Former South Africa captain Kepler Wessels has tipped Graeme Smith’s in-form team to beat England away and then go to Australia and beat the world champions too.

Wessels, who also played 24 Tests for Australia during the Apartheid era, believes the current level of performance is the best since Graeme Smith became captain in April 2003.

The Proteas capped a hot streak of recent form by beating India by an innings in Ahmedabad in the second Test on Saturday. India were bowled out in their first innings for just 76. If South Africa can avoid defeat in this week’s third and final Test they will the series and stake a firm claim on being the second-best Test team in the world behind Australia.

While centuries have come freely off their batsmen’s blades, fast bowler Dale Steyn has spearheaded their attack with skill and penetration, and this week tied with Muttiah Muralitharan as the world’s number one-ranked Test bowler. It was Steyn’s wickets that were key in South Africa beating New Zealand and West Indies in their home series and then away in Bangladesh, prior to the India series.

“The South Africans were superb, especially in the second test,” Wessels told SAPA. "They played better than I have every seen them play in the Graeme Smith era.

“They might not be the best South African team ever, but if they carry on playing the way they are now, they can challenge anyone. I believe this team is capable to beating England in England and of beating Australia.”

Some pundits such as former India captain Sunil Gavaskar attributed India’s heavy defeat to a lack of focus as players have been working on Indian Premier League commitments. Wessels agrees to some extend but does not think that should undermine Smith’s team’s efforts.

“That doesn't take away from what the South Africans achieved,” Wessels said, adding that he expects the Indians to prepare a pitch that will suit their spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh in Kanpur this week, which may also nullify Steyn’s threat.

“I think they will probably order a pitch that turns square from day one,” Wessels said. “But these guys have shown that they can cope with most things.”