Now, Dravid's India to seek inspiration from Bazball: Shun fear, embrace risk

SHORTLY AFTER INDIA'S batting line-up combusted against a debutant spinner in Hyderabad, head coach Rahul Dravid spoke about the shots that would have worked on pitches like this on Day 4.

- VENKATA KRISHNA B

"I think using your feet to the left-hand spinner with these kinds of conditions is fraught with risk, you probably have to play a little bit more square the wicket. Having said that, that is a high risk shot as well," Dravid said. One risky shot to be avoided and another risky shot to be played? It's this kind of psychological-dawdle that has perhaps been a factor in Indian batting's iffy approach during the first Test. Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma allow their batsmen to formulate their own style and interestingly it is exactly what England coach Brendon McCullum advocates. But Bazball stands with the mental preparation for the aggressive brand of cricket and the hours spent honing the required skillsets in walking that risky path. Clarity, courage and skill; Indians often forget at least a couple of those traits in tough conditions in recent times.

Shortly after Dravid vacated the seat in the media room, England skipper Ben Stokes arrived with Ollie Pope. It was a study in contrast. On the way to 196, Pope revealed on this surface, he believed the reverse-sweep was as safe as a defensive shot. But there was something more striking. "We practise those shots enough and if you get out for none playing a reverse sweep you're not going to get a load of chat in the changing room about that. You can go and commit to it," he would say.