silentstriker
The Wheel is Forever
Saw this on cricinfo - are there other instances of a team being ranked the best in the world rolling in and getting demolished?
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.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
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.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
You must have been number 1 by 1977.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.
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.....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.
So just like the on going series then.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.
Cheeky BeggarOz in 32/33. 4-1 at home. Shocking.