England Hand India Humiliating Defeat by an Innings and 242 Runs; Win Series 3-0 as No.1 Test Team

India’s worst fears were realized on the fourth day of the third Test of the India England series at Edgbaston, Birmingham as they lost the third Test on the trot by an innings and 242 runs to lose the series by 3-0 with a Test still remaining as England become the no.1 Test team in the world at the expense of the Indian team.

England cricket

The end was hastened rather early into the fourth day morning as James Anderson was dangerous, precise and effective in skittling the Indian top order for next to nothing. Even though India were behind on deficit by 486 runs after England declared on 710 for seven and India had the tough task of batting out two days to draw the match, it was expected that India would defy their performances in the series thus far by standing to at least be counted.

However, England have been on the mark, on target and their purposeful push was always going to be concern for the Indian batting which has failed to fire right through the series. With Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir at the crease, it was hoped that India would prolong England’s agony while the batsmen found the middle of their bat.

But England’s bowling has proved to be too good right through the series, relentless, confident and looking dangerously to embarrass the opposition and they did once more. At one point, there was a real danger that India may not bat through lunch. Rahul Dravid’s wicket proved to be controversial in that Dravid remained unsure if he had nicked the ball but did not think to ask for the Umpire Decision Review System although the Hot Spot and snickometer failed to detect an edge. That would have perhaps changed the course in that India could have kept batting.

But it opened the gates and it seemed while Sachin Tendulkar seemed more determined, there was not a lot to bat around as Anderson sliced through the Indian top order.

Eventually Tendulkar’s dismissal highlighted how woeful the series has been for India. It made little sense why Tendulkar was backing up as far as he did when a shot from Mahendra Singh Dhoni had Swann reaching for the ball only for a mere finger touch before crashing into the stumps at the non striker’s end. Tendulkar was deemed to have been out after the bat was found on the line as India slipped to six for eighty-nine.

Praveen Kumar did his best to hang around which was to go for his shots which brought some entertainment for the festive crowd that turned up for a fancy dress contest. His defiant partnership with the Indian captain was not going to change the eventual result, but it brought a few smiles, some cheers and reason for a spectacle as he cut Graeme Swann to humble size. His forty runs were completely against the grain unlike Tendulkar’s restrained forty and Dhoni’s persevering in a lost cause for seventy-four runs.

Anderson’s four wickets on the top of the day had done plenty of damage to completely demolish any hopes of a fightback from the Indian team who have now lost the no.1 Test team title as well with the third defeat in the series to lose the series, the first for Dhoni since taking over as captain.