In about 24 hours the cricketing world will tune in to the most anticipated Test match, at least in this decade. The last time India toured England in 2007, they won the three-match series 1-0 and with this tour signalling the probable farewell of some of India's top performers, everyone's rooting for an encore.
India, who were till 1971 considered as poor travellers, changed drastically under the inspired leadership of AjitWadekar. That year, India won two overseas series - in England and in the West Indies.
Both were landmark victories and went a long way in boosting the morale of the Indian team, giving them a belief that they could win abroad.
The first series win against England in 1971 was not just about leadership, but also about stellar performances from individuals and India's spin sensation of Bishan Singh Bedia, BhagwatChandrashekhar and SrinivasVenkatraghavan.
Here's how the 1971 series was won:
1st Test at Lord's - July 22 to 26
England: 304 and 191
India: 313 and 145/8
Result: Match Drawn
2nd Test at Manchester - Aug 5 to 9
England: 386 and 245/3 declared
India: 212 and 65/3
Result: Match Drawn
3rd Test at The Oval - Aug 19 to 23
England: 355 and 101
India: 284 and 174/6
Result: India won by 4 wickets
It took India another 15 years for India to win their second Test series in England. The hero for India this time was DilipVengsarkar, who scored his third successive hundred at Lord's. It remains to date India's lone Test win at the Lord's. India drove home the point in the second Test as well and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series.
Here's how the 1986 series was won:
1st Test at Lord's: June 5 to 10
England: 294 and 180
India: 341 and 136/5
Result: India won by 5 wickets
2nd Test at Lord's: June 19 to 23
India: 272 and 237
England: 102 and 128
Result: India won by 279 runs
3rd Test at Birmingham: July 3 to 8
England: 390 and 235
India: 390 and 174/5
Result: Match Drawn
If the 15-year gap was a long one, the third series win for India took even longer. It took 21 years before a new-look Indian team won the series 1-0 to drive home a point. The The series will be remembered for Zaheer Khan's superlative show that won him the Man of the Series award and Anil Kumble's maiden Test hundred in the third Test.
1st Test at Lord's: July 19 to 23
England: 298 and 282
India: 201 and 282/9
Result: Match Drawn
2nd Test at Nottingham: July 27 to 31
England: 198 and 355
India: 481 and 73/3
Result: India won by 7 wickets
3rd Test at The Oval: Aug 9 to 13
India: 664 and 180/6 declared
England: 345 and 369/6
Result: Match Drawn
