These cricketing qualities have resulted in India's good show overseas in the last few years
These cricketing qualities have resulted in India's good show overseas in the last few years
Chroniclers of the contemporary game might see particular significance in the two Tests played in different parts of the world in the last week of this year. Both matches finished within four days, but the power structure of cricket may have been redefined more deeply in this brief period than in the past few years, making the future delightfully intriguing.
In the Test played Down Under, Australia's hopes of regaining the Ashes were sunk by England's triumph at Melbourne. Invincible at home for almost a quarter century, the Aussies have looked hopelessly inadequate for battle, been soundly walloped and left to lick their wounds.
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Everybody had predicted a quick demise for the Indians, but the topsy-turvy result has now put the onus on Graeme Smith's team to survive the final Test at Cape Town next week. Will the South Africans dare to risk a fast pitch at Newlands? I doubt it very much.
But I'll come to this contest after dwelling briefly on the Ashes series. Barring the Perth Test match, Australia's bowlers have struggled so badly that they would probably not get England's batsmen out even in French cricket: and that is no insult to the French who have always looked askance at a game invented by England to keep the Commonwealth flock in its fold.
India's victory at Durban was unexpected, and if I may be permitted some hyperbole, one of the finest achieved in its history. It came not only against the run of play (the first Test at Centurion was lost by an innings), but has also hopefully bust the lingering myth about the team's fallibility overseas, especially on fast pitches.
It is worthwhile remembering that India had won even at Perth in the contentious 2008 series, and also New Zealand at Hamilton in 2009. Go back a little further in time, and there was the victory at Johannesburg in 2006-07 (though India were to lose that series subsequently), and a little before that was the 1-1 drawn series against Australia in 2003-04.
Consistent
Evidence of India's competence when playing overseas has grown consistently over the past six-seven years and is not a sudden development. But what has certainly changed in the past two-three years is the mindset: it is far more aggressive, combative and ambitious. What is even more admirable is that after achieving the No 1 ranking, and in the last three series, the team has shown resilience and character to maintain its supremacy.
If Laxman's match-winning half century at Mohali was a masterpiece of attacking strokeplay, his 96 at Durban was a supreme effort at rebuilding the innings from a shambles for no other batsman could score a half century here.
In between, India also once recovered from a near hopeless 15-5 against New Zealand to draw the match. And just how important Zaheer Khan is to the attack became plain in Durban for he inspired a boost in the performances of all the other bowlers too.u00a0
A side which looked like lambs to the slaughter after the opening day of the first Test, therefore, has been able to stem the problems and reverse the trend strongly enough to put South Africa under pressure.
Yet, the results of the past week also show that international cricket is in a state of flux. I see a scramble between several teams next year, led by South Africa and England, to topple Dhoni's team from this position.
India have given themselves a fine New year's gift this year by winning the Durban Test.
If they can retain the No 1 position by the end of 2011, they will have moved on from a mere ranking to becoming a true world champion team.
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