Australia v South Africa

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 4th day

South Africa rightly the best side - Clarke

Dec 3, 2012: Australia captain Michael Clarke pointed to South Africa's ability to make their positions of advantage count as being the difference between the two sides

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 4th day

'All of us will miss Ricky' - Smith

Dec 3, 2012: Graeme Smith has declared Ricky Ponting the opponent he has most respected during his career, and said South Africa's forming a guard of honour for Ponting was never in doubt

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 4th day

'Humbled' Smith targets South Africa legacy

Dec 3, 2012: Graeme Smith said it 'meant the world' for South Africa to win their second successive series in Australia and hold on to the No. 1 ranking

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 4th day

Ponting's high praise for Smith's men

Dec 3, 2012: South Africa overcame significant trouble in the first two Tests and produced a compelling performance in the third

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 4th day

At the end, Ponting returns to roots

Dec 3, 2012: Ricky Ponting has always been a tough cricketer. But his emotional side, for once, came to the surface when he spoke after his final Test for Australia

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 4th day

Ponting's low, Starc's high

Dec 3, 2012: Stats highlights from South Africa's emphatic victory in Perth

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 4th day

'I'll miss the mateship, I'll miss the dressing room'

Dec 3, 2012: Ricky Ponting reflects on his 17-year career after playing his final Test, against South Africa in Perth

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 4th day

When Ponting and Clarke averaged the same

Dec 3, 2012: Plays of the day from the fourth day of the third Test between Australia and South Africa in Perth

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 4th day

An emotional end to Ponting's storied career

Dec 3, 2012: There were a couple of glimpses of the vintage Ponting in his final innings, but he will be content to have made the right call to retire

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 4th day

Big win confirms South Africa as No. 1

Dec 3, 2012: South Africa embossed their No. 1 ranking with a fearful hiding of Australia in the series-deciding third Test in Perth

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 3rd day

Amla performs in one-day gear

Dec 2, 2012: Hashim Amla has scored several different centuries this year. His latest at the WACA was compiled in one-day mode

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 3rd day

The post-Ponting puzzle

Dec 2, 2012: To fill the hole of Ricky Ponting, who retires after this Test, the structure of Australia's batting order may be reconsidered

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 3rd day

The AB de Villiers of old returns

Dec 2, 2012: Is it a coincidence that AB de Villiers played his most compelling innings since becoming South Africa's wicketkeeper in the Test that he had to keep the least?

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 3rd day

Lillee not a fan of resting bowlers

Dec 2, 2012: Australia's bowling stocks lack a definite spearhead, according to Dennis Lillee, a go-to fast bowler that can move up a gear to break open the game

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 3rd day

De Villiers reverse sweeps to century

Dec 2, 2012: Plays of the day from the third day of the third Test between Australia and South Africa in Perth

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 3rd day

Amla and de Villiers set target of 632

Dec 2, 2012: Australia have been set the distant target of 632 to win the third Test and the series after South Africa were bowled out for 569 in a rollicking final session

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 2nd day

Clarke without answers on the worst of days

Dec 1, 2012: Michael Clarke had no answers as South Africa raced ahead in the Perth Test, virtually shutting out Australia's hopes of becoming the No. 1 Test side

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 2nd day

South Africa's unsung performer

Dec 1, 2012: Morne Morkel was not South Africa's most successful bowler on the second day in Perth, but he provided exactly what his team needed

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 2nd day

South Africa 'go hard' for Perth glory

Dec 1, 2012: Australia will have to be prepared to chase anything on a pitch where South Africa look increasingly at home

Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth, 2nd day

Caught Petersen, bowled Peterson

Dec 1, 2012: ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the second day of the deciding Test in Perth