When we came to India we knew that we had a huge challenge on our hands and today's win was a great start to the series. The Australians did exceptionally well and our self-belief and commitment as a team ensured that we came out winning.

Although the Test ended in three days, it was a tight affair. Appearances can be deceptive and while a three-day finish might suggest an easy victory, believe me, that was not the case. Even an hour after the game, the players are sitting in the dressing room physically and mentally drained by the whole experience. There were moments right through the Test when the game was in the balance, for example, it could have gone either way this afternoon after Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid had got through the morning session.

As far as putting India in to bat, I admit it was a gamble, but as a captain you have to trust your instincts. The Indians had not played any tough Test series for the last six months and would have been a little unprepared to face our bowlers on a pitch that afforded some assistance to pace bowling. Moreover, we knew from their series loss in Australia that they were not fond of playing quick bowling. I thought opening some mental scars from that series would work in our favour, and hence the decision. The move did work, as the first session of the Test was crucial. The four wickets we knocked back then set the whole game up nicely for us.

The decision not to play the extra spinner may seem an error on hindsight to some, but I don't think that was the case. Damien Fleming did his job by picking up the vital wicket of Dravid in the first innings, and in the second innings he did create opportunities. It also helped that Mark picked up three wickets today with his off-breaks. He is an underrated bowler and very often I think even he does not know how useful he can be when he bowls. He had missed out with the bat and must have been eager to contribute. That's what makes this side so special, everybody puts their hand up to make a positive contribution.

The Test was not as easy as a 10-wicket win would suggest and immediately after lunch it looked like Tendulkar was ready for a major innings. His dismissal was a little lucky for us but I believe that you make your own luck. I knew that the wheel will turn our way at some point and his dismissal was the turning point. Though we knew that we had the advantage at that moment, I did not expect the rest of the dismissals would be quite as easy.

As I said there were moments in the Test when the result was in the balance. At 99 for five, people would like to think that we were panicky in the dressing room, but that was not the case. Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist knew what they were doing as each had a plan and stuck to it. Gilchrist's innings was one of the best I have seen and it was a tribute to Sir Don Bradman as I don't think even the Don could have played better yesterday.

It was an emotional time for us when Sir Don passed away just before the Test. As a team we decided to play the game the Australian way, and I would like to dedicate this victory to the memory of the greatest cricketer ever.

We have two days off and after a break tomorrow we will be training from Saturday onwards. We know the next two Tests will also be tight affairs and we will be sharpening our skills before those two games.

© Gameplan