At 37 and with a receding hairline, Hampshire cricketer Shaun Udal is one of England's more unlikely sporting heroes.

The county veteran is England's oldest cricketer by EIGHT years, but is today celebrating his first Test victory.

Shaun, an off-spinner, bowled England to an historic 212-run win against India in Mumbai yesterday, claiming four wickets for 14 runs just three months after becoming his country's oldest Test debutant for 17 years.

His birthday coincided with the first day of the final Test so he had two reasons to celebrate with more than 50 friends on a boat in Mumbai Harbour last night, after playing a key role in England's first Test victory on Indian soil since 1984-85.

The father-of-three from Basingstoke made his Hampshire debut in 1989, but was playing in only his fourth Test match.

Before his selection for the tour of Pakistan in September, he was expecting to spend his winter like any other - working for a printing firm in north Hampshire and watching Aldershot Town FC.

Instead, Shaun has been involved in two Test series on the sub-continent - culminating in yesterday's heroics.

Tony Britten, a colleague of Shaun's for eight years, was delighted to see him enjoy the finest day of his career.

Tony and the rest of the company's staff took a break from work to watch Shaun bowl England to a series levelling draw.

"Shaun's magic - he's a great ambassador for our company, and an all-round good bloke," said Tony.

"We were all glued to the television yesterday, it couldn't have happened to a nicer person."

Shaun, nicknamed Shaggy after the Scooby Doo character, is due to arrive at Heathrow airport tonight.

He is expected to be met by wife Emma, daughters Katherine and Rebecca and baby son Jack before enjoying a well-earned break in London.

His fan club in Mumbai during the last week included brother Gary, ex Saints footballer Mark Dennis and his former Hampshire teammate, Robin Smith.

Ironically, Robin Smith's illustrious Test career came to a premature end at the age of 33, but spin bowlers take longer to reach their peak, as Shaun has done over the past two years.

Robin Smith said: "I'm absolutely thrilled for Shaun.

"If he never plays for England again at least he's gone off on a fantastic high.

"He has shown professionalism and mental strength to bowl like he did under pressure on the final day.

"He deserves all the success he is getting because he's a true professional."

Shaun's proud parents, Robin and Mary, watched the action at home in Farnborough. "I'm dead chuffed, Shaun exploited the conditions brilliantly and I'm thrilled for him," said Robin.

"His mum was welling up but they all did well, and Freddie Flintoff did brilliantly keeping him on after lunch.

"It's important he keeps his feet on the ground as tomorrow's another day but Shaun knows what it's like when things aren't going so well."

Shaun's Hampshire teammates watched his heroics at pre-season training at the Rose Bowl. Hampshire chairman, Rod Bransgrove, said: "It was a fantastic effort. I'm thrilled for his family and I wish I was out there with him now."