It was the taking part that counted

Yes the England team lost the series in India and yes there were things to critics about their performance—Shane Warne’s jibe about Monty Panesar’s lack of guile has never rung truer than after this tour, Steve Harmison’s attitude away from home is still deeply frustrating and in continuing to pick Ian Bell ahead of Owais Shah the selectors are taking loyalty to Bush-like levels—but all this pales into insignificance compared to the fact that the tour went ahead.