Strauss rates England world's best Test side

Skipper Andrew Strauss says there is no better Test team than England over the last two years

India are the World No 1 Test team, but according to England skipper Andrew Strauss, there is no better Test team than his, over the last two years.

If England beat India by a 2-0 or 3-1 margin, they could displace MS Dhoni's men at the top of the ICC rankings.

"I do... absolutely," was his response to a question as to whether his team is ready to be numero uno in the traditional form of the game.


England players during a training session on the eve of the first Test
against India at Lord's Cricket Ground in London yesterday. Pic/AFP

"I think there are areas where we can improve on, so in that sense, we are not a finished article. To be No 1 is relative to what other sides are doing and our cricket over the last two years ufffd I don't think there has been a side which has been better than us.

"We have won seven out of eight series and the other one was a drawn one. But this is a new challenge for us," said Strauss.

The Ashes-winning England skipper gave the impression that being No 1u00a0 on the charts was not such a big deal.
"Our ultimate goal is not to be on top of the rankings, but to be the side that everyone generally agrees is the No 1 side in the world. That still is a long-term goal. Nothing changes whether we win or lose this series," he added.