5 reasons to be cheerful

One day of really bad luck in Chennai changed the course of the series. India, dominant through four days’ play, were heading for victory when rain washed out Day 5. Buoyed by Sehwag’s century and the form of Kumble and Harbhajan, the hosts were three sessions away from levelling the series. Who knows what effect that would have had on Nagpur? And even if India had lost the Third Test, they would have gone to Mumbai looking to level the series…

BOWLING OUT OZ

Proof that our bowlers are on top: India are the only team since January 2000 to bowl out the Australians in five consecutive innings. The first three Tests have yielded 55 Australian wickets, the second-highest figure for three Tests in a series against Oz since 2000 (Sri Lanka picked 58 wickets in 3 Tests earlier this year)

SACHIN’S BACK

All this, and we’ve been without Sachin for the first two matches. Big deal, Australia were without Ponting. But there’s a difference; apart from his batting, Sachin was sorely missed at Chennai for his ability to break partnerships. He’s back and though he’s not scoring yet, he’s in the team

SEHWAG SAILS ON

Once again, as he did in New Zealand, Sehwag has proved that he can deliver when all others fail. The pretzel logic of his cricketing brain defies analysis but who cares as long as he’s scoring runs?

THE NEW FACES

They haven’t delivered yet, and probably only two will play at Wankhede, but the four new boys — Gambhir, Kaarthick, Jadhav, Paul — have been picked purely on merit and past performance. No hint of endorsements, contracts, sponsorships, agents, just plain and simple stats. And the stats, even at that level, look good