By IANS
Mumbai : As the Indian team gets ready Tuesday to leave for the British Isles for its tour of England and Ireland, captain Rahul Dravid said it will be an opportunity for the team to bounce back from the disappointment of the World Cup.
"We can have a very good series if we play to our potential. It will be an opportunity to bounce back from the disappointment of the World Cup," said Dravid.
"Tour of England is special and every cricketer is looking forward to it. Tour of England and Ireland is also the beginning of a four-year cycle in one-day cricket," he added.
Dravid said that there are very few who have had a chance to play in Ireland and it would be a new experience, new challenge.
"The boys are used to these tours. The team changes a little bit but in terms of adjustment and adaptability they are going get used to it. Ireland will be totally new experience for all of us," he said.
The squad will be accompanied by bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad, fielding coach Robin Singh and Chandu Borde who was appointed as the manager for the tour after the Indian cricket board failed in its attempts to find a new coach.
Dravid also said that Borde will take part in team's strategy and selection meetings.
"I am used to challenging assignments, it's nothing new for me," said Borde, who last managed the Indian team 17 years ago.
Dravid said that Zaheer Khan will lead the pace attack and play the role of a mentor to younger bowlers.
The team will play one one-day international against Ireland Saturday and three matches against South Africa before proceeding to Scotland for a charity one-dayer against Pakistan.
Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel and Irfan Pathan have been left out of both the Test and ODI squads while former captains Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly make their return to the one-day team.