Which test team is currently the best in 2024?

[honestbharani]

Oh and I'm absolutely certain that whoever does win this WTC cycle is not necessarily going to be the answer to this thread question.

I dont think the previous winners were the best sides in those periods either but just like the ODI WCs and even T20 WCs, it still shows they won a pressure game (finals). And that is how most trophies are contested anyways.

I understand the minus points of the current system but I still think having this instead of nothing is definitely better for world cricket overall. Will it ever be a proper league? I hope it does become so in the future and this is just a start. But even if it doesn't, the current iteration has definitely helped with dead rubbers and additional context for games and even ****ing overrates. Virat Kohli was seen addressing the team in the huddle before we bowled in the fourth innings at Perth and he was clearly heard to be talking about keeping up a good overrate so as to not lose WTC points. There are some genuinely good points about how the current penalty for overrates is not the best but again, for me, its a case of something is better than nothing, just like the WTC itself.

 

[GIMH]

Yeah games haven't been close, it's just one side dominating for most of the match. I can't really think of many good close games recently, maybe the final match of NZ vs. India?　

Not sure how ‘recent’ you are thinking but there was the cracking day of Test Cricket in Jan when WI beat Oz by something like 8 runs and England beat India by less than 30. Can’t think of many others this year

 

[Molehill]

So Eng are currently the 5th best test side sitting behind SL who are 4th?

If you were to add on their penalty points then they're comfortably 4th. If they'd played the same cycle as SA, they may well be 1st (as would all the Top 4 if you ask me).

Virat Kohli was seen addressing the team in the huddle before we bowled in the fourth innings at Perth and he was clearly heard to be talking about keeping up a good overrate so as to not lose WTC points.

I do wonder if it's a case of England play so much Test Cricket that they simply don't need another match, so they just don't give a toss about over rates. Maybe a different captain might change it, but at the moment, there seems little sign of change. I'm not against trying to improve it, but the current penalties and methods of calculating are farcical.

Not sure how ‘recent’ you are thinking but there was the cracking day of Test Cricket in Jan when WI beat Oz by something like 8 runs and England beat India by less than 30. Can’t think of many others this year

I think the eventual margins of Test Victories have clouded how close a number have actually been this year. Many have been close for a couple of days before the victor pulls away.