Although the team achieved success in all three formats against the Kiwis, coach Gary Kirsten believes the team is capable of better. "We have lofty standards. We believe we can be the best team out there. We are all looking forward to our tour to the UK," he declared.
Captain Graeme Smith needs no reminding, however, of what England are capable of in their back yard. "They didn't have a great tour to the United Arab Emirates [against Pakistan]. They didn't play as well they would have liked but they also came straight out of winter," Smith said in mitigation of England's test series and ODI defeats. "The big difference is by the time we get there they would have played a lot of competitive cricket.
"Having been to England twice before I know it will be an exciting challenge for us, but one in which we have been successful before," said Smith.
Both coach and captain sported broad smiles when reflecting on the New Zealand tour.
"I am very happy with the way it went. We started slowly but then we hit our straps. It was a pity we couldn't pull off a win at the end," Kirsten said, lamenting the drawn final test.
Star of the tour Vernon Philander, who took back-to-back six-wicket hauls in the tests, and who became the joint second-fastest to rack up 50 test scalps, was still beaming despite the long flight.
Meanwhile, Protea team doctor Mohammad Moosajee has declared Jacques Kallis fit for tomorrow's game against India.
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