We have shown we are No 1 in the world

[Karan114]

Very unfortunate that Bucknor and Benson denied us the 2-1 series win.

Don't forget Bucknor denying us in 2004 as well :((

[punjabi_khota]

For ****'s sake, England with a zombie masquerading as Pieterson drew in SA. :mad: We can do better than that :finger: Bell scored a 100 there..we have 20 bells in India at least.

[Ram]

Time is indeed running out. We won at Perth and Sydney should have been ours. Very unfortunate that Bucknor and Benson denied us the 2-1 series win.

No one can say that with 100% assurance. Yes, we were denied a sizeable first innings lead in Sydney, but even if Australia had been bowled out for cheap in the 1st innings, there’s no saying how much they would have scored in the 2nd innings (and IIRC, they actually scored with ease and declared in their 2nd innings). Plus, even assuming they had lost in Sydney, that would have completely changed their approach in Perth and Adelaide. Bottom line – we definitely didn’t deserve to lose that series, but would we have won it had Sydney gone our way? Nobody knows. 1-1 seems a more just result.

[dial_100]

This win proves nothing' date=' India has to improve their bowling and fielding by some margin to call themselves Champions, lets wait for SA series[/quote'] I know..:two_thumbs_up: ...After we beat SA as well, we still can't claim to be the #1 because we haven't played against THE REAL bowling pwerhouse. So utill we play against them on their home turn and beat them, we cannot be #1. This win indeed proves nothing.... to you

[jusarrived]

Doubt if we could win a test series in South Africa. Unlike Australia' date=' who have shown [b']vulnerabilities in their batting and have lost two of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game to retirement, South Africa seem have become more formidable in the last 2-3 years with the emergence of Steyn and Amla. It will take a herculean effort for ANY team to come close to winning there. A test series win in Australia is not so far-fetched, though pretty hard as well. In fact over the last decade, we have gone from being walloped 3-0 in 1999 to competing very well in 2003 and 2008. We could potentially win there, but we are running out of time to do it, with the current all-star middle order all in the wrong side of 35.

you are over estimating SA's batting . Among the top 4 test teams ( Ind , SA , Aus & Eng ) , SA batsmen have the worst technique , all their top order batsmen are suspect against good swing bowling & given the conditions our bowlers know how to exploit that . The only player am worried about is Steyn , on his day even our batting will have no chance . I expect a low scoring close series , with India winning 2-1 .

[jusarrived]

I know..:two_thumbs_up: ...After we beat SA as well' date=' we still can't claim to be the #1 because we haven't played against THE REAL bowling pwerhouse. So utill we play against them [b']on their home turn and beat them, we cannot be #1. This win indeed proves nothing.... to you

not any time soon then ?

[Ram]

you are over estimating SA's batting . Among the top 4 test teams ( Ind ' date=' SA , Aus & Eng ) , SA batsmen have the worst technique , all their top order batsmen are suspect against good swing bowling & given the conditions our bowlers know how to exploit that . The only player am worried about is Steyn , on his day even our batting will have no chance . I expect a low scoring close series , with India winning 2-1 .[/quote'] If you’re telling me that you’re not worried about a batting line-up that has Smith, Kallis, Amla, AB De Villers and Prince, then I am not sure how to respond. The mere fact that South Africa is the ONLY team in the last 5 years to draw a test match series in India, a feat they managed not once, but TWICE, should tell you how formidable they’re. And on both those occasions, we actually trailed 0-1 to level the series. If that is how competitive they’re in our own backyard, imagine how much more difficult it would be to put one past them in their own territory. An Indian side, with the current batting and bowling riches, coupled with the ruthlessness and professionalism of an Aussie side might well challenge the Saffies, but as we stand today, we are still a long distance away from a series victory over there.

[punjabi_khota]

^Dude, they haven't managed to win either of the last 2 test series they played at home :phehehe:

[dial_100]

If you’re telling me that you’re not worried about a batting line-up that has Smith, Kallis, Amla, AB De Villers and Prince, then I am not sure how to respond. The mere fact that South Africa is the ONLY team in the last 5 years to draw a test match series in India, a feat they managed not once, but TWICE, should tell you how formidable they’re. And on both those occasions, we actually trailed 0-1 to level the series. If that is how competitive they’re in our own backyard, imagine how much more difficult it would be to put one past them in their own territory. An Indian side, with the current batting and bowling riches, coupled with the ruthlessness and professionalism of an Aussie side might well challenge the Saffies, but as we stand today, we are still a long distance away from a series victory over there.

Absolutely, Sri. It is a strong line up. Especially the kind of support they have from their bowling, makes them even more difficult to beat. I agree that they have drawn twice on our soil in itself makes them very strong team. I would say we have equal teams, our bowling & fielding is relatively weak but then batting is balancing the overall position. But you know what, we are quite tough unit to beat. SA are chokers

[Ram]

The good part is, the more we come up with these outlandish come from behind wins, the less the vociferous the voices of all the doubters will become. Whether it was this match, were Australia literally tried to bat themselves into a impregnable position by taking their own sweet time in scoring 400 runs, or the 3rd test in the just concluded series against Lanka when they too score 400 runs in the first innings, these were never meant to be Indian wins. Yet, much like Adelaide in 2004, we never gave up, kept fighting and prevailed. As far as test wins go, there are the conventional ones and we have had plenty of them as well (bowl opposition out cheaply in their first innings, pile up a huge 1st innings score and chip away patiently in their 2nd tenure and win comfortably). For these performances, most people just say 'Oh big deal, its India doing what its good at doing - Winning at home... But it is this kind of improbable wins that will make people look up, take notice and say ‘RESPEKT’. One of the characteristic victories of the all conquering Aussie team of the 90s that really sealed their reputation as the world’s best was their win in Lanka, when they recovered from triple digit first innings deficits to triumph in all the matches. This win, much like the previous win in Lanka is along similar lines. If people didn’t already know how relentless we are, they’d probably know by now.

[Ram]

^Dude' date=' they haven't managed to win either of the last 2 test series they played at home :phehehe:[/quote'] That could well be, but the Saffies always raise their game against us.

[dial_100]

Yes and yet again, we haven;t lost at home series. This win has ensured only 2 posible results of this series now. Either we win it 1-0 or 2-0 or they draw it 1-1. Our batting will blossom as there will be no pressure.

[99.94]

The number one team struggles to beat the number four team at home.. how is it that they have proved anything?

[thevortex]

The good part is, the more we come up with these outlandish come from behind wins, the less the vociferous the voices of all the doubters will become. Whether it was this match, were Australia literally tried to bat themselves into a impregnable position by taking their own sweet time in scoring 400 runs, or the 3rd test in the just concluded series against Lanka when they too score 400 runs in the first innings, these were never meant to be Indian wins. Yet, much like Adelaide in 2004, we never gave up, kept fighting and prevailed. As far as test wins go, there are the conventional ones and we have had plenty of them as well (bowl opposition out cheaply in their first innings, pile up a huge 1st innings score and chip away patiently in their 2nd tenure and win comfortably). For these performances, most people just say 'Oh big deal, its India doing what its good at doing - Winning at home... But it is this kind of improbable wins that will make people look up, take notice and say ‘RESPEKT’. One of the characteristic victories of the all conquering Aussie team of the 90s that really sealed their reputation as the world’s best was their win in Lanka, when they recovered from triple digit first innings deficits to triumph in all the matches. This win, much like the previous win in Lanka is along similar lines. If people didn’t already know how relentless we are, they’d probably know by now.

Honestly marris - I dont know how this win earns 'RESPEKT' for the Indian team and an undisputed No.1 standing. It was the triumph of one of our batting gods as has often been the case. And definitely people will celebrate and respect our strength in batting. But our bowling, catching, fielding etc. leave a lot to be desired. Surely they are not No.1 material... I am not talking just about scope for improvement. There is always scope for improvement even after India becomes No.1 in all departments. Right now, if a team can see off Zaheer Khan somehow, then the rest looks like a piece of cake. We need to address that. Among other things.

[thevortex]

And one other thing - comprehensive wins more than close wins are what consolidate one team's domination over the other. I am definitely not denigrating this victory or selling India short. They did fantastically well. But they were always fighting the odds. Australia were the team who let go of the opportunity to go 1-0 up! India snatched it from between their teeth! :)

[EnterTheVoid]

Honestly marris - I dont know how this win earns 'RESPEKT' for the Indian team and an undisputed No.1 standing. It was the triumph of one of our batting gods as has often been the case. And definitely people will celebrate and respect our strength in batting.

Wow.

[ZodiaC]

Don't forget Bucknor denying us in 2004 as well :((

2004 was sheer bad luck. ****nor did his job + Chennai match fecked by Rain :((

[ZodiaC]

And one other thing - comprehensive wins more than close wins are what consolidate one team's domination over the other. I am definitely not denigrating this victory or selling India short. They did fantastically well. But they were always fighting the odds. Australia were the team who let go of the opportunity to go 1-0 up! India snatched it from between their teeth! :)

Umps fecked us too, otherwise we'd have done better for sure. Not taking anything away from the Aus, as I didn't expect them to perform so well with such a relatively weak side.

[bihutoli]

Our players need to start hating on them South African's. We just aren't as competetive as we need to be against them.

[Hindustani]

Here we go negative talk bud u need to open ur eyes india did some thing incredible or shall i say miracle to win this test match that shows what a gud test team india is. India bowled better than aus

jezaz unbelievable

Jesus ****ing Christ' date=' its like I'm reading something straight out of the green ghetto![/quote'] Hate the game, not the player :--D As much as I would love to see India being No. 1, India has this habit of blowing hot and cold and I do feels India has the potential to do better than what they are doing, of course they are No.1 and they fully deserve all of their wins, but why settle for less when we can achieve even better. Hoping India to win next Test by an Inning now :eyedance: