The Sticky Tail

India has now been the top-ranked Test Cricket nation for almost two years. A dream batting line-up is the most obvious reason for India's ascent to the top, but there are a few less obvious reasons that I believe are equally important.

First of all, an in-your-face attitude that came with Sourav Ganguly. The Indian team is now fearless, and is perhaps the team that provides the best demonstration of controlled aggression in the cricket world. Our frontline bowlers - Zaheer, Sreesanth, and Harbhajan are not just fearless. They are capable of flustering the world's best batsmen with their stares, the occassional spoken word, and the aggressive body language. Move over Australia, Indian bowlers are setting the new standard in aggression.

Then there is the sticky tail. All great teams fight till the finish, hate to lose, and keep their opponents honest. Last time I remember India's tailenders putting up a fight was during Syed Kirmani's time. However the exploits of our 8, 9, 10, 11 over the last two years are unparalleled. Harbhajan Singh has been fabulous with the bat, Zaheer, Ishant, and Ojha have played match winning or match saving roles, and Laxman has been unbelievable in developing partnerships with these guys. Ultimately it is about the attitude to not give up, and the in-your-face approach that is the key.

I think the most frustrating thing in cricket is when ten and jack get together, smash the ball around, and put together an irritating partnership. At Hyderabad Harbhajan and Sreesanth put on 105 for the last wicket, and it could well have been a match winning effort, had our bowling unit been a little more productive.

India's sticky tail has been one of the most defining characteristics of their rise to the top.