Sunday, 5 January, 2003, 11:23 GMT
Test cricket's glittering prize
By Martin Gough
BBC Sport Online
It may come as a surprise, but South Africa are officially the best cricket team in the world.
South Africa's defeat of Pakistan in Cape Town on Sunday saw them displace Australia at the head of the ICC Test Championship table for the first time.
" You can only play by the rules - sometimes they work in your favour and sometimes they work against you "
Shaun Pollock
South Africa captain
It is a controversial ranking, given that Australia thrashed South Africa 5-1 over a series split between the two countries 12 months ago.
But whatever the worth of South Africa's official status, getting their hands on the glittering mace, which has been in Australia's possession for two years, will not be easy.
The first barrier in their way is on the pitch.
Australia could reclaim their title in the West Indies in April before they are forced to hand the trophy over.
The second is within the boardrooms of the International Cricket Council, where the way teams are ranked is under review.
The Championship has proved controversial since its launch in May 2001, with a format that takes each team's last result against an opponent into account.
# The main points of contention are: There is no weighting for strength of opposition.
# Form plays no part, with the last series between each pair of teams counting for points.
# So far, each of the 10 Test teams has yet to play all of the others, so comparisons are difficult.
# The results of series, not individual Tests, count for points, so a whitewash is the same as a narrow win.
# Wins in home conditions count the same as those away from home.
Australia's crushing of South Africa in the home-and-away series last season is proof for many as to which Test nation is really the leader.
" I would say Australia have an edge over South Africa "
Waqar Younis
Pakistan captain
"If they happen to take the mace off us then congratulations to them," Aussie skipper Steve Waugh said recently.
"But I think everyone knows who the number one side is."
Just like a domestic league, though, the Championship is not about results between two teams.
"The obvious comparison is directly between South Africa and Australia," ICC project officer Jon Long told BBC Sport Online.
"But if you look at South Africa's record against West Indies away, Sri Lanka away and India away they are superior.
"And they have played more games than Australia, who have yet to play Bangladesh or Zimbabwe."
For the first time, the ICC set down team schedules when the Championship was launched.
But Australia's reluctance in playing minor nations prior to that - they have played just a single Test against Zimbabwe in the last 11 years - counts against them.
Waugh's men could keep their hands on the trophy, though, if they beat West Indies in their four-Test series after the World Cup.
Even if they lose the series, the ICC's cricket committee could come up with a new formula to rank the Test nations when it meets in February.
Any change could make the Test table similar in style to the ranking for teams in one-day internationals, launched in October, which deals with form and strength of opponent.
"It is a prestigious trophy," said Long, "and it is important that we get it right."
