NAGPUR — England Monday broke a 28-year-old jinx by achieving a historic Test series win on Indian soil, leaving the host embarrassed with a 2-1 verdict in its favor after the fourth and final match ended in a draw here. The last time an English side had defeated India in its own den was way back in 1984-85, under the captaincy of David Gower. The day belonged to centurions Jonathan Trott (143) and Ian Bell's unbeaten 116 even as the story remained the same for a hapless India which toiled without much success before the match was called off on the final day with England scoring 352 for four. The host needed to take quick wickets to entertain hopes of a win, but that did not happen as Trott and Bell batted off the first session to ensure the series triumph for the host. The English players broke into wild celebrations the moment the two sides mutually agreed to a draw at the Green Park Stadium. There was a feeling of bonhomie and the tourists hugged each other even as gloom descended on the Indian dressing room.Bell and debutant Joe Root (20) were at the crease when the stumps were drawn for the final time in the series. It was a remarkable turnaround from the visitors after the humiliating defeat in the series opener in Ahmedabad a month ago. England staged a strong comeback in the next match in Mumbai where the host was crushed by 10 wickets, and the script was pretty similar in Kolkata — the venue for the third Test — where the visitors cruised to a seven—wicket victory at the Eden Gardens. This is also the first time in the last eight years that India has suffered a Test series defeat at home. Australia beat India 2—1 in 2004—05. India batsman Sachin Tendulkar was off the field in the last two sessions after going into the dressing room midway through the first. Alastair Cook left the presentation here overladen with trophies. Not just one series trophy but two, plus individual recognition as Man of the Series, completed a perfect start to Cook's Test captaincy as he joined Douglas Jardine, David Gower and Tony Greig as the only England skippers to win a Test series in India. Add his unofficial stint as Test captain in Bangladesh when he stood in for Andrew Strauss and he has already twice led England to victories in subcontinent conditions which have so often proved alien. Cook even put the 2-1 series win alongside the accepted pinnacle for an England player - victory in the Ashes. “It is obviously a very special day, a special tour,” he said. “I think it is on a par with the Ashes. As an Englishman winning in Australia after so long meant a huge amount. But to be in that that dressing room there for that last half an hour knowing what we had achieved was a very special place and it will live long in my memory.” “We have played on four very different wickets,” he said. “We didn't handle the Ahmedabad wicket so well, but the other three wickets were all very different in subcontinent style. Everyone in this squad can be proud of what they achieved, especially the way we bounced back after the heavy defeat in Ahmedabad.” — Agencies
