All-rounder Ben Stokes was named Player of the Series, after England completed a 3-1 win over the Proteas at the Wanderers on Monday.

Stokes collected 314 runs in seven innings, 10 wickets and a dozen catches across the four matches. His father was ill throughout the series, particularly ahead of the series opener in Centurion.

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‘The most important thing is the series win. It has been a roller-coaster with everything that’s going on, but I hope my old man is watching this in the hospital bed with a smile on his face,’ said Stokes.

‘South Africa are so competitive with good pacy bowling attacks and the wicket always has so much for everyone that it’s very nice to win in South Africa.’

Stokes praised batsmen Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley and all-rounder Sam Curran. Pope and Sibley welcomed maiden Test centuries in South Africa, while Crawley’s role was important in the absence of the injured Joe Burns. Left-armer Curran provided variation in a bowling attack lined with right-arm seamers.

‘Pope, Sibley, Crawley and Curran put their hands up and keep getting better and better and I’m proud of everyone in the change room,’ concluded Stokes.

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