EMERGING from a long spell of uncertainty when dealing with challenges overseas, the Indian cricket team led by Sourav Ganguly has recorded an achievement of sorts by drawing the four-match Test series 1-1 against the mighty Australians.

The honour of this competitive series certainly belonged to the Indians that were all but written off before the tour began. The significance of the performance goes well beyond the fact that India retained the Border-Gavaskar
Trophy.

Many would argue that the home team saved the final Test at Sydney because some close LBW calls went in its favour. There are others who could argue that India failed to land the knockout punch on the Australians on the final day to win the series. The one principle reason for India failing to do so was the team did not have the bowling prowess to dismiss the opposition twice in a Test match.

India’s bowling, apart from the experienced Anil Kumble, wasn’t superb. Even Ganguly’s declaration on the evening of the fourth day can be debated or his decision not to enforce the follow-on after the Aussies fell short of India’s mammoth first innings total by more than 260 runs. Well, India could have won the Sydney Test, had it not been for a few exercises on the part of the Indians on the final day.

Indian spinners, including Kumble, could not make much use of the rough outside the left-handers off stump to get the batsmen out, either leg before or bowled. Ganguly did not attack Ponting and Waugh with fast bowlers. Both the Aussie batsmen are tentative against speed at the beginning of their innings. Ganguly should have tried to get them out early by attacking them. For a long time, Ganguly seemed confused as to whether to attack or defend.

Although weakened by the absence of a couple of key bowlers, the present Australian team is one of the best Test teams of all time, certainly the best after Clive Lloyd’s all-conquering West Indians of the late 1970s and early 1980s. To have won one Test (to lead 1-0) and almost pulled off another on Australia’s home grounds is an inspiring achievement.

Before the tour began, most Indians regarded a 2-0 defeat as the best possible result.

India’s batting line-up has proven itself as the best in the world. Along the way Rahul Dravid confirmed his greatness as a batsman and V.V.S. Laxman showed that he is a fearless cricketer and an unselfish competitor. Ganguly batted with spirit and courage in a performance that commanded respect. None of the Indian batsmen flinched in the face of the Australian bombardment. Never again it will be said that the Indian batsmen lack courage.

Sachin Tendulkar also rose to the challenge after poor scores in the first three Tests. In the decisive Sydney Test he produced the most correct and patient batting of his distinguished career.

India’s openers, Virender Sehwag and Aakash Chopra, also performed valiantly and contributed crucially. Chopra also did very well while fielding at short-leg. Sehwag played with his heart and learnt to keep his head down against the new ball. The middle-order batsmen were in their debt.

Among the bowlers, the tireless Anil Kumble stood out. Bowling slower and straighter, the leg-spinner took lots of wickets (24) and set a towering example for the younger players. Young Irfan Pathan has the variety and determination needed to join Kumble, Zaheer and Harbhajan in a potent combination.

If the Indian team had its positive points at the end of the memorable series – mostly in the batting department – there are several negative points which the team management must ponder over and try to rectify in the near future.