England topple India as Test kings

England has wrapped up its victory against India at Edgbaston and quite comprehensively. Alastair Cook’s serene 294 (more runs than India have managed in an entire innings throughout the current series) proved the platform for England’s monumental 710 for 7 declared and combined with their fine bowling attack’s efforts on day one when India were shot out for an under-par 224, its going to be a messy finish.

This Test match included, England have shown the sort of ruthlessness that we used to typically associate with Australia and before them the West Indies. The worm has turned.

England needed to win this series, billed as a clash of the titans before it began, by two clear matches to be crowned as the world’s top Test side and are set to achieve their goal. India’s reign, as stated by Ian Chappell, has been curious since their bowling attack has never been dominant with India always giving the appearance of being a ‘squatter rather than an owner’ of the number one ranking.

Chappell, while at times a bit too boisterous, does have a point. If you compare the world’s Test pace bowling attacks, England have the best average of 26.55 runs per a wicket from 21 Tests and a strike rate of 51.1. South Africa comes in second, driven by Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, with 27.84 from 12 Tests with a strike rate of 53.6. India lies fifth on the list, behind both Australia and Pakistan while just being above the West Indies, with an average of 32.58 accompanied by a strike rate of 57. Batsmen set the platform while bowlers win matches. If a side can’t take 20 wickets regardless of how many runs they score, winning in Test cricket becomes very tricky indeed. Pace bowlers aside, England also possess the world’s current best spin bowler in Graeme Swann with Harbhajan Singh, India’s best, being maddeningly inconsistent.

Ever since Andy Flower was appointed England overseer in January 2009 (after the acrimonious resignation of Peter Moores following Kevin Pietersen’s rebellion), he and Andrew Strauss have formed an impressive bond reminiscent of John Buchanan and Steve Waugh with Australia. Strauss’ England, since Flower’s appointment, has only lost one series and that was against the West Indies in their initiation as a Test partnership. They’ve beaten Australia twice, with last summer’s victory Down Under being as clinical as they’ve been since the 1980s.

England in their current form can claim to be the world’s best. In Strauss, they have a captain who commands the respect of his side and is an extremely solid opening batsman. Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott are both hungry run machines while Kevin Pietersen is a volcano that explodes upon the lengths of bowlers everywhere. Ian Bell has matured into the silky stroke maker he always was and Eoin Morgan at the moment seems to be the attacking menace required in the number six 6 slot. Matt Prior is now nipping at the heels of Kumar Sangakarra as the best wicket-keeper batsman in the game and Stuart Broad is slowly realising his potential as a quality all round cricketer. Throw in swing maestro James Anderson, bollocking heavy ball bowlers Chris Tremlett (who also posses the height of Test rugby lock), Tim Bresnam (another budding all rounder?) and Swann, you are looking at a very complete cricket side.

India for their part came to England not ready for the challenges that lay in-store for them. Their attack leader Zaheer Khan was unfit from the very beginning and there hasn’t been the type of intensity on the field one would expect from a team trying to maintain their ascendancy on Test cricket’s throne.

England’s greatest challenge lies before them next year, when South Africa tackle the Three Lions in a four Test series that if all are fit will be one roaring contest of skill and temperament. With India’s great middle order set to retire over the course of the next two seasons, South Africa led by that man Steyn, represent the strongest threat to England’s coming reign. The next English summer is going to be a fascinating one.