Third Test, Headingley, day five:
England 273 and 303 lose to India 628-8 dec by an innings and 46 runs
India have squared the Test series against England after an impressive innings win at Headingley.
They comprehensively won on a pitch that was never expected to suit their bowling attack.
Spinner Anil Kumble, in superb form with the ball throughout England's second innings, took two of the first three wickets of the day.
And fittingly he took the last one too, just before lunch, to prompt wild celebrations from the Indian team. It sets up an exciting climax to the series with the final Test beginning at The Oval on 5 September.
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Sourav Ganguly hailed man-of-the-match Rahul Dravid as "one of the best batsmen in the world".
His words came after India consolidated their dominant showing at Headingley to claim an innings win against England before lunch on the final day.
Ganguly admitted that electing to bat first on day one was a "big decision" - one which many observers had initially questioned.
But Dravid dug deep on a pitch that should have aided England's seamers to hit 148.
It was an innings that set up centuries from Sachin Tendulkar and Ganguly, and which created the foundation for India's win.
Ganguly said: "The way we batted on the first day really set up the game for us.
"I knew it would nip around first thing in the morning but we were playing two spinners so we had to bat first.
"I had confidence in Rahul who is one of the best batsmen in the world and he and Sanjay Bangar played brilliantly.
"When we reached 630 we knew we had a good chance in the Test but we knew we had to get them out twice and we knew in the back of our mind that it rains quite a lot in Yorkshire."
Ganguly had time too to praise his opposite number Nasser Hussain, whose defiant century after England were forced to follow on really frustrated the visitors.
Sachin Tendulkar, who hit 193 to help India crush England by an innings and 46 runs in the third Test in Leeds which ended on Monday, has climbed three places to second in the latest world Test batting rankings.
Tendulkar's team mate Anil Kumble has risen to sixth in the bowling rankings, his highest placing for nearly three years, after the leg-spinner picked up seven wickets in the Leeds victory.
England paceman Matthew Hoggard has dropped two places to eighth.
England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is set to miss the series decider against India at The Oval.
Following England's defeat by an innings and 46 runs in the third Test at Headingley, skipper Nasser Hussain confirmed Flintoff was unlikely to be considered for selection for the final match.
Flintoff needs surgery to repair a hernia and the gamble on his fitness backfired as he managed only a single wicket as India piled up 628-8 declared and then registered a pair with the bat.
"It's unlikely Andrew will be fit for The Oval. He's got to have an operation before the Ashes series, so there's a position up for grabs," Hussain commented.
The England and Wales Cricket Board later confirmed that Flintoff could undergo surgery on Friday and he would then be out of action for four to six weeks.
The make-up of England's team for the decider will be crucial and Yorkshire's Craig White would be an obvious candidate to replace Flintoff, providing he recovers from a side strain in time.