England poised to claim No 1 title

What was billed as an edgy shootout between India, the world's No 1 team, and an up-and-coming England side has so far proved to be a one-sided rout.

England has been so dominant that India has started to resemble its sides of the 1970s, those that traveled more in hope than expectation. The much-vaunted batting line-up has not performed as a unit and only Rahul Dravid has looked in any sort of form. V.V.S. Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar have shown glimpses of quality but in reality "The Wall", as Dravid is known, has been bailing out a sinking ship on his own.

If England wins at Edgbaston, it will become the world's top Test team, on paper at least, and the side will be hoping the wicket lives up to expectations and provides plenty of help for its bowlers, who have looked a class apart from India's. The attack has cohesion, a fact that was noticeable when Tim Bresnan slotted straight back into the side as a replacement for the injured Chris Tremlett.