[Archived] England Cricket Team

[King Kenny's Magic]

Barring a miracle for India this weekend England will become the number one test team in the world. With the current squad and back up players we have,we could stay there for a while. England at the moment remind me of the Ozzies in their pomp under Steve Waugh. What do you guys think?

[philipl]

Given the lack of quality in other Test playing nations, England could be tops for a while. Would be interesting to see if a tour of India would turn into such a cake walk but the current series has suddenly dropped from intriguing to embarassingly one sided.

[King Kenny's Magic]

Given the lack of quality in other Test playing nations, England could be tops for a while. Would be interesting to see if a tour of India would turn into such a cake walk but the current series has suddenly dropped from intriguing to embarassingly one sided.

Most international teams now mainly focus on Twenty20 development. It's sad to see but i suppose that's where the coin is these days. There would be alot of drawn tests in India but i still think we'd win by one test.

[Mattyblue]

South Africa are the only side I can see touching us, strong in batting, bowling AND fielding, this India side is struggling to be proficent in any of those three at the minute!

Bring on the Saffers next year!

[Eddie]

India have also been hit by a few injuries to crucial players. It certainly would have been a better series had they been fully fit and had a decent amount of cricket coming into it.

South Africa will be a good test and I do think that Australia will have got their act together by next summer.

[RibbleValleyRover]

South Africa is probably the only side that can beat this England side at this moment in time. They have a bowling unit that is comparable to the current England one and is lead by the best bowler in the world in Steyn. Batting wise they are incredibly strong and like others have said they are superb fielders.

[jim mk2]

England haven't won this Test yet so talk of No 1 status is premature but should they win as expected No 1 status will be well deserved and a long way from the dark days around a decade ago when we were near the bottom of the rankings and booed off at the Oval after losing to New Zealand. Getting to No 1 might prove to be the easy part however - staying at the top I suspect will be far more difficult. England have a fine array of fast bowlers to choose from but apart from present incumbents the batting looks thin.

India have been a big disappointment in this series. The team looks in need of reconstruction and some of the big names might not be around much longer. I wouldn't be surprised to see Tendulkar retire soon.

[Exiled_Rover]

Cricket doesn't half shoot itself in the foot.

Off for 'bad light' when the floodlights are on and a batsman is 16 runs short of 300. Absolutely ridiculous.

[Mattyblue]

If they had 'offered the light' like they used to, they'd still be out there.

Remember that Test in Pakistan when they were playing in almost full darkness?

[BiggusLaddus]

Shame for Cook, but not a bad start...

Please leave something for me to see tomorrow though.

[Flopsy]

Another sign that Cook should be dropped. He just doesn't have the concentration for test cricket

700!!! I never ever ever thought I'd see England hit 700, ever

[Flopsy]

The BCCI's dastardly plan to save the testmatch is leaked http://t.co/VdYDrnI

[Mattyblue]

That magnificent side have cheered me up after another load of tosh at Ewood Park.

Proud to see them at number 1- never thought I'd have said that in the dark days!

[Billy Castell]

India are too old, too disinterested and too weak for test cricket. They're only interested in the shiny 20/20 and 1 dayers where toothless medium paced bowlers can plod along and keep the runs down. As others have said, only the saffers can compete with The Immortals (a reference to ancient Persia in case you were wondering). Other teams have a few fine players, but England seem to have so much depth. Perhaps it's down to a combination of having the two divisions and going all Jack Charlton with selections.

Next stop, a decent 1 day side.

[jim mk2]

Weather providing, England have one last day of the final Test to secure a memorable 4-0 series victory over India andconfirm their position as world No 1.

Can we take the last 7 wickets, will England need to bat again or will India bat the whole day and salvage a draw and will tendulkar score his long-awaited 100th Test hundred ?

Should be a fascinating day but whatever happens congratulations to Burnley's James Anderson for some wonderful fast bowling this summer.

[Flopsy]

Oh dear India. Oh dear Australia. Its a sorry picture when the only teams that have offered us any sustained challenge have been Bangladesh and Pakistan.

[jim mk2]

Lovely to watch the India supporters faces as their hero Tendulkar went for 91.

Well played England - thoroughly deserved.

South Africa I believe could knock us off the top if they win their next set of matches setting up a tasty encounter with England next summer.