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How they rated: Proteas in India

Cape Town - It's home time for the Proteas, and they will be happier than anybody to leave India. 

A nightmare 3-0 series loss will be remembered for some questionable conditions, but there was no hiding in the fourth Test, where Hashim Amla and his men were simply outclassed. 

It is hard to find any positives from the series, but we tried our best... 

Here, Sport24 rates the performances of the Proteas throughout the series:

Dean Elgar - 5

Runs - 137

Average - 19.57

Wickets - 5

Average - 27.2

Elgar was gutsy in some tough conditions, but he never converted any of his starts. He was also more than useful with the ball, but that is not where he is expected to excel. Still leaves the tour as the Proteas' most assured opening batsman. 

Stiaan van Zyl - 3

Runs - 56

Average - 11.2

You have to feel for Van Zyl. Already out of position as an opening batsman, he was dismissed five times in a row by Ravichandran Ashwin and lost his place for the final Test. There are now serious doubts over his inclusion in the Boxing Day Test against England in Durban. 

Temba Bavuma - 6

Runs - 56

Average - 28

Perhaps a bit of a reach given that he only played one Test, but Bavuma showed enough application and determination in his two knocks to suggest that he is a real option to open the innings alongside Elgar. 

Hashim Amla - 4

Runs - 118

Average - 16.85

In a series this tough, the Proteas needed their captain to stand up with the bat. He didn't. There were also, for the first time, some questions raised over his captaincy ... particularly over his seeming lack of trust in Imran Tahir. And his slip fielding wasn't up to scratch, grassing a number of chances.

Faf du Plessis - 3

Runs - 60

Average - 8.57

As one of the senior players in the side, and a batsman known for his resilience, more was expected from Du Plessis. He struggled all series, and will no doubt be itching to get back among the runs against England. 

AB de Villiers - 8

Runs - 258

Average - 36.85

Those are not numbers that De Villiers would usually be satisfied with, but they are worth a lot more under the circumstances. He finished the series as the only Proteas batsman (Bavuma excluded) to leave with his head held high - further indication of his superior quality. 

Dane Vilas - 4

Runs - 60

Average - 8.57

His wicket-keeping was acceptable, though hardly inspiring. But it was with the bat where Vilas really struggled. It is hard to see him keeping his place for the England series as Quinton de Kock eyes a return to the Test side. 

Simon Harmer - 6

Runs - 39

Average - 13

Wickets - 10

Average - 25.4

Harmer didn't do his reputation any damage in the series, even if he did lose his place to Dane Piedt for the final Test. He was given a lot more responsibility than Tahir, and is likely to be there or thereabouts when the team is selected for England. 

Morne Morkel - 7

Runs - 38

Average - 9.5

Wickets - 9

Average - 20.66

On wickets where spin bowling was hogging the headlines, Morkel delivered a fast bowling masterclass. He displayed the versatility and accuracy that many never knew he possessed, and will take a lot from this series when he squares off against England. 

Kagiso Rabada - 5

Runs  - 14

Average - 7

Wickets - 2

Average - 55.5

Talk about being thrown into the deep end. Rabada passed his first test, maybe not with flying colours, but comfortably enough. He remains one of the brightest prospects in this group, and will be far more dangerous on the greener South African wickets this summer. 

Kyle Abbott - 7

Runs - 18 

Average - 6

Wickets - 6

Average - 17.5

Abbott's 5-40 in the first innings of the fourth Test was a breakthrough moment for him, and he is now very much in the reckoning for the England visit. He has taken his opportunities whenever they have come, in all formats, and he continues to bash down the door. 

Imran Tahir - 7

Runs - 21

Average - 4.2

Wickets - 14

Average - 21.35

Tahir finished as the Proteas' leading wicket taker in the series, though his numbers fell apart somewhat in the fourth Test. Still, he comes out of the series as SA's most dangerous spin bowler, but will that be enough to book him a place in the Boxing Day Test?

Vernon Philander - 6

Runs - 4 

Average - 2

Wickets - 3

Average 20.33

It seems like an age since we last saw Philander. He was injured after the first Test, but in that match he bowled well enough to ensure a '6' despite a failed attempt as an opening batsman. 

Dane Piedt - 6

Runs - 6

Average - 3

Wickets - 4

Average - 42.5

Piedt's return to the international stage in the final Test was a mixed bag - four wickets in the first innings followed by none in the second. 

Dale Steyn - n/a

Runs - 8 

Average - 4

Wickets - 0

Average - n/a

Bowled 11 overs in the first Test before a groin injury ruled him out of the series. 

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