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1. India
2. South Africa
3. Australia
4. Sri Lanka
5. England
6. New Zealand
7. Pakistan
8. West Indies
1. India
Spoiler
* Look, the Indians have so many technically elegant batters, they're batting stocks are just out of the world. I mean you've got guys like Badrinath, Rohit Sharma, Rahane, Pujara, Raina, Vijay in reserve. This on top of the likes of Gambhir, Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. As I've said, it's at times bordering ridiculous. Obviously this is going to have an adverse consquance on their bowling stocks, the Indians just simply do not have a good enough bowling line up to win abroad. Ishant Sharma is probably the only one close to world class, Zaheer Khan is a good test bowler but nothing else. Harbhajan ever since the chucking violations for his doosra and him bowling 90km yorkers in OD cricket, he's never been the same at test level. Mishra is not proven at test level.
* Look, the Indians have so many technically elegant batters, they're batting stocks are just out of the world. I mean you've got guys like Badrinath, Rohit Sharma, Rahane, Pujara, Raina, Vijay in reserve. This on top of the likes of Gambhir, Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. As I've said, it's at times bordering ridiculous. Obviously this is going to have an adverse consquance on their bowling stocks, the Indians just simply do not have a good enough bowling line up to win abroad. Ishant Sharma is probably the only one close to world class, Zaheer Khan is a good test bowler but nothing else. Harbhajan ever since the chucking violations for his doosra and him bowling 90km yorkers in OD cricket, he's never been the same at test level. Mishra is not proven at test level.
2. South Africa
Spoiler
* South Africa are a very solid cricketing nation. Probably the only concerns are the opening spot with Prince being a make shift opener and Duminy who seems to have lost his way. Harris as Boycott described as a "buffet bowler" continues to grind out wickets but as usual, the South Africans don't really have a pure spin bowler. Probably they'll look into their Pakistani turned South African, Imran Tahir as a possible long term spin replacement. Provided that the likes of Elgar, Rossouw, Smuts and Vandiar convert their talent into runs, South Africa can rely on a future generation of batsmen.
* South Africa are a very solid cricketing nation. Probably the only concerns are the opening spot with Prince being a make shift opener and Duminy who seems to have lost his way. Harris as Boycott described as a "buffet bowler" continues to grind out wickets but as usual, the South Africans don't really have a pure spin bowler. Probably they'll look into their Pakistani turned South African, Imran Tahir as a possible long term spin replacement. Provided that the likes of Elgar, Rossouw, Smuts and Vandiar convert their talent into runs, South Africa can rely on a future generation of batsmen.
3. Australia
Spoiler
* I guess when you lose Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist, Hayden and Langer, we inadvertently become more vulnerable to other test nations. The only issue we seem to have is North at number six, there are talks that we'll replace him with batting all rounder Smith. Bowling, I'm still not convinced with Hauritz, I remember making the call that he was a right arm toss bowler rather then a spin bowler and I still hold that same view. Batters are giving him wickets rather then him bowling them out with good deliveries, it should be interesting to see how he goes in seamy England conditions and on the subcontinent where you'd assume his bowling will get murdered.
* In terms of talent to watch out for, Mitchell Marsh is the obvious one... just an OT note, my captain for my club team was concussed by one Marsh's deliveries in a high school cricket match. The potential of a possible Alan Davidson in Marsh is quite probable but for the moment, it seems that we're focusing on nurturing him into a batsmen who bowls occasionally in OD matches. Hazlewood has the potential to become the next McGrath, provided that he gains a few more yards in pace, he'll be test ready. Khawaja seems to be a very elegant batter but needs to consistently put up some big scores to make it to the next level.
* I guess when you lose Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist, Hayden and Langer, we inadvertently become more vulnerable to other test nations. The only issue we seem to have is North at number six, there are talks that we'll replace him with batting all rounder Smith. Bowling, I'm still not convinced with Hauritz, I remember making the call that he was a right arm toss bowler rather then a spin bowler and I still hold that same view. Batters are giving him wickets rather then him bowling them out with good deliveries, it should be interesting to see how he goes in seamy England conditions and on the subcontinent where you'd assume his bowling will get murdered.
* In terms of talent to watch out for, Mitchell Marsh is the obvious one... just an OT note, my captain for my club team was concussed by one Marsh's deliveries in a high school cricket match. The potential of a possible Alan Davidson in Marsh is quite probable but for the moment, it seems that we're focusing on nurturing him into a batsmen who bowls occasionally in OD matches. Hazlewood has the potential to become the next McGrath, provided that he gains a few more yards in pace, he'll be test ready. Khawaja seems to be a very elegant batter but needs to consistently put up some big scores to make it to the next level.
4. Sri Lanka
Spoiler
* Like India, have good batting stocks but lack a potent bowling line up that can consistently trouble teams from both ends and from different spells. Specifically their pace stocks, Malinga seems to be injury prone, Fernando has fallen down the order... there's not much out there really. Spin bowling, well you've got Murali, Mendis seems to be struggling, the magic has gone.
* Like India, have good batting stocks but lack a potent bowling line up that can consistently trouble teams from both ends and from different spells. Specifically their pace stocks, Malinga seems to be injury prone, Fernando has fallen down the order... there's not much out there really. Spin bowling, well you've got Murali, Mendis seems to be struggling, the magic has gone.
5. England
Spoiler
* A side on the rise as of late, they've been more Australian then English. They've been winning by not giving up, the Ashes and the SA tour comes in mind. Batting... with Cook, he has a technical flaw when it comes to the outswinger, just wide of off stump a.k.a the "fourth" stump. Aside from that, an adequate opener at test level. Strauss, a fighter who has the right mentality to succeed at this level. I don't rate him as a captain, I think that can become a liability come the Ashes. Bell is so talented, he's a good looking batsmen, plays good looking shots but doesn't convert enough pretty 30s into gritty 150s. Collingwood, probably my favourite English batsmen, he's a fighter, he epitomises that Australian attitude of not giving up. K.P... a worry, his mind just isn't on the game, just so much talent, as of late, he's been playing as if he doesn't give a dam about his position in the side.
* Their best bowler is generally considered the weakest, Swann, he's been an absolute revelation, along with Hauritz both are reviving finger spin bowling. England's bowling line is pretty mediocre, Anderson is what you'd call a mercurial bowler, some days, he'll bowl you unplayable deliveries that would get the Don out and other days, he'll bowl like a county second eleven bowler, it doesn't help that he bowls with his head down like Onions. Harmison is a very big disappointment... he'll retire thinking, what could have been. Sidebottom is a good enough bowler at test level, nothing else. Mahmood has a lot of potential, any bowler that can bowl 150kms has that x factor but is just too inconsistent. The best bowling potential is Broad, he has the potential to be England's answer to McGarth but again too inconsistent with his pace and length. He's a work in progress but needs to be more consistent otherwise he'll be dropped.
* With up and coming talent... James Harris who plays for the Welsh county, Glamorgan is a real find for England, can bowl and has ability with the bat. Chris Jordan for Surrey has talent but he's inconsistent, has some real pace as some of our batters found out when he played in the First grade comp. over here. Rory Hamilton Brown again, this kid has played over here in our First grade comp., he's got potential with the bat and he is handy with the ball. Yorkshire have two up and coming spin bowlers, Rashid and Azeem Rafiq, Rashid is the one who has more experience but Rafiq is the one that has more talent.
* A side on the rise as of late, they've been more Australian then English. They've been winning by not giving up, the Ashes and the SA tour comes in mind. Batting... with Cook, he has a technical flaw when it comes to the outswinger, just wide of off stump a.k.a the "fourth" stump. Aside from that, an adequate opener at test level. Strauss, a fighter who has the right mentality to succeed at this level. I don't rate him as a captain, I think that can become a liability come the Ashes. Bell is so talented, he's a good looking batsmen, plays good looking shots but doesn't convert enough pretty 30s into gritty 150s. Collingwood, probably my favourite English batsmen, he's a fighter, he epitomises that Australian attitude of not giving up. K.P... a worry, his mind just isn't on the game, just so much talent, as of late, he's been playing as if he doesn't give a dam about his position in the side.
* Their best bowler is generally considered the weakest, Swann, he's been an absolute revelation, along with Hauritz both are reviving finger spin bowling. England's bowling line is pretty mediocre, Anderson is what you'd call a mercurial bowler, some days, he'll bowl you unplayable deliveries that would get the Don out and other days, he'll bowl like a county second eleven bowler, it doesn't help that he bowls with his head down like Onions. Harmison is a very big disappointment... he'll retire thinking, what could have been. Sidebottom is a good enough bowler at test level, nothing else. Mahmood has a lot of potential, any bowler that can bowl 150kms has that x factor but is just too inconsistent. The best bowling potential is Broad, he has the potential to be England's answer to McGarth but again too inconsistent with his pace and length. He's a work in progress but needs to be more consistent otherwise he'll be dropped.
* With up and coming talent... James Harris who plays for the Welsh county, Glamorgan is a real find for England, can bowl and has ability with the bat. Chris Jordan for Surrey has talent but he's inconsistent, has some real pace as some of our batters found out when he played in the First grade comp. over here. Rory Hamilton Brown again, this kid has played over here in our First grade comp., he's got potential with the bat and he is handy with the ball. Yorkshire have two up and coming spin bowlers, Rashid and Azeem Rafiq, Rashid is the one who has more experience but Rafiq is the one that has more talent.
6. New Zealand
Spoiler
* Probably more first class then Test nation, they've got steady players but that's about it. Guptill seems to be good enough at OD level but not good enough at test level. Fulton just simply cannot hack it at test level, it has to be psychological, he didn't even challenge an incorrect decision that lead to him getting out, that's how down he is on confidence. Vettori is their ace. Shane Bond... potential to be NZ's best bowler since Hadlee but... too many injuries.
* Probably more first class then Test nation, they've got steady players but that's about it. Guptill seems to be good enough at OD level but not good enough at test level. Fulton just simply cannot hack it at test level, it has to be psychological, he didn't even challenge an incorrect decision that lead to him getting out, that's how down he is on confidence. Vettori is their ace. Shane Bond... potential to be NZ's best bowler since Hadlee but... too many injuries.
7. Pakistan
Spoiler
* It's the same old same old story... so much talent but always distractions from internal and external sources. I mean, internally, you've got people backstabbing each other just to get to the top to control the team. Externally, you've got the Pakistani government discussing how Pakistan play as a matter during government... that's how serious they are when it comes to cricket. Oh and it doesn't help when the U.S are chucking drones down your country, you've got terrorist groups outside... just a mess.
* Yousef is not fit to be captain, Afridi should replace him... probably stop confusing the cricket ball for an apple. There is so much raw potential with the likes of Aamer who probably is 20 rather then 17 and Umar Akmal.
* It's the same old same old story... so much talent but always distractions from internal and external sources. I mean, internally, you've got people backstabbing each other just to get to the top to control the team. Externally, you've got the Pakistani government discussing how Pakistan play as a matter during government... that's how serious they are when it comes to cricket. Oh and it doesn't help when the U.S are chucking drones down your country, you've got terrorist groups outside... just a mess.
* Yousef is not fit to be captain, Afridi should replace him... probably stop confusing the cricket ball for an apple. There is so much raw potential with the likes of Aamer who probably is 20 rather then 17 and Umar Akmal.
8. West Indies
Spoiler
* If only the sides of the 70s and 80s were playing in place of this current generation. Some very good players like Chanderpaul, Gayle and Sarwan, apart from that, their bowling is just first class standard, possibly even second eleven standard. Kemar Roach is the one who has a lot of potential, there isn't much else after that.
* If only the sides of the 70s and 80s were playing in place of this current generation. Some very good players like Chanderpaul, Gayle and Sarwan, apart from that, their bowling is just first class standard, possibly even second eleven standard. Kemar Roach is the one who has a lot of potential, there isn't much else after that.
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