N ANANTHANARAYANAN

BIRMINGHAM: It has been over a month since the Indian cricket team landed in these parts, and though the T20 and ODI series were split, no one had any doubt about where the real focus of Virat Kohli and his team was.

India begin a high-voltage Test series against England at Edgbaston on Wednesday. It will mark the hosts’ 1000th match and will show how India, world No 1 in Tests, translate ambition into performance.

India go into the second leg of three massive away contests this year. In South Africa, they came up short despite some fine performances with bat and ball. England will be a different ball game despite the hosts’ lack of consistency, be it Indian batsmen tackling seamers in helpful conditions or bowlers dealing with seven left-handers in the England eleven.

The presence of so many lefthanders is sure to throw up a selection dilemma if India plan to play one spinner and feel chinaman bowler Kuldeep is the attacking option over off-spinner R Ashwin.

India have plenty to make amends in England. The 2011 tour marked the decline of their golden generation of batsmen as they were routed 4-0, despite Rahul Dravid’s standout show. It was equally painful in 2014, when they lost 1-3.

It is not as if India have not won in England, which is not the case in South Africa or Australia where at best they’ve drawn series. India have made 17 Test tours to England starting in 1932, played 57 matches, losing 30. They have won only six Tests across 86 years, but they account for three series wins -- 1971, 1986