Time for us to bounce back: Dravid

Indian captain Rahul Dravid issued a rallying cry to his team on the eve of the deciding third test against South Africa.

''It's time for us to bounce back,'' Dravid told a news conference.

''We've shown throughout the series at various times that we can do well against South Africa so now we must put all the plans in place and perform when the situation demands it.'' India won the first test by 123 runs in Johannesburg before South Africa leveled the series by winning the second test by 174 runs in Durban.

The Indians' win was their first in a test in South Africa and another in Cape Town would seal their first series victory in the country.

India have been well served by their competent battery of pace bowlers, an option they have not enjoyed on previous tours.

''Our best chance is on pitches which give our seamers the best chance of taking 20 wickets as quickly as possible,'' Dravid said yesterday.

''It means the batsmen have to grit it out and score between 250 and 300 runs, then we'll have a great chance.

''We have to bat four sessions and that's probably the biggest goal which we have failed to achieve.'' Both teams' top orders have struggled in the series. Indian opener Virender Sehwag has scored 45 runs in four innings, while South Africa demoted under-performing opener Herschelle Gibbs to number four in the second test.

''Runs at the top of the order and a good, solid start is going to help us to achieve our goal of batting for four sessions,'' Dravid said.

''So, we might look at the top order. But no final decision has yet been made.

''If the situation demanded it then I wouldn't be wary of making any dramatic changes if it meant that it would strengthen my team.

''But there are various factors that you have to bear in mind -- the fact that it is the deciding match in the series and the fact that it could well be a different sort of wicket to those in the first two tests.''

DHONI INJURED

India face a decision on wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni, who went into the second test with a bruised finger and took another blow on his left hand while batting.

''I'd like Dhoni to have a net and we'll see how he pulls up with both his batting and his 'keeping,'' Dravid said.

The visitors must also decide whether to add off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to leg-spinner Anil Kumble.

''Harbhajan is a quality spinner and, to be honest, whenever you have two quality spinners in your squad you would like to use them both,'' Dravid said.

''But the opposition knows you have two quality spinners and they very rarely give you the conditions to play them both, certainly not outside our own country.'' Dravid confirmed that fast bowler Munaf Patel, who has been out of action since injuring his ankle in the second one-day international, had returned to full fitness.

South African captain Graeme Smith said his team were concentrating on finishing what they had started by winning the second test.

''Our focus is on ourselves and what we are doing after the win in Durban,'' Smith told a news conference.

''We have to get our feet back on the ground, mentally more than technically.

''There was a lot of emotion in the win, especially after the week we had in the build-up to the second test. We need to make sure we are fully prepared for the decider.'' Smith said South Africa had had the better of the series, despite the 1-1 scoreline.

''We've had one bad game against India in the whole summer,'' he said.