England [Images] face the first real test of Peter Moores' reign as coach over the next couple of months against India's highly-talented but unpredictable line-up.

A 3-0 victory over West Indies [Images] earlier this summer put England back on track following their dismal 5-0 Ashes series humiliation during the winter, but it was not a real test of their standing and current form.

But for the brilliant batsmanship of Shivnarine Chanderpaul [Images], England would have completed the series triumph without breaking sweat such was the standard of opposition they faced in a transitional West Indies line-up.

During the next few weeks, however, they face far tougher opposition who will certainly test England's patience in the field even if their attack does not contain a major spearhead capable of unsettling the top order.

They may have left Virender Sehwag [Images] back on the sub-continent but any batting line-up including the prodigious talents of captain Rahul Dravid [Images], Sachin Tendulkar [Images] and hard-hitting wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni [Images] deserves respect.

Moores will certainly be stressing that fact when England assemble prior to the first Test at Lord's on July 19 and underline the need for greater control and accuracy than they showed against West Indies.

Whereas West Indies lacked determination and discipline -- with the obvious exception of Chanderpaul -- India's batsmen are reared to stay patient and collate runs slowly but surely.

It will be a totally different challenge for England's attack, who were not required to be particularly accurate to gain success earlier this summer against West Indies.

Wayward new ball spells persuaded Moores to introduce the steadier influence of Ryan Sidebottom to great success and once Matthew Hoggard [Images] recovered from a thigh strain, Durham youngster Liam Plunkett paid for his inconsistent line and length by being dropped.

Moores will have to be similarly ruthless again if England are going to contain a batting line-up still regarded as one of the strongest in world cricket even if it is ageing.

He will be desperate for main spearhead Harmison, who improved noticeably as the West Indies series progressed, to battle his way through until the end of the series before having surgery on the hernia which was diagnosed during the final Test against West Indies at Chester-le-Street.

The other player he is desperate to see in an England shirt again is all-rounder Andrew Flintoff [Images], who is yet to feature under Moores as coach having undergone further surgery on his problematic left ankle earlier this summer.

Flintoff is still speaking optimistically about the possibility of returning some time during the series against India - and that would certainly strengthen England's bowling options for the three-Test series.

But if Flintoff is not available to him, Moores will have to rely on the options available and hope a few more weeks working alongside bowling coach Allan Donald will help his attack's accuracy and consistency.

Perhaps the key figure for England could be left-arm spinner Monty Panesar [Images], who made his debut in India two winters ago and still cherishes claiming Sachin Tendulkar as his first Test victim.

Panesar has developed into an important part of England's attack since then, claiming a 10-wicket haul in the third Test against West Indies at Old Trafford, and could be the most potent threat despite India's know how of playing spin.

Prospering with the extra responsibility of bowling in a four-man attack in the absence of Flintoff, Panesar should prove extremely effective on the drier wickets found late in an English summer.

That, certainly, will be what England are hoping if they are to keep their winning momentum going ready for far stiffer challenges this winter including facing Sri Lanka [Images] in three Tests before Christmas.

They are helped by the disarray behind the scenes in India's camp - they have still failed to appoint a full-time coach following Greg Chappell's [Images] departure following the World Cup and strangely decided to omit Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh [Images].

But whatever the line-up India present, Moores and England will be conscious of the need to maintain their winning run and build momentum before bigger challenges ahead next year - when the more aggressive and competitive South Africans arrive.

- Copyright PA Sport 2007

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