England may be beginning the year as the world's best Test team, according to the official International Cricket Council rankings, but Andrew Strauss is relishing the challenge of conquering "a new frontier" in 2012 to silence any subcontinental mutterings about their right to the title. The three-Test series against Pakistan in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is followed by trips to Sri Lanka in the spring then India at the end of the year, meaning that England will be more grateful than ever for home comforts – and conditions – against West Indies and South Africa in between times.
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