India First Win To England Series

 Just the name brings a smile to the face. It definitely put a big yahoo across the Indian squad, which arrived to this sun-drenched seaside town on Wednesday from the rainy, grey climes of London. The salubrious surroundings seemed to have had an instant positive effect on the visitors, who were perky and active throughout the three-and-a-half hour long optional training session at the tiny Hove ground.

News of Gautam Gambhir's recovery also brightened the mood, and the batsmen were back swinging their arms with gusto and clearing the boundaries effortlessly; a new-look bowling attack seemed eager and fresh; there was more agility in fielding drills.

India needed the relative anonymity of Brighton to forget the torment of the past month. A new journey has started, involving a format at which they are world champions. Perhaps the aura of the hard-won crown will boost them. Perhaps the good memories will serve well to keep them confident for the next three weeks when they wrestle with England in a solitary Twenty20 international followed by a five-match one-day series.