Wadekar praises Dravid for shouldering responsibility

Mumbai, July 3 (UNI) Former India captain Ajit Wadekar today praised Rahul Dravid for leading from the front and marshalling a raw pace attack to re-write a 35-year-old history by winning the Test series against the West Indies.

Dravid made valuable contributions with knocks of 81 and 68 on an unpredictable and bowler-friendly Sabina Park pitch to help India clinch a rare series victory outside the sub-continent beating West Indies in the final Test in Jamaica to win the four Test-match series 1-0.

''He took on the responsibilty as a captain should and pushed the boys to give off their best,'' Wadekar said.

Wadekar, who was the last Indian captain to have won a series in West Indies way back in 1971, also praised other Team India members especially spinners Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble.

He said by playing Harbhajan and Kumble together, the team management finally got it right and they proved to be the main weapons.

The former India captain, however, put the victory in perspective against a West Indies side who have struggled in the last few years and barely staved off defeat in the first two of the three drawn Tests.

''Looking at the opposition we should have won one or two more Tests,'' he said. "We looked like a team in this Test and played as a unit,'' he added.

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