The Cricketer looks at the main talking points from day five of the fifth Test between England and India at the Kia Oval
Chris Woakes' innings might go down in history as the most courageous nought not out that Test cricket has seen.
Walking to the crease with a dislocated shoulder, his left arm was hidden beneath his sweater, propped up in a sling. Had he faced a ball during a torturous, admirable 16-minute stay at the crease, he'd have faced up lefthanded, since that meant getting his stricken shoulder out of the way and allowed him to hold his bat with his dominant, uninjured right hand.
He was in great discomfort throughout, but it epitomised one of English cricket's most selfless characters.
"It was never going to be a question for him to go out there," said Ben Stokes afterwards. "That just goes back to how much energy and effort that's been put into the series by both teams. Everyone's left a lot out on the ground for their countries, the series, definitely."
India's fielders all beelined for Woakes after the final wicket, having earned the respect of all 25,000 people in the Kia Oval on Monday morning.
Related: India win by six runs amid extraordinary ending to thrilling series
The teams shared the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy (Getty Images)
It is hard to look past Mohammed Siraj's series-levelling wicket for the moment of the day.
The India fast bowler was the hero of the series, taking on the mantle of senior quick in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, and it spoke volumes that the two Tests that India won came in the games that the talismanic Bumrah missed.
That was because of Siraj, who bowled 46.3 overs at the Kia Oval, finishing with match figures of 9 for 190, including three of the four wickets that fell on Monday morning.
"The body is fine right now," Siraj laughed afterwards, asked how he was feeling after delivering the most overs of any bowler on either side.
"It was almost 187 overs in this series, but you play for the county, you give everything. You don't think too much; you bowl your sixth over, you bowl your ninth over. I don't care. I believe that you work every ball for the country, not for myself. I play for the country; you give everything."
Related: On Chris Woakes, for whom the team has always come first
Mohammed Siraj bowled India to victory (Getty Images)
In the end, a share of the spoils. Both captains, Ben Stokes and Shubman Gill, agreed that the scoreline was about right for the cricket played and the efforts put in.
The Kia Oval has seen some great Tests over the years, but none quite like this. Only seven Test victories have seen a slenderer margin than India's six-run win, and this was the tightest in India's Test history.
A tie for England would have clinched the series, and Gus Atkinson was always looking to clear the ropes, with the stricken Woakes for company.
But the exceptional Siraj arrowed in a yorker onto the base of his stumps to ensure that both captains would pose with the trophy at the presentation, with a drawn series a fair reflection on six weeks' carnage.
This report was brought to you in association with Kia – to find out more about why Kia is a leader in electrification, visit www.kia.com
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.