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Sri Lanka has played 5 Test series against South Africa since 1992, when South Africa returned from sporting isolation after the apartheid era. Over 13 Tests, South Africa has dominated with an impressive record of 8 won, 1 lost and 4 drawn.
South Africa was expected to again comfortably account for the Sri Lankans, having begun the series with a 116-point advantage in the ratings. Added to this, Sri Lanka had played five winless Tests, spread over two series, against Australia prior to the South African series.
However, Sri Lanka dominated the South Africans in both Tests. The first Test was drawn after a dominant Sri Lanka was too conservative with their declaration. South Africa declined to show any interest in seeking victory and batted out a tame draw on the final day.
Despite losing the services of Muralitharan for the second Test, Sri Lanka continued to dominate South Africa in the second Test and would have easily won on the fourth day had rain not intervened.
Sri Lanka's defeat of South Africa in this series represents the first time they have dominated and defeated a quality team. While Sri Lanka defeated Australia in a three Test series in 1999, they won the first Test with both Waugh and Gillespie stretchered off the field after a first innings fielding collision that saw neither available for the remaining days of the Test. The remaining two Tests were more or less washed out.
Sri Lanka's earlier defeats of England and Pakistan occurred while those opponents had ratings around the 1050 level. England, most conspicuously, has subsequently broken through the 1100-point barrier.
However, all of Sri Lanka's greatest triumphs have occurred on their home pitches. Usually, Muralitharan was also been a key contributor with the ball. Sri Lanka is yet to win consistently while on tour away from their island stronghold.
Until Sri Lanka can show the form on tour that they have been able to produce at home then their ability to challenge for fourth place in the ratings will be severely hampered.
Sri Lanka's win has seen their rating rise to 1044 points. Sri Lanka is now five ratings points short of their record highest rating of 1049 points, set after defeating Pakistan in the Asian Test Championship final in March 2002.
The loss has seen South Africa?s rating drop to 1136 points, which is their lowest rating since March 2002. South Africa retains second place in the ratings, but their lead over third placed England has been cut to just 32 ratings points.
England has the chance to defeat West Indies in the final Test at The Oval this week to complete a series whitewash. Should this occur, then England will raise their rating to 1125 points and narrow the gap to South Africa to only eleven points.
Such an occurrence would see South Africa come under a genuine threat of losing second place in the near future for the first time since January 1999. South Africa has managed to maintain an almost impregnable lead over the three nations (West Indies, Pakistan and England) who have held third place over the last five years.
Only time will tell is this series represents a turning point in the long term fortunes of South African cricket. South Africa retains a genuine pool of talent within the national squad. However, there are a range of batsmen who are approaching the end of their viable career over the next three years.
Garry Kirsten's recent retirement is the leading edge of a larger exodus. What is less clear is if the pool of replacement players are up to the same standard as those leaving the game.
The latest Test cricket ratings are: 1. Australia (1236); 2. South Africa (1136); 3. England (1104); 4. Pakistan (1077); 5. India (1056); 6. Sri Lanka (1044); 7. New Zealand (1022); 8. West Indies (987); 9. Zimbabwe (881); 10. Bangladesh (793).
