Dravid: 'No secret formula' for batting
Rahul Dravid's classy century, and his partnership with VVS Laxman, ensured that India took most of the honours on the first day of the Ahmedabad Test
Wisden Cricinfo staff
08-Oct-2003
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Styris grabs the key wicket of Tendulkar © AFP |
Rahul Dravid's classy century, and his partnership with VVS Laxman, ensured that India took most of the honours on the first day of the Ahmedabad Test. For New Zealand, the highlight of the day was the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar, who was nailed by Scott Styris for only 8. Here is what Dravid and Styris had to say after the first day's play:
Rahul Dravid
On the situation when Tendulkar got out
At 113 for 3, there was a little bit of pressure. The game was still in the balance. New Zealand were bowling well, and we needed a partnership, which we got.
At 113 for 3, there was a little bit of pressure. The game was still in the balance. New Zealand were bowling well, and we needed a partnership, which we got.
On the pitch
The wicket is a bit slow, but it looks like it is going to last all five days. I'm usually not very good at reading pitches, but I hope this one starts turning from the third or fourth day.
The wicket is a bit slow, but it looks like it is going to last all five days. I'm usually not very good at reading pitches, but I hope this one starts turning from the third or fourth day.
On Akash Chopra
I thought Akash played well, considering it was his first Test match. He saw off the new ball well, which is what we needed.
I thought Akash played well, considering it was his first Test match. He saw off the new ball well, which is what we needed.
On his partnership with VVS Laxman
Laxman and I have batted together right from junior-level cricket, so there is really no secret formula to us batting well together. We know each other's game, and know how to keep each other going. If my concentration is flagging, Laxman knows how to get it up again, and vice versa.
Laxman and I have batted together right from junior-level cricket, so there is really no secret formula to us batting well together. We know each other's game, and know how to keep each other going. If my concentration is flagging, Laxman knows how to get it up again, and vice versa.
On his innings
I thought I played well, and it's always good to do well against New Zealand. They are a good outfit, and they are well prepared and well planned. Looking at some of their field placings today, it was obvious that they had come well researched. So it is nice to do well against that sort of opposition.
I thought I played well, and it's always good to do well against New Zealand. They are a good outfit, and they are well prepared and well planned. Looking at some of their field placings today, it was obvious that they had come well researched. So it is nice to do well against that sort of opposition.
On why Laxman came out before Sourav Ganguly
I don't know, actually. It wasn't something we had discussed before, so I was as surprised as anybody to see Laxman come out to bat.
I don't know, actually. It wasn't something we had discussed before, so I was as surprised as anybody to see Laxman come out to bat.
On India's strategy for the remainder of the game
The first session tomorrow will be crucial, and we basically have to try and bat once, bat big. Then we can concentrate on bowling them out twice.
The first session tomorrow will be crucial, and we basically have to try and bat once, bat big. Then we can concentrate on bowling them out twice.
Scott Styris
On New Zealand's performance
It was pretty warm out there, so I think the boys stuck to the task pretty well. It was our first full day of fielding after a long time, and naturally it all fell away a little towards the end. Our fielding isn't usually a problem, it's just early in the season after a bit of a break. But I thought we did reasonably and we can be pleased with our bowling.
It was pretty warm out there, so I think the boys stuck to the task pretty well. It was our first full day of fielding after a long time, and naturally it all fell away a little towards the end. Our fielding isn't usually a problem, it's just early in the season after a bit of a break. But I thought we did reasonably and we can be pleased with our bowling.
On getting Tendulkar's wicket
Well, obviously I was pleased, especially to get him in India. It is one thing to do it in New Zealand, but another to do it in his own country, where he is a prized scalp. If you get Sachin Tendulkar for 8 any day of the week, it's getting him out cheaply. We were a bit astounded, frankly, to get him like that. With somebody like him, you basically have to be precise. He didn't score quickly, and we were very patient. I suppose it worked today, because we got him cheaply.
Well, obviously I was pleased, especially to get him in India. It is one thing to do it in New Zealand, but another to do it in his own country, where he is a prized scalp. If you get Sachin Tendulkar for 8 any day of the week, it's getting him out cheaply. We were a bit astounded, frankly, to get him like that. With somebody like him, you basically have to be precise. He didn't score quickly, and we were very patient. I suppose it worked today, because we got him cheaply.
On the pitch:
It is starting to break up a bit now, but it is a good wicket still. I think the Indian run rate today was a bit slow, but that was only because the fast bowlers and [Daniel] Vettori bowled very tidily and well. If we had gotten one more wicket towards the end, it would have been our day.
It is starting to break up a bit now, but it is a good wicket still. I think the Indian run rate today was a bit slow, but that was only because the fast bowlers and [Daniel] Vettori bowled very tidily and well. If we had gotten one more wicket towards the end, it would have been our day.
On Rahul Dravid's innings
He's just such a solid player, and especially in conditions that favour batting, he is very difficult to get. It was a fantastic innings. His wicket is almost as prized in the New Zealand camp as Sachin Tendulkar's, and he's very highly respected by us.
He's just such a solid player, and especially in conditions that favour batting, he is very difficult to get. It was a fantastic innings. His wicket is almost as prized in the New Zealand camp as Sachin Tendulkar's, and he's very highly respected by us.