The team received a rather muted reception at OR Tambo International airport in Johannesburg, as just a handful of supporters arrived to welcome the boys back.

The Proteas had to settle for seventh overall at the global showpiece after only managing wins over Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Australia.

They faced the possibility of returning home with just one win to their record, however, in their last two games the team finally rocked up.

On Saturday the Proteas went out with a bang when the beat the defending champions, Australia, by 10 runs at Old Trafford in Manchester.

In the match, the captain, Faf du Plessis, scored South Africa’s only century at the tournament, while Rassie van der Dussen fell agonisingly short of his maiden ton, with a knock of 95.

The Proteas batting at World Cup has come under fire due to the lack of consistency, and Du Plessis conceded that heading into the tournament they were banking on their strong bowling attack.

The skipper admitted that the early injuries to Dale Steyn and Lungi Ngidi threw the spanner into the works.

“As a collective top six, you need to be performing better if you want to win games with the bat as well. We knew that our bowling as going to do that, but as soon as we were hit by those injuries, we became a team of trying to put balance together.

“We did a job. Even someone like Chris Morris who wants part of our plans from a tactics point of view. The fact that we lost our bowlers meant that Morris came in and he did brilliantly.”

Saturday’s game was a fitting farewell to the spinner Imran Tahir and the batting all-rounder, JP Duminy, who have both called it a day. There were suggestions that Hashim Amla and Du Plessis may call it quits as well, however, the captain says that now is not the time to make any emotional decisions.

“Right now I am still sitting here with a lot of passion for this team. I am still motivated, and I love captaining this team. It has been my purpose for the last year, more than anything, even my batting. More than tournaments away from the Proteas. That has been the motivating factor for me.

“Obviously I’m hurt as well, and like I said I carry the responsibility on my shoulder as well.

“Now it not necessary to make decisions because we are all still probably a little emotional. Time will heal everything and in two or three weeks’ time, I will be a little fresher again and having moved on from the disappointment from the World Cup.

“Then we will see where it all fits in going forward.”

Meanwhile, on Tuesday India with face New Zealand at Old Trafford in the first semi-final. On Wednesday the hosts England will take on the five-time and defending champions, Australia at Edgbaston in Birmingham in the second last four game.

 @MorganPiek OFM Sport