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South Africa & Windies join in: India`s shown us the way: The Indian Express
Johannesburg, Dec 17: India`s win at Adelaide was welcomed thousands of miles away at The Wanderers in Johannesburg, where rival Test captains Brian Lara and Graeme Smith said it was a great advertisement for the international game - and could be a turning point in India`s inability to win away from home.
Johannesburg, Dec 17: India’s win at Adelaide was welcomed thousands of miles away at The Wanderers in Johannesburg, where rival Test captains Brian Lara and Graeme Smith said it was a great advertisement for the international game — and could be a turning point in India’s inability to win away from home.
Speaking shortly after leading his team to victory here today, Smith, who never played Tests against India, felt the result was important for the game as it indicated India were on the rise and Australia could be beaten.
‘‘It is a great win for India but, more importantly, it means that other sides know that they too can win Down Under and have suddenly realised this’’, he said. ‘‘It gives us all encouragement.’’
Echoing his words, Lara added: ‘‘I have followed India’s progress in the last couple of years to monitor our own progress and the way they have prepared for this series shows how much they have advanced.’’
On Sunday, Lara had pointed to the batting of Dravid and Laxman as inspiration for his double century in this match — he woke at 6 in the morning to watch India bat.
‘‘This win means others can now take confidence of going into a Test against the world’s number one and emerging as victors. It is a great achievement as India were given so little hope when they started the series. Now they lead 1-0 with two to play.’’
India’s strength, he said, rested in the capabilities of their batsmen to pull their efforts together under testing condition — and Dravid’s role was a key factor. It was a matter of one or two batsmen putting runs on the board and being competitive.
In this he was supported by South African batting legend Barry Richards, who felt that the way India went about winning the game was a lesson for others. Richards, whose career was cut short by the international ban on South Africa, agreed that winning in Australia is not always easy but wins at Adelaide and Sydney were always a possibility for India as the conditions at both venues were likely to help, not hinder, India.
‘‘This is a better side than that which toured Australia several years ago and lost the series’’, he said. ‘‘India have moved forward. You can see that.’’
In Lara’s opinion the result would lead to a serious rethink about India’s position and the team’s ability to overcome a psychological handicap of not having won a series overseas in 17 years — and the fact that this is the first Test India have won in Australia since 1981.
Speaking shortly after leading his team to victory here today, Smith, who never played Tests against India, felt the result was important for the game as it indicated India were on the rise and Australia could be beaten.
‘‘It is a great win for India but, more importantly, it means that other sides know that they too can win Down Under and have suddenly realised this’’, he said. ‘‘It gives us all encouragement.’’
Echoing his words, Lara added: ‘‘I have followed India’s progress in the last couple of years to monitor our own progress and the way they have prepared for this series shows how much they have advanced.’’
On Sunday, Lara had pointed to the batting of Dravid and Laxman as inspiration for his double century in this match — he woke at 6 in the morning to watch India bat.
‘‘This win means others can now take confidence of going into a Test against the world’s number one and emerging as victors. It is a great achievement as India were given so little hope when they started the series. Now they lead 1-0 with two to play.’’
India’s strength, he said, rested in the capabilities of their batsmen to pull their efforts together under testing condition — and Dravid’s role was a key factor. It was a matter of one or two batsmen putting runs on the board and being competitive.
In this he was supported by South African batting legend Barry Richards, who felt that the way India went about winning the game was a lesson for others. Richards, whose career was cut short by the international ban on South Africa, agreed that winning in Australia is not always easy but wins at Adelaide and Sydney were always a possibility for India as the conditions at both venues were likely to help, not hinder, India.
‘‘This is a better side than that which toured Australia several years ago and lost the series’’, he said. ‘‘India have moved forward. You can see that.’’
In Lara’s opinion the result would lead to a serious rethink about India’s position and the team’s ability to overcome a psychological handicap of not having won a series overseas in 17 years — and the fact that this is the first Test India have won in Australia since 1981.