Is the ranking system right?

South Africa knocked Australia from top spot in the ICC Test Championship table after a convincing victory over Pakistan.

Shaun Pollock's men wasted little time wrapping up a 2-0 series victory in Cape Town.

It was South Africa's sixth successive series victory following similar clean sweeps against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

It is the first change at the top of the table since its introduction in May 2001.

But given Australia's magnificent recent form can South Africa really be called the world's best Test team?

This debate is now closed. A selection of your e-mails appear below.

Let's not forget that SA did not make up the rules that control Test side rankings. All teams are playing to the same rules and SA has come out on top. This will change. No country in the world would complain if they found themselves in a similar position. So why all the fuss just because Australia have been deposed? Any team in the world can be beaten and nothing in sport is certain.

Of course South Africa are the best side Neil Heard, Canada

Lastly, just to counter the point made in the first person's mail - playing the newer (and somtimes weaker) Test nations is an aid to cricket development in that country. The more Australians run their mouth off, the happier everybody else is to see them beaten.
Chris Miller, UK

Are SA the best test team? No. Are they the number one team? Yes. Just like in a football league, it's not about beating the team at the top and then loosing to other teams, it's about consistency. SA have better results away from home in Sri Lanka, West Indies and India than Australia. As for the fact that Australia have not played the lowest Test teams, that's a valid point, however, it does mean that SA have played more matches and are less fresh than the Aussie team.

Also, I can't imagine Man Utd saying that it's not necessary to play the bottom team because they know they will beat them! Australia are the best team, but if they want to be number one, they have to be the most consistent and they need to play every team and endure the stress of additional touring like the SA team have done.
Malcolm, SA

There is no doubt Australia and South Africa are the top two teams in international cricket. However, which team is the best? If we compare the teams between themselves, Australia stands number one as they have beaten South Africa both at home and away.

However, if we see the records of away matches, both teams have played with other international cricket nations, South Africa might call themselves number one. Only South Africa have beaten India on India's field in recent years. Therefore, it is not easy at all to say which team is the best. It is mostly depends on how or on which criteria we are comparing these two teams.
Forhan, Canada

Australia is way ahead of everybody in Test Cricket. Unlike South Africa, Australia have won against almost every other opponent in their homelands. South Africa are perhaps the second-best Test team, with a huge gap between them and Australia.
Malaiappan Srinivasan, India

Of course South Africa are the best side. The system would be wrong if they weren't!
Neil Heard, Canada

The ICC table is a joke... everyone knows it. What annoys me is that it has taken so long for anyone to object. Pakistan suffer because their one off wins against India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the Asian Test championship don't count. Nor does Pakistan's hammering of NZ earlier this year (the 5th biggest in history). Conveniently, England's one-off beating by Sri Lanka at The Oval in 1998 is also excluded. All Tests should count, not just cherry picking whatever suits the ICC.
Forever, UK

You have got to be joking that South Africa are Number One. The mere fact that the ICC are already in the process of changing the points system, proves that it is flawed.

Australia so far has not bothered to play the emerging and lower Test playing nations for one simply reason, they are so bad that playing them is considered a waste of time. Something South Africa and especially Sri Lanka do not have a problem with, which also boosts these countries statistics unfairly.

Flogging lesser nations that really should not be in the Test playing League of Nations is something Australia refuses to do in just about all cases. South Africa will not get their hand on the prize, because Australia will simply take it back when we beat the West Indies.
Jimmy Simms, Australia

South Africa the best team? Then let them come back to Australia for another 5 - 0 thrashing and just remind them that statistics do lie.

Australia have been the best around for the last few years... and I doubt that anyone would deny that.
Jim Edstein, Taiwan

I am a South African supporter through and through, and I along with many of the South African fans from what I have read, feel a little bit stupid by this official result being bestowed upon the team.

Anyone who thinks that South Africa deserve top spot, really needs to seek help fast.
Lars Morgan, South Africa

One on one series are what count Bruce, Australia

If you look at the rules of the table then South Africa are number one. South Africa has played against every Test side and won, home and abroad. They only have to beat the Australians to prove they deserve to be number one.
Has, Sydney, Australia

The new ranking system is pointless; we all know the Australians are head and shoulders above all the other Test playing nations. Including Test series that were played two years ago tells us nothing!
Rob King, Russia

The formula takes into account series against all Test playing nations. While Australia has thwacked South Africa, pummelled the Poms, their record against sub-continent teams and even against New Zealand hasn't been overwhelmingly good. So yep it's probably fair to some extent.

But who really cares? One on one series are what count and I bet you South Africa would give up their position to beat Australia any day.
Bruce, Australia

Australia are currently the best side in the world however SA are easily second by a distance. It really irritates me when people like Ian Botham say England, India etc are on a par with SA - there is a huge gap.
Andrew Wilson, South Africa

As a South African I hang my head as this is not right. Thumped by Australia yet we are the world's best? Pakistan did not try here. Bangladesh were totally outclasses here, Zimbabwe also. Come on ICC sort it out.
Rich, RSA

South Africa play Bangladesh, and get points for it? Adrian, Australia

SA certainly deserves the top spot for their greater ability to play under different conditions.

The Aussies are great when the conditions suit them. But last time they played in Sri Lanka and India, they were comprehensively beaten, whereas, SA competed much better.

Also, some of the contributors to this debate appear to be forgetting that this is a championship and not a contest between SA and Australia.
Chatura Ranaweera, Sri Lanka/ Canada

Well I'll be, South Africa play Bangladesh, and get points for it? What a con job. I didn't know Bangladesh even played cricket.
Adrian, Australia

Well done South Africa! Let's hope we make it to the top of the ICC ODI table after the World Cup.
Teresa, UK (ex South Africa)

I am South African so you may call me biased and I am sure most S.A. will tell you that the Aussies are the best, but... S.A. are more consistent and that is what gives them more points than Australia. Australia couldn't beat New Zealand only last year, In their last series in India and West Indies they also failed to win, where as S.A. have done better.

Just to give a U.K. example, from the premiership that when Arsenal or Man Utd win the title often they will lose home & away to the team in 2nd position in that season but at the end of the day whoever ends with the most points wins the league.
Hannah, UK

Why is one of the most boring team in the world ranked number one?
Mona Rasheed, Canada

How can South Africa be No.1 when Australia thrashed us 5-0 John, South Africa

The ICC Test table is based on the same principal as any football table, a series of home and away Test series. Points are awarded for series wins and series draws, not for individual games.

Some facts are: SA drew with Sri Lanka away while Australia lost. SA beat India and again Australia lost. SA beat WI and Australia drew their series with the WI. Based on this SA have a better record and are thus at the top of the table for the moment.

Australia have played fewer series and will more than likley regain top position, but until then, Well done SA.
Darren, UAE

Well congrats to SA team, and good luck to Pakistan's team, and hopefully they will learn from their mistakes in future, and come back good for the big event (WORLD CUP).
Zeeshan, Pakistan

How can South Africa be No.1 when Australia thrashed us 5-0. The World Cup might give us the answer.
John, South Africa

This just shows how meaningless this table is. Anyone knows that Australia could beat South Africa whenever they chose to. I suspect that a full strength England would also give them a run for their money. Since a round of Test matches against all countries takes several years, the idea of a snapshot league table like football is pointless.
Tom, UK