Australia v India 2014: Indians finally show overseas mettle, writes Robert Craddock

IS this just a mirage in the summer heat or are we seeing a giant of the game waking from its slumber? Australia beware, writes Robert Craddock.

India's Murali Vijay (L) plays a sweep shot on day one of the 2nd Test match between Australia and India at The Gabba in Brisbane on December 17, 2014. AFP PHOTO / SAEED KHAN IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE

IS this just a mirage in the summer heat or are we seeing a giant of the game waking from its slumber?

Bald statistics tell us India lost in Adelaide last week and have won only one of their past 20 Tests away from home.

It is a jolting statistic yet there is something about the way they have played in the first two Tests of this series that has signalled the ship is turning and there may be far better days ahead.

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If the revival continues, and the jury is still out because India could still go belly up in Brisbane, it has the potential to revitalise Test cricket.

India have fought hard and look like a team who are collectively shouting “we are as mad as hell (about our rubbish offshore record) and we are not going to take it anymore’’.

India's Murali Vijay is congratulated by teammate Ajinkya Rahane after scoring a century.

India can go nowhere quickly until they find more decent fast bowlers but their batsmen are starting to find their own identity after being caught in the giant shadows of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.

Murali Vijay is correct, confident and calm, Virat Kohli a fearless warrior and the entire top order are men to be respected..

India were slaughtered in England recently after winning one Test and were expected to be easy meat for Australia where they have never won any of the 11 Test series they have contested and have won only five Tests on our shores.

The difference on this tour is not their techniques but their temperaments.

Indian teams used to arrive in Australia staring at their shoelaces from the time they exited customs. They expected bad news and normally always got it.

India's Ajinkya Rahane gave Murali Vijay great support on day one.

It’s early days but this team seem different.

If the new spirit could be encapsulated in one image it was Kohli turning to the dressingroom in Adelaide after raising his century and shouting “c’mon’’ in a rally cry for the troops.

No Indian captain of any previous generation would have been so bold.

Team director Ravi Shastri has promised they will try to play bold cricket and boldness sometimes involves more than just cavalier strokeplay.

The Indian top order stood firm when peppered by short balls on a pitch yielding generous but even bounce.

They slowed down to a crawl at times in the afternoon but there was always a bigger picture at play.

Murali Vijay handled the extra Gabba bounce superbly.

With Mitchell Marsh injured, Mitchell Starc off with heat exhaustion and Mitchell Johnson feeling the pressure of being the only Mitchell on the field, Australia were always likely to run low on gas if India could just stay at the crease.

They did.

Indian observers say that the Indian Premier League has started to change the attitude of Indian players playing overseas.

The Indian players have been told and retold by visiting players that their conservative offshore game plan will never take them anywhere.

At last they have taken the hint.

Australia beware.

Originally published as Australia v India 2014: Indians finally show overseas mettle, writes Robert Craddock