'South Africa's best win in terms of resolve and adversity'

Neil Manthorp, the voice of South African cricket, has covered every Proteas Test match since they were readmitted to international cricket in 1992. To state the obvious, Manthorp is the doyen of South African cricket broadcasting; his reverence there is reminiscent of Harsha Bhogle in India.

After South Africa completed an astonishing turnaround to win the first Test against Australia at the WACA minus their spearhead Dale Steyn, Manthorp knew he was witnessing something special. With sheer grit and plenty of heart, South Africa willed their way back into the contest after Steyn broke down and then grinded Australia into the WACA dirt with an unrelenting display for the remainder of the Test.

Their wearied bowlers produced a lionhearted display to bowl South Africa to a momentous victory despite Australia showing pluck and determination to avoid a rare home defeat.

Speaking to Cricbuzz, Manthorp rated the courageous performance in Perth among South Africa's "top three" since readmission along with the iconic victories in Sydney circa 1993-94 and at the MCG in 2008-09. In Sydney, South Africa won by five runs after Fanie de Villiers skittled Australia for 111, while in Melbourne the Proteas famously won after being mired in a major hole at 184 for 7 - 210 behind Australia's first innings.

However, Manthorp believed in some respects this victory may have eclipsed those all-timers. "(This victory is) definitely top three (since readmission)," he said. "In terms of resolve and adversity, there have been some great wins in India but not with the storyline like with this game.

"In terms of resolve and character it is equal top, there has been no greater... maybe the SCG Test," he added.

South Africa has had a tough time of Test cricket since the retirements of former captain Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis, the legendary allrounder. They have an ageing core with their best players AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn perhaps past their peak.

Perhaps foreshadowing an exciting future, the match-winning performance of Kagiso Rabada, all-round magnetism of Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj's winning temperament all bodes well for South Africa's prospects.

Manthorp predicted the victory would be a tonic for South Africa although he believed the team still faced uncertainty over the long-term. "As far as the next 18-24 months, the team is very well placed," he said. "Short-term (this win) can rejuvenate them but the core of the team is in their 30s...in a couple of years' time, it will be a very different looking team."

Steyn's future is seemingly at the crossroads after fracturing a bone in his right shoulder, an injury likely to have him sidelined for at least six months. Aged 33, there is some speculation that Steyn may have played his final Test match.

Manthorp said Steyn wanted to continue his legendary Test career but was unsure whether that would eventuate. "Steyn is 100 per cent determined (to continue)," he said. "It is going to be incredibly hard and painful physically and mentality. The thing is that if he had a wife and two beautiful kids at home, then I would say no chance. But he doesn't. He has two dogs and two surfboards.

"If he still feels the way he does in six months then I think he will come back and play. He'll play a few more Test matches...but not many," Manthorp said. "He will finish his career playing T20 cricket no doubt. Let's say the surgery goes well, he will have to play three-four First-class games, something he hasn't done in years and that will test his resolve."

Filling-in superbly for the injured AB de Villiers, South Africa stand-in captain Faf Du Plessis earned plaudits for his guile and inventiveness, notably from legendary Australian captain Ian Chappell. Some pundits believe du Plessis should be installed as South Africa's captain across the formats, instead of their current mishmash of skippers.

Manthorp said du Plessis had been "outstanding tactically" in Perth and that his team-mates found him more relatable compared to the incomparable de Villiers. "He (du Plessis) takes advice, he asks for opinion all the time," he said. "He is extremely well respected. The team relate to him in a way...they are in awe of AB because he is superhuman. He has all the qualities that they don't. He doesn't seem frail, he can do anything.

"Faf is a very popular captain and massively respected. Bit tricky for Faf as he is a big backer of AB and they are best mates," Manthorp said.