The International Cricket Council has started off their much awaited World Test Championship this year, and Team India has been the absolute top performer in the tournament yet. The championship, which plans to run till 2021, is yet to see the Men in Blues lose any series, and Virat Kohli and co have ascended to the peak position in the ICC Test rankings. However, according to English cricketing legend Michael Vaughan, the team that deserves the top spot along with India is Australia.
The Aussies are currently ranked 5th, behind New Zealand, South Africa and England, and Vaughan feels the ranking is not justified. Currently working as a commentator, Vaughan spoke to Australian daily The Sydney Morning Herald.
“I will be dead honest about the ICC rankings. I think they are absolute garbage,” the 45 year old told reporters.
Although the tie in the Ashes in September, the Aussies won the Pakistan test series earlier this month, and are leading 1-0 at the stumps of the second day of the test series versus New Zealand at home. The Black Caps, although ranked second, were defeated by the hosts on the first day of the series by a staggering 296 runs at the Optus Stadium on 15th December.
“I have no idea how – New Zealand have won plenty of series over the course of the last two years – but for them to be second, and where it stands out for me that the rankings can’t be right is that England in Test match cricket are third (now fourth), and England for three or four years have struggled in Test match cricket, particularly overseas.” Vaughan added.
However, the Yorkshire star justified India’s ranking.
Vaughan continued- “I think there are two teams- India and Australia, they are the best test match teams in the world, without question. I think there is only one team that can come here and put Australia under pressure, that was 12 months ago, that they won here India.”
During the Pakistan test series earlier this month, Vaughan tweeted on Australia’s marvellous performance, while also concluding its only the Men in Blue are comparable to them on home soil.
This Australian Team in these conditions are going to take some beating … Only @BCCI #India have the tools to do so at this stage imo … #AUSvPAK
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 2, 2019
A monumental 600 test cap holder, Vaughan praised India’s progress in the Batting and Bowling department in the format, especially with Kohli leading the Test Batsmen ranking with a rating of 928.
That Indian attack has got the pace, it has also got the spin, the batting unit has got all the experience. I only see only one team at this stage that can compete with Australia here and that is India,” Vaughan added.
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Michael Vaughan with high praise for Virat Kohli: He’s the best batsmen across formats in this era!
Michael Vaughan: Only India have the tools to beat Australia at home in tests
