When Dravid begins to count his blessings...

By John Cheeran
Indian cricket team captain Rahul Dravid has been a realist all his cricketing life.
Being a realist and an optimist at the same time is a challenge indeed.
I have found skipper Dravid a realist, neither gloating in victory nor breast-beating in defeat. Since Greg Chappell came in as coach and later, when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) told Dravid to guide the side with a view to bring World Cup back to India, the captain has maintained that it is dangerous to have vaulting ambitions.
Dravid's theme has been "we are getting better all the time." Champions Trophy held in India proved that we are getting nowhere.
But credit must be given to Dravid again for cautioning us that India had its own limitations. "All eight teams in the fray are capable of winning the Champions Trophy," was Dravid's well thought-out response to queries looking for bets on India.
Suddenly as Indians are measuring their steps on the bouncy wickets in South Africa, Dravid has turned an optimist.
Dravid has embraced positive thinking unequivocally. Dravid has begun to count his blessings.
After failing to reap success on the low and slow tracks in West Indies and India, Dravid feels that team can play better in different and difficult conditions. So finally Indian team has discarded the home advantage. There is no longer any advantage in playing in front of home supporters.
Dravid says the team would enjoy being out of the intense spotlight that it is subjected to back home. Incidentally, India has a notorious record playing away from the Indian subcontinent.
Let me quote the Indian skipper. "We also enjoy the anonymity of playing away from home, where we can relax and do normal things. I think the benefit of that relaxation off the field will be evident on the field."
Dravid adds that it is sometimes better to be batting on pitches with bounce than on the slow, low wickets that one encounters in the subcontinent. "Rather than worry about seam or bounce I'd like to look at it this way. There are good wickets in South Africa. The pitches give you a chance to play your shots, the sort of shots you can't play on low and slow wickets. You can trust the bounce. On slow, low tracks your back-foot game is completely ruled out. Here you have more scoring options."
Brave words, indeed!
Dravid, I will keep an eye on the scoreboard, just in case, that is.
May be Dravid can return to realism once the South African Safari ends.

India's schedule in South Africa 2006-7
November 16 v Rest of South Africa, Benoni (d/n) 19 1st ODI, Centurion 22 2nd ODI, Durban (d/n) 26 3rd ODI, Cape Town 29 4th ODI, Port Elizabeth (d/n) December 1 Twenty20 International, Johannesburg 3 5th ODI, Johannesburg 7-10 Tour match, Potchefstroom 15-19 1st Test, Johannesburg 26-30 2nd Test, Durban January 2-6 3rd Test, Cape Town