As India marched to one of their most comprehensive victories against England,
a third no-contest in as many matches giving them the series, about the only similarity
between the teams was the blue of their shirts. India, the reigning world champions in this
format, will need little introduction as one of the favourites for the 2015 World Cup in six
months' time. England are struggling to find an XI to compete at home, let along challenge
in Australia and New Zealand.
MS Dhoni has captained with an easy panache since the return to limited-overs
cricket and he again marshalled an impressive display after inserting England on a fresh
morning in Birmingham. This was Dhoni's 91st victory as India ODI captain, breaking the
record of Mohammad Azharuddin. Only one batsman had him momentarily ruffled, as
Moeen Ali produced the first England half-century of the series, but it was a bit like a fart
competing with thunder, to borrow Graham Gooch's phrase.
Having been set a modest target, India's batsmen set about exposing it as
indecent. Ajinkya Rahane made his maiden ODI hundred during a stand of 183 with Shikhar
Dhawan, a record opening partnership for India in England. Dhawan's unbeaten 97 was his
first fifty of the tour, a flurry of blows helping to end the contest with almost 20 overs remaining.
Although the pitch flattened out, England's attack was made to look horribly
blunt. India's openers tip-toed through the first four overs, scoring the same number of
runs, before Rahane struck four sumptuous fours off James Anderson; Dhawan rattled
three more from Chris Woakes' first over, taking them to 57 from ten. It was a clear case of
the fours being with India.And the sixes, too, both openers reaching their half-centuries by
clearing the ropes.
They hit four apiece, the most dismissive a front-foot pull from Rahane off
Steven Finn. The sight of England's fastest bowler being treated so disdainfully by India's
most diminutive batsman was one of a number of instructive passages. The video analysis
will make painful viewing forAlastair Cook and Peter Moores. read more >>
Only one batsman
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