Until the logistics of a formatted World Test Championship are worked out, we have to rely on the ICC rankings for official recognition of the teams' hierarchy in the Test arena. Australia's place at the top of these rankings has been unquestioned since their inception, but India and South Africa's designs on the top spot have been gaining credence over the last 12 months.

The ranking system itself is not totally credible - few recognised the Proteas as the world's best One Day team when they briefly took top spot in the limited overs equivalent list last year - but there will be no argument if South Africa overtake the Aussies at the top of the Test rankings by securing the 3-0 series whitewash they require to do so. Any team winning by that scoreline downunder must be the best in the world, although it is not a cricket bet I will be rushing to make.

South Africa's drawn series in India and victory in England earlier in the year suggest they are indeed the team most likely to grab Australia's slipping crown, but it is India who have the most valid claims as current number one alternatives to the Aussies.

India's dominance of Australia in their recent 2-0 win, totally at odds with the titanic see-saw battles of the last decade, hinted at a shift in the balance of power at the top of the world game and acted as confirmation to many that Australia's transition phase forced by a flurry of star player retirements is to be a long-winded process.

If India do officially become the world's best, the way they cope with the departure of senior players is going to be key. Anil Kumble and Sourav Ganguly recently packed away their whites and Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman are likely to join them in retirement sooner rather than later.

Gary Kirsten's men seem well-placed to cope with these changes and have already made the first step in toppling Australia by removing the undefeatable aura that has surrounded the Baggy Greens for so long. Whether South Africa can take advantage is another matter.