Can't wait to write this post after the historic win of Indian cricket team at Kingston. This was the series win all of the Indian cricket fans have been waiting from more than three decades. Finally the jinx has been broken and India have registered their first series win in the Caribbean after 35 years. Not to forget that this was the long awaited overseas series win after 20 years, last one being at England in 1986.
Caribbean tour has not been the pleasant for the Indian team in the past. Last time India came close to clinching the series was in 1997 in the Barbados test when it was chasing a target of 120. Sadly at that time team was allout for a mere 81. And in 2001 India was leading the series 1-0 only to be outplayed by Windies 2-1 in the last 2 tests.
After the ODI series loss 1-4 to West Indies nobody would have expected Indians to do well in the test series. Kudos to Rahul Dravid and team for their efforts to make sure that they win the test series. Though the score line may say the series win as 1-0 it would have been 2-0 or even 3-0 if there was some luck and little effort from this team. But win is a win and it has come at the right the time to boost the team morale after the ODI series loss.
Though the win was a team effort, 2 persons stand out with exemplary performances, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble. Dravid kept his cool when the wickets were tumbling at the other end to make sure India did not bundle out for mere 100 runs in the first innings. Support he got from Kumble is tremendous, with the duo adding 93 runs for the 7th wicket. India were in dire straits with 91-6 then. Dravid's contribution of 81 and 68 will go as the best test innings he has played so far. Not to forget the contribution of Kumble of 45 in the first innings which was vital at that time. Harbhajan's 5 wicket haul certainly deserves mention here. And in the second innings it was Sreesanth who set tone for the historic win taking 3 crucial wickets of Gayle, Ganga and Sarwan. Munaf took the big wicket of Lara. Then it was Kumble all the way taking 6 wickets for 78 runs. For a man which may be his last Caribbean tour it was performance to cherish. One still remembers him coming to bowl with the broken jaw in 2001 to get big man Lara out for lbw and to get pat on the back from umpire David Shepherd. Kumble has been doing well in the overseas contrary to the notion of the critics in past couple of years. He has proved that once again. Kudos to Kumble.
Next series ahead is the triangular ODI series in Sri Lanka comprising India, Sri Lanka and South Africa starting from 14th August, 2006 with India taking on Sri Lanka on 16th August. Though this series win may have hidden the cracks, but India have to work on the teams weaknesses such as some of its players playing below par and regain their one day form. Since the series is played subcontinent itself, there should not be any difficulty in doing that. Sri Lanka are upbeat with 5-0 ODI series victory over England where in the last match they scored 324 in just 37.3 overs. South Africa and India were tied at 2-2 when these two met last time in India. So lot of exciting cricket in store for the cricket buffs in the coming days. So series promises to be a close one.
This historic series win in the Caribbean would go as one of the golden moments in Indian cricket. Indian cricket fans will remember this win for a long long time.
Raveesh
Caribbean tour has not been the pleasant for the Indian team in the past. Last time India came close to clinching the series was in 1997 in the Barbados test when it was chasing a target of 120. Sadly at that time team was allout for a mere 81. And in 2001 India was leading the series 1-0 only to be outplayed by Windies 2-1 in the last 2 tests.
After the ODI series loss 1-4 to West Indies nobody would have expected Indians to do well in the test series. Kudos to Rahul Dravid and team for their efforts to make sure that they win the test series. Though the score line may say the series win as 1-0 it would have been 2-0 or even 3-0 if there was some luck and little effort from this team. But win is a win and it has come at the right the time to boost the team morale after the ODI series loss.
Though the win was a team effort, 2 persons stand out with exemplary performances, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble. Dravid kept his cool when the wickets were tumbling at the other end to make sure India did not bundle out for mere 100 runs in the first innings. Support he got from Kumble is tremendous, with the duo adding 93 runs for the 7th wicket. India were in dire straits with 91-6 then. Dravid's contribution of 81 and 68 will go as the best test innings he has played so far. Not to forget the contribution of Kumble of 45 in the first innings which was vital at that time. Harbhajan's 5 wicket haul certainly deserves mention here. And in the second innings it was Sreesanth who set tone for the historic win taking 3 crucial wickets of Gayle, Ganga and Sarwan. Munaf took the big wicket of Lara. Then it was Kumble all the way taking 6 wickets for 78 runs. For a man which may be his last Caribbean tour it was performance to cherish. One still remembers him coming to bowl with the broken jaw in 2001 to get big man Lara out for lbw and to get pat on the back from umpire David Shepherd. Kumble has been doing well in the overseas contrary to the notion of the critics in past couple of years. He has proved that once again. Kudos to Kumble.
Next series ahead is the triangular ODI series in Sri Lanka comprising India, Sri Lanka and South Africa starting from 14th August, 2006 with India taking on Sri Lanka on 16th August. Though this series win may have hidden the cracks, but India have to work on the teams weaknesses such as some of its players playing below par and regain their one day form. Since the series is played subcontinent itself, there should not be any difficulty in doing that. Sri Lanka are upbeat with 5-0 ODI series victory over England where in the last match they scored 324 in just 37.3 overs. South Africa and India were tied at 2-2 when these two met last time in India. So lot of exciting cricket in store for the cricket buffs in the coming days. So series promises to be a close one.
This historic series win in the Caribbean would go as one of the golden moments in Indian cricket. Indian cricket fans will remember this win for a long long time.
Raveesh
hi.
ReplyDeletemy interest in cricket is relativly less. Not in a position to comment much...
Good that we finally won a series...
nice post ...
ReplyDeletegreat victory ... credit goes to bangaloreans Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble.
Agree with the author. wonderful achievement by Dravid and Kumble however We should not read too much into the victory over lowly ranked windies..ODI series defeat is a shame...Hope the test series victory will not hide the ODI failure..
ReplyDelete