Tuesday 6 December 2016 16:32, UK
England’s cricketers returned to India hoping their short break in Dubai will rejuvenate a tour that is rapidly getting away from them.
Trailing 2-0 and missing the impressive teenager Haseeb Hameed through injury, the tourists arrive in Mumbai in dire need of a win to rescue this series.
With Stuart Broad's fitness in doubt, selection issues after call-ups for Keaton Jennings and Liam Dawson, and continuing question marks over the longevity of Alastair Cook's captaincy, cracks are certainly showing under the Indian heat.
Yet Trevor Bayliss won't have to look too far to find inspiration for his men in the home of Bollywood. Wankhede Stadium will host the crucial fourth Test and it has become a happy hunting ground for an England side that could complete a hat-trick of famous Test victories.
Trailing 1-0 after a thrashing in Ahmedabad, England lost the toss and were forced to bowl at now-familiar batting foes as Cheteshwar Pujara struck a hundred and Ravichandran Ashwin scored a half-century to form the basis of India's 327.
The tourist's response came from experienced heads as captain Cook (122), and Kevin Pietersen's memorable 186 gave England a much-needed first innings lead.
Monty Panesar, on his return to the Test side, and Graeme Swann then capitalised on England's momentum to skittle India out for 142. The spin duo grabbed all 10 wickets in the second innings and 19 in the match, leaving Cook and Nick Compton to wrap up victory. They would go on to win in Kolkata and claim a famous series win.
In an uncanny case of history repeating itself, England arrived in Mumbai on the back of a heavy defeat in Mohali, 1-0 down and missing an opener as Cook withdrew through illness.
Batting first, a century from Andrew Strauss and fifties for Owais Shah and skipper Andrew Flintoff put England in a brilliant position by racking up 400.
Despite half-centuries from Indian captain Rahul Dravid and MS Dhoni, James Anderson's 4-40 helped restrict the hosts to 279, conceding a lead of 121.
The tourists found themselves in trouble at 85-5, but another fighting fifty from Flintoff helped lift them to 191 and leave India chasing an unlikely target of 313. It proved to be plenty as India capitulated to 100 all out, with 37-year-old Shaun Udal spinning England to victory, ending a wait of 21 years for a win in India and squaring the series.
Watch day one of the fourth Test between India and England, in Mumbai, live on Sky Sports 2 from 3.30am on Thursday.
