India may be without a coach but as far as captain Rahul Dravid is concerned that is not a major handicap as they prepare for a lengthy tour of England.

India won their first one-day series outside the sub-continent since 2002 when a six-wicket victory against South Africa at Stormont here Sunday sealed a 2-1 come-from-behind success.

It was a fine opening to a campaign that later this month sees the start of a tour of England, featuring three Tests and seven one-day internationals (ODIs), which runs

until Septembers.

India have been without a coach since Greg Chappell, the former Australia captain and one of cricket's greatest batsmen, decided against seeking an extension to his contract after the team's shock first round World Cup exit in the Caribbean in March.

They then saw former South Africa coach Graham Ford, now in charge of English county Kent, turn down the opportunity to fill the vacancy.

So India decided to come to England minus a figure now considered indispensable to most leading international sides.

Instead they opted for a set-up where former Test batsman Chandu Borde, 73 later this month,

was appointed team manager.

Meanwhile ex-internationals Venkatesh Prasad (bowling coach) and Robin Singh (fielding coach) were brought in to assist Borde.

India boast some of the most experienced batsmen currently in world cricket in Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar - who made back-to-back 90s in the first two games of the South Africa series - and Sourav Ganguly.

Dravid, speaking ahead of Tuesday's lone one-day international against Pakistan in Glasgow, said senior players could act as mentors to their junior colleagues and so compensate for the absence of a head coach.

"I've had to take a little more responsibility in certain areas," said Dravid, keen to emphasise the importance of self-reliance, ahead of Tuesday's lone one-day international against Pakistan in Glasgow.

"But irrespective of whether there is a coach or not, the senior players do have to take responsibility.

"If we do get a coach, it doesn't mean the senior players suddenly become irrelevant. They are the ones at the end of the day who are the leaders in the team and they are the ones that should set the tempo.

"It's not only the captain, you've got to have four or five leaders in the team who are setting the example for the younger guys to follow," explained Dravid after Yuvraj Singh's unbeaten 61 saw India home with four balls to spare against the Proteas on Sunday.

"I think in this series you saw that."

The 34-year-old Dravid, a veteran of 109 Tests and 319 ODIs added: "We are well organised. We do have a fielding coach and a bowling coach. They've been looking after their departments really well.

"We do have a cricket manager in Mr Borde, who provides us with an overview and uses his experience to guide us."