Humiliating defeats...India tamed by England and Australia 4-0, Pakistan hammer England 3-0. Just that Sri Lanka managed a win in South Africa, else that series would also have been a whitewash.
Are the ICC and other cricket ratings farce. Or the hosts are too clever for the visitors, thereby giving a thumbs down to the well-above ranked Test side.
Probably, the pitch and the conditions are becoming too much of a decisive factor. But then, what's the meaning of #1 or #2 Test side. Ideally, the #1 team should have championed the turn and bounce being offered by any pitch anywhere and their bowlers should be capable enough to outclass the opposition batting, whatsoever.
It seems that the golden era of a champion team a.k.a Steve Waugh's side, is almost over. That team had the true stalwarts, who could make the opposition look like minnows, irrespective of the venue, pitch, conditions.
It's proven that English side can be spinned out in Indian sub-continent, easily. There are chinks in Clarke's armour as well. Let's see what his side is capable of doing on a topsy-turvy track.
IPL is being blamed for India's debacle, and rightly so. Too much of stroke-play, not really meant for Test cricket. The longer format, instead would require a different and a tougher mindset altogether.
Time to be champions at home and to be tamed abroad.
Nasty cricket.
