Bikash Mohapatra reports from The Oval

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When a bowler's figures in a series read 105-12-465-6, it is obvious for him to consider it the most difficult series he has featured in.

But if S Sreesanth is to be believed, he has been part of something worse.

Having 23 overs on a day when England piled on the runs, in the fourth Test at The Oval, the Indian seamer was categorical is his response when asked if the ongoing series -- with Indian down 0-3 -- is as bad as it could get.

"I won't say it is the most difficult series I have played in," said Sreesanth, adding, "But it is definitely one of the toughest.

"The series against South Africa in 2008 was tougher, though."

The bowler had just four wickets in three matches in that series -- he has six wickets in four against England this time -- even as India salvaged a draw. However, it was the intensity of that series that prompted Sree to put it ahead of the one on.

Having lost the first three Tests -- at Lord's, Trent Bridge and Edgbaston respectively, each by a bigger margin than the previous, the visitors are staring at their first series defeat in three years, and their first whitewash in more than 11 years.

Quite a fall from grace for a team that was ranked No.1 a week back. If Sreesanth is to be believed, India is getting a taste of its own medicine in this series.

"We used to do that to other teams in the recent past," he explained, adding, "We didn't lose many matches and that is how we became the No.1 Test team.

"Now we are being meted out similar treatment. That's how cricket goes."

Sreesanth admitted that India has lost the plot at The Oval, having made early inroads on Day Two.

"In the first session not many runs were scored. However, from the second session onwards they took charge and kept going.

"The bowling wasn't bad but the boundaries kept coming, he explained.

He lauded England's batsmen, saying, "They played well. You cannot take anything away from them."

With England posting a big total already, chances of an implausible Indian win have evaporated. Should the visitors lose though, they will drop to third in the rankings.

Sreesanth admitted a draw is the only result his team could hope for now.

"It is more about playing for pride than the numbers now," he concluded.