I'm enjoying my new role: Dravid

Mumbai, June 17: India vice-captain Rahul Dravid here on Monday said he is improving with every match in his new role as wicket-keeper in One-Day internationals and that he is enjoying his job behind the stumps.

Speaking to reporters on the eve of the team's departure to England for an 83-day long tour to play a tri-series and four Tests, Dravid said it would be a real challenge for every player to do well in England.

Dravid spoke to the media in the absence of skipper Sourav Ganguly whose flight from Kolkata was delayed.

"Personally it is always special to play in England may be because of the people's interest in the game or the history or the culture. Every time I visit England I would like to give hundred per cent to the team," said Dravid.

"This time around we have three players other than me - Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble - who have played in the county championship which in turn could help the youngsters to share our experience and do well on the tour."

Asked his views on India's new ball bowlers, Dravid said: "They are young and inexperienced and that will give them a chance to stand up and say that I will take the challenge and lead the attack and get recognised to serve the country as a match-winner".

On the young batsmen in the side, the stylish right hander said: "We have Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Mongia, Wasim Jaffer, Mohammed Kaif, Yuvraj Singh and others who can make a major contribution on this tour if the experienced batsmen fail and I think it is good to mix youth with experience".

"England have a better experienced new ball attack and there lies the challenge for us to do well in both the triangular series, with Sri Lanka being the third team, and the Test series," Dravid said.

Speaking about the India's spin attack comprising Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh Dravid said: "they are world class spinners who have been bowling very well and the decision to play both or any one of them would rest with the team management after taking into account several factors like the pitch, weather conditions and so on".

Dravid was also happy with the tour schedule and said it was well chalked out.

"We have quite a few side games and every member of the touring party would get a chance to be in the middle and get a feel of it so when he is asked to do duty in a Test or a one-day match he will be ready to perform. The seniors too will get enough rest."

"I personally like to play the one-day matches first before the Test series and I am also happy with the four-Test series which gives the team losing the first or the second Test a chance to come back and make amends," Dravid said.

"Playing in summer is also a big plus point when you tour England, though conditions over there varies pretty quickly and with quite a few side games sprinkled between Test matches it would give us good practice to get back among runs or wickets," Dravid said.

When asked why Indians were not winning overseas, Dravid said "may be because we have not been playing good enough cricket".

The Indians would be playing their first match of the triangular series on June 29 against England at Lord's after Sri Lanka and England clash on June 27 with the final slated for July 13.

The four Test matches would be played at Lord's (July 25-29), Trent Bridge (August 8-12), Headingly (August 22-26) and AMP Oval (September 5-10) before the departure for home on September ten.