Jan
23
2010

Are India really worthy of being number one?

An article by paddle

The simple answer to that incredibly complex question is no. Not at the moment. Maybe last year but not right now. I am a fan of some of India’s cricketers. I’m certainly a fan of their fans but I am not a fan of them being number one. Virender Sehwag’s chirp prior to their first Test against Bangladesh irked me slightly. As much as Bangladesh are like school boy team, stacked with talent but with absolutely zero temperament, it’s not nice to say that they can’t take 20 wickets. They can’t, we know, and in this dog eat dog type of cricketing world – some punches below the belt are okay but you wouldn’t punch your 16-year old child in the nuts.

There was a stage during India’s second innings where it looked like Sehwag was going to wait until India were nine down before declaring and then go: ” LOLOLOL!!!0one Told ya so, lol!”
But he didn’t. Because Bangladesh are shit at taking wickets and cashing in on momentum.

But, in all honesty – nobody deserves to be number one at the moment. There should be a gap at the top saying, come get me bitches. Like a really pretty lady in a tight dress flirting with a bunch of guys who she’s never going to give it to.

If number ones were judged on things that aren’t cricket related then West Indies would be number one. Why? Because they are damn entertaining, they are passionate and when they are not passionate they might be stoned and when they might be stoned they look like they couldn’t really give a shit about winning anything they just like lazing around on the green, green grass. They also have the super villain called Sulieman Benn. And they have Chris Gayle – the ninja. Kieron Pollard. Kemar Roach. Fidel Edwards. Lendl Simmons. On paper, not only do their names look cool but they look like fucking Titans.

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Tags: Free Sulieman Benn, India aren't worth of number one Test ranking, India in Bangladesh, Number one ranked Test team, West Indies cricket

About the Author: Ankit Mishra

Paddle loves supporting India when he is not busy bashing them

12 Comments + Add Comment

Tifosiguy January 23, 2010 at 4:35 am

South Africa became #1 in the mid 2000′s after beating Bangladesh thanks to some quirky ICC calculations when all and sundry knew the rankings went : Australia, day light, night, and then the rest.

Never did anyone question it then ! So why this silly question now ?

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Ranjit January 23, 2010 at 11:28 am

I don’t think it’s silly. It’s a very valid observation.

Neither IND, SA or SL are as invincible as what the Aussies or Windies were.

Unless if one of them drastically improves we will mostly see a roulette for the top spot for a while.

I’m glad that IND and SA added the Test matches in SA’s upcoming tour. It’ll be interesting to see if India can hold their own against SA and retain the top spot.

On the flip side, this makes Test Cricket much more interesting!

Earlier on, you knew Aus were going to win almost everywhere, the middle rung teams would do better at home than away, and Bangladesh & Zimbabwe would probably loose unless if they were playing each other!

All in all, I think that it’s a good time for Test Cricket!

Reply
Paddle January 23, 2010 at 6:40 pm

writing a post in reply to this…

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Why ICC Rankings don't matter January 23, 2010 at 7:02 pm

[...] in India, South Africa Yesterday, Ms Print wrote something about why India is not the absolute number one team in the world. I strongly recommend you read that one first before coming back here. Here is that post. [...]

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mspr1nt January 23, 2010 at 7:04 pm

@Tifo I was just taking the piss glad to see you here.
@ Ranjit – I don’t think SA will win in the subcontinent. We can’t take 20 wickets and our batsmen won’t be able to handle the spinners. Also, when our batting falters, so does the rest of the team
mspr1nt´s last blog ..of spidercams, and being way cooler than avatar

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paddle January 23, 2010 at 7:05 pm

@mspr1nt

why does your website show as paddlesweep.in ???

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Tifosiguy January 23, 2010 at 7:32 pm

@msprint – yeah sure. Just that I always like to rub in the fact that when it comes to cricket, South Africa will always be behind Aus No shame in that eh !! Save for that one bad series in 2008… Ah well.

Must be pretty pleased about Arsenal ! When’s the slump coming for them Surely you don’t think they will go all the way , or do you ???

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paddle January 23, 2010 at 7:35 pm

on any test cricketing parameter, Aus > SA

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mspr1nt January 23, 2010 at 7:47 pm

Lol @ Tifo I am not that deluded, thank god. Arsenal are much like SA in that respect – build me up just to let me down at the last second. I predict that they’ll probably fck it up in the last few weeks.
mspr1nt´s last blog ..THE IPL IS UPON US!

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Tifosiguy January 23, 2010 at 7:50 pm

Much as it hurts to type this, if not the Red Devils this season, then the Gunners would do just as nicely. Chelsea as #1 is just not right. Actually any team with John Terry in it should wallow in mediocrity , which Chelsea did, until Abramovich and his millions came….

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mspr1nt January 23, 2010 at 8:05 pm

@paddle…eeek shall fix it now.
Have heart Tifosi. Chelsea are going down.
mspr1nt´s last blog ..THE IPL IS UPON US!

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Mahek January 27, 2010 at 8:12 pm

There will be a number one even if there is a race between turtles. You can’t not have a number one because that position is relative and not absolute. And if Bangladesh are as bad as they are I don’t see why they shouldn’t be called out for it. They’re not our 16-year old kid, they’re a freakin’ cricket team that would struggle to beat Ireland, and if recent evidence is anything to go by, Afghanistan too.
Mahek´s last blog ..FICA and the need for a Collective Bargaining Agreement – II

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