Graeme Smith: Away records should determine the No.1 team
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Former South African skipper Graeme Smith has suggested that the Test rankings should be based on performances away from home. Former Indian opener-turned-commentator Akash Chopra seconded the opinion by saying the issue should be looked closely considering the era of home dominance in Test cricket.
Last week, India leapfrogged Pakistan into the Number one position in Test cricket by winning the home Test series against the Blackcaps quite convincingly. India was also awarded the ICC Championship mace at the end of the series. - The mace is expected to be with India for a long time considering India is going to play as many as 10 more matches at home in next six months.
After players like Sourav Ganguly expressed their amusement at how Pakistan could go on to the top just by levelling the series 2-2 against England, former South African skipper Graeme Smith has expressed a contrary opinion – the southpaw has said that Test rankings should be based on the away record of a team.
With the rankings so tight, maybe the number 1 ranking should be based on the best away record?
— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49)
India have had a terrible record overseas until the tour to Sri Lanka late last year but have gone on to achieve the Number one ranking in Tests after series wins against South Africa and New Zealand at home and Sri Lanka and West Indies away.
Cricketer-turned-commentator Akash Chopra seconded Smith’s opinion by tweeting,
Something worth pondering over....considering this era of home dominance.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
The last one decade or so has become a nightmare for the touring Test teams. While India lost the series to Australia and England in the subcontinent, they whitewashed the Kangaroos a year after. South Africa escaped a similar whitewash by a whisker thanks to a rain-marred game last year in their tour to India, while New Zealand have not been so lucky.
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