England Draws Comfort
By HUW RICHARDS
International Herald Tribune
Published: March 23, 2006

Deep disappointment would have been the inevitable reaction of any English cricket fan who might have been told, amid the euphoria of last year's spectacular overthrow of Australia, that it would lose its series of five-day tests in Pakistan and then draw in India.

Yet England has ended its six tests in South Asia in high good spirits.

One reason is that its best result came last, a 212-run victory over India in Mumbai on Wednesday to draw the three-match series, 1-1.

India, chasing 313 to win on the final day , was bowled out for only 100. England's stand- in captain, Andrew Flintoff, took three wickets, the 37-year old spin bowler Shaun Udal, four.

Yet even if India had batted better and held on for a draw, England would have ended the series in much better shape than it started. A rash of injuries to key players over the winter have turned into a blessing for the squad.

The team in Mumbai lacked five of the players who dominated Australia. Simon Jones, a pace bowler, and Ashley Giles, a spin bowler, did not play against either Pakistan or India. Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick, not only England's opening batsmen but its captain and vice captain, missed the India series, and the fast bowler Steve Harmison went home injured before the game in Mumbai. " (see full Article)

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