All square in India, but South Africa remain on track to rule the cricket world

For now, I'd admit, based strictly on the results that SA is the true number 2 team in the world right now. They beat India at home comprehensively and came close to beating them in India. I wouldn't give much credit to their tours of Pakistan and Bangladesh. They encountered a very tired Indian team that has been playing non stop since they first met SA in SA in 2007. But that's part of today's cricket. The Aussies are rebuilding. Do not under estimate them. Ponting is working hard on what went wrong. And the Aussies always learn from their mistakes - sign of a true champion team. SA will have to up their game to that level in order to beat the Aussies and stay at the top. However, if there is one team that has any chance for a series win in Australia, it is SA. The bowling combination for SA looks very good. They have intelligent and penetrative bowlers, something that will worry the Australians. The series might be closely fought. But if SA manages to beat the Aussies in a test series there, it will be greeat occasion for world cricket. SA and Australia might oscillate between number 1 and 2 spots for sometime and if SA improves its strength, they will have a final accomplishment of world dominance. India will still remain an irritant. But it will not be a world champion. Many star batsmen are retiring and bowling department is running on crutches. So good luck to SA.

"hey remain an exclusive club, being the only team to win a series in Pakistan in 20 years" Did India's tour to Pakistan in 2003/04 not happen?

Greg by the way had forecast a 3-0 in favor of South Africa................................................ ............................................... I think India and SAF are both ranked second.......................................i say this because............................................... ...... a. SAF bowling continues to be a concern with Steyn failing in the first REAL test. 6 top order batsmen in 5 innings is not a big deal at all....................... b. Inconsistent performance: They were unable to build from 151/1 and became extremely defensive on day 3. Their close series at home with a very weak west Indies team indicates clearly that the team has not settled............................................... .................... c. Chokers: SAF are number 1 in ODIs not because they beat Australia but because Australia lost 5 times to India during the last 6 months. On their own one can doubt if they could have closed the sale. In fact, not winning the last test is another eaxmple of SAF cricket team being characterised as the biggest choker in world sport.

Weren't u the one predicting a landslide for SA. SA won the Ahemadabad test because India was off color. When India came back to its elements SA was brushed aside as expected. Lukcy for SA it was not a five-test series. Otherwise, it would have been steam rolled.

What are you on? There is no way that SA can end the year as number one side even if the spank England and beat Aus 3-0 in Australia. Stop kidding yourself and admit that the best you can hope for in 2008 is second and that will be on the back of beating the easy beats of World cricket Bangladesh, Pakistan and England. Coming second to the Aussies is really quite respectable - get used to it.

i see 20.20 ricket match

To help you fella's where you're clearly wrong: 1. I predicted a AWAY DRAW for the Protea's and not 3-0 ! ( A Treble or Triple doesn't mean 3-0 it means South Africa nearly achieved wins in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India in 1 season) 2. The Away Draw favours South Africa, as Graeme Smith said, if we had drawn at home in South Africa, we would be a little unhappy - so I'm confused why India are so jolly about the draw ? 3. Bazza - 2008/2009 it hardly matters and how arrogant are you Aussies ? Like, easy beats are everyone you're not playing ? Or easy beats are every team except Australia ? By Dec 2008 South Africa will have played ALL the teams in international cricket (since 2006) with 1 series loss to Sri Lanka (in Sri Lanka) without Graeme Smith captaining in a 2 match series... so thats, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, India and England .... who else is their to play ? Mars ? The Australians are about equal to Pakistan this year, and they chickened out of that tour quickly in the face of what I'd guarantee would have been an embarrassing whipping... I cannot understand how the international cricket world can allow the Aussies to hide away on the edge of the planet and cherry pick the games they will play while sitting on a lead... disgusting... small wonder everyone wants to see the Aussies down the ICC rankings... somewhere way down number 5 or 6, where they belong.

South Africa are on the rise and that is a fact, whether the rest want to admit it or not. Funny how the Aussie fans have to resort to insult of others when defending their teams, which does not seem the power house it once was. SA have the ability to beat them and that is the truth. Our bowling attack is brilliant. (Dale Steyn is not ranked 2 for nothing). As for Brad: It is difficult to feel insulted by someone who has no grammer or english skills. Need I remind him that the mighty Aussies have lost to Bangladesh. I agree with Greg, SA did a wonderful job in India and the reason they lost the 3rs, was because the pitch was rigged to support India's strenghts. (Which they admitted). If it were a 5 match series, it would have been a close one.

Of these comments the only one that I can see that mentions 3-0 is mine and that was with reference to future series not what you've just played. If you need to believe that Pakistan, Bangladesh and England are powerhouses then that's okay with me. A draw in India is the only respectable thing you've done in the last 12 months and that was against a side that had just returned from a very tough trip to Aus and also in the throws of preparing for IPL/ICL. I notice you only go back to mid 2006 and not the beginning. Can you remember what happened earlier that year? I think it was a 5-0 drubbing by Aus wasn't it??

No offense meant to anybody but in the true spirit of the competitive nature of sport and the reactions it invokes I cannot stand the Aussies. This is especially in Cricket and Rugby. Cricket is even worse. The thought of loosing to them makes my day sour. Any South African who even dares think about those Kangaroos beeting us make me want to send him straight to Rob and declare him/her to be an MDC spy. That should sort out his/her loyalties. Any other team/country but NOT AUSTRALIA. mindi yoy this is restricted tosport alone not the nation. I will NEVER support the Aussies even if they play against a team from Mars or Pluto. Please countrymen do not even have nightmares about those peole beating us. You do not dare. We shall bliksem them till their origins are forgotten

To decide who really is the world champion, we need a 5 test series between SA and Australia, back to back within a year in both countries. Let us see who emerges the winner. That would the be the best way to determine who the world champion is. I am not much impressed with 3 test series. To be fair, visiting side should be given at least two to three weeks of time to acclimatize and play warm up matches before being ready for the first test. There should be a five day gap between test matches and enough rest given to both teams. When they clash, they will play with their full strength. Otherwise, teams can make up their records by playing under rated teams and appear formidable. The top three teams should play five test series against each other.

I have to agree with Partha. I am not in favour of the top ranked sides playing a 3 match series. I think the old 5 test series was a good gauge to see who is the best team. And I also agree that the test matches are too close together, not giving players enough recovery time between matches. I also believe the ICC should have pre match inspections of pitches. All home teams like a pitch to favour them, but I think it should be ensured that the pitches are at least decent patches.

Greg Smith has no credibility Read these two posts he published before the India SAF series http://www.sportingo.com/cricket/a7022_secon ds-south-africas-reserves-can http://www.sportingo .com/Cricket/a7330_Indias-ODI-obsession-suggests-South