India is cricket’s number one Test nation
Roar Guru
By vinay verma, 22 Jul 2009 Vinay Verma is a Roar Guru
India's Gautam Gambhir, center, is congratulated by Australian Brett Lee as Indian V.V.S. Laxman, right, looks on as they return after end of play on the first day of their third cricket test match in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008. Gambhir scored his second hundred in consecutive matches with an unbeaten 149 Wednesday. AP Photo/Gurinder Osan
It is time for a reality check. The centre of the cricketing universe is not Australia. Neither is it England, notwithstanding their comprehensive victory at Lords.
This current Ashes series, for many players, is an audition for the IPL. Who will be the first 2 million dollar man?
Currently, Dhoni,Pietersen and Flintoff have the bragging rights at 1.5 million dollars.
Michael Clarke, Haddin, Hughes and Johnson are being head hunted and I lean towards Clarke being the first to break the magic two million. The Punter at $400,000 is below David Hussey and Brett Lee. Symonds and Gilchrist are both on a million plus.
The Symonds sacking could have something to do with dissent in the dressing room. Dressing rooms around the world are not one big happy family. There are poor relatives aplenty.
Coming back to Test Cricket, Australia no longer has the invincibility of five years ago.
There is a belief among the top six that Australia can be beaten. South Africa, India and England have exposed the vulnerability. In a perverse way, this is exactly what many in Australia have been craving.
They wanted more even contests and now that they have them it is unpalatable.The moral to the story is never to wish mediocrity on your team.
The Test results of 2008 clearly put South Africa at the top, with 11 Test wins and series wins against Australia and England. They also drew a series in India.
Australia played 14 won 5 and lost series to South Africa and India.
Their five victories included one against India and two each against West Indies and New Zealand. India played 15 and won 6. They won series against Australia and England.
In 2009 Australia have played 5, won two and lost two. India won away to New Zealand in 2009 and are the only unbeaten Test side this year. Depending on your nationality, any one of three can lay claim to being the number one Test nation.
If England win the Ashes, then they too can start crowing.
Lets put aside the statistics and money for the time being and speculate on who of the Test players we would actually pay to watch?
I list my unbiased preferences for what I expect to be a contentious debate. I am working on something similar to the marketabilty component of the current CA contracts.
Australia: Ponting, Clarke, Hughes
England: Pietersen, Flintoff
South Africa: De Villiers, Steyn, Duminy
India: Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman and Sehwag
Sri Lanka: Sangakarra, Mendis, Jayawardene and Murali
West Indies: Sarwan
Pakistan:Mohammed Yousuf
Sadly there is no one I would pay to watch from New Zealand, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.
Finally, taking current form, post Lords, I lean towards India as the number one Test nation.
Lest I be accused of bias I base this on the last 8 Tests played between Australia and India and it is 3-2 to India with three draws. In my mind, this situation can only change if Australia win the next three tests against England.
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davido said | July 22nd 2009 @ 1:04am | Report comment
You confuse money with respect. India has no respect from the cricketing world.
They have lied, bullied and cheated for so many years it is unlikely they will ever get respect from this or the next generation.
Rowdy said | July 22nd 2009 @ 1:33am | Report comment
If we’re talking demeanour on the pitch, then I’m afraid India have it over the Aus teams of the past 20 years. As for rankings, it seems all a bit fluid between Aus, SA and India – time for a triangular tournament in England – there’s enough supporters from the 3 countries here to make it a really exciting summer.
Viscount Crouchback said | July 22nd 2009 @ 2:13am | Report comment
There is something rather unattractive about the current Indian team. I found their lackadaisical approach to the second Test against England last winter most unsatisfactory and rather unworthy of a team with pretensions to top dog status. The preening of Yuvraj and Dhoni is simply silly. I fear that the Indians, like the English, have concluded that Australia’s success in the 90s and 00s proves that winning at cricket necessitates acting like berks. Steve Waugh has a lot to answer for.
If, on the other hand, the Indians could beat all-comers whilst still retaining their traditionally cerebral and dignified approach to cricket – avoiding the silly blow-ups so beloved of the Australians – then they should be a remarkable force for good in cricket.
And if the Indian cricket authorities could stop acting like nouveau riche 19th century Lancastrian factory owners and be just half as benevolent and disinterested in their approach as MCC was for most of the 20th century, then world cricket would be suitably grateful.
vinay verma said | July 22nd 2009 @ 10:01am | Report comment
Davido-Respect is a two way street. Lets also distinguish between the actions of players and administrators. There is a perception in Australia and England that the BCCI has inordinate power. Let us not blame India for generating the incoome that Australian players,and others,so openly accept. Hayden,Gilchrist,Warne,McGrath,Ponting et al…India has made these players rich beyond their wildest dreams. So would you say they are hypocrites for accepting the money? And what have they cheated at? The contention on the other side of the divide is that they have been treated as second class citizens by the ICC for years. It is only since the mid nineties when India started growing as an economy di d Australians suddenly discover to quote Warne..”the enormous culture of India” Warney meant ,to paraphrase him…geez,I didn’t realise there was so much money to be made here” Davido,I am prepared to debate this with you in a reasoned manner.
Rowdy…your monicker belies your sagacious comment.
And Viscount,with due deference Indians were polite and courteous to the point of being apologetic. The term “Ugly Australian” is not a figment of my imagination and must have been earned somewhere along the way. If sport is war then India have decided to fight fire with fire. The Gandhian pacifism went out of the window when Kapil Dev came around . In fact the first show of defiance was when Gavaskar,as atwenty something,took on the fire and brimstone of Lillee and Thommo and signalled his class and intent. This playing for the World XI in 1971.
Yes,I agree with power should come a concomittant responsibility. But you well know that Emperors like Caesar and then Henry the 8th let it go to Anne Boleyn’s head.
I hope you are not suggesting that the recalcitrant bounders be taken to the gallows.
Kersi Meher-Homji said | July 22nd 2009 @ 10:18am | Report comment
I would not say, Vinay, that India is no. 1 Test nation today but not that far away.
Umpiring decisions went against Australia in the Lord’s Test. Had Australia won on Monday, we would have been jumping up and down proclaiming Australia as no. 1. I think neither India, nor Australia nor England can claim the no. 1 position. South Africa is ahead by a nose despite losing the home series to Ponting’s men this year.
What Australia suffered in Lord’s last week, India suffered in Sydney last January. But in Sehwag, Gambhir, Tendulkar and VVS, India has superb, crowd-pleasing batsmen. And nagging new-ball operators and a dynamic skipper, Dhoni.
For on-field behaviour, India today is adopting Australia’s aggressive tactics and winning. I don’t know that is good or bad. What is better, to be sporting losers or aggro winners? Has sporting winners become an oxymoron today?
vinay verma said | July 22nd 2009 @ 10:48am | Report comment
Hi Kersi
As i made the point in reply to Spiro’s post I think umpiring howlers should not dominate the cricketing conversation. There were enough oppurtunities for Australia at Lords and India in Sydney to have won the match irrespective of the umpires. India should not have lost the last three wickets so abjectly. At Lord’s Johnson bowled badly and the batters committed hara kiri.
The point about India being No 1 is that they have in Sehwag the most destructive batsman in Test Cricket. He has score two triple tons. Gambhir is a good foil and Tendulkar,Dravid and Laxman are a triumvirate born in Heaven. Only Ponting and Pietersen can be spoken of in the same breath. In Dhoni India have the best Captain in world Cricket and the spinners are infinitely better than anything SA and Australia have. Zaheer Khan is approaching Akram status and Ishant has the inducker that so exposes Ponting.
Today I would put my money on India.
Alan nicolea said | July 22nd 2009 @ 11:29am | Report comment
Vinay
On form IMO, India are the best test nation. They can take a game away from you in the blick of an eye. They can also throw it away just as fast. In terms of who i would pay money to watch, i would have to say Tendulkar, Laxman, Doni, Sehwag and Harbajhan Singh. As for the Kiwis though, i would pay money to watch Ross Taylor play. He is immensely entertaining to watch when he gets going. In terms of consistency though, Australia have deserved their no.1 Test status for the period they have held it.
vinay verma said | July 22nd 2009 @ 11:36am | Report comment
Hi Alan
I knew I had omitted someone worthwhile and I agree Ross Taylor is a dasher and worth the price of admission. In fact I rate Shane Bond as the best fast bowler in the world and am looking forward to seeing him play. He is high class and I would pay double the money to see him bowl. a real thouroughbred.
I think Harbhajan is playing to a script and he is good aginst the Aussies but the others play him reasonably well. He is a fighter and wont take a backward step. But I only have so much money to spend and none left over for him.
Chandra said | July 22nd 2009 @ 11:40am | Report comment
Vinay
I would put the SAFFers a shade ahead. A future series between India and SAF will decide for sure. One thing is sure, Australia are number 3.
Rusty said | July 22nd 2009 @ 11:44am | Report comment
Vinay
If we are purely looking at performance in the test arena then the number 1 nation based on recent performances is SA. They have been the most consistent home and away contestant regardless of the number of all stars in their lineups. Series results for comparison
SA
South Africa in Sri Lanka Test Series, 2006 – Sri Lanka
India in South Africa Test Series, 2006/07 – South Africa
Pakistan in South Africa Test Series, 2006/07 -South Africa
South Africa in Pakistan Test Series, 2007/08 – South Africa
New Zealand in South Africa Test Series, 2007/08 – South Africa
West Indies in South Africa Test Series, 2007/08 – South Africa
South Africa in Bangladesh Test Series, 2007/08 – South Africa
South Africa in India Test Series, 2007/08 – drawn
Basil D’Oliveira Trophy (South Africa in England), 2008 – South Africa
Bangladesh in South Africa Test Series, 2008/09 – South Africa
South Africa in Australia Test Series, 2008/09 – South Africa
Australia in South Africa Test Series, 2008/09 – Australia
India
India in South Africa Test Series, 2006/07 – South Africa
India in Bangladesh Test Series, 2007 – India
Pataudi Trophy (India in England), 2007 – India
Pakistan in India Test Series, 2007/08 – India
Border-Gavaskar Trophy (India in Australia), 2007/08 – Australia
South Africa in India Test Series, 2007/08 – drawn
India in Sri Lanka Test Series, 2008 -Sri Lanka
Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Australia in India), 2008/09 – India
England in India Test Series, 2008/09 – India
India in New Zealand Test Series, 2008/09 – India
So comparitively both have beaten and lost to Australia, both have lost to Sri Lanka away but India hasnt managed yet managed to win against SA including at home.