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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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