It was billed as the 'Payback series' by the Indian press after a dismal tour of England, but the roles were reversed entirely as Alastair Cook's side suffered a 5-0 series whitewash.
A quite catastrophic capitulation from 129 without loss to 176 all out in the fifth one-day international in Kolkata summed up what has been a truly dismal tour from Andy Flower's men.
Abject, inept, insipid, dire, dismal, shoddy, shambolic - England's efforts will be described using many words, but none of them remotely positive.
It was only August 23 that Cowers gushed over the exploits of the England side which trounced India in all formats over the summer with very different player ratings, so it is only fair that a similar assessment is made in the aftermath of a big failure.
Where do England go from here? Is Cook fit to remain the captain? Where do Flower's men start in addressing the many problems highlighted in a truly dreadful series?
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Alastair Cook
 Matches: 5 Assessment: Cook's captaincy was criticised in many quarters, and his batting did not stand up with an average of just 26.60. Looked flustered and stressed in the field, and lacked confidence in his batting following a fruitful summer. Rating: 5 |
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Craig Kieswetter
 Matches: 5 Assessment: Kieswetter endured a torrid time behind the stumps all series and his batting hardly lifted his stock. The Somerset opener averaged 27.00 with a solid 63 in the final ODI but his batting did not compensate sufficiently. Rating: 5 |
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Jonathan Trott
 Matches: 5 Assessment: Trott cannot be judged too harshly for averaging 50.50 in another series in which he set up a match-winning position for his side, only to lack support - his 98 in Mumbai should have ensured a solitary victory. Rating: 7 |
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Kevin Pietersen
 Matches: 4 Assessment: Pietersen averaged 42.50 but failed to make any tangible contribution in terms of helping his side with a substantial knock to set up a victory. A fractured thumb provided further frustration in a disappointing series. Rating: 6 |
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Ravi Bopara
 Matches: 5 Assessment: This series could prove to be Ravi's last for England after another run in the side did not yield results. Bopara averaged a paltry 16.00 with a highest score of 36 and failed to provide any steel in a soft-centred middle-order. Rating: 4 |
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Jonny Bairstow
 Matches: 5 Assessment: The hype was huge surrounding the young Yorkshireman as he entered this series, but he averaged a pitiful 12.25 and sadly looked out of his depth against good quality spin bowling and in unfamiliar conditions. Rating: 4 |
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Samit Patel
 Matches: 5 Assessment: While his bowling proved entirely innocuous against classy opposition, Patel finished with an average of 40 with the bat down the order and put many of England's frontline batsmen to shame with his gutsy displays. Rating: 7 |
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Tim Bresnan
 Matches: 5 Assessment: Five wickets at 49.00 was not the return the burly Yorkshireman expected after a scintillating summer, but he was one of the more encouraging performers with his efforts sharing the new ball with Finn. Poor at the death. Rating: 6 |
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Graeme Swann
 Matches: 4 Assessment: It was a very poor series from England's talisman, who took just two wickets from four matches. He began the series defending his book's attack on team-mate KP, and ended it angrily shaking his head at an inept showing. Rating: 5 |
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Jade Dernbach
Matches: 3 Assessment: Dernbach was another who came into the series full of confidence, but ended it on the sidelines with his tail between his legs. One wicket at an economy rate of 6.54 saw him dropped. The Surrey seamer has to respond. Rating: 5 |
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Steven Finn
 Matches: 5 Assessment: Undoubtedly England's man of the series, Finn gave absolutely everything in his pacey spells and ended with eight wickets at an impressive strike rate of 36. Finn looks set to be the attack's leader for many years to come. Rating: 8 |
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Scott Borthwick
 Matches: 1 Assessment: It was an impossible task for young Borthwick. Handed one opportunity against India batsmen bristling with aggression and intent, he was given a fearful hammering and the hope is that is confidence remains in tact. Rating: 5 |
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Stuart Meaker
 Matches: 2 Assessment: Meaker's efforts could not be faulted and, given his inexperience, England may have unearthed a very promising paceman. This was a step too far for the Surrey man at this stage, but an economy rate of 5.78 was adequate. Rating: 6 |
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Ian Bell
 Matches: 1 Assessment: It's the same old story. Bell was dismissed sloppily for just two runs with his side looking for much more from an experienced batsman playing in his 108th ODI. He may be England's classiest batsman, but it just isn't enough. Rating: 4 |
England's man of the series: Steven Finn. The towering paceman regularly hit the mid-90s as he bowled very fast and very potently throughout the series. Eight wickets was a very good return and, had it not been for some pretty shoddy dropped catches off his bowling, it could have been considerably more. The future is bright.
The series was India's and 'payback' was achieved to some degree. It was a dire series for England, and a big wake-up call.
Do you agree with Cowers' England player ratings? What is next for England? Post your views below...
