India's away form encourages Dravid

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NOTTINGHAM, Aug 2 (AFP): Rahul Dravid believes India are starting to shake off their tag as poor travellers after they went 1-0 up in a three-Test series against England here at Trent Bridge.
India's comprehensive seven-wicket win left them on the brink of only their third series victory in England since they first toured the country in 1932, with just the third Test at The Oval starting on August 9 to come.
Since the turn of the century they have enjoyed success on their travels, including a victory against world number one Australia.
But where they have struggled is in stringing away wins together. For example, an impressive victory against Australia at Adelaide in 2003 was followed by defeat in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne.
And earlier this year in South Africa, India blew another 1-0 lead with a win at the Wanderers the prelude to defeats in both Durban and Cape Town. "We've not won many games here in England or abroad so this is something to cherish," said India captain Dravid, whose side required just 73 for victory at Trent Bridge after a superb bowling display from Zaheer Khan saw the left-arm quick return Test-best match figures of nine wickets for 134 runs.
The performance of Khan, who also bowled well in the series opener at Lord's where India clung on for a draw with one wicket standing before bad weather ended the match, evoked comparisons with now retired Pakistan left-arm quick great Wasim Akram such was the Indian's ability to swing the ball both ways.
Dravid, while praising Khan's display, said the efforts of India's other left-arm seamer, Rudra Pratap Singh, should not be ignored.
"Zaheer was the star of our bowling. He showed what a leading bowler must do. He was well-supported by RP Singh. I think his critical wickets in both innings made a big impact."
Dravid also highlighted on Tuesday the role of India's unheralded opening batsmen, Dinesh Karthik and Wasim Jaffer, who put on 147 after a Khan-inspired attack bowled England out for 198.
"They set up the game for the middle-order." Spin bowlers have tended to prosper at The Oval in recent years, which could see India leg- break bowler Anil Kumble come to the fore at the south London venue where the Test pitch has a reputation as a good cricket wicket.
"I've always felt we've done well when we've had the opportunity to take 20 wickets," Dravid said. "All it needs then is one good batting performance from us and we set up the game."
England captain Michael Vaughan, now facing up to what would be his side's first defeat in 12 home Test series since they lost the 2001 Ashes, said the opening day at Trent Bridge had been pivotal.
"We could have shown more skill and application to maybe get to 250-260 but it was very tough batting conditions on that first day. All credit though to the way India bowled in both innings."
But while Vaughan was making a stylish second innings 124, the only individual century of a match where India's top score was Sachin Tendulkar's 91, England had hopes of subjecting their opponents to the same pressure they suffered at Trent Bridge two years ago.
Back then, England's top-order collapsed before they secured the 129 they needed to beat Australia for a three-wicket win that gave them an ultimately decisive 2-1 Ashes series lead.
"That game was in the back of my mind as I knew how hard it was chasing 120," added Vaughan, out in unlucky fashion when a Khan delivery bounced off his thigh pad before trickling onto the stumps.
An otherwise engrossing series has been marred by several unsavoury clashes, with players on both sides involved.