Close England 336 and 33 for 0 drew with India 238 (Tendulkar 90, Sehwag 66, Flintoff 4-50, Hoggard 4-80)
scorecard

Squibs don't come any damper. Rain prevented any play at all on the final day of the third Test at Bangalore, so India were duly pronounced 1-0 series winners. But most of the honours went to England, who led by 131 with all ten second-innings wickets in hand, and had the better of the second Test as well. Rarely has a defeat been such a triumph.

But it could have been so much more. England had their chance on the final day at Ahmedabad, where both sides failed to take the initiative (note to Sunil Gavaskar: India were just as boring). And if more than two sessions' worth of play had been possible on the last three days at Bangalore, England might well have got the 1-1 draw they deserved.

They will look back - if they can bear it - on an aberrational afternoon on the first day of the series at Mohali, when 200 for 3 became 238 all out in the space of 25 overs. If England had reached 400 instead, they might now be celebrating their most improbable series win since, well, since March, when they won in Sri Lanka.

As it is, England can take consolation from the fact that they learned more quickly from their errors than anyone expected (James Foster was the shining example here), and confirmed their reputation as a side that really can hack it on the subcontinent. Even Australia can't yet claim that.

But it was by no means a hollow win for India, and certainly no hollower than England's 1-0 home victory over them in 1996. India exploited England's inexperience against the turning ball ruthlessly at Mohali, and hung on comfortably in the end at Ahmedabad. However reliant they were on Sachin Tendulkar, who was Man of the Series for his 307 runs at 76, they remain a tough side to beat at home. Only South Africa, in March 2000, have won there in the last 14 years.

Andy Flintoff was named Man of the Match today for his spell of 4 for 50 - and although he looked gobsmacked, his gritty new-ball pairing with Matthew Hoggard was another reason for England to pat themselves on their aching backs. Now they must go home, enjoy Christmas with their loved ones, and recharge for the one-day series that begins on January 22, or earlier if the Indian board has its way. England is freezing at the moment, but this is no bad thing: revenge, you see, is a dish best served cold.

Lawrence Booth is assistant editor of Wisden.com.

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