Nasser Hussain - egg on the face

[Precambrian]

Back in Nov'11 there came this gem of an article: Strauss's England team put the rest of the world to shame http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-2044858/Andrew-Strausss-England-team-rest-world-shame--Nasser-Hussain.html The one thing that always stands out with this England team is how ready they are, how well prepared they are for every big series. They just look fitter and stronger than every opponent they come across. It is a massive change. Not so long ago England players would turn up for a Test knackered from their county exertions but now they seem to be rested at the right time and are in perfect shape for the games that really matter. They look so trim, too, when you compare them, for instance, with many of the India players we saw this summer. There are seriously good batting talents in and around the England team but bowlers win you games and, at a time when the quality of fast bowling around the world is not what it was, England have a crop that other countries can only dream of fielding. Whether it is in Australia with the Kookaburra ball or against India at home on flat pitches with a Duke, the England bowlers have the necessary skills to make an impact. And the depth, too. When Steven Finn played in one-day internationals towards the end of the summer he was quick and hostile. So much so that the Indian commentators said to me, 'Where has he been?' Look at England in practice. They put the opposition to shame. They are full of intensity, which translates to success on the field. There is consistency and continuity to England's selections that previous generations can only envy. Once a player is regarded as a proper international then he is backed to the hilt. Look at Alastair Cook in 2010 and Stuart Broad this year. A few years ago they would have been banished after a run of poor form but the selectors stuck with them and they came good spectacularly. It is not a closed shop, either, as opportunities given to the next generation towards the end of the summer and in the tour party to India have shown. Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, James Taylor, Scott Borthwick, Stuart Meaker, Alex Hales and others are all gaining, and in most cases taking, their senior chances having come through the system. like the rotation policy, too. When a senior player is left out for any period they come back fresh and perhaps with a point to prove to keep the younger players at bay. Kevin Pietersen must perform in India while Jimmy Anderson will be raring to go when the team go to Dubai and Abu Dhabi to play Pakistan in January. The absolute key - 100 per cent - has been the Andy Flower-Andrew Strauss combination. They are solid and together in everything they do and, importantly, are very good guys. When they talk everyone listens and I have never known them say anything to make themselves look better. It is the way Mike Atherton was in my day. Totally unselfish. And players respond to that. Crucially, though, there is a lot more money around now. The players have everything they need. But it is one thing having money and another spending it well. The ECB have spent it on good people and the counties have bought into what England are doing. England want more success. And they will need Australia, India and South Africa, to name three, to improve and push them as hard as they can. We want to see good battles for the health of the game, but we still want England to come out on top. And it looks as though they will for some time yet. Since that 0-4 :cantstop::cantstop::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical: Way to go Nasser!!!

[NareshK]

Pride comes before a fall :two_thumbs_up:

[Old guy]

wasnt this like one of the best teams ever compareable to australia and west indies of 80':hysterical:? :hysterical: i remember that article

[asterix]

Baab Willis is time and again bringing India's No. 1 status and losing in England and Australia.. What these people conveniently forget that India held on the Top rank for 22 months..Not like this English team..

[rkt.india]

English cricket experts and ex-players are such big hypocrites. When England won series against India they were talking about how England are going to dominate world cricket for next 10 years according to Botham, and how they are the best team in the world who can beat any team anywhere and now as they are losing it is just a game after all for them and it was not just a game for them when they were insulting Indian team from every corner of the ground comparing them to dogs and donkeys, etc., the likes of Boycott, Vaughn, and Nasser.

[kabira]

when we had the ranking, we did not lose the single series, Did they already lose the number 1 ranking??

[achilles]

While we laugh at Nasser and Vaughan (they've had it coming, to be fair), how different is India from England? We both suck away from home. So until we improve our own performances abroad, I think we should be a bit restricted in our responses. Coz laughing at the English commies is not going to take 13-0 away.

[saneindian]

England now need to win the next test to somehow cling onto number 1. A 2-0 whitewash for SL will have Eng at 113 rating points and SA will become the new number 1.

[Blue-no1]

England now need to win the next test to somehow cling onto number 1. A 2-0 whitewash for SL will have Eng at 113 rating points and SA will become the new number 1.

Tatastu for a 2-0 Ravan wash

[ravishingravi]

:hysterical::hysterical: The idiot has been put in his place by his team.

[Cricket Tragic]

@ quoting a Daily Fail article. Love Nasser Hussain's commentary.

[Sooda]

we live in an age of pwn.

[BeautifulGame]

Thanks to England, I can now walk with my chin up: Botham LONDON: Former captain Ian Botham on Tuesday revealed he was always at the receiving end of banter from fellow commentators because of England's poor performance but with the hosts becoming the number one Test team, he can now feel very proud of being an English. "There were times when I would arrive at grounds all over the world to commentate and be given short shrift by my fellow pundits from rival countries. They would enjoy a bit of mickey-taking and old-fashioned banter because my team were being soundly beaten on a regular basis," Botham wrote in his column in 'Daily Mirror'. Ads by Google "Even though I hoped things would change, they did not for a long time. I'd have to leave grounds out of a back or side door to avoid abuse from the crowds -- both English and opposition -- as they vented their frustrations or laughed at another poor performance by our boys. "But that has all changed and for the first time since the rankings began we are ? officially the best Test team in the world," he added. One of the finest all-rounders of all time, Botham feels England's ascendancy to the number one status is about the home team's brilliance rather than India's listless performance. "England are No.1 for a reason, they have been magnificent now for more than two years and their success should run and run. They will never get bored - no one gets bored of winning," Botham said. "I don't want to hear how poor India have been or how world cricket is at a lower standard than ever before. Poppycock. "There was nothing poor about Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh chasing down 380-odd two-and-a-half years ago. Nor was there anything poor about Dale Steyn & Co giving it everything they had just over a year ago. "England have earned the right to be No.1 and they have done it by playing the best cricket. It is not about other's failings, it is about England's brilliance. And thanks to the best team in the world, I can walk in and out of grounds with my chin up and my chest out," he added. The 55-year-old English icon said England's reign at the top will last for at least a few years if not more as undoubtedly they are the best side in the world now. "I believe they have been on top for a while with the sort of cricket they played in Australia, and I don't need a table to tell me how good a team is in comparison to others, but now it is in black and white. "There is no more debate to be had - they are the best. The only question to be asked now is how long will they stay at the top. "I have no doubt that it will be for at least a few years, if not for the sort of time enjoyed by the great West Indies and Australian sides of their eras." :hysterical:

[ravishingravi]

:hysterical::hysterical:

[Precambrian]

Haha talk abt eras... they won't be at top for even a year

[ravishingravi]

Have to say I generally am pretty neutral when it comes to cricket teams esp. if India isn't playing. But boy, do I love to see ingerland getting hammered. Can't really pin point why that is the case.

[mishra]

Man... I think this Lankan side hasnt got spine to win next game. England will definitely win next game...

[Zelig]

:agree: Poms will level the series

[Pagalpanti]

Even if they lose the top spot hope they get it back against Saffers. Dethroning them at home would be epic to watch. :winky:

[Lord]

While we laugh at Nasser and Vaughan (they've had it coming, to be fair), how different is India from England? We both suck away from home. So until we improve our own performances abroad, I think we should be a bit restricted in our responses. Coz laughing at the English commies is not going to take 13-0 away.

8-0 tha bhai,13-0 kab se ho gya?:hmmm: