South Africa make merry in Barbados

South Africa's comprehensive win by an innings and 86 runs in the third Test in Barbados was their biggest victory against West Indies. The previous record was by an innings and 65 runs in the second Test at Kingsmead in 2003. For West Indies, this was their heaviest defeat at home.

It was also South Africa's fourth successive series win against the hapless West Indians. The only other team to achieve this feat is Australia, who did it over a 30-year span beginning in 1930-31. South Africa have now won 12 out of 18 Tests against West Indies, and have lost just twice - by 52 runs in 1991-92, and by 130 runs in 2000-01.

Australia's series wins:

Andre Nel, who won the Man-of-the-Match award for his career-best performance of 10 for 88, has dismissed West Indies' best batsman, Brian Lara, a staggering eight times in six Tests. Glenn McGrath is the only bowler who has nailed Lara more often, but he needed 20 matches to dismiss Lara 13 times.

It has been all downhill for West Indies over the last few years. Since 2003, they have appeared in 25 Tests and have lost 15 of those, winning just four times. The selectors' lack of confidence in the players is reflected in the number of players who have been picked in Tests during this period - 32 for 25 matches. Compared with most of the other teams, this is a huge number.