Rahul takes off

Throughout KL Rahul’s innings, the Indian opener played with a freedom he’s lacked during a tough tour, the series and match situation giving him licence to have a go. But for one nine-ball stretch he was something else entirely, AB de Villiers and Virender Sehwag reincarnate. He started it on 78 from 109 balls. A trio of sweeps, a conventional bookended by reverse, off Moeen Ali brought a brace of fours and a single.

If ever a Test match was written in the stars it was this one. With one left for England to claim victory, the Oval crowd urged him on. With the new ball in hand, Anderson made sure that he broke McGrath’s record on the pitch alongside his great friend and teammate Cook. After taking two wickets in his second over, he probably didn’t think it would take him another 24 hours to take a record breaking third. The wait was well worth it though and it gave Anderson, Cook and England the perfect end to the perfect Test.