How good are SA?

The best Test team in the World. Have been saying it for a while, with their pace attack, decent spinner and quality batsman.

Philander has completed the team and the only team doesnt lose to India at home. Also draw with Pak in UAE where England got hammered.

Amla, AB, Steyn and Kallis would be in any world 11. Morkel, Philander, Smith also close. No weak link apart from choking

Not as good a limited over side though and expect England to compete and probably win the ODI seres but will have to look at the team closely

BTW behave with your India comment

We drew with Saffers, beat you guys, lost to the Aussies and beat the windies apart from hammering everyone apart from Saf at home so deserved the number 1 ranking before we got hammered by you guys and then the Aussies and lost it

I agree SA are currently the best side.  Not only have they got a superb top order but their bowling attack is comfortably the best, not only the four frontliners but Kallis is key.  No other side has such quality as a fourth medium/fast bowler.

I still think there's room for improvement in both the spin department and the 6th/7th batter (depending on whether de Villiers keeps wicket).  I also wonder about their depth, especially as they've played far fewer tests.  However, there's no disputing their currently the best in most conditions.

However, I'm not convinced by the ICC rankings.  Disparities in the number of tests played, lengths of series and years between touring certain countries means the system has major limitations.

SA would have a lot more depth if England didn't keep stealing their players.

Did you see that stat earlier top 10 batsman runs this series? The first 7 were all Saffers. First 4 all playing for SA and then Pietersen, Trott and Prior. Embarrassing really.

wouldnt expect an aussie to understand multi culturalism.

they are a much better team with Philander and Duminy

they always had a weak tail which cost them imo but now they look much stronger

still dont have a quality spinner which could cost them in the subcontinent but with Morkel in this form do they need one?

South Africas problem is that some of their key players are on the cusp of retirement

take Smith and Kallis out of the team and they look ordinary again

Kallis and Smith ahve hardly played key roles in this series.

The likes of Amla and Philander are their main men now.

Smith is their captain and a great opening batsman

Kallis probably the best all rounder the world has ever seen

of course they will be missed

Just looking at the current side and not taking into account their age, i would say is that they lack a decent spinner. Tahir bowls too many bad balls and lacks consistency

Tahir has never played a test in Asia or on a spinning deck like Sydney, Old Trafford.

He's done pretty well I think.

It seems incredible but the test series between Sth Africa and Australia this December is actually another battle for the No.1 test ranking

really not sure how australia can even be in contention. lost home (annihilated) and away to england, won at home and lost away to india and lost at home and drew away in their most recent series against. 1 series win and 4 lost out of 6 against the big 4 ? baffling

ashes was ages ago. eng have been appalling these last 12 months. Aus have not

ages ago or not they are still carrying virtually all these poor series results on their record and a 1-1 draw at home to a terrible new zealand side.

there's no way they can have any right to be called top dogs at the moment even if they beat the saffers at home