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So who is number 1 right now? (Feb 2010)

Which is your number 1 Test team in world cricket right now


  • Total voters
    44
  • Poll closed .

Zinzan

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South Africa has narrowed the gap but it's still India by a small margin. Ultimately though I agree with Richard that there hasn't been a clear no.1 since the 2006 Ashes. South Africa were two wickets away from thrashing England 3-1 in which case they would have been no.1 IMO and I am guessing in the rankings too.
Indeed. There's actually been a few really tight finishes in the last couple years where slightly difference results in one or more of them would've resulted in different rankings today. . I refer to;

IND/SA 2nd test in 2010 (SA lose 10th wicket 1.3 overs left)
SA/ENG 1st test in SA 09/10 (draw Eng 9 down)
SA/ENG 3rd test in SA 09/10 (draw Eng 9 down)
AUS/ENG 1st test in ENG 09 (draw Eng 9 down)

Whilst there's a lot of 'ifs & buts' here, it does illustrate how fickle these rankings can be when 3-4 teams are reasonably close.
 
Last edited:

Sir Alex

Banned
Indeed. There's actually been a few really tight finishes in the last couple years where slightly difference results in one or more of them would've resulted in different rankings today. . I refer to;

IND/SA 2nd test in 2010 (SA lose 10th wicket 1.3 overs left)
SA/ENG 1st test in SA 09/10 (draw Eng 9 down)
SA/ENG 3rd test in SA 09/10 (draw Eng 9 down)
AUS/ENG 1st test in ENG 09 (draw Eng 9 down)

Whilst there's a lot of 'ifs & buts' here, it does illustrate how fickle these rankings can be when 3-4 teams are reasonably close.
Add to that Ind vs Chennai also. The one which might have prevented Aus from winning in India and hence maintain India's record of being invincible at home since 1998 (?)
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
It was 1999/2000 TBH but although that Test almost certainly should've been an Indian win it's difficult to say for certain that the series would've been a two-two draw had justice prevailed and the last day at Chepauk been played. The last game at Wankhede Stadium would've taken-on a rather different air had Australia been chasing 110 or whatever it was for a series victory rather than for a mere pride-enhancing dead-rubber victory. Not to say they definately wouldn't have collapsed with victory in sight, just that it might've been less likely.

Also it's less recent than the other Tests our friend zinzan12 mentioned. It was during the time that Australia were, essentially, still the top team by a distance.
 

Cevno

Hall of Fame Member
it was 1999/2000 tbh but although that test almost certainly should've been an indian win it's difficult to say for certain that the series would've been a two-two draw had justice prevailed and the last day at chepauk been played. The last game at wankhede stadium would've taken-on a rather different air had australia been chasing 110 or whatever it was for a series victory rather than for a mere pride-enhancing dead-rubber victory. Not to say they definately wouldn't have collapsed with victory in sight, just that it might've been less likely.

Also it's less recent than the other tests our friend zinzan12 mentioned. It was during the time that australia were, essentially, still the top team by a distance.
2002/03 i think.
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
It was 1999/2000 that India previously lost a home Test series - they didn't lose one in 2002/03.
 
It isn't like India have been completely rubbish in Australia and SA. In the 2003/2004 tour to Australia, India managed a very respectable 1-1 draw and got the better of the last test in Sydney.In the 07/08 tour, India lost 2-1 which isn't bad at all.In fact had Bucknor not messed up so badly in the Sydney test, India would have probably won or at least drawn that test and thereby the series as well. India's last tour to SA wasn't horrible.They lost 2-1 after winning the first test, and that on a green pitch mind, supposedly India's nemesis.

Australia also did not win a series in India until 2004.If in 2003, someone had claimed Australia weren't the best side because they lack a series win in India, they would have been laughed at or worse, slapped.

If India are winning at home, it means the other team isn't winning away.It's amazing how people whether deliberately or not keep ignoring that. Australia have lost series AWAY to India and England and to SA at home. They have beaten 7th and 8th ranked Pak and WI sides at home and people claim they are the best side? SA couldn't beat England at home, lost to Australia at home, drew against India away, have lost 5/10 tests and they are the best team? Get real.
 

Xuhaib

International Coach
love how every thread has to have an indian-pakistani spice thrown in to it and Mr Sanz is always there.
 

Xuhaib

International Coach
interms of overall team balance Indian has to be #1.Aus seems to have the most potential for a long term # 1 slot Sa have a lot of holes from what I see.
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
India's last tour to SA wasn't horrible.They lost 2-1 after winning the first test, and that on a green pitch mind, supposedly India's nemesis.
Ultimate irony being that India completely outplayed South Africa on the uneven green wicket and South Africa later completely outplayed India on the slow turner.
Australia also did not win a series in India until 2004.
Well, they did win one in 1969/70, but the captain in that series (Bill Lawry) had been commentating for about 25 years by the time of the 2004/05 victory.
 
Ultimate irony being that India completely outplayed South Africa on the uneven green wicket and South Africa later completely outplayed India on the slow turner.

Well, they did win one in 1969/70, but the captain in that series (Bill Lawry) had been commentating for about 25 years by the time of the 2004/05 victory.
My mistake
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Avada Kedavra, please keep your posts to English only. I'll be deleting any posts you make in another language.
 

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