OTD | England completed their series whitewash against India for the Pataudi trophy in 2011

On this day (August 22) in 2011, England completed their first series whitewash in seven years when they won against India in the Pataudi trophy. Andrew Strauss and Co. sealed the four-match Test series with a remarkable innings and 8 runs victory at the Oval in London. 

England opened the series with a massive 196-run win at Lord’s on the back of Kevin Pietersen’s unbeaten 202 off 326 balls. His majestic knock in the first innings helped England post 474 before declaring the first innings. India, in reply, were bundled out for 286 despite Rahul Dravid scoring a brilliant hundred. The hosts added 269 more runs in the second innings and set a target of 458. The MS Dhoni-led side could score only 261. 

The action then shifted to Nottingham and this time England, batting first, did not get the desired start. The Indian pacers restricted them to 221 runs in the first innings and their batters responded with 288. However, the visitors were stunned in the second half as the English batsmen accumulated a mammoth 544, courtesy of Ian Bell’s 159. India continued their poor run of form as they were bundled out for just 158 to hand the hosts a massive 319-run victory. 

England annihilate India to seal the series  

In the third Tests in Birmingham, India were invited to bat first and they posted 224 runs in the first innings. England annihilated the visitors by piling up 710 runs before declaring.An unfortunate Alastair Cook fell just six runs short of a triple century, while Eoin Morgan dazzled with a brilliant century. The game was done and dusted there itself. However, the Indian batter decided to go through the formalities and eventually packed their bags for the England capital after suffering an innings and 242-run defeat. 

Having already lost the series, India entered the Oval looking for a consolation win. Backed by Ian Bell and Pietersen’s 350-run partnership, the hosts put another 500+ score on the board.  Once again Rahul Dravid led the charge for India but none of the other batsmen stood up and as a result, they were bowled out for 300 runs. Dhoni and Co. failed to avoid follow-on and were dismissed for 283 runs, handing England an innings and eight-run victory. 

Bell was adjudged Player of the Match in the fourth Test for scoring an incredible double hundred (235), with Dravid (461 runs) and England pacer Stuart Broad (182 runs and 25 wickets) sharing the Player of the Series award.  

Also read: India bounced back in the Nottingham Test in 2018