Gautam Gambhir, the former India opener, has slammed the ICC rankings system after Australia displaced India at the top of the Test rankings.
India led the charts for 43 months – a streak only second to Australia’s 74 consecutive months at the top between 2003 and 2009 – but were displaced on May 1 when the ICC updated their rankings, which gives more weight to recent results. India slipped to No.3, below Australia and New Zealand, to whom they lost a Test series earlier this year.
The update meant the results of the 2016/17 season were disregarded, when India had a bumper home summer and won a majority of the matches from their streak of nine consecutive series wins. Over the last five years, India have won 15 of their 19 Test series, including series wins in Australia, Sri Lanka and West Indies.
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Australia, meanwhile, struggled considerably since 2018, with the ball-tampering scandal, and their last away series came in 2016. “No, I am not surprised,” said Gambhir on Stars Sports Cricket Connected, when asked if he’d expected India to slip down the rankings.
“I don’t believe in [World Test Championship] points and ranking system. Probably, the worst was there in the World Test Championship, that you win the same points when you win a Test match away from home. That’s ridiculous.”
Australia’s last away Test series win came over four years ago, in February 2016. In that time, India, today knocked off the No.1 spot in the Test rankings, won four series overseas. pic.twitter.com/ZLhv3Vxkyj
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) May 1, 2020
Gambhir said India had, despite results, been the most competitive away from home, especially in South Africa and England. “If you have to see from the overall impact point of view, India have lost series away from home, but won against Australia,” he said.
“Hands down, they have been the most competitive side. They won a Test in South Africa, won a Test match in England … not many countries have done that.
“For me, India should be there [at No.1] because Australia … I have serious doubts on what front have you [ICC] given Australia the No. 1 Test ranking? They have been absolutely pathetic away from home, especially in the sub-continent.”
