South Africa v England: Poms content with series win despite Proteas late resurgence

ENGLAND captain Alastair Cook said the big defeat in the final Test against South Africa at Centurion took some gloss off what was an impressive series win.

England’s captain Alastair Cook, holds the D'Oliveira Trophy after winning the test series on the firth day of the fourth test cricket match between South Africa and England, at Centurion Park in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. South Africa beat England by 280 runs. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

ENGLAND captain Alastair Cook said his team had played some brilliant cricket to win a series in South Africa but a 280-run defeat in the final Test at Centurion was not the way they wanted to end the tour.

“For the whole five days we were not quite as good as we have been for the first three games,” said Cook.

“We spoke a lot about how we wanted to finish the tour unbeaten but we just haven’t been good enough in this game.”

Cook added that winning the series against the number one team in the world was a significant achievement that would be looked back on in future years as a highlight. He said it remained a long term aim for England themselves to become the best team in the world.

“We’ve never pretended we are the finished article. We have still not played a complete series. We have got to be more consistent. There’s a long way to go to be number one.”

AB de Villiers, the South African captain, said England deserved much credit.

Ben Stokes was the star of the show in South Africa.

“We were completely outplayed in the two Test matches (that England won). They’re going to be the team to beat in the next year or so,” he said.

“They’ve got a lot of good leaders, a lot of match-winners. The future is bright for them. Cookie’s a really stable captain and they’re going to be force for a few years to come.”

Cook, meanwhile, singled out all-rounder Ben Stokes, who was named man of the series.

“Ben had a fantastic tour. I’m very lucky as a captain to have him in my side. In the next five or six years he can be amazing. When he’s on, he wins games for you,” said Cook.

“It is the ideal having that all-rounder who can bowl at close to 90 miles per hour when he gets it right, and be able to score 250 off 190 balls. Most people want that.”

Yet the 24-year-old Stokes’ greatest asset for England but may be in the opportunities he gives other players.

For one, England can take a spinner into most Tests knowing Stokes’ gives them a fourth fast bowler alongside the specialist quicks.

And then there are his runs from No. 6, always fast and often damaging to allow England’s top order to go about their business in a more measured way.

Alastair Cook says the series win was a vital step to the No.1 Test ranking.

“He does balance our side very well and you can see the problems when he’s not in the side,” Cook said.

South Africa are not without their own match-winners.

Kagiso Rabada and Temba Bavuma have emerged as long-term anchors.

“With the racial history we’ve had in the past and to see two guys like that step up and just show what it’s all about, it’s fantastic for me to be a part of,” AB de Villiers said.

Originally published as South Africa v England: Poms content with series win despite Proteas late resurgence