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England sweep to series whitewash
England swept to a series whitewash over India in the fourth test at the Oval on Monday after Sachin Tendulkar had been dismissed nine runs short of a 100th international century.
Seven wickets fell for 21 runs on the final day, after Tendulkar and nightwatchman Amit Mishra (84) had added 144 for the fourth wicket, to give England victory by an innings and eight runs.
Off-spinner Graeme Swann, who had had little opportunity previously in the series, finished with six for 106 and had Tendulkar dropped twice off his bowling.
India relinquished their spot at the top of the world rankings when they lost the third test at Edgbaston by an innings and 242 runs... Read on
England declare after Bell double
England declared their first innings closed at 591 for six on the third day of the fourth and final test against India at the Oval on Saturday after rain washed out the afternoon session.
Thirty three overs were scheduled for the final session as sunlight bathed the Oval with England running out of a time to enforce a series whitewash. Two sessions were lost to rain on Thursday's opening day.
During a full morning session, Ian Bell completed his first test double century and overtook team mate Alastair Cook at the top of the year's test runs' table.
Bell, who resumed on 181, brought up his 200 with his 20th boundary, a deft glance to leg off Shanthakumaran Sreesanth. His previous best was 199 against South Africa at Lord's three years ago... Read on
Bell and Pietersen share record England stand
Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen shared a record partnership of 350 on Friday as England ruthlessly dissected an inadequate India attack on the second day of the fourth and final test at the Oval.
At the close of a prolonged day after two sessions were lost to rain on Thursday, England were 457 for three with a 4-0 series whitewash in their sights.
The home team took top place in the world rankings from India with their innings victory in the third test at Edgbaston.
Bell (181 not out) and Pietersen (175) each completed their second centuries of the series on Friday and the third-wicket stand exceeded the previous England best for any wicket against India, 308 by current batting coach Graham Gooch and Allan Lamb at Lord's in 1990... 12 comments
Rain interrupts England charge
Rain frustrated England's bid for a series whitewash over India on Thursday when play was washed out after lunch on the opening day of the fourth test at the Oval.
Openers Andrew Strauss (38 not out) and Alastair Cook (34 not out) put on 75 in an unbroken first wicket partnership against an under-strength attack when the rain which had been lurking around south London all morning finally descended.
India, who relinquished their number one ranking to England after being thrashed in the first three tests in the four-match series, lost their best remaining bowler before the start of play.
Left-arm pace bowler RP Singh, who had not played a test for more than three years, replaced Praveen Kumar, who injured his ankle in the third test at Edgbaston... 6 comments
England refocus after reaching the summit
England have already set new goals after reaching the coveted number one spot in the world rankings at the expense of India who face an unenviable task in the fourth test starting on Thursday.
India, soundly thrashed in the first three tests, have only pride to play for in a match which a capacity crowd at the Oval will use to acclaim their heroes.
"I always think it is very dangerous to hold on to what you have got," reflected coach Andy Flower after his team destroyed India in the third test at Edgbaston.
"We used that goal, to be number one, as a motivational tool that drove us in training and in matches. Now that we have achieved that, what (captain Andrew) Strauss and I don't want to do is just hang on... Read on
England triumph over India to take top spot in Cricket rankings
England surged to the top of the world rankings after crushing India by an innings and 242 runs in the third test on Saturday to secure their sixth consecutive series win.
Fast bowler James Anderson claimed four for 85 as India were dismissed for 244 after lunch on the fourth day at Edgbaston, giving the home team a 3-0 lead in the four-match series.
India's batsmen capitulated for the third successive match against England's penetrative attack.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was India's top scorer for the second time in the test, with 74 not out, but the game was over when Shanthakumaran Sreesanth edged Tim Bresnan to Kevin Pietersen in the gully... 18 comments
Cook's 294 leads England to third highest total
Alastair Cook hit a career best 294 as England amassed their third-highest total of 710 for seven declared against a weary-looking India on day three of the third test on Friday.
India's plight then became even more desperate when opener Virender Sehwag was out to the second ball of his team's second innings to seal a 'king pair'. The hapless Indians reached 35 for one by the close and trailed England by 451 runs as Gautam Gambhir was 14 not out and Rahul Dravid had 18.
England are on course for the victory that would give them an unassailable 3-0 lead in the four-match series and allow them to climb to the top of the world rankings at India's expense... Read on
Cook closes on double century as India wilt
Alastair Cook stroked his 19th test century as England's ruthless batsmen amassed 456 for three on the second day of the third test against a weary-looking India on Thursday.
The prolific opener was 182 not out at the close having started the day on 27. Eoin Morgan was also unbeaten on 44 while captain Andrew Strauss fell for 87 off a no-ball that was not spotted, Kevin Pietersen made 63 and Ian Bell 34.
England sailed past India's first innings 224 to lead by 232 runs at Edgbaston. With three days remaining and seven wickets in hand, the hosts are well placed to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the four-match series... Read on
England take command of third test
England enjoyed another dominant day against India by bowling the tourists out for 224 on the first day of the third test at Edgbaston on Wednesday before closing on 84 without loss.
Andrew Strauss, who won the toss for the first time in the four-match series, was 52 not out and Alastair Cook was on 27 after India's pace bowlers were unable to exact any kind of control.
Strauss raised England's 50 with a square cut for four off Shanthakumaran Sreesanth for his seventh boundary that took him to 31. He later registered his own half-century 13 balls from the close, his first test fifty of the English summer... Read on
Strauss, Dhoni play down top ranking
England captain Andrew Strauss and India's Mahendra Singh Dhoni played down the significance of the world rankings for different reasons on Tuesday ahead of the third test.
India are currently the number one side but England will leapfrog them and second-placed South Africa if they win the four-match series by two clear tests, a feat they would achieve with victory at Edgbaston.
"We're not approaching this test match any differently," Strauss told reporters. "That number one ranking comes as a consequence of playing good cricket. So all we've got to concentrate on is playing good cricket... Read on
