October 21 Monday 2002
Ganguly lauds India's consistency after series win 

CHENNAI, India: Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly praised his side's growing consistency after they beat West Indies in the second Test on Sunday to clinch the series. 

"We are playing very well and everybody is contributing," he said after the eight-wicket win over the struggling visitors with more than a day to spare. 

The performance followed India's victory in the first Mumbai Test by an innings and 112 runs. Ganguly's side have been impressive in recent months. They shared the title in the Champions Trophy after winning a tri-series in England where they also rallied to draw a four-Test series 1-1. In Chennai, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who was named man of the match for his seven-wicket match haul and a quickfire 37, and leg-break bowler Anil Kumble dominated on a slow pitch. 

Pacemen Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath also bowled well. "I am very happy the way our fast bowlers bowled on a pitch which wasn't particularly helpful to them," said Ganguly, who was due to undergo a scan on his back after colliding with Kumble while going for a catch on Sunday. 

"Zaheer bowled with a lot of heart and showed the experience he has gained." The 24-year-old left-arm bowler gave India the vital breakthrough on the fourth day by removing dangerman Ramnaresh Sarwan for 78 to finish with three wickets. He has taken eight in the last two games. 

Ganguly said Zaheer would be rested for the third Kolkata Test starting on October 30 and the subsequent seven-match one-day series. 

"He needs a break after all this non-stop cricket. We are going to have two tough tours ahead and we need him for that." India travel to New Zealand for Tests and one-day matches before leaving for the February-March World Cup in South Africa. Ganguly said he favoured the introduction of technology to rule on leg-before decisions in Tests and described the experiment in last month's Champions Trophy as successful. 

Ganguly was unlucky to be given out leg before in the Indian first innings as television replays showed he had clearly edged the ball on to his pads. He was also given out lbw in the first Test to a ball which pitched outside leg stump. 

"I have had a few poor decisions this year," he said. "It's time technology is brought in for these kind of decisions a little more, especially in India where noise from the crowd makes it hard for umpires."