South Africa do not deserve No.1 ranking: Ricky Ponting

[Boodles]

Really just want to see good, hard competitive cricket.

SOUTH Africa's cricketers are coming, and they're closing fast.
But Ricky Ponting does not believe the Proteas would deserve Test cricket's No.1 ranking, even if they did become the first side since the West Indies of 1992-93 to beat Australia in a series in their own backyard.

That is, unless they could pull off the unthinkable and win the series in a 3-0 whitewash.

Ponting said Australia deserved to hang on to their No.1 ranking regardless of the result of the coming series, which begins in Perth on December 17.

"It has taken us a long time and a lot of great wins in different conditions around the world to get us to that No.1 spot," the Australian skipper said on Thursday.

"If South Africa beat us 3-0 I don't know if that gives them enough points to get over us.

"But if they won the series 1-0 or 2-1, I don't think that would mean that they deserve to take over that mantle.

"It's a bit the same with India (beating Australia in the) last series.

"Just because they beat us, the No.1 team, (it) doesn't necessarily mean they go from the No.4 or No.5 in the world to No.1 in the world, because it's something that's accrued over a long period of time."

South Africa have cause for optimism entering this series, having surged up the rankings table over the past two years.

Graeme Smith's side began 2007 in sixth place in the Test rankings, yet finished the year in second, although 32 ranking points behind Australia.

The gap is now 13 points, and series wins in Australia and South Africa over the next four months could produce the game's first major de-throning since Mark Taylor's side became the best in the world by beating the West Indies in the Caribbean in 1995.

The Proteas' assault this summer will be based on a clutch of in-form batsmen and a lively pace attack headed by strike bowler Dale Steyn.

But South Africa have never beaten Australia (home or away) in eight series following their re-admission into international cricket after the end of the apartheid era.

Meanwhile, Ponting predicted player workload, pay structure and sponsor appearances to be the major issues up for discussion when talks begin on a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Australia's best players.

Although keen to play as many internationals as he could, Ponting said it was inevitable that player workloads needed addressing given the jammed nature of cricket's scheduling, made even tighter by the boom in Twenty20 tournaments.

He said finding the right workload for players would be the "major challenge" for Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers' Association to reach when they begin talks shortly.

Also in focus will be the number of compulsory appearances made by CA-contracted players.

Under the present MOU, players are required to make 22 appearances for CA sponsors every year, but players reportedly want that figure reduced.

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[Devill]

It is true what ponting says, to be the nr 1 team means you have to be consistent and play good cricket for a long period of time

 

[stepper]

It is true what ponting says, to be the nr 1 team means you have to be consistent and play good cricket for a long period of time

Yep, we are trying and we haven't lost a series since December 2006.

 

[Devill]

Yep, we are trying and we haven't lost a series since December 2006.

Lol, ok I did not know that

But on top of that to be the best you have to beet the best

Can not wait for this series to start

 

[zeb]

He's just stirring the pot. Last time round they managed to get to Smith but I'm sure he's more mature...I hope, even though I still can't stand the bloke

 

[Ou grote]

I reckon Sri Lanka will be #1 in 2 years time.
Awesome side they have there.

 

[stefan9]

Strange never saw Steve Waugh ever even mention defeat before a series but here ponting seems to be contemplating the chance that he might lose.

 

[Devill]

I reckon Sri Lanka will be #1 in 2 years time.
Awesome side they have there.

My money is on Kenia!

 

[Ou grote]

My money is on Kenia!

Why?

Are terrorists planning something for the next 20/20 World cup,
and Canada, Holland and Kenya going to be the only big teams left?

 

[LancelotSA]

Strange never saw Steve Waugh ever even mention defeat before a series but here ponting seems to be contemplating the chance that he might lose.

Yip I thought the same thing..... he is actually contemplating a 3-0 whitewash by SA! Nice!

 

[Devill]

Why?

Are terrorists planning something for the next 20/20 World cup,
and Canada, Holland and Kenya going to be the only big teams left?

Nha Kenia just has soooooo many great players like Martin Suji and Joseph Mazalakitana.

 

[krycor]

I reckon india is going to get very tough to beat in the next wc/50ov. Uhm why is it that whenever Aus is threatend for position in tournaments/tables, steve waugh or shane warne who are quiet for prolonged periods suddenly pop up ? hehe they were really the ones to beat a while back, but i think the aussie team is getting weaker and others stronger, guess u can't have superstars in your team forever. (think about it, the aussie team is becoming more normal instead of having many remarkable ones )

 

[Ou grote]

Nha Kenia just has soooooo many great players like Martin Suji and Joseph Mazalakitana.

I don't think they play 1st class cricket there, they may, not sure.
They may play a few games a year, but not structured like other test nations.
Can have a look on cricinfo later.

 

[Devill]

I don't think they play 1st class cricket there, they may, not sure.
They may play a few games a year, but not structured like other test nations.
Can have a look on cricinfo later.

Lol, I am pulling your leg

Hope you were just playing along?

I think India will be the team to beat in the future. The IPL with its "5 young indian players per team" rule is seriously helping and giving them some experience with the big boys in world cricket

Also it helps that they have a population of close to 1 billion

 

[LancelotSA]

Well now a thread about test cricket against Aus has been derailed and turned into a 20/20 and 50 over discussion about Kenya and India!

Focus guys!

 

[Devill]

Well now a thread about test cricket against Aus has been derailed and turned into a 20/20 and 50 over discussion about Kenya and India!

Focus guys!

Dear Lance

Please read.

Regards

Devill

http://icc-cricket.yahoo.com/rankings/rankings.html

There are the rankings.

I did not know that NZ were ranked that low

 

[poffle]

Ponting is using mind games against us. Aussies always do it! Its awesome though, shows the competitiveness between SA and Aus

 

[stefan9]

Ponting is using mind games against us. Aussies always do it! Its awesome though, shows the competitiveness between SA and Aus

Yes but the usual mind games never included any thoughts of defeat. The Aussie team of the last 10 years never ever mentioned it as even a possibility. They were always talking about winning and usually by big margins.

 

[Boodles]

South Africa arrive in Perth with Dale Steyn keen to see WACA pitch

SOUTH Africa's highly rated pace attack has arrived in Perth eager to get a look at the WACA pitch and counting down the days until the first Test against Australia beginning on December 17.
Fast bowlers Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn said on Sunday they had grown up watching the Perth Test matches on television and were keen to find out for themselves if the WACA was returning to its fast and bouncy best.

"I've never played there. It will be good, yeah," said Steyn, who tops the 2008 wicket-taking list with 60 at 19.42 in 11 Tests.

"I guess we'll all see how it goes when the first Test comes along."

Steyn's pace partner Morkel added: "I always watched it (Perth Test) on TV.

"It's going to be an awesome six-Test season so hopefully we can do well."

Ricky Ponting's Australia will host matches in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney before touring South Africa in February for three more Tests.

Asked if the wicket would give South Africa an edge with Steyn, Morkel and Makhaya Ntini in top form, Morkel told reporters at Perth airport: "We'll have to wait and see.

"It's going to be an exciting challenge."

Skipper Graeme Smith, who averages 49.95 in Tests but just 22.25 in eight matches against the top-ranked Australia, says his world No.2-ranked side is glad to finally set foot on Australian soil and start the campaign to topple Ponting's side.

"It's good to be here. It has been a long time coming," Smith said.

"There has been a build-up for a few months and we are just happy to be here now.

"It will interesting to see how the wickets play."

Smith's tourists are keen to avoid the ugly scenes of 2005-06 when several South Africa players were racially abused by fans at the WACA during the Perth Test.

Pace bowler Makhaya Ntini, one of the South Africa players targeted by fans in Perth last time, would not be drawn on the incident.

"I cannot comment on those things buddy," he told reporters.

South Africa haven't beaten Australia in a Test series since 1969-70 and were outclassed 2-0 in Australia and 3-0 at home in two series in 2005-06.

South Africa will play a one-day game against Western Australia on Thursday at the WACA followed by a two-day match on Friday and Saturday.

Here

 

[JK8]

I think SA wont make much impact, Ill be surprised if the win one test match and one ODI....