How did you rate the two teams' performances?

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South Africa fall to their first series whitewash in 70 years, as Australia wrap up victory with a day to spare in the third Test.

Aggressive innings from Gary Kirsten and captain Shaun Pollock were not enough to prevent South Africa succumbing to the Aussies.

Where do you think the series was won and lost?

The two sides are due to meet again in February and March in South Africa. Do you see that series following the same pattern as this?

Are Australia simply too good for the rest of the world?

I think the Australian performance speaks for itself, but I think South Africa and Bangladesh or maybe South Africa and Kenya should make an agreement to practice jointly in order to improve their game. This Test series was surely a waste of time considering its one sidedness!
Ali Nizamani, Malaysia

SA always were a mediocre team and this whitewash will put them in their place. But suggesting that this whitewash will give the current Australian team an edge ove the WI team of the 70s is stupid. That team reigned for over a decade and this team is only a couple of years old.
Harry, USA

Gavin UK, talk is cheap. If we are crowing at least it's about performances in 2001/2 rather than 1966! This is one of the finest Test teams ever. They do not need to be talked up by anyone. Their achievements speak for themselves.

The ridiculous thing is that if the SA series is washed out like the NZ one was, the Proteas will head the championship table. Figure that one out!
Daryl, Australia

It was fantastic watching the awesome Aussies demolish the "second-best" team on the planet. It's obvious that they had an eye on this series for a very long time - perhaps gearing up for it even before the Ashes.

Perhaps they shoud have an Australia v The Rest of the World series some time. That will be the true test of their mettle.
Surya, India

All hopes of the best series between two giants of cricket were shattered with 3-0 victory for the Aussies. South Africa played poorly and they couldn't even play as well as New Zealand who nearly won their series against the Aussies.
Ali Wazir, Pakistan

Once again Australia have emerged as the strongest team in the world. South Africa should not be too disappointed, although they did not play their best cricket, what team does against Australia?

If truth be known, Australia's second team would beat most of the rest of the world (England included). I don't know whether it is fair to say that this Aussie team is the best ever, but if they are not, I would love to have the honour to watch a better team!
Matt, UK

There is one thing that can not be denied however, and that is that this Australian team has broken many records, and more importantly, it has breathed life into a game many felt was dying, and following the Hansie scandal etc, many thought was dead. This is a unique team playing for Australia, and this will be proved when in about five years Australia is struggling to stay in the top three. Therefore, lets enjoy them while we have them.
M Golson, USA

The current Australian team is one of the all time best. Though I would not yet put Langer-Hayden in the same class as Greenidge - Haynes (if they continue this level of performance over the next couple of seasons, then definitely), Aussies have everything: world class batsman, bowlers, fielders and captain. As an Indian I am happy that we were able to defeat them in our last meeting, but honestly the only team that can seriously challenge them is Pakistan who unfortunately are their own biggest enemy.
Saurabh Rajadhyax, India

It is pretty clear that at the present moment Austraila are simply in a league of their own when it comes to Test cricket. South Africa were not necessarily bad; they simply weren't good enough. I expect the return series in South Africa to be a bit closer, but to be honest its hard to see Australia losing anytime soon.
Wijdan, Pakistan

Gavin says the Aussies are "talking themselves up"! Do I detect a hint of jealousy here? Australia now have the best opening partnership in the history of the game (Langer/Hayden), two of the game's all time leading run scorers (the Waugh twins), the games best ever wicketkeeper/batsman (Gilchrist), the best ever spin bowler (Warne) and one of the all time great fast bowlers (McGrath).

In addition to that Martyn is scoring runs so consistently (averaging 70 since his return to the team) that he is arguably the games no. 1 batsman at the moment. Yet still this team has detractors that says they are overrated or don't measure up to the great Windies teams. Tell me what else do they have to do?
Greg, Australia

This is one of the greatest Test cricket teams in the history of the game. A measure of their greatness is the number of detractors lining up to have a go at them.

They play entertaining, positive cricket which is at times brutal but their response to Ontong as he left the ground yesterday and to Kallis when he was dismissed on 99 in Melbourne, showed great sportsmanship.
Paul, Australia

Having watched the Proteas all summer I, like many Aussies, am not surprised that they have been comprehensively beaten. It will not change in South Africa. Don't kid yourselves on that.

The Aussies always had an eye on this series. They had a reasonable series against NZ and for those that 'really' saw that series for what it was, the Aussies were unlucky not to win 3-0.

But the big one for us is the Proteas. Having watched them in Sydney, I can tell you they are in no way a match for the Aussies. The Aussies are too strong mentally, tactically and skill wise.
Paul, Australia

I think most of South Africa's problems lie off the pitch, starting with Hansie and ending with the quota system. No, they will not avoid a series whitewash I�m afraid. Their management is not professional enough, the players are talented enough.
Warren, South Africa

It is sad to see such a good team as SA get beaten like this, but what's even sadder is the 'crowing' Aussie fans consistently talking themselves up.
Gavin, NZ/UK

Australia are undoubtedly the best team in the world at the moment. They not only have talent in every area, but they have a huge depth of talent. But their main strength is their mental toughness. These guys are ruthless and never stop figuring out angles and game plans. The only hope for England is that Rodney Marsh can instil some of that toughness into English cricket.
Steve Stacey, Australia