Ganguly eyes overseas win

Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly was delighted with his side's four-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the second Test on Monday, but said the real test would come on the tour of West Indies starting early next month.

"It is important for us to win overseas and the West Indies tour is coming up which will be very crucial," Ganguly said after India swept their two-Test series against Zimbabwe.

Almost unbeatable on turning tracks at home, India have not won a Test series outside the sub-continent since the 1985-86 England tour.

India play five Tests and as many one-dayers in West Indies.

The hosts suffered late hiccups before overhauling a modest 122-run fourth innings target by reaching 126 for six on a fifth day pitch, but Ganguly said his team did not panic.

"It looked like a crisis, but it wasn't. We got two rough decisions and we were a batsman short," he said.

He was referring to the dismissals of Anil Kumble, given out caught in the close cordon overnight, and opener Shiv Sundar Das.

Slow motion television replays suggested the ball had gone off Kumble's pads. Das fell lbw to paceman Heath Streak on the fifth morning to a ball which seemed to be going down the legside.

"It is always difficult to bat on a fifth day pitch and the ball was turning and bouncing," Ganguly said.

It was Ganguly's ninth Test victory as captain in 18 Tests, lifting him alongside Sunil Gavaskar and Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi as the second most successful Indian skipper behind Mohammad Azharuddin's 14 wins.

Indian coach John Wright said chasing a target was never going to be easy on the turning track and said India's 25-run first innings lead proved crucial in the end.

"It is good we managed to win despite losing the toss," he added.

Leg-spinner Anil Kumble, named man of the series with 16 wickets, was pleased after another encouraging performance at his favourite Ferozeshah Kotla ground.

Three years ago, Kumble created Test history by claiming all 10 second innings wickets in the second test against Pakistan to set up a series-levelling victory, emulating England spinner Jim Laker.

Kumble had a match haul of 7-146 in the Zimbabwe game, his first Test in New Delhi on his return after a long layoff because of a shoulder injury.

"There are some grounds where you feel good to enter and Kotla is one of them," he said.

Kumble refused to criticise wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta, who has dropped many catches standing up to both the leg-spinner and off-break bowler Harbhajan Singh.

"Deep is working hard. It's a team game and you miss chances. It is not easy to keep wickets on such wickets," he said.

Mail Cricket Editor