South Africa is taking their new tag of world No.1 in Test cricket very seriously. They have vowed to create an Australian-style dynasty and prevent them from recapturing the mantle of top Test nation.
Australia slumped to No. 4 after its Ashes loss. It had been rated the world’s best team since Mark Taylor’s side defeated the West Indies in 1995.
“We would love to create that sort of aura and the sort of results that Australia had for so long,” South African coach Mickey Arthur was quoted as saying by Herald Sun .
“The results we have achieved in the past 18 months vindicate us being the No. 1 side in world cricket.”
South Africa scripted its maiden Test series win in Australia last summer, but surprisingly lost the return series at home.
Arthur said that was his team’s “one big blemish” and his outfit was superior to the Australian team.
Arthur was astonished by Australia’s 2-1 Ashes loss.
“Had Australia played as well against England as they did against us, I firmly believe they would have won the Ashes,” Arthur said.
“It was a huge thing that guys like Mitchell Johnson and Phil Hughes didn’t play well against England. We found when we played Australia last summer that they lost the big moments and we won them. If you look at the Ashes, the same thing happened when England applied pressure,” he said.
