After giving some consistent performances in test match cricket, Australian cricket team has moved up in the official test rankings of International Cricket Council (ICC). Australia is now at no. 2. England is still the number 1 side while South Africa has moved down to no. 3. The Australian cricketers have performed brilliantly in the last two test series that they have played. At first, they whitewashed Team India by a margin of 4-0 in the home series and then they visited West Indies and beat them by a margin of 2-0 in the 3 match test series. In the last 7 test matches that Australia has played, it has won 6 of them.
After the appointment of Michael Clarke as captain, the Australian test team has shown gradual improvements. The team is looking stabilized and every member of the team has a fixed role. Australia has a young brigade of fast bowlers who can bowl pretty quickly. Also, it has a very good spinner in the form of Nathan Lyon. He is an old fashioned orthodox off spinner who likes to flight the ball. The opening slot is also looking quite stabilized. David Warner is relishing the opportunity of playing test cricket. He makes a lethal combination with Shane Watson at the top of the order. Australia has also found a fabulous wicket keeper in the form of Matthew Wade. He is quite capable with the bat. Ian Chappell, former Australian Captain, has said during a television show that Wade is good enough to play as a specialist batsman in the Australian team. Also, he doesn’t do a bad job behind the stumps.
Australia has to play an important test series against South Africa in the later part of the year. If Australia wins that series, it might become the No. 1 test team in the world again.