As England sealed a seven-wicket win in the third Test against India on Sunday morning to move 2-1 up in the series, the nine wicket defeat in Ahmedabad seamed a long time ago.
Jimmy Anderson's impact in Kolkata
Knight: India isn't the place to go and bowl if you're a frontline bowler, you don't very often get things in your favour in India. However, one thing they've had in their favour in this Test match, which they haven't had in the first two, is the reversing ball. But it isn't about only having the reversing ball, you have to be able to bowl with it. Anderson is working them over constantly, one in one out, he hides the ball and they don't know which way it is turning. They've out bowled India in their own conditions.
Bumble: Anderson is the leader of the attack, not only on the field but also in the dressing room. He's a no nonsense character. He's fit, he's strong and he knows what he's doing. His bowling skills are top at the minute. Think about when he came into international cricket: if it swung he was fine if not he had nothing to offer. Now, he's learnt the skills. Jimmy Anderson prepares himself properly - India take note of that - and does the job.
All-round team performance
Knight: What will impress and please Alastair Cook and the management more than anything, compared to the victory in Mumbai [and the defeat in Ahmedabad] is it was a more all-round performance, by that I mean it wasn't all about Cook with the bat or spin with the ball. We often hear from them that it is all about unity, togetherness. That victory will pull everyone together. It was a really inclusive performance. Steven Finn was an excellent selection and got a few wickets, Jimmy Anderson was great with the reversing ball, Ian Bell, ok, he only got 28 off 28 at the end but there was a bit of punch and bite in his innings which will serve him well going into Nagpur. They look in good shape, team wise.
Bumble: England's performance in the last two Test matches have been superb. They've had great management, good skill, good captaincy, good leadership, senior players leading the attack and good selection. It has highlighted in the first game at Ahmedabad what a terrible selection it was to leave Monty Panesar out of the game. He's come in, settled in. We've had terrific contributions form Pietersen, Nick Compton has settled in nicely, Jonathon Trott did well in the first innings here. They've had little bits from Samit Patel, Matt Prior has been excellent with the bat. There have been contributions all the way down. And fitness - England are light years ahead of India in that department.
Faith in Kevin Pietersen, who scored 186 in second Test
Botham: He is a magnificent player. The great thing about him is when he scores he scores quickly and that gives you time. It puts the opposition under stress. Their spinners were going magnificently in the second Test and then Cook and Pietersen, who have conflicting styles, but both effective, suddenly nullify them for a whole day. They both got hundreds, put England in a strong position and then England's spinners out-bowled India's.
Bumble: I think he's the best England player I've ever seen. He gets you on the edge of your seat.
Nasser: When you're 30-2 team spirit doesn't buy you a lot, you want Kevin Pietersen strolling out to the middle. It was a good decision to include him but it was a last minute one. It wasn't a cunning plan to bring him back. Whoever made that last minute decision, whether it was Cook, Flower or [Managing Director Hugh] Morris or a combination of them all, they made the right decision. You want your best players in India.
