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Pakistan secured the series after defeating South Africa by eight wickets in the first Test in Lahore and then drawing the second Test in Faisalabad. Pakistan has never before defeated South Africa in a Test series. The two nations had never played each other prior during South Africa's apartheid era.
Of the eleven Tests completed between the two nations since their first encounter in 1995, Pakistan has now won two Tests, drawn four and lost five.
The Pakistani rating has now climbed to 1081 points after the series win over South Africa. The rise results in Pakistan claiming back third position in the ratings, which they lost to England in September 2003, after England drew with South Africa.
Since the 2001 attack on the United States of America, many nations have cancelled tours to Pakistan or sought alternative neutral venues. The tour by South Africa is the first 'non Muslim' tour held on Pakistani soil since the attack. The successful conclusion of the tour without any security incidents bodes well for other similar tours to resume in the future.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has suffered a significant financial loss resulting from the cancelled or relocated series. In addition, the Pakistani players have played significantly less Test cricket than most other nations over the last two years. The resumption of tours by other nations would be a welcome relief for both the board and the players.
For South Africa, the series against Pakistan comes close on the heels of a drawn series in England. Prior to the two tours, the South Africans would have expected to win both series. Immediately prior to touring England, South Africa had won their last nine consecutive Tests against a combination of Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. That nine Test sequence of wins was a national record, which ended when the first Test in England was drawn.
Following the one-day world cup tournament earlier in 2003, South Africa has lost the services of some key experienced players. After being bundled out of the tournament before the quarter-final stage, players including Allan Donald and Jonty Rhodes retired. South Africa has since clearly missed Donald's experience and without Donald, South Africa's bowling has distinctly lacked the ability to penetrate the English and Pakistani batting.
South Africa remains locked in second place in the ratings. Although the South African rating has fallen to 1143 points, they still maintain a significant 62 rating point lead over third placed Pakistan. South Africa's rating has now fallen back to the level that they held one year ago in November 2002.
The South Africans now return home to prepare to host a tour by West Indies. The tour will represent the five-year anniversary of the disastrous 1998?99 tour by Brian Lara's West Indians that ended in a five to nil drubbing by South Africa.
The 1998?99 series laid bear the massive problems within West Indian cricket that had been largely hidden until that time. The tour was the watershed that signalled a massive decline in the West Indian rating ? a slump from which they are yet to begin to recover.
The South Africans will expect to deliver a repeat performance during the West Indian tour that starts in December. South Africa holds a massive 129 ratings point lead over West Indies and should win the four Test series by at least 3-1. A lesser result would see a further tumble in South Africa?s rating and could point to the beginning of a long-term decline in South African cricket
The latest Test cricket ratings are: 1. Australia (1241); 2. South Africa (1143); 3. Pakistan (1081); 4. England (1073); 5. New Zealand (1040); 6. India (1030); 7. Sri Lanka (1022); 8. West Indies (1015); 9. Zimbabwe (889); 10. Bangladesh (802).
