India v England: Monty Panesar needs to emulate Phil Edmonds in second Test England, though, did not sink without trace and proceeded to make history. They only used 12 players in five Tests and, according to those on the tour, it was team spirit and Gower's insistence they did not lapse into a "blame culture" which helped them perform a remarkable comeback that still stands out today. Two weeks after the first Test defeat the series was levelled in Delhi. Tim Robinson batted for 8¾ hours for 160 as England found a way to score runs. A month later in Chennai - then Madras - where the series was won, Mike Gatting and Graeme Fowler became the first men to score double hundreds in the same innings, an effort of stamina and patience which, if replicated this week, would make the batsmen national heroes. "As I walked off somebody gave me a drink and it was a bottle of beer," said Fowler. I had three mouthfuls and I was drunk because I was so dehydrated. Rehydration hadn't been invented in 1985! Times have changed but the principles remain the same. "It is easy when you start losing to blame each other," says Jonathan Agnew, a late replacement on the tour for the injured Paul Allott. You get factions. Batters v bowlers and that kind of thing, but there was none of that. It was a really strong team spirit and that is what is key to this tour. There has not been much time to analyse why Ahmedabad went so wrong or for England to regain confidence. In the 1980s schedules were not as formulaic as they are now and a one-day international separated the first two Tests. England won the one-day international in Pune and found some momentum. Edmonds then came into his own. His bowling average from the trip does not tell the whole story (Wisden describes it as a "travesty" he averaged 41.71). Edmonds worked hard, bowling over after over at an economy rate of 2.12. He was a challenging character to manage. He was savvy but unorthodox, liable to try the unthinkable at a time when the team needed control. But Edmonds lost his run-up early in the tour and was forced to bowl off one pace. He just concentrated on getting the ball to the other end and it focused his mind. Panesar is in that mould already and it is this consistency England need right now. Edmonds had a partner in Pocock, and they allowed the seam bowlers Norman Cowans and Neil Foster to stay fresh and become match winners in Delhi and Chennai. "The pitches, with the exception of Madras, where Neil Foster got 11 wickets, were slow and flat," says Pocock. The seamers used to bowl 15 or 18 overs and then Phil Edmonds and myself used to bowl all day, every day, over after over after over. In India you have got to work on a much longer game plan, whether you are bowling or batting.  Divisions emerged in the opposition. Rows about money and old rivalries resurfaced. Kapil Dev was dropped and the India team bus stoned. It is said MS Dhoni and Virender Sehwag are not friends. The Indian public are still fiercely critical when their team lose. History gives England heart on Friday.