England skipper Nasser Hussain Tuesday said his team would face its first real test of this World Cup when it takes on India in a crucial league game in Durban Wednesday.

Having registered a sensational victory against Pakistan in the previous game, England are obviously pumped up but Hussain said the match against India would be the toughest the team had come up in this tournament so far.

"We haven't been tested really," Hussain said ahead of the match whose winner would almost certainly qualify for the Super Six stage.

"When Sachin Tendulkar is not out on 50 and the Indian batting line-up is coming at you... it would be the test of our character.

"The difficult games are still ahead. Its easy to talk about how Zimbabwe (boycott) brings you (players) together. But playing Holland and Namibia when it's swinging around in Newlands is not easy," he said.

England, who have forfeited their match against Zimbabwe, emerged as strong contenders for a Super Six berth when they thrashed Pakistan by 112 runs on Saturday. They have 12 points with matches against India and Australia left.

"We had a very difficult winter but an excellent game the other day (against Pakistan). Hopefully, we take that (form) in the game against India," Hussain said.

"Now every game is a qualifying game. We cannot afford to take any game lightly."

India have enjoyed an upper hand in their recent encounters against England but Hussain said those matches were very close and predicted another close game.

"Our games against India have always been very close in the last couple of years. Either side could have won those games.

"It could be a far closer game on Wednesday. There would be key moments in this game. Both sides have not been under that much pressure in this tournament. Anyone who handles those pressure moments the best has a chance."

Hussain refused to describe Wednesday's match as a grudge game for his side which had seen India successfully chase 325 in the final of the NatWest Trophy at Lord's last year.

"The NatWest final was a great game. But like I said there are no grudge games. There can't be grudge because both sides are evenly matched.

"We have played some fantastic cricket against each other. The matches between the two, both Tests and one-dayers, have been games of highest quality."

Hussain was all praise for young fast bowler James Anderson, who rocked the Pakistan batting line-up on Saturday, but said his real test would come against India and Australia.

"He has bowled well but India and Australia are going to be his biggest tests," Hussain said.

"Pace is irrelevant at this stage. He struggled in two previous games but it could be because as a young lad he was feeling tired. He has gone from playing once or twice a week to practicing every day and everything else which goes being an international cricketer."

"He does vary his pace a little bit but obviously when it is swinging and he is in the right zones, he appears a little quicker than he actually is," Hussain said.

"There are no set plans. If he is not bowling well then someone else will have a go."

Hussain dismissed the injury worries in his side and said both Michael Vaughan and he himself were fit for Wednesday's  game. "Michael (Vaughan) has got a little niggle. My neck is a bit stiff but I expect both of us to play."

Hussain also gave a vote of confidence to opener Marcus Trescothick who is not in the best of form right now.

"His record against India is sensational. He plays spin very well but you cannot expect a player to get runs in every game. Even Tendulkar or Vaughan go through periods when they don't score runs.

Hussain has often complained about too much cricket being played these days but said it was not difficult for a player to motivate himself to play in the World Cup.

"If you can't pick yourself up (for the World Cup) however tired you are, you should not be playing for your country. There is a huge support base behind us and that would surely lift us," he said.

"My comment about too much cricket was valid at that time when Tendulkar was not playing for India, Shane Warne was not available for Australia nor was Glenn McGrath and Vaughan was injured for us. All your best players in the world were not playing. But all your best players are back in this tournament and it is good."