England imposed further humiliation on India as they beat India by an innings and 244 runs at Nottingham in the fifth and the final test match of the series. England won the series 3-1 and that too after losing the second test at Lord’s. It was a fairytale turnaround for Alistair Cook and his men as they won two tests on the row within three days.
England began the day with overnight not out batsmen Joe Root batting on 92 and Chris Jordan. Root completed his century, his second of the series and went on to remain unbeaten on 149*. England added more runs to their tally of 385/7 and their lead was 238 when James Anderson got out. 
England first innings total was a mammoth 486.
India needed to bat for their life but there was no intent within the Indian batsmen to stay out there and do it for the country. Gautam Gambhir who came in place of Shikhar Dhawan looked miserable since his inclusions and last night he got run out leaving India down at 8/2. India’s middle order did not put up any different kind of a show as they crumbled under pressure and got all out for 94. Yes a meager 94! Virat Kohli scrambled through for 20 as he was the second highest scorer of the Indian batting line up. Stuart Binny remained not out on 25 to become India’s top scorer in the last innings in this tour. It was not Anderson this time although it was him who gave the first blow to India. Chris Jordan was the best among the English bowlers as he picked up 4 wickets.
It was the first time that India had lost three test matches on the row in a five test match series after going ahead by 1-0. It is no more an ominous sign; it has become a familiar sight once again. That India gets hammered overseas is again a truth since the greats like Dravid, Ganguly, Tendulkar, Kumble and Laxman had retired. It’s now over three years that India haven’t set a 50-run opening partnership in test matches away from home. Indian cricket really needs planning for it’s going to be even tougher when they will travel to Australia towards the end of this year. For that all the senior cricketers, selectors, board members need to sit together and find out a way out of this. Otherwise the hard work that had been put in by the greats of Indian cricket will go in vain.
Tags: Chris Jordan beat India England Oval test
