HISTORIC TEST WIN @ WANDERERS

Congratulations to our Indian team for their historic test win against South Africa at the Wanderers. What made them click at Wanderers? In my view, Indian batting-line is the best in the world, atleast our middle-order is. Laughing? Historically we don’t have good bowling attack. This always put additional pressure on our batsmen to post a huge total. But other teams like Australia, Pakistan, and South Africa have a good bowling attack. So their batsmen play freely, but this is not case with India. They (batters) always play under more pressure than other teams.

Let us see what made India victorious.

1. Superb batting of Rahul and Sachin in the first innings.

2. Ganguly’s batting with lower order.

3. Sreesanth’s bowling.

4. Laxman’s batting in second innings.

5. Zaheer’s all-round performance.

6. Tail-enders batting

7. Kumble’s bowling in both the innings.

8. Catching was good. They took all catches.


India always had the batting talent to excel in all conditions. This is best illustrated by way Dravid and Sachin batted. South Africans have dug their own grave by producing this kind of wicket. By preparing seaming wicket they have helped Indian bowlers. Indian bowlers always struggled in batting wickets. When conditions are helpful they always have excelled.

I am really pleased with the application of our tail-enders especially Zaheer. He batted sensibly with Laxman. Overall his game has improved; be his fielding, bowling or batting. He is looking hungrier for success. Also I am impressed with Shewag’s catching. He took superb catches in both the innings.

Everybody in the media is saying that Ganguly is the one who has revived the performance of the team. But that is not true. Still I maintain that in Yuvraj’s absence Badrinath should have picked ahead of Ganguly. To his credit Ganguly utilized his chance very well. He played with lot of grit and application. It is the partnership of Dravid and Sachin that actually set the match in our favor. I am not taking any credit away from Sourav. But stressing that other factors have contributed to our revival.

I am really disappointed with media. They are projecting Ganguly as one who has revived our batting. This is absolute rubbish. I will come out with this topic in a separate article.

Now let us rejoice our historic win at Wanderers.