'India Has The Makings Of A Good One-Day Side'

I feel India has the attributes of making agood one-day side in coming days.

I distinctly carry this impression after losing 1-2 to them in the one-day series.

They have batters who can bowl and they can also bat fairly deep. They are also apretty decent fielding side. All credit to the Indians. I think they played better one-daycricket than us in the five-match series.

As I mentioned earlier, with Rahul Dravid batting and keeping, it is a big asset forthe Indian side. Having a batsman as good as Dravid who can also keep is a huge bonus. Ifwe were in the same situation and had somebody like Dravid who can bat and keep as well ashe has done, we certainly would be doing it.

I know sometimes your younger players give the impression of being jittery but then it isonly natural. They would mature. We have got seven one-day games against you guys inIndia. You guys are going to be there in the mini world cup in Sri Lanka. Then there isthis triangular series in England next month.

I also have learnt that Srinath has retired from Test cricket but he wants to be a partof one-day set up. So if he is back I am sure he would guide the younger players throughthe World Cup. I think you would do well.

I have also heard comments from Indian quarters asking if Dravid and Mohammad Kaif, whoare not exactly free-stroking birds, should be coming low down the order.

Well, if you have somebody like Sourav Ganguly at the top and playing the way he does,there would be days when he would step out and nick it to the wicketkeeper. The good thingabout one-day batting is if they are going to get themselves into trouble early, they havegot somebody to bat later so they could post something respectable on the board.

I will give the example of my team. If we were to lose openers Chris Gayle and WavellHinds and Ramnaresh Sarwan, early, we have got to rethink because we have a longish tailand have to bat for 50 overs. Then you would not like to take as much risk when part timebowlers come on. So that's a problem. That's why I think it is so important to haveplayers who can bat well enough at this level and also bowl a bit. Because it gives you anadded depth not only in your batting but also in bowling.

I would also like to offer words of encouragement to Harbhajan Singh. If he has hadmodest success in the West Indies, I wouldn't be critical of him at all. You have got tounderstand Harbhajan is a young man. He first came into news against the Australians.Playing at home and obviously getting a bagful of wickets got him the recognition. Sincethen he has toured South Africa for the first time as well as come to the Caribbean forthe first time.

I am sure when Harbhajan comes in here again, he would know exactly how he needs tobowl here to be much more successful. I am sufficiently impressed by him. I think he is afighter. I think he is a great find for Indian cricket.

I would also say we enjoyed a great relationship with the Indians. I watched the Indianand Australian series and the feeling on the ground was very, very tense. They weregetting into each other's face.

But I had a good relationship with Ganguly. When we won the game, the Indian playerscongratulated us as it should be. And when they won, we have gone into the dressing roomand said complimentary things.

I have enjoyed the series and I think they have too. At the end of the day we reallywanted to win the one-day series. But if I had a choice, I would have liked to win theTest series more than the one-day one.