The Battle For Number 1 position in Test Cricket

“To be number 1 means you have to be consistently performing around the world. As much as you want to be strong at home, you want to be strong away from home too, that pressure is on India,” said SA captain Smith, hinting India need to win to justify their top ranking. And if we see the first day performance of India in first test match then we one thing will be clear that there is something that affects India’s performance away from home. Is it Guru Gary’s failure or player’s individual performance or some strategy or lack of technology?

India has begun series with eye on consolidating their No. 1 ranking in Test cricket. But as we saw on first day India bounced out by South African pacers. Collapse was like the No. 1 test team’s vulnerability to short pitched bowling was evident on Thursday at Centurian, as India ended Day 1 of the first test at 136 for 9. Speedsters Dale Steyn & Morne Morkel, who took 7 wickets between them, exploited the seeming conditions. It took South African fast bowler Morne Morkel just three balls to wrap up India’s first innings at the start of the Day 2. Morkel trapped Indian captain MS Dhoni leg before wicket for 33 as India failed to add to their overnight total of 136 for nine. Morkel had Test-best figures of five for 20.

At the end of two days during which India have looked anything but the number one side in Test cricket, second-ranked South Africa had scored 366 for two in their first innings, a lead of 230 after bowling out India for 136 in the first over of the day. Amla was on 116 while Kallis scored 102 not out. South African captain Graeme Smith (62) and Alviro Petersen (77) laid the foundation for South Africa with an opening partnership of 111. It was tricky going early on as Indian new ball pair Sree Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma gained some assistance from the pitch. But the Indians wilted as the batsmen played themselves in and the sun blazed down. Harbhajan singh Indian spinner got 2 wickets.

Ok. Now we will discuss what could be the reasons for such low performance. One reason could be Guru Gary’s failure. India’s coach Gary Kirsten brought a batch of players to South Africa in the first week of December to get them acclimatized to the conditions. A second batch that included captain MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar & Rahul Dravid joined them on December 8. Kirsten’s game plan seems not to have worked so far. Or other reason could be all Indian batsmen gave more attention to bouncers rather than pace. Indian senior players thought as every time SA pacers beat Indian batsmen by bouncers. So everyone did more practice on bouncers & between this they gave less attention to pace. There could be many reasons for India’s failure when they are playing away from home.

So question still remains What is reason for India‘s failure when they are playing away from home. There are many reasons for this failure. But if India wants to keep their No. 1 position in Test cricket then India has to think & overcome such failures.