England v India: Bresnan helps give England command over India

They tapped into the individual brilliance of man-of-the-match Stuart Broad to come back from highly improbable positions to prevail after all against India – eventually by the widest runs margin in any Test between the two countries.

Ian Bell and Yorkshire’s Tim Bresnan took their turns to consolidate an increasingly favourable equation so that in the end England beat the world’s No 1 team by a landslide 319 runs to go 2-0 up with two to play in this four-match npower series.

One more victory at Edgbaston will put them rather than India at the top of the rankings.

But before he starts plotting the next success, England captain Strauss reflected with pride on how Broad’s counter-attacking 64 from No 9 had revived his team from a perilous 124-8 in the first innings and then the same player had delighted his own home crowd with a hat-trick as India’s reply collapsed from 267-4 to 288 all out.

England still conceded a 67-run deficit but Bell responded with a wonderfully-skilled 159 and among three other half-centuries, Bresnan made 90 from No 8 as the hosts piled up 544.

On Yorkshire Day, the all-rounder from Pontefract was not done with and helped to close out the match with a career-best 5-48 as wounded India folded for only 158 to go down with more than a day remaining.

Strauss acknowledges it might not be ideal to reach some of the crisis points England encountered here, but to respond so mightily is a surefire sign of the mettle they will require to go to the top of the world and stay there.

“One of the real measures of a good side is whether they are able to come back from difficult circumstances,” he said.

“Most sides are pretty good when they’ve got everything their own way.

“But in the last two Test matches we’ve had to dig pretty deep, and it gives me a lot of pride to see guys putting their hands up and delivering when it matters.

“It also fills me with a lot of confidence for the future that we can go on and become a better side.”

He is not about to allow himself or his team to get ahead of themselves, though.

At the suggestion England may already be the world’s best in all but name, he said: “Not at this stage, no. But we’ve obviously taken a step forward.

“I thought it was an outstanding performance from the guys. We were twice in a position where India looked very much like favourites to win the game and we dragged it round.

“There were some outstanding individual performances.

“There was Stuart, both with the ball and the bat in the first innings – to rescue our innings, and then turn the match on its head with the second new ball.

“But also Ian Bell and Tim Bresnan with the second-innings batting gave us breathing space.”

India were handicapped by injuries which first of all ruled opener Gautam Gambhir and frontline pace bowler Zaheer Khan out of this match, and then left off-spinner Harbhajan Singh ineffective because of a stomach strain.

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said: “I didn’t have any tricks left. I tried everything I had left.

“They bat quite deep. They were eight down for 120 and were able to score 100 more runs. In a way those 100 runs really mattered.

“When we batted we were four down and weren’t able to see off the (second) new ball so weren’t able to take a significant lead.”

A memorable match will be recalled by some for one controversial moment, as well as the many examples of outstanding individual skill.

But Dhoni and Strauss are convinced the right thing was done ultimately, when India decided over tea on Sunday to agree to retract their successful appeal for run-out against Bell after he left his crease to walk off for the interval in the belief the ball was dead.

“It was very commendable that they changed their mind and took back the appeal,” said Strauss, asked for the first time about an incident which overshadowed much of Sunday.

“It’s one of those circumstances where there are always shades of grey, but I think it was good for the game of cricket.

“In years to come it will be looked upon as a step in the right direction for the game of cricket, and I hope other people will follow those decisions.

“One of the things that has set the game of cricket slightly apart from other sports is that you have the opportunity to show some spirit.

“The game of cricket is the better for that.”

India opener Virender Sehwag is due to arrive in England today, having missed the first two Tests after shoulder surgery.

It is hoped, but by no means certain, he may be able to take part in a two-day match at Northamptonshire on Friday and Saturday.