England claim draw on India soil

Rahul Dravid and Andrew Flintoff share the series trophy at Mumbai in 2006

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In latest in the series of classic England photo stories, ecb.co.uk looks back at the 2005-06 Test series against India.

An injury-ravaged England side, minus captain Michael Vaughan among others, secured a 1-1 series draw with a crushing 212-run victory in the third and final Test at Mumbai.

The tourists were also missing first-choice spinner Ashley Giles, fast bowler Simon Jones and opening batsman Marcus Trescothick.

Flintoff captained the side while Vaughan recovered from his knee problem. Young opener Alastair Cook flew in from England A’s tour of the West Indies to fill Vaughan’s opening berth.

The first Test in Nagpur also saw debuts for Monty Panesar and Ian Blackwell (his only Test to date) as England’s spin options.

Cook made an instant impact with 60 as Flintoff chose to bat first. Paul Collingwood’s unbeaten 134 ensured a competitive 393 all out.

Sachin Tendulkar became Panesar’s first Test victim in India’s reply, which Matthew Hoggard’s epic 6-57 in 30.5 overs helped to limit to 323.

Cook made sure his debut was one to remember with a patient 104 in England’s second innings 297 for three. However, opposite number Wasim Jaffer’s 100 ensured the match finished in a draw.

Matthew Hoggard enjoys his man-of-the-match award after the drawn first Test at Nagpur

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Coach Duncan Fletcher made one change for the second Test at Mohali with seamer Liam Plunkett replacing Blackwell.

Flintoff again guessed correctly at the toss. He, Kevin Pietersen and Geraint Jones struck fifties as the tourists posted 300. Leg-spinner Anil Kumble claimed 5-76.

India skipper Rahul Dravid’s 95 helped his team build a 38-run lead. Manuf Patel and Kumble both then weighed in with four wickets apiece to skittle England for 181.

Opener Virender Sehwag’s 76 saw the hosts to a nine-wicket victory with plenty of time to spare on the final day.

England recalled spinner Shaun Udal plus seamer James Anderson, and gave batsman Owais Shah his debut, in place of a sick Cook, Plunkett and Steve Harmison in the third Test.

Dravid invited England to bat first and opener Andrew Strauss led the way with 128, while Shah struck a composed 88, as the tourists were 400 all out.

Anderson bowled with verve to limit India to 279 and England’s 191 set their opponents 319 to win.

The tourists’ attack bowled like champions and India crumbled under the pressure on the final day as Udal, on his 37th birthday, took 4-14 and Flintoff 3-14.

To view the photo story, please click on the image of Dravid, Dilip Vengsarkar and Flintoff.