V V S Laxman tells SportsCenter that it will be important for India to keep up the good work on the field to maintain the top spot.

Q: You must be very happy the way things have gone for India this year?

Ans: Yes, absolutely very satisfied because all of us wanted to achieve the goal of reaching the number one position in the ICC Test rankings. The process started from the 2001 season and it is very good that we have been able to achieve that and I think credit goes to all the players involved along with the coaches and all support staff. And, along with that to all the well wishers of the Indian cricket team because in India, cricket is more like a religion than a sport. It is a great feeling to be a part of the number one test playing nation in the world.

Q: In one of the interviews in England you have mentioned that you would like your team to be number one and at last we have achieved that.

Ans: Yes, absolutely the process started not just last one or one and a half years ago but since a long time and its good that we have achieved that. Now it is our responsibility to go and do well in each and every Test match we play and maintain the position.

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Q: How difficult will it be to maintain the position?

Ans: It will be quite tough. But instead of thinking about the rankings its very important to think about the process and once if you have achieved this you have done something good. We should keep up the good work and the good practices that we have been following and just concentrate on the process and I am sure that the result of the rankings will take care of itself.

Q: But unfortunately you are not playing lot of Test matches this year. That will be disappointing for fans.

Ans: Yes, I am sure that the BCCI will be looking into this. They have already added two Test matches against South Africa in Feb-March and I am sure that the BCCI will be working to make sure that we play more Test matches.

Q: Are you looking forward to the two upcoming series - one against Bangladesh and the other against South Africa?

Ans: Yes, every series and every Test match will be important for us and I am really looking forward to do well against Bangladesh in January and of course against South Africa. It will be a competitive series because the Proteas are a very formidable team.

Q: Any personal goals that you are looking forward to achieve?

Ans: I just want to continue playing match winning knocks and perform consistently for the team and the milestones will take care of itself. I just want to go out and try and win matches for the country.

Q: After the South Africa series, what about the IPL and county cricket?

Ans: I haven't thought about the county cricket as yet and I am also not thinking about IPL also as of now. I am concentrating on the Bangladesh series.