What is it about this Indian team that makes it the best team around now?

[OMB]

Currently, Indians have been the only team consistent in winning both away and at home.
While they have always been extremely difficult to beat at home, the success rate has hugely improved due to the away tour victories.
Their performance across all formats has been impressive and barring the sole defeat to NZ in one off WTC test finals, the India team has generally registered series wins.

Longest reign in Tests unbeaten
Australia has 18 in 1999 to 2001 and again 22 from 2005 to 2008.
India took over that mantle and have 19 from 2015 to 2017.
This dominance was what made Australia the best team in the world and that metric shows why India has been the best team recently.

New Zealand who can lay a claim to being the best team doesn't have this longevity record. Their claim arises from the WTC final and their strong home showing. However whenever they have stepped out of their home, they haven't won. They lost to India in 2016-17, drew aaginst Sri Lanka in 2019 and lost to Australia in 2019-20.

England have been impressive in shorter form but found wanting in tests and South Africa remains a shadow of its former self.

The Indian team's transformation has been happening slowly over the last 2 decades under some great leadership of captains such as Ganguly, Dhoni and Kohli.
In this period, India went from being a mid table team to being a home bully feared for its home record and batting and spin bowling prowess. Now it has armed itself with a very potent pace bowling department and enjoys great bench strength.

What are the reasons for its transformation?
What is it about this Indian team that makes it the best team around now?

 

[Bewal Express]

I found the secret to having good teams- have good players.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Let them first win this series

 

[Junaids]

They are the second best Test team around.

They have been slaughtered in 3 consecutive Tests by NZ, including the World Test Championship Final.

India’s claim to being the world’s best Test team is exactly the same as Croatia’s claim to be the world’s best football team.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

They are the second best Test team around.

They have been slaughtered in 3 consecutive Tests by NZ, including the World Test Championship Final.

India’s claim to being the world’s best Test team is exactly the same as Croatia’s claim to be the world’s best football team.

Why can't NZ win against Australia in Australia, is it a mental block?

 

[Junaids]

Why can't NZ win against Australia in Australia, is it a mental block?

They came close in 2015: they were 3 wickets away from drawing the series 1-1.

In 2019-20 they were a bit unlucky: there was one pink ball Test and one Perth Test which both hugely favoured Australia.

Next year they are likely to play at Sydney, Melbourne and in a pink ball match at Adelaide, and they will have an outstanding chance.

 

[OMB]

Ofcourse they have to win the series but that still doesn't take away from their achievements till date.
Thread more about why they have improved so much? Not about whether

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

They came close in 2015: they were 3 wickets away from drawing the series 1-1.

In 2019-20 they were a bit unlucky: there was one pink ball Test and one Perth Test which both hugely favoured Australia.

Next year they are likely to play at Sydney, Melbourne and in a pink ball match at Adelaide, and they will have an outstanding chance.

So supposedly the best team in the world needs favourable grounds and conditions to win test matches overseas.

I saw the NZ team in Australia on Boxing day and they were completely overpowered by Australian team.
Same line up was beaten comprehensively by Indians in Melbourne next year without Virat Kohli/Shami/Ishant/Rohit in the team.
NZ lost comprehensively in Sydney as well in 2019. So that is 2 out of 3 venues gone. No hope for them in Adelaide as well.

I love how you are just twisting facts to somehow put India down.

 

[dildilpak]

They came close in 2015: they were 3 wickets away from drawing the series 1-1.

In 2019-20 they were a bit unlucky: there was one pink ball Test and one Perth Test which both hugely favoured Australia.

Next year they are likely to play at Sydney, Melbourne and in a pink ball match at Adelaide, and they will have an outstanding chance.

India was similarly unlucky in an unfair WTC final, with one team having to play an one off test without any match practice while the other had a full series in those conditions before that match.

And as far NZ defeating India in NZ is concerned, am sure India is looking to return the favor at home in the next WTC cycle.

Not much separates the 2 teams in my opinion.

 

[Bewal Express]

The starting point to all good teams is to have at least 2 top notch batsman and bowlers. Anymore than that and you start to challenge to be the best in the World. India have a Bumrah, Shami and Siraj with Sharma and Although I am not convinced with Bumrahs action, the fact is that he ia bowling and leading the attack and backed by the other 3 means there isn't any easing of pressure at any time. The batting is a little weaker with Kohli a little short of confidence but is good enough to score the runs to give the bowlers something to bowl at.

 

[Bewal Express]

India was similarly unlucky in an unfair WTC final, with one team having to play an one off test without any match practice while the other had a full series in those conditions before that match.

And as far NZ defeating India in NZ is concerned, am sure India is looking to return the favor at home in the next WTC cycle.

Not much separates the 2 teams in my opinion.

But they could have got the practice if they wanted. Just accept that NZ on the grassing, harder wickets are a better team

 

[dildilpak]

But they could have got the practice if they wanted. Just accept that NZ on the grassing, harder wickets are a better team

I never will deny that India is a bit dicey on swing & seam wickets, but then the scheduling of the NZ tour was very cleverly done. Am sure BCCI will make sure of returning the favor to NZ next time around

 

[U$ofA]

But they could have got the practice if they wanted. Just accept that NZ on the grassing, harder wickets are a better team

Would be interesting to see how NZ does in their upcoming tour of India. If they win, then no question they are the best team. If they lose, then equal footing as number 1 for both India and NZ.

 

[guna]

India has the bowling to take 20 wickets in SENA countries. The only question now is if their batting can post enough runs.

These days, when the Indian batting clicks or even plays decently, India most often wins in away tours too.

Of course, in home conditions, our bowling is at ATG level.

 

[Bewal Express]

Would be interesting to see how NZ does in their upcoming tour of India. If they win, then no question they are the best team. If they lose, then equal footing as number 1 for both India and NZ.

India will smash NZ in India and if Jameson is fit NZ would beat Ind in NZ. On a neutral venue NZ won, so until Ind beat NZ in NZ or on a neutral venue, NZ are better

 

[jnaveen1980]

This NZ is definitely an ATG NZ team under a brilliant captain. With the right combination of team India can beat this NZ side even in their favorable conditions. Agarwal/Shaw were preferred over Gill in NZ despite the fact Gill was outstanding in tour games. Siraj was left out in the final. Once India shores up their middle order after kicking out the deadwoods their batting, they will have a side that will beat NZ in any condition.

 

[U$ofA]

India will smash NZ in India and if Jameson is fit NZ would beat Ind in NZ. On a neutral venue NZ won, so until Ind beat NZ in NZ or on a neutral venue, NZ are better

Not sure how long we have to wait for that to happen.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Not sure how long we have to wait for that to happen.

NZ has to do well overseas besides English/NZ conditions.

 

[U$ofA]

NZ has to do well overseas besides English/NZ conditions.

I don't think a neutral venue match between Ind and NZ is happening any time soon. The only way that will happen is at a WTC final.

But then again, not sure how long the WTC will be around.

 

[dildilpak]

India will smash NZ in India and if Jameson is fit NZ would beat Ind in NZ. On a neutral venue NZ won, so until Ind beat NZ in NZ or on a neutral venue, NZ are better

There was nothing neutral about the WTC final, albeit only on paper. Bowling under swinging conditions under a cloud cover by a team which had months of match practice under those conditions while the other was fresh off the plane. If Pakistan was the other team facing NZ we would be all hopping mad too.

Lets face it, NZ is never gonna defeat India in India just like India will never defeat NZ in NZ till their batting cant cope with extreme swing. So even stevens till then.

 

[U$ofA]

There was nothing neutral about the WTC final, albeit only on paper. Bowling under swinging conditions under a cloud cover by a team which had months of match practice under those conditions while the other was fresh off the plane. If Pakistan was the other team facing NZ we would be all hopping mad too.

Lets face it, NZ is never gonna defeat India in India just like India will never defeat NZ in NZ till their batting cant cope with extreme swing. So even stevens till then.

I guess WTC conditions were closer to NZ home conditions. I guess if the WTC final was in UAE, SL or Bangladesh, maybe even Aus, India would have had the advantage.

 

[Varun]

In both previous tours of England, each 5 tests long, we lost momentum in the latter half of the series. Didn't even win a single test in the last 3 games of either tour.

So let's hold our horses here.

 

[mastimasti]

Currently, Indians have been the only team consistent in winning both away and at home.
While they have always been extremely difficult to beat at home, the success rate has hugely improved due to the away tour victories.
Their performance across all formats has been impressive and barring the sole defeat to NZ in one off WTC test finals, the India team has generally registered series wins.

Longest reign in Tests unbeaten
Australia has 18 in 1999 to 2001 and again 22 from 2005 to 2008.
India took over that mantle and have 19 from 2015 to 2017.
This dominance was what made Australia the best team in the world and that metric shows why India has been the best team recently.

New Zealand who can lay a claim to being the best team doesn't have this longevity record. Their claim arises from the WTC final and their strong home showing. However whenever they have stepped out of their home, they haven't won. They lost to India in 2016-17, drew aaginst Sri Lanka in 2019 and lost to Australia in 2019-20.

England have been impressive in shorter form but found wanting in tests and South Africa remains a shadow of its former self.

The Indian team's transformation has been happening slowly over the last 2 decades under some great leadership of captains such as Ganguly, Dhoni and Kohli.
In this period, India went from being a mid table team to being a home bully feared for its home record and batting and spin bowling prowess. Now it has armed itself with a very potent pace bowling department and enjoys great bench strength.

What are the reasons for its transformation?
What is it about this Indian team that makes it the best team around now?

I think the World Test Championship was won by New Zealand...or are the kiwis Indian?

 

[jnaveen1980]

In both previous tours of England, each 5 tests long, we lost momentum in the latter half of the series. Didn't even win a single test in the last 3 games of either tour.

So let's hold our horses here.

Dhoni's 7 test loss in 8 tests was hammering. India won one. But they decided to play for draw from that point. Under Kohli not a lot could separate India and England. Tailenders made the different for England. Could very well have won 3-2

 

[Varun]

Dhoni's 7 test loss in 8 tests was hammering. India won one. But they decided to play for draw from that point. Under Kohli not a lot could separate India and England. Tailenders made the different for England. Could very well have won 3-2

Dhoni had zero test match brains, and in that tour (2014) lost all interest in the cricket part of the series after that Jadeja-Anderson incident.

 

[Savak]

Bench strength, a vision, making sure there are 3-4 replacements for every slot and not carrying dead wood forever. Combine this with determined aggressive die hard spirit and captaincy and you have a very good combination

 

[MP2011]

They came close in 2015: they were 3 wickets away from drawing the series 1-1.

So all you could remember is a series which was played 6 years back which 'could have been drawn'.

 

[MP2011]

Not much separates the 2 teams in my opinion.

Quite a bit actually. Despite winning WTC in favourable environs, NZ isn't the best test team in the world. They're miserable on any pitch which isn't seaming something which you can't say about India.

 

[MP2011]

On a neutral venue NZ won, so until Ind beat NZ in NZ or on a neutral venue, NZ are better

How is England a neutral venue for a test that's being played between India & NZ?

Why not UAE or SL or even WI?

 

[Ab Fan]

The credit goes to IPL.

It is because of IPL, our fast bowlers are used to pressure situations more often than others. This is also the reason when the going gets tougher, everytime a new superstar stands up.

Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Washington Sundar, Bhuvaneswar Kumar, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Hardik Pandya, Deepak Chahar, SuryaKumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan are all products of IPL and they have illustrated their worth time and again across different formats, and some of these names have done it across all formats.

IPL is on par with World T20 and greater than T20Is which is why legendary overseas cricketers like Kagiso Rabada, Kane Williamson and Ben Stokes are going to prioritize IPL over international T20Is because the environment they get exposed to in IPL helps them bring out their best in the ICC world tournaments and Test Cricket.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

lol at NZ being anywhere near India. NZ will get massacred anywhere where the ball doesn't swing. India can win series even in SENA. NZ is also Australia's punching bag, India doesn't have any team that bullies them.

 

[deep82]

India is definitely right up there just below NZ because NZ did win the WTC Final and also the series in NZ which is highly commendable.

But the fact is that NZ is also untested outside of their comfort zone. All 3 test vs India were in perfect swinging condition which they generally excel in.

Put them in flat conditions ( Australia) or spinning conditions( India), they will struggle more often than not. But NZ also have a potent pace attack at par with India or maybe better. That is undeniable.

 

[Sir-fraz]

NZL is a good team, but no where near the Indian team.. its not even a debate.

 

[Bewal Express]

How is England a neutral venue for a test that's being played between India & NZ?

Why not UAE or SL or even WI?

How is not. You guys keep telling us that the ICC is controlled by the BCCI, and as far as I know NZ isn't part of the UK. If you know differently please enlighten us

 

[Bewal Express]

There was nothing neutral about the WTC final, albeit only on paper. Bowling under swinging conditions under a cloud cover by a team which had months of match practice under those conditions while the other was fresh off the plane. If Pakistan was the other team facing NZ we would be all hopping mad too.

Lets face it, NZ is never gonna defeat India in India just like India will never defeat NZ in NZ till their batting cant cope with extreme swing. So even stevens till then.

But it was your decision not to come earlier.

 

[MP2011]

Dhoni's 7 test loss in 8 tests was hammering. India won one. But they decided to play for draw from that point. Under Kohli not a lot could separate India and England. Tailenders made the different for England. Could very well have won 3-2

Dhoni may have been a great LoI captain for us, but he completely destroyed our test team especially in away tests.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

How is not. You guys keep telling us that the ICC is controlled by the BCCI, and as far as I know NZ isn't part of the UK. If you know differently please enlighten us

It was the same as India playing Nz in Sri Lanka or Bangladesh.
We will beat them into a pulp, they won't even compete.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

In both previous tours of England, each 5 tests long, we lost momentum in the latter half of the series. Didn't even win a single test in the last 3 games of either tour.

So let's hold our horses here.

Last tour, we won the 3rd test match.

 

[JaDed]

Lol if we were all that we would had won the WTC.

 

[MP2011]

You guys keep telling us that the ICC is controlled by the BCCI,

Making things up now, eh?

and as far as I know NZ isn't part of the UK. If you know differently please enlighten us

Now, now! Don't act naive! You are better than this.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

We aren't the best team. Its clearly New Zealand.

 

[Bewal Express]

Making things up now, eh?


Now, now! Don't act naive! You are better than this.

It was a BCCI decision not to come early, and England was a neutral venue.

 

[Bewal Express]

It was the same as India playing Nz in Sri Lanka or Bangladesh.
We will beat them into a pulp, they won't even compete.

That's irrelevant, you played them in England and you lost.

 

[MP2011]

and England was a neutral venue.

If anything England being chosen as venue of WTC final conclusively proves that ICC isn't controlled by BCCI, far from it.

 

[Bewal Express]

If anything England being chosen as venue of WTC final conclusively proves that ICC isn't controlled by BCCI, far from it.

Or Lords being the home of cricket was the reason

 

[U$ofA]

Why was Eng chosen for WTC final? Whatever happened to ICC=BCCI?

 

[hitthestump]

If you gave Mongolia a billion people to choose from, all the money, all the power, and a sensible and efficient management - they will become the best too.

The fact that India's number 1 spot is even debatable is embarassing. They should be completely dominating all forms of cricket from now until the foreseeable future.

 

[Mesozoic]

How are we the best team in the world?

England are the current ODI world Champions.

New Zealand are the current world Test Champions.

West Indies are the current T20 world Champions.

Pakistan are the current Champions Trophy holders.

This whole "best in the world when you take all formats into consideration" thing is nothing but laughworthy and kind of comes off as desperate when you realize that India have won zero ICC titles in any format in the last 8 years.

 

[Robert]

Very good pace attack
Very good spinner (Ashwin)
Batting good enough to get enough runs for bowlers to work with
Very confident and aggressive
Not scared of pace

But NZ are better.

 

[Saurav]

In both previous tours of England, each 5 tests long, we lost momentum in the latter half of the series. Didn't even win a single test in the last 3 games of either tour.

So let's hold our horses here.

in 2018,its the 3rd Test we won.

 

[Saurav]

Or Lords being the home of cricket was the reason

Once Lords was removed as the venue,why did it have to be in England?

Why not some iconic venue like MCG,SCG,Joburg etc

 

[jnaveen1980]

WIth right inform players India is capable of beating NZ anywhere. Even in the final India had them on the mat before tailenders slogged a efw in the end. India's biggest issue was tailenders batting gting tail out. Thanks to the weak tail both Pant and ashwin literally threw their wickets away.

 

[Bewal Express]

Once Lords was removed as the venue,why did it have to be in England?

Why not some iconic venue like MCG,SCG,Joburg etc

I don't know, maybe you should have pulled out.

 

[MP2011]

Or Lords being the home of cricket was the reason

But was the WTC final played in Lord's?

 

[Bewal Express]

But was the WTC final played in Lord's?

Look at the scheduled match

 

[MP2011]

Look at the scheduled match

I did and found WTC final wasn't played at Lord's which was the excuse you cited for WTC final being scheduled in England.

 

[Saj]

There's a self-belief, a confidence, and aggression and that comes from self-belief and also good leadership.

The players think they can beat anyone and the skipper instils that confidence in his players.

There is no fear, they think they can take on anyone.

 

[mystical man]

In both previous tours of England, each 5 tests long, we lost momentum in the latter half of the series. Didn't even win a single test in the last 3 games of either tour.

So let's hold our horses here.

Totally agree with you even though this was a brilliant comeback.We still have 03 passengers in our team (Kohli,Pujara,Rahane) that will be a burden in the next 03 games.

 

[mystical man]

How are we the best team in the world?

England are the current ODI world Champions.

New Zealand are the current world Test Champions.

West Indies are the current T20 world Champions.

Pakistan are the current Champions Trophy holders.

This whole "best in the world when you take all formats into consideration" thing is nothing but laughworthy and kind of comes off as desperate when you realize that India have won zero ICC titles in any format in the last 8 years.

We do tend to choke but there is consistency in the way we play all 3 formats of the game which is missing in Pakistan,Windies and even South Africa

 

[Bewal Express]

I did and found WTC final wasn't played at Lord's which was the excuse you cited for WTC final being scheduled in England.

Here is a thought, ask for a replay.

 

[OldWarHorse]

There's a self-belief, a confidence, and aggression and that comes from self-belief and also good leadership.

The players think they can beat anyone and the skipper instils that confidence in his players.

There is no fear, they think they can take on anyone.

Until a KO game comes around

 

[loves_cricket]

We are not best in the world by long way, but we do not giving up to be best one.
This series is not over yet and we have to win it to be one of the best.

 

[Napa]

They are the second best Test team around.

They have been slaughtered in 3 consecutive Tests by NZ, including the World Test Championship Final.

You are too cute. NZ has got slaughtered in the last 6 Tests they have played in India and Australia. 6 is double of 3 last time I checked

 

[Napa]

Would be interesting to see how NZ does in their upcoming tour of India. If they win, then no question they are the best team. If they lose, then equal footing as number 1 for both India and NZ.

There is no hope for NZ in their India tour. They have lost the last 5 Tests they have played in India by large margins. The last series in particular was a massacre.

View attachment 111350

 

[Cricketrenew]

India don't want to make friends... they just want to win...
Attitude and fight and Kohli influence is making them win.

Overall batting has been better in the past, bowling is ok missing great spinner but its the attitude... never give in......

 

[Aman]

Take your fan claims and insignificant pool game wins.

The champs are here

 

[Aman]

You are too cute. NZ has got slaughtered in the last 6 Tests they have played in India and Australia. 6 is double of 3 last time I checked

The only win that matters.

 

[Junaids]

India’s performance in their three World Test Championship matches against the Kiwi world champions:

India 165 all out and 191 all out, lost to NZ by 10 wickets.

India 242 all out and 124 all out, lost to NZ by 7 wickets.

India 217 all out and 170 all out, lost to NZ by 8 wickets.

Pakistan were just as hopeless, but they don’t pretend to be the top team.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Their bowling attack is what makes India the best team. Batting is not that good.

 

[wrongun]

They have a great bowling lineup. Really versatile (spin options, pace styles, all rounders with seam and/or spin), really deep, really skilful and also quite pacy.

That's the key part. They are well led by a captain who knows how to back his bowlers (Dhoni did not). Compare to Roots panic and spread field after a couple of shots- demoralises the bowlers.

Their batting is good enough.

They have belief. Now that they have plucked a few epic victories against the odds, it snowballs and you never give up in any situation. A bit like the Oz juggernaught years when we could win from anywhere.

 

[Buffet]

They have a great bowling lineup. Really versatile (spin options, pace styles, all rounders with seam and/or spin), really deep, really skilful and also quite pacy.

That's the key part. They are well led by a captain who knows how to back his bowlers (Dhoni did not). Compare to Roots panic and spread field after a couple of shots- demoralises the bowlers.

Their batting is good enough.

They have belief. Now that they have plucked a few epic victories against the odds, it snowballs and you never give up in any situation. A bit like the Oz juggernaught years when we could win from anywhere.

Bold part is the key. Even normal victories in some conditions were hard for Indians, but they have pulled some epic ones in recent years.

 

[Aman]

Bold part is the key. Even normal victories in some conditions were hard for Indians, but they have pulled some epic ones in recent years.

No offense but the teams they've beaten are pretty ordinary.

Less said about the English the better, their batting is awful and our series win didn't even register because their batting was full of no names these days who have done little to nothing at the international level and are still reliant on Anderson for the bowling.

As for Aus, it's the weakest Aus team I've seen in my life time. No question. The fact we haven't been able to compete with them really irks me, but it seems more mental than anything.

When India played us they've been crushed most times. They couldn't score more than 200 in NZ and their batting has only gotten worse since then while we've added to our batting with Conway, who is truly a world class batsmen.

 

[Aman]

No offense but the teams they've beaten are pretty ordinary.

Less said about the English the better, their batting is awful and our series win didn't even register because their batting was full of no names these days who have done little to nothing at the international level and are still reliant on Anderson for the bowling.

As for Aus, it's the weakest Aus team I've seen in my life time. No question. The fact we haven't been able to compete with them really irks me, but it seems more mental than anything.

When India played us they've been crushed most times. They couldn't score more than 200 in NZ and their batting has only gotten worse since then while we've added to our batting with Conway, who is truly a world class batsmen.

Correction about Aus. One of the weakest, the first series win for India in Aus was against the weakest. That batting line up they have now is no better, Smith is no longer scoring runs for fun and who knows what's happened to Warner. Labu is the only great Test bat they have.

Bowling line up is still world class, but on the flat tracks in Aus they can be neutralized. All it requires is batting time and grinding them down.

The upcoming Ashes is going to be one of the worst in terms quality of players, the worst I've probably seen in my lifetime.

 

[Aman]

When it came to playing us when it absolutely mattered the most, this Indian team folded meekly.

Remember it was a foregone conclusion the Final was going to be drawn and the title shared, the Indian team crumbled on day 6 and we coasted to the first ever WTC.

The most embarrassing thing about that defeat was India lost the match in effectively 3.5 days.

 

[Buffet]

No offense but the teams they've beaten are pretty ordinary.



As for Aus, it's the weakest Aus team I've seen in my life time. No question. The fact we haven't been able to compete with them really irks me, but it seems more mental than anything.

Let's see how many teams crush Aus in Aus. This logic of Aus being weak because they lost to India is not the right way to think. Aus is surely not ATG team like past, but if they crush all other teams at home then keep calling them weak due to losing to India does not make sense.

Indians surely do not have all base covered otherwise, they will be near ATG team. The comment was about Indians doing unthinkable in few games and pulling a win. Lots of teams win normal games by dominating in familiar conditions. Sometimes even when playing outside, but Indians have pulled few epic ones when playing in different conditions.

Talking about the other teams being weak misses the point completely. Beating Aus in Gaba with newbies to win test series after being bundled out for 36 in the first test. Bundling Eng in 50 overs in Lords on 5th day to win when they had pretty much lost the test. They may even lose this series because I am not convinced with their batting lineup, but full credit for some epic vistories.

 

[Aman]

Let's see how many teams crush Aus in Aus. This logic of Aus being weak because they lost to India is not the right way to think. Aus is surely is not ATG team like past, but if they crush all other teams at home then keep calling them weak due to losing to India does not make sense.

Indians surely do not have all base covered otherwise, they will be near ATG team. The comment was about Indians doing unthinkable in few games and pulling a win. Lots of teams win normal games by dominating in familiar conditions. Sometimes even when playing outside, but Indians have pulled few epic ones when playing in different conditions.

Talking about the other teams being weak misses the point completely. Beating Aus in Gaba with newbies to win test series after being bundled out for 36 in the first test. Bundling Eng in 50 overs in Lords on 5th day to win when they had pretty much lost the test. They may even lose this series because I am not convinced with their batting lineup, but full credit for some epic vistories.

I grew up watching the Aussies from the end of Waugh era crush teams, this isn't a debate lol. This Aussie team is a shadow of the great teams they've had. The only one which was worse was the one when Smith and Warner were banned and they had to bring some random players who averaged in their 30s into the squad and they couldn't manage a single century in a series. They're being a led by a specialist captain who is incapable of scoring centuries.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Kohli deserves a mention too for developing the most fearsome fast bowling unit in the world.

Shami and Ishant averaged around 37 under Dhoni and now average 25 under Kohli.

 

[Aman]

The only thing preventing more teams winning in Aus is the lack of quality [MENTION=97523]Buffet[/MENTION]

England and SA are rebuilding their teams and we have a mental block which has prevented us from doing anything in Aus. Although in a two Test series I could actually see a team like SL or WI upsetting Aus in Aus.

Aus are fortunate in that most teams who should be capable of beating them are pretty ordinary today otherwise they would have lost a lot more at home.

 

[Buffet]

The only thing preventing more teams winning in Aus is the lack of quality [MENTION=97523]Buffet[/MENTION]

England and SA are rebuilding their teams and we have a mental block which has prevented us from doing anything in Aus. Although in a two Test series I could actually see a team like SL or WI upsetting Aus in Aus.

Aus are fortunate in that most teams who should be capable of beating them are pretty ordinary today otherwise they would have lost a lot more at home.

2 tests are meaningless. I don't count them the same as the proper test series wins.

Now rebuilding etc will keep happening, but Aus is pretty strong at home. No one will claim that Aus is the same as ATG Aus team, but they are very hard to beat at home. Forget about winning the series, winning few tests in Aus by visiting teams will be a good start.

 

[Aman]

2 tests are meaningless. I don't count them the same as the proper test series wins.

Now rebuilding etc will keep happening, but Aus is pretty strong at home. No one will claim that Aus is the same as ATG Aus team, but they are very hard to beat at home. Forget about winning the series, winning few tests in Aus by visiting teams will be a good start.

Yes, but if England and SA were more solid they would beat them in Aus.

Us, idk what's going to happen. Maybe more experience will get them mentally ready for Aus.

But yeah, I can definitely see SL or WI upsetting this Aus team. Some would say it's a big upset but nah, Aus aren't dominant enough for that to be out of the realm of possibility and SL/WI are capable of having a good Test and winning a match. They can't win 3 match series, at best they manage a drawn series.