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

[stefan9]

As an individual yes it works, im a cricket player and any type of sport, my arrogance helps me be as good as I am. Ps never play Foozball with me! Pieterson and Warne are specialists not leaders, Pietersons not having a good run as an arrogant captain is he?

But as a captain, nope you need to have a clear mind, lead your team well!
In the cricket world Aus has the physcological advantage, regardless of the talent in Aus, they have this winning spirit that keeps them where they are, one of the most consistent teams in world sport.

Ganguly example was just pure luck!

Warne has an excellent record as aussie odi captain. Would have been captain had it not been for no cricketing issues counting against him.

Also Roy keane was a pretty arrogant fellow and lead man utd brilliant. Also I haven't seen arrogance stopping the likes of fabio capello or jose mourinho being able to manage their teams to great success.

I don't think arrogance stops you being a good leader.

 

[ShoX-WS]

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.

I guess he didnt want a repeat of what happened against India

Against SA - 1st Test - LOSS !!!

 

[SephirothDVR]

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

Hehe Who said that?

 

[native]

False prophets

 

[Tassidar]

Smiths arrogance hampers his potential especially against Aus...
Notice how only 2 teams can put up a fight against Aus, Sri Lanka and India, both their captains are true gentleman of the game, that gives them the edge.
That rugby player mentality of psyching yourself up wont help.

I guess you can take those words back. Not only has Smith been a true gentleman so far, he is also averaging over 70.

 

[Good Life]

Ponting was right. We don't deserve number 1. We need to win consistently. And winning twice, and losing once doesn't help for the ranking points. We need to learn to close off and finish opposition. If we can do that on a regular basis, then we deserve no.1.

 

[killadoob]

Good you know we have gone 10 series without losing a series?

I think consistance has been the name of the game over these last 10 series.

Did you really think for one second after the second test match we would have won the series? I am amazed at that comment to be honest because we beat the aussies 2-1 in their backyard and your saying we are not consistent?

 

[chiskop]

Ponting was right. We don't deserve number 1. We need to win consistently. And winning twice, and losing once doesn't help for the ranking points. We need to learn to close off and finish opposition. If we can do that on a regular basis, then we deserve no.1.

Matches starting in 2008

Aus: W5 L5 D4
SA: W11 L2 D2​

Which of these teams has the most consistent record?

Sure, according to the way the rankings are composed we don't deserve no. 1. But we are playing the best cricket in the world and it is only a matter of time before we do get it - I'm not bothered.

 

[Vercogen]

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

whahahahahhahaha

 

[Raithlin]

Any last words from the naysayers before we close this one up?

There are now 5 points between SA and AUS. Gonna be a cracker of a series at home...

 

[chiskop]

Current rankings:

Aus 126
SA 121
Ind 118​

Aus is visiting us in February, any kind of series win there will see us go to number 1. Ind is going to NZ in March. You'd expect Ind to thump the Kiwis, I wonder if that means that we could see Aus in number 3 in a few months?

 

[Raithlin]

Makes sense, chiskop. I've held the view that Australia is past it for over a year now. They can only hold on for so long...

 

[killadoob]

Guys do no underestimate the aussies, they could very well come out here and beat us in all the tests.

 

[mercurial]

Guys do no underestimate the aussies, they could very well come out here and beat us in all the tests.

Especially with Smith's absence.

 

[Good Life]

Good you know we have gone 10 series without losing a series?

I think consistance has been the name of the game over these last 10 series.

Did you really think for one second after the second test match we would have won the series? I am amazed at that comment to be honest because we beat the aussies 2-1 in their backyard and your saying we are not consistent?

Doob,
It's not just about being the best in one year. The All Blacks have been the best rugby team for more than 10 years now, because they have consistently played the best rugby year in and year out. Same with the Aus cricket team. It's not about who is best in a calender year. It's about being the best consistently over a long period of time. And we have now proven in two series and in the past we don't bury teams when they are down. Getting to number one is easier than staying number one for a long period of time.

 

[chiskop]

Especially with Smith's absence.

AFAIK Smith will miss the ODIs but be back in time for the Tests.

 

[killadoob]

Good your talking like we where expected to go to aus and beat them 3-0, we beat them 2-1 one in their backyard and this is the no1 test team in the world, i think your expecting alot of a team to white-wash the no1 test team.

Why can't you be good for 1 year, the aussies have not always dominated cricket, i am sure their domination started with 1 good year and they carried on from there, how do you know we will not dominate test cricket for the next 10 years? The aussies clearly have a lack of talent in the both batting and fielding departments where as we have bundles of talent coming through.

 

[Good Life]

It starts with little steps obviously, but we certainly have not mastered putting teams away when we are ahead. Same goes for our rugby. I guess i'm expecting a bit much so soon. However we have been frustrated quite a number of times since re-admission.

 

[mercurial]

AFAIK Smith will miss the ODIs but be back in time for the Tests.

That's good to know.

Doob,
It's not just about being the best in one year. The All Blacks have been the best rugby team for more than 10 years now, because they have consistently played the best rugby year in and year out. Same with the Aus cricket team. It's not about who is best in a calender year. It's about being the best consistently over a long period of time. And we have now proven in two series and in the past we don't bury teams when they are down. Getting to number one is easier than staying number one for a long period of time.

Correct. We seem to have this tendency of winning the 1st and/or 2nd test and then lose the last. It's happened many times before. England and India are the recent examples. This is where AUS are really good. They are able to maintain that intense desire, focus, concentration and motivation for continue nailing teams. We seem to win the series and then go all "Okay, the job is done." and that's when the intensity and focus drops. AUS do not do this.

The aussies clearly have a lack of talent in the both batting and fielding departments where as we have bundles of talent coming through.

I disagree. I think their batting and fielding is excellent, though their bowling is quite lacking ATM. No longer do they have Shane Warne and Glen McGrath who used to win them matches. We batted, fielded and bowled better than them in this series.

 

[Smooth Criminal]

Current rankings:

Aus 126
SA 121
Ind 118​

Aus is visiting us in February, any kind of series win there will see us go to number 1. Ind is going to NZ in March. You'd expect Ind to thump the Kiwis, I wonder if that means that we could see Aus in number 3 in a few months?

India don't have a great record in NZ though. Plus most of their recent success has come at home, it remains to be seen how successful they are away