The end of an unprecedented era

It says something about the state of South African cricket that in the year they were shot out of yet another World Cup, their main cause for celebration was in the 50-over format. They only had two Test hundreds and no century stands in the year, but made four of the top five totals in ODIs, all scores of over 400, and two of their batsmen, AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla, racked up more than 1000 runs in the format. In Tests, the team's transition period turned from limited uncertainty to the need for an overhaul.

When South Africa beat West Indies at the start of the year, few would have suspected that that would be the only Test they would win in 2015. They played only seven more Tests but lost four - three to India in their first series defeat away from home in nine years and one to England to start the home summer on a sour note.

The main concern is about the team balance, which has become skewed in the absence of a specialist opener, a fragile middle order, and a bowling attack whose spearhead routinely breaks down. All of that is taking place against the backdrop of the most aggressive transformation drive since readmission, which started just as South Africa's World Cup campaign ended.

They went to the tournament confident and with good reason to feel that way. Their home series win over West Indies ahead of the World Cup was a sure sign of their dominance. At the Wanderers, de Villiers smashed the fastest century in 50-over cricket, off 31 balls, and Amla and Rilee Rossouw also scored hundreds as South Africa piled on the first of their 400-plus scores of the year.

Two others came at the World Cup, against West Indies once again and against Ireland, to ensure the sting of losing to India at a packed MCG eased quickly. It was only when South Africa stumbled against Pakistan in Auckland that the old chasing demons returned. But they remained confident of breaking the hoodoo, especially after they won their first knockout game in a World Cup, beating Sri Lanka in the quarter-final. If only they knew how much more it would haunt them.

In Auckland, against co-hosts New Zealand, South Africa ended up on the losing side of the most dramatic ODI of the year. The aftermath shook everything in South African cricket, and not just because of the result.

In the days that followed, it emerged that the XI for the semi-final had been influenced by an intervention from Cricket South Africa CEO Haroon Lorgat, who reminded the selectors, coach and captain to pick the team "bearing in mind the transformation guidelines". That resulted in Vernon Philander, who spent half the tournament injured, playing ahead of Kyle Abbott, who was the best bowler in terms of average and strike rate. Whispers from within the camp suggested de Villiers did not want to play the match, Philander was unhappy about being turned into a quota player, and that Abbott was broken. At first CSA denied interference and then immediately announced increased domestic quotas without consulting with the player union, SACA. Three weeks later, the board admitted Lorgat had met with the team management and emphasised the board's commitment to change.

In the months that followed, CSA and other sports bodies had several meetings with South Africa's sports ministry to formalise their transformation policies. CSA has not revealed exactly what it agreed to, but since the World Cup the team has fielded at least one black African player in every match, among the four players of colour, which is their target.

Meanwhile the players had a much-needed three months off. Something changed for South Africa's players when they realised the team was not their own, and they have not been the same since.

South Africa took the field again in July in Bangladesh, where both Philander and Abbott looked out of sorts. While the T20 side won, the ODI side was beaten in the absence of de Villiers, who was given extended paternity leave. De Villiers missed his first Tests since making his debut in 2004 but it gave him the opportunity to play his 100th in Bangalore, his adopted home thanks to the IPL.

In August, a handful of T20s and ODIs against New Zealand helped South Africa regain some confidence, and they embarked on the tour of India tour filled with hope. They notched up a T20 series win - pertinent as the World T20 will be played in India in March - and an ODI series win before it all went awry. Their Test defeats exposed their mental frailties, against spin and themselves.

Apart from two half-centuries by de Villiers, one each in the series opener in Mohali and the second Test, in Bangalore, the batting was woeful. Amla hit a rut he remains stuck in, Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy were shown up technically, and the middle order melted. Philander and Dale Steyn were injured and missed three of the four Tests. Morne Morkel missed the first. As a unit, South Africa were dismantled and they could not get it together in time for the first Test against England.

Serious questions hover over team selection and, by extension, team satisfaction. There are rumblings of unhappiness in the dressing room, and the possibility of early retirements lurks. On commentary, former captain Graeme Smith has hinted there is a lack of leadership and that the coaching staff are under pressure. The only consolation is that the limited-overs teams are looking strong - the T20 squad is in good shape and the ODI team is winning - and if they can do it, so can the Test side.

High point
Bilateral ODI series wins seldom make a season, but with such sparse success for South Africa this year, their 3-2 victory over India in October was the best they had. After the World Cup semi-final and a series loss to Bangladesh, South Africa redeemed themselves with performances under pressure. Quinton de Kock returned to form, du Plessis was masterful, de Villiers dazzled, the middle order firmed, up and the bowling attack was potent. Poetically, in the deciding match, in Mumbai, South Africa made 438 (the same score they chased to beat Australia in the famous decider at the Wanderers in 2006) and India were blown away. It was also South Africa's first ODI series win in India.

Low point
Being shot out for 79 in Nagpur in the third Test against India was the worst South Africa have batted since readmission and it cost them a record that had stretched back nine years. Their defeat gave India a series win and ended South Africa's unbeaten run in away Test series since July 2006. It also illustrated the bad space South Africa were in, beset by injury and befuddled by spin.

New kid on the block
After being picked as the one to watch at the end of last year, Kagiso Rabada remains the one to watch next year. At just 20, he is new enough to be named promising twice, but South Africa should be concerned that they have not produced anyone else worthy of this title. Rabada made his ODI and Test debuts in 2015, claiming a hat-trick in his 6 for 16 in Mirpur - the best figures by a South African bowler on one-day debut. He has not had the opportunity to have a similar impact in Tests so far, having played three in the year, in difficult circumstances, but with the pace and passion he has, it's clear he is being primed to lead the attack.

Fading star
Steyn was injured twice in South Africa's two biggest series, to add to the seven other niggles he has carried since the Champions Trophy in 2013. Unlike then, when niggles were keeping Steyn only out of ODIs, they are now affecting his Test participation. He may be at the stage where his catch phrase, "as fast as I can", no longer applies to him and, like Shaun Pollock, he will have to rein in his pace, concentrate on more subtle skills and let someone else take over the spearhead role. Whether he is willing to do that could determine how much longer he plays.

What 2016 holds
Big personnel changes are on the horizon as South Africa's ageing core looks for its exit strategy. The rumours that de Villiers may retire are being fuelled by Smith's claim of discontent in the change room. Even if de Villiers stays on, he is certain to play fewer matches as he seeks to manage his workload, and injuries may force Steyn to quit. Winter Tests against New Zealand may provide the first opportunity for those switches to take place. The November tour to Australia will bookend a year of 10 Tests, starting with the three remaining fixtures in the England series and followed by a visit from Sri Lanka. In between all that, the World T20 presents another shot at major tournament silverware.