When Cook and Co. did the unthinkable - England in India 2012-13

Click here to support 81allout on Ko-Fi In this episode, we look back to England's tour to India in 2012-13. England had not won a series in India since 1984-85 and they began the tour as underdogs - especially after a heavy defeat in the first Test in Ahmedabad. The turnaround began in Mumbai – thanks to some splendid spin bowling followed by hundreds from Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen – and England went on to defy expectations in the final two Tests. Talking Points: England's tours to UAE and Sri Lanka before the India series Kevin Pietersen's "reintegration" into the side Monty Panesar not playing in the first Test in Ahmedabad Sehwag's hundred, Pujara's double-hundred The Cook-Prior rearguard in the second innings Panesar's ball to Tendulkar on day one in Mumbai Pujara's masterful innings against spin Pietersen brutal hitting and the shock in the stands Tendulkar's innings on day one in Kolkata James Anderson's spell of reverse-swing The Cook marathon – with support from Trott Jonathan Trott's lesson in patience The slow Nagpur pitch The consequences of the defeat for India – and the end of many journeys Participants: Karthik Krishnaswamy (@the_kk) Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Ashoka (@ABVan) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Related: The Wisden Almanack report for the series - ESPNcricinfo The balls of the century - Monty Panesar to Sachin Tendulkar - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo First step to redemption, India go 1-0 up - Karthik Krishnaswamy - Indian Express Cheteshwar Pujara: the worker ant - Siddhartha Vaidyanathan Dhoni's pitch flawed - Karthik Krishnaswamy - ESPNcricinfo Patient Tendulkar middles it this time - Karthik Krishnaswamy - Indian Express Quick wickets but no miracle this time - Karthik Krishnaswamy - Indian Express Post lunch, humble pie - Karthik Krishnaswamy - Indian Express Pads on, DRS isn't watching - Karthik Krishnaswamy - Indian Express Zaheer Khan. Left arm... over? - Karthik Krishnaswamy - Indian Express Be bold, be practical, do the right thing - Siddhartha Vaidyanathan