Nicky Boje (6): Considering that he played in Sydney the day after flying in from South Africa, the Free State all-rounder performed creditably with the ball, capturing 4-63 in 25.2 overs. Not bad in view of Australia's first innings total of 554.

Mark Boucher (6): Some useful contributions with the bat, including a fine 64 at Adelaide and an aggressive 43 in the first innings at Melbourne. Top-scored with 35 in South Africa's paltry first innings total of 154 at Sydney, but got out flashing for 27 when set in the second innings. Had a tidy series with the gloves.

Boeta Dippenaar (5): Disappointing tour in the key No 3 spot until the final Test in Sydney when he struck a fine 74 in the second innings. Always looked good at the crease, but needs to work on shot selection. Had the misfortune to be dismissed by three brilliant catches. Made a handsome 100 against a weak NSW attack. Dropped three important catches in Melbourne and Sydney.

Allan Donald (5): No longer his former self although his form improved in the last two Tests. Frustrating start to the series when he missed out in Adelaide due to injury. Had Steve Waugh dropped twice in Melbourne during a good spell.

Steve Elworthy (5): Hard to judge his contribution, as Ntini kept him out of the Test team at Adelaide, with Donald edging him out at Melbourne and Sydney. Bowled on two flat pitches against Western Australia and (particularly) New South Wales in Sydney. Good tourist.

Herschelle Gibbs (5): Disappointing series after a good start at Adelaide when he struck a disciplined 78 in over four hours. Flowing 100 against NSW. Lost the plot after that with the nadir being at Melbourne when he shamelessly gave it away in the second innings.

Mornantau Hayward (6): Lots of pace and effort, not a lot of guile or strategy. Aussie crowd favourite. Bowled a ferocious spell in Melbourne which gladdened South African hearts before an ankle injury ruled him out of the Sydney Test.

Claude Henderson (6): Showed a lot of courage with the bat, and took to the tough atmosphere of Test cricket like a duck to water. Impressed at times with his bowling, particularly in the first innings at Adelaide, but didn't have enough in his armoury to really threaten the Aussie batting juggernaut.

Jacques Kallis (8): Enjoyed a good series, particularly in the first two Tests when he defied the Aussies singlehandedly to hit an unbeaten 65 and 99. Bowled well in patches in Adelaide and Melbourne, but had a poor Sydney Test with the ball.

Gary Kirsten (6): Good start at Adelaide when he struck 47 as he and Gibbs put on 87 for the first wicket. As it turned out, it was SA's only 50 stand of the series. Disappointing thereater until his characteristically gutsy 153 at Sydney when he showed in no uncertain terms what he, and South Africa, could do.

Lance Klusener (4): By his own admission, completely lacking in confidence throughout the series. Was chosen as a specialist batsman in the No 6 spot and never looked the part. A pair in the NSW tour match followed by a first-baller in Melbourne effectively finished him off. Bowled reasonably well in a containing role.

Neil McKenzie (7): Along with Kallis, the most impressive of the South African batsmen. A superb 87 at Adelaide was followed by 67 at Melbourne and 38 in Sydney. Unfortunately, didn't turn his good starts into big innings.

Makhaya Ntini (4): Lucky to make the tour party after poor bowling in the series against India. Bowled a good, containing spell in his only Test at Adelaide, but never looked like getting a wicket. Showed good temperament to play a gutsy 71-minute innings to hold up the Australian victory charge in the SA second innings.

Justin Ontong (5): A peripheral figure on tour until thrust into the limelight by Percy Sonn's decision to play him at Sydney. He showed composure and some fine shots in the second innings when he struck a promising 32. Will have learnt a lot.

Shaun Pollock (6): A somewhat disappointing series by his high standards. Left trailing in the captaincy stakes by the more imaginative and flexible Steve Waugh, and never really fired in his primary role as a pace bowler. Unlucky in Sydney where he bowled his best spell of the series on the first day. Made some useful contributions with the bat down the order, climaxing in his hard-hitting unbeaten 61 in a lost cause at Sydney.

Jacques Rudolph (6): The unluckiest player in the tour party. After being picked on the strength of his prolific domestic form earlier this season, never made it into the Test team. Two half-centuries, against Western Australia and NSW, should have qualified him to take Klusener's place in Sydney. But he reckoned without a political beamer from Sonn.