Sport

Proteas top one-day cricket table

Brad Morgan

17 April 2008

South Africa's cricket team has topped the International Cricket Council's one-day international standings for the second year in succession to be awarded the ICC Shield.

Once again, the Proteas edged out last year's World Cup winners Australia in a very tight finish. Over the course of the year, South Africa won 21 ODIs and lost eight, while the Aussies had 17 wins, six defeats and three matches that went undecided during the same period.

Prize money

The awards were presented in Mumbai where Shaun Pollock, in the absence of SA skipper Graeme Smith, received the Shield on South Africa's behalf and a cheque for $175 000 (R1.37-million).

Australia, meanwhile, won the ICC Mace for the fourth year in succession, comfortably topping the test standings ahead of India, in second, and third-placed South Africa.

Outgoing ICC CEO Malcolm Speed, who is set to be replaced by South Africa's Haroon Lorgat, paid tribute to the continued excellence of the Australians, saying: "Australia deserve praise for once again being the most consistent team in test cricket.

'Absorbing battle'

"In one-day cricket it has been an absorbing battle between Australia and South Africa for first place in the ICC ODI Championship table, and it was a battle that went right down to the wire before Graeme Smith's side secured that position.

"Given Australia's status as reigning ICC Cricket World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy holders, South Africa deserve great credit for what they have achieved.

"And India's performances over the 12-month period, which have lifted them to second spot in the test table are also impressive, and they will be looking to close that large gap between themselves and Australia while at the same time holding off the pack of teams that are snapping at their heels."

Challenging Australia

Australia's 30-point margin in the test rankings marked a significant advantage, but Aussie captain Ricky Ponting, who was in Mumbai to pick up the award, said both India and South Africa have the ability to challenge his team.

He said: "India certainly have a great team together at the moment and South Africa have played excellent cricket for a number of years in both forms of the game."

In the past year, Australia saw a number of their stars retire with Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer all ending their international careers. It would appear, therefore, that an opportunity has arisen for other teams, such as South Africa and India, to make inroads into the Aussies dominance of, especially, test cricket.

Changes

While the Aussies have had to replace players who, given their status in test cricket history are, essentially, irreplaceable, the Proteas have also undergone some big changes.

However, the young players in the South African line-up who have been asked to take up the challenge have responded superbly. Players such as Dale Steyn, AB de Villiers, and Morne Morkel have lifted their games, while the recently recalled Neil McKenzie has enjoyed a very successful recall to the international game.

India, meanwhile, pushed the Australians all the way in a 2-1 series loss on Australian soil. It suggests a tougher fight to stay at the top for Australia in the near future.

The benchmark

Pollock, who retired from one-day international cricket while still ranked the number one bowler in the game, says Australia remain the benchmark in both forms of the game, which makes South Africa's achievement of topping the ODI standings all the more impressive.

The challenge, he says, is for the Proteas to continue to maintain the standards they have set in recent times.

They include test series wins at home over the West Indies and New Zealand, away series wins over Bangladesh and Pakistan, and a recent drawn series in India.

Controversial win

India's series-tying eight-wicket win in the third test in Kanpur was somewhat controversial and blighted because of a grassless pitch that ICC match referee Roshan Mahanama termed "substandard" in his match report. The ICC has since requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India to explain why the pitch was of inferior quality.

The fact that Indian wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni presented Kanpur pitch curator Shiv Kumar with Rs10 000 after the test suggest he thought Kumar had played more than his fair part in bringing about an Indian victory.

Yes, host nations tend to prepare pitches to suit their bowlers but, in this case, it appears that the mark might have been overstepped; the pitch favoured India's spinners - the team's strength - on day one in a similar to which a pitch might usually behave on the fourth and fifth day of a test.

Dominant

Since the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, South Africa has been dominant in one-day cricket.

The only series loss – by a 2-1 margin to India in Ireland when the Proteas fielded a team minus many of the team's star players – came shortly after the World Cup, but since that time SA has won every series it has contested.

Zimbabwe was beaten 3-0, New Zealand fell 2-1, the West Indies were whitewashed 5-0, Pakistan was beaten 3-2 in Pakistan, and Bangladesh were brushed aside 3-0.

The future

The exciting thing for South African cricket is the Proteas are on an upward curve, with the team's veterans and young up-and-comers providing a winning mix. Australia, on the other hand, given the loss of some legends of the game, can expect a drop-off in performance.

The team that looks to be a situation most similar to South Africa is the Proteas' most recent opponent, India. They, under new coach, former SA opening batsman Gary Kirsten, boast a line-up of established veterans and exciting new talent.

It suggests that the next year could be one of the more competitive and interesting in recent international cricketing history and, with South Africa set to take on England in England and Australia in Australia, Graeme Smith and company have an opportunity to make their mark as a team that should be in the conversation when the best side in the world is discussed.