It took a little longer than expected, but Nasser Hussain's men wrapped up the first Test after lunch on a final day enlivened by a maiden century from Ajit Agarkar (previous Test batting average: 7.47). It's understandable that the intensity of the first four days wasn't quite there for England. For all Agarkar's heroics it was only a matter of time, certainly once VVS Laxman was out. But the leisurely last day shouldn't be allowed to detract from a focussed allround performance by England in a match where the weather was more Lanzarote than Lord's.

The batting was grimly determined, with Man of the Match Nasser Hussain leading the way. Then the bowling was tightly disciplined. Andy Flintoff will probably never again bowl 19 overs for 22 runs and Matthew Hoggard put his nerves behind him to take seven wickets. And the stand-ins stood up to be counted. Craig White slotted back in to the side as if he'd never been away - gutsy fifty, the key scalp of Tendulkar in the first innings, three other wickets besides. Simon Jones ran in and hit the deck as hard as he could, which is why he was chosen. And he smacked a morale-boosting 44 - more than his dad managed in his entire 15-Test career - to lift spirits and stretch the lead out of India's grasp.

All in all it was a display to make the massed ranks of the England injured sit up and take notice. The return of Andy Caddick and Darren Gough to this side won't be quite as straightforward as it might have seemed before this match. Remember that this supposedly makeshift team was being tutted about five days ago - how on earth were they ever going to bowl out this strong Indian batting line-up twice? By sticking to a plan and bowling well, that's how.

Steven Lynch is database director of Wisden.com.

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