England's rise to world No1 – in pictures

July 1999 England are defeated by New Zealand at Lord's and go on to lose the series 2-1. They drop to bottom of the world rankings Photograph: Rebecca Naden/PA Archive/Press Association Ima

October 1999 Duncan Fletcher begins his new partnership with the England captain Nasser Hussain. Both men help instill a toughness to the team Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Allsport

September 2000 England's rise starts with a first series win over West Indies in 31 years Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

December 2000 England beat Pakistan away and follow up with victory in Sri Lanka, demonstrating they can win tough tours Photograph: David Munden/Popperfoto/Popperfoto/Getty Images

April 2004 (world ranking: No3) Steve Harmison takes 23 wickets as England tour the West Indies and beat the hosts 3-0. They also win eight Tests in a row Photograph: Ben Radford/Getty Images

September 2005 (world ranking: No2) England win a thrilling Ashes series, beating an Australia team which is one of the greatest to have ever played the game Photograph: Tom Shaw/Getty Images

January 2007 (world ranking: No2) England's 2005 Ashes team fragments as Michael Vaughan and Simon Jones suffer injuries and Marcus Trescothick is struck down by depression. Under Andrew Flintoff, England go down to a humiliating 5-0 defeat in the 2006-07 Ashes Photograph: Tony Ashby/AFP/Getty Images

January 2009 (world ranking: No5) Peter Moores takes over as England coach but his team slip to series defeats to South Africa and India. A feud with captain Kevin Pietersen leads to both men leaving their posts Photograph: Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty Images

February 2009 (world ranking: No5) Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower are installed as England's new captain and coach respectively. It is a baptism of fire as England are bowled out for 51 by West Indies and go on to lose the series 1-0 Photograph: Julian Herbert/Getty Images

January 2010 (world ranking: No5) After regaining the Ashes in the summer of 2009, England tour South Africa, one of the strongest Test sides in the world. Their lower order – which will become a strength under Flower and Strauss – twice save Tests and the series is drawn Photograph: Gareth Copley/PA

January 2011 (world ranking: No3) England travel to Australia for the Ashes and beat the hosts 3-1. It is the first time they have won the Ashes away from home for 24 years Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

August 2011 (projected world ranking: No1) Alastair Cook scores 294 as England take a 3-0 lead in the summer series against India. The result guarantees England will be world No1 when the rankings are next updated Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA