‘Mr Dependable’ Dravid back in ODI team after 2 yrs

Dravid is not new to comebacks. While the 38-year-old played the last of his ODIs as a regular in the side in October 2007,he had to carry his coloured kit to Sri Lanka for a tri-series in 2009,and also travelled with the side to South Africa for the Champions Trophy later that year.

With the youngsters in the side struggling against the short ball,old hand Dravid was seen as a quick-fix solution. Although he scored a 76 against Pakistan in Centurion,Dravid was once again dropped following the event,as the selectors — with an eye on the World Cup — reverted to their youngsters policy.

This time,thanks to the string of poor performances during the first two Tests,and injuries to key players such as Yuvraj Singh,Dravid will once again return after a two-year hiatus,in the hope of overturning India’s losing battle against the English fast bowlers. Having scored two centuries in the first two Tests — he has been India’s standout performer — Srikkanth is using his form as the perfect reason for his selection.

“We have selected the team on basis of the conditions in England. We have selected the team after a lot of deliberation and I am sure we have picked a very good side,” Srikkanth said.

The selection committee decided to fall back on Dravid’s experience to counter arguably the world’s best bowling attack in English conditions. So,Dravid,who has 10,765 runs in 339 ODIs,is back to doing what he does best — saving the team when in need.