Who is the second best Test team?

[Scaly piscine]

Now that India have been comprehensively stuffed in two of their three Tests with Australia, who do you believe is the second best Test team in the World?

My view is if England beat South Africa in South Africa (which I think they will, fairly comfortably) then England will be undisputedly the second best Test team in the World.

 

[TendulkarFan]

What if the SA-England is a draw and SA beats India in India?

 

[Simon]

its probably not all that important who is second. theres no awards for it, plus every team who seems to be rated "2nd best" has suffered a slump. South Africa are not what they were a couple of years ago, India now appear to have slumped after being rated 2nd. At this stage its probably England, but to me it doesnt really matter who second is...

 

[KennyD]

...because 2nd is still miles away from Australia. right Broncoman?

 

[Slow Love™]

My view is if England beat South Africa in South Africa (which I think they will, fairly comfortably) then England will be undisputedly the second best Test team in the World.

Providing that happens, then yeah, I think it's reasonably undisputed.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Until the Ashes series second is the best England can achieve - so it is worth something, wouldn't be much hope if England were below India when the Ashes series comes along...

 

[Neil Pickup]

What if the SA-England is a draw and SA beats India in India?

That's about as likely as my working for Zanu-PF as Information Minister.

 

[Jono]

On recent form England come to mind, but there is no definite answer. As someone has recently said, being labelled '2nd best' hasn't done any teams a favour recently either.

 

[Simon]

...because 2nd is still miles away from Australia. right Broncoman?

no, its because teams dont play to come 2nd, they play to win, the only sport where its really important to know who is second best is boxing, cause that means they are next in line for a title fight!
Im sure England, India and so on really couldnt see a difference being 2nd or 5th, they are all aiming to knock the aussies off and you dont need to be 2nd to do that....

 

[bugssy]

no, its because teams dont play to come 2nd, they play to win, the only sport where its really important to know who is second best is boxing, cause that means they are next in line for a title fight!
Im sure England, India and so on really couldnt see a difference being 2nd or 5th, they are all aiming to knock the aussies off and you dont need to be 2nd to do that....

no you dont need to be 2nd to knock of the aussies but you need to have a bloody good ricket side with great team management!

 

[Simon]

no you dont need to be 2nd to knock of the aussies but you need to have a bloody good ricket side with great team management!

or a couple of lucky days....

 

[Neil Pickup]

Or more accurately, to play them without Warne and McGrath.

 

[Simon]

Or more accurately, to play them without Warne and McGrath.

i believe we tried that, and india (the so called 2nd best side) could only manage a drawn series...

 

[Neil Pickup]

i believe we tried that, and india (the so called 2nd best side) could only manage a drawn series...

Also the matter of the Fifth Test against England.

 

[Scaly piscine]

How come you only drew a 3 Test series against NZ in your own back yard then?

 

[Simon]

How come you only drew a 3 Test series against NZ in your own back yard then?

r we still talking about aus? if so, is going back that many summers still relevant?

 

[Scaly piscine]

r we still talking about aus? if so, is going back that many summers still relevant?

yes and yes

 

[Simon]

yes and yes

well seeing as though u brought it up, rain killed us that series, Brisbne and Hobart we had them before the rain and Perth was just one of those games, Kiwis played good cricket and just batted on and on, really they were playing for the draw....

 

[Arjun]

Who cares who's the second best side if they are not up to the standards set by the best side?

Teams should not play for second-best, but only the best.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Who cares who's the second best side if they are not up to the standards set by the best side?

Teams should not play for second-best, but only the best.

The second-best side can still beat the best side, especially at home.