India's All-time Successful Test XI against England

We are just a week away from witnessing one of the most riveting test series of the year. With the current No.1 in tests, India, taking on the current No.5, England, in their own den, this series tends to be a promising one.

However, team India knows that all those flawless performances at home would count for very less if they are not able to put up similar performances in England. On the other hand, England has not been that solid in their last test series against Pakistan this year at home.

The last time these two teams met in England in a Test series, it was billed as a marquee clash of titans, before it fizzled out as a one-sided contest. India rolled over like the wrestler who was battling a hangover before the bout. England seemed formidable, with a batting and bowling attack worthy of winning the series 3-1. Things have changed drastically since then. Now the team India led by Virat Kohli is a different side. They have shown the world that they can beat the best teams even in their own backyard by defeating South Africa in South Africa this year.

As the preparations for the most awaited series are in full swing from the Virat Kohli led Indian side to tackle one of the best bowling attacks in the world cricket at the moment, let's take a look at India's all-time successful test XI against England.

---

Openers:

1. Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar

The perfectionist and arguably one of the greatest opening batsmen of all time, Sunil Gavaskar was the first cricketer to reach 10,000 Test runs. Taking on some of the lethal bowling attacks in the history of cricket, Gavaskar's flawless technique and impeccable temperament helped him become one of India's finest batsmen.

Being the second highest run-getter for India against England in tests, the Mumbaikar becomes an automatic choice for one of the opening slots. Sunny has scored 2483 runs against England in 38 tests at an average of 38.20. He has 4 tons and 16 half-centuries against England with a best of 221 at Kennington Oval, England in 1979.

2. Murali Vijay

Murali Vijay

The stylish opening batsmen from Tamilnadu, Murali Vijay, has been one of the most successful Indian batsmen outside the home in the last three years. He is known for his immense powers of concentration and his ability to tackle pressure.

Vijay has amassed 759 runs against England with the help of 3 centuries and 2 half-centuries from 10 tests at an average of 42.16. Vijay recorded his highest score against England, 146, at Nottingham in 2014.

Given his better numbers against England, Vijay gets an edge over the likes of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir to feature in this list.

Middle Order:

3. Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid

The greatest number three to have ever played the game of cricket for India, Rahul Dravid, fills the all-important number three position in this list as he does in almost all the lists featuring all-time cricket XIs of India.

Rahul Dravid was the most successful Indian batsmen against England in tests. He scored 1950 runs in 21 tests at a staggering average of 60.93. Rahul has 7 centuries and 8 half-centuries to his name against England in tests. The 217 at Kennington Oval, London, in 2002 was his best against England.

4. Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar

The most complete batsman and the most prolific run-maker of all time. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar occupies the crucial number 4 position in this list. The inclusion of the man who holds almost every batting record in cricket is a no-brainer. He has been India's greatest match-winner in Tests.

The Master Blaster holds the record for highest test runs against England. With the help of 7 tons and 13 half-centuries, Sachin scored 2535 runs in 32 tests at an average of 51.73. He made his highest score against England, 193, at Leeds in 2002.

5. Mohammad Azharuddin

Mohammad Azharuddin

An elegant middle-order batsman from Hyderabad who captained India in 47 tests and 194 ODIs, takes up the number 5 spot.

Mohammad Azharuddin is also highly successful against England in tests. The stylish right-hander has piled up 1278 runs in 15 tests at an average of 58.09. Azhar holds the record for the second highest number of tons for India against England in tests with 6 tons and 3 half-centuries. Azhar made his highest score,182, against England at Eden Gardens, Kolkata in 1993.

All-rounder:

6. Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev

The man who changed the face of Indian cricket in the late 70s and during the 80s with his exceptional all-round skills has to be an automatic pick for the all-rounder slot.

Kapil Dev has been one of India's biggest match winners of all time. Dev led India to its first ever Test match win against England at Lord's and then wrapped up the series in the next match. He has been India's only fast bowling all-rounder to play for so long (1978-1994).

Kapil has scored 1355 runs at an average of 41.06 and scalped 85 wickets against England in 27 tests. Kapil's 116 at Kanpur in 1982 and 6/91 at Kolkata in 1982 were his best numbers against England with the bat and ball respectively.

Wicket Keeper and Captain:

7. MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni

The most successful Indian captain, MS Dhoni, will walk into this XI as the captain and as the wicketkeeper. While there have been other wicketkeepers with a better glovework, MS Dhoni being a complete package fills in the wicketkeeper-batsman slot in this list.

The former captain has scored 1157 runs with the help of 12 half-centuries in 21 tests at an average of 33.05 against England in tests. His numbers behind the stumps too are best for an Indian wicketkeeper against England. Dhoni has 63 catches and 4 stumpings behind the stumps to his name.

Spinner:

8. Bhagwath Chandrasekhar

Bhagwath Chandrasekhar

Long before Anil Kumble's era, there was this man, Bhagwath Chandrasekhar, who could wrinkle out the best of the batsmen with his magical leg spin bowling. Chandrasekhar was undoubtedly the biggest match-winner for India away from home for a long period of time and he takes up the solitary spinner's slot in this elite XI.

One of Chandrasekhar's greatest performance came in a historic victory away from home where he took eight wickets for the match in a series-winning victory in England in 1971.

Chandra was the leading wicket-taker for India against England in tests with 95 wickets in 23 tests with his 8/79 at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi in 1972 being his best.

Fast bowlers:

9. Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan was India's best pace bowler for a decade and a half since his debut in 2000. He was the second Indian pacer to bag 300 Test wickets after Kapil Dev, and he surely would have had better numbers than this had he had an equally potent partner from the other end.

Zaheer has picked up 43 wickets in 13 tests against England with his 5/75 at Trentbridge in 2007 being his best. Thus Zaheer leads India's pace bowling attack in this XI.

10. Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma, the only cricketer in this list who will be featuring in the upcoming Test series against England, takes up the second seamer role in this XI.

Ishant has played in 12 Tests against England since 2008 and picked up 38 wickets, at an average of 36.84. His 7/74 at Lords in 2014 will remain as one of the finest fast bowling spells for India against England in tests and is also his best performance in test format.

11. Amar Singh

Amar Singh (On the Right)

"There is no better bowler in the world today than Amar Singh,'' said the legendary England opening batsman, Sir Leonard Hutton. Another England great Wally Hammond described Amar Singh's bowling as "he came off the pitch like the crack of doom". Amar Singh played all his cricket in the early 1930s and was known for his accuracy, stamina, and ability to make the ball move alarmingly off the air or cut it devastatingly off the pitch.

The legendary pacer played only 7 matches and he played them all against England. Amar Singh took 28 wickets in those 7 matches with his 7/86 at Madras in 1934.

Given his pin-point accuracy and exceptional numbers against England, Amar Singh takes up the third seamer role in this XI.