Will England find more success in India when the limited-overs leg of the tour commences this weekend?
A chastening 4-0 Test series defeat now seems a distant memory and after a break over the festive period, the national side have returned to Asia to embark on the One-Day and T20 series.
Sunday’s opener in Pune is the first of a three 50-over matches before a two-game T20 schedule closes out England’s activity on the continent for another year.
Not just at stake is a three-match series but vital preparation time ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, which takes place in England during the summer.
Where they once trailed behind their fellow nations in 50-over cricket, the Three Lions now have an abundance of options heading into 2017 – as evidenced by their tour matches this week.
Despite a win and a loss, the batting cards showed the sheer strength and skill at the disposal of head coach Trevor Bayliss – not least as the talented Sam Billings isn’t even guaranteed a spot in the XI.
Billings, who made a positive impression during a BBL stint with the Sydney Sixers, anchored England’s victory with 93 during the warm-up win over India ‘A’ on Tuesday.
That he was not included in the XI for the second match, while Yorkshire Vikings opener David Willey batted at number 11, shows the talent available for selection out in Asia.
Though they comfortably beat an emerging Bangladesh team on their home turf at the back end of 2016, not since a 3-3 draw in the 2002 series have England come close to beating India at home; even in that series, they won the final two matches to level.
The second match takes place on Thursday at Cuttack before the series-closer at Kolkata a week on Sunday.
Watch England at Emirates Riverside in 2017 as they take on the West Indies in a rematch of the ICC World T20 final – tickets start from £35 adults & £10 juniors.