Ntini was an example to the Indian quicks

One-zero predicted, 1-0 it is, but India could so easily have really struck a psychological blow against South Africa if they had believed from the beginning.

India started apprehensively and let the Springboks build that big total in Kanpur. The team selection was perhaps a little ambitious but they will be happy to have beaten both Australia and South Africa in the last month. The real plus has been that they have done it mostly without Sachin Tendulkar in his best form. Though they still have not solved the opening problem -- Gautam Gambhir got a pass mark without being totally convincing -- the rest of the team is pretty settled.

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It wouldn't take a genius to work out South Africa's shortcomings. No spinner in the subcontinent, no chance of victory; as simple as that. Robin Peterson is a committed cricketer but as a spinner is just not Test class. Boje's absence was felt more than Herschelle Gibbs's and India's task would have been a lot more difficult had he toured.

South Africa have been talking for a long time; in fact lamenting, the lack of depth in the spin bowling department but, hopefully, this tour will be the catalyst for some real action. The vacuum was filled for a long time by quality seamers but with Allan Donald gone, Shaun Pollock slowing a little and Jacques Kallis injured, the need to balance the attack is paramount. To be brutally frank, Graeme Smith was South Africa's best spinner in India, a real part-time bowler in his own country. And I don't think either Peterson or Justin Ontong is the answer, so the search must begin in earnest.

Of the younger players it would have been an experience like no other but, as Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out, they showed talent but were just too raw to compete at this level. They need to continue to learn at a level below to round off the sharp edges. Thami Tsolekile, Hashim Amla and Peterson fall into this category. I'm sure they would be the first to agree that they are not quite there yet.

However, the positives are many though the scoreboard shows a defeat. Smith's captaincy continues to improve and it is not having any effect on his batting. In fact, captaincy enhances it. It's great to see someone who loves to lead by example and will put in the hard yards upfront to show the way for his team.

Makhaya Ntini can take a bow too. He came to India with a question mark as to how he would bowl on slow and low wickets. Many, including me, thought he would struggle with his skidding action and provide just the right pace for the Indian batsmen. But he upped the ante and extracted pace and bounce from dead wickets. His eight wickets, including Sehwag twice in the last Test, was an example to the Indian quicks. Real effort = real reward.

The real hero, though, is Andrew Hall. He has been in and out of the team for a few years but has never complained. He just keeps playing with enthusiasm and commitment. It's hard to see how he can be left out when England arrive in South Africa, but over the years the selectors have been a little cruel to him. Maybe, just maybe, he has cemented his place for a while yet. His return on this tour has been sensational. His never say die attitude and his willingness to do any job is always appreciated by his captain and noticed by the team.

In the end, India deserved to win, because they were a better team; better balanced to be exact. South Africa fly home with no result but will be better for the experience. Tours to the subcontinent are never easy and South Africa have had their fair share in recent times. It's what you take away from them that counts and South Africa will be better the next time they tour India. Of that there is no doubt.