The illusion of the top spot

If it happens, the No. 1 ranking for India will no doubt be a historical moment of trumpeting, but it will only be a moment. It is because of the BCCI’s miserable scheduling previously, when there was no IPL to serve as a distraction. Sharda Ugra explains on her blog on the India Today website.

The bigger pity is India’s Test team contains a small but very influential clutch of cricketers who have spent a decade pushing their team forward at home and abroad. Along with Mr T, to have batsmen of the quality of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman play seven Tests in ten months is like limiting an artist’s access to canvas and paint. Or, if artistic metaphors are not your choice, try telling men building a house that their use of brick and cement is being restricted to mood, rather than measure.