Australia may have beaten South Africa in the one-day clash at the WACA, but it was a hollow victory as they failed gain the bonus point which would have ensured they reached the finals of the VB Series. Australia's captain, Steve Waugh, admitted that he thought their total of 283 for 7 was enough. "When we topped 280 in our innings I thought that was a good total and it might be enough for us to get the bonus point, but the wicket played pretty well."

But although clearly disappointed, he stressed that Australia's failure to qualify was not the end of an era and that the media and public should keep an eye on what he called the bigger picture.

"We certainly did not play well in the first three games, but from there we have won four out of five, so we played well at the end of the series," he said. "South Africa are entitled to be joint favorites with us for the next World Cup, and we beat them three times out of four pretty convincingly, so we have had some good results, as well as poor ones, along the way."

Asked to comment on growing media speculation that his own role in the side was under scrutiny, he said that that was a matter for the selectors. "The matter of changes is their prerogative. If they want to make changes to improve the side, then that is what they have to do," he said. "I don't expect any favours. If I am not doing the job, and someone is better, then they get an opportunity.

"But I don't think my form was too bad in this series."

South Africa's captain Shaun Pollock maintained that while his side did not have to beat Australia (they had already qualified for the finals), they had tried their hardest win.

"Our plan was to try to be about 190 after 40 overs, but once we lost Jonty Rhodes at a crucial time then the focus went to making sure we got past 226," he said.

Looking ahead to the final, Pollock said that while his team had performed well against New Zealand in the round-robin games, that meant little in the finals. "It is getting out on to the field and producing the goods again that matters."

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