The cricket field at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium is mown in concentric rings, alternatively green and brown. But for the first time on the tour, England didn't finish a game going round in circles. They fly to Delhi tomorrow with a win, and a boost of enthusiasm to either lift them for the first Test or, if the worst comes to the worst, sustain them through carol concerts back in England. Even Duncan Fletcher managed a flicker of enthusiasm when he spoke on the grass under the pavilion, as various dogs sniffed around in the background. "Today was the first day we didn't play in patches, except for the back end when you're always under pressure. We played well today. We have improved.

"We pulled ourselves back", he said. "If they'd got away from us and given us a stiffer task with guys around the bat for longer periods it could have been very difficult because it wasn't an easy wicket to play cricket on."

The wicket may have come in for some Fletcher lip, but the name Andy Flintoff was tripping off his tongue like his favourite tipple. "He bowled quickly with a lot of pace which was exciting to see. Then he just showed what a dangerous batter he can be, he can take the initiative away from the bowlers. He's a confident player. You can see when he runs out to the middle when it is his turn to bat that he is very positive and good to have in the side."

Craig White, too, won praise, "It was exciting to see him start to generate that pace."

All England's hard work will come to nothing if by noon tomorrow Jagmohan Dalmiya and the ICC have not come to a compromise over Virender Sehwag. But Fletcher said that the possible cancellation of the tour had not been too much of a worry.

"There's been some mention of it in the changing room but we haven't had huge discussions about it, which is important. We came here with a difficult task ahead of us and I think it is important that the guys think about that.

"I haven't been in touch with Lord's at all. It's got to be left to them. If they want to phone us and say come back, we go back. Our job is to play cricket."

Which, two and a half weeks into the tour, they have suddenly done very well.

Tanya Aldred, our assistant editor, is covering the whole tour for Wisden.com.

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