Tuesday, 18 December 2012

India v England in numbers

England have completed their first Test series win in India for 27 years.

After losing the first Test in Ahmedabad, they battled back to win in Mumbai and Kolkata, and draw the finale in Nagpur.

Here are some statistics from an enthralling series.

4: Number of Test series England have won in India. Alastair Cook joins David Gower (2-1 in 1984-85), Tony Greig (3-1 in 1976-77) and Douglas Jardine (2-0 in 1933-34) in leading England to victory there.

11: Wickets taken by Monty Panesar on his comeback Test at Mumbai. His 11-210 was the third best match figures at the Wankhede Stadium, behind Ian Botham (13-106), Laxman Sivaramakrishnan (12-181).

1984-85: India 1-2 England (5 Tests)

1992-93: India 3-0 England (3 Tests)

2001-02: India 1-0 England (3 Tests)

2005-06: India 1-1 England (3 Tests)

2008-09: India 1-0 England (2 Tests)

2012: India 1-2 England (4 Tests)

The series in numbers

12: Wickets taken by James Anderson in the series - and the combined haul of India's seamers from 190.3 overs.

16: Ian Bell's century in Nagpur was his first in India, in his 16th innings. Though he struggled with the bat and missed a Test after the birth of his first child, a couple of not-outs lifted his series average to 43.

18.66: Series batting average for India legend Sachin Tendulkar, who averages 23.80 for the year 2012 compared to a career average of 54.32.

19: Number of players in England's touring squad at one time. Fifteen played, while Eoin Morgan, Graham Onions, James Tredwell and Stuart Meaker did not feature in the Tests.

20: Wickets taken by Graeme Swann and Pragyan Ojha, the joint leading wicket-takers in the series.

34.66: Batting average of opener Nick Compton after his first four Tests.

44: Number of maiden overs bowled by both Panesar and Swann apiece in the series. They combined for 25 in the final Test.

44: The number of innings Swann had batted since his last Test fifty in 2009, before his glorious 56 in Nagpur.

60.75: Batting average of Ravichandran Ashwin, who is in the India side for his bowling. He took 14 wickets at 52.64 in four Tests.

Cook delights in 'special' victory

91: Wicketless overs bowled by England seamers Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan in four combined appearances, at a cost of 299 runs.

93: Test batting average of 21-year-old Joe Root after scoring 73 and 20 not out on his debut.

99: Nmber of Tests played by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who was dropped after the Mumbai Test and may struggle to play his 100th.

135: Samit Patel's bowling average for the series indicates he may have to earn future Test selection purely for his batting.

288: James Anderson, who ploughed a lone seam furrow for England for much of the series, is nine Test wickets away from equalling fourth-placed Derek Underwood in England's all-time bowlers' list, with Fred Trueman (307), Bob Willis (325) and eventually Ian Botham (383) in his sights.

438: Runs in the series by India's top scorer Cheteshwar Pujara, 185 higher than nearest rival Virender Sehwag.

528: Combined international wicket totals by Anderson (288 in Tests, 222 in ODIs and 18 in T20 internationals) and Botham (383 in Tests, 145 in ODIs), who now share the England record.

5: Set a new world record with centuries in his first five Tests as captain.

23: Cook became the first England batsman to score 23 Test centuries when he reached three figures in Kolkata. Walter Hammond, Colin Cowdrey, Geoff Boycott and Kevin Pietersen have scored 22.

Matches: 87 Innings: 154 Not outs: 10 Runs: 7,117 Highest score: 294 Average: 49.42 Hundreds: 23 Fifties: 29 27: Became the youngest batsman to pass 7,000 Test runs at 27 years 347 days

49.42: Cook's Test average has been pushed close to 50 by this series.

61.85: His Test average in India is only surpassed by his averages in Bangladesh (114) and Australia (65.12).

190: Top score for the series by Cook at Kolkata, his third highest in Tests.

866: Cook is now England's highest Test run-scorer in India, surpassing Mike Gatting's 863.

*Statistics correct as of 17 December 2012

Listen to match highlights and Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott's analysis of the day's play on the Test Match Special podcast.

We are using archive pictures for this Test because several photo agencies, including Getty Images, have been barred from the ground following a dispute with the Board of Control for Cricket in India, while other agencies have withdrawn their photographers in protest.


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Edwards to lead World Cup defence

Charlotte Edwards will lead England in their defence of the Women's World Cup after being named captain of a 15-strong squad for the 2013 tournament in India.

Edwards, 32, will be joined by seven members of the team who won the trophy in Sydney in 2009.

The one uncapped player included is Amy Jones, while Georgia Elwiss has earned her first call-up for a global event.

2 Feb - England v Sri Lanka 4 Feb - India v England 6 Feb - England v West Indies The tournament takes place from 31 January to 17 February.

Edwards, who will be making her fifth World Cup appearance, said: "I'm so proud to be captaining such a talented team in what is the pinnacle event in our sport.

"There is a great blend to our squad with a combination of experienced players who were part of the 2009 success and emerging young players who have already shown that they can perform at this level.

"Every player in our squad has experience of playing in sub-continental conditions and we will continue to work hard during our final preparations so come February we are in the best possible shape to defend our title."

England are in Group A with India, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

Their first game of the tournament is against Sri Lanka on 2 February.

England have won the Women's World Cup on three previous occasions - 1973, 1993 and 2009.

Head of England Women's Cricket, Clare Connor said: "So many players have impressed during 2012 and this final group of 15 should be congratulated on their selection.

"They have the honour of going to the World Cup as the current world champions and we wish them every success in rising to the challenge of bringing the trophy home again."

England squad: Charlotte Edwards, Tammy Beaumont, Arran Brindle, Katherine Brunt, Holly Colvin, Georgia Elwiss, Lydia Greenway, Jenny Gunn, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Danielle Wyatt.


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County ins & outs

Stay up-to-date with the latest player releases, signings and speculation from all the counties.

Counties are allowed to field two overseas players in Twenty20 games, with up to four registered for that competition - although only two can be registered at any one time, and registrations must be for a minimum of 10 days.

Only one overseas player is permitted in the County Championship and Clydesdale Bank 40 league.

KPK: Kolpak contractREL: releasedRET: retiredYTH: from youth teamsEUP: European Union passportUKP: Recently-obtained UK passport. Also shows, where relevant, players' previous counties

Kolpak contracts are signed by foreign players, using a loophole in European Union law to avoid counting against the quota of one overseas player per club.

Players who moved counties during the 2012 season are included on the 2012 list. Have we missed anyone? Please let us know.

Overseas player 2012: Martin Guptill (New Zealand); Usman Khawaja (Australia); Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (Pakistan, for Twenty20)

Overseas player 2013: TBC

Ins: Richard Johnson (Warwickshire), Billy Godleman (Essex), Jonathan Marsden (YTH)

Outs: Garry Park (REL), Matt Lineker (REL), Hamza Siddique (REL)

Other news: Mark Turner, Ross Whiteley, Tony Palladino, Jonathan Clare, Wes Durston, Tom Poynton, Dan Redfern, Wayne Madsen, Peter Burgoyne, Alex Hughes, Alasdair Evans, Ben Slater and Matt Higginbotham have signed new contracts.

Overseas player 2012: Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa, for Twenty20); Johann Myburgh (South Africa, for Twenty20)

Overseas player 2013: TBC

Ins: none

Outs: Michael Di Venuto (RET), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire)

Other news: Michael Richardson, Keaton Jennings, Jamie Harrison and Callum Thorp have signed new deals. Chief executive David Harker will step down in May.

Overseas player 2012: Alviro Petersen (South Africa); James Franklin (New Zealand, for Twenty20); Harbhajan Singh (India)

Overseas player 2013: TBC

Ins: Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire)

Outs: Billy Godleman (Derbyshire), Michael Comber (REL), Charl Willoughby (RET)

Possible signings: Coach Paul Grayson said before signing Mahmood that he wanted to sign an overseas batsman and a bowler.

Other news: Ravi Bopara, Graham Napier, Mark Pettini, Maurice Chambers, Jaik Mickleburgh, Tom Westley, Tymal Mills and Ben Foakes have signed new contracts.

Overseas player 2012: Moises Henriques (Australia); Marcus North (Australia); Shaun Marsh (Australia, for Twenty20)

Overseas player 2013: Marcus North (Australia)

Ins: Michael Hogan (UKP), Murray Goodwin (Sussex)

Outs: Robert Croft (RET), James Harris (Middlesex), Chris Ashling (REL), Aneurin Norman (REL), Mike O'Shea (REL)

Other news: The county are dropping their "Welsh Dragons" limited-overs name from 2013, when they will be known simply as Glamorgan. Marcus North becomes one-day captain, with Mark Wallace remaining in charge of the Championship side. Chris Cooke, Mike Reed, Huw Waters, John Glover, Andrew Salter, David Lloyd, Stewart Walters and Ben Wright have signed contract extensions.

Overseas player 2012: Kane Williamson (New Zealand); Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka, for Twenty20); Ed Cowan (Australia); Rob Nicol (New Zealand)

Overseas player 2013: TBC; Gloucestershire now doubt that Cowan will return as he is establishing himself in the Australia side, and do not believe Muralitharan will return

Ins: Gareth Roderick (YTH), Cameron Herring (YTH)

Outs: David Wade (REL), Jonathan Batty (RET)

Other news: Alex Gidman has decided to stand down as captain - and revealed the club plans to hand the captaincy to an overseas player. Craig Miles and Jack Taylor have signed new deals. Stuart Barnes has left the coaching staff to join Surrey.

Overseas player 2012: Simon Katich (Australia); Glenn Maxwell (Australia, for Twenty20)

Overseas player 2013: George Bailey (Australia)

Ins: Michael Roberts (Unicorns), Jack Sheppard (YTH)

Outs: Kabir Ali (Lancashire), Simon Katich (Lancashire), Bilal Shafayat (REL)

Other news: Michael Bates, Hamza Riazuddin, Jimmy Adams, Liam Dawson, Chris Wood, James Tomlinson and assistant coach Craig White have signed new contracts, as has Kolpak signing Neil McKenzie who will be available from June.

Overseas player 2012: Brendan Nash (West Indies)

Overseas player 2013: Brendan Nash (West Indies)

Ins: none

Outs: Simon Cook (REL)

Other news: Rob Key has stepped down as captain, with James Tredwell replacing him for 2013. Tredwell, Geraint Jones, Darren Stevens, Mark Davies, Ben Harmison, Brendan Nash, Sam Northeast, Sam Billings, Fabian Cowdrey, Ben Kemp, Ivan Thomas and Ashley Shaw have signed new deals.

Overseas player 2012: Ashwell Prince (South Africa); Yasir Arafat (Pakistan, for Twenty20)

Overseas player 2013: Simon Katich (Australia)

Ins: Kabir Ali (Hampshire), Alex Davies (YTH), Gavin Griffiths (YTH), Luis Reece (YTH), Arron Lilley (YTH), Simon Katich (Hampshire)

Outs: Naqaash Tahir (REL), Sajid Mahmood (Essex), Gary Keedy (Surrey)

Other news: Seamer James Anderson, centrally contracted by England, has signed a new two-year deal at Old Trafford.

Overseas player: Ramnaresh Sarwan (West Indies); Abdul Razzaq (Pakistan, for Twenty20)

Overseas player 2013: Ramnaresh Sarwan (West Indies)

Ins: Tom Wells (YTH), Robbie Williams (Middlesex), Niall O'Brien (Northants)

Outs: Will Jefferson (RET), Paul Dixey (RET), Jacques du Toit (REL), Nadeem Malik (REL), Robbie Joseph (REL), Will Jones (REL)

Other news: Ramnaresh Sarwan has replaced Matthew Hoggard as County Championship captain, with vice-captain Josh Cobb continuing to lead the one-day side. Shiv Thakor, Michael Thornely, Rob Taylor, James Sykes, Angus Robson, Ollie Freckingham and Matthew Boyce have all signed new deals.

Overseas player 2012: Chris Rogers (Australia)

Overseas player 2013: Chris Rogers (Australia)

Ins: Nick Gubbins (YTH), James Harris (Glamorgan)

Outs: Andrew Strauss (RET), Scott Newman (REL), Anthony Ireland (REL), Robbie Williams (Leicestershire), Tom Scollay (REL), Steven Crook (Northants)

Other news: Rogers will continue as Championship captain in 2013, with club captain Neil Dexter skippering in limited-overs cricket. Paul Stirling, Joe Denly, Tom Smith, Ravi Patel, Toby Roland-Jones, Corey Collymore, Josh Davey, Ollie Wilkin, Adam London and Eoin Morgan have signed new deals.

Overseas player 2012: Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka); Cameron White (Australia, for Twenty20)

Overseas player 2013: TBC

Ins: Matt Spriegel (Surrey), Steven Crook (Middlesex), Ben Duckett (YTH)

Outs: Ben Howegego (REL), Rob White (REL), Dave Burton (REL), Jack Brooks (Yorkshire), Chaminda Vaas (REL), Niall O'Brien (Leicestershire)

Other news: Stephen Peters replaces Andrew Hall as County Championship captain for 2013, with vice-captain Alex Wakely leading the side in limited-overs cricket. James Middlebrook and Luke Evans have signed new deals.

Overseas player 2012: Adam Voges (Australia)

Overseas player 2013: TBC; Voges and David Hussey have both held talks with Notts

Ins: Ajmal Shahzad (Yorkshire)

Outs: Karl Turner (REL), Scott Elstone (REL), Neil Edwards (REL)

Possible departures: Australia-raised seamer Darren Pattinson has agreed to play as a domestic player in Australia this winter, which will prevent him playing for Notts as an Englishman - but he may return to Trent Bridge as an overseas player for Twenty20 cricket.

Other news: Andy Carter, Samit Patel, Ben Phillips, Steven Mullaney, Graeme White and Jake Ball have signed new contracts.

Overseas player 2012: Vernon Philander (South Africa); Albie Morkel (South Africa, for Twenty20); Richard Levi (South Africa, for Twenty20); Abdur Rehman (Pakistan)

Overseas player 2013: Alviro Petersen (South Africa, start of season until Twenty20 competition begins)

Ins: none

Outs: none

Other news: Brian Rose has stepped down as director of cricket while George Dockrell, Craig Meschede, Alfonso Thomas and Max Waller have agreed new contracts.

Overseas player 2012: Jacques Rudolph (South Africa); Murali Kartik (India); Dirk Nannes (Australia, for Twenty20)

Overseas player 2013: Graeme Smith (South Africa)

Ins: Vikram Solanki (Worcestershire), Gary Keedy (Lancashire)

Outs: Mark Ramprakash (RET), Matt Spriegel (Northants), Tom Lancefield (REL), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Rory Hamilton-Brown (Sussex)

Other news: Smith will captain Surrey, and has signed a three-year deal. Fast bowling coach Stuart Barnes has joined from Gloucestershire, replacing Martin Bicknell who becomes chief scout. Chris Tremlett, Gareth Batty, Rory Burns, Zafar Ansari, Tom Jewell, Arun Harinath, Gary Wilson and Matthew Dunn have signed new deals.

Overseas player 2012: Steve Magoffin (Australia); Scott Styris (New Zealand, for Twenty20); Rusty Theron (South Africa, for Twenty20)

Overseas player 2013: Steve Magoffin (Australia); Scott Styris (New Zealand, for Twenty20)

Ins: Rory Hamilton-Brown (Surrey), Chris Jordan (Surrey)

Outs: Murray Goodwin (Glamorgan), Andrew Hodd (Yorkshire), Naved Arif (REL), Will Adkin (REL)

Other news: Ed Joyce has been confirmed as captain for 2013 after stepping up to replace Michael Yardy mid-season in 2012, with Chris Nash becoming vice-captain. Chief executive Dave Brooks will leave the county at the end of 2012. Nash, Will Beer, Ben Brown and Kirk Wernars have signed new contracts.

Overseas player 2012: Jeetan Patel (New Zealand)

Overseas player 2013: Jeetan Patel (New Zealand)

Ins: none

Outs: Richard Johnson (Derbyshire), Neil Carter (REL), Andy Miller (REL)

Other news: Laurie Evans, Steffan Piolet, Tom Milnes, Ian Westwood, Tim Ambrose and Ateeq Javid have signed new contracts.

Overseas player 2012: Michael Klinger (Australia); Philip Hughes (Australia)

Overseas player 2013: TBC; Hughes has been in preliminary talks about a return to Worcs

Ins: Graeme Cessford (Royal Air Force)

Outs: James Cameron (RET), Vikram Solanki (Surrey), Jack Manuel (REL), Ben Scott (RET)

Other news: Worcestershire are waiting to see whether Shaaiq Choudhry will accept the offer of a new contract, but Chris Russell, Brett D'Oliveira, Matt Pardoe and Neil Pinner have all signed new deals.

Overseas player 2012: Mitchell Starc (Australia); David Miller (South Africa, for Twenty20)

Overseas player 2013: TBC

Ins: Andrew Hodd (Sussex), Jack Brooks (Northants), Liam Plunkett (Durham)

Outs: Gerard Brophy (REL), Ajmal Shahzad (Nottinghamshire)

Possible departures: Director of cricket Martyn Moxon admits former skipper Anthony McGrath is unsettled and may leave the county.


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England make statement to Aussies

England's victory in India was an outstanding achievement and will send a shiver down the spine of the Australians ahead of back-to-back Ashes series in 2013.

It was a result that ranks alongside the Ashes victories of recent years, with England showing incredible character to come back from their heavy defeat in the first Test in Ahmedabad.

5: Set a new world record with centuries in his first five Tests as captain 23: Cook became the first England batsman to score 23 Test centuries when he reached three figures in Kolkata 27: became the youngest batsman to pass 7,000 Test runs at 27 years 347 days 61.85: His Test average in India is only surpassed by his averages in Bangladesh (114) and Australia (65.12) 190: Top score for the series by Cook at Kolkata, his third highest Test innings 866: Cook is now England's highest Test run-scorer in India, surpassing Mike Gatting's 863

After that result, and taking into account the 3-0 defeat against Pakistan in the UAE earlier in the year, few could have predicted England would leave Nagpur with a series victory.

People will ask what happened between that match in Ahmedabad and the victory in Mumbai in the second Test.

First of all, England brought Monty Panesar back into the team and he gave them more balance.

Then Kevin Pietersen changed.

After two skittish and nervous innings in the first Test, he responded with a magnificent 186 in Mumbai. Alastair Cook also scored lots of runs and it became apparent that England had better spinners than India.

Cook delights in 'special' victory

I'm sure that has never been said before and it hurt the home side. They were puzzled and worried by it and many people are calling for a review into their domestic structure because of it.

England lost the toss in Mumbai, but once they had shown they could win the hard way, it gave them the belief to do the same in Kolkata in the third Test.

They preyed on India's insecurities, but we must also be mindful that the hosts played poorly. They have got a number of issues to address following this series - like the futures of their star player, Sachin Tendulkar, their captain Mahendra Dhoni and their coach Duncan Fletcher.

Australia visit India early in 2013 and that will be a fascinating contest because we will see how they respond, and also what Australia have got because this will have been a wake-up call for them too.

Cook will return home from his first tour as Test captain a very happy man. He has proved that the captaincy would not detract from his performances - as he did in one-day cricket - and he has earned the respect of all his players with his runs.

"There is a mild irony that Duncan Fletcher didn't trust Graeme Swann when he was England coach and was never sure how valuable Monty Panesar really was. These two have been invaluable for England. Even when Panesar was wicketless in patches, he gave his captain control. They've both had terrific tours, as has Jimmy Anderson, and we saw glimpses of Steven Finn in Kolkata. On the batting side, Cook was immense and Pietersen played one brilliant innings in Mumbai."

England still have some areas they need to think about when they tour New Zealand in March, but they are good issues.

I hope they let Nick Compton have an extended run as opener in conditions that are more suited to run-scoring because he has battled hard at the top of the order in India.

Then there is the number six position to think about, with Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Eoin Morgan all wanting that spot.

People might also want England to consider playing two spinners in future - after the performances of Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar - but that is unlikely in places like New Zealand, Australia and at home.

There are always areas to improve, but England will be happy. I think the 2005 Ashes victory was as good as anything when you consider the personnel in the Australia team.

Players like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting played in that series, but the way England played in India, and the character they showed, means this can be ranked alongside such achievements.

Jonathan Agnew was talking to BBC Sport's Marc Higginson.

Listen to match highlights and Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott's analysis of the day's play on the Test Match Special podcast.

We are using archive pictures for this Test because several photo agencies, including Getty Images, have been barred from the ground following a dispute with the Board of Control for Cricket in India, while other agencies have withdrawn their photographers in protest.


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VIDEO: Cook wants England to be 'ruthless'

England captain Alastair Cook says his side must take the emotion out of the game and "be ruthless" when they take on India in the fourth Test in Nagpur.

England won by 10 and seven wickets respectively in Mumbai and Kolkata to lead 2-1 and move within sight of a first series win in India since 1985.

BBC Sport's Joe Wilson reports.

Venue: NagpurDate: 13-17 DecemberStart: 04:00 GMT Coverage: Listen to Test Match Special's ball-by-ball coverage on BBC 5 live sports extra, Radio 4 long wave and online; text commentary on the BBC Sport website, tablets and mobiles; highlights and analysis podcast after close of play


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NZ apologise to Taylor over row

New Zealand Cricket has publicly apologised to Ross Taylor for the poor manner in which it handled the end of his reign as captain.

Taylor, 28, quit as skipper after being asked to hand over the one-day and Twenty20 reins to 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum.

New Zealand Cricket apologised for "the manner in which events have unfolded" after a review of the captaincy issue.

Taylor said via Twitter:  "I appreciate the apology from NZC."

9 Feb - 1st Twenty20, Auckland 12 Feb - 2nd Twenty20, Hamilton 15 Feb - 3rd Twenty20, Wellington 17 Feb - 1st ODI, Hamilton 20 Feb 2nd ODI, Napier 23 Feb - 3rd ODI, Auckland 6-10 Mar - 1st Test, Dunedin 14-18 Mar - 2nd Test, Wellington 22-26 Mar - 3rd Test, Auckland He added: "Keen to put it behind me and looking forward to getting back with the team soon."

McCullum took over in all three formats while Taylor opted out of the tour to South Africa this month.

New Zealand host England for a series of Tests, ODIs and Twenty20s in January.

New Zealand Cricket [NZC] boss David White said coach Mike Hesson had recommended Taylor step down from the captaincy of the shorter formats as part of a review following the team's tour of Sri Lanka, where they drew the Test series 1-1.

Despite the controversy surrounding the demotion of the country's best batsman, NZC chairman Chris Moller said no one will lose their job.

"There are no hanging offences in all of this," he said. "Yes, the ball's been dropped, absolutely. Could we have done things better? Absolutely.

"Are we going to learn from those mistakes, well we hope so."

Taylor replaced Daniel Vettori as captain in June last year, and although he guided New Zealand to a Test win in Australia, was under pressure in 2012.

His team suffered Test series defeats at home to South Africa and then away to West Indies and India.

His record in the shorter formats was also questioned after his team went out of the World Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka at the Super Eights stage and lost 10 of their 14 completed ODIs this year.


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Cook performance 'extraordinary'

Alastair Cook's role in England's series victory in India was described as "extraordinary" by England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke.

Cook, 27, scored three centuries to inspire England's 2-1 win in his first tour since becoming Test captain.

"There were handshakes, hugs, embraces and slaps on the back all around in the England dressing room. They have worked so hard in this series. What odds were there on us witnessing that? It's quite remarkable. They have done it the hard way, through outstanding leadership on and off the pitch."

"He is a most impressive young man and leads from the front," Clarke told BBC Test Match Special.

"He changed the whole series with his second innings in Ahmedabad. I have the greatest admiration for him."

He added: "It's going to be tremendous watching him evolve as one of the greatest batsmen in the world and as a captain.

"There's no doubt this is Alastair Cook's team. There were very big boots to fill but it looks like he has got the right-sized feet."

Clarke was also full of praise for Kevin Pietersen's performance following his reintegration into the team.

Pietersen made a match-winning century in the second Test to help England level the series.

"He has had an outstanding tour," said Clarke. "His innings in Mumbai changed the context of the entire series.

"He played brilliantly and has been an integral part of the team. They are all delighted to have him here and great credit to everyone involved.

"There's a calmness and comfort about the team when they are in each other's company."

Clarke also commended team director Andy Flower on his planning for the series.

"We wanted to treat the series like an Ashes series and were absolutely determined that no corners would be cut in the planning," he said.

"If you don't embrace India with all its culture and fascinations you won't make it. That meant a lot of planning and the team's performance has demonstrated the quality of Andy Flower's work."

Listen to match highlights and Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott's analysis of the day's play on the Test Match Special podcast.

We are using archive pictures for this Test because several photo agencies, including Getty Images, have been barred from the ground following a dispute with the Board of Control for Cricket in India, while other agencies have withdrawn their photographers in protest.


View the original article here