Who will be the next side to win a test series against the top 4?

[WindieWeathers]

Just reflecting on the heavy defeats NZ, Bangladesh and Pakistan have taken recently in their respective test matches and it's made me wonder who will be the next side out of the so called "second tier" to actually win a test series against the top four? looking at the records it looks like the last team to do it was my beloved West Indies against England around a year ago, Sri Lanka last did it against India in 08, Pakistan last did it in 06 vs India, while NZ did it all the way back in 2002 against India too, so needless to say recent history doesn't offer many teams much hope.

So who out of West Indies, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Bangladesh are likely to make the breakthrough? without sounding biased i'd probably lean towards WI because of the talent we've currently got in the side and coming through the ranks, and once Gibson is fully settled into the job i think we'll be buzzing, especially at home, Sri Lanka are more than capable of doing it themselves though.


P.S: mods you're more than welcome to make this a poll if you have the time.

[Xuhaib]

SL is my guess infact they will beat England comfortably at home.If Pak is getting home games then they are a good shout but thats unlikely to happen soon.WI and NZL not a chance.

[Zinzan]

Originally Posted by Xuhaib

SL is my guess infact they will beat England comfortably at home.If Pak is getting home games then they are a good shout but thats unlikely to happen soon.WI and NZL not a chance.

Yup, SL pretty easily when you consider they're likely to be favorites going into that home series against England.

You just never know with Pakistan, they're such an enigma.

Sadly both NZ & the WI's would be at very long-odds

[Burgey]

One day India might win a series in Australia




*Runs, hides....

[WindieWeathers]

The last top four side we had at home (England) we won, and one could argue that our situation is much more brighter now (with a new coach and new talented players emerging) than it was back then, Sri Lanka were soundly beaten in their last tests against India, we may have lost too but at least we put up one hell of a fight against Australia with a depleted team.

[Zinzan]

Originally Posted by Burgey

One day India might win a series in Australia




*Runs, hides....

Haha...now that's something poor old NZ & WI can both claim

[WindieWeathers]

Originally Posted by zinzan12

Haha...now that's something poor old NZ & WI can both claim

What's with the "poor" line? you'd think WI was at the bottom of the barrel!!

[Zinzan]

Incidentally, SL vs. Eng in SL could be a cracker & not quite the 'slam-dunk' I first made out considering how well Swann's bowling. Would still have SL as marginal favorites going into that series though.

Not sure who NZ, Pak or the WI's are playing in the next 12 mths or so

[NUFAN]

Pretty hard to look past Sri Lanka, I give them a great chance of beating any of the other teams at home.

[Zinzan]

Originally Posted by WindieWeathers

What's with the "poor" line? you'd think WI was at the bottom of the barrel!!

Haha....so clearly looking for a scrap

[Xuhaib]

Originally Posted by NUFAN

Pretty hard to look past Sri Lanka, I give them a great chance of beating any of the other teams at home.

however once Murali finishes and if Mendis is unable to recover they can look quite ordinary.

[Zinzan]

Originally Posted by Xuhaib

however once Murali finishes and if Mendis is unable to recover they can look quite ordinary.

Certainly a POV

[WindieWeathers]

Originally Posted by zinzan12

Haha....so clearly looking for a scrap

Nope i'm on a break from "scraps" right now!! , i just felt that that line was a little patronising, we're still a giant in this game imo and i happen to think we're on our way back, we'll be playing South Africa at home in June so i guess we'll see how right you are!!, i think we might shock one or two people .

Btw when are Sri Lanka playing England? in 2011?!!

[WindieWeathers]

Originally Posted by NUFAN

Pretty hard to look past Sri Lanka, I give them a great chance of beating any of the other teams at home.

Even with Murali bowing out soon and Mendis off form? i'm not sure myself, i think India wouldn't do too badly.

[Zinzan]

Originally Posted by WindieWeathers

Nope i'm on a break from "scraps" right now!! , i just felt that that line was a little patronising, we're still a giant in this game imo and i happen to think we're on our way back, we'll be playing South Africa at home in June so i guess we'll see how right you are!!, i think we might shock one or two people .

Don't think it's so much patronising as it is true if you look where the 2 teams sit in the current test rankings ...a long long way off the pace.....


ICC Test Championship

24 Mar 2010 Team Matches Points Rating
India 38 4719 124
South Africa 38 4572 120
Australia 39 4586 118
Sri Lanka 31 3574 115
England 47 5063 108
New Zealand 29 2337 81
Pakistan 25 2008 80
West Indies 29 2224 77
Bangladesh 25 270 11

In fact in reflection, it's interesting to see SL comfortably ahead of England in 4th place which kind of discredits your initial post doesn't it? But you don't stop there, you then go on to lump SL in with NZ, Pak & WI who are all miles off the pace in 6th, 7th & 8th place respectively. I know the rankings don't always 'tell-all' , but it's usually reasonably indicative.