Well, who would have thought it? The world's number one cricketing nation are already 2-0 down and already there's talk of a series whitewash. Even I have to admit believing that England have a very handy side. As everybody now knows, they have only to avoid defeat in the next two games to supplant India at the top of the tree and I just can't see them slipping up.
At least after the second day at Trent Bridge, India looked to be making a game of it. Even without Zaheer Khan, their seamers had embarrassed the English batsmen before Broad and Swann produced a late-order fightback. Then Rahul Dravid produced his 34th Test century to steer his side to 267-4. Already super-confident, Stuart Broad then struck with the ball, too, taking 6-46 including a hat-trick.
Day three brought more misery for Alastair Cook but, even when you aggregate just 20 runs from four innings, nobody gives a monkey's when everyone else is helping themselves. Your openers fail? Bring on Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen. If Trott slips up, you can rely on Eoin Morgan and Matt Prior to chip in with half-centuries. England also seem to have the best 'tail' in world cricket, with Broad, Bresnan, even Swann capable of creaming top class bowlers, and not just T20-style slogging either. Thumping 544 at more than 4 1/2 an over is an incredible achievement, rounded off by the knowledge that on the last day your bowling attack can make even Dravid, Laxman, Raina and Dhoni look like nervous schoolboy debutants.
Broad deservedly took the Man of the Match award but the final day belonged to Tim Bresnan, claiming 5-48. Tendulkar and Harbajhan Singh gave India a glimmer of hope while all around them collapsed like a sandcastle under a beach bully's boot, but fittingly it was a middle-stump yorker from Broad which delivered the coup de grace, wrapping up a 319-run victory which must leave Duncan Fletcher in a real quandary. Let's face it, he looks miserable at the best of times but with his charges demolished twice in succession, there's not much he can do.
OK, so India were without Sehwag (again), Gambhir and Zaheer Khan. However, the rest of the stars were made to look fairly ordinary, Dravid excepted. Kumar and Sharma also had their moments but the gods of Indian cricket have appeared unusually mortal these past two weeks. Even at full strength, I think that a pumped-up England will be too strong for them. The crowds will be large and vociferous, scenting another series triumph. Who are the best batsmen on show? Bell? Pietersen? Broad? Who was that Sachin bloke who was supposed to pretty nifty with the willow?!
It's five years since England have has such a strong all-round attack, featuring the likes of Jones, Flintoff, Harmison, Hoggard and Giles. Then, the first three proved sadly fragile, both in mind and body, but Anderson is a new man now, Broad has rediscovered zest, bounce and swing, while Bresnan showed he can deputise brilliantly for Tremlett - and we still have Steve Finn, Chris Woakes and Jade Dernback waiting in the wings. If it's a spinner's wicket, England can simply call upon Swann to bamboozle batsmen.
To be honest, while England have boasted better batsmen and bigger personalities in the past, I can't recall such a powerful all-round line-up on the field. Strauss has proved me right for being such a commanding leader, while Andy Flower has demonstrated the same skill and professionalism as coach as he once did as a world-class player. Everything seems to be in place and provided the pace bowlers stay fit they could remain on top for a few years to come. For India, I hope they don't automatically wield the axe and encourage the ageing batting superstars to retire gracefully. They may do that anyway but in the past two matches, only Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman have shown any real gumption. Grit, application and maybe a bit more luck are what's desperately needed if they are to avoid further humiliation.
