RSA VS ENG - 4th Test, England tour of South Africa, 2019-20

South Africa 1 - 3 England: It's not often that you see the smaller number first, given how rare away Test wins have been of late. There's simply nothing to take away from England, who struggled to put an XI on the field, but their second-string side proved to be enough to steamroll South Africa in three consecutive Test matches. If you're not at your best, and you're still winning; when you can summon up the the hunger to win even against a weakened prey, you know you're champions: "three lions won't go easy on even the solitary, new-born impala." With that, it's Rishi Roy, bidding adieu from the rainbow nation alongside Raju Peethala, Venky, and Sriram AS. To England, onwards and upwards; to South Africa, find the light; and to Vernon - here's a Heineken and some Braai'd boerewors! *Curtains Down*

Joe Root receives the Basil D'Oliveira Trophy and hands it to the England side, as they pose for the ever-so-keen photographers. The English, always composed and terrible at letting go of their emotions, are being asked to celebrate by the broadcasters, but they simply refuse to let go. They're well past that I suppose. Perhaps the consumption and the letting go of thier celebratory fluids will happen after they cross the threshold of the field.

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Joe Rooooooooooot | England captain: Very special win indeed. After the first Test, to pick ourselves up has been amazing in the last three games. Very much a squad effort. We've had some wonderful support in the crowd so thank you to everyone who's come out to support us. It provides guys opportunities when people like Anderson aren't there, and we need to keep looking onwards and upwards and keep getting better. The young talent is very exciting. Jofra, Bess, everyone's done really well, and it's been a squad effort. Everyone's taken their opportunities. The guys have taken their chances and the sky is the limit for us now. A squad effort from a bunch of guys very much at the start of their international careers. We've loved it, and it's a fantastic place to come and tour. We always think South Africa are fierce rivals and very hospitable and we weren't disappointed this time either.

Ben Stokes | Man of the Series: The most important thing is the series win. It's been a roller-coaster with everything that's going on but I hope my old man is watching this in the hospital bed with a smile on his face. South Africa are so competitive with good pacy bowling attacks and the wicket always has so much for everyone that it's very nice to win in South Africa. Pope, Sibley, Crawley and Curran put their hands up and keep getting better and better and I'm proud of everyone in the change room

Mark Wood | Man of the Match (5/46, 4/54): I was doubtful in the first morning, but I'm happy I did play now. I've had a lot of dark days, and thanks to Greggy, the physio, he patched me up good. Silverwood made sure we went out there and just have fun. The secret to bowling like me is just to let it fly and give it everything I've got.

Faf du Plessis | South Africa captain: We did play well in that first Test. Right through the series, England were a little bit better than us in every compartment - consistent with the ball, and putting big runs on the board with the bat. Anrich Nortje came through shining for us in this series. We need pace in RSA, to fill the shoes of Morkel and Steyn. He's landed the ball in the same area, so he's got pace and control. Beuran got five in this Test so this is a young group and the consistency will come to them slowly. We didn't put enough runs on the board, and very unfortunate for Rassie not to get a hundred today. Thanks to Vernon for his services to the Proteas. I'm also very sad that this game wasn't the fairy-tale ending that he deserves. We'd like to sit in the dressing room and cherish this moment, and celebrate his career for South Africa. 10+ years away from family, that's a lot of time away and a lot of dedication for South African cricket.

Vernon Philander (accepts a token of appreciation from Cricket South Africa): Not the way I wanted to end it. It's all in the hands of the man above. The English have played excellent cricket in the month that just went by. We fight hard on the park, but we remain gentlemen, and to my guys, thanks for making it such a privilege for me to play for South Africa. Thanks to all my teammates, management and Cricket South Africa. Now the hardwork starts, giving back to the sport and honing the talents of mentoring them, and we're hoping to make a wonderful Proteas team one day. (His voice shakes as he bids goodbye.)

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#STATBUZZ:

Best match figures for ENG at Joburg :
12/205 - Matthew Hoggard 2005
9/100 - Mark Wood 2020*
9/162 - Dominic Cork 1995
8/53 - Trevor Bailey 1956
8/99 - Stuart Broad 2016

Most catch dismissal in a match :
35 - AUS v IND, Adelaide 2018
34 - SA v AUS, Cape Town 2018
34 - SA v PAK, Jo'burg 2019
33 - AUS v IND, Perth 1992
33 - SA v ENG, Cape Town 2020
33 - SA v ENG, Joburg 2020*

ENG v SA in South Africa (since 1999) :
1999/00 - South Africa won 2-1
2004/05 - England won 2-1
2009/10 - Draw 1-1
2015/16 - England won 2-1
2019/20 - England won 3-1

Home teams not scoring a century in a series (4+ Tests)
NZ v WI 1955/56 (Highest 84)
Eng v WI 1963 (87)
Eng v Aus 1972 (96)
Eng v NZ 1999 (99*)
Aus v Ind 2018/19 (79)
SA v Eng 2019/20 (98)

Most fielding dismissals in a series (max 4 Tests) :
25 - Adam Gilchrist v IND 2007/08
23 - Quinton De Kock v ENG 2019/20*
22 - Amal Silva v IND 1985 (3 Tests)
22 - Brad Haddin v IND 2014/15

England, well, they just keep enhancing their Test reputation, and refuse to admit that their investment in ODI cricket, World Cup win et al, does NOT mean that they have neglected the game's purest format. They were epidemic-struck, quite literally, and were struggling to get eleven men onto the field. Depsite their unfortunate predicament, and their setback in the first Test, they've managed to capitalize, re-stab the fresh wounds of the South Africans, and have come out of this battle with blood on their lips. This is a ruthless England side, and these three lions won't go easy on even the solitary new-born impala. Presentations coming up soon...

Amongst all the ashes, a tribute to Vernon Philander, who caps off an incredible Test career and leaves South African cricket a lot poorer. 64 Tests | 224 wickets | 13 five-wicket hauls, but his impact certainly lies beyond the numbers. He was the cricketer who maximized his yields despite his limitations and carried South Africa through thick and thin. Perhaps the lasting spell from Philander would have to be his antics at Cape Town against the Aussies - 47 all-out et al - when he really landed, belly up, into the limelight. And grumpy as he's been, hasn't he embraced it? Time to smile now, my friend, over a boerewor and a lager.

16:50 CAT | Time's standing still: South Africa have had a long and painful freefall, and perhaps the impact hasn't hurt as much as the anticipation of the inevitable has. Three successive losses at home, heads hanging in agony in front of a Wanderers crowd reduced from raucous to a meagre hopeful. The stoic batting from Malan and Elgar, a partnership of hope that showed South Africa an optical illusion of light, until it all came crashing down with the wicket of van der Dussen, two short of what would have been a terrific century - but it wasn't to be. When will the unbearable agony end? It's hard to get to the top, easy to get used it; but rockbottom, well, you'd be surprised how low one can sink...

Mark Wood to Nortje, out Caught by Buttler! All over, I think! Heard a bit of a thud past the stumps, as tearaway, tears apart tearaway - a short ball down leg, and a bit of glove on the way to the 'keeper. Not given, Root reviews, and there's a spike on UltraEdge. England win the series 3-1! Sensational win by England, and just the icing on the cake at the Wanderers after two thumping wins in the 2nd and 3rd Tests. Nortje c Buttler b Mark Wood 4(10)

Mark Wood to Nortje, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Mark Wood to Nortje, wide, rising from round the wicket, huge bouncer at 143km/h, and that's a wide

Dane Paterson, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Root to Nortje, out B Hendricks Run Out! Disaster for South Africa. Their freefall is coming to an ugly end. Nortje just charged down and clubbed it away towards mid-on, Hendricks decides to go across for the run far too late, and has already crossed over but is run-out at the striker's end by more than half a pitch as Sibley fires in the throw towards Buttler to get England their ninth wicket. Beuran Hendricks run out (Sibley/Buttler) 4(9)

Root to Nortje, THATS OUT!! Run Out!!

Root to Nortje, 2 runs, angled too far down leg, swatted away past a rolling forward short leg towards deep square leg for a couple