NASSER Hussain defended England's stifling policy after finishing the rain-wrecked final Test in control of the match.

No play was possible on the final day in fact, only the equivalent of two sessions were possible in the final three as the Bangalore weather washed away chances of levelling the three-Test series.

But the tourists, as in the previous Test at Mohali, came out on the credit side of the equation despite heightened criticism of Hussain's leg-side policy.

Sachin Tendulkar, widely regarded as the world's best batsman, was starved for runs, especially by left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, who became the first bowler to snare him stumped in 89 Tests.

Tendulkar still scored 90 but England finished 131 runs ahead with all 10 second-innings wickets intact.

It left Hussain pointing at the achievement of restricting the Indians, who even slayed the mighty Australians earlier this year, said: "We bowled India out for 290 in the last Test and 230 in this Test and an Australian side came over here last winter with a bowling attack of Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Shane Warne and this same batting line-up on turning wickets were 570 for six.

"Not only do I have to come out here with an inexperienced attack with about four Test caps between them, I also have to ask the opposition where would they like it to be bowled?

"And go out there with no plan at all like a few past England sides have done?

"Say to my boys 'we have no plans, just go out there and bowl it wherever you want'. We'll try that next time we are out here."

Indian coach John Wright, though, questioned the return gained from stifling in Test cricket.

"We have seen it with Shane Warne but he didn't get the bounce that Ashley Giles got," he said.

"When you have the best player in the world struggling to score it is obviously a great challenge. It wasn't easy to counter, whether or not it made the cricket a more attractive spectacle is a matter for debate.

"But it was certainly effective in limiting the scoring options.

"Whether or not you get wickets is the main issue, perhaps, because you are not going to win many games attacking from one end."

Hoggard claimed Test-best figures with four wickets apiece as India were shot out for 238.

Hussain's pposite number Saurav Ganguly would have been much the more relieved of the two captains on surveying the leaden sky yesterday morning and play was called off when the drizzle returned before 11am.

Ganguly said: "They had the first innings lead of nearly 100 runs and obviously they were in a better position to set the tone in this game. But it was far from being lost."