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South Africa is far and away the second best team in Test cricket. Their current rating of 1138 ratings points is 73 points above their next rival Pakistan. The problem for the South Africans is that they have been unlucky enough to have a great team at a time when another nation, Australia, has potentially a record-breaking team.
In January 1999, South Africa completed what was at the time an unexpected whitewash against a touring West Indian team. That series triggered a massive slide in the West Indian rating that has yet to bottom out. In fact, West Indies now holds its second lowest rating in history and has plunged down through the 1000-point barrier for only the second time in their 74-year test cricket history.
South Africa's rating jumped a massive 68 points because of that whitewash and they moved from fourth place in the ratings straight to first. South Africa permanently lost first place one year later in January 2001 when Australia began their record breaking winning streak.
However, South Africa has proved over the last four years that their whitewash of the West Indies was not a fluke. From a rating of 1151 points upon defeating West Indies, South Africa has maintained a rating between a high of 1160 points in January 2001 down to a low of 1133 points after losing two series to Australia last summer.
South Africa has, in effect, been the model of consistency. Except for their Australian misadventures last summer, South Africa?s rating had only dropped as far as 1148 points. That is, three years within a 12 point band. No other team managed such consistency during that period. The fact that South Africa's rating was so much higher than their other rivals makes the feat all the more remarkable.
South Africa is unlikely to lose second place anytime soon. At the same time, they are unlikely to claim first place until the Australians tumble back to 'mere mortal' status of around 1150 points from their current near record 1230 rating-point level. The question for South Africa is: How long can they maintain their position while waiting for Australia to tumble?
South Africa has dominated the eleven Tests they have played against Sri Lanka. Their record stands at six wins, one loss and four draws. In four series, they have won three and drawn one. Sri Lanka has never won a Test in South Africa with their best result being a single drawn Test from five starts.
After their 2-0 warm up series against minnows Bangladesh in October, South Africa will be looking to continue its rehabilitation against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka begins its third test tour of South Africa in sixth position. Sri Lanka recently lost fifth position to India after India's defeat of West Indies earlier this month. While South Africa has been consistent over the last four years, Sri Lanka has set the example for Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
Four years ago, Sri Lanka was dead last in the ratings. In fact, Sri Lanka had been last for almost the entire period since they started playing Test cricket in 1982. Four years ago, Sri Lanka began to turn it all around and began to win Tests.
Sri Lanka has increased their rating from 930 points in March 1998 up to a recent national record high of 1049 points in March this year. While starting from a lower level, that 119-point increase is better than Australia's 92-point increase over the same period.
Sri Lankan cricket remains on an upward trend. However, they are overly reliant on Muralitharan's spin bowling. If Muralitharan were to be removed from the attack then the remaining bowlers would struggle - adding pressure to the batsmen. In recent times, Sri Lanka has struggled most when Muralitharan has been unable to take wickets. South African pitches will not help him as much as home pitches.
Sri Lanka last won a series away from home in early 2000 when they toured Pakistan. Their record at home has been far more dominant, having set a national record of nine consecutive wins during 2001 and 2002.
South Africa, however, has only lost at home to Australian teams (in 1997 and 2002) since their readmittance to Test cricket in 1992. Before that, they last lost at home to England in 1964. Despite recent improvements, Sri Lanka will be likely to have a very difficult time indeed.
The latest Test cricket ratings are: 1. Australia (1230); 2. South Africa (1138); 3. Pakistan (1065); 4. England (1059); 5. India (1045); 6. Sri Lanka (1041); 7. New Zealand (1025); 8. West Indies (996); 9. Zimbabwe (911); 10. Bangladesh (826).
