Can England reach the number one ranking in Tests?

[MenInG]

Joe Root as quotes by Sky Sports:

.
"I've been really impressed by the group, to be honest. I think that we're learning all of the time and we've got a great attitude about how we go about things.

"I think we're really clear about where we are trying to get to, with simple messages. It's quite a self-explanatory way of playing the game that we've got and we've got some very strong characters that want to fill those roles and go out and play in that manner.

"That's the really exciting thing that as a group of players all building towards something. It's a realistic group as well; we know we're not the finished article, we know we've got challenges and hurdles to overcome, and things we need to get better at if we are to become that number one team in the world.

"But the mindset that we have and the work ethic that we have gives us the best opportunity of getting there and I can certainly see this group of players going on to do that."

==

"I know that we're third currently(in WTC), and I think it's important to keep pushing our case within it," he said. "The best way of doing that is looking after each series we play. I believe we could go to second if we win this game, which is very exciting and credit to the guys; if you look at our improvement and the way we've played since that second Test match in New Zealand onwards, we've made huge strides as a team. It puts us in a great position. We don't know necessarily when our next games are but, whenever they are, we've got a great opportunity to really kick on and put pressure on those teams around us."

 

[Mamoon]

I think they all have the qualities.

I would make one change though - Buttler taking over as captain. It will help both Root and Buttler.

Won’t happen though.

 

[Kenpachi]

They certainly have the capacity to.

However, Broad was considering retirement earlier this year. Once Broad and Anderson do eventually retire they will have some issues in the bowling department.

Until then they are certainly one of the sides to beat in the longer form of the game.

 

[Manunited18]

Can't see it, both Anderson and broad could retire any time, the lack of real quality quicks knocking on the door is worrying, no real spinner of note, top order is very vulnerable, the main obstacles both India and specially Australia are far stronger in most departments.

 

[Mesozoic]

For that they have to absolutely dominate at home like India and Australia do (and to some extent even New Zealand) Can't just keep on dropping one odd game every series.

This series will be the first time they'll not be dropping a test at home since 2016.

 

[Manunited18]

For me England new zealand and pakistan are on par

 

[Bhaijaan]

No.

This clearly isn't the golden generation of English test cricket. Let us not get carried away by unconvincing wins against mediocre and downright minnow level test teams like West Indies and Pakistan.

Truer tests await in Ashes, against India for this English team.

 

[Bhaijaan]

For me England new zealand and pakistan are on par

NZ is ahead. This is a great generation kiwi cricket. They are definitely among top 3 in every format right now.

 

[Manunited18]

No.

This clearly isn't the golden generation of English test cricket. Let us not get carried away by unconvincing wins against mediocre and downright minnow level test teams like West Indies and Pakistan.

Truer tests await in Ashes, against India for this English team.

I do agree both India and Australia are far stronger, to be honest being a England fan this ain't even a strong side, far to many gaping holes

Regarding your points on pakistan and Windies please bare in mind that pakistan have not played any competitive cricket for 6 months prior to this series

 

[Bhaijaan]

I do agree both India and Australia are far stronger, to be honest being a England fan this ain't even a strong side, far to many gaping holes

Regarding your points on pakistan and Windies please bare in mind that pakistan have not played any competitive cricket for 6 months prior to this series

Pakistan is the greatest touring nation to England ever but overall they are a very mediocre test team right now and that's because they find themselves in a transition phase much like India in 2011-15 period.

England shelled a test to West Indies and almost were on the verge of defeat against Pakistan in 1st test. These are not signs of teams that are #1 material..#1 ranked teams squeeze the juices out of mediocre teams (actually all) teams at home.

 

[MMHS]

Tough - Aussies have a much younger team and already ahead. Replacing players like Jimmy, Barbie isn’t easy.

Also, India will always be far ahead of any team at home and they play lots of home games, whoever is captain or playing, they’ll win lot of those games. Only team that could have stopped India at home is past days Pakistan, but they don’t play each other’s these days - UNFORTUNATELY, FOR INDIA.

England will remain at three for few years comfortably until next batch of SAF passes them. I think, before England, SAF has a better chance to reach there.

 

[Firebat]

Their top 6 is slowly becoming more solid, and with continued experience then Sibley, Burns, Crawley, Root, Stokes, Pope, Buttler can be one of the best batting lineups in the world.

However, the far bigger issue is the future of their bowling attack. Anderson soon to retire, Broad perhaps with a few more years, Archer stalling and no other talented fast bowlers coming through. Not to mention the lack of a high class spinner in the entire country.

 

[Hasan123]

Still think Australia are ahead of them. Crawley,Pope,and Sibley are very exciting players.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Lol cluless posters putting NZ, England and Pakistan on par with each other

 

[Bhaijaan]

Australia
New Zealand/India

Reckon that's Top 3 right now on form.

After that England probably at #4 followed by South Africa at #5


West Indies, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka make up the rest..Don't know who stands where.

 

[Robert]

Who cares? It’s meaningless. India are supposedly #1, yet got flattened on their last trip here.

 

[MMHS]

Lol cluless posters putting NZ, England and Pakistan on par with each other

Have patience - NZL series is coming shortly ........... Kiwis have returned 1-1 & 2-1 from for a note.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Who cares? It’s meaningless. India are supposedly #1, yet got flattened on their last trip here.

India are no longer #1 FYI. Last time England were no.1 they got flattened in UAE and lost comfortably to the Saffers at home.

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

If my beloved India tour next here for 5 match series England will become no.1 without any doubt.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

If my beloved India tour next here for 5 match series England will become no.1 without any doubt.

Your beloved India toured England in 2018, lost 4-1 and still continued to be #1 until early this year whereas for certain other teams with the phastesht bowlers in the world are vying for #6 and #7

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

Your beloved India toured England in 2018, lost 4-1 and still continued to be #1 until early this year whereas for certain other teams with the phastesht bowlers in the world are vying for #6 and #7

Yeah the true no. 1 team is doing wonders in SENA countries since time immemorial but most recently they have won 5 matches out of 35.Great achievement.I m very envious of this prestigious record.Keep it coming my beloved india. I absolutely enjoy watching India whitewashing teams on their turf

 

[Ab Fan]

It's between India and Australia.

If England want to be no.1 then beat India in India and they will get to play Australia in the Test Championship finals. Simple as it can be.

Sorry, no flukes in test cricket.

 

[Robert]

India are no longer #1 FYI. Last time England were no.1 they got flattened in UAE and lost comfortably to the Saffers at home.

And some developed mental health issues. Thank you for proving my point.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

And some developed mental health issues. Thank you for proving my point.

Who developed mental health issues?

 

[tyron_woodley]

Who cares? It’s meaningless. India are supposedly #1, yet got flattened on their last trip here.

don't worry you have to come to india soon anyway.

India earned the number 1. Every other team either drew or lost at home. India never lost a series at home. Actually india lost 1 test in 30 games at home. That's dominance.

 

[Robert]

Who developed mental health issues?

Poor Trott and Monty, and I think several others weren’t feeling strong in themselves.

 

[QalandarFan]

Nope Australia are the best team in Test’s currently. England are a whole 11 rating points behind them, so I don’t see England catching up honestly. Plus away from home England is not the same side they would get obliterated in Australia like they did last time the Ashes was held there.

 

[Tridibans_16]

Yeah the true no. 1 team is doing wonders in SENA countries since time immemorial but most recently they have won 5 matches out of 35.Great achievement.I m very envious of this prestigious record.Keep it coming my beloved india. I absolutely enjoy watching India whitewashing teams on their turf

Rich coming from you whose team lost 14 tests on the trott down under. Except England, Pakistan lost all tests played everywhere in SENA since 2013 SA tour. Its like 0 wins and 13 losses.

India is poor no doubt. But atleast we win here and there and actually won in Australia in 2018 (albeit an Aussie side without Smith and Warner).

 

[Tridibans_16]

This England team in its current form can never be a no.1 unless they win in Asia. They have always been a poor traveller to the subcontinent except that 2012 tour of India.

Australia has better chances to be at the top in the next decade.

 

[Tridibans_16]

Poor Trott and Monty, and I think several others weren’t feeling strong in themselves.

What are your views about Crawley? When Stokes comes back, who will he replace? Considering Crawley just cemented his place for atleast the next 1 year, it should either be Burns or Sibley.

But I think most likely is Ollie Pope will lose out his spot which will not be proper justice to the youngster.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Poor Trott and Monty, and I think several others weren’t feeling strong in themselves.

Trott's issues cropped up around 18 months after England had lost the #1 ranking. I can't see the correlation, to be honest. There's a larger issue of English players playing too much test cricket over a short period of time though

 

[Abdullah719]

Stick to the topic and post properly.

 

[Titan24]

If Crawley and Pope can keep their game up while Anderson and Broad can give couple more years then yes. Archer’s development in test will also be really important.

Post Anderson and Broad Eng will definitely have to adjust as they will have a sudden setback but, if it happens after couple of years they can become number 1 in between that time if they keep on going like this.

 

[viveks]

It's difficult to say. The formula to climb the rankings is to be dominant at home and be competitive away, atleast most of the time. England's problem, compared to Aus and Ind is that they are not so dominant at home. England will certainly win most of their series, but they struggle to win by big margins. On the other hand, Aus and Ind try to go for whitewashes(In Aus case they struggle sometimes when SA visit)

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

It's difficult to say. The formula to climb the rankings is to be dominant at home and be competitive away, atleast most of the time. England's problem, compared to Aus and Ind is that they are not so dominant at home. England will certainly win most of their series, but they struggle to win by big margins. On the other hand, Aus and Ind try to go for whitewashes(In Aus case they struggle sometimes when SA visit)

That's because for Aus and South Africa the conditions are almost same. India on the other hand plays most of its home series against SENA teams. If we start inviting teams like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and especially Pakistan more we will also struggle to whitewash them.

 

[tyron_woodley]

That's because for Aus and South Africa the conditions are almost same. India on the other hand plays most of its home series against SENA teams. If we start inviting teams like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and especially Pakistan more we will also struggle to whitewash them.

we would whitewash all 3 of them back to back with no rest.

Sri Lanka won a test match in india when?
Bangladesh? lol ok
pakistam can give us trouble but they would be lucky to draw a test against the behemoth all time home bullies of all time I.e kohli india.

 

[viveks]

That's because for Aus and South Africa the conditions are almost same. India on the other hand plays most of its home series against SENA teams. If we start inviting teams like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and especially Pakistan more we will also struggle to whitewash them.

They whitewashed Bangladesh in November and beat whitewashed SL in SL as well IIRC. Against Pakistan, I don't know, but it would be closer for sure. Pak's batting will be the main issue

 

[King_Kohli]

we would whitewash all 3 of them back to back with no rest.

Sri Lanka won a test match in india when?
Bangladesh? lol ok
pakistam can give us trouble but they would be lucky to draw a test against the behemoth all time home bullies of all time I.e kohli india.

Since Virat Kohli makes his international debut against SL in an ODI in Dambulla.
SL haven't won a bilateral series against India since.

Test series 5
IND won 4
Draw 1

ODI series 7
IND won 7

T20I series 7
IND won 6
Draw 1

Overall 19
IND won 17
SL won Duck

 

[viveks]

They whitewashed Bangladesh in November and beat whitewashed SL in SL as well IIRC. Against Pakistan, I don't know, but it would be closer for sure. Pak's batting will be the main issue

To add to this I reckon that among the current teams Australia would be the most difficult for India at home. Purely because of Smith and Lyon combined with good pace attack

 

[tyron_woodley]

To add to this I reckon that among the current teams Australia would be the most difficult for India at home. Purely because of Smith and Lyon combined with good pace attack

not a chance. They prepared well with an even better side in 2016 and played pakistan prior to touring india for practice and still lost. Good bowling attack? I am sorry but none of their bowlers fared well in Indian conditions. Indian bowlers are way ahead in Asian conditions.

They aren't coming close to making it competitive in india. India is the behemoth of Asia. It's like a deer walking into a lion's den. Virat's india is just far too good at home.

 

[aloo paratha]

Nope. They're only good at home. They're at our level, win at home, get pummeled away.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

That's because for Aus and South Africa the conditions are almost same. India on the other hand plays most of its home series against SENA teams. If we start inviting teams like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and especially Pakistan more we will also struggle to whitewash them.

We whitewashed Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka.

 

[Ab Fan]

We whitewashed Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka.

And have won mostly everything in Windies also while England lost to Windies last time in Windies.

 

[Abdullah719]

England have the right mix to be world’s best Test side, says Root

England’s hard-earned Test series wins over the summer with a blend of youth and experience show the side’s drive to be the number one team in the world, according to captain Joe Root.

England beat the West Indies 2-1 and Pakistan 1-0 in a rain-hit series which, coupled with their success in South Africa at the start of the year, continue an upward trajectory with new players in the team.

“To have won both series is a great achievement for the group,” Root told reporters.

“Young guys have continued to keep improving and show their worth within the squad, while we have also seen some special individual performances from senior players, who showed they can keep driving this team forward.”

Opener Dom Sibley, Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley are three young batsmen who have shown their potential, the latter scoring an eye-catching 267 against Pakistan in Tuesday’s drawn Test that is the tenth highest score by an Englishman ever.

Veteran pace bowler James Anderson reached 600 Test wickets in the same game and said afterwards he now has 700 in his sights, while 34-year-old Stuart Broad’s 29 wickets in the two series at an average of 13.41 suggest he has plenty more to give.

Root believes that attitude off the pitch, as well as skill on it, will be a major factor in how this side develops over the next few years.

“The thing I’m excited about is the environment we have in the dressing room. The attitude of the guys about how they want to keep improving and learning about the game, even the senior players.

“I think that is what gives a great opportunity to get to that number one spot down the line.”

England are uncertain of their next Test assignment due to the Covid-19 pandemic as they head into home limited-overs series with Pakistan and Australia, and Root admits that will create a delicate balancing act for their five-day specialists.

“It’s going to be important that whenever it is we get the opportunity to play [Tests] again, we have some form of cricket before that. We just have to wait and see.”

https://www.dawn.com/news/1576579/england-have-the-right-mix-to-be-worlds-best-test-side-says-root

 

[The Viper]

Joe Root issues fitness warning to England players ahead of gruelling winter tours

With the Test summer *completed, England captain Joe Root has *ordered his players to keep *themselves in prime condition ahead of what is likely to be a gruelling *winter in Asian conditions.

Most players, including Root, who will return to Yorkshire this week, will play county cricket until the end of the season in early October. Some will also be part of next month’s limited-overs series against Australia.

After that there is likely to be a break of three months before *proposed tours of Sri Lanka and India in the new year. Just as in lockdown, the onus will be on individual players to keep fit before an expected winter training camp – probably in the United Arab Emirates – ahead of those two Test series in Asia.

Asked what was next for his players following a bio-secure Test summer that has seen England defeat the West Indies and Pakistan, Root said: “Some guys will want to get back into county cricket and play as much as they can to make the most of the summer. Once that is over there will be a lot of onus put on individuals to make sure they are ready when Test cricket is back.

“I’m sure as a squad we will have an opportunity to prepare as a team, hopefully in conditions and an environment similar to where we will be playing Test cricket,” he said.

“There will be a lot of ownership put on the players to make sure their fitness is kept up and they are ready to go whenever those games do take place.

“It is nice to know that some form of preparation is being considered ahead of the winter tours if they take place and to give us a really good chance of competing if it is in sub-continent conditions.

“Hopefully that [an overseas camp] would be nice. If not then we just have to make the most of what is available to us.”

Root also backed Jofra Archer to come good after a disappointing second Test summer that saw the fast bowler take just eight wickets at an average of 45, including a wicketless final Test against Pakistan in Southampton this week.

“He has not taken the wickets he did last summer or in the past,” said Root. “He is a young guy at the start of his career learning his trade and I thought he bowled magnificently in this game without much reward. I think there is always going to be a lot of talk around Jofra because of how exciting he is and what he has to offer. All we can do is keep encouraging him so we see him at the top end of his game as often as possible.”

As for Mark Wood, Archer’s fellow paceman who only played the first Test of the summer against the West Indies, Root added: “There were a few [injury] niggles throughout the start of the summer. We want to make sure when Woody plays he can perform at the top end of his game.

“That is what gives him the X-factor and opportunity to make a difference. I am not concerned. We all know how special a talent Woody is and I can see him playing a lot more Test cricket for England in the future.”

https://inews.co.uk/sport/cricket/joe-root-england-cricket-fitness-sri-lanka-india-tours-611034