Rank the test sides

[Furball]

Sri Lanka are definitely in the top 4 sides in the world right now, and I'd say they're almost on a par with the top 3. Not quite sure I'd agree that they're number 2 in the world as per the rankings, but the current top 4 (South Africa, Australia, India and Sri Lanka) are quite comfortably in front of the bottom 4 in my opinion.

The big question however, is can Sri Lanka stay there. Vaas has retired, Murali will join him shortly, and in terms of impact, that's as big, if not bigger, than the retirements of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

As long as Murali keeps playing, they're almost invincible at home. Away, I'm not convinced that they have what's required to challenge and beat Australia, South Africa and England, however Kulasekara has certainly improved over the last year or so, and they've got Malinga to come back from injury, who although more suited to the shorter forms, has the potential to be devastating in whites as well.

I really hope they can stay competitive post-Murali, because Sri Lanka get a raw deal when it comes to Test cricket. They should be playing a lot more series vs the "big" sides, and should be playing longer series. If they were to start a series vs South Africa tomorrow, then it would be a 2 or 3 Test series, and as things stand, that would be a series between the top 2 sides in the world!

Sri Lanka's plight is why I'm in favour of some sort of Test Championship. There needs to be a mechanism in place which means that the top teams at the time play proper length series.

 

[Cruxdude]

The FTP is not fair. First of all two test series should be kicked out along with 7 ODI series. Srilanka for a long time has been restricted to home series.

More meaningful test series would really be great. Looking forward to Srilanka touring India. It should be highly competitive.

 

[Furball]

The FTP is not fair. First of all two test series should be kicked out along with 7 ODI series. Srilanka for a long time has been restricted to home series.

More meaningful test series would really be great. Looking forward to Srilanka touring India. It should be highly competitive.

The FTP at least forces teams to play each other regularly, without it we'd have endless series between India, Pakistan, Australia, England and possibly South Africa, and they'd be heavy on limited overs stuff, as that's what would generate the most money for the individual boards.

 

[pako007]

can ppl just stop saying: they wont beat sa in saf or something similar to that. it`s cricket and any1 that stands up and says im gonna win is gonna win. every1 on this forum said that sa would beat pak easily, i cant remember 1 post saying that pak wil win. that is cricket for you, afridi stood up and comprehensively delivered the world cup. and as far sri lanka is concerned they are lokking better every single match they play, so i would say let them play the game. for stats i say sri lanka and pakistan are favourites for the champions trophy, becoz these teams are improving every minute and i even think these teams will be number 1 and 2 of the world in the future. just give them a year or 2. hope the rest of the forum disagrees with me then i know i am right

 

[straw man]

Based on recent results:
SA > England
India > Aus
SL > India
SA > Aus
Aus > SA
England > Aus

Don't forget WI > England

 

[straw man]

I really hope they can stay competitive post-Murali, because Sri Lanka get a raw deal when it comes to Test cricket. They should be playing a lot more series vs the "big" sides, and should be playing longer series. If they were to start a series vs South Africa tomorrow, then it would be a 2 or 3 Test series, and as things stand, that would be a series between the top 2 sides in the world!

Sri Lanka's plight is why I'm in favour of some sort of Test Championship. There needs to be a mechanism in place which means that the top teams at the time play proper length series.

The ICC is unlikely to reinstate 3-test minimum series IMO. However there could at least be a requirement that teams at a similar level play 3-test minimum series. How about a 3-test minimum if the ICC rankings points of the two teams when the series is scheduled (6 months out?) is within say, 25 points of each other?

Therefore on current rankings:
SL vs SA - minimum 3 tests
NZ vs WI - minimum 3 tests (recently played a rain affected 2 test series = total waste of time)
SA vs NZ - minimum 2 tests (as unlikely to be competitive at present)

Currently WI, NZ, Pak and SL are playing too few tests and it's not helping WI, NZ or Pak sail out of the doldrums they're in at the moment. SL are an exception as they're competitive despite relative lack of matches.

Adding this new requirement would help increase test match play without adding any more uncompetitive lopsided tests than at present, and also without the extremes of a two-tier system (which would be a disaster IMO). Would also reward improving teams with longer series against the better sides.

 

[SJS]

can ppl just stop saying: they wont beat sa in saf or something similar to that. it`s cricket and any1 that stands up and says im gonna win is gonna win. every1 on this forum said that sa would beat pak easily, i cant remember 1 post saying that pak wil win. that is cricket for you, afridi stood up and comprehensively delivered the world cup. and as far sri lanka is concerned they are lokking better every single match they play, so i would say let them play the game. for stats i say sri lanka and pakistan are favourites for the champions trophy, becoz these teams are improving every minute and i even think these teams will be number 1 and 2 of the world in the future. just give them a year or 2. hope the rest of the forum disagrees with me then i know i am right

Having got that out, how does it feel?

Kidding.

 

[Brett Dale]

As soon as Vaughan agreed to dropping a third test against, Aussie, that was it for test cricket.

 

[marc71178]

The ICC is unlikely to reinstate 3-test minimum series IMO. However there could at least be a requirement that teams at a similar level play 3-test minimum series. How about a 3-test minimum if the ICC rankings points of the two teams when the series is scheduled (6 months out?) is within say, 25 points of each other?

The problem is, series are scheduled much more than 6 months before they start - in most cases I'd say it's nearer 18 months,

 

[straw man]

The problem is, series are scheduled much more than 6 months before they start - in most cases I'd say it's nearer 18 months,

Hrmm, I suppose that could be a problem as a lot more can change in 18 months than in 6 months.

However I would have thought it would not be unachievable to have some level of flexibility up to 6 months (or 12 months) out from the matches. India recently made the late addition of an extra test to the series in NZ for example.

And if six months out from a test series the rankings changed and two teams were suddenly forced to schedule an extra test in a cramped calendar, perhaps a couple of ODIs or 2020s would have to give way. A headache but not the end of the world.

 

[Flem274*]

As soon as Vaughan agreed to dropping a third test against, Aussie, that was it for test cricket.

Oh shut up. Are you Slippyslips cousin or something?

I'd like to see three test series for everyone too, including Bangladesh if they're going to keep test status. Sri Lanka definitely need to stop being dicked around as they're a real challenger atm, especially on home turf.

 

[wpdavid]

Don't forget WI > England

2-1 over two legs wasn't it?

 

[chaminda_00]

Australia and India have been playing better sides in the period that you use though, thats the whole point. You can say whatever you want about 2 test series, but SL had to lose a test match in order to draw those series. AFAIC, until they start winning series away from home, its hard to see how they can be ranked amongst the top 3 in the world. They are probably comparable with England at this point.

Australia comfortably defeated WI when they toured there (and beat SA away from home) and have only lost 1 home series this decade. India have beaten NZ, WI and England away from home and have only lost 1 home series since 2000. SA have won away series in Pakistan, NZ, Australia, England and drew a series with India. Sri Lanka's home record is comparable to these teams but their away record is shocking.

Personally, I don't really hold out much hope for their batting away from home. They over rely on Jayawardhene and Sangakkara and whilst Samaraweera and Dilshan have potential, there is no one else that merits a mention. Other than perhaps Angelo Matthews but I haven't seen him bat in whites yet. The fast bowling stocks are ordinary as well and with Murali's impending retirement the future is rather bleak IMO.

Ok so the same India side that we completely outplayed last we played them, is that much better then us. Also is the same Australia that had a then World Record run chase against West Indies, comfortable beat West Indies. Yeah we haven't been as dominate away from home, but India and Australia have some major issues with their sides as well.

Clearly you haven't seen much of our bowling attack if you think they are ordinary. It has been our bowling attack that has taken our game to another level and recent our seam attack. Murali been below par during that time as well. When Murali goes, Malinga comes straight in. Which should give us a pace attack that will win more matches away from home.

 

[oitoitoi]

2-1 over two legs wasn't it?

Don't think you can really take that second leg seriously, the Windies boys were clearly not interested in being here, and they were hideously under prepared in horrible conditions (May is not the time for cricket in England). Still England are the better side regardless, however not by as much as you might think.

Totally agree that SL need to stop being 'dicked around', unbelievable that they've never been able to play a test series more than 3 games long, would love to see them get a proper summer tour in England, reckon they'd win too, much better chance than playing in May.

 

[straw man]

2-1 over two legs wasn't it?

Yes, you are correct of course. Sorry that return series had totally slipped my mind

 

[George.Hinton]

They already have. Their batting depth is gash. Look at the situation with Dravid currently. He has been carried in the test side for 2 years, plus even brought back into the ODI team.

If he was AUS neither would have happened. If you remember what happened with Junior Waugh in 2002.

India are the Youth world champions and just won the Emerging players tournament in Australia.

I don't think they lack talent.

 

[marc71178]

Youth World Cups mean nothing and didn't they have a much more senior squad in that emerging players tournament than most of the others?

 

[R_D]

Ok so the same India side that we completely outplayed last we played them, is that much better then us. Also is the same Australia that had a then World Record run chase against West Indies, comfortable beat West Indies. Yeah we haven't been as dominate away from home, but India and Australia have some major issues with their sides as well.

Clearly you haven't seen much of our bowling attack if you think they are ordinary. It has been our bowling attack that has taken our game to another level and recent our seam attack. Murali been below par during that time as well. When Murali goes, Malinga comes straight in. Which should give us a pace attack that will win more matches away from home.

No one's denying Sri Lanka's superiority at home thou.... they probaly have the best record at home in past 10 years bar Australia. Its what they do away from home is concern... bit like India of 90's where they couldn't win a single test match away from home for more than a decade.
But would really like to see Sri Lanka play one India, SA or Aus soon.

As regards to rating....
1. South Africa
2. India
3. Australia
4. Sri Lanka

 

[tooextracool]

Ok so the same India side that we completely outplayed last we played them, is that much better then us. Also is the same Australia that had a then World Record run chase against West Indies, comfortable beat West Indies. Yeah we haven't been as dominate away from home, but India and Australia have some major issues with their sides as well.

Sl beat India at home (hardly comfortable considering it went down till the last test) where they are typically very good, although it was a direct result of M & M rather than anything else. The batting was brittle and that is why SL lost the 2nd test match. But India's home record is almost as unflappable (having not lost a home series since 2004) and India has beaten NZ, England and WI away from home in recent years, which SL haven't accomplished.

Clearly you haven't seen much of our bowling attack if you think they are ordinary. It has been our bowling attack that has taken our game to another level and recent our seam attack. Murali been below par during that time as well. When Murali goes, Malinga comes straight in. Which should give us a pace attack that will win more matches away from home.

I have not seen Thushara and Kulasekara in the recent home series against Pakistan, though I have seen Kulasekara bowl before, in England he looked out of his depth and then when I saw him against India he wasn't very flash either. He could have improved since then, I don't deny that but a series against Pakistan at home doesn't change much. Thushara, I don't know enough about so I wont comment.

Malinga is a hopelessly overrated bowler who whilst can bowl some excellent spells, simply lacks the consistency to take wickets regularly in the longer format. Not surprising either when you look at his bowling action. Not that he shouldn't be in the side, his pace and swing adds a bit of X factor to the attack.

The point however, I want to stress is that you are saying that this attack could win matches away from home. Well I am not going to doubt it when I have seen little of them lately, but the point is that they need to do it first before they can be considered number 2. You dont get to number 2 based on potential.

 

[slippyslip]

Don't think you can really take that second leg seriously, the Windies boys were clearly not interested in being here, and they were hideously under prepared in horrible conditions

Ooh, be careful. You get into trouble around here for suggesting that teams like the West Indies dont always put 100% into test cricket.

You'll get the idiots upset.