Another Test summer is in the books with Australia’s three-match series against South Africa ending in a draw at the SCG.
Sydney rain spoiled Australia’s push for the perfect 5-0 summer, although, to even have a sniff of a win on the final day was an impressive feat from the hosts.
Instead, the South Africa series ended 2-0 for Australia, which dominated the Proteas from the first ball at the Gabba three weeks ago.
South Africa are fourth in the ICC’s Test rankings, and entered this series sitting in second on the World Test Championship ladder.
There’s hardly been a series that better exposes the shortcomings of world cricket’s official yardsticks.
Needless to say that South Africa isn’t the second-best Test nation in the world. It might not even be the fourth-best.
That much is clear given how limply the Proteas’ batters repeatedly crumbled in this series, with the exception of when it was too late in Sydney.
Known as their overwhelming strength, their bowlers were somewhat underwhelming, with Australia comfortably posting big totals in Melbourne and Sydney.
Playing in away conditions is so often used to excuse poor results for visiting teams, but the discrepancy between conditions in Australia and South Africa is minimal.
The fact South Africa had won three-straight series in Australia is proof of that.
Australia was expected to brush aside the West Indies this summer, but South Africa was meant to be a sterner test.
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