Smith – top ranking means nothing

Graeme Smith has said South Africa moving to the top ranked one-day side in the World Cup counts for nothing when the World Cup starts.

South Africa over-took Australia as the number one side after Australia lost the Chappell-Hadlee series 3-0 to New Zealand recently.

Smith commented on the situation to the BBC saying “Of course it’s nice to be number one and it is a reward for our good form.”

“But at the World Cup, it is necessary to maintain your best for more than a month.”

Smith also poored cold water on the comments being made that Australia would not be as big a threat as what they have been in previous tournaments saying: “They have match-winners such as Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist who still have to return and will make a big difference. Their main problem is injuries and the way they solve that will probably determine their fate.”