India will return home satisfied after levelling their five-Test series against England following a dramatic six-run win at the Oval as the home side rue a costly late collapse.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The tourists came back from the dead in the deciding match, taking the last seven England wickets for just 66 runs to finish the series all-square at 2-2.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India arguably won more sessions than they lost over the five Tests, though England were clinical in key moments before failing to press home their advantage in the final match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
AFP Sport picks out three talking points from an enthralling series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Siraj steps up as India's main man<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n Mohammed Siraj ultimately proved the difference-maker for India, taking three wickets for nine runs in a match-winning spell on the final morning at the Oval.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The paceman was named player of the match for his figures of nine wickets for 190 runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Over the course of the series, in which he played every game, Siraj bowled an energy-sapping 185.3 overs, finishing as the leading wicket-taker on either side, with 23 scalps.<\/p>\r\n\r\n India made it clear before the series that pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah would only play three Tests and stayed true to their word, leaving the world's top-ranked bowler out of the final game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n But Siraj ultimately made sure the tourists did not miss him at the Oval.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "When I woke up today (Monday), I thought I could do it. I downloaded a picture from Google saying 'believe'," said Siraj.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Gill shines with the bat as he learns captaincy ropes<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n Shubman Gill has just embarked on one of the toughest jobs in world sport -- leading a team that carries with it the hopes and dreams of 1.4 billion people.<\/p>\r\n\r\n He has been mesmerising with the bat in England, falling just short of overhauling Sunil Gavaskar's long-standing Indian record tally of 774 runs in a series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n India's player-of-the-series has also grown into his role as skipper and oversaw a victory in the final Test when all had seemed lost.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The 25-year-old, who replaced Rohit Sharma as captain in May, arrived in England with a modest Test average of 35.<\/p>\r\n\r\n But he has led from the front to make 754 runs, including four centuries, finishing just 20 runs behind Gavaskar's mark, set against the West Indies in 1971.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Gill combines elegant, classical batting with an ability to go through the gears when necessary.<\/p>\r\n\r\n This was most eye-catchingly showcased at Edgbaston, where he scored a majestic 269 in the first innings and a turbo-charged 161 in the second.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Gill's batting in England will live long in the memory and his reign as captain is off to a solid start.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Stokes still England's magic man<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n Ben Stokes sat out the fifth Test victory with a shoulder injury but has again demonstrated emphatically the value of a genuine all-rounder in the modern game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The England skipper, 34, consistently looked the most dangerous of the home side's bowlers, taking 17 wickets at 25 in 140 overs -- the most he has ever bowled in a series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n He also played a crucial role with the bat, scoring 141 in England's mammoth total of 669 in the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford.<\/p>\r\n\r\n England's bowling at times lacked penetration during the series but Stokes still possesses the rare ability to change a game in the blink of an eye.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The skipper has battled a succession of injuries but England will be desperate to have him on the plane to Australia for the Ashes, which start in November.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Express paceman Jofra Archer made a welcome return to the Test arena against India but played just two matches and his workload is being managed carefully.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Mark Wood, another bowler with genuine pace, has not played Test cricket for nearly 12 months and had knee surgery earlier this year.<\/p>\r\n",
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}Also Read: <\/b> LIVE Cricket Score<\/a><\/h5>