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"I don't think India are worthy of being #1 in Tests" : Michael Holding

A team that had unprecedented chopping and changing, consistently poor selections, and a consistent failure of the batting line-up, dropped catches, has a run-out like Pandya's in a crucial situation is not #1.

Nor does it deserve to be #1.

SA's overall away record makes them the best team in the eyes of most neutrals, and even though I support India, I think SA are just better. This SA side are not a great team either.

And if SA had prepared pitches with the kind of advantage India had when they hosted, they'd be record ducks in each Indian innings.

This series has been the most disappointing since Pakistan fluffed their chance in Australia.
 
Usman Chadda said:
Warne's basic judgment of the game would be light-years and universes ahead of you and me. He has not just thrown the ball 22 yards and spun it, as [MENTION=135134]CricketAnalyst[/MENTION] shockingly points it (so much for analysis lol). He has got a million batsmen out by out-thinking them and by working hard on his game throughout the years. These guys are no joker's, they are the best readers of the game than a journalist sitting in the comfort of his/her cubicle or you and me sitting behind our laptops.

Never said they dictate our views. You and me can definitely have a different opinion, whether flawed or right is subjective. You can disagree with Shane Warne or Michael Holding, but their opinion holds a thousand times more than an average fan who doesn't even know what it's like out there on the pitch. Indian fans have suggested their opinion is 10 times more than a celebrated individual like Holding, and that's what I'm saying is absolutely wrong.
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So if Holding said Bangladesh was the best team in the world you'd go with him?

I remember when England thrashed India 4-0 they went into overdrive. The likes of Botham were saying how the likes of Anderson were more skillful than Steyn and England were the better team. I didn't believe that coz I knew we had the better team and players. We went there and won, and I was proven right. The moral of the story here is that opinions can't be taken as gospel.

And no, I don't subscribe to the line of thought that certain individuals are "nobodies". Everyone has a right to an opinion, and they have a right to be heard. You also have a right not to agree with that opinion, it doesn't make their opinion any less still. Opinions are just that, opinions.
 
cricketjoshila said:
Then read the discussion and try again.
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By the way our indian fellas are extremely busy to justify something which could not be..i am taking in general...
Kohli should win a series and all such sorts of things will be over.
 
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cricketjoshila said:
Then read the discussion and try again.
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I don't know what you were reading... I never said SA will destroy India, I actually think they'll lose, although they'll show more fight than last time.

I said Maharaj will do well in India. FYI a player can have a good performance without the team winning in case you didn't know.
 
LastManstanding said:
So, we are supposed to take the opinion of a bitter ex-cricketer seriously who by his own admission doesn't follow the game outside of England and South Africa.
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I always find him one of the most honest, insightful and astute voices in the game. He commentates every year in Eng & SA + sees whoever they play and he also commentates in Oz very regularly and sees whoever we play. He sees enough of all the teams to have a good insight, given his impeccable experience.

What has he ever done to make him seem “bitter”. On the contrary he cried on air, genuine tears when Amir got caught fixing as he knew the game had lost a gem (lets face it, he’s not what he once was). That seems like a man who just genuinely loves the game (not even his own team) rather than some bitter man.

Before you throw up the jealousy over IPL money argument, the reason Holding lives in USA is that he gets paid 6 figure USD amounts by tv in Oz, Eng and SA tv channels each 1-2 months work he does. He’s a top bracket commentator. Nothing to be bitter about.
 
There is no imperical measurement for worthiness man, that’s why we debate it. Watch the early scenes of Dead Poets Society sometime and you’ll see what I mean.
 
Oligochaetes said:
I understand Holding's point. But how can we calculate "worthiness"?
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By playing on a level field.

Take the EPL for example. 20 teams play each other twice, home and away. Every team has an equal opportunity and the end result determines who is the best that season.

This is not the case with Cricket or the FTP schedule.
 
None of the games this series were one sided unlike how SA played in India.

India are not clear No.1 Test side, but they are as good as SA, ENG and AUS. All of them home bullies and decent/bad away.
 
sticky_wkt said:
None of the games this series were one sided unlike how SA played in India.

India are not clear No.1 Test side, but they are as good as SA, ENG and AUS. All of them home bullies and decent/bad away.
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England are a lot worse than India, Australia and South Africa.
 
So which current side deserves no 1 if not India?
 
I have very high hopes from India that they will perform really well in England. It won't be the one like SA.
 
Chrish said:
So which current side deserves no 1 if not India?
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Once again anyone who disagrees with India being current no 1, I would like to know which team deserves it..

Anybody ???
 
Ab Fan said:
It is around same between Aus, SA and Ind. No clear no.1.
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No, it's not simply because none of these teams have been dominant at home in the same manner as India have. And all these teams haven't done well in away tours either.
 
Ab Fan said:
It is around same between Aus, SA and Ind. No clear no.1.
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Would make sense between SA and Ind fighting for top spot, but Aus? What exactly have they done beside beating hopeless England at home? Couldnt win a series in Asia (heck lost a test to BD), lost home series to SA. They are nowhere near #1 not in performance wise nor ranking wise.
 
People need to understand first of all, rankings are based on couple of years of consistent performances, not just based of one or two series. Fact remains India have dominated every single side that toured over there. Is their ranking due to scheduling? Absolutely, but then again all other sides lost or drew series in last two years at home. And none of them have been any consistent away from home either.

Only India have remained unbeaten in their backyard and thus they are no 1 by default.
 
Yes, SA is 2-0 ahead but both games were contested. The third game will also be contested.

When SA lost 3-0 in India, they were utterly destroyed without a sliver of hope in any of the matches. So right now, not only on ICC points, but also an objective assessment India is well ahead of SA.
 
Napa said:
Yes, SA is 2-0 ahead but both games were contested. The third game will also be contested.

When SA lost 3-0 in India, they were utterly destroyed without a sliver of hope in any of the matches. So right now, not only on ICC points, but also an objective assessment India is well ahead of SA.
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But but but winning away from Home only applies to India. As per Holding Australia or SA will contest for #1 spot. Perhaps he didnt saw Aus getting hammered in Asia by all sides including BD. But performance in Asia doesn’t matter. So by default SA are #1
 
Holding should worry about his West Indies team which is getting nonexistent with every year!
 
RamLakhan said:
Holding should worry about his West Indies team which is getting nonexistent with every year!
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Its his job as a commentator and cricket expert to speak on cricket.

Its mind boggling how defensive Indians have been in this thread. You have highlighted this issue more than holding wanted.

Now everyone knows India isnt the worthy number 1 :srini:
 
CanadianG00se said:
But but but winning away from Home only applies to India. As per Holding Australia or SA will contest for #1 spot. Perhaps he didnt saw Aus getting hammered in Asia by all sides including BD. But performance in Asia doesn’t matter. So by default SA are #1
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I am fed up of these childish replies from some indian fans. As a number 1 team India has to prove that they can win away from home. Our record is so poor and its about time we start winning atleast a test in these conditions rather than making childish excuses like bringing other teams away records.

South Africa and Aus may have lost badly in India but they have won a series in India in the past. I am not sure when are we going to do that because all we do is make excuses.
 
Napa said:
Yes, SA is 2-0 ahead but both games were contested. The third game will also be contested.

When SA lost 3-0 in India, they were utterly destroyed without a sliver of hope in any of the matches. So right now, not only on ICC points, but also an objective assessment India is well ahead of SA.
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Nobody will remember that these games were contested. You have to win to make it memorable.
 
CanadianG00se said:
Would make sense between SA and Ind fighting for top spot, but Aus? What exactly have they done beside beating hopeless England at home? Couldnt win a series in Asia (heck lost a test to BD), lost home series to SA. They are nowhere near #1 not in performance wise nor ranking wise.
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[MENTION=138493]Chrish[/MENTION], Aus won a series in SA, NZ, WI and won two matches in England and 1 match in India.

In Asia, their performance is very poor but I was impressed by their performance in India which is what matters most among Asian sides.

SA, on other hand, won a series in Aus, SL, drew in UAE(long back but that was their last tour) and I dont remember what happened in NZ(need to check, I think it was a close series still).

India have won only in SL and WI. What went wrong with them was they dont get to face Pakistan which had Younis /Misbah which was a good side. Current Pak test team is also mediocre too.

India have failed to win a single match as of today in SA, Aus, NZ and won 1 in Eng in their last tours.

So, away: Aus and SA have fared better than India while India fared better than two at home only because of both the sides winning in each other dent.

So I will leave it to you now.
 
no bias here but i dont think they are #1 side

as Ive said that i do believe that the 2008-2011 #1 ranked side was actually #1 but this side aint
 
Bhaag Viru Bhaag said:
I am fed up of these childish replies from some indian fans. As a number 1 team India has to prove that they can win away from home. Our record is so poor and its about time we start winning atleast a test in these conditions rather than making childish excuses like bringing other teams away records.

South Africa and Aus may have lost badly in India but they have won a series in India in the past. I am not sure when are we going to do that because all we do is make excuses.
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Won series 20years ago doesnt mean their team is justified #1 ranking. Secondly, if you have followed my post i clearly said no team is truly #1, in other words even India is not #1 in my view. Stop being so negative about everything, and if you have anything meaningful to discuss hit me up, rather than trying to diss us Indian fans just having different opinion to yours.

Lastly, i was only genuiely asking how is Aus #1 if they are minnows in Asia?
 
Ab Fan said:
[MENTION=138493]Chrish[/MENTION], Aus won a series in SA, NZ, WI and won two matches in England and 1 match in India.

In Asia, their performance is very poor but I was impressed by their performance in India which is what matters most among Asian sides.

SA, on other hand, won a series in Aus, SL, drew in UAE(long back but that was their last tour) and I dont remember what happened in NZ(need to check, I think it was a close series still).

India have won only in SL and WI. What went wrong with them was they dont get to face Pakistan which had Younis /Misbah which was a good side. Current Pak test team is also mediocre too.

India have failed to win a single match as of today in SA, Aus, NZ and won 1 in Eng in their last tours.

So, away: Aus and SA have fared better than India while India fared better than two at home only because of both the sides winning in each other dent.

So I will leave it to you now.
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So winning a series in SA and Nz makes them contender for #1 but ignoring the fact they got beatdown in SL and BD. Aus winning series in NZ is like India thumping SL in SL.

Again, i stand by my original comment, only SA and Ind can really claim to be top side and rankings will suggest the same. Australia are far from being top side, certianly minnows in Asia.
 
Madplayer said:
Its his job as a commentator and cricket expert to speak on cricket.

Its mind boggling how defensive Indians have been in this thread. You have highlighted this issue more than holding wanted.

Now everyone knows India isnt the worthy number 1 :srini:
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Im pretty sure so called ‘everybody’ will only be a minority and some jealous neighbour
 
CanadianG00se said:
Won series 20years ago doesnt mean their team is justified #1 ranking. Secondly, if you have followed my post i clearly said no team is truly #1, in other words even India is not #1 in my view. Stop being so negative about everything, and if you have anything meaningful to discuss hit me up, rather than trying to diss us Indian fans just having different opinion to yours.

Lastly, i was only genuiely asking how is Aus #1 if they are minnows in Asia?
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Looks like I hit a nerve. Stop crying. If India is not a number 1 team in your eyes then don't bring in other teams away records to support your point.
 
Chrish said:
So which current side deserves no 1 if not India?
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ATM India deserves the no 1 ranking.

Aus-:They are on right track and were perhaps the best Test team of 2017.

SA-: Deserves to be called Best Team Away from Home.But,They have lost home series against Aus(2014) and England(2016 and then also lost 3-1 in England 2017).

ENG-:Mediocre team both Home(Lost 9 matches at home since may 2014) and Away.There is no batsmen in England team who is reliable.

ATM India deserves the benefit of the doubt and England vs India (2018) series will tell us a lot about this India team.
 
CanadianG00se said:
So winning a series in SA and Nz makes them contender for #1 but ignoring the fact they got beatdown in SL and BD. Aus winning series in NZ is like India thumping SL in SL.

Again, i stand by my original comment, only SA and Ind can really claim to be top side and rankings will suggest the same. Australia are far from being top side, certianly minnows in Asia.
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My argument is just that Ind, Aus and SA are at same level today. England are 4th and distant because they lose lots of matches at home.
 
CanadianG00se said:
So winning a series in SA and Nz makes them contender for #1 but ignoring the fact they got beatdown in SL and BD. Aus winning series in NZ is like India thumping SL in SL.

Again, i stand by my original comment, only SA and Ind can really claim to be top side and rankings will suggest the same. Australia are far from being top side, certianly minnows in Asia.
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Aus have won a match in India most importantly. This is like India winning a match in Australia. You have to consider this.
 
CanadianG00se said:
India too won a match in England
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That isn't same.

Asian teams in past have won matches and series in England but never won a series in Australia.

And those Asian sides weren't even some kind of ATG sides.
 
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Holding singing praises of Kohli's batting in the 2nd innings. That's how you earn the skeptic's respect. Not that Holding disrespected him, but to slot him as very very good and not great is being skeptical :)
 
Ab Fan said:
[MENTION=138493]Chrish[/MENTION], Aus won a series in SA, NZ, WI and won two matches in England and 1 match in India.

In Asia, their performance is very poor but I was impressed by their performance in India which is what matters most among Asian sides.

SA, on other hand, won a series in Aus, SL, drew in UAE(long back but that was their last tour) and I dont remember what happened in NZ(need to check, I think it was a close series still).

India have won only in SL and WI. What went wrong with them was they dont get to face Pakistan which had Younis /Misbah which was a good side. Current Pak test team is also mediocre too.

India have failed to win a single match as of today in SA, Aus, NZ and won 1 in Eng in their last tours.

So, away: Aus and SA have fared better than India while India fared better than two at home only because of both the sides winning in each other dent.

So I will leave it to you now.
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Aus lost the series at home against SA and lost the away series in SL, England, India etc.

SA lost pretty badly against England both at home and away and also against India away
 
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RamLakhan said:
Holding should worry about his West Indies team which is getting nonexistent with every year!
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Lol he's criticised the West Indies team so much he's banned from commentating by WICB on their matches.
 
Last undisputed great side was that Australian team. After their fall there hasn’t been a side that wins consistently at home and outside. Even SA side lost against eng and oz far too consistently at home.
 
R3verse Swing said:
By playing on a level field.

Take the EPL for example. 20 teams play each other twice, home and away. Every team has an equal opportunity and the end result determines who is the best that season.

This is not the case with Cricket or the FTP schedule.
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As much as I'd like to see an EPL style Test League - its not going to happen.

Reason is even Stoke vs West Ham attracts 29,000 to the stadium. A New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Test will attract a dozen retirees and their dogs.
 
CanadianG00se said:
I also feel that some of these oldies are just bitter that young cricketers do not see playing test cricket as such a big thing anymore. They want to play league cricket to secure their future which doesnt go down well with so called Experts. Sooner we get rid off these stone age test series the better. I bet if Holding was still playing around he would be first to rush to IPL to collect the paycheck, but since he couldn’t he just lambasting at the players who are putting their financial security before playing test cricket.

Btw why does he always surface to media when India is #1 and travelling abroad? Why does he goes to hiding when overseas team are getting phainty in India?
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Then you have no idea what his arguments actually are.

Regarding Holding and T20 - he's NEVER blamed the players for participating in leagues over international cricket. He does NOT criticise the players for making a living. He's said he'd be on the first plane to India for the IPL himself if he had the chance.

Its true he detests the format (which he's entitled to do as you are entitled to label Tests as "stone age cricket" so stop whining about peoples' opinions) but his argument is that the administrators (namely WICB) are to be blamed for not sitting down with the T20 rebels and working out a solution that allows them to play as much international cricket as possible while enabling them to play the leagues.

Yet for years WICB chose confrontation instead of compromise. Holding was on the side of Chris Gayle, Jerome Taylor and others who chose to play T20 instead of international cricket which you don't mention in your ad hominem.

Its only now WICB are starting to see sense (partly because they're struggling to qualify for the 2019 WC which'll have financial ramifications for the Board) and creating white ball contracts that allows the players to play in lucrative T20 leagues whilst committing to West Indies.
 
Slog said:
no bias here but i dont think they are #1 side

as Ive said that i do believe that the 2008-2011 #1 ranked side was actually #1 but this side aint
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There is no clear no.1 right now. We are the only team not to have lost a test series at home in 5 years. If you are going by away performances then which team has done that well away? SA win in OZ and NZ, OZ won in WI and NZ. England won in SA and India has won in SL and WI. That's about equal I think. Our home dominance gives us the edge over other teams.
 
Nikhil_cric said:
There is no clear no.1 right now. We are the only team not to have lost a test series at home in 5 years. If you are going by away performances then which team has done that well away? SA win in OZ and NZ, OZ won in WI and NZ. England won in SA and India has won in SL and WI. That's about equal I think. Our home dominance gives us the edge over other teams.
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If Aus win in SA they are #1.
 
This series was compromised by blatant politics in the first two games tbh. Obviously this is India's greatest ever pace attack in history. Only if the captain and coach had contained their ego and selected on proper merit rather than their personal preferences and had the worthless numbnuts in the BCCI scheduled proper practice games, India might have been staring at history here.
 
cricketjoshila said:
Why?

Aus have been whitewashed in Uae and SL. Lost the series in India and even lost a test to BD.
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Simply because india by far have thw worst away record against the top sides 18-1 or something ??
We dont rate batsmen who fail against the better sides . Similarly wins like these (should it happen ) will change that perception.
 
ethan hunt said:
Simply because india by far have thw worst away record against the top sides 18-1 or something ??
We dont rate batsmen who fail against the better sides . Similarly wins like these (should it happen ) will change that perception.
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What is Australias record in Asia?

Who is this we?
 
cricketjoshila said:
Why?

Aus have been whitewashed in Uae and SL. Lost the series in India and even lost a test to BD.
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UAE was more than 3 years ago so no point counting that

they have been competitive in recent Asian tours
 
aloo paratha said:
I don't know what you were reading... I never said SA will destroy India, I actually think they'll lose, although they'll show more fight than last time.

I said Maharaj will do well in India. FYI a player can have a good performance without the team winning in case you didn't know.
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SA will be far less competitive. They most likely wont have ABDV and Amla.

Yes a player can have a good performance but i dont think Maharaj will. He may do well in 1 or 2 innings at max.
 
Slog said:
UAE was more than 3 years ago so no point counting that

they have been competitive in recent Asian tours
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Recent is they lost 2-1 in india , lost 3-0 to sri lanka and 1 test match to bangladesh. Yaha khairat me ni milti n.o 1 ranking. You have to earn it.
 
cricketjoshila said:
SA will be far less competitive. They most likely wont have ABDV and Amla.

Yes a player can have a good performance but i dont think Maharaj will. He may do well in 1 or 2 innings at max.
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I personally see him doing well. He puts a lot of revs on the ball, drifts it more than anybody I've seen recently.
 
ethan hunt said:
Simply because india by far have thw worst away record against the top sides 18-1 or something ??
We dont rate batsmen who fail against the better sides . Similarly wins like these (should it happen ) will change that perception.
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I thought performance at home also counts for something. You seem to believe a side can lose a bunch of Tests at home (besides getting whitewashed at UAE and SL) and still be #1.
 
akki said:
Recent is they lost 2-1 in india , lost 3-0 to sri lanka and 1 test match to bangladesh. Yaha khairat me ni milti n.o 1 ranking. You have to earn it.
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I’m an Aussie and I have to agree with you. Until you win regularly in varied conditions you can’t justify yourself as #1. Most Aussie fans would appreciate that not long ago we were ranked #5 so at least we are improving but not there yet.

I’m also in the camp that the ranking has to go to someone due to the numbers but none of India, SA, Oz are quite worthy to claim it yet. It has been. Strange time of no clear #1 for years (arguably since the Steyn/G Smith SA side) and I think it will be another year before any team can fully prove itself.

Eng and Pak have fallen away from the top pack of late.
 
India were competitive in this series , which is a lot more than what a lot of away teams could have said in recent time.

If India went to South Africa 15-20 days early, played 2-3 warm up games, I have very little doubt they would have had a good shot at winning the series. Can't just show up to a country like South Africa and expect to win without proper warm up.

Even if they manage to win this test, I would say they have done well on this tour. The tour to England will tell us the real picture now.
 
Chrish said:
Once again anyone who disagrees with India being current no 1, I would like to know which team deserves it..

Anybody ???
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South Africa. Beat India at home, NZ home and away, Lanka at home, Aus away and that is just the last couple of years. Their record since 2008 is absolutely fantastic. Only team that has won and/or competed very well all around the world.

sticky_wkt said:
None of the games this series were one sided unlike how SA played in India.

India are not clear No.1 Test side, but they are as good as SA, ENG and AUS. All of them home bullies and decent/bad away.
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Those are very poor standards. India scored 200 runs fewer than South Africa across the first two matches. Getting a consolation victory here doesn't change the fact that they have beeb thoroughly outplayed.
 
Bilal7 said:
South Africa. Beat India at home, NZ home and away, Lanka at home, Aus away and that is just the last couple of years. Their record since 2008 is absolutely fantastic. Only team that has won and/or competed very well all around the world.



Those are very poor standards. India scored 200 runs fewer than South Africa across the first two matches. Getting a consolation victory here doesn't change the fact that they have beeb thoroughly outplayed.
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Lost to England at both home and away. 5-2 is their record against Eng.
 
Bilal7 said:
South Africa. Beat India at home, NZ home and away, Lanka at home, Aus away and that is just the last couple of years. Their record since 2008 is absolutely fantastic. Only team that has won and/or competed very well all around the world.



Those are very poor standards. India scored 200 runs fewer than South Africa across the first two matches. Getting a consolation victory here doesn't change the fact that they have beeb thoroughly outplayed.
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India beat everyone at home. Beat SL and WI away.
 
South Africa does indeed delivery the best performance all around the globe as a team but doesn't win nearly enough at home, besides as a team they are going through a transition wherein their bowling seems to be getting more threatening while their batting seems to be losing the old touch. It is a fact that India are among the worst travelling teams in the world which obviously rules our their claim to being the number 1 all over the world team but at the same time there is no other team either which can truly claim the title. England, Australia and even Pakistan probably would have given better fight to this South African team. Don't let Indian failures make you feel this South African team is there yet. Nobody is there yet. We live in the age of home bullies and away lullooz.
 
Ab Fan said:
Aus have won a match in India most importantly. This is like India winning a match in Australia. You have to consider this.
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India won series in WI and England in 2007. Won the series in NZ in 2009. Won a series in WI again in 2016. Won a test in SA each in 2006 and 2010, won at Adelaide in 2004, Perth in 2008, won at Lords in 2014. Won series in SL in 2015 and whitewashed them in SL in 2017.

If winning one test is the criteria you want to go by then India have a pretty good record outside the subcontinent as well.
 
Moh@n said:
India won series in WI and England in 2007. Won the series in NZ in 2009. Won a series in WI again in 2016. Won a test in SA each in 2006 and 2010, won at Adelaide in 2004, Perth in 2008, won at Lords in 2014. Won series in SL in 2015 and whitewashed them in SL in 2017.

If winning one test is the criteria you want to go by then India have a pretty good record outside the subcontinent as well.
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If we go that far, then Aus and SA have won and drew a lot more. Even England have won more.

We are talking of their performance in last tours everywhere.
 
Moh@n said:
India won series in WI and England in 2007. Won the series in NZ in 2009. Won a series in WI again in 2016. Won a test in SA each in 2006 and 2010, won at Adelaide in 2004, Perth in 2008, won at Lords in 2014. Won series in SL in 2015 and whitewashed them in SL in 2017.

If winning one test is the criteria you want to go by then India have a pretty good record outside the subcontinent as well.
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If you go that far,

SA haven't lost a single away series between 2007-2014.

England won series in Aus(2010), India(2012) and SA(2016).

Aus haven't won much away but since 2008 but then they were coming from undisputable phase between 1995-2007.
 
Michael Holding's analysis of the game situation and players is pretty accurate. That comes from a lot of practical knowledge of the game. Arguing that some random guy sitting at home, going through some footage and stats can match his analysis is stupidity. Nothing can replace the practical (and sometimes theoretical) knowledge gained through hours and hours of playing the sport.

While his analysis of the game is pretty accurate, I find his opinions slightly biased. SA clearly is his favourite team. You can't really give India the no.1 title right now going by their performance but I don't see a clear no.1 side either. South Africa with their not so good batting lineup will struggle on a batting track. Seamers like Philander will be toothless too on such wickets. And, of all the commentators in the box, he was the only one who seemed to indirectly support the idea of calling this match off. And his comment on Kohli also sounded quite biased. If Kohli ain't a great player, who is? So I'm not going to give his opinions much value. But his analysis is very valuable.
 
Ab Fan said:
If we go that far, then Aus and SA have won and drew a lot more. Even England have won more.

We are talking of their performance in last tours everywhere.
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That does not count because away performances of non subcontinent teams are measured by their performances in the subcontinent, just like SL does not count as India's away performance.

Australia were whitewashed in SL the last time they toured.
 
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cricketjoshila said:
Icc rankings say other wise.
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:)))

Yes, they say otherwise because you just played so several months at home. We'll see what they say by the end of the year. Classic example of sticking your head in the sand.

South Africa are the clear #1 team in the world.
 
Moh@n said:
That does not count because away performances of non subcontinent teams are measured by their performances in the subcontinent, just like SL does not count as India's away performance.

Australia were whitewashed in SL the last time they toured.
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You have to look at quality of the teams too. SL is nowhere close to Aus, SA, Eng. Even NZ are better.
 
South Africa 0-3 in India and India 1-2 in South Africa is a fair indication. The anger should be within Indians (about this Indian Team and missed chance of winning the series) but neutrals should see this as a good performance with close matches and 60 wickets being taken. Let's not bring the history & old series now (West Indies become a laughing stock if histories are compared with present!)
 
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