Swann's six completes India's humiliation
England, led by Graeme Swann's six wickets, secured a famous whitewash on a dramatic final day at The Oval as India collapsed during the afternoon session
England, led by Graeme Swann's six wickets, secured a famous whitewash on a dramatic final day at The Oval as India collapsed during the afternoon session
Scorer: Sanjay Murari | Commentator: Sahil Dutta
The England players are now out there for the presentation ceremony. Understandably they look a whole lot more delighted than the India players who follow them. Michael Atherton is master of ceremonies and he starts by congratulating Andrew Strass's team for their series win. The presentation team includes all sorts of men in suits and a couple of women in red dresses.
Ian Bell is named man of the match. Atherton starts cheekily by saying Bell has 'nailed the No. 3 spot'. Bell responds by saying "yeah and I'll be back to No. 5 now" before clicking back into press-training cliches: "Guys have pushed each other forward, daddy hundred, great squad, great guys, all looking to improve etc yadda yadda"
There are two man of the series awards, chosen by the opposing coach. Duncan Fletcher chooses Stuart Broad as England's man of the series. To think, many of us wouldn't have even had him in the side for the first Test! "We set clear plans, we wanted to be slightly fuller," he says tellingly. "We recognised I needed to bowl slightly fuller and bring the stumps into play and with that working at Lord's it gave me the confidence to continue with that."
Andy Flower selects Rahul Dravid as India's man of the series. Obviously. Dravid has been towering above his team-mates this series. A wonderful player and clearly one of the best guys in the game. He starts by congratulation England and thanking them for a great series. Asked why India have been unable to compete well this series he smiles, and says "might take half an hour!" Asked if he'll be back he again smiles, "one series at a time, Michael, one series at a time."
"We tried our best and that's what is important," says MS Dhoni They batted really well and were not able to get more than 300 in a single innings, that speaks for itself. There was no complacency but we didn't get much time before the series started. It's important to stay together as a unit, the expectation levels are always high from supporters back home but the team has to stay together and fight."
"Outstanding again," says a beaming Andrew Strauss. "It was Graeme Swann's day but when you look at the start of the game Ian Bell's innings was the best I've seen him play. We knew it was going to be hard work today but we knew we had a lot of time." Asked what he'll do with his five months off after this Test, Strauss smiles and says "dunnow, but I might have a hangover tomorrow!"
I thought we were done for the day but we're being subjected to a ridiculous, faux military presentation of the World No. 1 mace thingy to England. I can't describe how odd and kind of inappropriate this looks. The mace is like a giant pin and Strauss seems to have no idea what to do with it. Quite what the whole war theme was about I have no idea.
Well, that's about it from us. Andrew McGlashan has his end of Test report we also have a gallery. From all the commentary team, especially me in my last Test, thank you for all the emails. Well, most of them at least. I'll leave the last word to Andrew Miller: "The most complete England series win of all time? Arguably."
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England win by an innings and 8 runs and win series 4-0 Plenty of smiles for England as they head off, each player gets a hug and a smile from Andy Flower as they go back into the dressing room, that doesn't come easily. England are officially the best team in Test cricket and India, after this loss, slip down to third. There was some fight this morning as Amit Mishra and Sachin Tendulkar flourished but when Mishra fell to offer a crack in the line up, England burst through violently. Seven wickets fell for 21 runs to seal the clean-sweep. Incredibly India have not made more than 300 in all eight innings. It's been the sort of performance from India that demands serious consideration. Reviews after series like that are all the fashion but can the BCCI appoint someone independent to do that? I guess all will be revealed soon but this is probably the time to celebrate a brilliant England team. Since the Ashes started England have won six by an innings two more by over 200 runs. They are a fine, fine team.
S Sreesanth b Swann 6 (9m 9b 1x4 0x6) SR: 66.66
"I have been in teary eyes past 30 minutes. As a die hard test cricket fan - its a black day today in history of Indian cricket. The previous whitewashes in Australia in 1999-2000 and 1959 were not so embarrassing since we were nowhere near top 3 teams in the world. But this series has hurt a lot of sentiments," says Madhur.
Swann versus Sreesanth. Might all end this over.
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