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No need to panic, says Dravid
November 18, 2005 21:56 IST
Skipper Rahul Dravid [Images] on Friday said there is no need to press the panic button following India's top order collapse in the first one-dayer against South Africa [Images], while coach Greg Chappell [Images] said the players have it in them to beat the tourists in the second ODI on Saturday.
India's top five batsmen were dismissed for 35 runs in the first ODI before the lower order batsmen helped the team reach a respectable 249. South Africa won the match by five wickets.
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At a pre-match press conference in Bangalore, Dravid said: "Everyone can have an off-day, off-game; so I don't think too much should be read into that."He also indicated that the option of his batting at number three tomorrow is also being considered.
Asked if it won't be better if he comes in at number three given the good bowling attack of the tourists, the skipper said: "We are looking at different things, different options, depending on the conditions� consider a lot of options� that (his coming at number three) is one of them."
Chappell said South Africa's one-day form in the last 20 games -- they have not lost against anyone � is very good but said they are beatable.
"I believe we have got what it takes to beat them. I have no doubt that we will win some games in this series," the coach said.
Dravid expressed optimism that Virender Sehwag [Images] would succeed in tomorrow's day-night game at M Chinnaswamy stadium.
Terming Sehwag as an experienced player and a match-winner, the skipper said though he did not score a half-century against the Sri Lankans in the recent series, he did bat well.
Dravid praised the Delhi [Images] batsman for his contributions with the ball and his all-round abilities and said he is a valuable member of the team.
"His (Sehwag's) contribution on and off the field as vice-captain is very valuable to me. We are hoping that he will score runs which he is due for. I am sure he is going to do it," he said.
Dravid said he predicted that Sehwag would play a big role in the series against South Africa and he still believed that.
Asked if he would adopt a steady approach and not experiment, following India's defeat in the first one-dayer, Chappell said: "You guys (media) have been using the word experimentation. We use strategies. We will continue to use strategies against South Africa."
Dravid, who is playing his first match here as a captain, said it was always special to play in one's hometown and "very nice" to captain here. But preparation-wise, it was like any other game for him.
He said the team has drawn a lot of positives from the first game. "We could have done somethings better. We are looking forward to doing those things better in this game."