5 Reasons why Team India’s No. 1 position in Tests doesn’t appeal

Reaching the No. 1 spot in Test cricket has become a game of musical chair of sort in the current year. While India took over from South Africa in January after the Proteas were beaten 1-2 by the English team at home; in February, it was Australia who bagged the position after beating their trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand 2-0. But their disastrous 0-3 loss to Sri Lanka in the latter’s den recently dislodged them from the throne. India then shot to fame again but their failure to win the fourth Test against the West Indies in the Caribbeans, thanks to the unfavourable weather, helped Pakistan, who drew 2-2 with England in England, snatch the position. Now, India have reclaimed the position after beating a visiting New Zealand in a series. If Virat Kohli’s men even draw the remaining game with the Kiwis starting at Indore on October 8, then Pakistan won’t be able to repeat their August feat despite beating the Caribbeans 3-0 in their upcoming series in the UAE. Now that India have become the No. 1 Test team again in the same year, all Indians will be naturally happy. Particularly, when the sentiments have been injured in other fields, dislodging arch-rivals Pakistan to win back the top position is all the more sweet. But strictly asking from the cricket’s point of view, does India really deserve to be No. 1 in Tests? Here are some ways to look at things: 1. Pakistan has been playing all Tests ‘abroad’ now: Sohail Khan of Pakistan celebrates taking the wicket. (Photo by Mitchell Gunn/Getty Images) Pakistan, who have been playing in the UAE as their home since that dastardly terror attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in their actual home in 2009, have not lost in a Test series since 2014/15. In fact, Pakistan haven’t lost a single series in the UAE so far – even against top teams like England (beaten twice), Australia (beaten once) and South Africa (drawn twice) and are looking favourites to beat the Windies in the upcoming series as well. The last time Misbah-ul-Haq’s men had lost a Test series was against Sri Lanka in the island nation in 2014. India, on the other hand, have won four series on the trot no doubt, but three of those victories have come against low-ranked teams like Sri Lanka, West Indies and New Zealand. In the case of Pakistan, it must be taken into account that they are eventually playing all their games abroad. The wickets may be similar in Pakistan and the UAE but the fact that Pakistani players have been staying away from their families for most part of the year to play ‘home’ games gives them an edge. 2. Record on foreign soil: Team India. (Photo Source: BCCI) India though have won two away series – against Sri Lanka and West Indies – in the past one year, but yet their overall reputation on foreign pitches is not impressive. Between 2013-14 and 2014-15, India lost series abroad against teams like South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia (they could win just one Test and lost seven), something that doesn’t speak much in favour of their performance away from home. India, a team which has been playing Test for over eight decades now, have managed not to lose in overseas Test series only 31 times and of them, they have come out winners 17 times. Of them again, India have won Test series outside the subcontinent only 10 times (the first victory came against New Zealand (3-1) in 1967-8 while the latest was against the Windies (2-0) this July-August). Pakistan, on the other hand, have started playing Tests two decades after India did but they have remained unbeaten in 44 away series and have won in 22 of them. Outside the subcontinent, Pakistan have won 13 times and of those seven have come against the Kiwis (India have won two away series against the Kiwis on the other hand) and three against England (India have won four series in England). Pakistan have never beaten the West Indies on their turf (drawn three series) while India have done so four times but despite all that, Pakistan’s away series performance looks better. We have compared only Pakistan’s record for it is also a subcontinental team and India recently dislodged it to become the No. 1 team again. 3. Wins against a resurgent England: Virat Kohli of India leaves the field. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) Ever since the victory in the 2005 Ashes, England have emerged as a new force in Test cricket. Currently, more than Australia which has a poor bowling attack, it is England who are considered more as a formidable opponent on their home territory. Pakistan’s 2-2 result against the English in their last away series thus justified their No.1 tag, even if it was temporary. India, on the other hand, have won just two of their last 13 Tests against England. They have lost nine games against the English and also a home series 1-2 in 2013/14. England are due to play India in a five-game series starting in November and it will be interesting to see how Virat Kohli’s men fare. Kohli himself also has to rewrite a lot of records against the English. 4. Win series in Australia and South Africa While those two teams have succeeded in overcoming their last hurdles in India by winning series here, India are yet to reciprocate. India’s best performance in Australia till today has been drawing with them a couple of times (in 1980-81 and 2003-04) while they have lost scores of games (just five wins overall, 28 losses). Australia have won 12 Tests in India, on the other hand. Against South Africa, India have won just two games on their soil while lost eight. South Africa, meanwhile, have won five games in India. India’s best performance in South Africa was drawing the series 1-1 in 2010-11. While Sourav Ganguly in the past and Kohli very recently have given Australians tough competition (had Parthiv Patel not missed the stumping of Steve Waugh in the 2003-4 Sydney Test, history could have been different) but yet Indians haven’t tasted a series victory in the Southern Hemisphere excepting in New Zealand. As the No. 1 team, India need to make serious amends here. Otherwise, their feat will not have a universal appeal. 5. Playing on doctored wickets: (Photo Source: BCCI) India’s recent wins at home against South Africa and New Zealand have come on wickets that are not a good advertisement for Test cricket. Yet, the Azharuddin-Wadekar formula of preparing spinning wickets to flatten teams from outside the subcontinent continues to be strong. This might make bowlers Ravichandran Ashwin set up records faster but will never make India strong enough to win against big teams abroad. And until that happens, achieving something similar to what the gangs of Clive Lloyd, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting did in the past will remain a dream. India’s No. 1 positions will only come as indirect rewards, i.e., filling the space when somebody else slips.

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5 Reasons why Team India’s No. 1 position in Tests doesn’t appeal

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