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It has been a long haul for England to become the best Test team in the world; a long road on which the occasional high has more often than not been followed by crushing disappointment.
English cricket knows all about over ambitious mission statements and false dawns so now that they are at the top, everyone involved with the transformation of our national team deserves to take a bow.
I am fortunate in that I get to see much of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. The hours these athletes spend in the gym and working on their skills in the nets.
I can also see clearly the influence of Andy Flower, the coach, who drives the players to challenge themselves and to set new standards while at the same time never losing sight that cricket is only a sport, and that there is always a bigger picture beyond the narrow world of the dressing room.
In 20 years of reporting on the England team, and many more spent within the game, this is the best prepared and most professional group I have seen.
It is impossible to judge the generations in terms of talent and skill because each has to sit in its own context of the game at the time, but dedication and intensity can stand out.
I was struck by how 'in the zone' Stuart Broad appeared to be when marking out his run-up half an hour before play was due to start at Edgbaston. As he paced past me, I said 'good morning' and he simply stared blankly ahead, looking rather like Bob Willis did when he bowled the Australians out at Headingley in 1981.
Only when he had measured his run did Broad trot back to me and return the compliment. If England's bowlers are focused to that extent when merely marking out their run-ups at the start of the day, goodness knows what they must be like during the match itself.
The success of this team is in some ways unusual because it has no standout fast bowler of genuine pace. Most top teams have centred their attack around a spearhead, but in terms of speed James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan and Chris Tremlett are in the same bracket.
What they bring is controlled hostility in that every ball they deliver asks searching questions of the batsman in the area that is most likely to get him out. There is the occasional bouncer, of course, but ball after ball is relentlessly probing the batsman's off stump which, after a while, builds up intense pressure.
Now they have reached the top, the challenge for this team is to stay there. I was impressed by Kevin Pietersen's comment to me after the match on Saturday in which he immediately pointed his finger at 2005, when England won the Ashes, but then sat back and enjoyed their glory. They were beaten in three of their next five Tests, and lost a series to Pakistan who, coincidentally, are England's next Test opponents. Pietersen spoke determinedly of that lesson having been learned and, besides, the best way of shoring up the top spot is to keep winning games.
That motivational force should be a great benefit to England. They are now the best in the world, and the team that the others will look up to. Their challenge is to play like the No1 in every game while at the same time, improving their skills and setting new standards that the rest will follow. Who knows how long they can remain at the top of the ladder, but of the others I can only see South Africa as a realistic threat - and they tour here next summer.
Essentially for England to remain No1, they must do everything that India, who have now been knocked off their perch, have spectacularly failed to do. What a listless lot they have been, lacking energy and enthusiasm and looking well past their sell-by date. Their fielding has been pathetic - it is like watching a team from decades ago - and the evidence of a team hierarchy in which there is a 'them and us' is all too clear. Sachin Tendulkar has never played much of a part in the field, but these days he simply picks the quietest spot and stands in it.
VVS Laxman's hands are thrust deep in his pockets more than they are out of them and Rahul Dravid also parks himself at slip.
There is no thought for the bowlers at all. At Edgbaston there was the absurd sight of Praveen Kumar and Sreesanth fielding in the most demanding positions at extra cover and cover point respectively. They were both bowling their boots off in a hopeless cause, having been let down again by the senior batsmen who were now grazing in the field, never chasing the ball and showing minimal interest. If Duncan Fletcher, India's coach, needs any persuasion that he must ring the changes, he need look no further than that.
Reader views (6)
England played far better cricket than India and they are very consistent for the last 3 tests. Well done England.
But dont underestimate India. On the last innings, Sachin got his ryhtm and played some beautiful short. If the openers click for the last game, then India will score more than 500 and it will put lot of pressure on England team
- Mo, London, 16/08/2011 12:59
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"Rahul Dravid also parks himself at slip."
Despite his age, Dravid is one of the fittest members of the Indian cricket team. He fields at slip because he is one of the best slip fielders the game has ever seen. I am sure Rahul would not have any problems fielding in the outfield.
Agree with most of what you've written.
- Kartik Verma, Salt Lake City, USA, 16/08/2011 12:29
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At present England are a good team and they always play well in test in the last decade or so.Engald played brilliantly in Ashes last year.England has a good bowling attack.
We will see how england will cope up with forign cconditions in the future test series.England is not expret in all forms of game such as ODI and T20. i have seen england defeated miserably in home ODI serious against several countries.England has to improve on that well.
India will bounce back soon. i think the conditions were simiar to series in Australia after the 1983 world cup. New players have to come in. New fast bowlers should come.Remove inconsitant sreesanth and poor kumar.India should have fast bowlers in the quality of Allan Donald or Wasim Akram.
- Rajendra, London, 16/08/2011 10:14
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England are number 1 they've played more test series then SA with that u can't say there the best. They have to beat SA first then i'll regard them as the best.
- Khetha Mncwango, South Africa, 15/08/2011 22:25
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I agree with the comments on how miserably Indians have played , but don't share your optimism on England been the number one 'test ' team, when they haven't beaten India on home turf in what say 30 years.
In fact Australia and SA are still the best all round cricket teams - that includes all forms of the game and all conditions.
In fact SA has done remarkably well as far as winning Test's in subcontinent is concerned but not sure why they are never given their due credit and it's choking antics in one-day cricket that grab all the headlines.
England would do well to remember that with all their professionalism almost didn't make to next round of WC11.
- Aziz Saya, Mumbai, India, 15/08/2011 18:23
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Spot on, Aggers.
I've been most impressed by England's ultra professionalism. No tales of pedalos, KP strops, Botham style booze-ups or shady characters asking players for weather reports.
If his past track record is anything to go by, Duncan Fletcher will be cracking the Indian players into shape sooner rather than later.
Whether the BCCI back Mr Fletcher in the face of some pretty influential players both on the field and off remains to be seen however.
- John L, London, UK, 15/08/2011 16:11
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