Former captain Sourav Ganguly left the Test cricket arena on a high Monday after India's 172-run victory earned a 2-0 series success over Australia. Ganguly captained the team when it won the Border-Gavaskar trophy in 2001 and 2004, but he was also in charge later that year when India lost the series to the Australians. After scoring 324 runs at an average of 54 in this series, the left-handed Ganguly exited the international stage knowing he had played a considerable part in regaining the prize. “Winning 2-0 is probably the best thing that could have happened,” he said. “I've played well, the team has played well. “The way this Test match finished, I'm ready to sacrifice a year of Test cricket for it - it's probably one of the best finishes I've seen in terms of a team performance. I want to cherish this for a long period.” The 36-year-old Ganguly, who announced before the series his decision to step down at the end of the campaign, was allowed by new leader Mahendra Singh Dhoni to guide the team once Australia's ninth wicket fell. “I managed to do it for three overs and then I said ‘it's his job, not mine anymore,”' Ganguly said. Ganguly, who scored 7,212 runs in 113 Tests, almost posted a farewell century in the first innings - falling for 85 - before walking off with zero in the second after chipping a catch back to offspinner Jason Krejza. “I was not too disappointed with the first-ball duck but I was disappointed with the 85 I got,” he said. “I was so close to getting a hundred.” Ganguly led the side in 49 Tests - before being dropped in 2006 during Australian Greg Chappell's tenure as coach - and turned India into a powerful team that was successful around the world. “The most important thing is the raising of Indian cricket's image in world cricket,” he said. “During the phase from 2000 to 2005 - and it's going on now - Indian cricket's image has gone up immensely, especially touring. “We were always termed soft when we traveled. I think that has changed considerably. At the present moment India are a formidable side home and away.” Dhoni's leadership abilities have impressed Ganguly and he believes the wicketkeeper, who replaced Anil Kumble after the third Test, is the right man to take the team forward. “Captaincy is a spark,” he said. “It's not just preparation or just that you have to be a good player or do homework. “It's about the spark on the field, which MS has. He's got that extra bit of luck which you require in captaincy. He will be tested when India goes overseas and I'm sure he will live up to it.” –AP __
