Hinting at the need for looking at an alternative tohim behind the stumps, Indian vice-captain Rahul Dravid today said the teammanagement should try a few youngsters who were shaping up well.
"There is a young crop of three wicket-keepers (inthe preparatory camp). If they do the job, you don't need an alternative,"Dravid told reporters at the preparatory camp for the upcoming New Zealandseries in Bangalore.
Dravid said in case the youngsters failed to deliver,it would be a good idea to ask some other player in the team to double up as awicketkeeper.
"If the youngsters don't (perform) you need analternative. And it need not be just me alone, it could be anybody (in the teamwho can don the role of a wicket keeper)," he said.
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The stylish middle-order batsman, fresh from a countystint with Scotland, said his role behind the stumps was up to the World Cup inSouth Africa. "It is up to the team management and the selectors to take adecision whether I should continue."
On whether he had set personal goals for himself duringthe coming season, Dravid said he would like to win India's away series inAustralia later this year. "Obviously, to win the series in Australia....that would be fantastic".
India are to host New Zealand for a two-Test series followed by a triangularseries with Australia as the third team. India will then tour Australia for afour-Test series.
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"I will just do the best I can and enjoy thegame," he said.
Dravid said his stint with the Scots, which had a bunchof amateurs, was a "good, unique and eye-opening experience." Scotlandwas disappointed it could not qualify for the 2003 World Cup, and the wholeidea was to help it make the grade, Dravid said while hinting he might play forthem sometime in the future.
While he was a "little bit" disappointed thathis contribution did not help Scotland much, he said one needed to be realisticand in fact, the side's performance was "creditable".
Dravid said by and large the last season was a good onefor India. After a good England tour, there were "ups and downs" inWest Indies and the team had a "tough time" in New Zealand. In theend, the team did well till the final in the World Cup, he said adding that somereal "good talent also came through."
Dravid welcomed the BCCI's move to arrange lectures byprominent personalities for the probables during the course of the camp sayingit would really be useful. Media mogul Prannoy Roy's lecture yesterday was"brilliant," he remarked.
PTI
