A richly deserved No. 1 ranking

Several Indian papers have editorials saluting the England team for their ascent to the top of the rankings, and wondering where it all went wrong for India. The Hindu says England deserve to be No. 1 in Tests because of the respect they give the format.

England's greatest accomplishment has been the gathering of a group of diversely skilled bowlers; any team aiming to be No.1 needs bowling ammunition. They aren't treated as well as batsmen, but bowlers are the most important part of cricket: their health directly affects the health of the game, for batting evolves in reaction. England's recent success in winning and regaining the Ashes, and building a strong record at home, has been driven by the bowlers. In James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Tremlett, Tim Bresnan, and Graeme Swann, Strauss has real quality to call upon.

The Indian Express says what the drubbing in England has highlighted is "the gaping holes in cricket management" in India.

There’s a need to go back to the basics of cricket — rigorous training schedules and practice matches, lay-off and rehabilitation of injured players and the art of grooming a second rung. There’s also the need to adapt the best practices of scheduling from sports like soccer where domestic, league and international fixtures are taken into account to create a seamless calendar.

Pradeep Magazine writes in the Hindustan Times that the series defeat should not come as a surprise, that it was a disaster waiting to happen.

IPL per se cannot be the cause of this disaster, but it's scheduling at a time when the entire Indian team needed rest most certainly is. Can anyone in an objective frame of mind disagree that the Dhonis, the Tendulkars, the Sehwags and the Gambhirs of the team should have used this opportunity to recuperate instead of further damaging their bruised bodies and jaded minds. The lure of money and the backing of the Indian Board -- who could have, if they wanted, forced them to skip the tournament - proved a greater incentive than commitment to their craft and the country.

In the Guardian Mike Selvey traces England's route to the top, putting it down to "two good ECB chairmen, three coaches, five captains and a lot of preparation." And the same paper also has a short editorial on England's success.

England's ascent to No. 1 has been a long process and the result of detailed management, writes Michael Vaughan in the Daily Telegraph.