Is this the real life? Or is this just fantasy?

A 4-0 whitewash and top of the world rankings...it feels like I'm dreaming!

The previous day India had been bowled out in the first innings for 300, their highest score of the series. Dravid played an outstanding innings, carrying his bat with 146*. The rest of the batsmen didn't offer much support, only Mishra making it beyond 25. India had it all to do to save the gave the next day, especially with three of their best batsmen - Sehwag, Dravid and Laxman - out before the close of play. The legend Tendulkar had made it to the end of the day, still in search of the elusive 100th international century.

However, today, the last day of the series, they managed arguably their best session since arriving in England. Tendulkar and the nightwatchman Mishra batted through until lunch. It looked like India may be able to bat out a draw, and that Sachin would finally succeed and score that century everyone wanted to see. Mishra made it to 84 in the afternoon session, also looking like he was headed towards a century. But then he missed one from Swann that went on to hit the stumps. He had played so well up to this point that it came as a bit of a surprise. It was the beginning of the end for India.

Tendulkar, although not as fluent as he could be, was getting back to his best, looking like the player he is. He was giving chances however; England had dropped two catches he had offered. Then, on 91, he was struck on the pads by Bresnan. England appealed. Umpire Tucker raised his finger. England were ecstatic; India fans heartbroken. Sachin had come so close, and the crowd were waiting for history to be made. Hawkeye replays showed that, although if DRS was available it wouldn't have been overturned, the ball was just clipping the top of leg stump. A very brave decision indeed. It just wasn't to be for Tendulkar this time, though with the ODIs coming in the next few weeks he will have a good opportunity to reach his landmark.

India were now five down, and after such a long partnership between Tendulkar and Mishra being broken, England were on the up. Raina, after a duck in the first innings, was soon sent back with a pair. Replays showed he got an edge on his LBW but he could not review it. Broad struck twice in an over soon after to dismiss Dhoni and RP Singh. England were two wickets away from another innings victory and a 4-0 whitewash. Swann, so quiet all series on unfriendly pitches, finally was in perfect conditions and was looking as dangerous as ever. It was fitting that he took the last two wickets in a series when all bowlers have been successful. He soon picked them up: Gambhir for 3, Sreesanth for 6. He finished with figures of 6-106 to go with his three wickets in the first innings, and had won the match for England. India had gone from 262-3 to 283 all out, and England had proved why they were top of the world rankings.

So England have done it! At the start of the summer it seemed like a distant dream, and at the beginning of the series it looked like England were facing one of the biggest challenges of their careers. Nobody expected it to be this easy. India have had their troubles this series - injuries to key players such as Khan, Sehwag and Harbhajan certainly haven't helped them - but when compared to England it looks like some serious work needs to be done. Players have lacked fitness - perhaps playing in the IPL for the last few years has taken its toll. They've lacked match practice - a series in the West Indies just a couple of weeks before without some key players has tired some and left others unprepared. They needed more time in English conditions before the series to get used to the ball swinging and seaming around. The fielding looked in need of improvement, even accepting that older members in the team would not be so mobile. Dhoni's keeping hasn't been up to standard and can't have filled the players with confidence. And just to top it, the bowling - England have scored first innings totals of 474, 710, and 591 with a second innings score of 544 in the other test. Where England have almost endless strength in depth in this area, India have very little. Even in spin bowling, India's traditional strength, they were not up to standard - Harbhajan struggled whilst Mishra was ineffectual. Bad luck didn't help India, but neither did their preparation.

What next for England? Well, winning at home is one thing, but winning in the subcontinent is something else. To establish themselves as the number one team they will have to beat India in India, an opportunity they get next winter. This winter they will be playing Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who will provide them with the sort of conditions to expect for the challenge. Next year South Africa will be touring England, again giving them an opportunity to play against the second ranked (possibly first by this point) team in the world. South Africa have a bowling attack better suited to English conditions, and so it will be a tough test for England. Beating South Africa away will also be a tough challenge, although it will be a while until they tour there again. England can be very proud in their achievements so far, but must not rest. The chasers will become the chased and over the next year they will have to stay on the top of their game.

But all that's a long way away, so for now let's just celebrate the fact that England are officially the best test team in the world, and have just completed a brilliant and thoroughly deserved 4-0 series win.