By Simon Mann BBC Sport in Durban

The Test series victory sapped England, but South Africa had every right to be drained as well

It has been an above-average one-day series, dominated by the bat and played in front of packed grounds but England will not regret its passing.

Their unthreatening bowling attack was exposed and it was no coincidence that their most consistent players - Kevin Pietersen and Darren Gough - did not play in the Test series.

England have been involved in far longer tours. Few, though, have been so intense.

The mental and physical effort needed to win the Test series sapped them and left them without Andrew Flintoff, the world's best one-day player.

But South Africa played two Tests in India shortly before England arrived. They have every right to be drained as well.

But having lost the Test series, South Africa were desperate for some consolation. Perhaps they needed it more.

Such a demanding schedule should not be repeated.

The ICC are considering limiting Zimbabwe and Bangladesh to home series in the future. That move cannot come soon enough.

It is sensible for the development of their cricket for the time being and, crucially, it will relieve the pressure on the international calendar.

There is no reason why Pietersen should not be fast-tracked to Tests

England may be heading home a weary bunch, but they do so having unearthed one of the most exciting prospects in memory in Pietersen.

There is no point making him wait - Pietersen must be tried at Test level at the first available opportunity.

His performances in this series - 454 runs from six innings, including three centuries - demonstrated that not only does he have the talent to cope at international level, but he also has the temperament.

Remember, this was a player who was booed to the crease every time he came out to bat.

Here, he arrived at 32-3 and produced another stunning innings. He was careful at the outset, but brutal as the overs ran out.

With Flintoff not expected to return from injury until June, there is a gap to be filled in the England team for the first Test against Bangladesh at Lord's in May.

England selectors have prided themselves on their consistency in recent years, so logically Ian Bell is next in line.

But surely Pietersen is a special case. He only became available this winter.

And those concerned that he is only a one-day wonder whose bottom-handed technique is unsuited to the longer game should consider that he has a first-class average of 54.03.

The more interesting question is who makes way when Flintoff is fit again?

Graham Thorpe's place must be under threat. He had a trying time in South Africa and is almost certain to retire from Test cricket at the end of the coming summer.

Balanced against that, he is battle-hardened and has played some of his finest innings since he returned to the England side in September 2003.

The selectors could have a tricky decision to make.