Well, seeing as our problems came from (a) batting indiscipline and (b) wicketkeeping, I don't see how a change of bowling would have sorted that out at all. Sidebottom, Anderson and Tremlett all bowled better than some of the rubbish Harmison has served up for the last year or so, and Jones isn't going to be properly fit again.
And that is HUGE factor in the outcome in this series & that cannot be underrated. Freddie & Hoggard plus any 1 or 2 of Sidebottom, Anderson, Tremlett would have exposed India classy but ageing batting as was shown in South Africa earlier this year.
To look for excuses is to escape the point - India have just thrown off the tags of being unable to generate a decent seam attack, to play swinging balls, to leave the subcontinent, and to battle and grit things out when it's tough. England, on the other hand, are presently showing a distinct lack in the testicular department: when it gets a little bit tough we crack like South Africans.
. And you wouldn't believe just how much that sentence hurt to type.
Nah this win doesn't suddenly make them second best in the world at all. If now when they go to Australia they get beaten badly & lose to Pakistan while England on the other hand get hopefully get a relief of this injury crisis & win in SRI & NZ, what will happen then. England @ full strenght are still second best, unfortunately they haven't been able to build on their Ashes success due to all these injuries.
