England’s demolition job on India at Lord’s this week has proven one thing: they are the best side in world cricket right now.
Zaheer Khan - India's most important player will be missed in their attempts to remain as the world's number one ranked side
The official position as world number one still belongs to India courtesy of the ICC rankings. Accumulated over a period of years India probably deserve their ranking. Led by MS Dhoni, they have beaten pretty much everyone in their path.
But right now, it is difficult to argue that any side is better than England. The captain/coach combination of Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower has led England to once scarcely imaginable heights over the past two years.
Following a humiliating series defeat in the Caribbean at the start of 2009, including that Test at Kingston, Jamaica, England haven’t looked back. The Ashes were won back later that year, a fiercely fought series was drawn in South Africa, Pakistan were surpassed in an acrimonious series last year and, the pinnacle of the regime thus far, the Ashes were defended in resounding fashion in Australia.
Where the talented England side of 2005 broke up due to injury and loss of form, this England side have pushed on. The class of 2005 also appeared to revel in the glory of breaking a miserable 18 year cycle of Ashes defeats, believing their own hype and thinking that they’d made it.
Andy Flower has set sights a bit higher this time around. He has been helped in his vision of making England the number one ranked side in the world immeasurably by Strauss. His captain was there in 2005 and also in the failings that followed. If anyone knows what went wrong with England then, it is Strauss.
If England win this current series with India by two clear Tests they will surpass their visitors in the ICC rankings. After the showing at Lord’s, it would be brave to bet against that happening. India were hugely underprepared and were also dealt a couple of difficult hands in the form of injury to Zaheer Khan on day one, a virus picked up by Sachin Tendulkar and a knock to Gautam Gambhir’s elbow. Virender Sehwag also sits on the sidelines recovering from shoulder surgery.
Whilst Tendulkar and Sehwag are clearly world beaters, it is the loss of Khan that will be most keenly felt by the Indians. His bowling prevents them from having an ordinary attack. Whilst Ishant Sharma can trouble anyone on his day, as he did on Sunday (speak to Ricky Ponting for a further reference), he is still young and inconsistent. Praveen Kumar is just starting out in Test cricket and Harbhajan Singh looks out of sorts.
Contrast that with a rampant James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Chris Tremlett, supported by the best spinner in world cricket right now in the form of Graeme Swann, and there is no contest. Remove Tendulkar, Gambhir and Sehwag from India’s batting and they slip further behind their opponents.
The signs are very good for England and an era of dominance beckons them. There is incredible strength in depth and a wealth of young talent coming through. Any injuries are only bad news for the players sustaining them; those coming in are proving hard to oust. Just ask Tremlett.
All that remains for England is to manoeuvre themselves into the number one spot and then keep a firm grip on it. They have a golden chance in this series.
By Miles Reucroft
TweetLike this article? Please like The Cricket Blog on Facebook:
In Current ICC Test ranking England is number 1. Indian cricket Teams are always betting depend side. If there batsman does will then there side can do will. So it will never be same. Because always your batsman can’t do will. Cricket is not side game, you have to play with your all side. So I thinks Indian cricket team have to search new bowler with good balling skill.
England Team is a great team, but there luck never comes at a time. In recent period they are coming back with their own power.