Ranking the 3 best Test batting line -ups in the world

Cricket has come a long way since its inception and batsman nowadays play a more crucial role. There is a famous saying in cricket, "To win a Test match, you need to pick 20 wickets", but real success can be defined by how much a team's batting line up can survive and thrive in tough and alien conditions. Sadly, the quality of batsmen has declined over the years. There are few world class batsman in each team, but the overall quality has declined.

One needs to look back at the teams in the 2000s where every team had 3 to 4 batsman who could have a go against any bowling attack in any given conditions. For instance, India had players like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman; Australia had players like Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Steve Waugh; South Africa had Kallis, Gibbs, Graeme Smith and the list goes on.

However, there are few players in each team currently who boost up the overall strength of their country's respective batting lineup. The batting lineups have been ranked based on factors like adaptability, consistency.

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#3 New Zealand

Mix of Experience and Youth

New Zealand is one of the most underrated teams in the cricketing world right now. Like most teams, they have not been successful in foreign conditions, but they have an impeccable record at home. While their bowling attacks consist of two world class bowlers, the quality of batsman that they produce is the main reason for their huge success.

The Kane Williamson-led team consists of one of the best batting lineups in the whole of cricket. A top order consisting of Tom Latham, Williamson and Ross Taylor that can withstand any bowling attack is one of the biggest positives of this team.

This is not all as their middle order even though a bit inexperienced compared to other players in the team, are equally capable of dishing out of crucial scores when the situation demands it. They bat deep, and most of them are well established in the shorter formats of the game so they can change the style of play when necessary.

#2 England

Talented Middle Order

England is one of the teams to be noticed of late thanks to their major success in limited overs format of the game. English is known to produce batsman who are very orthodox in nature and usually follow the textbook stuff. This pattern changed after their crushing exit from the 2015 World Cup and with Andrew Strauss taking up the role of Director of Cricket of their country, the team has been filled with specialist batsmen tailor-made for limited overs format. The biggest positive coming for England has been that these T20 specialists have smoothly transitioned into good Test batsmen.

The England batting order starts with Alastair Cook, who will probably go down as one of their best batsmen to play the longest format of the game. England has struggled with the other opening spot with lots of chopping and changing being made. The second opening spot is one of the major chinks in their batting armor, but what follows next is arguably top notch.

The combination of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow is one of the best middle order that you can expect. They both are capable of playing the long innings and immediately switching gears when necessary. The middle order which comprises of the lethal combination of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler allows them to bat deep with the bowling all rounders like Sam Curran and Chris Woakes contributing enough for the cause. This batting lineup can give any bowling attack a run for their money in any given condition.

#1 India

Best Batting lineup in the world

The opening combination has been chopped and changed a lot due to injuries, but it mainly consists of Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, and Murali Vijay. Rahul and Vijay are two of the most gifted cricketers that India has ever produced who can play the patient game in tough conditions. While Dhawan is not technically sound as his partners but he still can wreak havoc in opposition bowling attack in favorable conditions.

The world-class top order consists of Cheteswar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane. Pujara is one of the purest Test batsmen in the world today who can play the long innings and put out the bad balls when necessary. Kohli, considered as the direct successor of Sachin Tendulkar, is the best Test batsman in the world right now who has tasted success in every country that he has played. With Ajinkya Rahane to cap off this top order, destruction is guaranteed.

The middle order and the lower middle order consisting of Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya are not experienced and relatively new to this team, but they are very talented and will grow with time. Even the bowling all-rounder Ashwin has 4 centuries to his name. If Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar continue to contribute with the bat, this Indian team can set huge benchmarks for others.