Former Proteas batsman Ashwell Prince has urged critics not to be overly critical of South Africa’s Test series capitulation in India, adding that the 3-0 defeat must be put into context.
Faf du Plessis and his team saw their tour to the Asian country end a few days on Tuesday following yet another big defeat.
The South Africans were beaten by an innings and 202 runs in Ranchi, their heaviest ever loss to the hosts and one that came on the back of two other massive losses.
But Prince says people need to look at the team and experience the Proteas took with them to India.
India are currently the Number 1 side in the world and their record at home is formidable. Their whitewash of South Africa in the three-match series was their 11th straight series win on home soil.
South Africa’s challenge was made all the tougher considering the recent retirements of heavyweights such as Dale Steyn and Hashim Amla.
They were also low on confidence post the World Cup and Prince conceded that playing India in India was unrelenting.
South Africa’s senior batsmen on the trip were captain Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock, with all three displaying decent form in the early part of the series.
But they could not do it all on their own, with others like Theunis de Bruyn, Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram failing to make the most of their chances.
Prince hopes that the young players, the batsmen in particular, will learn lessons from the trip and return to India even stronger in the future.
The Proteas return to the country on Friday, with their next international assignment being against England starting in December.
– Report by Thahir Asmal
