Andrew Strauss believes England will never again be the "laughing stock" of world cricket, as they were when he was growing up.
Video: England prepare for fourth Test
Video: Flower talks about England success
By the time Strauss was a teenager, England had endured a decade of mediocrity through the 1980s in which they won only 20 of 104 Tests.
But if they beat team beat India again at The Oval in the fourth and final match of the npower series starting tomorrow, they will have equalled that total of 20 victories in just 30 attempts since coach Andy Flower took over on a permanent basis.
Strauss accepts England face a significant challenge to retain their number one status in the International Cricket Council rankings, achieved in last weekend's series-clinching success at Edgbaston.
But he is confident, even if the current team encounter major difficulties on their travels this winter or next or at home to South Africa in between, the correct structure is in place to ensure a continued presence at the right end of the ICC table.
"The days of English cricket being kind of a laughing stock have gone - for good, we hope - for all sorts of reasons," he said.
"It's not just our play on the park - the whole structure and set-up has improved dramatically.
"The challenge for us all is to make sure that continues."
The 1990s were not significantly more prosperous than the 80s, albeit in eras dominated first by a great West Indies side and then one from Australia.
Strauss cites the main problem of previous decades as a failure to maximise the potential of the talent available. "There was a feeling that we weren't getting the best out of our players - because we've always had very good players in England - there's no doubt about that."
Much has changed, and Strauss is determined to make sure the good times continue.
"Now is very much a time to keep that improvement going," he added.
"It's not a time to take the foot off the gas and be satisfied with ourselves.
"We're going to be judged by higher standards now as a result of getting to number one, and it's going to be harder and harder to stay there
"Now's the time for us to keep our feet firmly on the ground and keep doing what's got us to this position; if anything redoubling our efforts to keep improving.
"That's always the challenge."
Ahead of England is a run of testing assignments, starting with Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and away to Sri Lanka and then South Africa - also table-topping aspirants - next summer, before 2013's World Test Championship and then back-to-back Ashes series.
"Even the great Australia sides struggled to win in India at times, because those are conditions that are very foreign to what you're used to," said Strauss.
"That's the next challenge we've got - starting this winter, and next winter as well - and that's what we'll be pushing ourselves for.
"We're aware we've got to keep pushing ourselves harder than others, because other teams will be wanting to take that mantle off us."
In the more immediate future, England's prospects of inflicting a whitewash on India were compromised to a degree when it appeared James Anderson might not be fit here.
But after England's pace spearhead bowled for half an hour in the nets without apparent discomfort this morning, worries about his thigh injury receded.
"We are very optimistic he's fit to play," said the captain.
"He had a good bowl today, but like all these things we have to check how he comes up tomorrow morning.
"It just seems nothing more than a little niggle at this stage."
Anderson, without whom England were unable to bowl Sri Lanka out twice at Lord's earlier this summer, has taken 18 India wickets so far in this series.
"He's been very much the leader of our attack for the last couple of years and he's been outstanding in that role," added Strauss.
"But we've had to deal with Stuart Broad being injured, Chris Tremlett being injured - and people have come in and done well.
"That's always the challenge for you as a side - to make sure you've got the strength in depth to be able to mitigate against any sort of injury.
"If and when we have to deal with that, we'll deal with it."
He does not seek to deny that Anderson is a key presence, but has faith too in others to up their game if necessary.
"He's very important, not just for the tone he sets but for his relationship with the other bowlers.
"But you can't rely on one person.
"That's one of the things we've been good at - we've not relied on one or two people to win us a Test match.
"We've had performances from all 11."
more...
Video: England prepare for fourth Test
Video: Flower talks about England success
By the time Strauss was a teenager, England had endured a decade of mediocrity through the 1980s in which they won only 20 of 104 Tests.
But if they beat team beat India again at The Oval in the fourth and final match of the npower series starting tomorrow, they will have equalled that total of 20 victories in just 30 attempts since coach Andy Flower took over on a permanent basis.
Strauss accepts England face a significant challenge to retain their number one status in the International Cricket Council rankings, achieved in last weekend's series-clinching success at Edgbaston.
But he is confident, even if the current team encounter major difficulties on their travels this winter or next or at home to South Africa in between, the correct structure is in place to ensure a continued presence at the right end of the ICC table.
"The days of English cricket being kind of a laughing stock have gone - for good, we hope - for all sorts of reasons," he said.
"It's not just our play on the park - the whole structure and set-up has improved dramatically.
"The challenge for us all is to make sure that continues."
The 1990s were not significantly more prosperous than the 80s, albeit in eras dominated first by a great West Indies side and then one from Australia.
Strauss cites the main problem of previous decades as a failure to maximise the potential of the talent available. "There was a feeling that we weren't getting the best out of our players - because we've always had very good players in England - there's no doubt about that."
Much has changed, and Strauss is determined to make sure the good times continue.
"Now is very much a time to keep that improvement going," he added.
"It's not a time to take the foot off the gas and be satisfied with ourselves.
"We're going to be judged by higher standards now as a result of getting to number one, and it's going to be harder and harder to stay there
"Now's the time for us to keep our feet firmly on the ground and keep doing what's got us to this position; if anything redoubling our efforts to keep improving.
"That's always the challenge."
Ahead of England is a run of testing assignments, starting with Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and away to Sri Lanka and then South Africa - also table-topping aspirants - next summer, before 2013's World Test Championship and then back-to-back Ashes series.
"Even the great Australia sides struggled to win in India at times, because those are conditions that are very foreign to what you're used to," said Strauss.
"That's the next challenge we've got - starting this winter, and next winter as well - and that's what we'll be pushing ourselves for.
"We're aware we've got to keep pushing ourselves harder than others, because other teams will be wanting to take that mantle off us."
In the more immediate future, England's prospects of inflicting a whitewash on India were compromised to a degree when it appeared James Anderson might not be fit here.
But after England's pace spearhead bowled for half an hour in the nets without apparent discomfort this morning, worries about his thigh injury receded.
"We are very optimistic he's fit to play," said the captain.
"He had a good bowl today, but like all these things we have to check how he comes up tomorrow morning.
"It just seems nothing more than a little niggle at this stage."
Anderson, without whom England were unable to bowl Sri Lanka out twice at Lord's earlier this summer, has taken 18 India wickets so far in this series.
"He's been very much the leader of our attack for the last couple of years and he's been outstanding in that role," added Strauss.
"But we've had to deal with Stuart Broad being injured, Chris Tremlett being injured - and people have come in and done well.
"That's always the challenge for you as a side - to make sure you've got the strength in depth to be able to mitigate against any sort of injury.
"If and when we have to deal with that, we'll deal with it."
He does not seek to deny that Anderson is a key presence, but has faith too in others to up their game if necessary.
"He's very important, not just for the tone he sets but for his relationship with the other bowlers.
"But you can't rely on one person.
"That's one of the things we've been good at - we've not relied on one or two people to win us a Test match.
"We've had performances from all 11."
more...
