Rain ruins England's chances

Captain Nasser Hussain watches rain fall on the last day of the series in 2001

Buy this photo

View photo story

England's hopes of salvaging a series draw against India in December 2001 were dashed as rain wrecked their chances of victory in the third Test at Bangalore.

India, led by Sourav Ganguly, claimed a 1-0 victory following a convincing win in the opening Test at Mohali and a stubborn rearguard in Ahmedabad.

Here, ecb.co.uk takes a look back an eventful three-match rubber.

Nasser Hussain's tourists were weakened by the pre-tour withdrawal of wicketkeeper-batsman Alec Stewart, off-spinner Robert Croft, plus seamers Darren Gough and Andrew Caddick following the September 11 attacks.

Hussain (85) led by example at Mohali, having won the toss, adding 125 for the second wicket with opener Marcus Trescothick (66). However, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh’s 5-51 limited England to 238.

India opener Deep Dasgupta struck 100 while Rahul Dravid (86) and Sachin Tendulkar (88) also weighed in as the hosts replied with 469.

Leg-spinner Anil Kumble then wreaked havoc with 6-81 as only Graham Thorpe (62) reached 50 for England. Shiv Sunder Das took two deliveries to knock off the five India needed for a 10-wicket win.

England's preparations for the second Test were thrown into chaos hours before the start when Thorpe decided to return home for family reasons. Michael Vaughan took his place.

Marcus Trescothick (99) and Mark Butcher (51) boosted morale with a century opening stand after Hussain called correctly at the toss.

But all-round Craig White stole the show with a painstaking maiden hundred. His 121 occupied 265 balls and took England to a total of 407.

Ashley Giles's controversial leg-side bowling has Sachin Tendulkar stumped for 90 in Bangalore

Buy this photo

Left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, recalled in place of seamer James Ormond, repaid coach Duncan Fletcher’s faith with 5-67 to restrict India to 291 of which Sachin Tendulkar contributed 103.

Butcher's 92 and Hussain's 50 helped set the hosts 374 for victory but Dasgupta (60) and Das (58) dug in and their side were 198 for three when the captains shook hands.

England were unchanged in Bangalore but overcast conditions, which meant the floodlights were used throughout, and unseasonal rain dashed their hopes.

Hussain's decision at the toss meant England batted first again and a century stand between Vaughan, who was out handled the ball for 64, and Mark Ramprakash helped post 336.

New-ball partners Matthew Hoggard and Andrew Flintoff took four wickets apiece as Tendulkar (90) and number seven Virender Sehwag (66) provided the only meaningful resistance in India's 238.

Hussain employed a controversial tactic, encouraging Giles to bowl down the leg side from over the wicket at Tendulkar in particular. The Little Master’s patience eventually cracked and he was stumped.

England reached 33 without loss at the close on day four but no play was possible the following day, the last of the series.

To view the photo story, click on the image of Nasser Hussain.