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The baton changed last summer and did anyone notice? Australia is no longer the number one Test nation. It is not even number two. Do our cricketers have the talent to be number one again?
Next month Australia, the third ranked team plays two tests against Pakistan, and will probably improve their standing on the Test championship rankings. South Africa is playing the West Indies and will maintain their slight edge over Australia.
India will play Sri Lanka in a two Test series in July and will also, in all probability, maintain their number one ranking. Yet, the rankings mask, the here and now. Is India really number one? Is South Africa really number two? And what of Australia? Number three and sliding or building towards a resurgence?
Despite the “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” Sydney Test where Pakistan imploded, this last Australian summer was, for me, the most lacklustre in my 40 years of watching Tests in Australia. Australia was undefeated in Tests but the victories were not that of a champion team. How many Australian batsmen were dismissed in the 90’s? Too many, is the answer. Australia won because of the weakness of the opposition. It would be foolish to think Australia is the power it once was.
Ricky Ponting’s team, because that is what it is, will need to win against Pakistan and then against India in India and finally against England in Australia. When the wash is done this may still not be enough to claim the Number One ranking.
South Africa will play Pakistan in the Middle East and then host India in December. The New Year could well see South Africa ranked number one.
So it comes down to the power of three: India, Australia and South Africa.
I am not discounting England but they have too much leeway to make up in the rankings. I do, however, see England challenging in 2012. They are a team that has discovered how good it feels to win. They are playing with a lot of smiles on their faces. And there is a lesson here. Play carefree; like we did when we were children.
India has, by far, the best batting lineup in Test Cricket. In fact it may be one of the best of all time. Sehwag, Gambhir, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman and Dhoni have scored 43,895 Test runs between them, including 123 centuries.
Australia’s top six (Watson, Katich, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey and North) has 26137 runs including 79 centuries. South Africa (Smith, Amla, Kallis, De Villiers, Duminy and Prince) has 29476 runs and 88 centuries.
India’s batting is far and away the best and South Africa just shades Australia.
Bowlers win matches and this is where South Africa has the decided edge. And it is one man who is head and shoulders above any bowler in the world. Dale Steyn has 208 test wickets at the “great” average of 23 and more importantly a strike rate to rival any of the great fast bowlers. He is striking every 39.6 deliveries. He has 14 five wicket hauls and 10 in the match 4 times. Marshall struck at 46.7 and Lillee struck every 52 deliveries.
India has an ageing fastman in Zaheer Khan and a youngish Ishant Sharma struggling with fame and fortune. There do not seem to be any more gems in the mineshaft.
Australia has a match winner in Johnson but he needs support. Bollinger is improving and Harris is wholehearted. The key to Australia’s fortunes could well lie with Hilfenhaus and Johnson. If they fire then Australia look strong. Steven Smith at six would be an attacking move and Australia needs some young blood.
South Africa may not win much silverware but for mine they are the number one Test team in the world. Just. If only they had a spinner of note they would be unbeatable.
In fact, then I would back them to win both the cricket and rugby World Cups.
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