By contrast the far more concise inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa, where India beat rivals Pakistan in a tense final, was hailed as a success.
However, India batsman Yuvraj Singh's six sixes in an over off England's Stuart Broad were symptomatic of how heavily biased the fledgling format was in favor of batsmen.
The Twenty20 era pretty much passed Brian Lara by, to the relief of bowlers everywhere.
He retired after the World Cup as Test cricket's leading run-scorer -- an achievement all the more impressive by his playing in a largely weak side.
Whatever his leadership skills, there was no denying the majesty of Lara's batting which, at its height, saw him make match-winning hundreds full of thrilling strokpelay against even Australia's attack.
India enjoyed its first Test series win in England for 21 years with a maiden hundred from spinner Anil Kumble their lone century.
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