Challenge to Indian fans

I am quite prepared to admit that India is the best team in the world if you win the forthcoming series.

Are you prepared to do the same if SA wins, given that we drew the recent series in India?

If, by Best in the World you mean only counting the matches between the top two ranked sides then yes.

No, I think the general consensus here is that SA and India are the best at the moment.

I would agree. On the field now, there's not much between India & South Africa. The two sides are some distance ahead of the next group, comprising England, Australia & Sri Lanka.

I think England (on the up) and Sri Lanka are about level, and it looks very much like Australia will settle in 5th for a while when the current seasons round of Tests are completed.

Windies Snoozers and Paksters are fighting for 6th, with the Bangles propping up the table.

Since South Africa held India to a drawn series away from home, if India fail to at least do the same, it will be difficult to claim the number one spot outright. Likewise, if SA can't win, I'd probably consider them equal, deciding which is better dependant on who they beat (or not as the case may be) next.

i dont think anyone in india claimed india was best in the world when we beat aus at home in 2001 and drew away in 2003-04

Growler wrote:I would agree. On the field now, there's not much between India & South Africa. The two sides are some distance ahead of the next group, comprising England, Australia & Sri Lanka.

Really? Ind & SA are the weakest 1,2 for years imo. Bit like claiming to be the least bald bloke at a baldie convention...

We'll always be the best team in the World. Always were, always will be. Even when we were losing to everyone.

furriner wrote:We'll always be the best team in the World. Always were, always will be. Even when we were losing to everyone.

Good to have you back , Karti

embee wrote:

furriner wrote:We'll always be the best team in the World. Always were, always will be. Even when we were losing to everyone.

Good to have you back , Karti

Just a few days ago I was being touted as the reincarnation of this mysterious, "Karti".

Now Furri?

What is going on?

DJ_Smerk wrote:.........
Just a few days ago I was being touted as the reincarnation of this mysterious, "Karti".
..............
What is going on?

Conf of Karti high.

JKLever wrote:

Growler wrote:I would agree. On the field now, there's not much between India & South Africa. The two sides are some distance ahead of the next group, comprising England, Australia & Sri Lanka.

Really? Ind & SA are the weakest 1,2 for years imo. Bit like claiming to be the least bald bloke at a baldie convention...

Maybe so JK, but in the world of the blind - the one-eyed man is king, as the expression goes.

The fact is, when we played India 2 winters ago, we were well beaten in one Test, and batted out of the game in the other. Last winter, the 1-1 result belies the fact that we got out of jail v the SAffers.

Since that series, who have we beaten? Bangladesh away & home - whoopedy doo. A village green XI sorry, Pakistan - who had the resistance of a mars-bar, and an Australian squad coming apart at the seams day by day.

Now, we host Sri Lanka then India next summer. If we win at least one more test and have the better of the other games in Australia, and follow up with two good series wins next summer ..... then I'll unequivocally say there's no gap worth talking about.

But not yet. This current England set-up has the potential to be one of the best in our lifetimes. However, right now, thats all it is - potential. They'll prove themselves one way or another over the next few years. One thing's fore sure, there is some interesting cricket to come.

Oh, i'm not judging England as a contender at all. Just on their own merits I think SA & India are currently the two best sides. But imo, there's a thin rizzla paper between them and the rest not a massive gap as there used to be between Australia and the rest.

Don't know why some people are suddenly decrying Englands performance in SA either. We were expected to get smashed, thought we fought hard all the way. We played pretty well in India too before coming on the end of a Tendy special.

SA couldn't beat the 5th ranked side at home and India struggled to put away the shaggers recently. There is no dominant side. Sides used to fear playing Aus - no side in world cricket at the moment makes me fear them or that we couldn't beat them.

JKLever wrote:There is no dominant side. Sides used to fear playing Aus - no side in world cricket at the moment makes me fear them or that we couldn't beat them.

Spot on JK.

Why would you have to be absolutely dominant like WI of '70s and '80s and Aus of late '90s and '00s to be called no.1 in world?

I mean those 2 teams were 2 of the all time best teams in 130-odd years old test cricket's history.

Even if India can achieve half of of what they (WI and Aus) achieved during their heydays, I'd be overjoyed.

I think we're actually in general agreement JK ....... I think there is a little way between the top two and the rest. Certainly not a huge gap, and I do believe it may be closing fast.

You're right. we got on the wrong end of Tendulkars brilliance in 08/9, and have been on the up since then. Starting with the Cardiff draw and subsequent series win it's been mostly good. My comments Re SA weren't knocking England - quite the opposite .... we got out of jail by fighting hard, and the draw was deserved, not lucky. We simply couldn't have done more last summer, and we are playing well on tour now.

I just don't want to be getting too gobby too soon - thats why I say let's see if we can put two decent sides away next summer without any banana skins.....

Right now, India have following record in all test playing nations.

Eng (Home/Away)
WI (Home/Away)
NZ (Home/Away)
Pak (Home)
Aus (Home)
SL (Home)
SA (None)

I know thats not spectacular record by any stretch of imagination, certainly nowhere near to what Aus and WI achieved, still its not that bad either, especially considering we were considered such poor tourists not so long ago.

Statistically India are no.1, considering their stats of last 2-3 years. I agree we've some huge battles (SA, Aus and Eng away) on hand in next year or so. Even if we can win at least 2/3 series, I'd say I won't be disappointed by this team's efforts.

I guess it would give some people a hard-on to claim their side is the best in the world to all on an internet forum. So in answer to the original question, yeah. OK.

SG wrote:Why would you have to be absolutely dominant like WI of '70s and '80s and Aus of late '90s and '00s to be called no.1 in world?

You don't and I acknowledged that fact SA & India are a ciggie paper above the rest of the teams atm. My point is that there are no outstanding teams so the claim to be 'no.1' in that situation is a bit like claiming the ugliest man crown in an ugly contest. All the sides between SA-Ind-SL-Eng & Aus are much of a muchness in my opinion.

I think it might be some time until there is a team as dominant as Aus/WI were. England could potentially have a shot at the number 1 spot in the rankings if they continue to improve and have a bit of luck over the next few years but they definately won't be as dominant as either of those two teams.

Yep. We can take that as bit of a given.

JKLever wrote:All the sides between SA-Ind-SL-Eng & Aus are much of a muchness in my opinion.

I won't put SL in that group. Firstly, they don't get too many chances to play away from home. And even if they get, they usually flounder.

SA are the leading team...until the bannies can beat ordinairy teams like Oz away from subicon they will continue to lack credibility...england and SL are simply mediocre

So, as I suspected, no Indian would take the challenge up.

does it make you feel like a man taipan?

hey, I said I would acknowledge India if they won.

Obviously you haven't the balls.