The one day international series against Australia has proved to be the only thing separating the two teams. Over the summers series both home and away, the teams have shared the test series 3-3, the Pro20 series 2-2, but South Africa took the ODI server 7-3.

AB de Villiers was named player of the home series for his contribution of 240 runs at an average of 60, with a strike rate of 95.61. His highest score was 84. Herschelle Gibbs was the top run scorer, with 256 runs at an average of 50.60 and a strike rate of 82.14. Gibbs highest score was 110.

Spinner Roelof van der Merwe, who made his ODI debut at his home ground in Centurion, was the leading South African bowler, taking eight wickets at an average of 18.62. Dale Steyn (ten) took more wickets than Van der Merwe, but Steyn’s average was 23.30, he was more expensive, going for 5.04 runs per over compared to Van der Merwe’s four.

South Africa end the summer ranked number 1 in ODI cricket, AB de Villiers is ranked number 6 in the world, with Graeme Smith at number 8. Unfortunately none of our bowler are in the top 10, Johan Botha is ranked highest at number 11.

The Proteas side has matured, at the same time new players were given a chance, Roelof van der Merwe, Wayne Parnell, and Lonwabo Tsotsobe all made their debuts. Every game in the five match series was sold out, I can’t remember going to a game in South Africa where the game wasn’t sold out. The public came out to support a winning team, and they delivered.