India register historic Test triumph

JOHANNESBURG: Christmas came early for the Indians in South Africa. Santa Claus didn’t visit, but the team gifted itself — and a hungry nation — a glorious 123-win in difficult conditions and against all odds. After this, any goodies the red-cloaked gentleman brings them will pale in comparison.

For a while it looked like Ashwell Prince was prepared to go the distance alone. The ease with which he was batting, all he needed was someone to hold the other end. However, Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock could only help extend the waiting period for the Indians. Despite a valiant 97 by Prince, a sweet cameo by Pollock and spirited resistance all around, the inevitable was merely delayed.

At five minutes to lunch on Monday, South Africa finally capitulated. India had won their first ever Test in this country with five sessions of play still left in the game.

A 4-0 thrashing in the one-dayers is not the perfect precursor for success in Tests. But the Indians seem to have learnt the art of turning the tide — remember the West Indies?

It helps that the win didn’t come on the back of one magnificent double century or one bowler’s canniness. It will warm the heart of lovers of Indian cricket that this success was the result of a composite of contributions from just about every member of the Indian side.

It was also a reflection of how experience and youth can make a combustible combination.

Consider how two veterans, joining the Test squad after the one-day ruins were done with, partnered first, each other, and then the lower order, to give the batting respectability on a wicket that was uncertain for the most part. “Ganguly and Laxman at five and six provided a lot of stability and experience and confidence, especially with them also three or four down early on. That experience has really helped India, maybe they were a bit soft there in the one dayers,” said South African skipper Graeme Smith.

Sourav Ganguly, back after months in wilderness, had set it up for himself in Potchesfroom and wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip past in Johannesburg. First, he held fort with Laxman in the last hour of the first day, and then the 51-run gutsy partnership with VRV Singh later in the first innings probably defined the way the Indians were going to approach this Test. “Those 50 runs were obviously massive in terms of the scores that were made in the game. That partnership gave them some confidence and momentum going into the bowling and they then backed it up superbly with the new ball,” admitted Smith. Laxman then took on Ganguly’s role as shepherd in the second innings, this time with Zaheer Khan as company. Together, they registered the highest partnership of the match, 70, Zaheer contributing 37 of those runs.

While the batting was ‘supervised’ by the warhorses, the bowling was the domain of the young and the restless. S Sreesanth, man of the match for as much his guts as his 8 for 99 all told, rushed in with an irrepressible attitude each time the skipper threw him the ball. He puffed, he panted, he also chanted - how much did his aggression and enthusiasm shape the game? “He hit the best areas in the game. He swung the ball from a straight line which is always very difficult to play. He ran in hard and he has a lot of energy. All credit to him - he really bowled superbly throughout the game and deserves his success,” said Smith.  Even as Sreesanth stole the show, Zaheer Khan continued from where he had left off in the ODIs. His line, length, accuracy and guile probably helped his new ball partner along as well. Bowlers, after all, hunt in pairs, don’t they?

Then, not one to be left behind, the indomitable spirit of Anil Kumble finally came into play in the last session of play. Just when restlessness was beginning to set in — especially among the Indian onlookers — as Prince looked like never getting out, Kumble produced a bit of magic to get rid of him, and thereby seal South Africa’s fate.

But these are all tangible efforts. What will not be seen on the scorecard is the courage with which the Indians approached this Test, lead by a resolute captain.  With their collective backs against the wall, to say it out loud that the odds don’t matter, attitude does, and backing that up by choosing the tough road by batting first on a dodgy wicket, backing the bowlers with attacking fields and encouraging the spirit of a young fast man intent on leaving a mark on the match — Rahul Dravid played his part too in the best way possible, by keeping the faith.

Scorecard

India (first innings): 249
South Africa (first innings): 84
India (second innings): 236

South Africa (second innings; overnight: 163-5):

A Prince b Kumble 97, M Boucher lbw b Zaheer 23, S Pollock b Kumble 40, A Nel lbw b Kumble 6, D Steyn not out 6, M Ntini c Sehwag b Zaheer 8

Extras: (lb8 nb19) 27
Total: (all out in 86.5 overs) 278

FoW: 1-0, 2-22, 3-34, 4-84, 5-120, 6-164, 7-231, 8-245, 9-264

Bowling: Zaheer 22.5-5-79-3, Sreesanth 25-8-59-3, VRV Singh 18-4-67-0, Ganguly 1-0-11-0, Kumble 20-4-54-3