By Gavin Brown

If England want to know the secret of winning on the sub-continent they could do worse than consult former off-spinner Pat Pocock.

Gower lifted the trophy after a memorable 2-1 series victory

He was part of the England team, led by David Gower, which came from behind to win 2-1 in India 21 years ago.

In a five-match series, they lost the opening game heavily, but Pocock and Phil Edmonds spun India to defeat in the second.

Then, after a rain-affected third Test, England gained a decisive victory in the fourth, thanks to double centuries from Graeme Fowler and Mike Gatting and match figures of 11-163 from paceman Neil Foster.

Pocock and Edmonds finished the series with 27 wickets between them and the Surrey stalwart recalls: "Phil and I just bowled all day. We'd have 15 to 18 overs with the new ball and as soon as the shine came off it Phil and I used to bowl.

"When you have two spinners who are quite experienced you can play with a much bigger game plan, if you're bowling them from both ends."

We had the most wonderful feeling in the side, instilled by David Gower and a few others Pat Pocock

England's current spin department lacks the reliability and nous of Pocock and Edmonds, with Monty Panesar and Ian Blackwell both making their Test debuts in Nagpur.

"I can't tell you how important it is to have experience when you're playing Test cricket as a spinner," Pocock told BBC Sport.

"(Ashley) Giles has done a great job, he's performed a certain role, not only with the ball but with the bat, and was an important part of winning the Ashes.

"But an out-and-out spinner, well we didn't have it in Pakistan and it showed, and I hope we're going to pull a rabbit out of the hat in India.

"The spinners are going to play a very important role."

Pocock also believes England need to recreate the team spirit which buoyed the 1985 tourists during their marathon three-month trip, no easy task with three senior players having had to return home before the first Test.

"We had the most wonderful feeling in the side, instilled by David Gower and a few others," he recalls.

Monty Panesar is making his Test debut in Nagpur

"It's very, very important to get your mind right. Some people can play away from their families and others find it very difficult.

"A captain has to know his players, which ones to kick and which ones to coax."

Another key to the 1985 success was the way England adapted to different situations - the modern England are entertaining but can come unstuck.

"I think we made a big mistake in Pakistan; we also made mistakes against Australia but got away with it," Pocock claims.

"We found in that series it's a very good way for us to play to be extremely positive and whack the ball around for an extended period.

"But it doesn't mean to say this approach needs to be taken in every match. Sometimes you have to dig in. You can't score runs back in the dressing-room no matter what your attitude."

England slipped up in Pakistan but Pocock believes they could emulate the class of 1985 and win in India from the position of underdogs.

"We're going to have to work very hard and have things go our way as we lost a lot against Pakistan and have to make up a lot of ground," he said.

"If we play to the best of our ability I think we'll do well, but if we play to anything other than to our full potential we'll struggle."