I'm interested in Jeffs desire for consistency? Do you mean consistency of performance or consistency of results? I guess the two are linked.
In Test Cricket at the moment, there isn't a single team who puts out consistent results. Every team go through some pretty massive swings and roundabouts. South Africa get humped by Australia. Australia get humped away and are unbeatable at home. India can win at Lords and then don't look like they want to be in England after that. Pakistan are great at home but still can't win away. England are good at home and garbage away. Sri Lanka vary wildly home and away and within a series.
As I said in a post a page or two back, World Cricket doesn't have a stand out test side at the moment so there is bound to be inconsistency as everyone can beat everyone else on any given day.