India becomes Numero Uno in Test Cricket

India with 124 points surpassed mighty Southdemonstrated !
Africa ( 122 points ) in ICC Test Rankings. TheSL is now down in the doldrums, on 144/5.
renovated Brabourne Stadium erupted with joySangakara seems to be waging a lone battle
as Murali edged Bajji to Dhoni.against India’s spinners and medium pacers !
Sachin said that this was the glorious fruit of a 18Now SL finished the day with 274/6, with
month dream come true. He said all credit mustSangakara undefeated on 133. Can he do a Dennis
go to the coaches, G Kirsten, V Prasad and RAmiss ? ( Dennis Amiss scored 274 no on the
Singh. Asked if this was the best team he hadlast day and salvaged the Test for England ).
played along with, he said as Dhoni was batting atSL was cruising well along, on 119/2, when
No 7, this is a strong batting line up.Sreeshant struck. He removed Paranavitana with
Dhoni said the win was the result of a great teama superb delivery.SL 119/2. Then Zaheer struck
effort, wherein everyone contributed.removing Jayawardene. SL 135/3. Samaraweera
Not only batting, it was bowling which did the Srifell to Khan. SL 137/4. Then Angelo Mathews was
Lankans in. Zaheer took 5/72 and wasdevoured by Ojha. SL 144/5 !
instrumental in skittling the Sri Lankans out forThen Prasanna came to partner Sanga and there
309. Sreeshant bowled well and achieved aensued a good partnership. It lasted till 208, when
breakthrough when he removed the dangerousPrasanna was removed by a master ball from the
Paranavitana. All four specialist Indian bowlersleft arm spinner, Ojha. SL 208/6.
were successful. All batsmen were also successfulKulasekara then joined Sanga, who stroked his
and India had played another perfect Test. 726/9way to a great 133 no. They are still there at 274
was an improvisation over the last 642 ! SL’s6.
393 and 309 were better improvisations than 229Most probably, India will create history and move
& 269, but then 726 was too much forto Numero Uno position in Tests, unless Sanga
them.does a Dennis Amiss !
India should now avoid complacency, which can beWhat a great man Dhoni is ! Scores a hundred
the foundation of failure. She should aim now tocasually and then declares !
become the numero uno in ODIs and T20s !SL was in no mood to give the match to India on
V Prasad imparted his knowledge of swing anda platter. They bowled their heart out and got
reverse swing to the Indian pacers, with theSehwag for 293, Dravid for 74. Sachin and
result India produced excellent swing bowlers inLaxman were also wobbled up. Only Yuvraj failed
Sreeshant, I Sharma, RP Singh, Nehra, Z Khan andto score above 50.
P Kumar. I Sharma lost his swing by trying toIn such a challenging situation, Dhoni walked in. He
bowl too fast, according to Manoj Prabhakar. Itplayed casually, defending in  the early overs and
was the perfect left armer’s outswingerthen lashing out at the end. After his well compiled
from Z Khan which removed Sangakara ! Indianhundred, he declared at 726/9, with India having
swing bowling did wonders as Sreeshant in thea  lead of 333 runs.
second Test and Z Khan in the Third