India draw to ensure series win

India finally won a series in England after 21 years and you could see how much it meant to them as they celebrated after England held out well for a draw. I was lucky to be there on the final day of the series which has been a great advert for test cricket. It seems a premature end to a series as three tests are not enough and we are all left gasping for more.

There was a very good crowd for the last day and a buzz about the place with plenty of supporters from both sides sitting side by side and enjoying some friendly banter. There was plenty of vocal support for India, with their fans armed with flags and plenty of cheer ready to party at the end. An England victory was unlikely, even thou there was plenty of chat about the possibility if they managed a good run rate and kept their wickets. As soon as the openers were gone, only two results were possible, a draw or a win for India. Sreesanth impressed with his opening spell and for once he let his bowling do the talking which was good to see. Every wicket was met with loud cheers from the Indian contingent as they willed India on to win.

England showed a lot more determination and most of the batsman made a good contribution. Pietersen and Vaughan looked very comfortable at the crease and played some great strokes. A break for bad light seemed to account for Vaughans's wicket as he played a rash stroke. Pietersen continued his patience innings and crafted yet another entertaining hundred. Collingwood played well and Bell's cameo at the end was very impressive. England played very positive cricket throughout the day and made India work very hard for each wicket.

Time eventually ran out for India but they never really looked like they were going for the win after they decided not to enforce the follow on. I found that decision very strange when they had the opposition down and out and they had the opportunity to jump all over them. I can just about understand it even thou I may not agree with it as they have faltered in the past and they wanted to go for safety first. The thing that I did not understand was Dravid's ultra defensive innings and had it not been for the fluency of Ganguly and Laxman, India might have dug a hole for themselves.They let England back from the dead and the momentum shifted but the lead was so huge and that saved them. The 500 figure that Dravid had in his mind still took up valuable time which might have been better spent bowling at England. A lot more can be said but the task was a series win and that is what was achieved in the end and the way India played in the last two tests, they deserved to win.

It is fitting that India is celebrating 60 years of independence and they can mark that with a win over England in their own backyard which makes it very special. There are a lot of events all round London this summer to mark the occasion and I was at an event at Trafalgar Square on Friday evening with classical Indian dance and an amazing sequence of dancers lifted up to the sky at night on a crane.

I stayed on to watch India celebrate at the end and the thing I have noticed about this team is that have bonded very well and are playing for each other and each one has contributed. The absence of a coach has not been felt with the seniors taking a leading role in nurturing the youngsters and it has been a team effort. Every time I glimpse at the dressing room, I can see a smiling Chandu Borde sitting with Vensarger and the players in a very harmonious environment. For me that has been the most pleasing factor and I think a big reason that the team have played so well, with no visible factions within the camp. The senior players have been especially savouring every moment and it was good to see Sachin and Saurav being cheered by the fans every time they came near the boundary edge from where I was sitting. Indeed Sachin was enjoying it so much he asked for more cheer smiling with that cherubic face. Saurav has played as fluently as I have ever seen him play and never looked in trouble and probably deserved a hundred this tour. It is ironic that the man to get a hundred was Anil Kumble, and not any of the star batsman.

As I left the ground for the final time this year, the Indian fans were jumping and singing and generally making themselves heard all round the ground and outside as they made their way home. I smiled to myself as I saw the coach that India does have on this tour, the one that takes them from the ground to the hotel. It seems that at the moment that is the only one that they need.

Now it is on to the one day circus which will be quite a spectacle as the Indian fans will be out in great numbers and in a mood to really party.