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India-Australia-West Indies Tri-Series>
Dravid should call the shots: Shastri
25th Sept 2006  14.01 IST
By Agencies  


Indian skipper Rahul Dravid has come under flak from former all-rounder Ravi Shastri who said it was time he asserted himself and called the shots instead of coach Greg Chappell.

"It's time Dravid exerted himself and told Chappell that in future he will call the shots," Shastri said in the wake of India's debacle in the tri-series in Malaysia.

"A coach must only help the captain but the final decision must rest with Dravid. He should decide who should bat at No. 3 and not the coach," he was quoted as saying by the 'Gulf News' on Sunday.

The cricketer-turned-commentator said Dravid should be allowed to field an eleven of his choice.

"Dravid should stand up and say that he is the boss and that he controls matters once he crosses the boundary line. He should get an eleven of his choice," he said.

Shastri also slammed Chappell's experiments with the batting orders of Virender Shewag and Dravid which, he believed put paid to India's chances in the tri-series.

"It's time Chappell stopped his experiments with the team. I cannot understand how he could send Virender Sehwag at No. 4. I will always prefer Sehwag as an opener. If he gets going even three out of ten times, it would bring victory to the team," he said.

He said Chappell's decision to make Dravid open was shocking.

"To ask Dravid, known as the world's finest middle order batsman, to open the innings, is a big blunder. One must have a solid batsman like Dravid coming in at No. 4."

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