A comprehensive 2-0 home Test win against Sri Lanka has assured that, for the first time since the rankings were introduced, India will be the number one Test team in the world, at least on paper. But is it a deserved honour?

A quick look at Cricinfo’s Stats Guru shows that India’s traditional weakness still remains: they just aren’t very good away from home. Outside of India, where their substandard bowling is exposed, they have lost their last series to Australia, South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. At home, where Indian batsmen can plant their front foot down the pitch without any worries or, in the case of Virender Sehwag, not bother with footwork at all, they have won their last series against every Test team, except for a drawn series against South Africa. The overall record is impressive, and their away record is improving as India is now at least able to win in New Zealand. But these stats do not point to a number one team.

India has undoubtedly been helped by the decline of Australia which has led to a levelling of the playing field. It is hard to decide just who is the best Test team in the world. South Africa beat Australia in Australia but lost to them at home. Australia also lost the Ashes and is having to fight against the West Indies (the worst Test team after Bangladesh) at home. South Africa, by virtue of their drawn series in India, probably deserve the number one ranking, but honestly, a three-way tie for first place may be the most honest outcome.

Having India ranked as the number one team, though, may be just what Test cricket needs. Maybe now the Indian Cricket Board will realise that being the best Test cricket team in the world is more important than scheduling another seven-match ODI series that has all the nutritional value of Baconnaise. Already, India wants to schedule a two-match Test series against South Africa next year since beating them is the only way India will retain their ranking. It would also be in India’s interest to schedule an away Test series against Pakistan (the way things are going right now this would be played in Liechtenstein).

Test cricket has rarely been more exciting. Draws are unusual, as teams play more attacking cricket than ever before. The current New Zealand-Pakistan series has been among the most exciting in recent memory and the upcoming South Africa-England series should be just as good. If self-interest makes the Indians responsible stewards of the Test game, we can finally stop moaning about the death of Test cricket.