They say beggars can't be choosers, and as South African cricket lovers we should probably be happy with a Test win after a lean 18 months.
However, the West Indies capitulation inside three days yielded very little for the Proteas to work with as they strive to get back into Test cricket’s elite.
Yes, it was another Test match won by South African fast bowlers firing on all cylinders, and it was great to see Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje firing on all cylinders after a long break.
In the spin department, Keshav Maharaj had little to do but executed his skills well. Maharaj was the only frontline spinner picked in the playing XI and two short West Indies digs meant that he wasn’t asked to do very much with the ball.
In terms of the top order, Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar look set to forge a long and fruitful partnership.
There is a little concern with how much work was left to Quinton de Kock and the tail just to get the Proteas beyond 300 but having kept the West Indies from bringing up triple figures after the hosts won the toss, little harm was done.
One area where the Proteas would have preferred to glean more data is from the performances of the debutants.
Both Kyle Verreynne and Keegan Petersen made their maiden Test appearances, but neither enjoyed a long knock.
Petersen looked at greater ease than Verreynne, but it would have been better if they were afforded a second dig, especially if it came in a modest chase.
Verreynne now appears likely to make way for Temba Bavuma, if the white-ball skipper recovers before the second Test and could face a long wait for another shot at the format.
The Proteas need to make progress in the process of building a Test side rather than simply shuffling through the domestic scene’s form players in an endless and fruitless search for the next generation of talent.
