Laxman's second-innings act

VVS Laxman's classy batting, and some inspired bowling set up another overseas win for India at a venue where they had a poor record

The 87-run win in Durban was yet another illustration of the remarkable improvement in India's away record over the last decade. They have won 23 overseas Tests since January 2000, which is ten more than they managed in all matches prior to 2000. Since January 2007, India have been beaten in only two away series: they lost 1-2 to Australia in 2007-08, and a few months later went down by the same scoreline to Sri Lanka.

In recent years, India have also managed to win at venues which hadn't been good for them historically. Prior to this win in Durban, they won in Kingston in 2006, at a venue where they had lost six out of nine previous Tests, and in Perth in 2008, after losing their two previous Tests there. India haven't yet won a series in South Africa, though, and the next Test in Cape Town provides a great opportunity to win in a country where they have the poorest away record.

It was also the fourth time since 2008 that India have managed to come back and win immediately after an innings defeat. In 2008, they lost to South Africa in Ahmedabad and won the next match in Kanpur. In the series in Sri Lanka, the innings defeat at the P Sara Oval was followed by the 170-run win in Galle. More recently, in the home series against South Africa, India won by an innings in Kolkata after losing the first Test by an innings in Nagpur.