As England close in on their first Test series win in India since 1984-85, and only the fourth in their history, Standard Sport looks at three other memorable England performances on tour in the modern era.
PAKISTAN/SRI LANKA (2000-01)
England had always struggled in Asia but Nasser Hussain’s team produced a winter of tough, pragmatic cricket to win back-to-back series. After two draws, England snatched the final Test in near darkness in Karachi (above) to overcome Pakistan 1-0. In Sri Lanka, Hussain’s team lost the first Test of a bad-tempered three-match series but roared back, winning in Kandy and Colombo to seal another superb series triumph. This team lacked the flair of other England sides but could be very effective.
SOUTH AFRICA (2004-05)
England had been making impressive progress under Michael Vaughan and this series win showed they were the real deal. The tourists won the First Test and came close to taking the Second after a superb fightback. South Africa levelled the five-match contest in the Third Test but then Matthew Hoggard (above, second image) inspired England to victory in Johannesburg with seven for 61 in the second innings. England took the series 2-1 and showed they were ready for the following summer’s Ashes.
AUSTRALIA (2010-11)
The pinnacle of Andrew Strauss’ tenure as captain (above, third image). From the moment they fought back to draw the opener in Brisbane, England had their opponents worried. Alastair Cook and Jimmy Anderson were the stars as the tourists secured innings victories in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney to win Down Under for the first time since 1987. Australia levelled the series by taking the Third Test in Perth but Ricky Ponting’s men were well beaten.
