I146;m getting my timing back: Dravid

Sourav Ganguly was roaming the marketplace with Dona and Sana, VVS Laxman...

Sourav Ganguly was roaming the marketplace with Dona and Sana, VVS Laxman was nursing the blisters on his foot, Anil Kumble opted for an hour behind the lens to click his boys in match-play mode, while Sachin Tendulkar earned a lot of applause for doing drinks duties, and even greater applause for patiently signing autographs 8212; all except a request that needed his signature on a pair of shoes.

Missing from the relaxed sidelines was one veteran. Rahul Dravid was wearing down the thick coat of sun block on his face with sweat and runs in the middle. Dravid was always keen to play this match, wanting to bring to light the confidence that he has been sensing within, but not being able to showcase it with his bat.

8220;I am in a relaxed frame of mind, irrespective of what other people might think, or whatever impression I may have given, and irrespective of all what have been happening around in the past few days. I was keen to play in any case,8221; he says.

8220;I have just been spending some time in the middle. I was feeling that my timing was not as good as I would have liked it to be, but now I feel it8217;s slowly coming on. I8217;ll keep working at it, keep on fighting with the bat8230; I was happy with my second innings in Sydney.8221;

Dravid is essentially a team man. Despite his seniority, and with the stability he8217;s provided despite his batting slot being the most unstable, he remains conscious of the team8217;s demands.

This time he8217;s been slotted in as an opener, but Dravid has no qualms about it, despite the fact that he hasn8217;t been very convincing at it yet, given his own exacting standards.

8220;You know that you have to see off the new ball, because you have a great middle-order in place. I recognise what my role would be. The way Laxman was batting in the Sydney Test, it took a lot of pressure off me no doubt, but sometimes it gets difficult when you have Laxman at the other end batting so beautifully. But I do realise that someday the role will reverse, and I will have my time when things are going for me,8221; he says candidly about his long tenure at the crease and little in terms of runs scored.

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8220;Lot of balls you should have hit for fours, you hit straight to the fielders. And when you have played a lot of balls, you start to think that 8216;had I converted four or five of them into boundaries, instead of the score being 35 or 50, it8217;s suddenly 55 or 708217;. It8217;s not about blocking the number of balls but piercing the gap and finding the boundaries. Just four or five times in 100 balls and your score can look different. That can happen sometimes. Hopefully I will keep on practising and look better,8221; he says.

Having gone through several phases in his long career, Dravid is perhaps the best hand to guide Yuvraj through his bad phase. 8220;I don8217;t think it bad phase should play on his mind. He8217;s here because a couple of matches before he got a hundred, and that8217;s what he8217;s got to look at. He has to look at the success, at the one-day, and see them as positives and not worry about a few bad scores on this tour. Trusting yourself and remaining positive is very important.8221;

Dravid also has a few words for people lining up to a recall into the playing XI. 8220;Viru is looked good. He looked like middling the ball. He looked in good touch. He8217;s another who hasn8217;t had a hit for long in terms of match batting. He8217;s been working hard in the nets and so hopefully he gets another chance to score and make people take notice,8221; he says. The Wall is back, and stronger than ever.