Dravid, who helped to turn around the 2001 series at home against Australia with a match-winning partnership with Venkatsai Laxman, sees the series with Australian captain Steve Waugh's team as a great opportunity.

The 30-year-old and Laxman mounted a 376-run fifth-wicket stand to fight back in the second Test in Calcutta against the Australians, who until then had been dominant. Dravid's 180 and Laxman's 281 helped India to a famous victory against all expectations, subsequently spurring the home side on to a series win.

"We were really under the mat in the series until then. We'd been hammered by the Australians, by the press, hammered by everybody all round," Dravid recalled today at a Test match function in Brisbane on Tuesday.

"Just to come back from the situation we were in and have that special day was absolutely brilliant and set up the series for us from there on."

Despite India's poor away record, with just six wins from their last 67 Test matches on the road, Dravid said the squad was excited about the series in Australia, starting at Brisbane's Gabba on Thursday.

"The guys are very keen to come here and do well here, it's a great place to play cricket," he said.

"I view it as a great responsibility and a great opportunity because when we do well or when we succeed we have a chance to make so many millions of people happy.

"A lot of people have worries and problems in their lives and when the cricketers do well it gives them a reason to be happy.

"The guys understand and value the support and the love and affection that we get from our supporters and we're very keen to try and reward some of that love and affection."

When Dravid scores heavily his team does well: India has only lost once in the 15 matches in which he has scored a Test century.