Dravid keen to end the West Indies drought

You'd trust Rahul Dravid to keep an eye on the future; yet you'd know the importance he attaches to history. A full tour of the Caribbean, with the World Cup less than one year away, provided him a chance for a reconnaissance mission; yet Dravid was dead keen on India ending 35 years of hurt. A few hours before embarking on the trip, Dravid made it clear that India were focussing on the current series in hand, with merely an eye on World Cup preparations.

"We're not thinking about the World Cup," Dravid stated emphatically in the pre-series press conference at the Taj Lands End in Mumbai. "We are looking to win this series and if we learn a few things along the way that can help us in the World Cup, well and good. We are keen to improve both as a Test and one-day side and it's important we keep our focus."

In Dravid's previous two Test series there, in 1997 and 2002, India stumbled with the finish line in sight. Seven years back, they were done in by one bad session - collapsing for 81 while chasing 120 at Barbados - while four years ago they surrendered the series after going one up. Dravid termed those "great learning experiences" and wished the current side could make amends. "I can't single out one reason for not being able to win there but West Indies are a very tough side to beat at home. The conditions are tricky and they play well in front of their crowds. Only Australia have managed to beat them consistently."

Planning is one thing Dravid is usually not short on and it was quite clear that he had diligently completed his homework. "I was speaking to Andy Atkinson [the pitch expert] in Abu Dhabi and he spoke about West Indian pitches being recently re-laid." Had he analysed the opposition? "The current West Indian fast bowlers might not have big reputations but there are some talented boys there. They can be nippy and sharp; it's a great opportunity for them."

Will it be third time lucky for Rahul Dravid in the West Indies? © AFP

Any apprehensions about the facilities in smaller grounds? "I spoke to a few Pakistan players at Abu Dhabi and they said the new centres had excellent facilities." And the player-fatigue factor? "We have a seven-day break between the second and third Tests. We'd requested for it. Australia had a similar break when they toured India recently and it worked for them. It's important we get breaks to stay consistent over a long tour."

Sitting next to Dravid was someone who had toured West Indies twice - once for a Test series, another time for a Packer series - and experienced some serious challenges. On May 20, when India play their second one-dayer at Jamaica, Greg Chappell will complete exactly a year as India's coach. In that period, he had heralded a one-day renaissance but did it bother him that India were regularly stuttering as a Test side? "Test cricket is far more difficult than one-day cricket," he said. "One must remember that two teams that have dominated cricket in the last 30 years - West Indies and Australia - became good one-day sides before becoming good Test sides. One-day success will give us confidence and an understanding of how to win. The basics are the same. We hope to produce the results soon."

Comparing the current opposition to the ones Chappell faced when he toured the Caribbean is probably like pitting a heavyweight boxer against a stick doll. But Dravid will know the perils of underestimation, especially with a certain Brian Lara having a point or two to prove.