Dubai: England vice-captain Alastair Cook feels that his side has the wherewithal to beat India in the upcoming four-match series and claim number one Test status.
Cook said that if England play to their potential, they will be a hard side to beat on home soil.
“It is going to be a great summer, we need to go back to Test mode. We want to world number one in the ICC Test Championship. There is nothing better than playing against the current world number one, to show that we can reach there,” said Cook.
“They have got some players who will go down as all-time greats. But I am very confident that if we play well, we will be a hard side to beat,” Cook said on this week’s ICC Cricket World Radio Show.
Cook, also the ODI captain, said that the recent series triumph against Sri Lanka will hold them in good stead against India.
“It has been a good couple of months and to win the series is very pleasing. We have certainly got a lot to prove. We know as an English side, we know that we have to win. We have made a step in the right direction,” said Cook.
England need to win 2-0 or 3-1 to
become No. 1
England must beat India by at least two clear matches in the forthcoming series to be ranked as the world’s top Test team.
Anything less will be insufficient to remove their opponents from the No. 1 spot they have occupied since last year.
At present, England are in third place on 117 points, behind India on 125 and South Africa on 118. A win for England by 1-0 or 2-1 in the four-match series, which is scheduled to start at the Lord’s next week, will see them overtake South Africa but only draw level with India.
But a victory by 2-0 or 3-1, with points at stake because England lost to India at home four years ago, would see Andrew Strauss’ side go three points clear. If England were to lose to India, by any margin, they would still retain third place in the rankings, such is the gap between the top three and the rest.
Although the rankings are arcane, depending on a multitude of factors including quality of the opposition and previous results between the sides, they are generally felt to be accurate.
It is England’s declared mission to top the charts for the first time since the ICC’s official ratings system began and if they miss out now they may have to wait a while for another opportunity, relying on India to lose to others, reports Independent. (PTI)