It is ten years since England became the No 1 Test team in world cricket, after trouncing MS Dhoni’s India four-nil. Their Indian opponents this summer are better than that team while Joe Root’s side are weaker than the one led by Andrew Strauss, a two-way shift that may explain the current gap between them.
That 2011 England side went to the top of the cricket world with a bowling attack of four specialists and no all-rounders save for Matt Prior, the wicket-keeper. He batted at seven and the bowlers, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad and James Anderson followed.
Only three players...