'India the target' - Gatting

Published on Friday 7 January 2011 17:02

THE last England captain to win the Ashes in Australia, Mike Gatting, said the mouthwatering prospect of Sri Lankan and Indian tours to England this summer will provide the benchmark to England's progress so far.

And Gatting believes England have the depth of talent and, crucially, the right leaders in order to build on this success and topple India from the top of the rankings.

"I am very proud to be one of the six people to have done it (won in Australia] and I am sure Andrew Strauss will be just as proud because it is a huge effort," said Gatting.

"The depth we have got at the moment is very pleasing and it augurs well for an interesting four or five years. The standards will be set high and they won't be stopping until they get to the number one spot."

"That (the India tour] will be a benchmark. The guys will then be able to say how good a team they are. We will know at the end of the summer how well the team are progressing," Gatting continued. "Andrew and (coach] Andy Flower are like-minded and they have created a great team spirit. They are strong on discipline and keeping people's feet on the ground."

Gatting believes England's performances this winter could have been good enough to have beaten a side featuring the likes of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. "We should be very proud of the fact we didn't allow Australia to get into the game. That shows what an impressive win it has been. I suspect, yes (we could have beaten an Australia team in their pomp]. It wouldn't have been such an annihilation, though."

With Australia needing to rebuild, Gatting believes England could hold on to the Ashes for some time to come.

"We have an Ashes series' in two years time and then go back Down Under shortly after. The next two Ashes series could be another home and away win."