England Tour Of India cric news on ICC Test Championship

India’s ranking on the line: Lorgat

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat feels that India’s No 1 ranking in Test cricket is certainly on line after back-to-back defeats against England at the Lord’s and Trent Bridge but the quality of contest has been pretty enthralling.

“Currently, we are enjoying an enthralling series in England with India’s number-one position on the Reliance ICC Test Championship table on the line. It is all about meaningful, hard-fought and entertaining cricket and certainly we have seen that in England so far in this series,” Lorgat, who is currently in Harare to watch Zimbabwe versus Bangladesh Test match was quoted as saying in an ICC release.

Lorgat highlighted the strength and importance of Test cricket as the pinnacle format of the game.

“Test cricket will be protected and promoted above all other forms of the game. It is the link to the game’s origins, it’s what defines greatness and is recognised by the players as being the benchmark by which they will be graded and remembered,” he added.

Lorgat feels that World Test Championship will further enhance the popularity of the sport in the country.

“The new Test Championship, which is on the horizon, will provide even better context to the existing programme and that is certainly something to look forward to as our great sport continues to grow stronger.”

Reaching No.1 spot is only beginning of the journey: Swann

AP Graeme Swann

After thrashing the No.1 Test team in the first two games of the four-match Test series, England might have moved an edge closer to snatching away the numero uno status from India, but off-spinner Graeme Swann said his side is keen on having a long-term era of success.

“Reaching No.1 in the world is not the end of the journey. It will be only the beginning,” Swann said. “We want to create a dynasty, a long-term era of success and to be remembered as one of the best England teams ever,” the tweaker added.

England will replace India at the top if they manage to clinch the series with a margin of two or more matches.

“We are not there yet, of course, and our prime objective at the moment is making sure we are fully focused for the third Test at Edgbaston next Wednesday,” Swann wrote in his column for The Sun. “We must make sure we win the series from being 2-0 up and things such as rankings take care of themselves.

“The likes of Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad and Ian Bell are well under the age of 30. It gives England the chance to be a top side for a long time to come,” he said.

On the recent run out episode of Ian Bell, Swann felt the Indians were right in withdrawing their appeal. “It was blatantly obvious Belly (Ian Bell) wasn’t attempting a run and the umpire was about to hand over the bowler’s sweater. “You could run out a batsman 20 times a day when he goes gardening or that sort of thing,” the bowler insisted.