Proteas retains No.1 Test ranking

South Africa has retained their ranking as the number-one Test playing nation in the world and unleashed a new hero on the one-day international (ODI) stage in a year which yielded mixed results for them.

Gearing up towards the traditional festive season entertainment- the highlight for cricket fans in South Africa -the Proteas pulled off a 2-0 series win in a three-match ODI contest against India, with the last match affected by the early December rains.

According to Sport24, the two teams were currently locked in a two-Test battle, with the first match ending in a draw, and the second Test starts on December 26 in Durban

The report mentioned that South Africa had already showcased their superiority, earlier in the month, in the longer format, coasting to innings' victories in each of the two Tests against New Zealand and in February, the Proteas held onto their form in the Test arena and welcomed Pakistan for a three-Test series, whipping the visitors 3-0.

In what would become a regular meeting of two sides during the year, South Africa ran out 3-2 victors against Pakistan, securing a win in the final ODI match, in Benoni, in March, the report added.