Though a second limited overs series defeat is a bitter pill to swallow, the Proteas will leave Pakistan with a clearer understanding of their depth and increased personnel options across the board.

A long month in Pakistan finally comes to an end for the Proteas on Saturday in Faisalabad, where they are targeting an ODI series win to end a largely encouraging tour on a high.

Mashimbyi will be poring over the team’s shortcomings in the next few weeks, with one eye on that T20 World Cup, but also the 2029 ODI tournament.

Senuran Muthusamy had to trust his defence, the options he had for attack, the timing of when to be more aggressive, and he had to trust Kagiso Rabada.

Even though they were the superior team in the second half of the first day, Monday was still a deeply frustrating start to the second Test for the Proteas.

At the start of the new World Test Championship cycle, Kyle Verreynne is looking back to the last one, drawing not just inspiration, but also tactical know-how.

Cricket South Africa missed an enormous opportunity to boost interest in the start of the 2025/2026 season by not aligning it with the Test Mace Trophy tour that ends in Cape Town on Friday.

South Africa has a problem with ‘dead rubber’ fixtures. Two weeks ago, in Australia, they lost by record amount, and on Sunday in Southampton, they went one better - or worse losing to England by 342 runs - the largest defeat by runs in ODI history. It eclipsed India’s 317-run win against Sri Lanka two years ago.

The last thing on Temba Bavuma’s mind two days before the first ODI against England was cricket.

Prenelan Subrayen will undergo an independent test of his bowling action in Brisbane next week after he was reported for a suspect action during Tuesday’s first ODI against Australia.