A total of 22 players participate in a match and a maximum of one from each team is declared ‘Player of the series’ due to his consistent performance.

England is visiting India currently and will be involved in a four Test series against the hosts, starting from November 15, 2012, at Ahmedabad. We will review the achievements of the ‘Player of the series’ in the last two encounters between the two countries held in 2008 and 2011.

Pataudi Trophy 2008-09, was staged in India, it comprised just two Tests and England lost it by 0-1. Zaheer Khan (India) was declared ‘Player of the series’ for his outstanding bowling performance in the two matches. He secured eight wickets at a brilliant average of 21.00 per wicket having the best of 3-40 in an innings and 5-81 off a match. Below, we will describe his accomplishment in two Tests.

1^st Test was played at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai, on December 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, 2008.

1^st innings – Zaheer Khan 2-41, India 241 all out

England 316 all out

2^nd innings – Zaheer Khan 3-40, India 4-387 declared

England 9-311 declared

Result – India won by 6 wickets

2^nd Test at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh, played on December 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23, 2008.

1^st innings – Zaheer Khan 3-76, India 453 all out

England 302 all out

2^nd innings – Zaheer Khan 0-11, India 7-251 declared

England 1-64

Result – Match drawn

Pataudi Trophy, 2011 was held in England, a total of four Tests were played and the series was clinched by the Hosts 4-0. Rahul Dravid (India) and Stuart Broad (England) were declared jointly ‘Player of the series’.

Rahul Sharad Dravid (India) was the only Indian batsman who stood firm against the deadly pace bowling of England whereas all his team mates looked timid throughout the series. Dravid hammered 461 runs in 8 innings at a superb average of 76.83, the best of unbeaten 146 comprising three tons.

Stuart Christopher John Broad (England) impressed with his all round performance in four Tests and was rightly declared ‘Player of the series’. He was the highest wicket taker from either side by grabbing 25 wickets at an awesome average of 13.84 runs per wicket with the best of 6-46 in a match and 8-76 in a match. Broad scored 182 runs at a cracking average of 60.66, the best of unbeaten 74 with two fifties.

The breakup of the execution of both players in each Test is as follows:

1^st Test at Lord’s, London, played on July 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25, 2011.

1^st innings – Dravid 103* (15×4) off 220 balls, India 286 all out.

Stuart Broad 24 runs and 4-37

England 1^st innings 8-474 declared

2^nd innings – Dravid 36 (5×4) off 113, India 261 all out

Stuart Broad 74* (9×4) off 90 and 3-57

England 2^nd innings 6-269 declared.

Result – England won by 196 runs.

2^nd Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, held on July 29, 30, 31, August 1, 2011.

1^st innings – Dravid 117 (15×4) off 235, India 288 all out

Broad 64 (9×4) off 66 and 6-46

England 1^st innings 221 all out

2^nd innings – Dravid 6, India 158 all out

Broad 44 (2×6 5×4) off 32 and 2-30

England 2^nd innings 544 all out

Player of the match – Stuart Broad

Result – England won by 319 runs.

3^rd Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, played on August 10, 11, 12 and 13, 2011.

1^st innings – Dravid 22, India 224 all out

Broad 4-53, England 7-710 declared

2^nd innings – Dravid 18, India 244 all out

Broad 2-28

Result – England won by an innings and 242 runs.

4^th Test at Kennington Oval, London, played on August 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22, 2011.

Ist innings – Rahul Dravid 146* (20×4) off 266, India 300 all out

Stuart Broad 2-51, England 6-591 declared

2^nd innings – Dravid 13, India 283 all out

Broad 2-44

Result – England won by an innings and 8 runs.

Keep guessing who the ‘Player of the series’ will be after the conclusion of the fourth Test among Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli,Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Zaheer Khan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann or anyone else.