Dravid rubbishes reports of rift

Batsman insists relationship between Dhoni, Sehwag normal.

PERTH: India batsman Rahul Dravid has dismissed claims of a rift in the team’s camp ahead of the third Test against Australia that starts tomorrow in Perth.

Reports in the Australian media, fuelled by India’s limp performances in the first two Tests, have suggested there are growing tensions between captain MS Dhoni and opener Virender Sehwag, who has scored just 108 runs as the tourists slid to a 2-0 deficit in the series.

“When you are 2-0 down, this is what happens,” said Dravid. “Nothing seems right but there is no truth to these reports. There is a sense of disappointment with the results so far – we would certainly like to do better – but the spirit of the team has been excellent.”

Dravid said India were determined to ensure the series was not a repeat of their previous overseas tour, which saw them suffer a 4-0 whitewash at the hands of England.

Ponting wants India to embrace DRS

Meanwhile, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has urged India to embrace the Decision Review System (DRS) and has said he was disappointed that the system was not being used for all Test series.

“As international players, one thing you strive for is uniformity around the world and right now we haven’t got that,” he said. “We played one series against South Africa where you’re using a certain system and then a couple of weeks later you’re not using it.

“When it first came in, I thought it was going to be used in every series and it hasn’t turned out that way. The system is not always perfect, but the bottom line is we are getting more correct decisions as a result of using the DRS.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2012.