Fair analysis and world No.1 importance... SOUTH AFRICA V ENGLAND TALKING POINTS

The Cricketer looks at the main topics for discussion after England complete a 3-0 series whitewash with a nine-wicket win in Cape Town

• Injured Rabada out of ODIs
• Stuart Broad's SPOTY recognition proof cricket does exist outside of showcase events

England remain slow learners

South Africa turned an abject innings after deciding to bat into a fine one with a late onslaught as England struggled at the death.

The last 31 deliveries went for 88 as The Proteas went from 104 for 3 to setting 192 to win.

While Faf du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen struck the ball beautifully, directing the ball delightfully straight and pouncing on half-volleys, the tourists did themselves few favours.

Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer were the main victims, consistently looking to hit a yorker length, missing, and then being dispatched routinely. By the time the hosts were done, they'd taken 14 boundaries from the final 5.1 overs.

The 17th over was the most expensive in Archer's T20 career, going for 22 and included two sixes and two fours. How quickly things can change in elite sport, with the seamer having arrived from the United Arab Emirates where he dominated in the Indian Premier League.

Jordan too had a game of two halves, going to his 66th T20 scalp to go above Stuart Broad as England's all-time high wicket-taker, but his final three overs went for 38.

Amid the undoubted talent England possess, there remains a stubbornness. In T20 cricket it is very easy to follow up deliveries which are wacked with something entirely different and out of your comfort zone. But Eoin Morgan's cohorts went entirely the other way.

There was some irony that during a period when Ben Stokes was off the field having a cut hand attended to, the bowling display was reminiscent of Kolkata 2016 when Carlos Brathwaite got hold of him in the T20 World Cup final.

England, including the Curran brothers, produced few changeups and by the end were merely offering up boundaries for the opposition. On another day it would have cost them dearly.

^{Dawid Malan continues his rampant form with another fine knock}

Real-time analysis

One feature of the South Africa innings was the obvious directions coming from the England dressing room from analyst Nathan Leamon who worked with Multan Sultans in the PSL.

The analysis department passed on a combination of letters and numbers to captain Eoin Morgan using clipboards stood up in front of the away dressing room.

There is nothing against the rules saying teams can be coached during play. But until the ICC take a deeper look, the question is whether it is ethical?

Analytics and cricket go way back. Few teams are now without experts in the field, some with access to more sophisticated data than others. If the information is there, and the rules permit, then why not use them to help the team? Elite competition is about marginal gains, after all.

Alternatively, a constant stream of information being sent to the fielding team removes one of the great characteristics of the sport. Watching a captain problem solve and find a route to victory is one of the beauties of the game. If you're grasping for similarities between the elite game and your Sunday afternoon village match then this is one of them. There aren't many others.

Granted, victories and successes are never reached totally unaided but once out on the field you're on your own. Eleven players have to find a way but having a prompt in your ear or from the dressing room dilutes the integrity of achievement.

The ICC need to look at what and when information is being fed to players, whether teams have equal access to it and if it should be allowed at all. A level playing field must be created first and foremost.

Back-to-back fifties. Player 👊#SAvENGpic.twitter.com/xzrnFjxe23

— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) December 1, 2020

Du Plessis benefitting from a weight off his shoulders

By the end of his tenure as captain, Faf du Plessis looked like a shadow of his former self. His desire to break from the shackles of the role as captain was palpable. It was telling that once the decision to step down was made at the start of the year that we didn't see him again during England's visit.

After a handful of outings against Australia, he returned in the Indian Premier League with Chennai Super Kings whom he averaged 40.81 for in 13 innings. Only 10 players scored more.

The 36-year-old has also enjoyed a new lease of life during this series. He hammered 58 from 40 in the first T20 and was similarly emphatic in smashing an unbeaten 52 at a strike-rate of 140 in the third contest.

The half-centuries are his highest T20I scores for four years and while he can't be certain over playing in both of the upcoming World Cups he is certainly a man for the present.

A penny, therefore, for the thoughts of Quinton de Kock, who is starting to get a better understanding of the strains of the role. South Africa whitewashed Australia earlier in the year but have been overwhelmed by the 50-over world champions.

At times it felt as though De Kock lost control. Keeping wicket, opening the batting and skippering the side will grind any player down and surely one of those positions has to change. Currently, it feels as though he needs to be on the field for virtually every ball to give the side a chance, which can't be right.

^{South Africa were without the injured Kagiso Rabada}

What does world No.1 mean?

England have now jumped to the top of the ICC world rankings, albeit temporarily until Australia take on India.

Just as they did in the lead-up to their World Cup win in 2019, Morgan will see this as a key step towards the tournament in India in 2021.

But just how important are the rankings in determining the eventual champion?

Since the standings were introduced in 2012, three sides have been top heading into a 20-over World Cup. Sri Lanka led the way the first time around, while India were seemingly the team to beat in 2014 and 2016.

As you'll have guessed by now on those three occasions the world No.1 at the start of the tournament weren't able to convert their dominance. West Indies twice took the title, while Sri Lanka were successful in between.

So while Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli, Morgan or whoever will be eager to be top of the tree heading into the tournament next October and November, recent history tells us that is only half of the story.

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