WeAEre still the team to beat.

We're still the team to beat, blasts Ponting Australia stay top of the Test rankings after battling back for a thrilling final Test victory Australia skipper Ricky Ponting is confident his side are good enough to maintain their world No.1 spot in the Test rankings after they hit back for a thrilling victory in the third Test against South Africa. And it's quite easy to see why he is confident as the final day's play at the SCG was as evenly contested as the rest of the series, which South Africa ultimately won 2-1. The Proteas resumed on 62 for one, needing a whopping 376 for victory, but more likely looking to bat out the day for a draw. They stuck to their task, and it took a ball from Mitchell Johnson in the penultimate over to remove captain Graeme Smith, who had bravely come in to bat despite a number of injuries. Australia's win ensured they stay top of the ICC Test rankings but the gap at the top has been reduced to just five rating points as South Africa clinched the series 2-1. The Test could not have been closer, giving Ponting reason to be confident going into the return series in South Africa following the one-dayers. Following the thrilling 103-run victory, Ponting said: "We wanted to start 2009 on the right foot and we've done that. I'm very proud of the way we bounced back. "It's always hard in a series when you're 2-0 down but it says a lot about the character to get off the canvas." Speaking of character, opposite number Smith showed it in spades as he came in to bat at No.11 to try and hold on for the draw. Smith decided to bat with 8.2 overs left on the final day alongside tail-ender Makhaya Ntini after the Aussies had broken a 50-run stand by seeing off Dale Steyn. He may have removed the cast that had been protecting his fractured hand, but in the end Smith could not protect his own wicket as a Johnson corker clean bowled the left-hander with just ten balls left. He said: "I just decided to give it my best shot. If I got a first-baller, at least I tried, that was what was going through my head. There was a lot of pain, I'd just had injections in my elbow and this (hand) is obviously not very friendly at the moment, but I was grateful I never got another knock." While Smith was the hero for the tourists, he is hoping that Australia decide to discard one of their old brigade ahead of three Tests in South Africa. Matthew Hayden has been in woeful form all summer, and calls are growing for the 37-year-old opener to be 'retired'. And Smith is hoping the Aussies feel the pressure. He said: "I'd probably say yes because I know what he can do, I know what he's capable of. You've seen him perform at a level over a period of time. As a left-hand opening batter I've got a lot of respect for the performances he's had over the years." Ponting backed his opener to bat on, but said his close friend has given no indications as to what his immediate future holds. "I'd love Matty to keep playing," Ponting said. "If you're asking me personally I'd have him in my team every day of the week because he's a champion player and bloke and great for our team."

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