India Syndicate 2.0

Ever since Australian let go of the top position in world cricket (all formats), there has been a vacuum at the top.

When Australia were at their peak, two things constantly kept them above the rest of the bunch: big game performance and reserve strength. The two new contenders to the top spot lack these two like the desert lacks water.

South Africa have oodles of reserve talent. However, their big match psyche has to be questioned. I do not know if they choke, but they sure don’t provide much evidence to the contrary. After every big tournament exit, their skipper and coach deny that they choked and, in the next event, it happens all over again. South Africa probably have the best team for all three formats of the game right now. On paper and in bilateral series, they are arguably better than anybody else. But the world is still waiting for the day when they lift a big trophy.

India have done well in atleast some of the big games. They may not have swept the competition aside, but they have been there and there-abouts. But—and this is a huge “but”—they are competitive only if their first team is playing. Without Zaheer Khan, their bowling looks very ordinary. Without Sehwag and Yuvi, their middle order lacks muscle.The fact that they had to go back to Dravid does not bode well for the “new crop” of batsmen.

India are currently placed no.1 in the ICC rankings, but that is only because the ICC rankings are almost always out of synch with reality. Meanwhile, Australia are slowly re-building and regrouping. Australian cricket has depended on a core group of players who stick around for the long term. Maybe their recovery has been slow because they are patiently waiting for the core group to form itself.

There is a theory that cricket needs India to succeed consistently. That will bring in more money into the game. Indian public are notoriously finicky with their time if their team is not playing. More and more ICC events need India in the semis and the finals to be successful. The Indian team seems to be working under that pressure and chopping and changing without letting the core group form itself. Its a luxury that a less commercially viable team has, not India.

I was happy when Australia were finally overthrown from the top spot. But it is becoming increasingly clear that SA and India are only keeping the top spot warm for when the Australians are ready to claim it back.

Hope I am wrong.