Sri Lanka star Kumar Sangakkara has returned to the top of the ICC Test Players Rankings following the completion of the second Test in Wellington, which hosts New Zealand won by 193 runs.
The difference between the South African Test side and the current Twenty20 outfit is the same as buying a Volvo for its performance and reliability, and then switching to a Fiat Uno that may or may not break down on the N1.
No wildcards or mavericks, it is a safety-first squad at odds with a nation where it is legal to ride in a clapped-out minibus taxi without a seatbelt.
West Indies opener Chris Gayle was the driving force behind his side's victory in the first T20 against South Africa on Friday, and hopes the shorter formats will prove fruitful ahead of the World Cup.
The West Indies showed how comfortable they are in the shorter formats compared to Tests by winning the first T20 against South Africa by four wicket on Friday, with Chris Gayle returning to massive effect in Cape Town.
West Indies coach Sir Richie Richardson and star South African batsman AB de Villiers spoke to the media after play on day three of a very evenly poised Test match at Newlands.
The Test series between the two sides may have been rather one-sided, but the upcoming three match T20 series between South Africa and the West Indies is likely to be a far more even contest.
South Africa batsman Hashim Amla capped a successful debut season as captain of the Proteas following the two-nil series win over the West Indies on Tuesday, and has enjoyed the learning curve.
Let's take a look at how the hosts did, despite rain ruining the Port Elizabeth Test, to overcome the Caribbean visitors with relative ease. The first Test was particularly good, after a tough start, while Cape Town ended with a bang.
South Africa spinner Imran Tahir has been found guilty of a breach of the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Code of Conduct and has been suspended from the Sunfoil Series match.
South Africa Test opener Alviro Petersen has announced his retirement from international cricket as of 1 April 2015 at the conclusion of the third Test match between the Proteas and the West Indies.
South Africa needed just 124 runs in their second innings to win the third Test against the West Indies, and they scored those runs with eight wickets to spare before lunch on day five in Cape Town.
So it was in Cape Town as - with the stars of the show safely tucked away in the pavilion with their isotonic sandwiches and nutrigrain bars - the masses filed out for a lunchtime wander in the sun.
The West Indies batted pretty well when they were finally able to resume their second innings at a rainy Newlands on Monday - but that was before Dale Steyn and Simon Harmer ripped them apart late in the day.
South Africa made some inroads during the West Indies' reply after establishing a 92-run first-innings lead, but the third Test at Newlands is still anyone's for the taking at the end of day three.
South Africa bowling coach, and former fast bowler, Allan Donald believes that young quick bowler Kagiso Rabada has a big future with the South African national side.
West Indies chief selector Clive Lloyd feels that the lure of money from T20 cricket leagues around the world has damaged the Caribbean Islanders chances of reclaiming the glory that they once had in Test cricket.
South Africa's batting line up is a magician's trick, where a string of coloured handkerchiefs just keeps coming. Or one of those annoying birthday candles that leave you blue in the face. Or the beer cup snake that's wrapped around Newlands.
South Africa debutant spinner Simon Harmer has been riding an emotional roller-coaster that made its way to Newlands for the third Test against the West Indies, which started on Friday.
The West Indies reached stumps on day one of the Third Test at Newlands on 276 for six, with South Africa's debutant spinner Simon Harmer doing the surprise damage on a normally pacey pitch.
After a soggy draw in Port Elizabeth, South Africa still lead the Test series against the West Indies by one game going into the final match in Cape Town, where the Proteas have a formidable record.
It's all about that pace, 'bout that pace! Look, Steyn and Philander love bowling here, and unless the Windies batsmen find the same nuggety reserves they did in PE, this could be a mauling.
JP Duminy and Aaron Phangiso have both been included in the Proteas squad for the upcoming three-match Twenty20 series against the touring West Indians next month.
South African captain Hashim Amla and his West Indian counterpart Denesh Ramdin were both satisfied with their performances in the second Test between the two sides, which ended in a draw in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.
St George's Park is a pleasing jumble of stands, stilted chalets and assorted odds and sods. There's something - and somewhere - for everyone and it lends itself to harmony, socially and tunefully.
