Without doubt the best series I've played in

Yesterday's defeat was hugely disappointing for us, but we have the satisfaction of having given it our best shot. However, that was not enough and finally our fightback could not stop the Indians from winning.

Australia really wanted this win very badly. We wanted to show the world that we can win everywhere. We have won everywhere except India, and came to here to set that record straight. Unfortunately, it was not to be and we have to accept that result.

After the fourth day, we thought that 150 runs would be a total that we could defend. We felt that once we set that target, our bowlers would bowl well and build pressure. Things were going according to plan when we got an early wicket. After that the Indians consolidated, but we were in with a chance when Ramesh fell at a crucial juncture. At 100 for two with Laxman and Sachin at the crease we thought it was an uphill task. Laxman, in fact, was the hero of the day. His 60-odd made the difference, because he was playing his shots freely while all the other batsmen were feeling the pressure. He is definitely on a bit of a roll and has been the architect of India’s turnaround.

This is why we thought we had more than a chance when Laxman fell to a tremendous catch by Mark Waugh. There were still 20 runs left and not much batting to come. You never really know what can happen from such situations. On the day, India were equal to the task and finally made it home. Strangely enough, I never thought of a tie as a possible result. I was focused on winning the Test and was giving 100 per cent -- a tie never crossed my mind.

There were reports that I was struggling in the last Test, but that was not entirely true. I have lost four kgs in India, and I do lose a couple more after a day on the field. However, that is put back as soon as I get some fluids back in the body. I guess the way Jason Gillespie and I bowled on the last day was proof enough that we were 100 per cent for the occasion.

Harbhajan deserved to hit the winning runs. As soon as they crossed the target, he seemed a little confused as to whether India had leveled or gone past the target. That is why the mid-pitch celebrations took some time to get going.

Harbhajan's bowling right through this series has been nothing short of spectacular. He has been accurate and none of our batsmen were sure against him. I have never seen a bowler dominate Australian batsmen the way he has, and getting 32 out of 50 wickets speaks volumes.

In each of the Tests, the batsmen would start out by getting a few runs against him, but he would then take one wicket and follow it up by a few more. He obviously won the mental battle as well, and that put our batsmen on the defensive.

This series is without doubt one of the best I've played in. We dominated for the first Test and the first two days of the second Test, but then the turning point of the series came. While Laxman's 281 won India the Calcutta Test, I think his first innings knock of 59 was the one that set the tone for what was to come. On the third morning in Calcutta, he got going while his team was struggling to avoid a follow on. When Venkatesh Prasad survived a close call, Laxman got a few more overs to get his bearings against our attack. That really set him up for his mammoth effort in Calcutta and his significant contributions here.

The Indians are a very different prospect at home from what they are abroad. When they come to Australia, they seem to be beaten even before they arrive. Perhaps we need to play more of each other to get used to conditions in each other’s country. However, with the new Test system, where teams play each other at home and away on a rotation basis, I'm not sure when we'll get to play against them again.

From what I gather from reports here as well as back home, the series has really brought interest back to Test cricket. Hopefully, that interest will be good for Test cricket and the crowds will keep coming in to watch us like they did in all three Tests.

- Gameplan

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