Are India really the world's No.1 Test side?

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Senior Cricket Writer, Stuart Hess, has been following the progress of South Africa and India in Test cricket over the past two years - and he's not so sure India have been tested enough in their rise to the top. More... Are India really the world's No.1 Test side? Stuart Hess February 21, 2010 Harbhajan Singh's mad charge across the Eden Park outfield following his dismissal of Morne Morkel in the 132nd over of South Africa's second innings, was the image splashed across the front pages of every Indian newspaper on Friday morning. Eyes bulging, mouth wide open, arms thrust out on each side, it's the image that will come to represent this series, in a match - with its dramatic conclusion - that will mark this rivalry as one of modern Test cricket's most intense. And yet there's a hollowness in the aftermath. The Indians have gone potty over their No.1 status, but come on, besides beating Australia in 2008 on home soil, what have they done? New Zealand away? Bangladesh away? Does winning in those two countries really entitle one to being named the best side in the world? Their argument is that they can only beat what's in front of them and in that regard their consistency deserves credit. But they couldn't beat South Africa in a series on home soil - for the second time in a row. Yes, they had injuries in Nagpur, but they also had a surface tailor-made for their spinners, one that was a complete contrast to anything South Africa had played on this season, and they got beaten in four days. They bounced back magnificently at Eden Gardens, taking advantage of a mistake-ridden performance by South Africa to tie the series and retain their precious No.1 ranking, but as much as they bask in the glow of that ranking, a break-down of their results against South Africa in the past five Tests the two countries have played shows that they've won two each, with one drawn. And all of that came on Indian soil in the past two years. As wracked as the Proteas were with regret in the Eden Gardens dressing room after that defeat on Thursday, Graeme Smith was keen to spell out the positives to the players: Of all the countries to tour India no one has as a good a record as South Africa, to come here and draw two series' is a very good achievement that the likes of Sri Lanka, England and Australia would love to match. The reasons for South Africa's success are simple. They don't fret over pitches - they plan properly for India's spinners and most importantly they play to their style, which relies on the strength of their fast bowlers. Dale Steyn mentioned after his magnificent spell in Nagpur that high pace was always a threat to batsmen and there was no need to change his approach simply because the pitches were slower and the bounce lower. "A ball at 145km/h, whether it's bowled in Joburg or Nagpur, is still coming to the batsman at 145km/h through the air." And when the bounce is low, said Mark Boucher, he doesn't hear the bowlers complaining either. "They don't look at it like 'oh no, it's bouncing twice before the 'keeper' - they're going 'okay lets bowl it at the stumps and get under his bat'." And therein lies the other important aspect of South Africa's play here - their positive mindset. They genuinely embrace this country. Even though security around the team has been heightened in the wake of a recent terrorist attack, on Friday before they left Kolkata some players still left their hotel to take in the sights of that city. The fast bowlers don't moan about bowling a five-over spell with an old ball that may not be doing anything, the spinner doesn't complain about bowling a boring leg-stump line - even if it cost Paul Harris 12 wides in Kolkata - and the batsmen, especially in Nagpur, were willing to stay patient, bide their time and bat big. In that regard Hashim Amla has made huge strides on this tour. He has quietly created a solidity at No.3 that makes him an essential element of the side now. Amla's position had been under pressure following the tour to Pakistan in 2007, and who knows where his career might have ended up had New Zealand wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum held a catch when Amla had two during the first Test at the Wanderers in 2007. Amla went on to make 176 not out in that innings and since then, in 27 matches, he has eight more centuries. In the period since that dropped catch he averages 62,12, a statistic normally associated with the likes of Ponting and Tendulkar His figures in this series are staggering, but more than that it is the confidence he inspires in those around him. Kallis has had his mantle as the 'King of Calm' taken away, even he mentioned it as one of Amla's great strengths, and the reason he enjoyed batting with him. That serenity rubbed off on Wayne Parnell and MornE Morkel in those strenuous last few hours at Eden Gardens and almost led to an extraordinary come-from-behind draw. Amla's dependability at No.3, besides unloading the burden usually carried by Kallis, also helped to mask a troubling area in South Africa's batting - the opening combination. Alviro Petersen's marvellous first innings at Eden Gardens will leave the interim selection panel in a quandary when they sit down to pick the Test squad for the series in the West Indies in May. South Africa surely now must go away from looking for a stop-gap partner for Smith. India next face South Africa at the end of the year, when they make the traditional summer tour. Meanwhile, India are proposing series' against Sri Lanka (away) and New Zealand (home) while they're hoping to twist Cricket Australia's arm and get the seven-match one-day series against Australia later this year changed to accommodate two Tests. But it is in South Africa later this year that they will face the sternest examination of their credentials as the world's best Test side. India have won just once in 12 Tests in South Africa, hardly a fitting record for a side calling itself Test cricket's best.

[Karan114]

Sour grapes. Why couldn't SA beat Australia and England at home if they are so good?

[gult]

India definitely deserves simply because there's no other team that's performed so consistently in the last two years.

[vvvslaxman]

He is yapping about India not being able to win a test series against SA at home. What about Sa failing twice in a row against England and Australia. Morons like Stuart Hess rarely use their brain.

[Gunner_Mania]

Sour grapes.

:dito: Easy to write such articles in an African newspaper with no option for readers to comment.

[yoda]

Stuart Hess who?

[zen]

Haha, Appears as if he was planing to be all over Ind if Ind had lost the series .... Ind crashed his dreams too :P

[Anakin]

Whatever lets you sleep at night bit.ch a la stewie

[The Outsider]

Whiners are having a field day, it seems. Anyhow, despite all the criticism of Indian bowling, India has 2 bowlers in the top 10 of ICC rankings which is as high as any other team.

[patriot]

And yet there's a hollowness in the aftermath. The Indians have gone potty over their No.1 status, but come on, besides beating Australia in 2008 on home soil, what have they done? New Zealand away? Bangladesh away? Does winning in those two countries really entitle one to being named the best side in the world? Their argument is that they can only beat what's in front of them and in that regard their consistency deserves credit. But they couldn't beat South Africa in a series on home soil - for the second time in a row.

Umm .. 1) beating England away ( whom RSA could not even beat at home ) 2) beating the then 2nd ranked Lankans 2-0 ( both innings thumpings) 3) If beating Aussies at home should be mentioned so casually..why the eff have RSA ..in the history of the effing comback have lost every single home test series against Aussies ? The only way to shut up these ***kas is to win a test series in RSA. England have done it under Michael Vaughan...why should we not be able to do it ??

[patriot]

Last 5 years test cricket record for each country. http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;spanmax1=21+Feb+2010;spanmin1=21+Feb+2005;spanval1=span;template=results;type=team Both India and RSA have played equal matches against minnows (6 each). RSA have won 4 more - but lost 6 more as well ! and therefore a lower W/L ratio.

[Ram]

The numbnut author doesnt realize that in the last 6-7 years, we have won test match series' in England, West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan, drew in Australia once, lost another hard-fought series marred by abominable umpiring.

[Texan]

What a stupid analysis by Mr Hess. He has completely forgotten what an abject failure SA have been against England and Aus in the last few years, whereas India have had great success against both. And even if there was no series win in SA, we still won a match. In fact over the last few years, we have won at least one match in all countries, which hardly any other team has achieved.

[patriot]

The numbnut author doesnt realize that in the last 6-7 years' date=' we have won test match series' in England, West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan, drew in Australia once, lost another hard-fought series marred by abominable umpiring.[/quote'] I think what irks these jealous, despicable Seth Afrikan experts is the way we have played Australia - dominating them in tests and holding the series cup, while they have got roughed up by Aussies almost everytime they have stepped on the field in whites. They think of the Aussies as the only team that is their acutal rival and competitor. They prepare and plan very hard for Aussies, only to get their @$$es handed to them - almost always. The last victory in Australia was teh 1st time South African have beaten Aussies in a test series. since their return in 1992. We have done it 4 times at home ( 96,98, 2001,2008) :--D, and held the Aussies once in their home.

[Texan]

Besides, Mr Hess - wicket at Nagpur was a sporting wicket. If you think it was a spinner's paradise, you have not watched cricket played here in the 90s. If India prepares spinning tracks, SA won't even last 3 days.

[gs]

India next face South Africa at the end of the year, when they make the traditional summer tour. Meanwhile, India are proposing series' against Sri Lanka (away) and New Zealand (home) while they're hoping to twist Cricket Australia's arm and get the seven-match one-day series against Australia later this year changed to accommodate two Tests.

This is the only upside I see in this moronic article. I do hope the BCCI goons succeed in arm twisting ACB!

[ViruFTW]

Not worthy of being reported. This guy is obviously biased. Does he really think South Aphrica should be the No 1 side? India may not be as strong No 1 side like Australia were a few years back(thanks to our bowling dept) but India are the best team in the world currently.

[vvvslaxman]

Stuart Hess has perennial obsession like Trevor chesterfield when it comes to taking a digg at India. He wrote almost one article every day making fun of BCCI during the IPL in SA.

[meloveindia]

Khatte Angoor

[TheWall]

Stuart Hess forgot to add that SA are the official chokers of International Cricket