It's hard to believe, looking back over the wreckage of the series, but India were the number one ranked side going in, and there was anticipation for a tightly fought, thrilling series. It didn't take long for India to start coming apart, and it just got worse and worse through out the series. However, it had started well on the first day, with Zaheer Khan removing both openers, and then having Trott missed - but once he limped out of the series in his next over, things started to go wrong. Praveen Kumar bowled well to finish with five, but Pietersen's 202 led England to a big score, and India's response was well short. Even then, Sharma sparked an England collapse that could have seen India in with a shot in a fourth innings chase, but Prior and Broad took that out of contention with a run-a-ball 162 run partnership, and England's seamers ensured India were never in the hunt.
Still, a 196 run loss first up could be put down to acclimatisation, and so it looked when they bowled England out for 221 on the first day in Nottingham, and then reached 4/267 on the second day, led by Dravid's second century of the series. But then along came Stuart Broad and his hat-trick, figures of 6/46 and a small lead for India. The openers went cheaply, and India still looked good for levelling the series, but that was to be the end of the competition. Bell and the middle order pulverised India on the way to 544, and the seamers ripped through the visitors for a 319 run win. And then it got really ugly.
As Australia found out in the last Ashes series, the current England batting card can make some very large scores. The 474 and 544 in the first two tests were just warm-ups - the Third test brought 7/710 and a massive innings win, and the Fourth Test might have seen that surpassed before rain led Strauss to declare at 6/591. Still, that was enough for another innings win. In contrast, India's much vaunted batting line-up had a high score of 300. Of India's batsmen, Only Dravid could hold his head up, and then some, with three fine centuries and 461 runs. Tendulkar was next highest with 273 and without a century, while only Dhoni also reached 200 in the series. Laxman, Raina, Gambhir and the late arriving Sehwag all had a woeful time. Not surprisingly, the Indian bowling figures were unattractive, although Praveen Kumar flew the flag, finishing with 15 wickets under 30. The spinners had a torrid time, with Mishra and Harbhajan combining for 5/607 in the series.
England's dominance was so total, that it was somewhat of a surprise to note some weak spots. Bell and Pietersen had dominating series, with both totalling over 500, but they didn't always have it easy, with neither opener having an outstanding series. Cook may have finished with 348 from six knocks, but 294 came in one innings, while Strauss had only the one half-century. Morgan and Trott also posted somewhat sub-par numbers, but the lower order again excelled as Prior, Bresnan and Broad all averaged over 60 with a combined century and six fifties. On the bowling side, the seamers had a field day, led by Broad's 25 wickets at less than 14, able backed by Tremlett and Anderson. Graeme Swann had a tougher time, as the Indians showed they can still play spin quite happily away from home, although Swann picked up nine in the last match to finish with 13 at a shade over 40. Not surprisingly, the part-timers weren't needed for a single wicket in the series.
Where to from here? England will take their newly minted top ranking to the UAE to take on Pakistan, and then to Sri Lanka. Given their demolition job here, it would seem that only complacency would threaten them on either tour, although they may be wary about the pitches they may face in Sri Lanka. Presumably, Swann might be more important to the outcome there than he was in the series just gone. For India, they have dropped to third in the rankings, and face some serious questions about the make-up of the squad, although the questions might be better directed at those running Indian cricket. Their preparation was far from ideal, with just a two-day warm up before the First test. The solution can not be just a wholesale shift to youth - veterans Dravid and Tendulkar are still undoubtedly worthy of a place, whereas the IPL-swayed youngsters seem to lack the technique to counter the swinging ball. A leadership change isn't mooted given Dhoni's results elsewhere, so where is the answer? Probably in short-term memories. A reversal of fortune next time out against more modest opposition, and much will be forgiven. Especially when that opposition is Australia.
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