They played in much worse pitches than what England got. Unlike SA, England won the toss batted first and still got thumped by an innings on a much more placid pitch.
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best team in world cricket right now
- Thread starter Shady Slim
- Start date
OverratedSanity
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SA got bowled out for 200 on a flat track in Bangalore and would've lost by an innings and plenty if not for rain.
Furball
Evil Scotsman
Ah the old 'it wad the pitches' excuse.
Anyone willing to give England a pass for drawing in Bangladesh then?
Furball
Evil Scotsman
Who are these middle orders stacked with 45+ averaging batsmen then?Lol, No they aren't. They probably have the deepest batting line-up in the world, but that doesn't categorically make them the best side on paper. They have Moeen Ali batting at numbers 4 or 5, averaging 32, Stokes who bats 5 or 6 averaging 34. Take a look at some of the averages of other middle orders around the world at the moment.
I actually think England are up there if we're talking purely non-SC conditions, probably slightly behind SA in the bowling department, even if they might bat a little longer, but not sure how you can categorically say they're the best side on paper going around. Well I can actually, you're a one-eyed English supporter.
morgieb
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I reckon there's an argument that the pitches being so bowler-friendly actually narrowed the difference between the two sides. Certainly it narrowed the gap between their spinners.
Slifer
International Captain
Not me. India is the best atm followed by RSA...then the rest. I can see India easily white washing every other team at home and being relatively competitive away. No other team is nearly as dominant at home.
Victor Ian
International Coach
Currently, Australia is the best team in the world, and Steve Smith the best batsman. India and England are not playing cricket right now, so it can't be them.
S.Kennedy
International Vice-Captain
Pakistan in the UAE (P9 W5 D4 L0)?
That is the challenge but you are having to overhaul your recent history here. Since 2011, India on tour have been beaten by England (twice), Australia (twice), South Africa and even New Zealand. It is a fairly miserable record when you consider the fact that the other major Test teams - even the poor Aussies - have all picked up scalps while on tour during a similar time frame: England (India/South Africa), South Africa (Australia twice), Australia (South Africa). Even Pakistan pulled-off a highly convincing draw in England.
There is not a competitive tour for India until 2018 (Proteas).
OverratedSanity
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Pakistan have constantly been dropping tests at home. They don't lose series, yes, but they've dropped "home" tests to SA, NZ, SL, and even wi.
Also, don't think India's series win in SL can be written off quite so easily when Australia got whitewashed there.
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Zinzan
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Yup, I don't think any honest & respectable England fans would disagree with that statement atm.
Zinzan
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Yeah, India are close if we're talking batting depth at the moment.
Zinzan
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Doubt people will until another non-minnow side that isn't the West Indies gets beaten by them in a Test match. Let's see what happens moving forward & if Bangladesh do beat some other sides, perhaps then.
S.Kennedy
International Vice-Captain
The 'England bat deep' claim has been found out to be a bit hollow I find. Well, Bairstow and Stokes are constantly repairing the England innings all the time but following that, your Woakes and Rashids didn't do much with the bat when compared with the Indian players in those positions.
Zinzan
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Who said anything about 45+ averages? Ali and Stokes average 32 & 34 respectively, which doesn't make them crap batsmen btw, but does suggest they're not the best batting lineup going around by a long-shot.
England aren't a terrible side by any means, but it's fairly clear that as of the moment they're behind India who look the best, and behind SA who look like they've overcome that flat period they had, even without Steyn or AB in the line-up. Once they're both back in and they're a full strength side, they'll be pushing India.
India have the best spin attack currently & South Africa the best pace attack.
Shady Slim
International Coach
i wonder where ab fits in to sa now du plessis is confirmed captain
Zinzan
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Agree, if they actually had really good batting from positions 1-4, the case about their depth would be a little stronger.
Shady Slim
International Coach
i feel that england do bat deep but it's like instead of having a five and a ten, a six and an nine, etc, they just have sevens and eights most of the way through lol
Zinzan
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I must admit I was wondering where Faf would fit assuming AB was coming back in with the whole quota thing being taken more serious these days, so you might actually have a point.
If it's me, I think Cook is the guy to go, in spite of his 100 against Aust, I'm still not convinced by him at all.
Shady Slim
International Coach
amla up to open then or lil quint? balancing act for the them in the future but i'm stoked for faf
S.Kennedy
International Vice-Captain
For the last major Test side that a touring India have beaten you have to go back to 2007 (England v), unless you include the Kiwis (08/09). Fact. The Australians, English, South Africans and (to a lesser degree) Pakistanis have all had significant away scalps claimed from one-and-another. India have been completely absent from this party. Thumping Bangladesh and the West Indians now and then does not qualify.
I'm not disputing the fortress India thing is highly impressive though.