Electing to bat v Eng at Headingley, 22 Aug
It is no coincidence that India's best performance of the year came on the back of their most courageous gamble. Brave decisions, when backed by belief and application, generally work. Under glowering skies, on a pitch made for seam, against an all-seam attack led by Andy Caddick who sometimes takes four wickets an over at Headingley, Ganguly decided that enough was enough, the batsmen must do the hardest part. His hand was somewhat forced by the selection of both his spinners - itself a brave decision on a ground where Shane Warne averages 90-odd. First, India piled up 628, their highest total overseas and the only time Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Ganguly all scored centuries in the same innings. Then, the spinners twinkled their way to 11 wickets. The result: India won by an innings and 46 runs, their largest-ever away-Tests victory margin. It was the perfect Test for India, and it began before a ball was bowled. Or faced. Rahul Bhattacharya

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd