While the world has cast its attention towards England and Australia and, inevitably, India, one country has quietly enjoyed a break (one of those things we thought cricket hadn’t heard of!). South Africa have stayed below the radar and that is not surprising because that is the way they tend to do things. Hashim Amla embodies that. Quietly he scores his runs, quietly he creeps up on records and he does it without a fuss.

South Africa win more matches than most and it is very difficult to go over there and win. But now they must look to a new peak. The next ICC tournament is about ten months away and even though it is only over 2 overs, they must convert what looks like an excellent squad on paper into one that poses with a trophy. And they must ascend to number one in the world in Test cricket. They have the team to do it, certainly as long as Jacques Kallis allows them to play with five bowlers.

The world, or certainly those that like to see South Africa play well, would like