England Is on Top of the Cricket Test World in 2011 - Page 2

After Michael Vaughan’s departure in 2006, the England team experienced a turbulent period under the captaincy of Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen, which included whitewashes in both Australia and India. After the Peter Moores debacle, Andrew Strauss was appointed captain in 2009 and Andy Flower was designated as interim coach, before officially being appointed. During the 2009 West Indies tour England again hit rock bottom, as it was skittled out for 51 in Kingston, their third lowest score in test history. The three previous years of turbulence, combined with such a poor performance in Jamaica is now considered to be a watershed moment in England’s rise to the top.

With a wealth of talented players now in place and a raft of others coming through the ranks, England under Strauss and Flower have risen through the test rankings, including Ashes wins in 2009 & 2010-11, both home and away, and the recent series victory against India. As I write, the fourth and final test at the Kia Oval is underway, providing England with the chance to conclude the npower series in an emphatic 4-0 victory.

England’s promotion to the top of the test ranking may just be a statistical highlight for now, but with matches against Pakistan (in Dubai) and in Sri Lanka in the winter, followed by a home series against South Africa and Australia next year, plus the opportunity to take on India in the sub-continent in 2012, England finally have the chance to prove themselves as the best test nation in the world.

Who knows? Maybe this England team will one day be mentioned in the same way as the 1983 West Indies side led by Sir Viv Richards or the dominant Australian team of the mid-'90s.

Here’s to hoping…

Article Author: RickSimpson

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