10 February,2009 10:58 AM IST | | Clayton Murzello
ANOTHER TON: Virender Sehwag celebrates after reaching his century in the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo on February 3. PIC/AFP
WHAT does it mean when Graeme Pollock says he can't wait for South Africa's next battle with India? It simply means that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's India has thoroughly impressed the greatest left-handed batsman produced in the game alongside Sir Gary Sobers in Sir Don Bradman's words.
Pollock reckons India and South Africa are better teams than Australia. And India can boast of having the world's best batsman Virender Sehwag.
"India has been fantastic. I like Sehwag and according to me, he could be the best batsman going around in world cricket today. Sachin Tendulkar is still going strong and although Sourav Ganguly is gone, Gautam Gambhir looks good," Pollock told MiD DAY recently after South Africa displaced Australia as the No 1 one-day team.
Sehwag had a good time in the five-match ODI series which India won 4-1. He helped himself to his 10th ODI hundred in the third one-dayer at the Premadasa Stadium. Yesterday, he was named BCCI's player of the year 2007-08.
Back to Pollock's most wanted battle. India played Test cricket in South Africa last in 2006-07. They won their first ever Test there in Johannesburg, but lost the next two to lose the series 1-2. The return series in India in 2007-08 ended in a 1-1 margin.
Johannesburg-based Pollock (65) was delighted to watch South Africa's convincing series wins over Australia in both forms of the game. "It was simply fantastic. It's never easy to win in Australia against a good or bad side. South Africa earlier did not have the self belief to do so. Now they certainly do."
Duminy effect
He has a lot of time for J P Duminy, undoubtedly the star of the Australian summer. "Duminy is highly talented and I am glad he made the cut in the Test squad because as a one-day player, you can't really contribute big scores when you are batting lower down the order. He is a very good strokeplayer. He palms the ball and does not over-hit it that's his speciality. Plus, he times it so well. It was a thrill to watch one of his sixes off his legs during the series," Pollock said.
Duminy will be seen in action for Mumbai Indians during April's Indian Premier League. The prolific Hashim Amla does not miss out in his book of appreciation. "Amla has been a great contributor and was one of the key guys. His confidence stood out."
Finally, there comesu00a0 a word of caution with Australia due to travel to South Africa soon. "Australia were beaten but don't rule them out. Never rule out a wounded Australian team and it is something South Africa have to be wary about.
"South Africa and India are better teams now but it will take some doing to displace Australia in the Test rankings".
Pollock was proud of what his countrymen achieved recently chiefly, the Test series triumph on Australian soil, something which he couldn't achieve in his 1963-1970 Test career. Of course, Pollock was the star of his side when the Springboks thrashed the Aussies 4-0 in South Africa 1969-70. He scored an epic 274 in the Durban Test.
