Graeme Smith returned from South Africa’s tour of Bangladesh and India and spoke up his team’s future having won four Test series out of five since October.

The Proteas, after beginning their domestic season with Test series wins against Pakistan (away), New Zealand (home) and West Indies (home), then won 2-0 in Bangladesh and drew a three-Test series 1-1 in India, after taking a lead with an innings win in Ahmedabad before losing in three days in Kanpur.

They leave for England in June for a four-Test series and Smith is in confident mood about his team’s prospects.

“This team has found its feet now and to see their success is hugely rewarding,” he said in Johannesburg. “When I first became captain I basically inherited a side but now I've had the chance to build one.

“It's a huge positive to captain a side with bowlers like we've got but the top six too have been fantastic. They've scored 17 centuries in 12 Tests.

“The team is battle-hardened now and our stats in all three forms of the game have been incredible. But it's important they keep challenging themselves.”

Smith and some of his South Africa team-mates such as Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn and Herschelle Gibbs will play in the upcoming Indian Premier League before departing for England.