How far England have come from that day in August 1999 when they were beaten at home by New Zealand, in the fourth test of a series, losing both the battle and the war. Back then, they were nine Englishmen, an Indian and a Kiwi, but who really cares?

Whatever their original nationalities, England, as they are when they put on their whites and play under one banner, are worthy number ones.

They have spent a dozen years preparing for this, going through five captains, three coaches and two Ashes defeats and victories. On the way, they have lost in Multan, Jamaica, Chennai, Hamilton and Centurion.

But, they have won in Kandy, Sydney, Barbados, Wellington, Durban, and where it counted most, at Edgbaston on Saturday, against India.

The mere thought of their opposition, those defiant sub-continental gods, who have not lost a test series since the once long-haired MS Dhoni took over as captain in 2008, is enough to leave most satisfied that England deserve their berth.

There was something delightful about seeing them humble the India that established themselves as a super-team, bossing the World Cup, the twenty-over game with their flashy IPL, and the ICC.

Maybe some of the gratification came from India's falling apart without their super-coach, Gary Kirsten.

It was his Midas touch, they said, that had turned a bunch of talented but selfish individuals into a caring hierarchy. He allowed those at the top, like Sachin Tendulkar, to thrive in an environment that rewarded self-discipline, while providing those at the bottom, like Suresh Raina, with the tools to pave their way to the international stage.

Kirsten's tenure matched a time when the best batting line-up India will have for some time was united with a bowling attack that had the right mix of aggression and caution. He was allowed to finesse what was already fashioning itself into a trophy cabinet.

It is too simplistic to think Kirsten can wield the same wand over South Africa, who require a firmer hand to hone what remains of a clique and force maturity into younger players.

Kirsten could do worse than look to the methods of Andy Flower, who has injected the realism of short-term goals and infused the understated self-belief that have given England the big-match temperament to storm to No1 in the world.

In early January, after playing five tests against Australia and Sri Lanka, 10 South Africans and a Pakistani may topple them. They haven't played in that combination before, but it marks the beginning of an exciting era in which the victories achieved in every test- playing country could pay the highest dividends. And they will have the magician coach to celebrate it with.