Well done, Hashim and AB

The South African cricket team had a magnificent tour of Sri Lanka. The team will reflect on their achievements in Sri Lanka with a great deal of satisfaction. Winning first the one-day series and then the test series was a terrific performance.

Particularly pleasing was the performance of the two captains on this tour. AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla led the one-day and test team respectively with tremendous aplomb.

They were both sound tactically and led from the front with the bat in the two formats. Progress was made on this tour in both the one-day and test arena.

The Proteas have claimed back the number one spot in the rankings as far as test cricket is concerned after the one nil defeat of Sri Lanka. This is a real confidence boost for the team.

Even considering the loss of the experienced Graeme Smith and the former brilliance of Jacques Kallis, the South African test combination is outstanding.

Any team that has the firepower of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander as the basis of the bowling attack is a force to be reckoned with under all circumstances. The batting resources are equally convincing with skipper Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers leading the way.

The spin department is an area under consideration for the Proteas as far as test matches are concerned in the long term.

Considering the fact that there are only four test matches before the World Cup in February this is not a serious issue right now. The Proteas play Zimbabwe in a one-off test and then the West Indies in a three-match series at home.

These matches will more than likely be dominated by the South African pace attack and spin is unlikely to play a significant role against either team.

The Proteas are expected to prosper against both Zimbawe and the West Indies under conditions that should suit the number one test team in the world, so it may be an opportunity to explore another spin option other than Imran Tahir, only for the test arena. Tahir is well established as the frontline spinner in the shorter formats of the game.

There is a slight concern over the opening batting combination. Alviro Petersen hasn't been at his best. He needs some runs in the one-off test against Zimbabwe. Dean Elgar scored a century in the first innings of the first test so one would expect the selectors to persevere with the current opening combination throughout the four test matches coming up during the summer.

The improvement in the one-day team on this tour is also very exciting and significant seeing that this was the first sequence in the preparation period for the World Cup.

Looking at the one-day combination and the way the team played in two of the three one-day internationals will make the other countries sit up and take notice.

Barring injury there is no question that the Proteas are on the right track. They will be a force to reckoned with under Australian conditions during the World Cup if their current form prevails.

A decision needs to be made on the Jacques Kallis issue but, whether Kallis makes the World Cup or not, the Proteas are right up there in one-day international terms at the moment.

Well done to the touring party and in particular to the two captains. It was enjoyable to watch a team who displayed world class skill and tremendous character.

There are exciting times ahead for this team. I am looking forward to next February already.