Strauss’s chance to make England best team in world

To become the leading Test side in the world has been the time-honoured target of the England team.

Since the International Cricket Council world rankings were inaugurated a decade ago, they have never quite managed to achieve top spot.

England have forever been looking up longingly at the summit; they have never gazed down from the highest peak.

All that, however, could be about to change. If England beat India by two clear Tests in the four-match series that starts this morning, they will replace their opponents as world No 1.

After years of striving and spirited endeavour, they at last have a chance to scale cricket’s Everest.

It will not be easy. Not for nothing are India the current No 1.

They have batsmen of the calibre of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, plus bowlers of the quality of Zaheer Khan.

They may not be the Australia of Warne, Gilchrist and McGrath, but they are worthy holders of the No 1 crown.

It would be an achievement, first and foremost, for England to win the series – let alone by the necessary margin of two clear Tests. But there are genuine grounds for optimism that they can not only win – but win in style.

Andrew Strauss’s men were superb in Australia last winter – even accounting for the transitional nature of their opponents. They won the series 3-1 to become the first England team to taste Ashes glory Down Under since 1986-87. Moreover, it was their second successive Ashes series victory. England undoubtedly have the bowling arsenal to cause India problems. Jimmy Anderson and Chris Tremlett are at the peak of their powers, Graeme Swann is the world’s best spinner, while Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan form part of an impressive clutch of supporting pace bowlers.

The team would appear to be moving upwards under Strauss and head coach Andy Flower and go into this series No 3 in the world. Only South Africa stand between England and India at the present moment.

England’s recent statistics are highly impressive. They have won 16 of their past 27 Tests. They have lost only four matches during that time. They have a tremendous chance to make an emphatic statement. They also have the significant benefit of home advantage.

On the flipside, India’s recent statistics are similarly imposing. Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team have lost only three of their last 30 Tests. They have won half of those games and have lost only once to England in the last seven series meetings between the sides.

India may be ageing – Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman are all nearer 40 than 30 – but are still a daunting proposition on their day.

England will need not only to emulate their form in the Ashes but find an extra gear to boot. Whether England manage to unseat India this summer, or whether their No 1 aspiration must wait a while longer, remains to be seen. But they are not trying to be No 1 for a week, for a fleeting period – they are aiming to be No 1 over a sustained length of time, something emphasised by their consistency of selection.

Beyond the Test side, there are a clutch of promising players out in the shires. In short, there is strong and healthy competition for places – a vital ingredient in keeping a team at the top of the pile.

The landscape of international cricket is changing rapidly. There is no longer a runaway team – no Australia of the 1990s or West Indies of the 1980s.

Over the next few weeks, England have a real opportunity to become the top-ranked side. A fascinating Test series lies in store.