Cricket: More to Australian win than meets eye

Australian players celebrate after winning the third test in Cape Town. Photo / Getty Images

Beating tough home team seen as bigger than Ashes victory.

Australia's test series win over South Africa is their first on foreign soil in almost two years, but could be far more meaningful than just that.

Home-ground advantage has taken on a life of its own in recent years of test cricket - in 2013, there were two victories recorded by touring sides and both came in Zimbabwe.

Australia have bucked the trend and risen to No2 in the ICC's rankings by inflicting the Proteas' first test series loss since the two teams butted heads five years ago.

Of the XI who boosted Australia to a 245-run win in Cape Town yesterday, only Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson remain from the 2009 series. For the likes of David Warner, who smashed three centuries on the tour and is in the form of his life, the 2-1 result will forever be a career highlight.

"I know tonight is going to be very special for all of us. It's been a long time since we've won away from home," said Warner, the obvious man of the match and series.

"I know it's my first," he added, reinforcing just how nondescript the 2-0 series win he played in in the West Indies in 2012 was. "We're going to enjoy this and hopefully we can win many more away."

Make no mistake, this was more meritorious than the 2013-14 Ashes.

England self-combusted as Australia showed their potential on pitches they all knew well.

South Africa crushed the visitors in Port Elizabeth and fought tooth and nail to hold out for a drawn series at Newlands.

"They outplayed us," outgoing Proteas skipper Graeme Smith said.

Clarke suggested it was too early to say whether the 2-1 series win completed in dramatic circumstances yesterday was as special as a 5-0 annihilation of England.

"I don't think it's fair to compare it to the Ashes series that we just played. But I think an honest assumption would be that it's as good," Clarke said. "Any time that you beat the No1 team in the world, that's extremely special.

"It certainly shows and represents that we're heading in the right direction as a team.

"It's our first bit of success away from home for a couple of years. I can't thank my teammates enough for their heart, their attitude, and the hunger." AAP