Kumble, Harbhajan sure for World Cup: Dravid
by Cricket Archive Staff Reporter
DateLine: 1st February 2007
Indian skipper Rahul Dravid on Tuesday virtually named Anil Kumble and
Harbhajan Singh as the two spinners certain to make the World Cup squad
and said off-spinner Ramesh Powar was competing for a spot with one of
the pace bowlers.
"It's good to see Anil Kumble back in action and his bowling together
with Harbhajan Singh is crucial in the World Cup," Dravid said on the
eve of India's fourth and final one-day international against the West
Indies. "In them we have got two world class spinners to take care of
even power play situations in the first 20 overs when most teams prefer
to use pace bowlers. It (Kumble and Harbhajan bowling in power play
situations) gives us an option, to play an extra batsman. It's an added
incentive, a bonus for us," the captain said.
However, Dravid said Powar was not ruled out for the World Cup, and the
Mumbai off-spinner was in fact fighting for a spot in the team with one
of the medium pacers and not the two senior spinners. "I am not ruling
out anyone and Ramesh has done a very good job in the series. He's not
competing for a place with two of the greatest slow bowlers, but with
one of the seamers," said Dravid. "It's not who makes it to the squad
which is important but how well the guys who are named in the squad
perform which is important," he pointed out. "We have come close to
choosing the squad of 15 from 17 or 18 players. We are pretty close to
where we want to be. We want players who can adapt to different
conditions and wickets and we are getting these kinds of players," said
Dravid.
