Sports India

Rahul Dravid credited India’s series-winning triumph against the West Indies to team effort and hoped it would be spoken of in the same terms as the historic 1971 victory registered by Ajit Wadekar’s men.

“We have not won in the West Indies for 35 years and not won outside the sub-continent for 20. That makes this win that much more special,” said the Indian captain.

“We had to work hard for it and I think it’s been well deserved,” he said.

“We’ve always heard about the 1971 team and Anil (Kumble) was the only one born, just born, when India won last in the West Indies.

For all of us, growing up hearing the history of Indian cricket that was a very significant series, and I think hopefully this will prove to be a significant one as well.”

“We played the better cricket right from the first Test after the first two days,” he said. “It’s sort of nice that it all bore fruit in the end and we won the series.

Equal Contributions

“Everyone contributed at various stages —Wasim Jaffer’s 200 helped us fight back in Antigua, VVS Laxman’s 100 helped us save the Test in St. Kitts, Virender Sehwag’s 180 almost won us the game in St Lucia. Then there was Kaif’s undefeated 148 in St Lucia. Our spinners were brilliant throughout. It’s never the finished article there is always scope for improvement”

Seamers got it right

One area of his team’s performance that pleased Dravid the most was the fast bowling department. “The seam attack bowled well throughout this series. “I have seen some fine spells in my career for India, but this is the best I have seen throughout a series since 1996.

“They are young and inexperienced, and yet they did it. “None of the great fast bowlers were great after six or seven test matches, it takes time and experience to get better in test cricket. Unfortunately, expectations are too much.”

Jaffer Gets Contract

New delhi: Opening batsman Wasim Jaffer has been rewarded with a central contract following his good form in the 1-0 series victory over the West Indies, where he registered a top score of 212 in the opening test.

The 28-year-old Mumbai batsman would be placed in the lowest of three categories, with an annual retainer fee of around two million rupees, the BCCI announced on Monday.

Jaffer made a strong comeback to international cricket this season, notching his maiden test hundred in the drawn home series against England and averaging over 50 in the Caribbean.