India's #1 rank in Test Matches / ICC Rankings

[thevortex]

Dont mistake me for not being proud of India getting to No.1. That I am. Whether India still is the best team in the planet for Tests, I am not sure. In fact I am positive that they are not the best team right now. Not if they field a bowling lineup minus Zaheer and with a jaded Harbhajan and a thoroughly confused Ishant. There is still no need for alarm bells as the upcoming series is going to be at home. But even then, do we have the spinners to throttle the Aussies? I think not. But lets see how it unwinds. But I will say this. The Aussie bowling has a very tough tour ahead. The Indian batsmen may just decide to fill their boots. If they do, then it will be a very hard tour for them.

[asterix]

At the end of the day it all comes to credible PROOF and EVIDENCE..So most of the arguments are of no use..

[Sachinism]

Thanks but no thanks for splitting the thread. The crux of the original post was not India's No.1 ranking which is of no consequence to me. It was one statement. If India do have man to man the best team in the world that can challenge and win in all condiions, I wouldn't care for rankings. The original point was about BCCI and IPL and whether it is hurting Indian cricket. Are we producing good enough cricketer from the younger lot? Is our cricket in the right direction? Is BCCI providing good enough infrastructure with all its resources ? I wanted your views. Instead, the No.1 ranking statement hit a nerve and everyone got personal. There are two kinds of a crowd that you can get at Wankhede. One that ""rowdy" crowd devoid of basic understanding of the game shouting " Ae O Ae O Mcgrath is a basterd!!" or making monkey faces and the other appreciating the great talents on display and intricacies of the game. Seems like majority fit in former category from some of the reactions. Except Chanden and few others I haven't seen an opinion or an argument. Deeply disappointed in Indian cricket fans. If not being delusional and stupid is self loathing, then I am guilty as charged.

http://indiancricketfans.com/showthread.php?t=211643 - this is where you're original thread went, merged with another thread on the same topic.

[saneindian]

Saneindian - need I point it out to you that 2 of those Tests for India out of a total of 10 were played against Bangladesh?! Take that out and see what happens. Of course you can do the same for England as well. Lastly you can do all the gimmickry with numbers that you want. Forget the paper. On field given that we are still missing Zaheer Khan, does this attack inspire fear? Forget fear, does this attack look like its an effective one? I dont think so. We will find out when the Australians tour. India still have an escape route if it prepares dry and dusty pitches where the likes of Ojha can prosper. If it does not do that, then they have an uphill battle at hand.

Take Swann out of Eng, Take Steyn out of SA and take Malinga out of SL, does the attack even look to be of any threat? As for dry and dusty pitches, ask the SA, SL and English attacks to bowl on those tracks to see how efficient they are. On inspiring fear, dont think test are won by fearsome bowling attacks, tests are won by a bowling unit which is efficient enough to take 20 wickets, which is exactly what the Indian bowling attack bowling on some of the most difficult tracks to bowl on has done in 2 out of the last 4 tests. I give up sir, you keep praying for India to lose , I will continue to be sure that we are the number 1 team in the world and dont have that bad a bowling attack.

[The Outsider]

As I've commented in some other thread as well, vortex likes to play book cricket. He has these imaginary ratings and rankings of players in his mind and bases his judgment on that rather than action on the field and the subsequent results. In vortex's book cricket, India has a poor bowling attack and nothing can tread him from that path. Never mind the fact that a bunch of rookies in the last test that India played managed to scythe through as good a team as Sri Lanka in their backyard. It's of no use to point out actual results to him because those are not results, they are 'statistics'. His book cricket is the ultimate guide to cricket. India would be the only unfortunate team on earth to have such shoddy supporters who would get on the team's case a test match after pulling off an extremely creditable result in a match and a series with an extremely depleted line up. It's sad, but in these days of sensationalizing and trying to distance yourself from the crowd you will get all kinds of characters who would twist every fact just for the sake of trying to be the objective, neutral, and different voice.

[thevortex]

Take Swann out of Eng, Take Steyn out of SA and take Malinga out of SL, does the attack even look to be of any threat? As for dry and dusty pitches, ask the SA, SL and English attacks to bowl on those tracks to see how efficient they are. On inspiring fear, dont think test are won by fearsome bowling attacks, tests are won by a bowling unit which is efficient enough to take 20 wickets, which is exactly what the Indian bowling attack bowling on some of the most difficult tracks to bowl on has done in 2 out of the last 4 tests. I give up sir, you keep praying for India to lose , I will continue to be sure that we are the number 1 team in the world and dont have that bad a bowling attack.

That is extrapolation, saneindian! Bangladesh as opposition is certainly not at the level of the other Test playing countries. Or do you think otherwise? By the way, the English still possess a decent bowling attack (if not one which is potent in all surfaces minus Swann). And who talked about removing players from the teams!

[Dhondy]

As I've commented in some other thread as well, vortex likes to play book cricket. He has these imaginary ratings and rankings of players in his mind and bases his judgment on that rather than action on the field and the subsequent results. In vortex's book cricket, India has a poor bowling attack and nothing can tread him from that path. Never mind the fact that a bunch of rookies in the last test that India played managed to scythe through as good a team as Sri Lanka in their backyard. It's of no use to point out actual results to him because those are not results, they are 'statistics'. His book cricket is the ultimate guide to cricket. India would be the only unfortunate team on earth to have such shoddy supporters who would get on the team's case a test match after pulling off an extremely creditable result in a match and a series with an extremely depleted line up. It's sad, but in these days of sensationalizing and trying to distance yourself from the crowd you will get all kinds of characters who would twist every fact just for the sake of trying to be the objective, neutral, and different voice.

Yes. Don't bother with statistics, reason, results, rankings, percentages or anything numerical with our resident cricket expert. Flat earthers inc, rejoice...your numbers are-a-swellin'

[saneindian]

That is extrapolation, saneindian! Bangladesh as opposition is certainly not at the level of the other Test playing countries. Or do you think otherwise? By the way, the English still possess a decent bowling attack (if not one which is potent in all surfaces minus Swann). And who talked about removing players from the teams!

The last 4 tests that India played were against SL and SA. I am not going argue any further about other bowling attacks. Our attack is as good or as bad as any other bowling attack in the world. Give them the helpful conditions that others play in and they will be equally effective. On patta wickets, we have perhaps the most efficient bowling attack in the world.

[thevortex]

As I've commented in some other thread as well, vortex likes to play book cricket. He has these imaginary ratings and rankings of players in his mind and bases his judgment on that rather than action on the field and the subsequent results. In vortex's book cricket, India has a poor bowling attack and nothing can tread him from that path. Never mind the fact that a bunch of rookies in the last test that India played managed to scythe through as good a team as Sri Lanka in their backyard. It's of no use to point out actual results to him because those are not results, they are 'statistics'. His book cricket is the ultimate guide to cricket. India would be the only unfortunate team on earth to have such shoddy supporters who would get on the team's case a test match after pulling off an extremely creditable result in a match and a series with an extremely depleted line up. It's sad, but in these days of sensationalizing and trying to distance yourself from the crowd you will get all kinds of characters who would twist every fact just for the sake of trying to be the objective, neutral, and different voice.

Its easy and often convenient to flow with the crowd, Outsider. But it is extremely simplistic to assume that an opinion against the flow is one that exists just for the sake of it. But you are welcome to your opinions. Remember - its very very easy to judge a team by results alone. I like to look at the road taken as well. In a game it is always possible that a team uses methods which were perhaps not the best ones but still win. A combination of reasons may exist for this - including but not limited to the opposition letting go of opportunities. Just judging a team by its immediate results is for the stat fans. Consistency comes out of solid methods. You can take time to plan and develop methods. But once that is done, success will follow. And I have always believed that only that team will dominate which learns from victory. Unfortunately our experts and apparently even our team management tend to simply celebrate victories and decry defeats. Sport is not that simplistic. So, if you want me to sing praises of our team every time they win, you are barking up the wrong tree. I am the kind who would praise the team even in defeat if it had done all the right things. Pressed all the right buttons. Used all the right strategies. Sport is one half strategy and the other half execution. You cant really look at which half is more important. Both are. Strategy though is more under your control. Execution - always - is variable. Even for the most skilled players. I hope this makes sense. Oh by the way, India does have a poor bowling attack. :)

[punjabi_khota]

Here's another fact to chew on: Since 2006 tour to Pakistan, we have managed to win at-least one test in every tour where ever we went (SA,WI,Eng,OZ,NZ,SL). That means, our bowlers have demonstrated the capability to take 20 wickets around the world, unlike most other teams. England failed to win any in WI and India, Aus returned home raped shitless from India in 2008, SL hasn't won a test out of SL in billion years. Only SA has such a record to match ours, but they haven't traveled to SL/Pak IIRC. Suck on that for a moment.

[kabira]

^that does not count. Whats the proof man that we will do it now :)

[thevortex]

^that does not count. Whats the proof man that we will do it now :)

Forget proof. Just get somebody to claim that they can repeat that feat now:)

[thevortex]

Here's another fact to chew on: Since 2006 tour to Pakistan, we have managed to win at-least one test in every tour where ever we went (SA,WI,Eng,OZ,NZ,SL). That means, our bowlers have demonstrated the capability to take 20 wickets around the world, unlike most other teams. England failed to win any in WI and India, Aus returned home raped shitless from India in 2008, SL hasn't won a test out of SL in billion years. Only SA has such a record to match ours, but they haven't traveled to SL/Pak IIRC. Suck on that for a moment.

I guess you did not read my post where I was talking about the here and now :)

[punjabi_khota]

I guess you did not read my post where I was talking about the here and now :)

:hysterical: That is an imaginary concept you would twist according to your needs, since apparently here and now doesn't include the last test we played and won. SL for all its 20-wicket-taking glory couldn't do that in 3 tests they played in India.

[thevortex]

:hysterical: That is an imaginary concept you would twist according to your needs, since apparently here and now doesn't include the last test we played and won. SL for all its 20-wicket-taking glory couldn't do that in 3 tests they played in India.

One swallow does not a summer make!

[kabira]

You keep telling India is number and then you say either SA, England or SL are number 1?? on basis of what?? Better Bowling attack?? How??

[thevortex]

You keep telling India is number and then you say either SA, England or SL are number 1?? on basis of what?? Better Bowling attack?? How??

Reading earlier posts would help, surely.

[ravishingravi]

Correction:- In my earlier post I had accidentally mentioned Johnson. I meant "Anderson" who looked like shot duck in last ashes. If it doesn't swing, then it is party time with him in attack.

[thevortex]

Correction:- In my earlier post I had accidentally mentioned Johnson. I meant "Anderson" who looked like shot duck in last ashes. If it doesn't swing' date=' then it is party time with him in attack.[/quote'] Incidentally, the sentence made sense with Johnson in there :). Perhaps even more so.

[ravishingravi]

Incidentally' date=' the sentence made sense with Johnson in there :). Perhaps even more so.[/quote'] Not really. Johnson has raw pace, angle and bouncer to go back to. He is not effective in English conditions