Border was the Australian captain the last time England won a Test series against anyone more formidable than New Zealand anywhere or India in England. Almost 12 years have passed since that last week of 1986 when England won in Melbourne against an Australian team who touched rock bottom during the mid-eighties but have made sure they never will again.
``They were a good all-round professional side,'' Border remembers in his hotel in Dundee while the rain never thinks of relenting. England not only had Ian Botham, David Gower, Allan Lamb and Mike Gatting, but three essentials which have been lacking more often than not since: a solid left-handed opening batsman in Chris Broad, some effective spin from Phil Edmonds and John Emburey together, and some pace from Graham Dilley.
Border was also the captain in three of the five subsequent Ashes series, when England have never come within reach of the urn. But they have come closer each time, which has gratified the toughest of competitors (it is impossible to imagine that his record of 153 Tests in succession will ever be beaten). For 'AB' wants England to be strong enough to challenge Australia this winter, lest the longest-running contest in team sport should fall into disrepute.
The gap has been narrowing steadily since 1989, when Border's team won 4-0 and became the first Australian team to recover the Ashes in England since 1934. ``Your press called us the worst Australian team ever, so it didn't take a lot to get the side fired up. We were also younger and hungrier than some of your ageing stars, as you could call them, and the South African defections didn't help your side either.'' Strange how some of those who destablised England then are in charge less than a decade on.
By 1990-1 the margin was down to 3-0. ``We were on a particular roll then, starting in '89, and continued to be successful.'' England on the other hand were knackered when they arrived in Australia, after already touring the West Indies in the same year. England's pace bowlers were burnt out long before the end.
In 1993, Border's last Ashes series (he averaged 56 in them over all), England lost by the same margin but at least won a match. ``England have been on the threshold of coming out of the doldrums for half-a-dozen years. There are moments when they play fantastically well, and the next moment they don't.'' It was the same in 1994-5, when they were brilliant at times in Sydney and Adelaide, but lost the series 3-1.
``Part of the trouble, I think, is that England try to protect their lead when they get one, and pull in the reins instead of playing the positive cricket which got them there in the first place. Like last year, when England started off playing with some passion, and Goughy was fired up, and you won the one-dayers and the Edgbaston Test, then took your foot off the throttle and went into cruise mode.'' At least the margin came down to one match in the end, even if England's second win came when the series was decided.
``To beat Australia or South Africa, England have to be aggressive so you might as well go down swinging. It's always easier said than done, of course, but you have to be positive, like putting in a couple of slips not a slip and a third man. Back yourself and it's amazing how the players respond to that.'' That is AB's ABC of winning.