Who is the second best Test team?

[Simon]

The second-best side can still beat the best side, especially at home.

well if u believe what a lot of people say, they didnt, 2-0 with 1 to play.....

 

[Slow Love™]

How come you only drew a 3 Test series against NZ in your own back yard then?

Well, the weather destroyed this series - the first test was reduced (very charitably by Waugh) to a one-dayer style shootout, and the second test didn't see much play either, albeit with the Aussies on top after scoring over 500. The last test was a great match, but was anybody's to win (in terms of bragging rights, anyway) when stumps was called - with 60 needed for victory and 3 wickets in hand (and Gilchrist set in the 80's), the Aussies were as much of a chance as NZ.

Bottom line though is that the carping over the draw is pretty unfair - after the first two tests (and despite the best efforts of the captains), a 1-0 result was the best either team was ever going to get out of the series.

 

[Slow Love™]

Teams should not play for second-best, but only the best.

Well, obviously. But given that you're trying to be the best, being second best isn't that bad. As an Aussie, I quite enjoyed the early-mid 90's. It was a whole lot better than the 80's, when we were being beaten by the Poms at home and generally sucking.

 

[anzac]

ENG have a great shot at that ranking on current form & team balance........

they have a settled side with genuine in form wicket taking bowlers, and batsmen who can score runs...............they also have some measure of batting depth, although their bowling depth is questionable..........

they have the form all rounder of intl cricket atm, and have been on a winning streak so team confidence is high..........

Away to RSA will be a very good yardstick prior to The Ashes as the REAL litmus test...........

 

[Swervy]

there is very little doubt in my mind that England have the second best team in the world at the moment in tests,a solid(an occasionally spectacular) batting line up which goes deep down, the best allrounder in the game at the moment,and a bowling attack which quite frankly has been on fire this year.I dont think any team in the world other than Australia can match Engalnds allround ability

 

[masterblaster]

The Ashes will certainly be very interesting during the English Summer.

 

[thierry henry]

India were NEVER second best. That was a myth perpetuated by Australians confused (as they should be) by their poor performances against India. India have never done anything to deserve that lofty ranking.

 

[Genelia]

India were never second best, that was just the media going nuts over a few good performances. I think England are definitely the second best team. In tests, i think they can be better than the aussies, especially on home conditions. I mean they've got Micheal Vaughan, the classiest player there is today, and some very consistant batsmen like Strauss and Hooke. As for bowling, there's Harmison and he's all u really need to destroy any batting line-up.

 

[SquidAU]

I would have to agree with most people here that, based on current form, England deserve to be the 2nd best test team in the world. They have put in some good performances both at home and away.

Hopegully the Ashes will be a somewhat closer competition next year.

 

[tooextracool]

I mean they've got Micheal Vaughan, the classiest player there is today, and some very consistant batsmen like Strauss and Hooke.

and hooke is?

 

[JASON]

and hooke is?

The famous England middle order batsman Graham "Hooke" Thorpe , I presume.

 

[tooextracool]

if australia play anything like what they did in india, i believe that they'll win and win the ashes comfortably.
however, how the aussies deal with flintoff or indeed how flintoff deals with the aussies will have a major impact on this series. englands best chance IMO would be to prepare wickets similar to one at lords against NZ, or basically pitches similar to the ones in australia. i think its fairly obvious that the aussie bowlers are far more capable of exploiting seam,swing and spin.....bounce, im not so sure.

 

[JASON]

Mate, I feel sorry for you.

You seriously need to see a shrink or talk to someone, since you have lot of anger and hatred and unresolved issues in the back of your head !! (I am only saying this to help you !!)

BTW I am also surprised none of the moderators have not spotted this one for the amount of offensive language in your post !!

 

[Sudeep]

Rubbish.

Imagine if CHAMANLAL and Alexkumar were arguing...

 

[Sudeep]

BTW I am also surprised none of the moderators have not spotted this one for the amount of offensive language in your post !!

Shouldn't be long before the post is deleted. None of the mods are online ATM, thus the post is still there...

 

[masterblaster]

It's people like you CHAMANLAL that give Indian Supporters everywhere a bad name.

I wont expect this to be tolerated by any of the mods.

Lighten up, it's just a 'game'.

 

[Sudeep]

By the way I bet My language is better than any other Pakistani member I bet !!!!

What was the need for a second "I bet"?

 

[CHAMANLAL]

What was the need for a second "I bet"?

Means I am sure ,
I bet I wont say any thing bad to you "I bet ".

 

[Sudeep]

Means I am sure ,
I bet I wont say any thing bad to you "I bet ".

 

[CHAMANLAL]

You see I hate Pak*****s , Just because of their attitude , You see what their Umpire did to us in this test ...
They are playing with our glory now .. They should'nt have messed with our cricket crown retained for 30 odd years ...

You see hahahahahahaha No pakistani member is coming here and talking to me and No Aussie is coming to answer me ..
Hahahaha