Cape Town - Following their Test series win over Australia, EIGHT Proteas have made it into a popular Australian cricket website’s team of the series.
Despite losing the day-night Test in Adelaide by seven wickets, Faf du Plessis South Africa claimed a 2-1 series win.
Following the Proteas' third Test series win in a row Down Under, the cricket.com.au website picked its 'Best combined XI' for the three-Test series.
Only three Australians - batsmen David Warner and Usman Khawaja and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood - cracked the nod.
For South Africa, batsmen Dean Elgar, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis and Temba Bavuma were all included, with Quinton de Kock picked as wicketkeeper, while the Proteas’ fast bowling trio of Vernon Philander, Kyle Abbott and Kagiso Rabada completed the team.
The website was full of praise for Du Plessis, saying: “After what he’s done this series, it’s hard to imagine anybody else captaining the South Africa, even a player as divine as AB de Villiers. Led his men from the front with and with chaos surrounding him in the lead-up and during the final Test, du Plessis scored his best Test match century."
De Kock drew comparisons with Australian great Adam Gilchrist.
“A stunning series that brought comparisons to the immortal Adam Gilchrist. At just 23, de Kock is at the forefront of a record-breaking career as a Test wicketkeeper-batsman.”
Of Rabada, who took 15 wickets in the series, the website said: “What a talent. A skilful bowler and a great athlete. He can move the ball both ways and charges in all day. One of the greats of the future.”