Nagpur: England broke a 28-year-old jinx on Monday by achieving a historic Test series win on Indian soil, leaving the hosts embarrassed with a 2-1 verdict after the fourth and final match ended in a draw.
The last time an English side defeated India in their own den was way back in 1984-85, under the captaincy of David Gower.
The day belonged to centurions Jonathan Trott (143) and Ian Bell’s unbeaten 116 even as the story remained the same for a hapless India, who toiled without much success before the match was called off on the final day with England scoring 352-4.
The hosts needed to take quick wickets to entertain hopes of a win but that did not happen as Trott and Bell batted out the first session to ensure the series triumph for the hosts.
The English players broke into wild celebrations the moment the two sides mutually agreed to a draw at the VCA stadium. There was a feeling of bonhomie and the tourists hugged each other even as gloom descended on the Indian dressing room.
Bell and debutant Joe Root (20) were at the crease when the stumps were drawn for the final time in the series.
It was a remarkable turnaround from the visitors after the humiliating defeat in the series opener in Ahmedabad a month ago.
England staged a strong comeback in the next match in Mumbai where the hosts were crushed by 10 wickets, and the script was pretty similar in Kolkata – the venue for the third Test – where the visitors cruised to a seven-wicket victory at Eden Gardens.
This is also the first time in the last eight years that India have suffered a Test series defeat at home. Australia beat India 2-1 in 2004-05.
Trott made an obdurate 143 in 406 minutes, hitting 18 fours, while Bell was equally tenacious in making an unbeaten 116 in 383 minutes as the duo dashed the hosts’ hopes of a series-levelling win with their 208-run fourth-wicket partnership.
For India, Ravichandran Ashwin took two for 99 while Pragyan Ojha and Ravindra Jadeja picked up a wicket apiece.
Incidentally, just like Alastair Cook and his men have done in this rubber, Gower’s outfit too had rebounded after losing the opening Test.
Under Dhoni, the hosts have also suffered their third defeat in four Test rubbers – the 2-0 win over New Zealand in August being the saving grace after the successive 0-4 whitewashes against England and Australia away from home.
The tourists, who added 79 runs in 31 overs in the pre-lunch session, put on 70 in 29 overs in the second to place themselves well in sight of securing their fifth triumph in 14 attempts in this country dating back to 1932.
Trott and the 30-year-old Bell frustrated the home bowlers from the moment England resumed at their overnight score of 161 for three.
Unbeaten on 66 and 24 respectively last evening, Trott and Bell moved on to 106 and 61 by lunch, and continued to grind the toothless Indian attack in the second session.
The hosts became lethargic as the day progressed. They seemed to be just going through the motions until the match was called off.
To start with, the visitors were positive in their approach with Bell, in particular, playing some superb drives and a glorious pull off Ishant Sharma.
Bell was initially the more aggressive of the two in the fourth-wicket stand.
Trott was also on the lookout for runs as the innings’ 200 came 50 minutes into the day’s play in the 94th over.
The first hour of play produced 45 runs in 18 overs as the two batsmen looked absolutely at ease against all the home team bowlers.
Bell on-drove Ashwin to reach his 35th Test 50 in 177 minutes and 130 balls, which included nine fluently struck fours.
Growing in confidence he hit a six, too, besides 13 fours as he completed his hundred with a three to long leg in 368 minutes and off 293 balls.
Trott, who had survived a confident appeal from the Indians for a catch off Ishant on Sunday, had earlier sauntered to his 100 with an four off Piyush Chawla. It came in 278 minutes and off 232 balls.
James Anderson was named Man-of-the-Match; he took 4-81 in India’s innings.
Cook was named Man-of-the-Series.
Besides leading the side, he scored three centuries in the series.
“It’s a special day and a special tour for me. After Ahmedabad, the heavy defeat, it’s been a fantastic response,” Cook said.
“In my first series as a captain, I couldn’t have asked for more, it’s a very proud moment. Our bowlers have been brilliant and all the batsman contributed. It’s always nice when it goes well, can’t praise the team, the squad enough, the backroom staff but also the fans, the Barmy Army and the India supporters as well,” he added.
The English skipper also paid tribute to the efforts of batsmen Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell who batted off the first session today to ensure the series triumph for the visitors.
“Today, it was a flat wicket to bat on but Trotty and Belly did it so calmly. We were quite surprised with the pitch at the start, how low and slow it was, but it got better. We knew if we didn’t give any soft dismissals it would be hard to bowl us out,” he said.
“People come over here and think the spinners are going to get all the wickets but I wanted to show that seamers have a job to do as well,” Anderson said.
“Reverse swing played a key part and we executed our plans well. The beauty of bowling short spells means you can give it your all and then get a rest,” he added. (PTI)
