Sir Viv’s high praise for Stokes, England

England could well be the sixth-ranked Test nation by the end of the month, but Sir Vivian Richards says they have the ability and substance to become the No.1 team in the world.

In an exclusive interview with cricket.com.au, the West Indian legend has pin-pointed allrounder Ben Stokes and a pace attack led by experienced duo Stuart Broad and James Anderson as some of the crucial elements to a side that features up to five key players aged 26 and under.

England's potential as a Test team was underlined by their historic series win in South Africa this summer, a result that ended the Proteas' long reign as world No.1.

Just nine months after Australian coach Trevor Bayliss took over a side in turmoil following a series draw against a struggling Windies side in the Caribbean, England have triumphs over Australia and the Proteas to point to as examples of their ability.

And Richards believes they can go even further.

"When you look at the English team and the way they played in South Africa – they demoralised South Africa in my opinion," Richards said in a one-on-one chat in Dubai, where he's working as a mentor for Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League.

"That team itself does have the quality and the depth. When I say depth you have (allrounder) Moeen Ali coming in at number eight.

"Ben Stokes, he has performed incredibly well over the past year and when you look at his performance you could easily say he is one of the better allrounders in world cricket today. He has been very, very special. 

"So having that team and (James) Anderson and (Stuart) Broad and that four-pronged attack, it is a very special team.

"If they can maintain their form I can’t see why they shouldn’t be the number one team in the world.

"Certainly, the potential is there and the talent is there and they've got the substance to become number one."

While Richards praised England's development in the Test arena, he declined to buy into the debate about Kevin Pietersen's continued absence from the international stage.

The pair is currently working together at the Gladiators having also done so at the Melbourne Stars in the KFC Big Bash League, where Pietersen has repeatedly shown he is more than up to the challenge of the international game.

"I am not going to get into that," Richards said when asked about Pietersen's non-selection in England's squad for the upcoming ICC World T20 in India.

"I do not deal with other people’s problems.

"But what I can say is that whoever he is playing for, that team is going to benefit.

"I do not worry about history. It is for them to think about whether they think he's good or not to be in the team.

"But I can say the Quetta Gladiators would certainly benefit from his experience being in the team.

"I have seen him also in the Big Bash. The Melbourne Stars would have benefited from his ability as a very special batsman. 

"So I just believe that this kid has done remarkably well so I am not going to think about the negatives.

"The positive – having him around – has been great."

England are currently the fifth-ranked Test nation on the official ICC rankings and could drop to as low as sixth should New Zealand win their current series against Australia.

Alastair Cook's side will seek to make up ground in the rankings when they take on the game's Asian quartet in a busy 2016 of Tests at home and away.

Their next Test assignment will be a three-match series at home in May and June against Sri Lanka, who won their 2014 series on English soil but who have been weakened by the retirements of batting greats Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena.

England will then host current world No.4 Pakistan in four Tests in July and August, looking to rebound from their 2-0 series loss in the UAE late last year.

Pakistan have built an impressive record in recent years, losing just two of their past 13 Test matches, but it's important to note their series in England will be their first outside Asia in almost three years.

While England would be favourites for the matches at home, they will face a true test of their credentials on the subcontinent at the end of the year when they travel to Bangladesh for two Tests before a five-match series in India.

England's strong performances since Bayliss took over have come despite them being unable to find a permanent opening partner for Alastair Cook, while the No.3 position has also changed hands several times.

Alex Hales and Nick Compton were used as opener and first drop respectively against the Proteas, with Bayliss last month raising the prospect of the pair swapping positions for future matches. 

While the make-up of England's top-order is far from secure, the rest of their XI is settled.

A pace attack led by veterans Anderson and Broad is complemented by the likes of Steve Finn, Mark Wood and allrounders Ali and Stokes, while Joe Root and James Taylor are bedded down in the middle order, along with wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.

- additional reporting by Martin Smith