Tides starting to shift: Smith

South Africa’s historic series win against Australia has left the tourists looking "despondent" at the end of a grueling four-Test series, according to former Proteas captain Graeme Smith.

The hosts broke a 48-year drought in style to seal their first series win over Australia on South African soil since their readmission to international cricket, having come so close time and time again.

Smith, who was unable to beat Australia in five series at home, was full of praise for the group that overcame the pressure and finished the job with a record-breaking 492-run win in Johannesburg.

"The tides are starting to shift," Smith told cricket.com.au after Vernon Philander completed his day five demolition job.

"Since 2008 we started winning in Australia and never quite backed it up here with a couple of drawn series and losses.

"This team now have gone back-to-back, with three wins in Australia in a row and now winning here for the first time (since readmission) has been incredible.

"There are some outstanding cricketers in that lineup, guys who I played with also, who have done their country proud.

"It’s been a long time since I’ve seen an Australian team leave so despondent after a real hammering."

Current Proteas captain Faf du Plessis has experienced just the one series defeat against a visiting Australian side – the thrilling contest in 2014 – but he was well aware of the history ready to be made heading into the final day that saw Australia capitulate in fewer than 90 minutes.

"This means a lot to us," a proud du Plessis told media after play.

"We did speak briefly about it this morning, that there is a nice opportunity to go down in the history books.

"But for me this series is the best we have been right through a series.

"We have been winning a lot of series, but there were little holes where we could improve.

"I felt this series was incredible the way we put it all together.

"A lot of guys put their hands up at different stages, so it was a collective effort."

Tuesday’s truncated day’s play marked the end of a series that has seen as much talk about the external dramas of stairwells, suspensions and ball tampering, as there was about the brilliance on display out in the middle.

It’s difficult to recall a series with as many storylines as this five-and-a-half week contest and it’s left players, commentators and fans alike exhausted. 

"I feel drained as a commentator," Smith said. "I can only imagine what the players feel having been out there exerting themselves since ball one. 

"I was just in commentary to reminisce on the so many wonderful cricket moments in this series, that have at time been overshadowed by the dramas around the game.

"All in all a really positive outcome for the South African team."