The players are ready with the champagne. South Africa are now the number 1 side in Test cricket. Hope you have enjoyed our coverage. That's all we have for you tonight. Goodbye and goodnight.
Graeme Smith: Finger nails have been short all series. It was a tough Test match. England played with a lot of freedom. We had to set up the game and work hard. Prior and Swann put us under pressure. I stayed with the belief that we could win. We always knew that we had the new ball. Vernon got it perfectly. I think we were able to post totals and build partnerships which allowed our bowlers to bowl with a bit of freedom. We caught well. It has been a long 2 months to be mentally focused and play in England. There have been quality fast bowlers in South Africa, Kallis adds a key value to the team. (On Smith's T shirt is written: Will miss u Bouch). This Test win is dedicated to Mark Boucher. We need to have a strong base so that when the wind blows, we are firm. The boys have built a formidable unit. Australia is next and they will be a tough side to tackle.
Strauss: Outstanding Test match played by both teams. The spirit that the guys showed was brilliant. South Africa was the better side in all the games. Closer you go, more pressure you are under. Prior, Bairstow and Swann batted really well. This is how I expected all the games to be. Bairstow played outstandingly well. He displayed a calm exterior. I'd be delighted for him if he could go on to get bigger scores. We have got some tough times. When you are number 1, people try to gun you down. It'd be a shame to give that mace to South Africa, but they deserve it. When you become number 1, you cannot rest on your laurels. You cannot have a bad day. Our batting against a very good bowling attack was not really good. You have to look at the likes of Bairstow and Taylor to understand the talent England cricket has. Hope I can lead England to the number 1 spot again.
Hashim Amla: It was a close game. There were a few emotions running high on the field. Vernon bowled fantastically to win it for us. Moments like this make cricket what it is. It is a great advertisement for Test cricket. The triple hundred is a bit of a blur. Fortunate to start the series so well and I could end it on a good note as well. The wicket was good to bat on. It had its moments when the ball moved about.
South Africa player of the series is Hashim Amla
Matt Prior: It was set out for me to launch. To not get over the line is disappointing. The wicket in Lord's stays pretty good all the 5 days. Bairstow played well. We tried to carry on and take the game as deep as possible. Strange few emotions (on the dismissal off the no-ball). It wasn't to be our day today. Boycott came and spoke to me today and told me to leave the balls of Philander. South Africa played brilliantly all series. We all know that we haven't been up to the standards in the field. We have let slip our catches. We put the vital catches down. We have to go back to the drawing board and get back the number 1 spot. I would love to be in the T20 squad for the World Cup.
