Vaughan tips his hat to India

A jubilant Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid hoist the npower trophy © Getty Images

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England captain Michael Vaughan conceded India deserved to crack his side’s unbeaten stretch on home soil, after the tourists completed a 1-0 npower series victory at the Brit Oval.

Although England batted out the final day of the three-Test campaign to finish on 369 for six - thus maintaining a hold on second place in the International Cricket Council rankings - it confirmed a first home series defeat in six years and 12 series.

Three weeks ago - when India relied on rain to escape from the Lord’s opener, hanging on to draw with nine wickets down - it appeared Vaughan’s men held the upper hand.

But India have not looked back since as they sealed only a third series success in their history on English soil.

“In a three-match series, it is the team that plays the better cricket which usually wins - and I guess the way India played over the last two games meant they were worth it,” said Vaughan.

“It’s disappointing to lose the series. But there are series that you lose when you know that you have played some really bad cricket - and there are series that you lose like this one when you think ‘We haven’t played that badly’.

“In that first game at Lord’s we were exceptional. We obviously got put under a lot of pressure at Trent Bridge and lost that game.

“We lost the toss here on a really good Test match wicket, and it was always going to be difficult to force the victory.

“The last two days here, most people were expecting England to lie down and for India to win the series 2-0.

Michael Vaughan and co contemplate a series defeat

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“I hope people have seen that the England side are going to be prepared to fight. Today was a big one for the team to see if we could show character - and we have done that.”

Resuming on 56 without loss, faced with an improbable 500-run victory target, crease occupation was paramount - and Kevin Pietersen showed his liking for this ground with a defiant hundred, his 10th of a career just over two years old.

His first - against Australia in 2005 sealed the Ashes on this same ground - and this one, although of lesser importance, had lashings of steely determination about it.

“Someone needed to come out today and bat for a long time,” said Pietersen. “A few of us did that; it was a great team effort.

“For England’s success - to make sure you don’t lose, and even win some - you have to show that side of your game.

“To get to double figures in hundreds is pretty satisfying. But I want a lot more, so I will keep working hard.”

India captain Rahul Dravid faced criticism in some quarters for his decision not to enforce the follow-on on Sunday, but Vaughan confirmed he would have done the same in his position.

Kevin Pietersen applies himself to help earn England a draw

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Dravid’s summer will be remembered in any case in years to come for an historic series success rather than perceived negative tactics.

“I feel very proud to have achieved what we have as a team,” he said. “It’s not very often that we’ve won here, and that is a tribute to the whole group.

“We played the better cricket in the critical moments, and to come away from home and beat England gives us a lot of satisfaction.”

Of his decision to bat on rather than push for a 2-0 win which would have hauled India level with England in the ICC standings, Dravid added: “There will be different opinions as to what is wise and what is not wise.

“As captain, I know my team quite well and the workload my bowlers have gone through. It was the third Test match, and we played the same team all the way through the series.

“Maybe if I was sitting in a living room somewhere I might have done something else.

“But I have to back my judgment - that is what I earn my corn for. I thought pushing my boys through that would not be the right thing to do.”