Proteas caught between sheer brilliance and collapse in ODIs

SA have teetered between the sublime and the ridiculous in one-day internationals.

- By Keanan Hemmonsbey

The Proteas have been a combination of brilliant and awful during the past month. South Africa secured their first one-day international series win over Australia in that country in seven years and, more impressively, their first ODI series win away against England in 31 years - both 2-1 victories.

But in the dead-rubber final matches, South Africa suffered their two largest defeats, by number of runs, since their first-ever match in the format dating back to 1991.

The 342-run loss suffered against England is the largest margin of defeat, by runs, ever in ODI cricket. Just two weeks earlier, the Proteas suffered a 276-run loss against Australia, also in a dead-rubber third match, which was the seventh worst defeat in the history of the format.

In rugby terms, it's like reliving the 57-0 defeat inflicted by New Zealand on the Springboks in 2017 and then the Boks beating them the next week.

It's a bit confusing to fully grasp how to feel about the results.

Newly appointed Proteas white-ball coach Shukri Conrad described the latest ODI loss to England as "slightly embarrassing".

It's difficult to be fully embarrassed given the roaring performances the team displayed in their two prior outings - a demolishing seven-wicket win and a nail-biting five-run win - but some degree of shame seems appropriate.

No senior bowlers

South Africa were without premier fast bowler Kagiso Rabada throughout both ODI series. The resurgent Lungi Ngidi has led the attack with aplomb in his absence. But once both series were wrapped up by the first two matches, Conrad opted to rest Ngidi as well.