England media and fans think England are No 1 cause they beat India in one test – one test? They haven’t beaten us in a series in 15 years – home and away – case of poor memory or selective amnesia?
One test loss makes people say that they cannot wait for the best two test teams to meet next – Eng. Vs. SA. The latter could not beat us – home or away last year.
Dhoni continues to give undying support to the mediocre spinner in our bowling line-up
Folks keep blaming IPL for India’s loss. Get over it
One loss makes BCCI look like idiots and ECB like guardians of test cricket
Folks like Nasser Hussein make statements like India does not value its no 1 test ranking
India being the no1 Test team in the world with an average bowling line-up hurts folks so much.
There is so much venom in the media against this Indian Team.
Indian fans are losing their faith that this team can bounce back – sans Zaheer, Sehwag, Gambhir.
So here is what I really believe. You can laugh at my foolishness or my undying faith and belief in Dhoni’s Men; but here is my verdict – we are not losing this test series and you Pommies will need to wait a while before you go shouting hoarse about being No 1.
And when that happens, I can’t wait for you haters to go “I cannot believe that…”
It’s quite common now – to bash India and question the No. 1 ranking after 1 loss. It happened in South Africa in December too, before Zaheer Khan returned to the squad and led a resurgence in Durban.
This time, Zaheer will be going out of the squad, but that does not kill my hopes. I expect India to bounce back, as it usually does, with strong performances from unexpected quarters. It might be a strong start from Mukund, or a day for the “Good Sree” to turn up, or Plaha might just ‘make it large’, or it will be our Old Guard that leads the resurgence… but resurgence there certainly will be, of that I am absolutely sure!
I could understand South Africa’s claims at being the best, for they have managed to hold us in our backyard too, a task not easy for anyone. But their failure to close out games against England at home in 2009 came back to haunt them in the form of ranking points (or lack thereof).
So for now, let the English media chirp what it may, but the rankings say that India is No. 1… and I won’t be surprised to see English media admit the same after Day 5 at The Oval!
Shridhar,
So many of us believe a resurgence is possible I hope that MSD and his team believe in it too. My faith is not yet shaken but the lack of fight post Lords test is hurting me.
I don’t expect India to go down that easily..however minus Zaheer we could not bowl them out, that is a concern…I would personally start Mishra in place of Harbhajan, he cant do worse than him..I am not concerned batting wise because we will get it right..Sachin was rusty and it showed, he will be more focused..the English media are more fickle minded than the Indian fans, they will praise their team when they win and run them into the ground when they lose.. India are the no.1 team for a reason and under Dhoni they do not give up a test series easily…
Mangesh – Only if MSD/Sachin supported Mishra ahead of Bhajji. It is just sad that Bhajji has survived for so long with such utter crap performances. Sachin has been my biggest disappointment this series. I hope the tide turns – 3test day 1 not in out favour but the hope is not yet dead.