First it was West Indies, then crown was transferred to Australia and now its South Africa. I have not came to this conclusion merely based on SA beating Australia.  Here is the reason why I believe SA will dominate the world cricket in the years to come -


1. SA have not lost a single series in last 2 years. Pretenders like India already have lost 2 series in 2008 and drawing one series.


2. SA beat Australia in Australia. First time Australia have lost the series in Australia after 1992. Thats well over 16 years now. Australia were beaten by the then number one team westindies.

3. 5 South African batsman has made over 1000 runs this year. A testimony to their batting strength. Without a shadow of doubt the best batting line up in the world. Smith made over 1600 runs in a year. Which is third in over all record behind Mohammad yousuf and Viv Richards.

4. SA won 11 test in 2008 . 11 test win in a year is also a world record

5. SA won most test this year chasing fourth innings total. Again a testimony to their strength of character to bat in the pressure.

6. Unlike India , Australia and England SA don't play their best team in the test matches because of the quota system.  They don't select players on the basis of merit. They have strict rule to select players from ethnic minority because of which a deserving players sometimes miss out. Remember how a average black player like Justin Ontong got chance to play for SA just because of Quota. Even then they are producing result and great performances.........And south African Board have said they will remove quota system from 2010 which will only make their team stronger.

7. With Dale Steyn they have the best fast bowler in the world. Steyn , Ntini and Morkel makes the formidable line up.

8. SA drew series in India in a turning pitch , won in England and Australia  purely because of their fast bowling strength.

9. There is a strong possibility that SA might whitewash series in Australia. If they do this will be the first time series against Australia will be whitewashed . Last time it happened was 120 years earlier somewhere around 1883.

10. The average age of South African Players is very young. India still have a very aging middle order, Australia have aging batting line up.  There is every possibility that SA will continue to dominate with these players.

11. With Jaques Kallis they have the best all rounder in the world along with Danial Vettori of New Zealand. Kallis is one of the all time best batsman.

12. JP duminy in his first 2 test played two match winning innings in the most pressure situation. People are already comparing him to Lara and Sobers. He is a true star.


The world is of now South Africa. Lets Salute and crown the new world champion.

No-quiero,

I totally second your opinion and all the point except for number 11 and 12. Kallis is one of the greatest all rounder in the world.no doubt about it but in pressure situations when the run rate required soars up, I think SA loses those games because of defensive game of Kallis. He neither gets runs fast nor gets out.

On the other hand Duminy did play two great innings in his first two games. Hats off to his performance and it does indeed need some great skills and brilliance to play like that against the team of caliber of australia in the debut. He was great but it is too early to compare him with the likes of Lara and Sober. That is just a rash comment.

Anyways, the world should be ready to face SA domination. NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT !!!

Sparrow

no quiero,
although I don't have much to say on your first 10 points, your last one made my morning. If someone starts comparing Duminy with Lara and Sobers, that person doesn't even know A-B-C of the cricket. Just 2 games and compare with all time greats like Lara and Sobers...LOL  Remember there was a player called "Ajit Agarkar" who still holds the record of fastest 50 wickets in ODI and he is nowhere in international cricket arena at the moment. Let Duminy thrive for at least 50 tests, then only we can judge his talents. 

Jacksparrow, thats completely wrong assertion of Kallis. He is one of the best batsman in the world. And in test matches you really don't require fast scoring. Australian put similar allegation to kallis and now Australian have egg in their face . Kallis have been world calls as far as his all rounder ability is concerned. Not to forget his hands have been as big as bucket while catching in slip. If you look at this series kallis have some of the most unbelievable catches in the series. Record wise Kallis have even better record than Gary Sobers. We cannot ignore those facts.


And did you see when South Africa was chasing 414 run to win in perth. Towards the end of 4th day of first test match was still in balance. But kallis scored 40 runs in just 3 overs to turn the match on his head so that SA only needed 190 runs in the last day. It was a great counter attacking game of kallis.


JP duminy in his first 2 test played two match winning innings in the most pressure situation. People are already comparing him to Lara and Sobers. He is a true star.


Well, how long do you see a player score a match wining innings. Several greats have waited all their careers. But Duminiy did it in very first match. Chasing 414 is never easy but he stayed their till the end. And in the second test South Africal looked like they will follow on. Australia made 394 and south africa were about 180/7... Duminy came and started a partnership and gave a most incredible first innings lead because of which south africa won the test. Duminiy made 166 in very second test in one of the most pressure situation. He is stylish, atheletic and eveything to be one of the cricket great.

I m one of those die-hard fans of SA team. I waited too long for this day... I wanted SA to beat Aussies in their faces. I still remember that 99 world cup semi final. I hope this series win would help wash out that nightmare. "May the ghosts of '99 rest in peace".

And few more points... Kallis is the only player to score more than 9000 runs and 250+ test wickets. He really is a marvelous cricketer and drives the game. He has carried the team in his shoulders and came out victorious number of times. I miss Cronje and Klusener. Hats off to those legends and those who made this possible.

And yes, be ready for the SA dominance in World Cricket.

One more fact, this year they beat WI in WI, England in England, drawn the series in India (turning pitches n sub continental condition) and now Aus in Aus. SA beat all top ranked countries in their own backyard. And thats my friend, makes SA a dominant force.

Way to go guys... keep rocking!

no doubt about south africa being a dominant team in the near future. but i am a great indian fan. we have to watch indians too. yes, there middle are aging but their back up with the likes of yuvraj and few others are waiting just for the right moment. sehwag and gambhir has already proved too much with their opening pair. the only concern is their fast baller. zaheer khan has spearheaded the balling attack and not to mention there are lots of potential baller who can turn the game around.

australia will be next windies. that was for sure from the begining as they were almost playing the same team over and over. and since players like mcgrath, martyn, langer retirement its prety much sure that they will slip down. i only see two teams india and south africa as the leading cricket team in the world. australia lost two back to back series. i am prety much sure they will hand over the reign to south africa after this series. they might end up in the third place after south africa and india. since there are no other team strong enough to beat australia.  

South Africa is playing great lately. Beating aussies at home is the proof how good they r playing right now. I used to be a die-hard SA fan. 1999 world cup loss still hunts my feeling.

But before, declaring them best in the world, they must have a world class spinner which can win matches for them in Sub-continent. Unless, they beat  india, sri-lanka and pakistan at thier home, they won't be No. 1 team and if u talk about one dayers, they should stop choking in big games.

In my view, whoever wins between SA and India at home and away, is the best test team in the world.

India is just a pretender. They are currently 3rd in the world behind Australia and South Africa. not even second IMHO. Australia just don't drop to number 4-5 with loss of one series. In India defeated Australia in India then in the same year Australia defeated India in Australia. Add to that Australia have very good record overseas. Two away series India played in 2008 they lost. Also they drew one home series. India played 5 series won 2 lost 2 drew 1. So indias performance is  not as emphatic as you are pointing out.

But it is true that if India continue to win and Australia lose next series being played in South Africa  immidately India will become number 2 (even ICC ranking wise). But I don't think Australia will follow the path of West Indies. Australia have pretty good infrastrcutre that will continue to produce competitive cricketers in year or two.

And why would you want India -South Africa series now. India south africa played ealier this year it was a draw , last year south africa defeated india. So they are clearly head and shoulders ahead of all the nations.

Obama,

You don't need spinners to dominate the world...if you have great fast bowlers.  We have seen how Westindies dominated world cricket only because of their faster bowlers. Regarding south africa in Asia they toured pakistan last year defeated them easily in test series.

South Africa toured india. India presented them with one of the worst wicket which turned square. Still they managed to draw the series 1-1. They defeated india in South Africa.

As far as sri lanka are concerned they have not played them for a long time. So it is difficult to predict how they would play. But seeing how Sri Lanka are struggling now against team like Banladesh, I think south Africa will at least draw the series in Sri Lanka unlike India.

no quiero,

If we talk about the 2008 ICC test rankings, Aussies will still finish at top. South Africa will take that place in 2009. No doubt abt that. South Africa has played really well in 2008 and will be looking to do same in 2009. But if u r talking abt the south africa having the same kind of dominition in cricket as Aussies have enjoyed in last 10-12 years, i think Proteas have long way to go for. They need to prove that they can keep winning and winning. I agree west indians had dominated world cricket without a great spinner but would u imagine Aussies reaching this fame without Shane Warne.  I have only watched Ambrose and Walsh playing for west indians and Mc Grath and company playing for Aussies. I still don't think Proteas current fast ballers squad ranks upto these highs. In my view, South Africa and India will fight hard next 2-3 years to dominate all forms of cricket  and winner will have more than one year of great cricket(In all forms).

I don't see South Africa dominating world cricket even remotely close to the way Australia did (1995-2007), or West Indies did (70s- early 80s). No way. I repeat absolutely no way. Total Rubbish. Comparing Duminy to Lara, and Sobers, somebody give me a break!!!!!!!!!!! Indeed he played a superb twin innings but he has a long way to go before any fool starts taking his name in the same breath as Lara and Sobers. Yes, they are playing much better cricket, but I don't SA are playing as good as they played under Hansie Cronje in the mid 90s. The arena is wide open now. Now with just 4 decent teams playing test cricket ( England, India, SA, Australia), on current form, NZ, PAK, WI, are just not quality sides anymore, it's anybody's game.

sorrry 5 decent teams. forgot to include Srilanka. Rest just make up the numbers.

hey guys, dont forget srilanka...with world class spinners like murali and medis, world class batters like sangakkara and jayawardene along with the back up of mahroof, dilshan and samaraweera...they can surprise any team at any day...

Without a doubt.......................
SA cricket is on the rise.  From the series win vs aussies, no doubt, they will be one of the best and one of the most confident sides in the world.
n_q opines...................................................
The main argument n_q makes here is that SA cricket will dominate world cricket. His main justification is SA's test record in the recent past (2 years without a loss). He is also quick to point out other contenders (India in particular) have had an average 2008.
However...............................................
How about SA's recent one day record? How do you think they will fare in t20s? Does SA have a stellar ODI or T20 (touted to be the game of the future) record of late?

In order to be world beaters, SA needs to prove itself in other forms of the game.

My conclusion
SA is a very good team with an enviable test record of late. I am sure they will improve in other versions of the game too. They will be tough to beat. To be on the top, they need to continue winning tests and improve on ODIs and make impact on T20s.

Cricket will be more interesting in the future. Rather than one team at the top dominating the rest, we could see teams going back and forth and fight for the top sopt. It's more interesting that way. Say if it ain't so.

In my opinion the contenders for the top are (not necessary in this order):

 SA: Because current team form, great individuals and youth.
 Aussies: Rebuilding. they are still a stong side. batting is still strong and their batting reserve is good ala Shaun  Mash and others. Bowlers must strive for consistency.
 India: Ditto as SA
 Sri lanka: strong bowling line up. rest of the batting line up should rally around sangakara and jayawardine and one of the latter two must fire consistently.

Getting there but not yet
England: they lack the consistency, especially in their fast bowling.
Pakistan: they have been out of the action for a while. they are capable of beating the contenders but how often, is the question.

others need to improve on their cricket. period. nz have been particularly disappointing. same can be said about west indies.

out of the reckoning
Bangladesh, Zimbabwe

south africa is also among my fav cricket team. i would have agreed with no_queri had the likes of shaun pollock, hansie cronje and ofcourse who can forget rhodes and klusener still been in the team. but rite now graeme smith, gibbs and kallis are the only genuine team in terms of batting line up. duminy sure is playing good cricket but 2 innings cannot carry the whole career. rememeber jacques rudolph, boeta dippeaner. they were all considered to be future player. they cannot even make the first team rite now. kallis is already into his 30's and gibbs also 34. the maximum they have is 3-4 years now. so after these two players quit i guess everybody agrees with me... they will be hard to be replaced. after retirement of donald, pollock, kirsten, rhodes the team had slumped to some extent. so these two players when they leave they will make a big whole in the team. they might enjoy the number one spot for few months but not too much. as sri lanka is concern. rite now they are even struggling against bangladesh. i dont know if i can say bangladesh cricket team getting stronger or SL team is going down. its the same thing though. ya mendis is now the emerging baller. but vaas and murali dont have too many left. pakistan and slipped way down. now comes australia. like i said earlier, they are greatest team and team known for producing quality players. they have dominant for more than a decade. but now their run is finally over. shane warne and mcgrath can never be replaced. they will surely miss the captaincy of waugh and now ponitng is under fire. remember last time they sacked waugh was when they got defeated. now its ponting turn. they were too late bring hussey in the team. gilchrist was never substituted genuinely. england lack consistency and dont have too many players who can play big innings. new zealand as it is.  so india and south africa goes toe to toe. among these two team india has the better spinner and batsman. so india will take the spot in next 2 years.

aingnam,

 In last two years India and South Africa played twice. South Africa beat india in South Africa and drew in India. So it is clear that lack of top class spinners will not affect South Africa as much in India as lack of top calls pace bowler for India in South Africa. Infact India' s most humiliating moment in test match in  2008 came in the test in Ahmedabad  against South Africa. Where they were bowled out in less then 20 overs against Steyn and Ntini.

Secondly, I don't understand your logic. You say the retirement will affect south Africa but  doesn't say  India are  susceptible to losses . You talk about Gibbs. But Gibbs is very irregular in test matches. In fact he doesn't play anymore. He won't be missed at all. Kallis still have at least good 3 years left in him. Their batting line up has Smith, Amla, Prince, AB De Villers, Kallis. Many of their batsman made  1000 runs this year. So their is no shortage of talent. The sterength of South African batting can be identified by the fact that JP Duminy came into the side not by merit but more by weird quota system  which required injured Ashwell prince to be replaced by a black player. Dont forget  the player he was replacing Aswell prince  already had fantastic year having scored almost 1000 runs this year with an average of 50.

India on the other hand have very aging middle order. Tendulkar, Laxman and Dravid absense will create a big hole. We already have seen Kumble and Ganguly and Retire. The retirement of Kumble and Ganguly may not seem signinficant now but it will show its affect when Laxman , sachin and dravid joins the list. just like it has for Australia when langer, gilchirst, warne, mc grath, martyn and co.


But I don't think Australia are anything but finished team. They will come back in next year or so. They have good replacements once youngsters learn their trait.  Now they have suffered losses to Brett lee, Shane Watson, Symonds due to injury. And don't forget world fastest bowler Shaun Tait .......I believe he will be back soon in the near future.

By the way watch this video till the end.....very good interview from an Australian perspective.

A triumph beyond sport

The significance of South Africa's historic series win transcends cricket

Peter Roebuck

December 17, 2008

	When JP Duminy constructed his accomplished innings he was representing a coloured community that languished for so many years in a twilight world © PA Photos

South Africa has secured the most significant success in its cricketing history. It was a triumph that reached beyond sport. When Hashim Amla flicked another ball off his pads and scampered the winning run, he achieved more than a mere victory. It was a stroke that spoke for generations of Indian cricketers unable to compete for places in the national team. Suddenly they knew their records meant something, that they had been right, the champions of previous generations could play the game. When JP Duminy constructed his accomplished innings, he was representing a coloured community that languished for so many years in a twilight world. When Makhaya Ntini took wickets, he was uplifting downtrodden tribes. If hearts swelled with pride across the country it'd hardly be surprising. Others rejoiced in the peaceful revolution that made it possible.

Miraculously these varied characters were all playing for the same side. For so many hard decades it seemed a ridiculous dream, like the removal of the Berlin Wall. Yet there it was before our eyes, a devout Muslim stroking the decisive runs alongside a belatedly sane Salty Dick ( the term used by locals convinced that Englishmen have one foot in Africa and one in Australia). And there was Graeme Smith hugging Duminy and old stagers with tears in their eyes and Jacques Kallis taking his wife out to inspect the pitch and managers and support staff smiling from ear to ear. Rugby had led the way and now cricket has played its part. Amidst the crime and corruption there is hope.

Previously the visitors had been hampered by a desire so strong it became desperation. Now they chased 414 in Perth and stormed home thanks to a measured collaboration between Duminy and AB de Villiers. Apparently, the newcomer was so nervous in the rooms that he was as sick as a school leaver. On the field he resembled Bjorn Borg. In the end South Africa had six wickets to spare. So far Australia have lost 40 wickets and taken 25.

If this turnaround was exceptional then the feat performed by the tourists in Melbourne was mind boggling. At stumps on the second day they were down for the count, 196 behind with three wickets left, a novice at the crease and callow tailenders to keep him company. Sixty-four hours later South Africa had won by nine wickets. Duminy's innings was a marvel of skill, durability and temperament but he could not have managed without Dale Steyn. Suitably inspired, the speedster promptly produced the spell that settled the match, an incisive burst that stopped Australia in their tracks. A fortnight ago the series was cast as a duel between Brett Lee and Steyn. In part it has been.

At such times it is tempting to examine the causes of the collapse. Perhaps it is simply that Australia ran out of great players and luck, a combination that often goes together. Perhaps, too, it is better to remember the numerous glories of the last 15 years and not their limitations. In their stint as the game's flawed exemplar, Australia have played attractive cricket, scoring quickly, encouraging legspin, fielding balanced attacks, scorning stalemates and not sledging quite as much as might be imagined. Australia were ruthless, sometimes unscrupulous, but seldom dull. Taken as a whole, the teams led by Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting have enhanced the game, especially its five-day format.

Along the way Australia have taken part in three of the greatest series ever staged, in the Caribbean, India and England. Always it has taken a mighty effort to bring them down, and that remains the case. Australia may not have been liked but they have commanded respected, sometimes amounting to fear. It has been a time of Waugh and Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne and broken moulds. But nothing lasts forever and now it is someone else's turn.

South Africans are playin like real champs so are the Indians. It wd be really interesting to see them clashing, when r they gonna meet next time?

like you said australia is notthing but finished team. yes they are finished now. talking about south africa. i never said they are a great team. thats why i said, saf will take the first spot and india will be second. or vice versa. they might fight each other for the spot. but as for australia, its all over. it will be too hard to produce the players of same caliber they had before. can you think of another bevan in any team. ponting will surely be sacked down. now the question who will be the next captain of australia. i dont think de villers will be in the team within next three years. remember jaucqes rudolph. he was class player. but where is he now. he is playing county cricket in england. prince is a decent player but i really haven't seen amla playing, so i can comment. smith is the only player with the caliber to score freely. but they dont have spinners.... thats the main point.

aingham....the fact that batsman of the calibre of rudolph is not playing does speaks volumes about the bench strength of South Africa.  An average age of SA is only 24 years. So they are pretty much very young time.

I dont think Australia is over. Judging by the strength of domestic league they are anything but over. Even in this series they dominated the test against SA but let them off the hook because traditional killer instinct was missing from Australia.

And as far as ranking is concerned, Australia are still number 1 team at the moment in the world and South Africa second. Ranking are there for a reason and you earn your ranking by consistently playing good cricket over a period of time. But it is only matter of time may be in Sydney test and if not in Sydney then definitely in next series in South Africa where they will claim the number 1 spot.   And there is little doubt SA will be there.

I have doubt whether India will be second team for sometime. because Australia have a very good chance of staying in second spot for sometime. Because if they slip to second place, then even a single win in SA will be enough for them to keep the second spot. Then the series in England will also see return of full strength Aussie side which will make English sweat to beat Australia.

And amazing, India and SA already played twice in last two years. So going by schedule they won't play in next 2-3 years unless BCCI flexes its financial muscle and play it regularly like they did against Australia.


India record is nowhere as good as SA. Two away series they played this year they lost. They are just a pretender. here is the record of SA in last 2 years.

First up
Pakistan in South Africa 2006.
3 test series.Result=SA win series 2-1.

India in South Africa 2007.
3 test series.Result=SA win series 2-1.

South Africa in Pakistan 2007/08
2 test series Result=SA win series 1-0.

New Zealand in South Africa 2007/08
2 test series Result=SA win series 2-0.

West Indies in South Africa 2007/08
3 test series.Result=SA win series 2-1.

South Africa in Bangladesh 2007/08
1 test. Result=SA win series 1-0.

South Africa in India 2008 Results
2 test series Result=SA draw series 1-1.

SA in England 2008.
3 test series.Result=SA win series 2-1.

Bangladesh in South Africa
2 test series Result=SA win series 2-0.

SA in Australia.
3 test series Result=SA win series 2-0.one game to play.

In recent times, India lost in SA. SA drew in India. SA won in Australia. India lost in Australia. Should be an end of an argument.

I m a huge huge huge fan of SA cricket..............had a lump in my throat when the winning runs were scored in MCG..................It certainly was a pay back time for SA against the Aussies n winning this series 3-0 wud just be perfect.
With the Aussies, they were trying their level best to tag their loss in India as just a blip n nothing more n they now are seeing the result!! Its almost impossible to replace the greatest spinner of all time in just a few months or years.........n they will take time adjusting their life without the other recently retired greats...........but they will come back n surely they will because they have the passion 4 the game, they r with all the facilities n more importantly every teams team needs some time to settle down after the retirement of that many great players!
But as SA fan its just awesome that we are almost there being the number one ranked team in the world n its NOT just a series win in Australia that we have achieved that.......................For me the selectors have to be given a huge credit 4 that........they stuck with Smith through the thick and the thin, when he looked outta sorts, wasnt making runs............they had a plan, they had a vision and its so exciting to see it materialize..........n Mickey Arthur complements Smith excellently!!!!

With India, they r hot in form recently, and they have a good leader in Dhoni now adays..............but they have a problem with a very ageing middle order n a out-of-form-out-of-sort number 3 ie Dravid...............their bowling attack looks very good in the subcontinent with 2 spinner n 2 pacers in Zaheer n Sharma but they dont have the attacking power as SA wud possess with Steyn, Morkel and Ntini anywhere else!! India have the calibre to challange the number one spot this year but I feel they fall a bit short.

no_quiero............................As u might have found out I agree with you in most of the cases but for one..............J.P. Duminy has not been selected in this squad for his color........he has been always targeted as a future batting star...............he features in most of the ODIz for SA recently n has been calm n collected enough to gather some vital runs in vital moments 4 SA n there is no one who wud deserve a spot in the final 11 when some batsman was to get injured............He wud have got the spot had a deVilliers or a Kallis been unfit.....dont you think so???

And about Duminy n Sobers or Lara..............no one was comparing him to LARA..............its just that ppl r sayin n even those arrogant CHANNEL 9 AUSSIE commentary teams r sayin that "If this new Kid on the block plays the way he has done for the last 2 test, he could be a LARA or a Sobers"...............I hope u understand what I mean!!

n btw in the last 2 test I seriously have started liking Paul Harris because of the attacking bowling that he has been doing...........going 4 wickets than just stopping the flow of runs!! And look at the Aussies, they chose Hauritz for Krejza just to stem the flow of runs when they always knew MCG wud be a better pitch for a spinner to toss it up there n pick some vital wickets.........I kinda find some selections(of White in turning pitches rather than Krejza in India just to bolster their batting) n some decisions(bowling spinners in India just to cope up with over rate in India) with the Aussie cricket very baffling n very negative!!!

Guess I wrote too much..............n its partly of the excitement that what I have craved 4 for the last 10 or so years is coming true..................Go PROTEAS Go..............u richly deserve being the number one team this time around!!!