Sachin Tendulkar's acknowledgement that the honour was deserved, however, was an admission that the Indians also rated his performance highly on such a placid pitch.

Rose could well have had more than the one victim he took in the final session as the match meandered to an inevitable draw after the rain. He may have been presented with the wicket of Venkata Laxman, who drove negligently to extra cover, but once more he had Tendulkar in difficulty. He would surely have dismissed the India captain for the third successive innings had Courtney Walsh had the sense to give him a third slip. Tendulkar's edge flew for four.

The form of Tendulkar and Navjot Sidhu is of some concern as the Indians prepare for the second Test in Trinidad on Friday. Sidhu's feet are just not moving, and the fact that he walked for a catch to short leg in India's second innings after being given not out questioned his stomach for a fight.