Durban: Indian selection panel chief Dilip Vengsarkar, lauding the performance of Sourav Ganguly and V.V.S. Laxman in the first Test, told The Hindu, here, on Wednesday, "You cannot buy experience off the shelves. They batted very well."

He said Ganguly displayed courage when the South Africans bounced at him.

Vengsarkar was pleased with the spirit within the Indian team. "The Indian dressing room seems a happy place."

Openers have to fire

The former India captain admitted that the conditions were tough for the opening pair but added that it was their job to contribute. Vengsarkar, who is keen on specialists performing the role at the top of the order, also kept the Gautam Gambhir option open.

"We are having the two-day friendly practice game here from Friday and the performances in these matches will be taken into account."

He said the Indian catching complemented the right-left new-ball combination of S. Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan. "The attack does have variety. But we also held catches in the slips, which is very important."

While appreciating Sreesanth's bowling, Vengsarkar added the paceman would have to be careful about his behaviour. Vengsarkar was confident that India would continue to do well in the Test series.

"I had predicted before the series that India would perform better in the Tests. We have shown the right approach and attitude. It was a courageous decision to bat first at the Wanderers and then we came up with a good team effort.''

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