On August 13, 2011, the England cricket team finally ended a nine-year quest for the No1 spot in the ICC Test ranking as they orchestrated a convincing victory against the Indian squad. The International Cricket Council (ICC) created the ranking system in 2003, but the game’s pioneers could only surpass them in 2011 in the game’s most pure form.
During the third Test of the four-game home series, which was contested from August 10 to August 14, England accomplished an outstanding achievement. England had a commanding lead going into the third Test after winning the first two games by margins of 196 and 319 runs, respectively.
England’s bowling attack destroyed India’s illustrious batting order at Edgbaston in Birmingham, reducing them to a pitiful score of 224. The team’s sole survivor in the first innings was captain MS Dhoni, who scored 77 runs. Tim Bresnan and Stuart Broad, two pace bowlers for England, were effective, each taking four wickets.
When the hosts batted in the second inning, they unleashed a beast. When England declared their innings at 710 for seven, the Indian bowlers’ suffering came to an end. Alastair Cook scored 294 runs in a brilliant inning. Eoin Morgan, who has 104 runs and another century for England, provided him with excellent support.
India had a huge task of putting on a fantastic batting display in the third innings. However, the batsman once more failed to win over the cricket community. India crumbled at 244 runs this time. The not-out 74-run performance by Dhoni was the lone bright spot for the visitors.
James Anderson led the England pace attack as he picked four-wicket. A comprehensive and all-round performance delivered by the hosts steered them towards a victory by an innings and 242 runs and the title of world champions.
The England Cricket Team has its fair share of struggles when it comes to world tournaments or rankings. Even though the game progressed and it was one of the most technologically advanced and first to reinforce the changes, it failed to make a mark apart from the Bilateral series. It was the first time England reached a ranking that was worthy of how the team has been dominant in the history of the game. There is hardly any looking back. We all know they are continuing to show they will keep rising.
