Free betting tips: England v India fifth Test preview by Richard Mann
Richard Mann previews Friday's fifth Test between England and India at The Oval with all eyes on Alastair Cook as he bids to end his international career on a high.
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3pts India to win the Fifth Test at 12/5
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And just like that, it's over.
Alastair Cook, the greatest opening batsman English cricket has ever produced and its leading Test runscorer of all time, will retire at the conclusion of the Fifth Test at The Oval, bringing down the curtain on a stellar international career that will have spanned over 12 years and 161 Test matches.
Having completed a memorable series win at the Rose Bowl, Moeen Ali bowling his side to victory on a gripping Sunday afternoon in Southampton, England and its captain, Joe Root, could have been forgiven for feeling that they finally had the makings of a top-class Test side.
Cook's announcement less than 24 hours later has laid a potential roadblock in the way of those plans but in truth, the writing has been on the wall for some time and despite making a double-hundred against Australia in last winter's Ashes, such moments have become few and far between and the Essex opener clearly feels his best days are behind him.
For Root and coach Trevor Bayliss, finding a suitable replacement will be virtually impossible, just as it has been to replace Cook's former opening partner, Andrew Strauss, though in the short term, England will be desperate to finish the summer on a high and give Cook the send off he deserves.
The hosts are 10/11 to win again at The Oval with India available at 12/5 but looking at it objectively, this series has been fiercely fought and Root will be grateful that he was won every toss in the series so far with the Lord's Test and last week's at the Rose Bowl proving particularly crucial. As such, India are probably overpriced for the series finale.
Batting last in the opening Test at Edgbaston proved to be too big of a handicap for India to overcome while being forced to bat first under dark clouds and on a Lord's surface with more than a tinge of green would have left most sides severely disadvantaged, not least an Asian batting line-up with a rampant James Anderson in opposition.
At 2-0 down, India could have easily crumbled but they overcame another lost toss at Trent Bridge to win handsomely before dominating large periods of the fourth Test. Batting last at the Rose Bowl, on a wicket that deteriorated throughout the game, was always going to be tough and India probably did well to make a decent fist of their chase for all they will have been disappointed to have allowed England back into the game when the hosts were struggling at 86-6 in their first innings and then again on day two when Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara were cruising with the bat, only for a staggering collapse to limit their first innings lead.
Make no mistake, India have competed hard this summer, quite often when not enjoying the best of conditions, and they could have easily won in Birmingham and Southampton.
The competitive nature of the series has been something to saviour and has offered a reminder of what Test cricket has to offer - alongside the shorter forms of the game - when played on good, fair pitches between two closely-matched sides.
For the punter, it has offered plenty of betting opportunities, too. Kohli was the headline bet for this column at the start of the series and barring a minor miracle, he should provide us with a 6/1 winner and a very tidy profit.
It doesn't end there, though, and I can't resist one final play on the visitors who have proven to be a resilient outfit in the past, most recently at Trent Bridge earlier in this series, and against South Africa back in the winter when 2-0 down and seemingly broken before roaring back to win against the odds in Johannesburg.
For all they trail the current series 3-1, India's seamers will leave England with their reputations well and truly enhanced.
Ishant Sharma has finally delivered on the considerable promise he has always shown while in Jasprit Bumrah, India boast an X-Factor quick bowler capable of touching 90mph and taking big wickets. Throw into the mix the highly-skilled Mohammed Shami and spinner Ravi Ashwin and India can take 20 wickets in all conditions.
Their batting has been less robust with a heavy burden falling on Kohli's shoulders - 544 series runs at an average of 68.00 - though Pujara compiled a wonderful first-innings 132 not out in Southampton and Ajinkya Rahane has posted solid showings in the last two Tests to offer vital support to Kolhi.
The opening pair of KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan remain vulnerable but the same must be said of England's openers with Cook calling time on his career following an extended lean run of form and Keaton Jennings under serious pressure to make big runs at The Oval having failed to nail his spot so far.
With Joe Root having seemingly ruled out the possibility of him batting at number three this week, Moeen Ali may be asked to fill that role again and with Jonny Bairstow failing to impact at the Rose Bowl, India will be confident they can cause England's top order plenty of problems, just as they have done all summer.
England's middle order might need to bail out the top order again and with all attention focused firmly on Cook and his farewell party, there is a definite possibility that England could take their eye off the ball with the series already in the bag.
More recent comparisons saw Ricky Ponting's final Test match end with a comprehensive loss in Perth while South African captain Graeme Smith tasted defeat in his farewell Test having also announced his retirement in the build-up to that match.
For all sentiment and romance are wonderful things, they rarely mix well with professional sport and at 12/5, India have to be the value play at a venue that should play to their strengths more than any other they have encountered so far this summer.