Who is the greatest cricketer in the world?'. The question came up before author VS Naipaul in a GK test one day in 1940 when he was in fourth standard at a school in Port of Spain. Learie Constantine was arguably the greatest cricketer in all of West Indies during the time. Despite being aware of Constantine's towering reputation as a cricketer, Naipaul wrote: 'Bradman'. The boy went by vox populi. His Negro teacher didn't agree with the answer and pencilled large and angry cross on his answer-sheet. 'Constantine' was the answer.

'Who will win the series decider Gabba test?', my son asked me yesterday. 'Australia', I said. Here I hadn't gone only by popular perception. My instincts relied more on history, on past performances. The Indian test teams have been notorious in caving in when faced with 300 plus targets in fourth innings on Australian pitches. In my heart of hearts, however, I wished for a miracle win for India. I betted on my hopes.

It's really heartening to note that the Gabba fortress has been breached by this gritty Indian team that chased down 327 runs in fourth innings to script history. And history has been proved all wrong at Brisbane Cricket Ground today. David has slain Goliath. I kind of feel rewarded for betting on my hopes.

Naipaul had sensed racial prejudices in his Negro teacher while finding a fellow black as world's greatest cricketer. But here's me, approving fully of my son's cricketing chauvinism, notwithstanding that my assessment of the results have been proved woefully wrong.

Three Cheers for Team India !!!

The writer is a Joint Secretary rank Officer in the Government of Jharkhand. Singh is a bibliophile having a voracious appetite for reading.