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Former cricketers laud victory

Source: PTI
December 17, 2003 13:15 IST
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Former spin wizard E A S Prasanna on Tuesday said he was "not the least surprised" by India's scintillating win over Australia in the Adelaide Test and predicted that Sourav Ganguly and his men would win the series 2-0.

"If we can hold fort in the third Test at Melbourne, then we have a strong chance of putting it across the Kangaroos in the final one at Sydney," said the celebrated off-spinner, who shifted base permanently to Kolkata last weekend from Bangalore.

Prasanna, a key member of the Bishen Singh Bedi-led 1977-78 side which became the first Indian team to win Tests on Australian soil by fashioning triumphs in two back-to-back matches, said he always felt that the present team had it in it to put the formidable hosts on the mat.

"Before the Indian team left, I had said at a media programme in this very city that they can pull of a win if they keep their heads cool," he added.

"We played against a depleted Australian side. But full credit to Sourav and his boys. He led the side brilliantly," he said.

Former Test player Anshuman Gaekwad said that the victory should make every Indian proud.

"We should take pride in the win. Indians excelled in all the departments -- batting, bowling and fielding -- and that augurs well for the future of the game in the country", he said.

National selector Kiran More said the victory was "badly needed" and added that India should continue in the same vein to win the series.

Former captain and dashing opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth was elated over India's "incredible win."

"It is an incredible victory. Rahul Dravid and V V S Laxman have once again proved that they could weave together to excel against such opposition," he said.

Former India stumper Sameer Dighe, who was part of the Indian team which beat the Aussies 2-1 in the home series a couple of years ago, said "it was a fantastic team effort by the Indians".

However, he warned the Indians against getting carried away by the win as the Australians would try hard in the next two matches to save the series.

"They should not become over confident as they still have two more matches on fast paced wickets and I only hope that they will keep up the good work so that they come back winning the Test series", he said.

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