His words came after India consolidated their dominant showing at Headingley to claim an innings win against England before lunch on the final day.

Ganguly admitted that electing to bat first on day one was a "big decision" - one which many observers had initially questioned.

But Dravid dug deep on a pitch that should have aided England's seamers to hit 148.

It was an innings that set up centuries from Sachin Tendulkar and Ganguly, and which created the foundation for India's win.

Ganguly said: "The way we batted on the first day really set up the game for us.

"I knew it would nip around first thing in the morning but we were playing two spinners so we had to bat first.

"I had confidence in Rahul who is one of the best batsmen in the world and he and Sanjay Bangar played brilliantly.

"When we reached 630 we knew we had a good chance in the Test but we knew we had to get them out twice and we knew in the back of our mind that it rains quite a lot in Yorkshire."

Ganguly had time too to praise his opposite number Nasser Hussain, whose defiant century after England were forced to follow on really frustrated the visitors.

Team effort

"On this wicket it takes guts and character and he showed it but we knew it would take only one wicket.

"We got him out quite early in the morning and Anil [Kumble] and Harbhajan [Singh] bowled very well in tandem.

"I thought it was a good team effort. We've played well overseas for the last year or so. We may not have won any series but we've come very close."

It is, indeed, 16 years since India last won a Test series abroad.

On that occasion, England were also beaten at Headingley, and there is talk of the track at The Oval, where the deciding Test will be played, taking plenty of spin.