"It's always a lot more interesting for the public if there's one, two, three teams in fact competing for the No.1 spot. It just makes it all the more interesting," Lorgat told the 'Sydney Morning Herald'.

Australia are 0-2 down in the three-match series, with the possibility of a humiliating whitewash at home staring them for the first time.

And Lorgat can take some credit for the Proteas' feat as he was the one who gave breaks to Hashim Amla, Ashwell Prince, Dale Steyn and A B de Villiers during his stint as selector in Cricket South Africa.

Lorgat recalled facing stiff opposition when he pushed the quartet's case with some saying that his backing for Amla and Prince was based on the colour of their skin.

"There was a lot more fuss and speculation about the black players, so the likes of Amla and Prince, they were seriously questioned. There were also some serious issues around A B de Villiers. Dale Steyn was also introduced in my time. Thankfully all of them have come through and more than deserve their place in the team. It's a pleasing part when it all comes through and it works out," he said.

Lorgat said he faced accusations of forcing a quota system in the team. "There was a lot of challenge to some of the players that were brought through and introduced during my tenure. A lot of it was coached in the name of transformation, and there were suggestions that there were forced quota systems in place," he said.

"That was not the case and our plan has been vindicated, we believed the players deserved to get there on their own merits," he added.