Not even the afterglow of the Ashes triumph could blind Michael Clarke to the fact his side started the series ranked a modest fifth in the world. However, Australia have the opportunity in the next 12 months to show the achievements this summer are not just another dizzying high in the Test team's recent roller-coaster ride.

Returning to No. 1 by 2015 was a key aim of the Argus report, though Mickey Arthur was more ambitious when he assumed the reins in late 2011. "I know from my time, we had set ourselves three years from the start of my time to get there," said Arthur, who was ousted as coach earlier this year.

It may not necessarily be reflected by the ICC's Test rankings, but Australia, despite having spent much of the year dealing with the bitter taste of defeat, could by the end of next summer make a credible claim to be the world's best team.

Next up is a three-match away series against title-holders South Africa, followed by Pakistan in the Middle East in October, before the chance to seek revenge against India for the humiliation earlier this year. Win all three series and Australia will have beaten every other team in the top five.

"All we can do is beat the good countries – then we've really got something to beat our chest about, I would have thought," said Trevor Hohns, the former chairman of selectors who presided over the bulk of Australia's last golden era. "It's a crucial 12-month period."

Hohns likens Australia's success this summer to the 1989 series when a team containing Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh, David Boon, Geoff Marsh, Dean Jones and Ian Healy came of age. Most played key roles in Australia's success in the decade that followed. But this Australian side, which Ricky Ponting characterised as a team on the rise, is far from fresh-faced; only four of them are in their 20s. Australian cricket has dug a hole for itself in recent years, having disposed of players largely due to their birth date, rather than form.

At some point, replacements will have to be found for Brad Haddin and Chris Rogers, both 36, and Ryan Harris, 34. When, Arthur said, will depend on form. Hohns and Arthur believe there is not as much urgency in the pace-bowling stakes where young guns James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are waiting in the wings.

Rogers' position is safe for now, but he has acknowledged he is only a form slump away from the end. Arthur is emphatic Phil Hughes, who is averaging 61 and has scored three tons in the Sheffield Shield this season, should be first in line to replace Rogers as Test opener when the time comes.

"Phil Hughes replaces him, no doubt," Arthur said. "Rogers has done a great job; everything we've selected Rogers for he's done, which is great to see. If Rogers is playing well he could go for another year, year and a bit."

Hohns listed five batsmen capable of making the rise to Test level, depending on the opening available: Hughes, Joe Burns, Alex Doolan, Nic Maddinson and Shaun Marsh. "All these blokes can do is keep belting the door down with runs, which is what players had to do in the past," Hohns said.

Haddin's position in the team is as safe as ever. His contribution on and off the field serves only to highlight the void he will leave behind.

Arthur would like to see the man he backed then dropped, Matthew Wade, get another crack, though he believes Tim Paine will push him for the right to succeed Haddin.

"Certainly in my time, Wadey was with me virtually the whole time; that's 14 months of experience into Matthew Wade, which you can't throw away – that experience is invaluable," Arthur said. "The next keeper will come from Wade or Paine, but I think Wade, with the amount of experience he's got into him, provided his form warrants it, could be the next guy."

Those decisions, however, will not have to be made before the tour of South Africa, which is shaping as a litmus test for Australia. "When you can go on the road and win away from home you then have significant claims to being the best team in the world – that's the secret to getting to No. 1," Arthur said.

But Hohns believes Australia can head to South Africa with high hopes it will end better than their past two Test tours abroad. "There was a period there in the last 12 months where there was no confidence, everyone was shitcanning everything that was going on, but now at least you're winning it makes a hell of a lot of difference to everyone involved," he said.

"We can't get carried away. We've won the Ashes back, which is fantastic, but the next test is not to let it slip this series, then go to South Africa. That will be one of the hardest series they've had in some time, that will be the tester."