Australia don't deserve top Test ranking yet

Australia must beat Pakistan away this October and then win the Ashes in England next year to deserve their new No. 1 Test ranking.

The Aussies were yesterday gifted the ranking they had coveted since losing it in August 2009.

Their leapfrogging of South Africa, who slid to second spot, was the result of their recent resounding triumphs over the Proteas and England.

By vaporising England 5-0 at home Australia signalled they were a rising force, before delivering on the hype with a gutsy 2-1 defeat of the Proteas in South Africa.

Both series victories were extremely impressive and the Aussies were deservedly lavished with praise. But the defeat of South Africa was the first time they had beaten a formidable opponent away from home since 2009, when they again upset the Proteas.

Meanwhile, South Africa have not lost an away Test series in eight years. During that extraordinary run they have toppled heavyweights India, England and Australia in their own backyards.

The Proteas remain worthy of the No. 1 Test ranking. They have been a dominant side year after year, regardless of the conditions. Such grand success is not erased by one defeat in a three-Test series.

Australia may be the team to beat right now, but prior to their Ashes demolition job they had gone nine Tests without a win. To be the rightful owners of the No. 1 Test ranking the men in baggy greens have to show they can prosper on turning decks, as well as in England.

South Africa have achieved both of those things in recent years, and the Aussies will have the opportunity to replicate their feats over the next 15 months.

Can they conquer Pakistan and their spin wizard Saeed Ajmal on dusty decks in the UAE in October?

Can they back that up by besting India at home in next summer’s four-Test series?

Can they knock off the West Indies in the Caribbean early next year?

Most importantly, can they back all that up by lifting the Ashes in England for the first time in 14 years?

If the Aussies tick each of these boxes then they will feel like the true No. 1 Test side.

Skipper Michael Clarke suggested as much yesterday after learning of his side’s ascension to the head of the rankings.

“The true test of a great side is sustained success and now our goal is to maintain these rankings and continue to play great cricket as we lead into challenging Test series against Pakistan and India, and the ICC Cricket World Cup at home,” he said.

“We had a fantastic home summer against England and a great series win away against South Africa earlier this year, but the challenge now is to continue that form.

“We have a huge amount of respect for the South Africa side, and the length it held the number-one Test ranking is testament to the great side it is. South Africa will no doubt continue to be a formidable opponent in Test match cricket.”

So how exactly did Australia suddenly climb to number one yesterday despite not having played a Test since March?

The Test rankings are recalibrated annually. This recent update either completely removed or downgraded the weighting of several of Australia’s most disastrous series, including their Ashes pounding in 2010-11 and the 4-0 loss in India early last year.

But their No. 1 ranking will not be safe for long. South Africa have easy series coming up against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, both of which will be completed before Australia travel to the UAE for their tough contest against the unpredictable Pakistan.

Australia may well find themselves back below South Africa again in a matter of months.

That would be a fair result. The Aussies are surging but they still have a lot to prove.