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"India far better side than Pakistan in Test cricket" : Saurav Ganguly

Lets wait for our Overseas cycle we will also have somewhat clear idea when Pak tours Windies,right now we are just making assumptions.
 
Australia is a clear standout.

India have one world class pacer and two excellent spinners.

England's attack is overaged and on a steady decline.

I think England's attack got really exposed in India. Their pacers were not fast enough to cause problems and their spinners were really trash.
 
SA have never had any troubles in Asia and looking at their current stocks, i don't see why they would

Historically? I thought you meant currently,no offense but they weren't that great when they toured India esp the pacers.
Umesh was bowling better than their few pacers.
 
Australia is a clear standout.

India have one world class pacer and two excellent spinners.

England's attack is overaged and on a steady decline.

Australia is good but no way they are standout without having any decent spinner. Two pace duo and that's pretty much it. It's not enough to make them competitive in away conditions. Will see how Bird does in India if he gets picked.

England still have very good attack with Broad, Anderson, Woakes and Stokes on the side. Indian bowling is as good as they come in SC

All in all except SA, every one else is very condition dependent.
 
Australia is good but no way they are standout without having any decent spinner. Two pace duo and that's pretty much it. It's not enough to make them competitive in away conditions. Will see how Bird does in India if he gets picked.

England still have very good attack with Broad, Anderson, Woakes and Stokes on the side. Indian bowling is as good as they come in SC

All in all except SA, every one else is very condition dependent.
The Indian bunch apart from Shami and Ashwin are mediocre.

The English bunch are heavily dependant on overhead and pitch conditions and lack variety i.e an enforcer.
 
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England still have very good attack with Broad, Anderson, Woakes and Stokes on the side.

A good pace attack should be able to pick up wickets even in unfavorable conditions. What was India's last score again Eng... 759/7 if I remember right!

A #9 batsman scoring a century. When other tailenders like Jadeja were walking in to bat, you expected them to score half-centuries and were surprised if they did not.
 
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The Indian bowling apart from Shami and Ashwin is mediocre.

The English bunch are heavily dependant on overhead and pitch conditions and lack variety i.e an enforcer.

Wouldn't call Jadeja and Yadav mediocre

England just beat SA in their backyard this year
 
A good pace attack should be able to pick up wickets even in unfavorable conditions. What was India's last score again Eng... 759/7 if I remember right!

neither could India pick up 20 wickets when they toured Australia
 
Wouldn't call Jadeja and Yadav mediocre

England just beat SA in their backyard this year
Jadeja is only able to pose a threat in test cricket on spin friendly pitches.

Yadav is a poor mans Wahab.
 
Jadeja is only able to pose a threat in test cricket on spin friendly pitches.

Yadav is a poor mans Wahab.

There is a reason why I wrote "condition dependent" in every sentence
 
There is a reason why I wrote "condition dependent" in every sentence
And exactly the reason why Jadeja is mediocre.

The Australian bowlers have to do reasonably well to average sub 25, taking into considering the wickets they play on.
 
And exactly the reason why Jadeja is mediocre.

The Australian bowlers have to do reasonably well to average sub 25, taking into considering the wickets they play on.

In order to rate the attack, they have to pose some threat to opposition. I don't see Aussie attack posing a serious threat to India or Pakistan in Asia.. Yes Starc did well in SL but still it's not good enough to nullify the opposition.

When I look at current bowling units, only SA looks threatening in all conditions across the globe. All other bowling units are more like horses for the courses
 
With India in red hot form, and Pakistan in free fall, it's tempting to say Ganguly was on the money.

However, whilst I do think India would do better -(let's be frank it would be hard not to!)- away, what current tours demonstrate is, with few exceptions, the domination of the home side in this day and age.

Things seem quite volatile, and it's hard to see a clear leader of the pack that can do well home and away.

What happens next for Pakistan could very well determine if they will be contenders for the top position in the coming years, or if they will end up being a mid-rung side.

I am genuinely curious to see how India will fare on their away tours. What they have going for them is the team is young, and quite a few already have experienced conditions in Australia and England. Under Kohli they may well pull away from the pack. Time will tell, but I will reserve my judgement until then with regards to them being a far better side.
 
Australia is a clear standout.

India have one world class pacer and two excellent spinners.

England's attack is overaged and on a steady decline.

Standout indeed!

LOL! Aussies generally bully teams at home. Even that's not true against SAF recently. And they don't travel well. You just got white washed in SL which is one of the weakest Lankan teams in history. Had you played Pakistan in the subcontinent, i have no doubt you'd have been whitewashed. You even lost the last Ashes @ England.

At best Australia is a competent test team, by no means a standout team
 
India has not been tested yet. They won't play in SAF, Eng and Australia for a while, so we won't know if they are for real. In subcontinental conditons against Pakistan they will do fine.

Pretty much SAF, Eng. Australia & India are about the same right now. They can all beat each other in their den
 
Standout indeed!

LOL! Aussies generally bully teams at home. Even that's not true against SAF recently. And they don't travel well. You just got white washed in SL which is one of the weakest Lankan teams in history. Had you played Pakistan in the subcontinent, i have no doubt you'd have been whitewashed. You even lost the last Ashes @ England.

At best Australia is a competent test team, by no means a standout team
I'm strictly speaking about the pace attack...
 
I only gave slight edge to Pakistan over India because of younis and misbah. Once they retire India will be a better team because Pakistan will have to build a new team around azhar ali and asad shafiq.

Edge because of Younis n Misbah who have done zilch on batting pattas in Australia......

I would have still taken this argument if it was asab n azhar
 
I guess Dada was spot on as usual. 19 match unbeaten streak which is the best for us ever and 6 match losing streak for PAK which is their worst ever. Massive gulf between the two teams.
 
Because we beat Bangladesh at home?

Lol look at how ruthlessly you have beaten your opponents at home. Your much superior in batting and fielding. Bowling is closer though but I think overall you are a better team than us in tests.
 
Lol look at how ruthlessly you have beaten your opponents at home. Your much superior in batting and fielding. Bowling is closer though but I think overall you are a better team than us in tests.

That we are.

You won't see us lose a home game to the West Indies in this century.

Or have New Zealand draw a series.
 
Pakistan is still one of the better teams in tests. Drawing series in England is no joke. But after that their cricket standard has fallen specially getting whitewashed in NZ and AUS and losing game vs WI at home was shocking too
 
There was a brief period where Pak team was indeed better than India's.

However, age has caught up with Misbah finally, and YK is getting less dependable day by day. Unfortunately there are no ready replacements for them.

So yes, India is the far better side now.
 
I think India has passed the succession period quite well and has a stable side for 5+ years.I definitely think think this batting side will handle itself well even on away tours.bowling i am not sure and would love to wait and watch in foreign conditions.Pakistan i think has to start their succession as their crucial players are in the wrong side of age.
 
This was not a mere victory. One side scored 846 for 10 wkts, the other side scored 638 for 20 wkts.

Yeah of course. One side batted first on a first day belter while the other side always had to play the catch up Game. Also the number of times Bangla threw away their wickets should also be mentioned.
 
There was a brief period where Pak team was indeed better than India's.

However, age has caught up with Misbah finally, and YK is getting less dependable day by day. Unfortunately there are no ready replacements for them.

So yes, India is the far better side now.

I wouldn't add the word ''far''.

Of course Indian LOI side is better than the Pak but as far as test cricket is considered there's hardly any difference between these two.

Don't get fooled by their recent winning streak bro. Even though I'm a huge fan of team India I still believe that they are nowhere near as strong as some ppl r trying portray them.
 
Yeah of course. One side batted first on a first day belter while the other side always had to play the catch up Game. Also the number of times Bangla threw away their wickets should also be mentioned.

If you watched the game, you may remember that there was quite a bit of discussion that scoring was not easy the first few sessions.
 
Actually, you have made multiple claims and called them 'facts' and have done nothing to prove them.

He has only asked for evidence and you've failed to provide them.

I don't have evidence but I have heard Manjrekar say it with my own ears saying this.. this was back in 2005-06 on ten sports India Pakistan series, now what I can I do if there is no proof of that video :)

BUMP in light of the recent statement made by Sarfraz .... When Captain of the Cricket team and other prominent personalities can spew such idiotic comments then no wonder fans like [MENTION=135196]waleed88[/MENTION] hold onto these stmts as fact all the while when 11-0 stares at them in their faces.
 
These things are best settled on the field. Evidence points to India is a better side currently.
 
India is miles ahead of Pakistan at the moment. Anyone looking at things objectively can see that. The only format of the game in which there might be a contest is Test cricket where Pakistan have not been bottom of the pile lately.
 
India is miles ahead of Pakistan at the moment. Anyone looking at things objectively can see that. The only format of the game in which there might be a contest is Test cricket where Pakistan have not been bottom of the pile lately.

Lol.
The indian t20 side is certainly not Miles better than pakistan.
Pakistan has convincingly won its last 4 matches against the WC finalists westindies and england .

This thread is about tests though and a case can be made for either side depending on opponent and conditions.
 
India being A LOT better is typical Ganguly rubbish.

However, India beats Pakistan in India. Pak beats them pretty much everywhere else, in particular outside of Asia.
 
India haven't been the #1 Asian test team since they got destroyed 8:0 overseas and their "Fab 4" era ended. Pakistan are still the better test team, especially if India go on to lose their current series.

The rankings will obviously favor India because they just came off an extremely long home season that was played on pitches tailor-made for either their spinners or their batsmen.

Pakistan is better in all four departments, including fielding as far as test cricket goes. In ODIs, India are rhe superior team.
 
India haven't been the #1 Asian test team since they got destroyed 8:0 overseas and their "Fab 4" era ended. Pakistan are still the better test team, especially if India go on to lose their current series.

The rankings will obviously favor India because they just came off an extremely long home season that was played on pitches tailor-made for either their spinners or their batsmen.

Pakistan is better in all four departments, including fielding as far as test cricket goes. In ODIs, India are rhe superior team.

India is #1 test team in the world. Asia is part of world so yes India is the best team in Asia too.

India has comfortably replaced the fab 4. They are thriving right now.

Rankings don't favor any team. Don't like the formula get it changed.

Tailor made pitches. Just stop this nonsense.

Current Pakistan team is not better in any department. You have nothing on team India except loud talk. Your best bet is T 20, other than that please look in the rear view mirror. BD is catching up fast. You have a very competitive T 20 team.
 
India haven't been the #1 Asian test team since they got destroyed 8:0 overseas and their "Fab 4" era ended. Pakistan are still the better test team, especially if India go on to lose their current series.

Losing 3 Tests each to NZ and Aus + One Test to WI at home (and a close shave in another ) all of it in the last 6 months does not mean anything about the current Pakistan team but Indias record from 4+ yrs is a better indicator of current Indian team ? .... :))

The rankings will obviously favor India because they just came off an extremely long home season that was played on pitches tailor-made for either their spinners or their batsmen.

Do you realize that we were No.1 even before the home season began ? Infact one of the reasons why Pak got to No.1 was due to a washout of WI vs India Testmatch.

Pakistan is better in all four departments, including fielding as far as test cricket goes.

Even some of the most die hard fanatic fans with seriously green shades will find that hard to believe.


In ODIs, India are rhe superior team.

Shukhar hai uparwaley ka .... small mercies and all that ... or may be you will still find ways to twist and create Alternate facts :)))
 
Lol.
The indian t20 side is certainly not Miles better than pakistan.
Pakistan has convincingly won its last 4 matches against the WC finalists westindies and england .

This thread is about tests though and a case can be made for either side depending on opponent and conditions.

I agree. Pakistan T 20 team is real good.
 
Losing 3 Tests each to NZ and Aus + One Test to WI at home (and a close shave in another ) all of it in the last 6 months does not mean anything about the current Pakistan team but Indias record from 4+ yrs is a better indicator of current Indian team ? .... :))



Do you realize that we were No.1 even before the home season began ? Infact one of the reasons why Pak got to No.1 was due to a washout of WI vs India Testmatch.



Even some of the most die hard fanatic fans with seriously green shades will find that hard to believe.




Shukhar hai uparwaley ka .... small mercies and all that ... or may be you will still find ways to twist and create Alternate facts :)))

Oh, don't get me wrong, it would definitely mean something. Losing two (not three) tests to New Zealand and getting pummeled by Australia is poor for any team... Except that India also lose two tests to New Zealand and got pummeled by Australia the last time they were there. Now, India are on track to losing yet another high profile series at home and with their home season (finally) ending, you can kiss that #1 rank good bye. Have fun in South Africa. :)

That 8:0 doesn't have any relevance now, I mentioned it as the point in time from which Pakistan overtook India as the best test team from Asia.

India definitely have more depth in the spin department and overall, their spin attack is stronger but no spinner in India is as good as Yasir Shah in tests. I agree I went too far there. In the batting, pace bowling and fielding departments, Pakistan are ahead.
 
Oh, don't get me wrong, it would definitely mean something. Losing two (not three) tests to New Zealand and getting pummeled by Australia is poor for any team... Except that India also lose two tests to New Zealand and got pummeled by Australia the last time they were there.

The NZ Series was 3 yrs ago and under MSD ... this team is completely different. Even then we lost only one test match. And we drew 2 Tests in Aus something you have never done in last 20 yrs :))


Now, India are on track to losing yet another high profile series at home and with their home season (finally) ending, you can kiss that #1 rank good bye. Have fun in South Africa. :)

We are ? Last time I checked the the series stood 1-1 with 4 days left in the last test where Aussies have been bowled out for 300. Time will tell if we win or lose. But despite injuries to key players 9over the last 6 months) Kohli, Rohit, Rahane, Ashwin, Shami, Vijay we have had a very good home season.


That 8:0 doesn't have any relevance now, I mentioned it as the point in time from which Pakistan overtook India as the best test team from Asia.

shukar hai ...


India definitely have more depth in the spin department and overall, their spin attack is stronger but no spinner in India is as good as Yasir Shah in tests. I agree I went too far there. In the batting, pace bowling and fielding departments, Pakistan are ahead.

Pakistan is better than India in Batting and fast bowling and fielding too ? Have you even seen any Indian Tests recently ? :)))
 
The NZ Series was 3 yrs ago and under MSD ... this team is completely different. Even then we lost only one test match. And we drew 2 Tests in Aus something you have never done in last 20 yrs :))




We are ? Last time I checked the the series stood 1-1 with 4 days left in the last test where Aussies have been bowled out for 300. Time will tell if we win or lose. But despite injuries to key players 9over the last 6 months) Kohli, Rohit, Rahane, Ashwin, Shami, Vijay we have had a very good home season.




shukar hai ...




Pakistan is better than India in Batting and fast bowling and fielding too ? Have you even seen any Indian Tests recently ? :)))

Yes, a totally different team containing Vijay, Pujara, Kohli, Rahane, Shami, Jadeja, Ishant and Kumar. At least know your facts before embarrassing yourself. Yes, the mighty Indians managed to draw two tests in Australia, much vow. Stop with this minnow talk. Had you drawn the series it would have been a great accomplishment but India is incapable of winning matches overseas, barring the occasional fluke. Pakistan though, won two matches in England.

Not difficult to have a good home season on tailor-made wickets. We crushed the Aussies 2:0, you're probably going to lose 2:1. Another humiliating home loss like the one against England. Pakistan meanwhile, are undefeated for over seven years in the UAE.

I have seen enough dropped catches and Indian batsmen looking like bunnies against the likes of Elgar, Harmer, Moeen, Lyon and O'Keefe to confidently state that Pakistan are the better test team and would win any three match series 2:0 in Asia and 2:1 overseas. You can save the emojis for another poster. I am done here.
 
Yes, a totally different team containing Vijay, Pujara, Kohli, Rahane, Shami, Jadeja, Ishant and Kumar. At least know your facts before embarrassing yourself. Yes, the mighty Indians managed to draw two tests in Australia, much vow. Stop with this minnow talk. Had you drawn the series it would have been a great accomplishment but India is incapable of winning matches overseas, barring the occasional fluke. Pakistan though, won two matches in England.

So in your lush green world .... drawing tests in AuS+NZ is just as bad as losing like Pakistan did and your wins are never flukes ... infact its a fluke if they lose ... got it :))


Not difficult to have a good home season on tailor-made wickets. We crushed the Aussies 2:0, you're probably going to lose 2:1. Another humiliating home loss like the one against England. Pakistan meanwhile, are undefeated for over seven years in the UAE.

You speak as though the UAE tracks do not favor Pak and others don't do the same ? The reason why India prepare spinning tracks is because we get the same treatement when we tour SA/Eng/NZ. What goes around comes around.

Inspite of favorable pitches you couldn't win against WI ... can't wait for BD to tour UAE ... will be a cracking series lol

I have seen enough dropped catches and Indian batsmen looking like bunnies against the likes of Elgar, Harmer, Moeen, Lyon and O'Keefe to confidently state that Pakistan are the better test team and would win any three match series 2:0 in Asia and 2:1 overseas. You can save the emojis for another poster. I am done here.

like how you won against the mighty WI .... :))

I am done here.

I think I know why ... must be hard even for you who is not facts bound to support a team that loses to WI at home and is fighting to qualify for WC ... :)))
 
The enthusiasm of the Pakistani fans is refreshing. So even if their team lacks in all departments, its good to see their fans in a make believe world.
 
Guys, u lost to WI at home recently, shouldn't be more embarrassing than it and that too a full strength team.

I can understand even if its away, but at home to WI.
 
This will be unresolved as klong as we donot play tests against each other. India should arrange a test series in UAE in my opinion, just be done and dusted with this argument
 
BUMP in light of the recent statement made by Sarfraz .... When Captain of the Cricket team and other prominent personalities can spew such idiotic comments then no wonder fans like [MENTION=135196]waleed88[/MENTION] hold onto these stmts as fact all the while when 11-0 stares at them in their faces.

A big part of your history forgotten in the 11-0 is the better head to head record in Test Matches and ODIs for Pakistan, conveniently forgetting the majority of your matches in the UAE.. which became a graveyard for your team..
 
A big part of your history forgotten in the 11-0 is the better head to head record in Test Matches and ODIs for Pakistan, conveniently forgetting the majority of your matches in the UAE.. which became a graveyard for your team..

So India are afraid of Playing pakistan because of the Overall Win-Loss ratio which is in favor of Pakistan but they are not afraid of Playing Pakistan in Worldcups ... is that your theory ?

as utterly biased as you are see if you can make sense of that.

Let me help you a bit .... 11-0 is a clean sweep that goes back 25 yrs .. whereas 71-52 is nowhere close to being a clean sweep and never was ( Pak lost the 1st ever ODI vs Ind in 1978 at Quetta lol )
 
India should play Pakistan and proof it otherwise its all just bla bla bla.
 
India should play Pakistan and proof it otherwise its all just bla bla bla.

otherwise they will forever be considered as being "afraid" of the ferocious unstoppable force i.e the Pakistan Cricket team that just happens to be ranked #8 .... this is the logic that a vast number of Pakistani fans subscribe to ... :))
 
Exactly...Until both the team play against each other, fan from either side should respect the ICC ratings.

I dont think ICC ratings can suggest anything about head to head competition between two teams.

If you want I can give you reasons for that but you look clever enough
 
otherwise they will forever be considered as being "afraid" of the ferocious unstoppable force i.e the Pakistan Cricket team that just happens to be ranked #8 .... this is the logic that a vast number of Pakistani fans subscribe to ... :))

No until than we cannot suggest who is better than whom ... this is the only way to find the answer to that.
 
otherwise they will forever be considered as being "afraid" of the ferocious unstoppable force i.e the Pakistan Cricket team that just happens to be ranked #8 .... this is the logic that a vast number of Pakistani fans subscribe to ... :))

Talk is cheap and you have posters arguing #5 is better than #1. Anyway, great fight back in the series by India worthy of its #1 ranking.
 
An year ago, Pakistan was a better test team but since the decline of Younis, Misbah, and Yasir, India is simply a better test team at this time.
 
Let me put it this way. India have the courage and flair to beat Pakistan in test cricket at the moment.

Pakistan is still playing the "the had working, good guys win in the end" type of cricket that I think we should now move on from.
 
So India are afraid of Playing pakistan because of the Overall Win-Loss ratio which is in favor of Pakistan but they are not afraid of Playing Pakistan in Worldcups ... is that your theory ?

as utterly biased as you are see if you can make sense of that.

Let me help you a bit .... 11-0 is a clean sweep that goes back 25 yrs .. whereas 71-52 is nowhere close to being a clean sweep and never was ( Pak lost the 1st ever ODI vs Ind in 1978 at Quetta lol )

I know it hurts you alot, but overall Pakistan has been a better team than India historically and statistically, despite being 7 times smaller in size and almost 8 times smaller in population :))
 
I know it hurts you alot, but overall Pakistan has been a better team than India historically and statistically, despite being 7 times smaller in size :))

What has size got to do with this? Its not like the bigger the country the more players they can put on the field.

Australia and SA have been an even better side than Pakistan, and Australia is just 1/7th of Pakistan too.

Anyways, just watch as India catches up on the next few years.
 
Not difficult to have a good home season on tailor-made wickets. We crushed the Aussies 2:0, you're probably going to lose 2:1. Another humiliating home loss like the one against England. Pakistan meanwhile, are undefeated for over seven years in the UAE.
.

BUMP .... humiliating loss ehh ? ... let the excuses begin. You cant even use the pitch logic now lol
 
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What has size got to do with this? Its not like the bigger the country the more players they can put on the field.

Australia and SA have been an even better side than Pakistan, and Australia is just 1/7th of Pakistan too.

Anyways, just watch as India catches up on the next few years.

Well then they are 1/14th of India I guess, which is a shame.. at one time, in the 90s, India had only 1 sporting icon out of billion people to worship and that was Sachin... pretty low output of sporting heroes for such a large population I must say
 
I know it hurts you alot, but overall Pakistan has been a better team than India historically and statistically, despite being 7 times smaller in size and almost 8 times smaller in population :))

Hurt? Do you even know what it feels like to eject your bitter rivals from 3 World Cups? ( 1996, 2007, 2011 ) :))
 
Well then they are 1/14th of India I guess, which is a shame.. at one time, in the 90s, India had only 1 sporting icon out of billion people to worship and that was Sachin... pretty low output of sporting heroes for such a large population I must say

we might have been wherever. The question is, where are we now?
 
Hurt? Do you even know what it feels like to eject your bitter rivals from 3 World Cups? ( 1996, 2007, 2011 ) :))

Just 3 matches? Just another cricket match for me, we've won 19 more matches than you.. many as historic as any cricket matches ever.. ofcourse Indian media makes you believe those world cup matches are the only that took place in Indian history, but we've satisfied ourselves alot seeing your batsmen quiver infront of our pace bowling...
 
Just 3 matches? Just another cricket match for me, we've won 19 more matches than you.. many as historic as any cricket matches ever.. ofcourse Indian media makes you believe those world cup matches are the only that took place in Indian history, but we've satisfied ourselves alot seeing your batsmen quiver infront of our pace bowling...

LOL. Pace bowling that gets hit for sixes. More World Cups, Champions Trophies, no 1 maces etc etc. India India India!!!
 
haha. good response!

you would think he would shut up now but no ... just wait and see how he will try and rate Kitply Cup's higher than WorldCup :))

Just 3 matches? Just another cricket match for me, we've won 19 more matches than you.. many as historic as any cricket matches ever.. ofcourse Indian media makes you believe those world cup matches are the only that took place in Indian history, but we've satisfied ourselves alot seeing your batsmen quiver infront of our pace bowling...

So a WorldCup is just like another match ... let me guess was Kitply Cup being the best Win out of those ... right ? :)))
 
you would think he would shut up now but no ... just wait and see how he will try and rate Kitply Cup's higher than WorldCup :))



So a WorldCup is just like another match ... let me guess was Kitply Cup being the best Win out of those ... right ? :)))

Statistically its just another match.. we have won 19 more :)) please go over all the world cup matches now to make yourselves feel better..you still have a long way to go (19 more games)
 
Cups don't matter, but seeing India getting defeated every time is a sight to behold, we have had those sights 19 more times than you.. everytime its a pleasure in itself :))

It is probably a good idea to stop living in the past and to join the 21st century. Be thankful that India chooses not to play Pakistan in Tests (and otherwise except for the occasional LOIs), its not pretty when #1 thrashes #6.
 
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