We can definitely play spinners lot better than we have: India ‘A’ coach Rahul Dravid

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Dravid said the execution was poor on the field but his boys are motivated and would look to grab this great opportunity to impress the selectors with a better performance in the next games.

“All these guys are youngsters and they are all trying to really impress the selectors and make a mark for themselves. I am sure they will be keen in each and every game that they play,” he said.

“It is a great opportunity. It is a great opportunity to learn. It is a great opportunity to impress and so they do not feel that the issue is with motivation. That is not the problem. The problem today was just the execution, which was poor with the ball and bat.”

India ‘A’ players didn’t play spin well in the Test series and in this game, and Dravid said his boys can play spinners a lot better but they failed to execute their plans on Friday.

“It is an area that we need to definitely consider. You will remember the way Moeen Ali and others bowled in Test match. Here, we were chasing a big total. The leg-spinner Adam Zampa is always going to take chances for wicket. When you are chasing 334 you have to take a lot of risks,” he said.

“I think we can definitely play spinners lot better than we have. Honestly, they played spin better than we have in the Test matches and even in this one-day game today. Something we speak about and spoken about and something we practised as well. Just a question of being able to execute it in the game.”

It was the 239-run opening partnership between Joe Burns (154) and Usman Khawaja (100) in 35.5 overs that helped Australia ‘A’ post a mammoth 334 for 4.

Talking about Burns’ innings, Dravid said: “Of course, he played well hitting 14 sixes. It is incredible hitting and very good hitting against spin. You know he took his chances with shots and it came off for him today. They got a very good partnership.

“Both Burns and Khawaja played (well) up front and set a good pace. It is a kind of wicket where if you have two set batsmen, it is important for them to carry on. It is not easy for new batsmen to come in and get going straight away.

“It was a slow wicket and one big partnership and it was big for them but unfortunately for us we could not get a big partnership at all and then it is hard to chase a big total like this,” he said.

Dravid said selectors are always looking for players who can adjust to different formats of the game quickly and perform.

“T20 is actually a different format of the game. Bowling in T20 games, where a spinner is bowling and the batsmen is attacking everytime and people are chasing 9 and 10 runs an over, is lot different than bowling in conditions like this,” Dravid said.

“It is a different game when you have to learn how to adjust. Good spinners or bowlers and the batsmen are the people who are able to adjust between those formats. I think that is what exactly the selectors want to see.

“One of the things that the selectors constantly want to see is that who are the performers, in say, the IPL or domestic season who are able to step up to the next level when the standard is a little bit higher.

“I think that is what they are trying to see. But it is different. You cannot necessary get carried away with success in the IPL as you have to come and perform in domestic cricket and in A series like this and bigger games. That is true test of your consistency,” he added.

Asked if it is a challenge to strike a balance between giving chances to youngsters and ensuring that the best playing XI turns up on the field, Dravid said it is not a difficult thing.

“You have to realise what these tours are about and what its purpose is. I guess at various stages it is different thing. In my opinion A to Z it is giving people opportunities to show their abilities at the next level,” Dravid said.

“It is a place where you can experiment a little bit. We can take a few risks. The whole idea is also to give people chances. Every player who has come here is selected based on performances.

“At the end of the series you do not give them a chance to play and they had to wait a whole year and again perform all the time in the next season to get a chance is hard. We are trying to win each and every game. And, also strike the balance to see whether everyone a place in the squad for a game or two at least.”