INDIA batsman Rahul Dravid has urged his team to play their natural game and not think about drawing the second Test against Australia. The tourists trail by 354 runs with eight wickets remaining after Michael Clarke’s unbeaten 329 put Australia in a dominant position at the SCG on day three.
Dravid, 38, who was clean-bowled by Ben Hilfenhaus, said the batting line-up needed to focus on playing their normal game rather than trying to salvage a draw.
“There’s nothing to lose, in the sense that we’re so far behind now, that there’s almost nothing to lose. Everyone’s got to go out and play and not even think about drawing the game or anything like that,” he said yesterday.
“(We’ve got to) just go out there and look to play, just bat as long as you can and who knows. I think the key obviously for us is to keep them on the field for long periods of time.”
“If we can keep the Australian bowlers, the Australian fielders, in the field for 100 overs, then we can put them under pressure or see some of their bowlers become weary.”
India pair Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman both have excellent records at the SCG, and the latter also combined with Dravid to lead their side to an amazing win – after being forced to follow-on – against Australia at Eden Gardens in 2000/01.
Tendulkar, who is unbeaten on eight at stumps, is also searching for his 100th international century, and Dravid said India needed inspiration to get them going in the four-Test series.
“I think we need a lift, we need to perform better than we have. I think maybe, we need some inspiration,” Dravid said
“To be fair, we’ve not played well in the last three days and we need some inspiration and hopefully it’ll come tomorrow.”
“For us and from a team’s perspective I hope it (Tendulkar’s century) happens tomorrow. Obviously that means we would have scored a few runs.”
“Who knows what can happen? We’ve got some quality players who can bat long periods of time, but it’s hard to think about two days from now.”