The Hindu : Sport : A great win, says Dravid

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Tuesday, Dec 19, 2006
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A great win, says Dravid

Special Correspondent

Sreesanth celebrates - Photo AFP

Johannesburg: After India's first back-to-back Test victories on different countries outside the sub-continent (at Kingston and Johannesburg this year), a beaming Rahul Dravid said, "It's a great win. Everyone in the team has gone berserk! We are celebrating the win appropriately."

Asked about his brave decision to bat first, the Indian captain responded, "I had to make the call. The buck, whether it is picking the eleven or deciding after the toss, stops with me."

He complimented his teammates. "I think we showed a lot of fight and character. South Africa is tough to beat on home soil." He said Sourav Ganguly's effort in the first innings was crucial. "Ganguly is batting well. Sreesanth and Zaheer bowled well. Laxman's knock was vital."

Pace attack

Dravid dwelt much on his pace attack. "They are not as big-made as some of the other guys. But they showed they could still compete. We cannot consistently bowl quick. Our strength is swing."

On Man of the Match Sreesanth in particular, Dravid said, "He hit the right areas and moved the ball. He and others like V.R.V. Singh have a lot of potential. "

India, in the last six years, has scored memorable Test wins at Leeds, Multan, Rawalpindi, Adelaide, Kingston and Johannesburg. Dravid had a significant role to play in all these wins, but he was not willing to rate these victories. "I think all of them are special in their own ways."

Dravid added India would keep the momentum going in the remaining two Tests. "We will hit the ground running hard."

Graeme Smith summed it up well, when he said, "they (the Indians) were hungrier than us."

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