South Africa’s next goal is to topple India from Test top spot: Smith

Smith spoke to media for the first time after South Africa's failed World Cup campaign.

Upstaging India from the top of Test rankings would be South Africa’s top priority this season,captain Graeme Smith said.

India are top-ranked Test side with 128 points,followed by South Africa (117) and England (115).

Smith spoke to media for the first time after South Africa’s failed World Cup campaign,which ended with quarter-final defeat against New Zealand in March.

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South Africa are scheduled to play a two-Test series against Australia in November and a three-Test series against Sri Lanka in December-January at home.

“I remain extremely positive about the Proteas as we set about challenging India for their number one Test ranking,” Smith said at a press conference here.

For that to happen,Smith said his side’s top order need to sort out batting problems,which was a major factor in their unsuccessful World Cup campaign.

“Our top order did not bat as well as expected (at the World Cup) and it is something — myself included — that we need to work hard to address as we prepare for tough series against Australia and Sri Lanka.

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“As soon as the new national coach is named I will work out a programme with him to get my game back to the level I expect of myself. The commitment and pride I feel for representing South Africa is still very close to my heart,” he said.

Smith’s first public appearance after the World Cup also set at rest the speculation that he might step down from Test captaincy after having relinquished the top job in ODIs and Twenty20 earlier.