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Proteas can't be number 1 - yet

Eduan Roos

Abu Dhabi – The Proteas will have to wait until at least the middle of next year for an opportunity to dethrone India as the best Test team in the world.

The South Africans are still second on the International Cricket Board (ICB) ranking for Test teams, despite their disappointing draw of 0-0 in the Test series against Pakistan on Wednesday.

Graeme Smith's team did, however, lose three ranking points and are now in total 13 points behind India, who arrive shortly for a three Test series in South Africa.

According to Gerald Majola, executive head of Cricket South Africa (CSA), this team still deserves praise for its performances in the United Arab Emirates.

"We did outstandingly well to win the Twenty20 and one-day series, after which Pakistan fought back well to let the Tests end undecided," said Majola.

“This Test series still produced several brilliant performances, with AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis all smashing records.”

De Villiers improved on Graeme Smith's South African record for the most runs in a Test innings, taking it from 277 to 278 not out. Amla became the first South African to score 1 000 runs in both Test and one-day cricket in a single calendar year.

Kallis overtook former Aussie captain Allan Border in terms of total Test runs, and his (11 449) Test runs saw him climb to fourth on the overall table.

"This promises much for the Proteas' future and we can look forward with confidence to the exciting tour by India."

Even if Smith’s team beats India 3-0, both teams will have the same number of points – 123 – on the ICB ranking.

After the India tour, the Proteas will only return to Test cricket – and chance for the number 1 ranking – with a tour on the sub-continent after the World Cup tournament, which ends in April 2011.

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