SA hopes for Aussie failure
5 Aug 2009
The Proteas will become the No 1 Test team in the world if Australia fail to win the Ashes series.
If the series is drawn, South Africa will go top with Australia slipping to No 2. However, if the Aussies lose the series, they will slip to No 4, behind South Africa, India and Sri Lanka. England currently lead the series 1-0, with two matches to play, and there is bad weather forecast for the fourth Test.
South Africa last held the No 1 Test ranking during a four-month period in 2003, when the rankings were calculated differently and Australia had yet to play weaker opposition that would earn them more ranking points.
‘I have been following the rankings a little bit, and I don’t think we would be out of place at all [at No 1] if that was to happen,’ Proteas coach Mickey Arthur told Cricinfo. ‘We have played some very solid cricket over the past 18 months. We defeated England, Australia and Pakistan away, and we are certainly proud of that. But whatever happens, I think what is clear is that there is very little now between us, Australia, India and even England. That’s healthy for the game.’
The Proteas are already ranked No 1 in ODIs, a point ahead of India. World Cup champions Australia are No 3.
18 Comments
5 Aug 2009, 08:56 am
Aus is definatley not the nr 1 team in the world anymore. We will totally deserve the ranking should we get it.
And PS: I wont say dragons
5 Aug 2009, 09:03 am
‘I have been following the rankings a little bit, and I don’t think we would be out of place at all [at No 1] if that was to happen,’ Proteas coach Mickey Arthur
a little? ja right.
5 Aug 2009, 09:27 am
#2 rangerman: Number 1 rugby side and number 1 cricket team in the world?
Are you serious?
Man… South Africa, WE LOVE YOU!!!
5 Aug 2009, 09:29 am
It would’ve still felt better had we taken the number 1 spot from them… But if we get there, I guess we deserved it!
5 Aug 2009, 09:44 am
#3 Gambit25: double no.1 gambit.
test and odi.
yes please!
5 Aug 2009, 10:34 am
#3 Gambit25: I say so too. South Africa WE LOVE YOU. Damn proud of our rugby and cricket team.
We could become the number one team in test cricket if England win the Ashes. We are number one in the odi’s at the moment, could have a double here in the tests too.
5 Aug 2009, 11:04 am
Is it just me, or is this Ashes a non-event to everyone except a couple of Aussies and Poms on the field?
Apart from the fact that the whole thing has been diluted to a rained-out little puddle, neither of these two teams look anything close to world champs.
Maybe it’s because we have so much happening on home soil at the moment, but honestly, ashes shmashes..
5 Aug 2009, 11:24 am
#3 Gambit25:
#6 Puma: Im with you guys – our sportsmen and women make us proud! Our swimmers also did very well at World Champs recently.
We should’ve beaten Aus when they came to SA in Feb, but anyways – we do totally deserve #1 ranking.
Rugby – World Champs, Sevens World Champs, S14 champs
Cricket – #1 ODI and Test side
Bafana Bafana are on the up too – all is looking good.
5 Aug 2009, 11:28 am
The only differnce between the Proteas and Oz is one (on-form) Mitchell Johnson, in my opinion. He’s worth 7/8 wickets and at least 60 runs in a test match. For a bottom order player, that is game-winning class. He was the b#####d that won them the series, in April.
5 Aug 2009, 12:00 pm
#7 katman:
Actually SA should get a share of the Ashes if England win. At least 3 SA born players involved – 4 if Jonathan Trott gets a game – the others are Strauss, Pietersen and Matt Prior.
5 Aug 2009, 12:10 pm
No1 in Sevens, Fifteens, ODI’s and Tests…. 3rd world country my ***!! (on the sport field at least)
5 Aug 2009, 12:23 pm
#10 thecentre: Plus the coach is from Zim, so Africa is playing its part.
5 Aug 2009, 15:49 pm
If only we’d not lost the series in SA. Oh well….
5 Aug 2009, 16:31 pm
#8 bokfan1: Yes forgot about our Sevens being World Champs. We doing very well in all our sports.
Pity we never beat the OZ cricket side here in the tests. Then the last test we beat them by a innings. So will hang onto that.
Pleased to see Bafana on the up again. Was really proud of them in 1996 winning the African Nations Cup. After that they seemed to slip down the ladder. Think this coach must be good for them.
5 Aug 2009, 16:32 pm
#9 BishopsOD: He really should bat up the order for OZ.
5 Aug 2009, 21:55 pm
Not bad considering the fact that most on this site believe that we are a nation “handicapped” by quotas/targets. I have always maintained that we must have targets at all levels (S14, provincial, franchise etc) this will allow the national coaches to select sides on merit that are representative of the new SA. Let’s see Smith and his boys also bringing home some trophies for a change. SA is definitely a country to be reckoned with no matter the sporting code. Hopefully we also get more medals in the olympics.
6 Aug 2009, 00:29 am
#8 bokfan1: Actually, Wales won the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens and are thus the Sevens World Champions – SA won the Sevens World Series.
6 Aug 2009, 08:52 am
#12 WP_:
Actually coach was born in SA then moved to Zim.
But Zim developed him so they get him.
By the same token its not fair to take credit for Strauss. He was just a kid when he moved with his folks to the UK
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