There is still time to look back, but not much for the Proteas. And in reflecting on how they pulled off a third straight Test series win in Australia, the players and coaches will recall the difficult periods when self-doubt crept in, and how they needed to be patient.
The resilience shown in the first Test in Perth, after Dale Steyn left the field injured, was the turning point of the series, according to Faf du Plessis.
Equally important was the resilience shown off the field last season as the team sought to bed in new players, with the shadow of past greats still looming over them.
The Proteas needed to recreate themselves less in the image of Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis, and more in the image of Dean Elgar, Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada.
Creating that new image took time, but amidst defeats to India and England last season, it didn’t look as if the side were being granted the time to develop.
“When the old guard stopped playing - Smith, Kallis - it was also going to take a bit of time for a Temba Bavuma to step in and perform, for Quinton de Kock to perform, for Kagiso Rabada to step in and perform for the young spinners to perform,” said coach Russell Domingo.
“Those players now have some experience, they’ve played international cricket for over a year. They are slowly able to produce the kind of performances those past players did. But, at the same time, you can’t expect them to perform at the level the Kallises, Steyns and Smiths used to perform with.”
At times last season, it looked like Domingo and his coaching staff were struggling with that transition. It took longer than expected to hire a batting coach, the injuries to Vernon Philander and Steyn robbed the attack of experience, and several players were battling for form.
The team looked lost and as the pressure mounted, Domingo grew angrier with critics. It demanded everyone to do some introspection, and the now famous weekend away prior to the Test series against New Zealand in August proved pivotal.
“That time away was probably 90 percent of the reason why there’s been a rebirth in our energy and our vision going forward,” said Du Plessis. “The results since then speak for themselves.
“It shows how important it is that things off the cricket field are in a good space. That’s personal life, cricket stuff, boards, selection, they all play a role in making sure the culture is strong.”
There was some brutal honesty, said Du Plessis, and that included demands made to Domingo and his staff.
“After every performance you evaluate where you can improve, where the support staff can improve,” the coach said. “To be brutally honest, I don’t think there is a massive difference in the way the coaching personnel have gone about it; the players have really stepped up in the last few months.”
A hectic period awaits the Proteas, starting in the festive season with three home Tests against Sri Lanka. They then head to New Zealand in February, before a trip to England in May for four Tests, and also the ICC Champions Trophy.
So the squad depth built up will be very important. Rabada’s workload will have to be carefully managed. He’ll play no part in the domestic T20 Challenge, and he’s unlikely to play every ODI or T20 international over the next 12 months.
Domingo has demanded greater consistency from his batsmen. The Proteas outscored Australia by five centuries to one Down Under, but their batting remains an area with room for improvement.
“They are all contributing but not on a consistent basis. Quinton de Kock is the one batter who’s gone 80, 60, 70, 100... he’s been able to carry his rich vein of form throughout the series, other players have contributed massively at important times, but not followed it up with another big performance,” Domingo said.
AB de Villiers is set to play for the Titans in the T20 Challenge to help improve his match fitness ahead of his long-awaited return in the first Test against Sri Lanka, starting on Boxing Day.
He will resume the captaincy too, which means a change of role for Du Plessis and at least one batsman needing to drop out - most likely JP Duminy.
Du Plessis believes the transition will be seamless and will strengthen the side, with himself, De Villiers and Hashim Amla bringing their captaincy experiences to the table.
The series win over the Baggy Greens has lifted the confidence of the Proteas after a dark period last summer. That greater self-belief will be put to the Test by the Sri Lankans - always a smart group - and the Black Caps in the New Year. But it is better to work off such a foundation.
The patience and resilience shown on the field in Australia, and off the field last season, brought their rewards, but Domingo is wary that those standards must be enhanced.
“We are in a good space at the moment, but it’s a space that’s got to be treasured and nurtured all the time. Things change very quickly in this game and if you’re not nurturing the environment, it can take a turn for the very quickly,” he said.