He loves to bat at No. 3, averages 61.42 there and has scored 17 of his 22 Test centuries in that position, but Rahul Dravid will “most likely” continue at No. 4 through this series. Why? “With Sachin Tendulkar not around, I thought I’d bat a little down in the middle order and give Laxman the chance to bat in the position he is very comfortable at and has had a lot of success,” said Dravid. Even if he hasn’t shone in this series so far, Laxman’s 281 against Australia in 2001 remains one of the most famous knocks ever by an Indian in that position. And, that’s a position — he averages 43.73 there — the Hyderabad stylist has been craving for. But there’s another reason why the thinktank wants Dravid to stay at No. 4. “It puts me in the middle of some other strokemakers, as well. It brings a bit of stability because after me, there’s a bit of inexperience in Yuvraj and Kaif,” said Dravid. PEDRO GETS DHONI WARNING When left-arm pacer Pedro Collins met his injured half-brother Fidel Edwards at the airport, he got this message — watch out for Dhoni. “He told me about watching the line and stuff because they have got some dangerous batsmen like Dhoni. I wish Fidel was here, it is always good to have him around,” said Collins, who has replaced Edwards in the West Indies attack. Four steps away from the 100-wicket mark, the 29-year-old Collins is back from a stress fracture in the lower back and hopes to pick up from India’s 2002 visit, when he took nine wickets in three Tests, scalping Sachin Tendulkar thrice, Wasim Jaffer twice and VVS Laxman once. “I have played a couple of first class matches in Barbados, picked up a couple of wickets. I have kept training to keep myself in shape just in case I got a call-up,” said Collins, adding, “Pace, control, line and length, that’s what I am good at.”
