Arthur Turner

South Africa’s fantastic win in the limited over series has ensured that the tour of Australia has been a total success. I have discounted the Twenty20 defeats because logistics do not allow the touring team to pick their 20-over specialists. After all the years of losing in Australia and the disappointment that has gone with it, this is in deed a sweet moment for all South Africans. Well done to Cricket South Africa and the team!

South Africa will no doubt be surprised how easily they won the ODI series, especially without Graeme Smith. Before the series both Mickey Arthur and Smith cautioned the South African public on their expectations as they both felt that the ODI team was a "work in progress". However, the performances of younger generation - players like Hashim Amla, JP Duminy and stand-in captain Johan Botha - bodes well for the future of South Africa’s limited overs team.

In the late 1990s South Africa had a fantastic ODI team. Lance Klusener played a major role in its success because of his ability to finish off games with his boundary hitting. For a while, Shaun Pollock filled this role, but in Albie Morkel South Africa has found another Klusener. In Melbourne and Sydney he showed that he has the same ability to effectively finish games. Morkel has matured on this tour and will play a pivotal role in the fortunes of South Africa’s ODI team in the years ahead.

Ricky Ponting must be a worried man after what has proved to be a disastrous summer for Australia at home. He must be contemplating what the future holds for him with a difficult tour to South Africa and then a high profile Ashes tour of England. After losing in India and now to South Africa at home, the Australian captain finds himself under immense pressure. It would be a great pity if the twice World Cup-winning captain was dismissed after the failures of an Australian team that is in a rebuilding phase.

Smith and company will want to repeat their successes against Australia in South Africa later this summer and move to the top of the ICC standings in both Tests and ODIs. This will officially make the Proteas the number one team in world cricket. Cricket mania has swept the country and everyone is eagerly awaiting for the Australian tour with great anticipation and interest. For us older generation it is reminiscent of 1970 and Bill Lawry’s Australian team. The expectations of all South African’s are nothing less than total destruction of an Australian team that is under immense pressure.

South Africa has enjoyed fantastic Test match success of late. They have also now tasted ODI success against the current World Cup holders. For the Proteas to become a truly great side like the recent Australian team and the West Indies in the 1970s and 80s, their next goal must be to win global tournaments. The Twenty20 World Championship in England in June and the ICC Trophy later this year provides them with their first opportunities in achieving these goals.

The ICC World Cup in India in 2011 is a major date for the Proteas after all the disappointments of recent World Cups. This Proteas team has the ability and the courage to rectify the situation.

Arthur is a former cricket administrator and current player agent.

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