Tentative India reluctant to force the pace

It turned out, though, that they had been teasing us all along. There we were ready for some Indian hammer in the afternoon and a late declaration to set up a nervy last day, when Pietersen's men showed their mettle. They may not return to England with much silverware but there have been times - and the afternoon session was one of those - when they have looked like a team in the making. It is what makes the batting collapse in Mohali, and the second-innings performance in Madras (Chennai) so infuriating. Do we expect too much, I wonder?

The spotlight in India these last 10 days has been on two relatively raw Test captains: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who can boast an immaculate record of played four, won four, and Kevin Pietersen, who has won one and lost one. Pietersen's strategies were a little stereotyped in Madras, though he has been better here, and the real proof of a captain is how instinctive he can be. Sometimes he needs to put aside the carefully-laid plans and go with his own hunches. Dhoni has distinguished himself in this area. The obvious example is in bringing on Yuvraj Singh when Pietersen comes to the crease.

Sehwag's departure transformed Jimmy Anderson's day. As usual Sehwag had been treating Anderson's bowling as cannon fodder. But once Sehwag had gone Anderson found his rhythm and the ball, for the first time in this series, began to swing for him. He bowled a succession of maidens and dismissed a distinctly mortal Sachin Tendulkar.