Youngsters dont have the drive for Test cricket: Dravid

Young players lack the all-consuming desperation to do well in Test cricket because they have other options,said former India captain Rahul Dravid. He said teenage cricketers made all the right noises when they talked about Test cricket being the pinnacle of the game but added that they dont have the fierce passion of their seniors who would do whatever it takes to do well in this format. I think they say the right thing. They talk the talk,theres no doubt about it. But there is no all-consuming desperation for them like it was for myself or cricketers of my generation to do well in Test cricket, said Dravid.

First-class and Test cricket were the only cricket we had. Today there are more opportunities, he said. According to Dravid,things would get only worse if Test cricket was not restored to its top position. Im not even worried about the (Suresh) Rainas and the Rohit Sharmas today; theyve grown up in an era when Test cricket was important. But I wonder what a 14-15-16-year old today is thinking. I wonder whats going to happen five years ahead and thats why its important to play more Test matches, Dravid explained.

Dravid said BCCI should have a set domestic calendar covering a six or seven-month period,during which India would play their international home matches,including a larger number of Tests. Everyone around the world needs to recognise that Test cricket needs to thrive in India. Everyone knows now that it is important Test cricket succeeds in India for it to succeed worldwide as well, he said.