“Rahul Dravid, I believe, happens to be our best close-in fielder. Fielding has a lot to do with experience. A younger guy may not be able to judge the bounce coming off Anil’s bowling. Rahul, VVS and Sachin have all played for a long time with him. Rahul have also played with him in south zone matches, so there’s a lot more familiarity which is important,” said Robin.

Dravid too admitted that being in slips for Kumble was great challenge. “The ball comes pretty quickly, sometimes it sticks, sometimes not. It’s a great challenge and I love these little challenges and who doesn’t want his name to be added to a record?” Dravid asked with a smile? The former Indian skipper has held 54 catches to Kumble.

Robin said it was good to have senior players around the bat, to put pressure on the batsman. “These guys definitely have some impact. Take even Australia for instance. Ricky Ponting stands sometimes at silly point¿he need not do that. At times, its only for the effect. Guys like Sourav Ganguly and VVS have put their hands up and said they are willing to field close-in. It’s difficult for one guy here in Australia to field whole day in any position especially to a bowler like Anil Kumble. To stand at short leg, when he is bowling, in Australian conditions where there is a lot of bounce is not easy,” he said.

With India axing all the seniors from the one-day unit due to poor fielding abilities, Robin felt it was a close call —- missing experience in batting and being brilliant in field. “You can look at it both ways. You need batting experience in Australia, given the conditions. They are professional players who know what is required under Australian conditions. But, if you think of youngsters, it is about how you want to go ahead with the younger guys. There is no doubt that they are better fielders, so in that sense my job is made easier.”

... contd.