WORCESTERSHIRE'S Kadeer Ali flew out to India with the England under-19 side yesterday hoping to keep the team's six-year unbeaten record intact.

England have not lost an unofficial Test series overseas at that level since 1994-95 when the West Indies beat a side captained by England opener Marcus Trescothick.

But India are the newly-crowned world champions at youth level and beat England on the way to lifting the trophy in Sri Lanka last January.

England coach Tim Boon knows his boys are in for a even tougher ride on the Indians' own patch.

Boon said: "We know it's going to be hard on and off the field. There are lots of cultural and climatic differences for us to deal with as well as the quality of their cricketers.

"But what we must do is cope with it and go out and enjoy the experience."

Boon expects around half of India under-19's World Cup-winning squad still to be available to face England.

England's squad of 15 contains five members of their own unsuccessful World Cup campaign in Sri Lanka with skipper Ian Bell and Glamorgan wicket-keeper Mark Wallace expected to provide the backbone of the side.

Likely to face a diet of spin on India's turning wickets, England have opted to take only two spinners themselves, left-arm duo Monty Panesar and Kent's Robert Ferley.

Five wickets from Worcestershire's Andy Bichel sent the West Indies reeling in the fourth Test in Melbourne.

But the tourists still managed to edge past the follow-on target to stall Australia's relentless charge for what would be a record 14th straight win on day two of the match.

Chasing Australia's first innings 364, last man Courtney Walsh was run out going for a ridiculous third run after he and partner Marlon Samuel had scraped their team past the 165 follow-on target, forcing Australia to bat again.

Having already lost the series after big defeats in the first three Tests, the West Indies looked doomed to face the indignity of being forced to follow-on as Bichel claimed five for 60 off 13.3 overs -- his first five-wicket haul in a Test.

But a spirited unbeaten 60 from Samuel, playing in only his second Test, saved his side's blushes with the game now likely to go into a fourth day.