Harbhajan strikes to remove Butcher for 92

"Sachin Tendulkar is a great batsman. It's always a pleasure sharing the same dressing-room as him. He can win almost any game with his batting."

But Butcher noted how past history could count against India.

The left-handed opener said: "There's a statistic going round suggesting that every time he scores a hundred India don't win the game."

Butcher had to battle through the pain barrier to hit his gritty 92 after being one of a clutch of England players troubled by a stomach bug.

The 29-year-old had hardly slept before compiling his 202-ball effort.

Medication supplied by physio Dean Conway helped him through his knock.

Butcher battled through the pain barrier

"I have felt better, it's not been the most comfortable of days but a very satisfying one," Butcher said.

"I felt a bit giddy and a bit weak but not too bad. Dean had given me plenty of tablets before I left the hotel and while I wasn't feeling 100 per cent, I was OK."

Despite the fact no side has ever scored more than 276 to claim victory in the fourth innings in India, Hussain refused to declare.

Butcher revealed: "The main instructions were to make sure we had wickets in hand at lunch time and everything went exactly as we planned.

"We had looked at a 370 lead with seven overs to bowl - the fact that we got bowled out was a shame but it didn't alter the plan."