Sydney, Dec. 5: Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting says his side deserves the number one ranking in Test cricket even if South Africa defeats them this month.

"It has taken us a long time and a lot of great wins in different conditions around the world to get us to that No. 1 spot," Fox Sports quoted Ponting, as saying on Thursday.

"If South Africa beat us 3-0 I don''t know if that gives them enough points to get over us. But if they won the series 1-0 or 2-1, I don''t think that would mean that they deserve to take over that mantle. It''s a bit the same with India (beating Australia in the) last series,” he added.

"Just because they beat us, the No. 1 team, (it) doesn''t necessarily mean they go from the No. 4 or No. 5 in the world to No. 1 in the world, because it''s something that''s accrued over a long period of time," Ponting said.

South Africa has cause for optimism entering this series, having surged up the rankings table over the past two years.

Graeme Smith''s side began 2007 in sixth place in the Test rankings, yet finished the year in second, although 32 ranking points behind Australia.

The gap is now 13 points, and series wins in Australia and South Africa over the next four months could produce the game''s first major dethroning since Mark Taylor''s side became the best in the world by beating the West Indies in the Caribbean in 1995.

The Proteas'' assault this summer will be based on a clutch of in-form batsmen and a lively pace attack headed by strike bowler Dale Steyn.

But South Africa has never beaten Australia (home or away) in eight series following their re-admission into international cricket after the end of the apartheid era. (ANI)