COCK-A-HOOP India last night sent a pointed message to the rest of the world that Australia had lost its world champion aura and was increasingly beatable.
As more than a billion Indians celebrated the famous win, rival Test nations were given fresh confidence they could strike a dagger into Australia’s heart and end its rampaging run at the top of world cricket.
Australia’s next rivals Pakistan and an improving South African side were licking their lips, as was old enemy England, who will tangle with Ricky Ponting’s men, in the 2009 Ashes.
Indian skipper Anil Kumble last night insisted his team had given the rest of the world a blueprint on how to topple the world champions.
“Yeah, definitely,” Kumble said.
“We came with that attitude. We wanted to come here and win a series in Australia.
“I have been delighted we have been able to win a Test match and take this confidence into the Adelaide Test and we look forward to winning that and levelling the series.
“This was right at the top of whatever victories I have been involved in.
“Considering the fact that no visiting team gets any kind of a chance coming to Perth and being 2-0 down in the series it was a brilliant victory.”
Indian jubilation overflowed last night after controversial spinner Harbhajan Singh stormed onto the field waving the national flag as the team celebrated an incredible victory.
The party kicked on long into the night in Perth as the Australians were coming to grips with the fact they had lost their first Test on home soil since 2003 and their 16-Test winning streak had ended.
Australia was totally outplayed, particularly with India’s bowlers using the Perth conditions better than the home team.
Kumble had the last laugh in a tumultuous fortnight and fired a parting shot at Australia by claiming India boasted the best batting line-up in the world.
He claimed Australia had lost its most intimidating weapons in Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath and was no longer the dominant force it once was.
“You can’t easily replace someone like Glenn McGrath or Shane Warne,” Kumble said.
“I never felt any intimidation on the field (in Perth).
“If you look at our batting line-up I think its probably the best batting line-up in the world. We don’t get intimidated by any bowler.
“There was no kind of revenge factor (after the SCG Test), but it was important we all rallied around.”
As the Australian dressingroom was in a shattered state, former Test opener Michael Slater declared Ponting’s men would have a strange mix of swirling emotions.
“They are feeling emotion they have not felt for a long, long time,” Slater said.
Indian opening batsman Virender Sehwag described the against-the-odds victory as a famous moment in the history of the game.
“It’s a very great Test match for us. Everybody was talking about it being bouncy and fast in Perth and Australia was playing four quicks,” Sehwag chirped.
Australia last night recalled injured opener Matthew Hayden at the expense of Chris Rogers for this week’s Adelaide Test and out-of-sorts speedster Shaun Tait will face the chop.
Filed under: Faltoo Cricket | Tagged: Australia, Cricket, india vs australia, Kumble
