that.”

Dravid says that the final line-up for the one-day series against England is not set in stone, adding that the younger players have a chance to put their case forward for selection.

“Any team is a work in progress. We have got to keep assessing it as we go forward. We will see how we can tinker with it a bit.

“The coaches are emphasising the fielding aspect. We have got to use this week well – to get back into the one-day disciplines, work on our ground fielding and throwing.”

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