Dravid hopes to end island jinx

Rahul Dravid: 'We've played some very good cricket since we were here last' © Cricinfo Ltd

Despite India's failure to win a final in Sri Lanka since 1998, Rahul Dravid was quietly confident that his team could manage a reversal of fortune in the three-nation Unitech Cup, which starts on Monday with a match between South Africa and Sri Lanka. Mahela Jayawardene, in charge of the hosts with Marvan Atapattu still on the mend after surgery, and Mark Boucher, leading South Africa in the absence of Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis, also talked up their teams' chances at a press conference organised two days before the first ball is bowled at the Premadasa Stadium.

Dravid, who was then standing in for Sourav Ganguly, couldn't manage a win in three outings in the corresponding series in Sri Lanka last year, but he insisted that the team had moved on - as evidenced by the 6-1 trouncing of Sri Lanka and a 4-1 demolition of Pakistan later in the season. "We've played some very good cricket since we were here last," he said. "I think the loss in the West Indies [1-4] is the only one we've suffered since then. We're well prepared and we've come from a good camp."

He was also sure that Sachin Tendulkar's return to the fold, after several months out following shoulder surgery, would further strengthen India's options. "He adds a lot to the team, and not just on the field," he said. "His presence alone makes a difference, and he's very keen to play."

He laughed off talk of a finals jinx in Colombo, and remarked that there were no plans in place for a summit clash. "First we have to play some good cricket, and get to the final," he said with a grin, even as Jayawardene and Boucher looked on with smiles of their own.

South Africa have had injury concerns in recent days, but Mickey Arthur, the coach, announced that only Makhaya Ntini - "He's 50-50 for Monday" - was an uncertain starter for the opening game. Both Shaun Pollock and Boucher had overcome little niggles, but Arthur reckoned that his team faced a daunting task against two strong opponents.

"We battled quite hard through the Tests against Sri Lanka," he said. "We'd come straight off our off season, and were up against a Sri Lankan team playing some excellent cricket.

"It's a huge challenge. We're missing four regulars, with Smith, Kallis, [Charl] Langeveldt and Justin [Kemp] out injured. It's a chance for our fringe players to stick their hands up in what will essentially be a one-day [cricket] year, first with the Champions Trophy and then the World Cup.

Boucher was a jocular mood when asked about the prospect of leading the team. "I've got no choice, have I?" he said with a smirk. "It's not often that you get a captain [Smith] and a vice-captain [Kallis] both injured. They'll probably be sitting at home with a couple of beers, watching us. But I've stepped in before, it's nothing new for me. There are other senior guys too. Polly [Pollock] has captained before."

Jayawardene, in resplendent batting form and leading the side with tremendous poise and confidence, was guarded when asked about Atapattu's return, saying that there was no question of rushing him back. "He's had a big operation and recovered well. He's been doing rehab and done some batting and fielding. But we don't want to rush him. He's a big part of our one-day team."

Tom Moody, the coach, professed himself satisfied with the progress over the past year, saying: "We've grown as a side. We've prepared like we have over the past 12 months. But these are two very tough teams we're up against and it'll be a tough contest." Greg Chappell, whose stint in charge of India started at around the same time, expressed similar feelings, though he added: "We're a stronger team now than we were at this time last year. We're putting the finishing touches to our best team."

Whether India's best will be good enough, against a South African side ranked second to Australia and a Sri Lankan team in white-hot form, remains to be seen. Initially though, all eyes - captains', coaches' and a huge media contingent - will be monitoring the heavens. Not for any divine signal, but just in the hope that the heavy monsoon rains that continue to lash Colombo periodically don't play spoilsport.