AUSTRALIA'S PLAYER RATINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA:
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TRAVIS HEAD - 5
210 runs at an average of 35 (3 Tests)
Had a century in a losing course in Gqeberha, but otherwise this wasn't the tour he would have liked. Threatened to get away again in the first innings in Cape Town, but couldn't give Australia the start they so desperately needed in the final-day chase.
MATT RENSHAW - 8.5
369 runs at 61.5 (3 Tests)
Locked himself in as a long-term fixture of Australia's side in his first full series in almost a decade. His 190 and 82 in Durban made for one of Australia's great batting performances in recent years to dig them out of trouble, before a 74 in Cape Town. Will be crucial in India later this summer.
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE - 2
131 runs at 21.83 (3 Tests)
This has to be the end of line for Labuschagne. Made more frustrating starts in Durban and Gqeberha, but the manner in which he got out hitting into the wind with Australia at 1-100 and fighting to save the second Test summed up his mindset. Was a broken man by the time he arrived in Cape Town, with scores of nought and four.
CAMERON GREEN - 6
92 runs at 46 (1 Test)
Green's first innings half-century in Cape Town on return from injury reaffirmed the belief he is Australia's long-term No.4 once Steve Smith retires. He was the only recognised batter to show fight on the last day, but his inability to handle spin was highly concerning.
JOSH INGLIS - 7.5
106 runs at 53 (1 Test)
A fractured finger denied him a Test recall in the first two Tests, before locking down his spot for the start of the home summer with a century in the first innings in Cape Town. Got a crucial run out in the field, before being left stranded by a Cameron Green quick single in Australia's collapse.
ALEX CAREY - 5.5
157 runs at 31.40, 11 dismissals (3 Tests)
His first-innings 80 in Cape Town arrested a slide in Carey's batting over recent months, before he was out reverse-sweeping for two in the chase. It was one of several shots that summed up the capitulation. As for his wicketkeeping, Carey is gloving them better than ever.
COOPER CONNOLLY - 3
29 runs at 14.50, 1 wickets at 55 (1 Test)
The forgotten man of the tour before getting the call up for Cape Town. Showed some promise in the first innings as he took Australia to a lead of 100, before he was one of four players out for a duck in the doomed final-day chase.
PAT CUMMINS - 4
6 wickets at 54.66 (3 Tests)
One of the most difficult tours of his career with the ball, with only a trip to Sri Lanka in 2022 less fruitful. Lifeless pitches in Gqeberha and Cape Town prompted him to go short and limited his usual sideways movement. Best moment came supporting Matt Renshaw with the bat in Durban, while being one of the few to fight for a draw in the decider.
MITCHELL STARC - 7.5
15 wickets at 21.46 (3 Tests)
Wasn't happy with the way his action felt through the first two Tests, but completely changed the match in Cape Town with his day-one efforts where he took four wickets in six balls late. Ultimately it meant little as the failure of Australia's batters on day five cost them the series.
NATHAN LYON - 5
6 wickets at 43.66 (2 Tests)
A difficult tour for the spinner, with it now evident Australia are willing to leave him out and go with four quicks more often than at any point in the past 14 years. Didn't play in Gqeberha and got plenty of spin without bulk wickets in Cape Town. Like Cummins, his best role was supporting Matt Renshaw with the bat in Durban.
JOSH HAZLEWOOD - 6.5
13 wickets at 27.30 (2 Tests)
Did the damage in the first Test in Durban by taking career-best figures of 6-49 in the fourth innings. But a dodgy prawn sidelined him for day two in Gqeberha and he never really seemed to recover as the seamer bemoaned the Cape Town pitch.
STEVE SMITH - 2.5
83 runs at 20.75 (2 Tests)
The first time in Smith's career he has failed to reach 30 in any innings in a series, and only the second time he hasn't posted a half-century. Took some great catches in the first Test, and looked in good touch until his neck injury in the first innings in Gqeberha, before that ultimately ruled him out of Cape Town.
NIC MADDINSON - 1.5
56 runs at 14 (2 Tests)
Australia's selectors argue that Maddinson's shock call-up should be viewed through the prism of what it allowed Matt Renshaw to do at No.5. And while that is fair, Maddinson's scores of 0, 48, 0 and 8 were hardly a personal success.
BEAU WEBSTER - 2
64 runs at 21.33, 1 wicket at 70 (2 Tests)
Will the 32-year-old play another Test? Webster played a solid holding role with the ball in Gqeberha with Josh Hazlewood ill and Nathan Lyon injured, but disappointing returns with the bat left him dropped for Cape Town.
SCOTT BOLAND - 8.5
42 runs at 21 (1 Test)
5 wickets at 16.20
Still Australian cricket's unluckiest man. Was brought in for conditions that suited him perfectly in Gqeberha and took 5-61 on a seaming wicket under heavy cloud cover. Then soaked up 166 balls in a bid to save the game for Australia as a nightwatchman, before being left out for Caper Town when Nathan Lyon returned.