“Good times ahead” – Cook

“The guys over the last eight months or so have taken big strides, the side feels really balanced and they’re really hungry,” said Cook.

“You feel there are going to be some good times ahead but also some tough times. Potentially this team can do some really good things, there’s so much talent. There’s a good nucleus of 20 players that are starting to form a new England squad. But let’s not get too carried away, to get there will be relentless hard work and good results over a long period of time.”

England made 303 in the first innings, before bundling out South Africa for 214 as the tourists held a handy 89-run lead. An even better stint with the bat followed for England as they made 326, setting South Africa an unlikely 416 to win. In the end the Proteas were all out for 174 in 71 overs in their third worst loss in terms of runs at home since their readmission to Test cricket.

Cook said the knock of Nick Compton (85) on day one was pivotal in gaining a stronghold on the game.

“It was an interesting toss because overhead suggested you want to bowl first.

“We were also going to bowl first, but obviously the pitch was quite dry and we knew it was going to spin a bit later on in the game. It was a matter of getting through that first day. Thankfully it was only 60 odd overs and not the whole 90. The way Nick played really set up that first innings, 300 was a really good score. From that moment on the guys bowled particularly well to get 20 wickets.”

South Africa began brightly on day four in pursuit of the mammoth total as they reached 53 without loss, but by the close of play they were four down with 136 on the board. England would also have been buoyed by the dismissal of Faf du Plessis (9) in the final over of the day by Steven Finn.

England would not have to wait long on day five for a breakthrough, as Moeen Ali trapped star batsman AB de Villiers (37) lbw with the third ball of the day. From that point on it was a procession as South Africa lost 6/38 on the final day to hand England victory with over two sessions to spare.

“The wicket last night [of Du Plessis] was a really big one because those two [Du Plessis and AB de Villiers] have a good record of batting long periods together,” said Cook.

“It’s never bowling on the las day of a Test match, Moeen bowled brilliantly, I think he’ll be very proud of his performance under pressure.”

When asked if he felt the South African team who have been top of the Test rankings since August 2012 were a team in decline, Cook said his opposition were still trying to fill the voids left by the retirements of some of their biggest stars.

“They’ve lost some world class players, losing Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, they are once in a generation type players and you can’t really replace them.” 

ANA

(File photo)