The joust currently underway in India between a team which has just put Australia to the sword and a newly resurgent England that enjoyed a spectacular defeat of South Africa earlier this year may well be an event which reveals to we cricket betting fans whether or not India is now the top cricket team in the world. Their score in the first One Day International of 387 – 5 is the highest tally India has ever scored against a test Nation and the highest score ever conceded by England playing in this format.

IndiaÂ’s defeat of Australia was unexpected and to complete the task as convincingly as they did has created a new perspective on international cricket. Their batsmen seemed invincible against an attack which, as well as lacking a convincing spinning force, showed a complete absence of threat to an almost textbook batting performance from India whose strategic thinking seemed able to cope with all eventualities.

Contrasted with this is an England performance in Antigua, which was so utterly appalling that we had better bring out every excuse in the book and pretend that it never happened, and a drubbing by the Mumbai PresidentÂ’s XI which consisted largely of club players. EnglandÂ’s problem in that match was with the bat and this is the challenge now facing them in Rajkot and itÂ’s not looking good. As I write Bell and Shah have gone leaving England at 17 – 1 chasing a target of 388. LetÂ’s face it guys, itÂ’s not going to happen. In fact, IÂ’d put money on us not getting a 100 on what is generally regarded as a perfect batting wicket bar none. Conclusion – Pietersen has not got a magic wand and our players just canÂ’t keep their nerve long enough to dig in and build a score. I predict a whitewash.

Live India vs England ODI Score