Proteas have another chance to climb up the tree

DURBAN: Across continents, there are two engaging Test series nearing their conclusion, and both will have an impact on the order atop the ICC rankings come the end of the month.

India, thanks to an excellent record at home over the past few years, are still comfortable leaders in the latest rankings, but the battle for second place is tight, with Australia knowing full well that a slip-up will allow South Africa in.

The Proteas, who lead their three-match series against a struggling New Zealand team 1-0, with the final Test starting at midnight (SA time) on Friday in Hamilton, have made no secret of their desire to get back to the top of the Test tree.

Convener of selectors, Linda Zondi, admitted that it was a goal that was on the horizon, for a team that already leads the ODI rankings.

Of course, South Africa’s reign in the ultimate format nose-dived in India, when they were confronted by the turning ball and an opportunistic foe.

Since then, India have kicked on to become the world leaders in five-day cricket, though South Africa will have a lot to say about that in the summer, when they host Virat Kohli’s men in a bumper 2017/18 campaign.

Before that, though, South Africa have to finish the job against New Zealand in Hamilton where, coincidentally, the ball is expected to turn a lot more than anywhere else they have been on their trek across the Antipodean islands.

At the same time, they will know that Australia meet India under the mountains of the Himalayas, in Dharamshala, certainly one of the game’s most breathtaking venues.

Australia will go into that final match buoyed by their defiant stand in Ranchi, when their middle-order refused to let the Indian spinners steal a 2-1 series lead.

It is ominously set up for the final match of an engaging series, where bat and ball have had a chance to shine, and the result has been an excellent advert for Test cricket.

In New Zealand, meanwhile, the Proteas have established a lead, with scattered contributions from their top-order. Dean Elgar, pictured, started the series well, but Stephen Cook is in a dark place, and Hashim Amla is still locating his best touch using a candle.

In the absence, through injury among other things, of several big names, South Africa has again found fresh inspiration.

A rejuvenated Morne Morkel, pictured, has galloped in freely, with a mind free of doubt, and thus bowled with a fuller length that has examined technique and temperament in the Kiwi ranks. Keshav Maharaj, still in his first year of Test cricket, has become increasingly important to Faf du Plessis, with his accuracy a real source of security – and force – when he has been called upon.

In Hamilton, he may have a spin twin in Dane Piedt, another wily customer who tends to give little away.

It has been a while since South Africa have leant on spin over speed outside of series on the sub-continent, but this may be the week where Messrs Maharaj and Piedt share centre stage.