vamos_rafa Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 The surprise is not that India could lose their No. 1 Test ranking but rather how they managed to retain it so long. At the time when India reached the No. 1 spot they didn't have the look of a long-term resident. Unlike the two previous teams that held the top ranking for lengthy periods, India do not have a strong bowling attack. West Indies and Australia not only had four top-class bowlers in their sides, but also a couple of replacements who would have been frontline bowlers in most other Test teams. India have mostly only fielded three good Test bowlers. Zaheer Khan is undoubtedly the leader of the attack, and Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh have provided occasional glimpses of class, but both are inconsistent. Sreesanth, as he was at Trent Bridge, can be both devastating and disappointing on the same day. Despite an exceptionally strong batting line-up, India, because their attack has never been dominant, have always given the appearance of being a squatter rather than an owner. So how have India survived so long at No. 1? The attacking threat of Virender Sehwag has helped enormously. However, a large chunk of India's success can be put down to the shrewd manoeuvring of the captain MS Dhoni. Dhoni has managed to get the best out of his bowlers. When Zaheer has been out with injury, Dhoni has still found a way to mix and match well enough to beat the opposition. It has helped that Zaheer was available for the toughest challenges against Australia and South Africa. So it's no surprise that with him missing from most of the action at Lord's, India struggled against a strong England side. Lord's provided India with a double-whammy because Sehwag was also missing. The fact that Dhoni inserted the opposition at Lord's is an indication of how much Sehwag means to India. It was also probably the first sign that even the strong-minded Dhoni was starting to doubt India's bowling. He must have felt that India's underdone attack, especially Zaheer, who was returning from injury, would need all the help they could get, and consequently bowled first under cloudy skies. Any doubts a captain might have, no matter how hard he tries to disguise them, will show up somewhere in his actions. His own team will most likely suspect he has doubts, and the opposition, if they're any good, will be sure of it. England were quickly aware of Dhoni's doubts. After proceeding cautiously, they pounced when the time was right. A hungry cheetah couldn't have done a better job of plotting and executing the kill. In keeping India at the top for so long, Dhoni has well and truly fulfilled the most important role of a captain. He has made his team better and got the best out of the players. However, with Zaheer injured, Sehwag missing, Harbhajan waning and an ageing fielding side gifting runs, Dhoni is currently like the boy at the dyke; every time he plugs a leak another appears. He managed to plug another hole by giving his bowlers first opportunity on a favourable surface at Trent Bridge. However, the doubts crept in near the end of England's innings, and once again India are fighting to cling to their No. 1 ranking. Dhoni is nothing if not a fighter but the odds are mounting. In the field, his ageing side has bigger cracks than a slip zone; his own keeping has regressed enormously and his bowlers are susceptible to attack. England are aware of the bowlers' weaknesses, and will take every opportunity to exploit it. If Dhoni can keep this series level until the cavalry arrives, i.e. Sehwag and Zaheer, he will have performed a captaincy miracle. To date Dhoni's greatest achievement as Indian captain has been to guide the team to a magnificent World Cup victory. If his team is still at the top of the Test rankings after this series with England, he will have surpassed that monumental achievement. The oracle of cricket, budha chappel has spoken up now...
Roshanrocks Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 Thats because other teams couldnt overtake us. SImple common sense :dontknow:
Trichromatic Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 Tired of hearing the same **** over and over. What's wrong with this article? Please at least read it. The surprise is not that India could lose their No. 1 Test ranking but rather how they managed to retain it so long. Despite an exceptionally strong batting line-up, India, because their attack has never been dominant, have always given the appearance of being a squatter rather than an owner. So how have India survived so long at No. 1? The attacking threat of Virender Sehwag has helped enormously. However, a large chunk of India's success can be put down to the shrewd manoeuvring of the captain MS Dhoni. Dhoni has managed to get the best out of his bowlers. When Zaheer has been out with injury, Dhoni has still found a way to mix and match well enough to beat the opposition. It has helped that Zaheer was available for the toughest challenges against Australia and South Africa. So it's no surprise that with him missing from most of the action at Lord's, India struggled against a strong England side. He managed to plug another hole by giving his bowlers first opportunity on a favourable surface at Trent Bridge. Dhoni is nothing if not a fighter but the odds are mounting. In the field, his ageing side has bigger cracks than a slip zone; his own keeping has regressed enormously and his bowlers are susceptible to attack. To date Dhoni's greatest achievement as Indian captain has been to guide the team to a magnificent World Cup victory. If his team is still at the top of the Test rankings after this series with England, he will have surpassed that monumental achievement. It's a very good article and it doesn't question India's no 1 ranking for so long rather it tries to find out how India managed it.
pinkfreud Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 it doesn't question India's no 1 ranking for so long rather it tries to find out how India managed it. +1. I was just about to post this article today, but thanks for doing so. I can't stand the guy, but most of what he says in this write up rings true. He isn't questioning our #1 spot like the English commies do, so I don't think people should jump to conclusions just yet. He makes a very good point when he says this: To date Dhoni's greatest achievement as Indian captain has been to guide the team to a magnificent World Cup victory. If his team is still at the top of the Test rankings after this series with England, he will have surpassed that monumental achievement. Bang on. Going overseas without your main players is a huge deal. Would England have ever managed to put up a fight on our tracks without THEIR main game changers? Never. If we manage to even draw this series, it'll be a testament to the capabilities of Team India as a whole rather than a unit that depends all too much on certain players; that's something we have to prove. He said Australia and WI remained #1 for so long because of their quality bowlers, and he's not wrong. That actually makes our current position all the more exemplary, because we've reigned Test rankings despite not having a posse of deadly bowlers. If anything, that's a reflection of our potential to survive against the odds. We've pretty much challenged the partisan view that to be the best Test side, you have to shine in all departments. We're like a rough, uncut diamond rather than a polished one. That we're still fighting without Sehwag, Gambo, and Zak in itself is telling of us deserving that #1 spot. But of course, Englund doesn't see it that way.
Crookbond Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 +1. He said Australia and WI remained #1 for so long because of their quality bowlers, and he's not wrong. That actually makes our current position all the more exemplary, because we've reigned Test rankings despite not having a posse of deadly bowlers. If anything, that's a reflection of our potential to survive against the odds. We've pretty much challenged the partisan view that to be the best Test side, you have to shine in all departments. We're like a rough, uncut diamond rather than a polished one. That we're still fighting without Sehwag, Gambo, and Zak in itself is telling of us deserving that #1 spot. But of course, Englund doesn't see it that way. I find nothing wrong in Chappell's arguments and opinions. I think there's self-belief in this Indian side which keeps bouncing back. MS Dhoni definitely deserves credit but so do the number of other fringe players who have helped in the absence of the main players : Sreesanth, Pujara, Vijay, Mukund and without any disrespect Yuvraj & Raina. ENG-**** .... :hysterical:
Raghav_12 Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 I don't see anything wrong with this article. Indians have never looked like natural inhabitant of number position, the way Australians and WIndians did.
SachDan Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 It's a very good article and it doesn't question India's no 1 ranking for so long rather it tries to find out how India managed it. Yeah but I'm disappointed though, what ever Ian says/predicts exact opposite happens..(Sachin-mirror,Pwnting-greatest bat of his generation,Australia dominating world cricket for many years etc) Now that he's admiring Team India for staying at the top for this long, very soon we'll see India doing all the catching up to reach there again :((
NareshK Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 Yeah but I'm disappointed though, what ever Ian says/predicts exact opposite happens..(Sachin-mirror,Pwnting-greatest bat of his generation,Australia dominating world cricket for many years etc) Now that he's admiring Team India for staying at the top for this long, very soon we'll see India doing all the catching up to reach there again :(( That's inevitable. Sachin, Dravid, Laxman will retire very soon. Zak and Sehwag have their injury problems. Bhajji has not been himself for a while. Its going to be quite a challenge to stay at the top. Let's hope our "engsters" rise to the occasion.
Trichromatic Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 Yeah but I'm disappointed though, what ever Ian says/predicts exact opposite happens..(Sachin-mirror,Pwnting-greatest bat of his generation,Australia dominating world cricket for many years etc) Now that he's admiring Team India for staying at the top for this long, very soon we'll see India doing all the catching up to reach there again :(( To be honest this team should never worry about no 1 rank. The team is good, but without a brilliant bowling attack you can't expect us to maintain the position for a decade. Even if the rankings fluctuate and the team remains in top 3, fans should be happy. Playing best cricket and improving all the time should be the top priority.
Crookbond Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 To be honest this team should never worry about no 1 rank. The team is good, but without a brilliant bowling attack you can't expect us to maintain the position for a decade. Even if the rankings fluctuate and the team remains in top 3, fans should be happy. Playing best cricket and improving all the time should be the top priority. :agree:
Fontaine Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 I'll said it before, and I'll say it again: England without Anderson, with KP out for two tests, and one or two of their batsmen not 100% would struggle. Just like India have in the absence of Zaheer/Sehwag/Gambhir. It's a credit to not only Dhoni but the rest of the team and I have to say Fletcher in the way they've stepped up to that challenge. And in case anyone forgets, how did Australia do in England in the Ashes in 2006/2007 when McGrath was out injured? The same Australia that was supposed to be so dominant, was blown apart in the absence of just one bowler.
jairamesh Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 To date Dhoni's greatest achievement as Indian captain has been to guide the team to a magnificent World Cup victory. If his team is still at the top of the Test rankings after this series with England, he will have surpassed that monumental achievement. Really?!?, have India not beaten England in England already?, have they not lost a series against England for an eternity? Yes, losing this series might downgrade India's ranking, but winning in Australia or South Africa is what will be considered a monumental achievement. Anyways in my opinion winning this series will not surpass the World Cup 2011 (India's "Ashes 2005") and similarly for a vast majority Indian viewers due to different non-cricketing dynamics.
rkt.india Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 Really?!?, have India not beaten England in England already?, have they not lost a series against England for an eternity? Yes, losing this series might downgrade India's ranking, but winning in Australia or South Africa is what will be considered a monumental achievement. Anyways in my opinion winning this series will not surpass the World Cup 2011 (India's "Ashes 2005") and similarly for a vast majority Indian viewers due to different non-cricketing dynamics. He said securing no. 1 position after this series will be a monumental achievement. We do not have our 3 main players here. We secured our no. 1 position against SA because we had Sehwag, Gambhir, and Zak played at least 2 tests out of 3 there and that was some achievement for an Indian team as we dominated last 2 tests easily.
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