After crushing India by an innings in the first cricket Test in Nagpur, South African captain Graeme Smith today declared that they deserve to be the world number one team more than the home side.
South Africa would reclaim their world number one status that they relinquished to India in December last year if they
do not lose the second Test in Kolkata starting on Sunday.
Smith said they deserved the Test numero uno status more than any side as they had won around the world and not in
their own backyard only.
"The reason we probably can say we deserve number one ranking more than any one else is we have traveled and won
around the world in a short period of time. We have not only played at home and won. We have won in England, in Australia, come here and won a Test in 2008 and now here. Number one team deserves to be number one. We want to earn that and be there for a long time," he said.
He said by winning the first Test here his side has taken the first step of scoring a series victory in India which is
something missing in South Africa's record books.
He said by winning the first Test here his side has taken the first step of scoring a series victory in India which is
something missing in South Africa's record books.
"I think especially as a team we have achieved so much. I think as a Test team this is one thing (to win series in
India) we wanted to tick off. A win here in this two-match series we have taken the first step. It is a massive goal for
all of us (to win the series)," said the right-handed opening batsman.