Worst series by a team ranked #1 in history of cricket?
 

Saw this on cricinfo - are there other instances of a team being ranked the best in the world rolling in and getting demolished?

1958-59 Ashes the first thing that comes to mind.

69-70 Aus @ SA also as one sided as it gets. But Don't think AUS was seen as the best side at that time

India must have been pretty close to being number one when they came to England in 1974 and lost a three Test series 3-0

where is the article?

Oz in 32/33. 4-1 at home. Shocking. :ph34r:

If they had rankings, I think they might have been number one a couple years before that but I'm not sure if they still would have held on to that ranking in 1974.

Going by that rate, I'll have to wait until I'm 77 or so for the next one. It's possible.

Were Australia no.1 when they got trounced in England in 1977 just before WSC started?

I always thought we were number one after 75/76, but i could be wrong. That 1977 Ashes was abysmal stuff, from both teams really, neither side was on the job, but Australia's mindset was most definitely in another country. Greg Chappell's book is pretty damning of the team atmosphere on that tour.

They might well have been. They hadn't lost to England since the mid 1950's, and WI were very ordinary around 1970. Perceptive observers might have reckoned that SA were superior beforehand, but the ratings, had they existed, probably had Aus at number 1 prior to that series.

You must have been number 1 by 1977.

Bit harsh on England in 1977, fwiw. I thought they did a thoroughly professional job in that series - the bowling in particular was very good.

Must have been a crazy few months in England with the WSC stuff hitting the media, and Tony Greig being raped by the press. Didn't faze Boycott i guess.....

Worst since i started watching cricket in 84 but there are possibly other cases. Doubt any other number 1 ranked side looked as disinterested on a tour as India do though (apart from WSC Australia perhaps) as they have been very poor. No fight with the bat, little effort with the ball and a shambles in the field.

actually it is the lack of interest and lack of fight from India that riles up the viewers.....Dravid has shown that a little application goes a long way in improving performance

So just like the on going series then.