India's No. 1 Test ranking at stake: De Villiers

[Nova]

JOHANNESBURG: The mind games have started ahead of the India-South Africa Test series with Proteas star batsman AB de Villiers saying that there would be a question mark on the visitors' number one ranking if they falter in the three-match series starting December 16. "There's been this feeling and stats show it, that their batters score bigger and they generally perform better at home - which is normal. This will be a big test for them. There's always been the label that they struggle in South Africa," De Villiers told 'The Independent'. "If they don't have success here, there'll definitely be a question mark about their No 1 ranking," he said. De Villiers said he admires Sachin Tendulkar in the Indian team but hoped that the veteran right-hander does not strike form in the three-Test series starting in Centurion. "Sachin is a legend of the game and I'll always look up to him and it's great that he is here. It might be his last series in South Africa, so you've got to enjoy having the man around, but I'm hoping he doesn't score too many hundreds." The 26-year-old De Villiers has 4540 runs in 63 Tests at an average of over 47 and has been a mainstay of South Africa's batting line-up. Talking about his team's chances in the upcoming series De Villiers said the visitors would gain from having South Afircan Gary Kirsten as coach but the hosts have the quality bowlers to contain their much-vaunted batting line-up. "He (Kirsten) has got a lot of knowledge of conditions here. They'll have all the necessary information. They are a class team and they gave us a run for our money the last time they were here." "I back our seam bowlers. Dale (Steyn) and Morne (Morkel) will be big danger men. We are playing at home we should know the conditions." The holder of the highest Test score by a South African batsman (278), De Villiers said he couldn't have asked for better professionally. "I'd be a loser if I said I was happy with my career right now - I'd like to achieve a lot more. I have my goals now and I just want to go out there and win games for the team." De Villiers said having captain Graeme Smith's backing has also worked wonders for him. "I'm the type of guy that needs a boost every now and then from the coaching staff and the captain. Graeme Smith's always been there for me, backed me 100 percent, even during the bad times," he said. De Villiers has so far scored two double hundreds in his Test career and he considers the 2008 knock of 217 against India as the one which turned it around for him. "That's where the belief started, that I could go bigger than 120 or 140. The average comes with those big scores, the not outs, the double hundreds and makes everything look a lot better. I pride myself on good performances when the team is down, and that's where it started for me," he said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournaments/india-in-south-africa/interviews/Indias-No-1-Test-ranking-at-stake-De-Villiers/articleshow/7087397.cms It's gonna be fun.

[gult]

"There's been this feeling and stats show it, that their batters score bigger and they generally perform better at home - which is normal." Biggest piece of crap. Our top batsmen have almost equal averages away and home. ABDV is just playing mind games.

[Sachinism]

Hahaha Win, Lose or Draw there'll be people there to question our ranking

[saneindian]

I hope someone from the Indian camp retorts back saying at least we win at home. Look at SA . They have not won a home series for 2 years now :--D

[Roshanrocks]

the first test is the key...hope we donot repeat our tradition of losing the first test and playing catch up

[jf1gp_1]

SA has won/drawn test series both in India and Aus they should feel confident about themselves. Both SA and ENg have good test sides and its refreshing that we have 3 teams fighting for the top slot rather than No 2

[gsivak]

In a way what he is saying is true. There are enough people unhappy with India being ranked number 1. If we loose to SA, they will jump up and down and talk about how crap we are playing away. It is necessary to win or at least draw the series to save our self from such talk.

[Guest Hiten.]

Jesus Christ! There is always someone who wakes up to question India's test ranking irrespective of the time we've been there at the top now. One ****ing year is not good enough for India to claim that they are currently better than anyone in test circuit ?

[Serani]

ohhh emmm geee AB is being such an anti indian troll! incredible...

[Guest Hiten.]

ohhh emmm geee AB is being such an anti indian troll! incredible...

umm, Eng beat BD and Pak @ home and they're suddenly contenders for #1 ranking.

[graphic23]

umm' date=' Eng beat BD and Pak @ home and they're suddenly contenders for #1 ranking.[/quote'] Completely forgetting that India remain the only team to have beaten them at home this decade.

[maniac]

Completely forgetting that India remain the only team to have beaten them at home this decade.

:two_thumbs_up::two_thumbs_up::two_thumbs_up:

[vamos_rafa]

Completely forgetting that India remain the only team to have beaten them at home this decade.

No guys you are getting it all wrong. England have beaten a once world #1 side at home which is equivalent to winning the WC. They surely have a contention for being #1. I wonder if anyone would question the legitimacy of the ratings when England become #1.

[Nirvanam]

I hope someone from the Indian camp retorts back saying at least we win at home. Look at SA . They have not won a home series for 2 years now :--D

LOL! really?

[punjabi_khota]

I think some of the major SA batsmen too have higher averages away from SA (ABD ,Smith IIRC). If the home-grown batsmen succeed more outside SA than in SA, it is obvious the other batsmen will score lower in SA too.

[ravishingravi]

I don't know why we should be insecure about this ranking unless we feel it is not deserved. India should beat SA, period.

[Sachinism]

I don't know why we should be insecure about this ranking unless we feel it is not deserved. India should beat SA' date=' period.[/quote'] I don't think Indians are insecure about it. Just fed up with idiots questioning the ranking without anything to support their silly doubting

[thongale]

Completely forgetting that India remain the only team to have beaten them at home this decade.

I think SL did beat the ass out of them in 2005.

[ravishingravi]

I think SL did beat the ass out of them in 2005.

Seems like Mendes and SL are still feeding off that series

[punjabi_khota]

I think SL did beat the ass out of them in 2005.

He means at England's home :wall: ...almost everyone beats them when Eng play away.