An England tour always helps in gaining experience. It is equally important, though, to have experience in the ranks to make a mark in the difficult seaming conditions. India will carry a host of newcomers, but skipper Rahul Dravid is banking on experience from the likes of Zaheer Khan to make the juniors’ jobs a little easier. On the eve of the team’s departure on the two-month long tour, Dravid singled out Zaheer as the bowler he would be depending most. Zaheer has been successful in the English County circuit. Last year, the left-arm bowler played a full season for Worcestershire and ended with 48 wickets, the club later announcing it as “performance par excellence.” Dravid wants Zaheer to use that experience of bowling in England and help his team, especially juniors when the Tests begin. “He has a big role to play, given the success he’s got there. He will also be the team’s senior-most bowler on tour so definitely there will be a lot of expectations from him,” says Dravid. Zaheer himself is hoping that he lives up to the expectations of his skipper. Given his hectic schedule and the long flight ahead, the bowler isn’t in a position to sit and look back at the entire season when he bowled his heart out for Worcestershire but Zaheer is hoping that he manages to retain that kind of rhythm and form. “I understand that I am the senior bowler and I also know what the team wants from me. I am looking forward to this tour,” says Zaheer. Apart from Zaheer, there’s S Sreesanth who experts feel will make the difference in India’s attack. “Sreesanth’s technique is perfect for English conditions. He definitely has the ability to make it move off the seam which, in England, can be really dangerous,” explains MRF coach T. A. Sekar.However, a bigger compliment comes from India’s bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad who says the bowler is naturally gifted and hopes he makes the best of it on this tour. “He and Zaheer will be among the main bowlers. Sree definitely has the ability to do well,” says Prasad.
