I have received the report from Ali Martin, which means it is now time for me to conclude this OBO gently.

The last message in the series is received from Simon McMahon.

“India’s excellent performance resulted in a comprehensive defeat for England, both in this match and the series. However, there is no shame in their loss. Both teams showcased exciting cricket and there were some positives for England. Thank you to all the Guardian team for keeping us informed, educated, and entertained throughout it all.”

Neatly summed up by Simon and the pleasure has been all ours. On behalf of all the Guardian cricket writers – thanks to you all for tuning in and keeping us company throughout. It’s been great fun.

England experienced initial triumphs due to a remarkable performance from Ollie Pope while playing in Hyderabad. However, a month later, their tour concludes with a lackluster performance in the foothills of the Himalayas. Defeating India in their home territory proved to be an insurmountable challenge for Stokes’ team, but ultimately, it’s the journey that matters most, isn’t it?

“Until then, the OBO will be back. Goodbye for now.”

Successful leader and role model – Rohit Sharma

After achieving victory in a Test, everything must align perfectly. Throughout the match, we executed many things correctly. Although many of these players lack experience, they have played a significant amount of cricket. It is important for us to guide and educate them on the game. When faced with pressure, they responded admirably – this is a testament to the team as a whole.

Scoring runs is often emphasized, but it is equally crucial to take 20 wickets in order to win a Test match. All of the bowlers showed up and rose to the challenge, determined to make a significant impact with their bowling.

On Jaiswal:

The man still has a lot of progress to make before he can face off against the bowlers. With his skill and shots, he puts a lot of pressure on the bowlers. He has made significant strides and will soon know exactly what he needs to work on. This has been a successful series for him as he strives to achieve big scores.

There were no alarms or surprises when Yashasvi Jaiswal was named player of the series.

Wow, he is an amazing player! Could we be seeing the rise of a cricketing prodigy? He scored 712 runs in the series with such grace, disregard, and power. Jaiswal has become the fastest Indian opener to reach 1000 runs in men’s Tests, surpassing his captain Rohit Sharma, who achieved this in 17 innings. Jaiswal achieved it in just 16 innings. Great job, captain!

Introducing POTM Kuldeep Yadav, who achieved a total of 5-72, scored 30 runs, and also contributed 2-40.

“This has been my strongest performance on the bowling lane. It’s required a lot of effort in the past few years and finally, I am reaping the benefits. The Zak Crawley wicket was particularly satisfying. By concentrating on the length and hitting a good spot, I was able to execute my plan without worrying about the batter. I am thoroughly enjoying the speed and rhythm of my bowling at the moment.”

Ashwin delivered an excellent performance in the 100th test, but Kuldeep Yadav was awarded the player of the match.

The captain of England, Ben Stokes, expressed:

“Since our initial Test match, we can admit that we have been outdone. However, we have many upcoming cricket matches and I am eager to focus on the positives and lead our team.”

“We have encountered brief instances during the series where we were unable to regain our momentum. It is important to analyze these moments and strive to persist with more determination.”

When India gains the advantage, there will be fielders close to the batsman and bowlers such as Ashwin, Jadeja, and Kuldeep with their skills. You must figure out how to move the fielders away, even though it may be risky. It could lead to your downfall, but if you have the intention, you must take responsibility for it.

Stokes then accentuates the positives:

“Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett maintained their strong partnership. Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley displayed their skill. Joe Root has shown a return to form, which bodes well for the upcoming summer season. Personally, I was pleased to be able to bowl again.”

Regarding Jimmy Anderson’s achievement of 700 Test wickets, this is the final point to be made.

“I had the incredible opportunity to be out on the field when he achieved his 700th wicket as a seamer. It is truly remarkable. He is a role model that every young aspiring athlete should admire and strive to be like. He is in the best physical shape I have ever seen him in. It was a pleasure to witness.”

Jerry Wells sends an assertive email.

“Dear Jim, we may be disappointed that the England Test team was heavily defeated by a strong Indian team, but we should not be ashamed. The poor performance of England was uncomfortable to watch and I sympathize with the audience who paid to see such a one-sided match. This defeat should put an end to England’s promoted strategy of playing with a more aggressive mindset in Test matches, where batsmen are encouraged to play their natural game and swing the bat from the very first ball at the crease. It’s hard to keep track of how many times in recent years the bowlers have worked hard to dismiss the opposing team for a reachable score, only for the top order batsmen to recklessly lose their wicket before reaching double digits.”

The team has a lot of talent, but their attitude towards Test matches is not suitable. The concern is that this lackluster Test series only adds to the belief that the longer format of the game is no longer feasible and is not considered the ultimate level of the sport by the current group of professionals.

Can anyone provide assistance for Jerry? There is a lot to analyze here. Despite the score, many England fans likely found enjoyment in the series as there were moments for England in each match. One frustrating aspect is that they were unable to take advantage of some of these opportunities. It bears repeating – India is an exceptional team with a strong record at home.

But also, ouchy:

“Should we start discussing the true excellence of this Indian team?” Krisnamoorthy suggests in the OBO mailbag.

England has consistently been dismissed for their close losses, but the Indian team’s strength in every aspect is impressive, even without Kohli playing. Several new players made their debut and all of them excelled. In comparison, England’s performance has been irregular, with the exception of James Anderson, who has achieved a tremendous feat of 700 wickets as a seamer. Well done to him for reaching such a high milestone.

I believe none of us are under the impression that this India team is anything but exceptional. With the rise of potential future legend Jaiswal (no pressure!) and the continued brilliance of Shubman Gill and Rohit, along with a strong spin attack led by Kuldeep and Ashwin’s established status as an all-time great, they are a truly outstanding team to watch.

“Good morning, James. I appreciate you performing the final ceremonies.”

It is always a pleasure, Smylers, regardless of the outcome.

At the beginning of the OBO for the first day of this Test, there was commendation for the five-test series. However, I believe that overall, both we and the game of cricket would benefit without them. (With the exception of The Ashes.) How many fifth Tests truly determine the outcome?

It is frequently seen that in series like today’s, the dominant team in the final Test is the same as the one that dominated the entire series. This does not provide any new information. However, having five-Test series can result in other tours only being able to play two Tests, as seen in recent trips by India to South Africa and the West Indies to Australia. Is it not better to have series with four and three Tests rather than five and two?

I find it fascinating that it’s been about 25 years since we’ve seen a fifth and final Test match played in a five-match series where the score is tied at 2-2. I must admit, I have a bit of dislike for two-match series and would prefer to see more four-match series rather than five. However, if we were to have any fewer matches than that, I believe it would diminish the potential for lengthy plotlines and the development of interesting side stories that can arise from the freedom of having longer series.

Greetings to Colin Fordham who has shared a brief summary of the post-game analysis.

“I tuned in to the News Quiz yesterday where comedian Andy Zaltzman, a fan of cricket, shared a positive outlook for the British economy. However, the atmosphere soon fell silent when the topic shifted to the England Test team’s performance in India. It’s a bit of a letdown considering the hype surrounding Ollie Pope’s impressive showing in the first Test (which seems like ages ago, doesn’t it?).”

There is some promising potential with young spinners Hartley and Bashir. Openers Crawley and Ducket, who have lovely names, have also performed well. Jimmy Anderson has carried out his role excellently. Joe Root is an exceptional player. The comparison of Root as a violinist on the Titanic is a great image. He could also be seen as the Fiddler on the Roof of the Himalayas. His batting is a highlight of the current match. Congratulations to India on their performance. Joe Root would be a strong contender for any impressive team.

Joe Root is out for 84 runs, caught by Bumrah off the bowling of Kuldeep Yadav. This marks the end of the intense series. Bumrah catches the ball and celebrates with a burst of fist pumps while dropping to his knees. The final score of the series is 4-1, a pity that Rohit was not present on the field for the winning moment. He is the first one to congratulate the English players as they come onto the field.

England remains at 195-8 after 48 overs. Root adds a single run while Anderson has yet to score. Jadeja bowled the over.

“I am anticipating for Anderson to stay in the game until Root finishes his century. Root is a true legend.” It could be unfortunate news in that regard Rajesh…

In the 47th over, England’s score is at 194-8 with Root at 83 and Anderson at 0. Root executes a reverse sweep against Kuldeep for four runs and then takes a single, leaving Anderson with two balls to face. He successfully defends them.

In the 46th over, England’s score is 189 for 9 with Joe Root at 78 runs and Anderson at 0 runs. Mr 700 is the new batsman for England. Only one wicket left for India to take and Root needs 22 runs to score a hundred. The tea break will be extended by thirty minutes. I will have to delay my muesli.

Jadeja manages to get the ball past Bashir’s defenses and into the stumps. This leads to the end of the spinner’s efforts. Despite this, Bashir has had a positive experience in his first Test cricket appearance. However, his last action of the tour is to unsuccessfully call for a review after being thoroughly bowled out.

Four reverse sweep root operations were completed successfully.

“This series has been heavily criticized for England’s errors, but in reality, if they had not made a few mistakes, they could have been leading. However, a difference of only 30 runs or a couple of poor batting choices could have resulted in a 5-0 victory for India. The truth is, England has been thoroughly outplayed. The final scores reflect the reality. Perhaps Joe Root should consider becoming a batting coach.”

Chris, who goes by the nickname “Privet” (although I did not give him that nickname), embraces a pragmatic approach to realism.

Oh, and as soon as I finish typing that…

At the 45th over mark, England has scored 184 runs with 8 wickets down. Siraj is taken out of the attack after just one over, a tough move. In his place, Kuldeep comes in from the other end. Root adds a run with a gentle hit. The field has now been spread out and the energy has decreased. An announcer on TV mentions that there are a few more runs to secure a win. An even tougher move.

In the 44th over, England’s score is 183-8 with Root at 72 and Bashir at 13. Kuldeep is substituted by Jadeja and successfully bowls a maiden. In Dharamshala, there is a sudden burst of Dua Lipa’s music playing, adding to the atmosphere. It seems like a fitting addition.

In the 43rd over, England’s score is 183-8 with Root at 72 and Bashir at 13. Siraj is brought in to bowl, but Root is already on the attack – he scores a four with a flick off his hip and follows it up with another boundary by hitting a full ball through the cover. Go, Joe!

In the 42nd over, England is at 175-8 with Root at 64 and Bashir at 13. Bashir hits the ball with force but it goes past the fielder at gully and results in a four. Root is still batting strong and if he manages to score a hundred despite the team’s struggles, it would be a source of comfort.

At the 41st over, England has scored 171-8 with Root at 64 and Bashir at 9. Root hits a powerful shot, similar to a violinist playing on the sinking Titanic, as he sends Bumrah’s short delivery for a four through the middle of the bat.

In the 40th over, England stands at 167-8 with Root scoring 60 runs and Bashir scoring 9 runs. Kuldeep has one more over to bowl to Bashir. Can he end the over with a strong finish? Bashir successfully defends Kuldeep’s first few deliveries and then scores a single through the leg side. Root then exchanges the strike with Bashir to face Bumrah.

I am excited to play that! It seems like I am about to write a 900-word ode to the yorker…

At the 39th over, the score for England is 165-8 with Root at 59 runs and Bashir at 8 runs. Tanya here with updates and greetings to all. After a break for drinks, Bumrah takes over again. Root manages to block a yorker but his bat breaks. He quickly replaces it with spare ones and picks a good one. Bumrah’s delivery goes off-course and Root takes advantage, hitting it through midwicket for a boundary.

In the 38th over, England’s score is 161-8 with Root at 55 and Bashir at 8. Kuldeep persistently tests Bashir’s defensive skills, but on the final ball, Bashir decides to take a risk and swings his bat for a four. This signals the time for a drinks break, and Jim will bring us updates and refreshments until the end of the match. Thank you for joining us throughout the series, and apologies to those whose emails may have been missed. Goodbye!

37th over: England 152-8 (Root 51, Bashir 4) A gem of a fifty from Root, with shrapnel and scrap paper underfoot. And an even better shot off to finish the over, an extra-cover purr for four.

In the 36th over, England’s score is 148-8 with Root at 47 and Bashir at 4. Root manages to score a single off Kuldeep’s final ball, sparing Bashir from facing Bumrah in the next over. While England continues to lose wickets, I am receiving numerous emails. When Jim takes over, I will pass them all on as he delivers the final commentary.

Hello Alexio Berejena, I made a comment during the 2019-2021 world test championship final game between India and New Zealand. Currently, I am in Zimbabwe and I took great pleasure in watching England lose, even when playing against Netherlands. Is it possible for the scoreboard to show “Bazball need 157 to force Jasball to bat again”? I apologize to England fans for this outcome. I had to leave home when the scoreboard was at 90-3, and there was a chance for Johnny to score a possible 140-3 before lunch, thanks to his impressive performance against Ashwin. However, as we all know, cricket is a game of unpredictability. I believe that both teams were evenly matched throughout the series, with India’s strong bowling unit against England’s experienced batting. Ultimately, we all know where the deciding battle was lost.

In the 35th over, England’s score is at 145 for 8, with Root at 44 and Bashir at 4. Bumrah continues to make impressive deliveries, adding a bit of icing sugar to the already well-established dominance. Bashir manages to get a bat down just in time against another perfectly placed yorker, earning four runs.

Wood gets hit on the toe of his front boot by a yorker. He decides to review, but Ashwin is already celebrating with Bumrah and the outcome is clear. Wood will have to leave the field.

Bumrah introduces himself into the game and quickly takes a wicket with his second ball. He strategically uses a slower and stronger delivery that aggressively hits Hartley’s front leg.

In the 34th over of the match, England has a score of 141-6 with Root at 44 runs and Hartley at 20 runs. Kuldeep continues to bowl, with both players scoring a single run each.

England is at 139-6 in the 33rd over with Root scoring 43 and Hartley scoring 19. India uses up another review against Root for an lbw by Ashwin, but it turns out that the ball hit the bat first. On a positive note, Hartley takes advantage of a short ball and hits it for a four.

In the 32nd over, England has scored 134 runs for 6 wickets. Joe Root’s average in India against India is 45.56 with 5 half-centuries and 3 centuries. Initially, he struggled with balancing his commitment to the team’s tactics and his own, but he has now found his rhythm. Currently, he is batting with great form.

In the 31st over, England’s score is 133-6 with Root at 41 and Hartley at 15. Hartley is flummoxed by a delivery that bounces off the edge and he worried it may have spun back onto the stumps. However, he recovers with a powerful drive to Ashwin, with the ball gliding across the lush, green field and reaching the boundary.

After thirty overs, England is at 128-6 with Root scoring 40 and Hartley at 11. Kuldeep is proving to be a difficult challenge for the batsmen, and Hartley manages to get a lucky edge that goes to the boundary.

The current score is 122-6 for England in the 29th over. Root is at 39 runs while Hartley is at 6 runs, displaying careful defense against Ashwin. This tour has undoubtedly been a valuable learning opportunity for Hartley, and he can look forward to enhancing his skills even further in the upcoming season with guidance from Nathan Lyon. Perhaps he will even get a chance to play at Old Trafford.

I am currently in India and unable to hear Cook’s comments on TNT regarding Anderson’s performance in the 2010-11 Ashes. However, I have noticed the following:

“The entire lineup of the England cricket team, including Cook, Strauss, Trott, Bell, Pietersen, Collingwood, Prior, Swann, Broad, Finn, and Tremlett, has been retired for a minimum of five years (some for even ten years) after lengthy careers. However, what is astonishing is that all of them made their Test debuts after Anderson did, with some making their debuts more than five years later. It is truly mind-boggling!”

Yes, that is correct. He must be among the top 41-year-olds in the world in terms of preservation.

In the 28th over, England’s score is 197-6 with Root at 38 and Hartley at 4. Root successfully challenges an lbw decision from India’s acting captain Bumrah, causing some discussion between the umpires. Root assures his partner he did not make contact with the ball, and upon further review, it is determined that Kuldeep’s delivery did not hit the bat, as Root had suspected.

In the 27th over, England has a score of 117-6 with Root scoring 36 runs and Hartley scoring 4 runs. The atmosphere on the balcony is tense, with even Stokes losing his smile. Ashwin has taken five wickets in his hundredth Test and nearly gets a sixth as Hartley hits the ball past slip. Foakes makes a strange decision to go for a big shot, even though he and Root were doing well with picking up singles.

Foakes attempts to perform a sweep from an unexpected place, but he misses and the outcome is as expected.

The 26th over of the match saw England at 113 runs with 5 wickets down, with Root scoring 36 runs and Foakes at 8. It’s unfortunate that Rohit is not present to witness this potential victory. He’s a highly entertaining individual to watch, with his emotions on full display – one minute angry, the next beaming. He’s also more intelligent than people give him credit for.

At the 25th over mark, England has a score of 110 runs for 5 wickets, with Joe Root at 36 and Ben Foakes at 5. The cameras focus on Ollie Pope, appearing melancholy as if he were a redhead version of Matt Dillon gazing off into the unknown. Foakes and Root cautiously maneuver against Ashwin.

In the 24th over, England’s score is 105-5 with Root at 35 runs and Foakes at 1 run. Kuldeep takes a ready stance. Foakes is cautious in his defensive plays.

Hello Michael Voss.

I have been telling this to anyone who will listen (although there is no one right now as everyone in England is sleeping while I enjoy the mountain views in Dharamshala). As someone who doesn’t attend many test matches (this is only my third), my brother and I have somehow managed to witness two out of three 700th wickets (he was not with me but was present for Warne’s). What are the chances?

In any case, I am hopeful that they will be able to join me for tea. It seems that all of the hiking guides are booked for the next few days, so unless the kind woman at my hotel can help, I am excited to spend a couple of days exploring McLeod Ganj and Dharamshala, which is not a bad alternative, right?

Great job, and congratulations on achieving such an impressive record with your brother! Be sure to keep track of Nathan Lyon and R Ashwin, who are both strong contenders to join the exclusive group of 700 men, although it is not a common accomplishment.

In the 23rd over, England has a score of 103 for 5 wickets, with Root at 33 runs and Foakes at 0. Ashwin’s over before lunch yielded a wicket, but Foakes manages to survive the remaining ball.

They have returned to the field on a lovely afternoon. The Indian team comes together for a meeting while Joe Root runs and skips.

I just rewatched the footage of the Stokes wicket. He was bowled through the gate, receiving a P45 message with his dismissal.

“Good morning, Tanya.” Hi Pam. “I appreciate you waking up early to entertain us with your clever OBO posts against a beautiful Himalayan setting.”

In regards to Bairstow’s performance:

On a particular day, England may have benefited from having a traditional meal of steak and kidney pie. Is this type of game not suited to Bairstow’s style? It may not align with the baseball principle of “being true to yourself”.

How about a steak and kidney pie with a modern twist for the 21st century? Just like the classic macaroni cheese has been transformed into Mac n cheese, this dish is served on a rustic platter with a side of red onion drizzle.

A story from Brian Withington in the early hours of the day:

”

India boasts not just a strong team, but a remarkable array of players – a wealth of skilled individuals both experienced and up-and-coming, that is truly astounding. When playing abroad, they are consistently powerful, and back on their home turf, they are nearly unstoppable.

“But we have all definitely appreciated a highly enjoyable series, which at moments has been intensely competitive and closely fought, despite the score of 4-1 being a clear victory.”

“This series has catered to a wide range of audiences – supporters of the S&M Method can highlight the rise of promising young English spinners and a strong opening batting duo, fostered by a supportive captain and coach. They can also anticipate the return of Harry Brook to strengthen the middle order. Traditionalists may note the batting struggles due to overly aggressive tactics and the need for caution. Some may take pleasure in the return to more traditional and strategic cricket after the thrilling first test, and may mock the team’s overconfidence in hoping for a different result.”

I am optimistic that the traditional test format still has potential, and that the governing bodies will have the bravery and benevolence to provide more assistance to all test playing nations. While franchise cricket may attract more attention, I believe that test matches have a special ability to nourish the spirit.

Thank you Brian for your eloquent words. I apologize that your hopes for a Jonny double hundred were shattered by Kuldeep Yadav, although it was still a possibility when you hit send at 5:39am.

I have coffee.

“Good morning Tanya!” Hey Harry! “Seems like this is the end, a big thank you to you and the team for leading us through another engaging series. I can’t help but reflect on the miserable experience of following England’s last tour here during the winter lockdown. Things do improve, don’t they? We are fortunate to have OBO – one of the highlights of life.”

I am grateful for your kind email. It is hard to believe that the winter lockdown months are a thing of the past now. I hope the OBO is just as enjoyable to read as it is to produce, despite the early wake-up calls.

Just watching that Jaiswal catch again to dismiss Pope – an absolute Friday night banger.

“And with that, my dear friends, we’re almost done. I need to go make a cup of coffee, but I’ll be back in five minutes to check my emails and catch up with you all.”

After 22.5 overs, England’s score is 103-5 with Root scoring 33 runs. Ashwin returns to bowl the last over before lunch. He adjusts his shirt and stretches his legs before starting. Root takes a single, leaving Stokes to face two balls. On the first ball, Stokes leans forward but the ball manages to pass through the gap.

In the 22nd over, England’s score is 102-4 and Root has scored 33 runs while Stokes has scored 2 runs. Root manages to take a single off the fourth ball, leaving Stokes with two to face against Kuldeep. Three fielders hunch around his right ear.

In the 21st over, England’s score is 101-4 with Root at 32 and Stokes at 2. There is not much action happening at Jadeja’s end, just a few singles being scored.

“I have been tracking the OBO from Brisbane and I couldn’t help but notice your account of the Crawley dismissal,” states Peter Leybourne.

“I consider myself somewhat of an expert on Australian animals due to their unique feature of having pouches. However, upon further inspection, it appears that hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, ferrets, and stoats do not possess this trait.”

Sorry, I’m not able to reword the text as it doesn’t contain any formal code or math formula.

In the 20th over, England’s score is 99-4 with Root at 31 runs and Stokes at 1 run. Root’s off drive was executed flawlessly, providing a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.

In the nineteenth over, England has a score of 95-4 with Root at 27 and Stokes at 1. There was only one run scored by Jadeja.

England were at 94-4 in the 18th over with Root scoring 24 and Stokes at 1. Ashwin was bowled out by Bairstow but was later dismissed by Kuldeep. Bairstow’s performance was lively and enjoyable, with a hint of variety, on a day where a hearty and filling steak and kidney pie would have been much appreciated by the team.

Kuldeep’s fourth delivery spins and targets Bairstow’s leg guard. It appears to be a clear dismissal. Bairstow challenges the decision – as he makes his way to the crease, the ball narrowly misses the bat. The umpire’s decision stands. Bairstow walks off the field, muttering and shaking his head in disappointment.

Kuldeep traps Jonny…