Home pitches failed Proteas

Cape Town – Perhaps it is necessary to make it clear at the outset: South Africa didn’t use them as an excuse.

Outgoing captain Graeme Smith was clear and magnanimous, after all, in his praise of the 2-1 Australian Test series victory, summing it up fittingly: “It’s been a fighting series for us more than a well played series ... Australia deserved their win.”

But the pitches offered for the home series?