Ten steps to heaven

James Anderson, the Mail on Sunday, lists out the ten decisive moments that have taken England closer to the No.1 ranking in Tests.

When the mad accusations about us being involved were made just before the one-dayer at Lord’s, we had a long meeting into the early hours debating whether we should turn up or not.

We weren’t happy about playing in that series but we were determined to do a professional job and move on, so to win the series in the end was huge. 7. Preparation for Ashes 2010-11Didn’t start great when I had a rib busted by Chris Tremlett in a Bavarian forest boxing ring, but underpinning all our efforts has been our physical fitness and the work of strength and conditioning coach Huw Bevan and fielding coach Richard Halsall.

Bowling coach David Saker wasn’t a high-profile appointment but his work has been invaluable and spin coach Mushtaq Ahmed’s speeches hit the spot. Players and management are together, not us and them.

Ravi Bopara is the right man to replace Jonathan Trott for the third Test at Edgbaston, writes Steve James in the Telegraph on Sunday.

James, in the same newspaper, says the England team that beat Australia in 2005 is better than the one leading the series 2-0 against India.

England's Test attack possesses a dedication to fitness and a craving for career longevity that could be the real deal, writes Vic Marks in the Guardian.