How great was that for Test cricket? From the moment I arrived to see crowds round the block trying to get into Lord's I knew this was going to be a special day.
This was hardly one of those Tests against Sri Lanka earlier this summer played in front of half-empty stadiums. This was the real deal. This was the sort of occasion England relish and one that they were ready for. They took centre stage and lived up to the occasion.
I am so pleased that England won because they set the perfect template on how you should prepare for and then perform in a very important game of Test cricket.
India were exactly the opposite. They just turned up with totally inadequate preparation and expected everything to be all right on the night. Do they not value their status as the best Test team in the world? They did not seem to here.
Everything that England have done this summer has been geared towards making sure their players are as ready as possible for this Test series, including Andrew Strauss playing at Taunton and Stuart Broad playing for Notts.
In contrast, India expected their top strike bowler in Zaheer Khan and their premier batsman in Sachin Tendulkar to rock up without playing a Test since January and just have a bit of a hit and giggle against Somerset before the big one. They did not help themselves.
That's the best I have seen Stuart Broad bowl. If I was Andy Flower now I would sit Broad down and say: "Right, that's exactly the way you should do it. Yes, you can try to rough up the tail-enders, but you got the top order out with intelligent, skilful bowling. Stay just like that."
Then I would sit Kevin Pietersen down and say: "That first century in your double hundred is exactly how you need to bat. That's the way to build an innings. No ego? No giving it away. Make sure you do the same in the second Test at Trent Bridge."
England are a machine now. There are no weak links. They are a mighty impressive team.
