Now Pietersen faces his first overseas tour, the daunting challenge of a seven-match one-day series against an India team full of confidence after a crushing Test series win over Australia.

BBC: England's Indian challenge

Andrew Strauss's team wrapped up the final Ashes Test in Sydney on Friday by an innings and 83 runs to cap off a crushing series triumph with the only blemish coming in the third Test in Perth.

BBC: Hilditch defends Australia selectors despite Ashes loss

Warne, who at 35 is two years older than Muralitharan, claimed a match haul of six wickets to help inflict a crushing defeat on England in the first Ashes Test at Lord's over the weekend.

BBC: Muttiah Muralitharan

Having survived that test of character, Wales plundered another six tries (they scored 17 in all) in a crushing victory in Edinburgh, before Saturday's date with destiny against Ireland.

BBC: SPORT | Rugby Union | Six Nations | Wonderful Wales exude joy of Six

Australia's crushing of South Africa in the home-and-away series last season is proof for many as to which Test nation is really the leader.

BBC: Test cricket's glittering prize