Zubayr Hamza (South Africa). The 24-year-old batsman averages nearly 50 in first-class cricket, but he has a long way to go before he cracks the step up to the Test game on this evidence. His top score from six innings was 39, and he had three single-figure scores besides. Reuters
THREE UP: Mark Wood (England). “England would be stupid to not play Jofra in PE if he’s fit!” Kevin Pietersen wrote on Twitter ahead of the last Test. “I’d rather face Wood, all day long.”
As it turned out, Jofra Archer wasn’t fit anyway. But Wood? Twelve wickets at 13.58 over the course of the next two matches to bowl England to an emphatic series win suggested he was a decent enough option, too. Reuters
Joe Root (England). It is only right that his captaincy has come under scrutiny. On his watch, England have been an inconsistent Test side. Maybe a win over a Proteas side in the throes of change is only papering over the cracks. But a 3-1 away win in South Africa is nothing to be sniffed at. Getty Images
Anrich Nortje (South Africa). The “proper Dutchman”, as he was affectionately termed by bowling coach Charl Langeveldt, faced 293 balls for 77 runs in the series. It is the sort of stickability that speaks of a big heart. His 16 wickets at 27.11 was second to Vernon Philander in the South African averages for the series. AP Photo
THREE DOWN: Faf du Plessis (South Africa). It is difficult to think of anything that actually went right for him. His team were soundly beaten at home. They were docked World Test Championship points for slow over-rates. He has gone 11 innings without a half-century. He was stood down from the ODI captaincy, mid-series. Maybe he really has played his last Test innings. Getty Images
Joe Denly (England). Denly will be 34 on his next birthday. The other players vying for places in England’s top order – Dom Sibley, 24, and Zak Crawley, 21 - are younger, and showed up better in South Africa. It seems feasible Denly will be eased out of the line up once Rory Burns recovers from his ankle injury. Reuters
Zubayr Hamza (South Africa). The 24-year-old batsman averages nearly 50 in first-class cricket, but he has a long way to go before he cracks the step up to the Test game on this evidence. His top score from six innings was 39, and he had three single-figure scores besides. Reuters
THREE UP: Mark Wood (England). “England would be stupid to not play Jofra in PE if he’s fit!” Kevin Pietersen wrote on Twitter ahead of the last Test. “I’d rather face Wood, all day long.”
As it turned out, Jofra Archer wasn’t fit anyway. But Wood? Twelve wickets at 13.58 over the course of the next two matches to bowl England to an emphatic series win suggested he was a decent enough option, too. Reuters
Joe Root (England). It is only right that his captaincy has come under scrutiny. On his watch, England have been an inconsistent Test side. Maybe a win over a Proteas side in the throes of change is only papering over the cracks. But a 3-1 away win in South Africa is nothing to be sniffed at. Getty Images
Anrich Nortje (South Africa). The “proper Dutchman”, as he was affectionately termed by bowling coach Charl Langeveldt, faced 293 balls for 77 runs in the series. It is the sort of stickability that speaks of a big heart. His 16 wickets at 27.11 was second to Vernon Philander in the South African averages for the series. AP Photo
THREE DOWN: Faf du Plessis (South Africa). It is difficult to think of anything that actually went right for him. His team were soundly beaten at home. They were docked World Test Championship points for slow over-rates. He has gone 11 innings without a half-century. He was stood down from the ODI captaincy, mid-series. Maybe he really has played his last Test innings. Getty Images
Joe Denly (England). Denly will be 34 on his next birthday. The other players vying for places in England’s top order – Dom Sibley, 24, and Zak Crawley, 21 - are younger, and showed up better in South Africa. It seems feasible Denly will be eased out of the line up once Rory Burns recovers from his ankle injury. Reuters
Zubayr Hamza (South Africa). The 24-year-old batsman averages nearly 50 in first-class cricket, but he has a long way to go before he cracks the step up to the Test game on this evidence. His top score from six innings was 39, and he had three single-figure scores besides. Reuters
